Happy St. Patrick’s Day – Why I Love the Cross

Amidst all our attention to the C-virus, I want to give attention to the cross of our Savior who took on all our sins and diseases. Now, we can profess the Apostle Peter's words and claim them as true for us: "He himself bore our sins in his body upon the cross, so that, free from sin, we might live for righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed." (1 Peter 2:24)

I treasure this Celtic cross. It is said that the Celtic cross was introduced by St Patrick, who was attempting to convert the pagan Irish to Christianity. Some of the pagans worshiped the sun, so Patrick combined the Christian cross with the circular pattern of the sun as a way to associate light and life with the Christian cross in the minds of his converts.

My husband loved St. Patrick and his heart for evangelization. St. Patrick was his patron saint (a saint who intercedes for you). He wore this Celtic cross most all the time. Today, it’s one of my treasured possessions. I wear it often. I’m wearing it today as a reminder of St. Patrick’s and my husband’s love for Christ. I’m also wearing green and having my own St. Paddy’s Day celebration and having sweet memories -- especially those of St. Patrick whose great faith changed the lives of so many.

St. Patrick was born A.D. 389 in England. At 16, was kidnapped and sold as a slave in Ireland. Six years later he escaped and returned home to Britain, but became burdened for the spiritual condition of the Irish. He returned to their land as a missionary for 30 years where he established more than 200 churches and led more than 100,000 to faith in Christ. He used the 3-leaf shamrock to explain the Trinity. His death on March 17, 461 is remembered each year as St. Patrick’s Day.

Here we are – still reeling with all the concerns of the coronavirus. Most of us staying confined to our “safe place”. Can you imagine what must have gone through Patrick’s mind when he heard the Lord’s call to return to the land where he was once a slave? Instead of running to his safe place, he followed God’s plan for his life. And, isn’t that exactly what we are called to do?

Listen to how utterly consumed St. Patrick was in his relationship with God in his Breastplate Prayer: ”I arise today through God’s strength to pilot me, God’s might to uphold me, God’s wisdom to guide me, God’s eye to look before me, God’s ear to hear me, God’s word to speak for me, God’s hand to guard me. Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left, Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise. Christ in the heart of everyone one who thinks of me, Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me, Christ in every eye that sees me, Christ in every ear that hears me. I arise today through His mighty strength.” That prayer tells me St. Patrick wanted to be consumed by God!

And, that’s what I believe would provide 100% protection from any plague or disease. If we became saturated – through and through with Christ, and His precious blood that He shed for you and me, then we would be invincible and impenetrable.

St. Patrick boldly listened to God’s call for his life and achieved so much for God’s glory. His witness, his prayers, and his example should be celebrated today. This blog and the green I wear today honors him and honors the God he served. I’m in good company with him because I also desire to be consumed by Christ. St. Patrick’s prayer is my prayer, too!

Our Secret Place

I receive daily emails from a ministry that sincerely seeks God for His daily thoughts. These were the words God gave them for us yesterday that really resonated within my heart: “When you feel vulnerable, make a concerted effort to do what it takes to be as safe as possible. However, you must not forget that abiding in Me is your ultimate security. I am your safe harbor in the midst of a storm. Come and hide yourself in Me, says the Lord." ~~ Psalm 27:5 “For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; in the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock.”

Like me, do you ever feel vulnerable – even just a little bit? My vulnerable times are when I come home late at night and have that initial eerie feeling of walking into my dark home; driving in torrential rain; waiting for a doctor’s diagnosis; when I’m speaking up in a meeting; or the times when I’m about to go on stage to speak for an event. And, what I do to be and feel as safe as possible, is to pull out the “big girl antidote” of praying for the sense of peace that comes from He Who is our peace.

God really is our safe place and when we abide in Him, He does bring us ultimate security. I love that line “Come and hide yourself in Me!” I was with my computer technician yesterday and while he was explaining new features he had added to my computer, I was explaining my 911 emergency number to him. It’s Psalm 91:1 “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High will abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” When I need peace and a sense of safety, I quickly resort to my Secret Place – to the place and to the One who quickly restores my peace.

The shepherd boy, David, and later, King David, knew that peace from an early age. And so did I. I don’t know what’s going on in your world today, but I’m quite sure I know that there will be times when you feel vulnerable and afraid. But, rather than staying there, we quickly realize those feelings don’t come from God, and we, assertively demobilize them by placing them in God’s hands in the Secret Place and sweet peace comes. It’s not a mind-over-matter moment. It’s a God-over-matter moment.

At my church, we say “The peace of the Lord be with you” and in reply we say, “and with your Spirit”. That is – God’s peace be with you – spirit, soul and body! That’s the full meal deal God gives us – without measure when we go to His “secret place”.

The Statue of Liberty: Welcome Home, You Tired and Weary

My youngest 11-year-old grandson, Bryson, was fit to be tied. He wanted to give his birthday present to me before anyone could give theirs. He was so excited as I opened the special box, padded so nicely with the treasure inside. It was this beautiful Statue of Liberty that he just had to have an engraved plaque added to it. Bryson and his dad went to see Lady Liberty a couple of weeks ago on their annual Dad/Son trip. It really is a precious treasure, now prominent on my fireplace mantle.

It brought back sweet memories of his Papa and me riding the ferry to Ellis Island to see her majesty in breathtaking reality -- she who offered freedom, hope and a new beginning to so many weary travelers from foreign lands years ago. Ellis Island is where the vast majority of immigrants stopped before being allowed into the U.S. I am reminded of Emma Lazarus' quote that is on the statue: “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.”

