Straighten Your Crown, Your Royal Highness!

Yesterday my post featured the blessings of God's inheritance for His children. But not only do we have an inheritance, we are royalty in the family of God! 1 Peter 2:9 says “You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light.”

The apostle, Peter, is reminding us of our status as sons and daughters of God; that we are heirs and heiresses to Jesus’ rewards. I've latched onto the word “royalty” and I own it. To me, it means “You’re powerful because of God in you!” What if we actually saw ourselves as the royal daughters and sons of God?

I've always associated royalty and heirs as an entitlement, privileged, born with a silver spoon in their mouth. Not so in God's royal family. We are invited to freely receive the blessings and fruit of royalty because Christ is our BIG brother. Romans 8:31: "What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all -- how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?" How can that be? It's because of God’s amazing grace.

So, we really are royalty and royalty comes with responsibilities. As royal daughters and sons of the Most High God, we should be distinctly aware of our unique position to influence others by our behavior and words. Royalty knows that everything they say will be scrutinized so we must be conscious of our words and actions to make sure others feel loved, cherished, and valued. When we know we are royalty, other people seem to know it too. Even if they can’t explain what it is, people will want our time, attention, words of affirmation and just to be around us.

If we truly believed we are heirs to heaven, would we spend so much time worrying about little things or what someone thinks about us? Knowing how securely placed we are, how loved we are, and how provided for we are, we would start to take on a royal mindset. No longer would we be striving for more money, more power, more followers, or to be “the best.” We’d be pursuing excellence in our work and ministries, by putting people first by loving well, forgiving well, taking criticism with grace and setting examples with how we love and raise our families.

Everyone is craving intimacy with God whether they know it or not, and an encounter with you could be a taste of that for them. All it requires is our agreement with who God says we are. Believe Him when He says, “YOU ARE ROYALTY.” Now, go straighten your crown and go about Kingdom business, Your Royal Highness!

I'm So Glad I'm a Part of the Family of God

Yesterday my post was about being a part of the Family of God and how our Father always has His arms open wide to His nice, and even sometimes naughty, kids. He's ready to invite them to sit at His royal table and feast with Him, along with so many other “royal” benefits. It's ours for the taking. We just accept His invitation to come into the family and then play by His rules which include integrity and honor and when we make mistakes and ask for His forgiveness, He always forgives. He especially asks us to hold to His number one requirement: to love Him and each other as we love ourselves. As one of His adopted kids, I assure you, there is nothing like being part of the Family of God.

Christmas and the New Year are drawing near. Many of us look forward to spending more time with family while others find this holiday season to be an especially painful reminder of people they miss, broken relationships and their deep longing to be surrounded by a loving family. The good news is, as children of God who have been adopted into His royal family, we have an unlimited supply of brothers and sisters! It’s like an old song written by Bill and Gloria Gaither:
“You will notice we say “brother” and “sister” around here;
It’s because we’re a family and these folks are so near.
When one has a heartache we all share the tears,
And rejoice in each victory in this family so dear.
I’m so glad I’m a part of the family of God!
I’ve been washed in the fountain, cleansed by His blood.
Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel this sod,
For I’m part of the family, the family of God.

Let me tell you about this "family" from personal experience. I grew up in this family because my parents introduced me to the Father, God, and I invited Jesus, His Son, into my heart as a young child. That’s the “orientation” to coming into the family. John 3:16 explains it this way: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son and ALL who believe in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” Wow! How’s that for benefits….believing equals eternal life with Him in this family forever and ever!

Growing up in this family, I was around folks that pursued God in their walk and talk and it left an “eternal” impression on me. I wanted to be just like them. I witnessed how this family sticks together. We’re brothers and sisters and when one hurts, everyone hurts and when one has a victory, we all celebrate with them. We met together at church, became part of groups that created fellowship, grew together in learning more about God and His Word, and we were forged together when we locked arms and arms in making it through joyful and tough times.

