'We Declare that Mothers are Heroes'

That was The Washington's Post's headline yesterday. Other comments from other news organizations said, "In a pivotal year in the legal battle over abortion, crowds estimated at over 100,000 of anti-abortion activists gathered in Washington, D.C., on Friday for the annual March for Life that featured President Donald Trump as the first sitting president to appear in person at the event in its 47-year history." I heard the sound of a heavenly army of angels singing "Glory to God in the highest!" Calling it a “profound honor" to be the first president to attend, he said that "unborn children have never had a stronger defender in the White House," citing his own actions. Of course the other side sites his words are for politcal gain, I wouldn't care if he was. He's putting his words to action.

My post today is dedicated to heroes of a different kind. They are the ones who put actions to their words. They, “literally” walk-the-walk, NOT, just talk-the-talk. I can’t begin to thank God enough for being alive to see God's love-in-action like I saw in those supporting the right to life yesterday. Lovers love by fearless, uncompromising love-in-action actions. Can’t you see what love looks like in these marchers? And, our President? Well, his actions are speaking for themselves. Who would want to be on a side that doesn't defend life? I can’t put it into better words than what Tulsa’s Bishop David Konderla says here:

“You are my heroes! You inspire me and make me proud! You are young and old, but mostly young, carrying the future in your pockets. You come from all over the country enduring long bus rides and trips in cars and sleepless nights. You brave freezing cold and possible rain or snow, standing and walking for hours. Many call you the Pro-Life Generation; I call you heroes. You come to witness and to celebrate and to mourn and pray.

Witness to the dignity of every human life from conception to natural death. Celebrate the turning of the tide of our nation as we grow in numbers and move ever closer to overturning the stain that is Roe v Wade. Mourn for the lives lost and the hearts of parents broken because of a choice they wish they could take back. Pray for the healing of all and the conversion of those who still cling to the tired, old propaganda of choice. How sad for them, growing old and facing the end of their lives or political careers trying to defend the indefensible. How could anyone plan to explain to God that to the end of their life they clung stubbornly to the idea that freedom means being able to take the innocent lives of those He loves?

You are going to win! But you won’t win through marches. Marches are for witness and celebration and mourning and prayer. You will win through lives committed to God, the giver of life. You will win through the timeless beauty of modesty and chastity which prepare the heart and the soul for faithful marriage open to the gift of all the children that God desires to give. These children raised to know and love God and coming in ever greater numbers will be heroes too and will take their faith and their place in the public square and will win our nation for life. So march, heroes of life, and live Godly lives and receive the blessings of God and the thanks of a grateful nation.”

Super Special Because of Who Created Us

Happy 13th Birthday, Super Bryson! So my precious Bryson, the youngest of my seven awesome grandkids, turns a big 13! What??? He’s a teenager now! How can it be? This boy that still holds my hand when we walk and still wants to sleep with me in that big king-sized bed in the guest bedroom. Oh, the joy he gives his Nana! His birthday is the day after his Papa’s graduation to heaven. How befitting that one day meant an earth to heaven departure and the next day represents a heaven on earth celebration of the life of a sweet boy who fills me up with so much joy.

I celebrated with him last week when I was in Austin while his mom and dad were away. This morning, he’ll open this birthday card and some dosh left over from the hat he wanted at Crux Climbing Center and the yo-yo – and, I might add -- that he has mastered quite amazingly – he’s got the “around-the-world” trick down that I taught him. This card awaits him this morning when the family will have their traditional "special plate" breakfast. This card represents last year that was filled with him taking his love for climbing trees, houses, poles, rock walls and fences (anything climbable) and taking it to a whole new level at the climbing wall gyms and yesterday, literally climbing a mountain with his instructor.

He still wants me to tell him "Super Bryson" stories at bedtime, but 13 means he tells me "Super Nana" stories. The most recent one was about Super Nana and how she was about to battle a bad guy that came out of a volcano but she had to put the bad guy on "pause" because she had to go write a blog. LOL! She finished the blog and went back and annialiated the bad guy. No question -- that story is inspired by them seeing me so devoted to my blogging!

