Lost…..and May Never Be Found

A friend’s Facebook post said: “There are five things that you cannot recover in life:
The Stone...........after it's thrown,
The Word...............after it's said,
The Occasion......after it's missed,
The Time.............after it's gone.
A person...............after they die
I realize this so much now. Life is too short. As I get older I just want to live in peace and harmony and have joy because it can all be gone in an instant. Give love and forgive each other. For you don’t know what tomorrow will bring.”


Such true words, and great reminder of “living with no regrets”. I don’t want to say “I wish I hadn’t”, “I wish I didn’t” “If only….” I said that to myself as I was trimming my trees and bushes (4 large trash bags full). I looked at my bushes afterwards, pleased that they’re ready for stringing my Christmas lights on them. WHAT? Christmas? Already? Where did this year go? And, like my friend’s post said -- we can’t get that time back!

I’m going to keep that “no regrets” mindset. I’m purposing to pray each day and live by this scripture: “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O God!” (Psalm 19:14) In fact, I’ve declared it as my new life scripture. I add my words to that scripture: ”also acceptable to my family, my friends and everyone I encounter in this day.” Words too quickly spoken can be regret “stones”. Please, Lord, keep a gate on my mouth and mind.

I made sure I was seizing the moments yesterday at Children’s Hospital. Patients went on a scavenger hunt throughout the hospital. At my Radiology station, I stamped their scavenger hunt cards and gave them a goody bag. I embraced the glow on those kiddos faces! No regrets! A contest was given for the hospital staff's best costumes. I loved my Radiology's team's great idea -- a ride at Six Flags!

Then, I made way to my "stomping grounds" in Tulsa. First order of “no regret” was celebrating Mom’s 97th birthday. Bonus was my great grand niece, Anna, was there and getting to love on her. Then to top off my day was staying at my besties' and capturing Sheila reading to her little angel granddaughter, Penelope. Be still my heart!

Tomorrow, I’ll be driving my beloved mentor, Sister Marie Pierre to our last First Weekend of November, Fall Retreat at Cherokee Lodge on Fort Gibson Lake. Oh, the memories of God showing off there with so many precius women who sat at the feet of Sister Pierre over the years, gleaning from her wisdom of serving God in practical Christian living.

After the retreat, I’ll head to Austin with my grands for a week or so. Some of life's greatest lessons come from firsthand experience. And those experiences teach us "living with regrets" or "living with NO regrets". The latter on that statement is truly the way to go. Believe me, I've known both. Those times we "miss it" are surely those times we learn from the most. Life is so short and making the most of everything we can when the opportunities arise, not only produces sweet memories, but it makes for deepening our relationships with each other.

Are you seizing those moments, minutes, days of YOUR life? We are here at this place, and this moment of time, for a specific purpose that God gave for only us to fulfill. Let's be done with just going with the flow....and let's live ALL IN! Let's look for those moments in this day that are over-the-top outrageous, once-in-a-lifetime moments, so that tomorrow, we'll look back and say, "I lived with no regrets!"

Why Am I Here Anyway?

We hear many sermons and talks about why God put us here at this time and in this space. Here’s what His Word says: “Yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things and WE EXIST FOR HIM…..”; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and WE EXIST THROUGH HIM.” (1 Corinthians 8:6). So there you go. The answer to “Why am I here anyway?” Maybe it’s better asked: “WHO am I here for anyway?” We exist for God.

Doesn’t that make you feel no longer “ordinary”. You and I are extraordinarily God’s very own creation – existing for Him. So, when another ordinary Monday rolls around and you’re loading up the kids, their backpacks and their lunches into the car or you are heading off for your morning commute to your office job, or you are facing another week of medical tests, doctor’s appointments and treatments, or you are studying for that exam that will make or break your grade average – you wonder “Is there more than all that working and studying and the going and the doing?”

This life may feel so big and we may struggle to find our place in it. We may wonder if we matter. We try to find a purpose for our being. The reality is we are not only made for a purpose; we are made for a Person. We are made for the Miracle-Worker, Chain-Breaker, Water-Walker, the Stars and Planets Creator, the Man-Sculptor who brought us forth from dust. We are made for the One who holds all the world in His hands.

And “We exist through Jesus” (1 Cor 8:6), the One who made it possible for us to make our way home to our Most Awesome God, Who laid down His life that we might find ours. We also live by the Spirit. What a TEAM! Father, Son, Holy Spirit. We are empowered, equipped, strengthened and comforted. We are never, ever alone.

What does this mean in the middle of our routine and ordinary days? It means that our car can be a holy place of joy to the Lord. It means our sink full of dishes can be an altar of praise to our Most High. It means our office can be a sanctuary as we acknowledge the One that we are here for. Imagine the joy it brings to Him, when we acknowledge Him.

Wherever you are today, whatever your routine might be, whether or not you feel noticed, this is the message of God: “You are loved. You are mine. You matter. I see you." This is the truth I’m taking with me each day. We were made for not only a purpose but for a Person – the One who has brought me into this world for Himself. There is no greater calling. There is no more glamorous career. There is no higher glory. We are His. He is ours. This is enough reason to exist for a lifetime…and eternity.