In this family, there were baby showers where “the sisters” lavished gifts and blessings on the hopeful new parents that would soon welcome their new baby. Then, those same sisters, bearing lots of food for the new parents, brought relief to them when they had added pressure with that new little bundle of joy and lots of sleepless nights. Then there were the brothers in the family who helped another brother out when he had lost his job and they shouldered up to him and gave him encouragement and even helped him find a new job. I witnessed those brothers and sisters caring for my mom and me when my dad passed away. They brought us food and I saw them hugging and loving on my mom and me which brought us so much comfort. Later, I knew that comfort when my brothers and sisters encouraged my husband and me when he became so sick, but our freezer was so full of food that I had to ask them to slow down. I know what it is to have brothers and sisters in the Family of God.

Most recently, I’ve witnessed how the brothers and sisters at my church have come to support and love a precious family going through a major crisis that has resulted in so many needs. Of course, fervent prayer was the first thing we did, then tangible things were done: their home was cleaned, a food chain started, groups got together to go and encourage and support them financially and spiritually, and there have been so many social media posts that offered encouragement and notes assuring continued prayer. And, for me, my brothers and sisters in Christ are my own personal cheerleading team when they follow me on social media and when I speak at ministry events. They keep “pushing” me to be the best “sister” in the family. I strive for that!

I am utterly convinced that the Family of God will stand by you in thousands of ways if you’ll get to know the family, hang out with them, serve with them and do life with them. None of us deserve it and haven’t earned it. We were just born into it. They’ll treat you like royalty, too, because you are! We are. We’re children of the King.

I’m All Grown Up, But I’m Still a Kid

I embraced every minute of precious family time during Thanksgiving week. My family is right up there at the top of my “gratitude” list. We are a diverse family with diverse interests and diverse ways of life. None of us were cut from the same mold, but we have this one thing in common – we are family. I came from a middle-class family. We didn't have much, but we had all we needed. We knew love, but by no means did we know royalty and wealth, or the social graces that went along with it.

But, then, one day, I came into a royal family -- the Family of God -- not as a result of merit or anything I earned or was born into, but I was adopted into this wonderful Family of God. It was simply because I asked to come in, and I believed the Father of this royal family has a very special Son Who paid a hefty price for me to be welcomed into the family. I didn't have to pay my way in -- I just had to believe in HIS royal family. And, guess what! You have been invited into the FAMILY, too! The invitation goes out to "Whoever believes in HIM....."

There are no adults in the Family of God. Father God only has children. Adults complicate things. They try to figure out what's next, how, why, where and when. Kids just say "Okay!" They just believe. I believed. Stuff happens. No problem. My Father has everything under control. And, He keeps telling us to "Be like children" who just believe.

While doing a lot of my holiday baking, I watched a sweet and tender Hallmark Christmas movie. I’ll admit it. I’m a “Hallmark” junkie – just knowing that the movie is going to end with a sappy, predictable ending, makes me happy. I saw one where two children whose Mom and Dad had died in an automobile accident. Their very wealthy grandfather (who they had never met) asked them to come to visit him at his royal mansion in England. Once they were there, they had all the privileges that their lineage provided -- sitting at the grandfather's table, eating the best of foods, wearing elaborate clothes provided by the grandfather, being served by the maids and butlers. They didn't even know their grandfather before, but all their lives, royalty was waiting for them. But, to live in the grandfather's home, they had to change some of their rough ways. And they did because they wanted to please the grandfather. And when they pleased him, he just kept pouring on the blessings to them.

Once we come into the royal Family of God, we should have a hard time being disobedient children. If we daily make a purpose to NOT disappoint our Heavenly Father, He'll keep pouring His blessings on us. If we abide in Him, and His Word abides in us, then we'll have a hard time messing up. We just don't want to take a chance on disappointing our Father. Still, I have disappointed Him. But when I did, His grace flowed out to me. His nature IS love and grace. It's going to be Christmas in just a few weeks, and if we gave our kids a gift, we would never want them to turn to us and say, "What do I owe you for this?" No, we would simply say to them, "I so love you and want to bless you."
The man in the movie had to discipline those grandkids from time to time for being naughty. And there's also a judgment side to God, but if we obey Him, we'll never see it. There's a judgment side to us, but if our kids obey us, they'll never see that judgment.