While I'm celebrating my sweet boy's birthday today, I'm thinking about the most important thing we can do for others is to celebrate them and help them to know THEY MATTER. Why does it matter? Because it matters to our Creator. He specifically planned each of us individually and uniquely with the funny little quirky smile we might have, the color of our hair and eyes, the freckles on our nose. We are so special that His eyes are on us ALL the time. He knows everything about us. We're His special treasures......and He thinks about us ALL THE TIME....so shouldn't we think about others in a way that God uses our arms to hug them, our mouths to tell them how special and beautiful they are. After all, they're our sisters and our brothers in this royal family of God. I can't explain it in mere words, but God can, and here's why I am PRO-LIFE and what makes us ALL so SUPER special to Him:

Psalm 139:1-5;13-18 "O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit or stand. When far away you know my every thought. You chart the path ahead of me and tell me where to stop and rest. Every moment you know where I am. You know what I am going to say before I even say it. You both precede and follow me and place your hand of blessing on my head. You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit them together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! It is amazing to think about. Your workmanship is marvelous—and how well I know it. You were there while I was being formed in utter seclusion! You saw me before I was born and scheduled each day of my life before I began to breathe. Every day was recorded in your book! How precious it is, Lord, to realize that you are thinking about me constantly! I can’t even count how many times a day your thoughts turn toward me. And when I waken in the morning, you are still thinking of me!"

Help Us Lord! We Don't Know What to Do!

We've all been there. There -- where the answers don't come -- where the plans are uncertain. Where everyone is counting on us and we want to count the steps to the exit. Where there is a mob raising havoc in our lives -- the relentless, negativity mob we hear bashing our president, screaming ugly and hateful remarks against we pro-lifers, Bible-toters, God and country lovers. Did I at least cover one of the areas where you need to know what to do next instead of our usual responses:
~~ "I don't know what to do...so I'll eat another cookie."
~~ “I don’t know what to do…so I’m going to listen to the latest news commentator."
~~ “I don’t know what to do…so I’m going to try harder to please everyone.”
OR -- in big red, bold lettering......"I don't know what to do....but I'm going to find out what God's Word tells me what to do at times like this!"

Maybe we don't know what to do, but we go to our WHO -- Who does! We need to follow our Leader and leaders He used to show us the way. One such leader is King Jehoshaphat who spoke those same words when a vast army was approaching. But, in that scary moment he said this: “Lord, we don’t know what to do…but our eyes are upon You.” 2 Chronicles 20:12 At times like that -- it's not the WHAT but the WHO we go to.

Jehosaphat does something we won’t find in any military briefing. He puts the worshippers in front of the army and leads with the singers and the praisers. Their attention is on God -- our great Defender -- Mighty in battle -- our Rock -- our Shield -- our Fortress -- our Victor -- our great I AM -- our Hope -- our burden removing, yoke destroying Waymaker, Miracle Worker. That's Who He is and He is the answer to "I don't know what to do!" And King Jehoshaphat's armies watched the enemy forces fight and destroy each other. When the army of Judah overlooked the battlefield, they saw only dead bodies on the ground. No one had escaped.

What an amazing testimony to the power of faith, prayer, and praise, and that same power is available to us today. Praise is the voice of faith. So if you are unsure about what to do today, if the enemy is coming and the battle is raging and maybe you have even been wounded -- stand your ground and raise your voice. Speak the truth about Who God is and what He has done. About how big He is. How much He loves us. The ways He has always held the universe and our little part of it in His hands.

We cannot lose with Him. We cannot be overcome. As I type this I think of the stories of some of my champion friends who have plenty of battle scars but they are still raising invisible swords as they praise and worship God. To be a worshipper is to be a warrior. Jehoshaphat won his battle. We will too. We think we must know what to do. But in reality all we really need to know is Who. Because that is what makes the difference. That is what matters. When it looks like you’re surrounded, remind the enemy how you fight your battles – not with a sword or spear or fear or worry – remind him that you are surrounded by the Lord God of hosts by praising and worshiping Him.

Being Careful but NOT Judgmental

I want to be very careful with my words today because I cringe with the thought that I could sound judgmental. I don't get into politics much, though I am adamant in my position which I think is obvious for Who I follow -- our Abundant Life Provider (John 10:10). Maybe I'm naiive because I assume that those I chum with at church, events and various organizations follow my set of values, principles and God's ways according to His Word. But, shock and awe -- not everyone sees my way of thinking! How can it be? 😉

Such was the case when a friend expressed that she is pro-choice and anti most everything else I stand for. I could have been knocked over with a gentle breeze. I was numb, couldn't even respond and just walked away. A week later I heard that my walk-away meant that I was mad. I quickly asked for forgiveness for the impression I left. At first I thought I'd provide a list of reasons for my position, but then I thought "What would Jesus do?" And, immediately the Fruit of the Spirit -- the qualities that I want "fruitful" in my life, came to mind. So, I expressed my appreciation and love and that "our politics and persuasions" don't make a difference in that love. Between you and me, I'm praying that God will draw her to Himself and clarity comes to her.