Is Your Sanctuary a Place or a Person?

Yesterday morning, it wasn’t that cold outside but the winds and heavy rain beckoned me to the warmth from my fireplace. It is definitely my “sweet spot”. In this busy, hectic, and noisy world we live in, there are just times when we need to find a quiet place for our souls to be soothed and our bodies to be refreshed.

After a packed-full day of busyness, many retreat to their easy chair, but the clamor still goes on with the TV blaring and little children doing what they do – being noise-makers! I remember when I worked at the University of Manitoba and I carried the weight of a department of over 80 employees, bearing the responsibility of their performance and the department’s success. There were times I needed to find a few minutes relief to regroup, refresh, and reload. My “sanctuary” was the bathroom stall! Oh, sweet “reset”! Just a little talk with Jesus made such a difference in my mindset and composure.

This sanctuary sign on my fireplace hearth was given to us by a dear friend on October 10, 2010 (the date is on the back). That was right at the time when we made the decision for my precious husband to go on hospice. Indeed, my friend knew that we needed to be reminded of the “sanctuary” we have in our relationship with God. We embraced that sign and its meaning. We knew that God, Himself, was our place of refuge and shelter from the storm we were in. We did have such peace and joy throughout the remaining days of my Sweetheart's life.

The politics. The news. The hate. The debates. The worry. I turn the news on and then I turn it off quickly. It reminds me why I rarely, if ever, watch those live news broadcasts anymore. I don’t have the stomach OR heart for it all. The combative nature in people these days and us vs. them mentality wears on my spirit. I don’t quite know what to make of it all, but as I sit down to write loving, comforting words for myself and for my readers, God places my attention on a little sign that says, “SANCTUARY” with a scripture reference of Mark 6:31 “Come away to a secret place and rest for while” that reels me back in to what matters most.

It might be that you are craving a “sanctuary” today. You may have young children jumping off the furniture. Their sibling rivalry is at peak performance. Your spouse may be overloaded in worries and cares. Your to-do list is way too long to stop in at the “sanctuary”. I know that atmosphere. It is very familiar to me. But what became the most familiar to me and the priority in my home was making God -- my deepest source of meaning, unconditional love, and real peace. It can be found -- even in small increments of time. I promise you, when our priority is, first and foremost, going to the sanctuary sometime throughout our day, it will create a heart that is settled and peace-filled because of the presence of a holy, loving, awe-inspiring God. When we ask Him to settle into our homes, our workplaces, and even in the marketplaces, we will find Him waiting for us. He is available, present and more life-giving and peace-giving than everything else combined.

Today, I offer you a glance at my sign. SANCTUARY. Doesn’t that sound like a relief, hearing it put like that? That lovely, reassuring place of safety. Relief from all the ugliness out there. A break from it all. I can hear Him saying: “Come away with me! Let us go alone to a quiet place and rest for a while.” Mark 6:31-33

What Does Your Branding Say About You?

We often hear about branding and rebranding. It’s that look, symbol, label, character, attitude, distinctive design that sets a particular product, company and even a person apart from the rest.

As we were driving down a Texas highway, my granddaughter and I saw this truck with this message on it. “We could wreck the world. Jesus Saves.” Of course, it was a seize-the-moment photo inspiration! I'll admit -- I was puzzled about that branding. After some online research, I found that Billy Nabors Demolition has over 50 years experience in commercial and residential demolition, wrecking and dismantling and is the Dallas area's leading demolition expert. I found this article from "Dallas Magazine": "God's Wrecking Crew" "Some people wear their feelings on their sleeves. Billy Nabors wears his on 15 trucks, each emblazoned with an unforgettable slogan: "We could wreck the world -- Jesus saves." Nabors is really in the business of eyesore removal. He knows his slogan helps people remember him. "It’s an eye-catcher," Nabors says. "It’s not everybody who’s got one of these." The slogans also serve as reminders to Nabors’ drivers, who don"t need a 1-800 number to help them drive friendly. "There’s no place to hide in one of those." Nabors says "I’ve got a 30-foot billboard on every one of them." "Ain’t many people advertise for the Lord," Nabors says. "Most people advertise for the devil."

We sure can't knock success -- Billy found a niche market that gets folks looking his way if they need demolition and looking his way to point them to Jesus. I'd say Billy found a winning combination.

We should be taking a fresh look at our personal branding a lot more often and a lot more seriously. Jesus branding was “He went about doing good and healing everyone” Acts 10:38. What does OUR branding say about us? Is our branding, and the way we live, good advertising for God, too? Just think about it. We represent Jesus in the world. We are a face of Christianity. Shouldn't we be living our lives in a way that exhibits the fruit of His Spirit (love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control) and letting our billboards and brands be lit up with His light?

If we live out loud in His light and spotlighting Him, then just maybe folks will want to buy our products and our message and even be drawn to His LIGHT because of what they see in our brand!

"In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:16.