Today, our Heavenly Father has His arms open wide to His naughty or nice kids out there. He's ready to bless them. He's ready to invite them to sit at His royal table and feast and dine with Him. It's ours for the taking. Now let's throw our hands up in the air and shout out, "CHOOSE ME!"

1 John 3:1 "See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him."

Never a Birth Announcement Like This One!

Don’t you love it when a friend or family member shares the good news "We are Expecting!" in a cute photo -- long before the baby's birth -- and then is followed up a few months later by the BIG announcement to the world that their baby has arrived?

As cute as those birth announcements are, can you imagine a birth that a mere photo or card could not contain the grandeur and magnificence of this baby's birth? Not even a baby born to England's royal family provided this sort of announcement. This announcement was so colossal that all you had to do was look up at the sky and you saw it. And, that, my friends, is the way Father God, He Who created the heavens and the earth, and all that's in it, would announce the birth of His BOY!

What a MASTER Plan! He flung ONE colossal star in the sky to let us know that He was giving us mere mortals the STAR OF THE SHOW! Oh, there were always plenty of stars that lit up the skies to declare His glory and His grand and majestic creation, but THIS night, He placed a brilliant, glorious STAR there that would point the way to the ONE TRUE LIGHT. All other stars in the sky, and all those who THINK they are "stars" on this earth, pale in comparison to that ONE TRUE STAR.

And this STAR, was also a travel guide that gave directions to the maji and led them to where THE STAR lived. Those Wise Men knew that this STAR was the promised gift from heaven. Yes, they brought gifts to Him to show their worship, but they went away KNOWING their gifts were insignificant to the GIFT He gave them. They received HOPE for their future, JOY for their journey, PEACE for their soul, and LOVE that exceeded anything or anyone.

And the foremost point of this post today is..... that ONE TRUE LIGHT shines ever so brightly for us -- leading and guiding us. This world has plenty of darkness in it, but no worries -- because THE STAR and LIGHT shines brighter than EVER. And, like the Wise Men leaving with greater gifts than they brought to Him, that HOPE, JOY, PEACE, and LOVE are our gifts, too, FREELY given, and as we stay close to the STAR's brilliant LIGHT, and accept HIS gifts to us, we'll NEVER be in darkness.

Let this song resonate in your heart and soul as we move into the most beautiful night of all nights! I guarantee you will get chills Join with me in watching this gorgeous rendition of “Angels We Have Heard on High” (Gloria in Excelsis Deo).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5mdybeyLVc

A Queen's Responsibility? Sharing Love and Joy is a MUST!

This first photo is one of the first my friends, Charles Michie and Sheila Michie, took when we arrived together in Rome. It continued to be a photo shared of "the queen"! LOL! Not by planning, but I guess providence, I stood exactly under a crown on the Roma photo. So, I guess, if the crown fits, then I'll just wear it! And, our guide in Israel, continued to call me Queen Donna. I should go ahead and own that title.

After all, I am certainly in the royal family of God, and I like to think that being in that royal family has its privileges of being loved and favored, but along with royal privileges, comes royal responsibilities. I know that I should always be sharing my Father's love and joy, because that's just Who He is -- the Giver of life -- and the Giver of joy and love.

I drove to Austin early yesterday morning. It's a BIG birthday month for my champ, Brennan (the BIG 13) and my son, Ryan (the BIG 50)! I can hardly believe I said those words, because it puts a number on me! LOL! 68 to be exact! Thanks be to God for birthdays! Celebrating birthdays of friends and family is one of the sweetest ways to celebrate life. If we're having birthdays, we're still here, so God's plans and purposes for our lives are still in progress. Jeremiah 1:5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, (even before our birth-day, He knew us), before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” Aw! We're all prophets to declare the good news and good word to those around us.

I took "joy" with me when I left Frisco, because I realize all the joys of the past, and all the months and years that lie ahead, and I plan to pass those blessings on.