Here's what I know. I know we shouldn't judge others, lest we be judged (Matthew 7:1-3). But, I figure it's quite alright to inspect the fruit in my own life and be my own "fruit inspector". I can judge me. Matthew 7:20 says "Therefore, by their fruit you will recognize them." WOW! That’s how we’re recognized as devoted followers of Christ, or not. By our "fruit". So as fruit inspectors, first, we need to pass the test on the fruit we, ourselves, are bearing. It will be obvious, not by judging, but by inspecting where people are at by the fruit they bear also.

It is "fruit bearing" season. "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." (Galatians 5:22-23) I'm checking out the "freshness" of my fruit even as I type this blog. As we experience the Holy Spirit's work in our lives, those beautiful attributes and characteristics of the FRUIT of the Holy Spirit will thrive and flourish in our lives. As believers, we know Holy Spirit is in us so we already have the good soil, fertilizer, nutrients and everything else we need to be good FRUIT bearers.

With all the craziness of politics and a world of unrest and pain, we can still find beautifully, mixed-in times of thanksgiving and gratitude. It's the perfect time to settle down to be drawn into a place of intimacy with God and inspect the good or bad fruit we may be bearing. Perhaps, a self-fruit-introspection is what will make us true "Fruit of the Spirit" fruit bearers that cause others to desire that fruit in their own lives, too. Lord, let it be!

Before You Were Born, You Were Set Apart

On Fridays, I attend a Book of Galatians Bible Study. During the week before, we complete the homework of the session and during class, we go around our table and provide our answers to the questions. Yesterday, at my turn, the question was: “In verse 15 (of Galatians 1), Paul says "God chose me before I was born”. What does this teach us about the call of God?”

I was excited to respond to this question because, when I first read it, I knew the answer. Those “before I was born” words gave it away. I knew Paul often referred, in his writings, to scriptures from the Old Testament. I remembered Jeremiah 1:5 “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you. Before you were born, I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” Paul knew that he had been called from his mother’s womb – which meant that Paul was PRO-LIFE! I am PRO-LIFE because I believe that I, too, was called from my mother’s womb, and, so were you! My mom wasn’t excited when she heard that she was pregnant (12 years after having my sister). She thought she was done with child-bearing and could have been one of those who chose death over life. But, thank God, she chose life and not only was I her “baby” all 94 years of her life, but she was my ministry "baby" after my dad passed away. God set me apart to be her caregiver, and I thank God for that privilege.

I thought back to the National Pro-Life Prayer Luncheon that I attended on Monday. I was there to support LIFE and help provide God-given options to those who were making the decision to bring (or not bring) their baby full term to life. To say that I was proud to be counted among those men and women who are for life from conception puts it mildly. It is heart-wrenching to think that anyone could believe otherwise, especially when we read Paul’s and Jeremiah’s words that speak of the calling of God on our lives BEFORE we were we were even formed in our mothers' wombs.

A beautiful man, who is a stay-at-home dad for his family, sits next to me with his two-month-old baby girl. I chose that seat from the outset of the study. He gives me the joy of cuddling his little angel during the study. Be still, my heart! He commented after the response to my question: “Just think about the babies who have been killed by abortion whose lives were stolen from being prophets to our nation!”

You’ve probably heard about the “Unplanned” movie coming out on March 29th which reveals the story of former Planned Parenthood Clinic Director, Abby Johnson, who was responsible for convincing 22,000+ women to have abortions. She had never seen an abortion from an ultrasound until her clinic was short a staff member and needed her to hold the scope for the abortionist. She was devastated at what she saw, went on to resign, became a Pro-Life advocate, wrote a book that fully disclosed the horror and was later approached by movie directors to produce the movie. She, and the actress, Ashley Bratcher, who plays her in the movie, gave their stories at the luncheon. Most compelling was hearing Ashley tell her mother's story. She knew that her mother had an abortion at age 16, but her mother also revealed that she almost had an abortion at 19 when she was pregnant with Ashley. She said her mom was at the abortion clinic in the examination room, but changed her mind when a pregnant nurse entered the room. "I got up and I walked out and I chose you," Bratcher recalled her mom saying, "And I never knew that. It blows my mind."

I share this story with you today because my heart is so torn to know we live in a city, a state, a country where abortion is just casual conversation. It is a birth-control measure, instead of being a people who are responsible, caring about God’s Word, His words of life – like Jeremiah 1:5. "Before I formed YOU -- I set you apart......to be LIFE-GIVERS!