The love we have for God and for each other should be passed along -- like a contagious virus -- except a contagious flood of love and joy. Ever noticed how showing a little love to someone can change their mood from sour to sweet in a matter of a little hug or a little word of kindness? We can shed a little sunshine in the heart of one and that one is cheered to pass it on, and so God's vitalizing joy-giving message goes on.

A few days ago, Bryson (the 10 year old) had to have oral surgery -- an unneeded tooth taken out, and he hadn't been feeling so good. I got here in time to wake him up with tickles and hugs and a Super Bryson story. He was full of joy and energy. His mom told me that they hadn't seen that energy since his surgery. I like to think it was me, but it was more about the transmission of joy. The veterinarian came by the house today to check the animals -- the longhorn, goats and donkeys and to teach Bryson (their caregiver) how to give them medicine. Bryson sure snapped out of his doldrums and into a boy who loves his animals. He caught the love, laughter and cheer. And, so did Brennan when his friends gave him a birthday cake! We came home and I shared about my Israel trip and gave them all their Israel treasures. I loved being a transmitter of love, laughter, and cheer!

Yes, I'm feeling the love since I arrived with a big chocolate cake in hand, along with the presents from the Holy Lands for all, as well as birthday presents for my boys. I see God in giving gifts. I see God in the laughter of these children and I see God in the tender loving care that their mom and dad give them. It only takes a spark to get a fire of love going. It seems to be burning brightly here in Austin

LOVE is Family

Day 27 in the Month of Love -- Love is Family

I'm just giving a shout out to God for His blessings to me -- especially, in this season of my life, when my time is more flexible and with that flexibility, I get to spend quality times with my sweet family. For two weeks, I'm here with my Washington family, and then next month, I head to Texas for a love fest there.

Here's some of the joys that awaited me in WA: Thursday night was Brennan's band concert. Of course this Nana was as proud as I could be and had to take before and after shots. Then, yesterday morning, as usual, there was a lot of energy at the Wuerch household. The boys were up and ready for school without even having to ask them. After all, it was "hot chocolate day" and they don't have to wait outside for the bell to ring. They can go right on in to the gymnasium and be with their friends early before school.

Before leaving for school, we had breakfast, they practiced spelling for their tests later in the day, and we talked about what our day would hold. I love taking the boys to school, and I don't miss the opportunity to pray with them on the way. I had just started praying "Dear Jesus, thank you so much for this day! Whoa -- look at that view!"

The boys both laughed at the interruption, but actually, it was a God interruption. It was a crystal clear morning and the grandeur of the Olympic Mountains in the West captured my attention. I stopped momentarily for Brennan to take this photo of the mountains. Brennan said, "Nana, it's okay for you to stop. You stopped to see God." Whoa -- He was right! I agreed and told the boys that God wanted to get our attention.....and He did. Yes, God let us see the beauty of His creation and be captivated by it. Awe-inspiring!

As precious as my family and yours may be, just think about the great privilege we have in being a part of the Family of God. When we place our faith in Christ, God becomes our Father, we become His children, and other believers become our brothers and sisters. God's great big wonderful family. "Jesus pointed to His disciples and said, These are my mother and brothers. Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother!" Matthew 12:49-50. And being in this royal family means we're a part of something so very wonderful. It means we will love and be loved for the rest of our lives....and beyond. It means we share each other's sorrows AND victories. We encourage and support each other. We're there for each other. I'd say that's a family to rejoice about. Welcome to God's great big wonderful family!

Royalty Comes With Great Responsibility

Day 135 of Photo Inspirations -- Royalty Comes With Great Responsibility
Deacon Nelson Sousa​'s messages always inspire me, but yesterday when he talked about his Portuguese heritage, my ears really perked up. He told how his family migrated here from the Portuguese Islands of the Azores.  I was just there a few weeks ago.  I immediately had a visual of that beautiful island. I walked the streets, went into the churches and cathedrals, shopped in the little stores, took photos of the treasures there.  But what touched me most about his message were the beautiful Portuguese Easter traditions that they brought here with them, and still maintain those customs today.

Those customs are attributed to Portugal's Queen Elizabeth, a Spanish princess given in marriage to King Denis of Portugal in the 1200s.  She was well known for going to the countryside and taking food to the poor peasant children, but she'd also take her crown with her for the children to put on. As she placed the crown on their heads, she would remind them that regardless of their situation in life, as children of God, they are royalty because they are members of God's royal family.  Queen Elizabeth (St. Elizabeth) became known for practicing this custom throughout her life.  It was her way of spreading the Gospel message to simply remind us all that we are God's children.

Every Sunday during the Easter season, the Portuguese children of the church were invited up to the altar -- where they were crowned with the crown of the Holy Spirit.  While they were being crowned, the priest would remind them, and everyone else in attendance, the words St. Elizabeth spoke many years ago.  "Remember, that as a child of God, you are royalty.  You are a member of His royal family."

Nelson heard those words so much that they served as a challenge and as a reminder about the responsibility of a crown-bearer; the appropriate conduct of a child of God's family.  He said it personally made him think about the words he used to speak to those he'd encounter.  The more he thought about it, the more, as a child of God, he realized that he shouldn't be using words that contained bad language.  It caused him to avoid participating in gossip and spreading rumors about others.

And it made me think, WE ARE God's children, and that makes us royalty.  Holy Spirit continues to work with us to become good examples of what it means to become one of God's children.  Holy Spirit constantly urges us to speak a different language from the world.  Royalty doesn't speak "commoner" language.  Royalty comes with great responsibility.  We represent the Royal Family -- God's Family.  Our responsibility is to live our lives as examples of God's language of love, forgiveness, gentleness, kindness, and peace, as well as sharing all of that with others so that they, too, will know they are also royal children of God.

Meeting Elvis Presley -- the King of Rock n' Roll

I’ll never forget the day I met Elvis Presley. My young husband and I were in Memphis, TN, attending a Gospel Quartette Convention, and my husband’s piano teacher, as a child, was Joe Moscheo, who had become the piano player for the Imperials Quartette. The Imperials, at that time, were the back-up singers for Elvis, and little did we know that he would be at the convention. He came just to walk on stage, so the Imperials could honor and thank him for his generosity to them and for elevating their careers.

Joe had given us advance notice, and invited us back stage to see Elvis before he left the building. My heart was racing – Elvis had been my teenage idol. I was a basket case – just thinking that I could potentially get near him. Back in those days, we used cassette players to record. I was doing that with the music of the convention, but now, when I saw Elvis coming toward me, I quickly put the recorder on. Elvis nodded at me, and as he passed me, I reached out and touched his shoulder, and shrilled into my recorder “I JUST TOUCHED ELVIS PRESLEY!!!!” I was enamored, and all I could think about was the thrill I felt from meeting “Elvis – the King of Rock n’ Roll”!!! My precious husband enabled the whole experience. In fact, he also admired him as an amazing musical talent. I thought about it over and over, and here I am, almost 45 years later, still talking about that encounter.

But that encounter with Elvis, didn't hold a candle to what I found to be the REAL DEAL! In fact, this REAL DEAL didn't just nod and pass me by either. I am ever so grateful for the encounter with THE King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Jesus Christ, that I continue to talk about. There is nothing, or no one, to compare to the encounters I have with Him on a daily basis. While seeing Elvis gave me a momentary thrill......knowing Jesus has changed my life forever. My joy, peace, comfort and hope for tomorrow lies in knowing Him. The more I encounter Him in my prayers and praises, the more I think about Him. And the more I think about Him, the closer I want to be to Him, and best of all, I'll get to be with Him forever. How sweet it is to have a relationship with THE King, and even better, that I’m a part of His royal family.

Have you met Him? I can get you better than a "back-stage" pass. I'd love to introduce you to Him, and get you a one-way ticket to heaven someday. You'll find Him to be a friend that is closer than anyone you will ever know, and I guarantee you....that encounter is one that will change YOUR life forever!