This post isn’t for debating the issue about the illegal immigrants' issue, but to share my own immigration story. In 1986, our family desired to move to Canada. My husband was a natural born Canadian citizen and a legal immigrant to the U.S. For us to move there, it meant that our children and I had to go through a rigorous "legal" process to obtain residency there. We had to complete stacks of documentation, have medical exams, attend interviews and go through a lengthy waiting period before getting to accompany my husband to his "home and native land".

Eventually, we were approved, and so was my mother who moved there with us. She received a Canadian pension as well as her U.S. social security and was blessed with no-cost medical treatments. I was blessed to be employed by the University of Manitoba and to this day, I still receive my Canadian pension. Our children became viable working people there. Our son, Ryan Wuerch became a top-selling realtor at the age of 19. Our daughter, Staci Wallace was Miss Manitoba, competed in the Miss Canada pageant and won the talent portion. She ran a modeling agency for malls and she represented Canada as a soloist in the 1986 Winter Olympics. We were so blessed.

Canada opened its doors to our children and me. We were aliens in a foreign land but were respected and given the rights of other Canadians, as we proved our value in the opportunities that Canada provided to us.

A couple of years ago, I attended a Tulsa Prayer Service for immigrants. Over 500 Latinos were being encouraged in their desires for immigration to the U.S. A grateful Spanish Pastor give his own story as a landed immigrant to the U.S. My heart was touched to see a room filled with people who sincerely desired the freedoms and the opportunities to live here. This pastor said “I know that many of you in this room are waiting for your permit. I know that you are here to work and not here for welfare or a hand-out. Most of you have valuable skills that can benefit this country. You are paying taxes every time you buy a hamburger and a pair of socks here. He urged them to pray for God's help, to save money, educate and prepare themselves for acceptance.

May God bless and answer the prayers of honest people who sincerely desire a safe place to raise their families, where they can do an honest day’s work for an honest day’s pay and a country that welcomes them as viable, contributing citizens.

And God bless all of us who realize that this world is not our final home. We are temporarily here on this earth as strangers and aliens in a foreign land. But, one day, we'll join together and in thunderous applause and cheers of joy and celebration, we'll see the banners and hear those beautiful words “Welcome Home!”

I Found a Special on Storm Shelters!

Oh. My. Goodness. The verbal wrangling and bickering in politics are enough to want to find a storm shelter and stay there until Jesus comes or at least until the storm passes over. Recently, I’ve heard commentators and read articles that declared “America is Facing Another Civil War”. And, others warn “We’re Facing World War III”.

Maybe you're a 50s or 60s child and, like me, you remember the Duck and Cover drills we did for personal protection in case of a nuclear attack which could have come at any time without warning. We’d hear the alarm sounding and then we’d rush to get in the fetal position, face down and covered our heads with our hands. I look at this photo and I wonder how in the world would that position have protected us?

There has ALWAYS been verbal wrangling and bickering and there have always been wars and rumors of wars since the beginning of time. Unfortunately, that hasn't changed. Matthew 24:6, says “you will hear about wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you’re not alarmed….”

Thank God FOR GOD! In reality, there seems to be no certainty in anything anywhere, EXCEPT that our God is stable, secure, and is our ANCHOR that holds in spite of storms, wars and any other force that comes against us. Bottom line. We can live unafraid because God is our rock, our refuge, our shelter in the time of any storm or war or any force that can come against us.
The most dependable, unshakeable HOPE we have during peace times AND perilous times is GOD HAS NOT CHANGED!! As God's children, we do not have to live in fear or defeat. Instead, as His kids, we go to our War/Storm/Crisis Shelter and that place is found in a 9-1-1 call. I call this number regularly.

Psalm 91:1 (911) "Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty."

If ever there was a time to find peace, security, and hope in our Father, it is now. He wants us to prepare and rise above these storms of life whether they are storms within our families, the storms of wars around our world or literal storms. It's time for us to pray passionately for the peace and presence of God in our lives. We need to pray for our world and the uncertainties that face mankind. We need to come back to our CENTER and find our peace in Him. Our peace is an incredible testimony in hard times and will help those around us to find Him as their Prince of Peace. He wants to make Himself known in the middle of the present shaking. I can't think of a better place to go to, and place to be than in God's shelter. This entire chapter is one I've prayed over my family for years. It is still relevant and precisely the "Word" for us today:

Psalm 91:1-16 -- "Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust." Surely He will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings, you will find refuge; His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked. If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling, no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent. For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent. “Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him My salvation.”

Who Are You Hanging Out With?

Day 349 of Photo Inspirations -- Who Are You Hanging Out With?
On Saturday, I went for my monthly weigh-in at Weight Watchers.  For 30+ years, Weight Watchers has been my accountability and sustainability partner to keep this girl in line when it comes to maintaining a healthy weight.  I reached my goal weight many years ago, but I still go in to be sure I'm still at goal.....and, it's a great way to be sure I'll stay on point for the Christmas holidays.

I've been wanting to highlight one of Weight Watchers leaders, Renny Berry​, for quite some time, and on Saturday, after visiting with him just a few minutes, I knew now was the time.  Often, when I go in for my monthly weigh-in, I see Renny there -- Mister Cheerleader extraordinaire -- ever cheery, energetic, effervescent, upbeat, and enthusiastic.   On Saturday, when I went in -- he was his usual self -- going to each member as they came through the door with hugs and doling out life-giving words that made each one feel like they were sincerely loved and appreciated.

Yes, we were "drinking the Renny koolade".  His computer was down so he couldn't help most of the ladies, but because I'm a lifetime member, he could weigh me and note my progress.  That's when I was able to tell him how much he blessed me each time I came in and how I would sure like to interview him for my blog.  He told me he could sum up who he is in one word.... "GRATITUDE".  He said, "Before I get out of bed every day, I think of 12 things I'm grateful for.  Living with an attitude of gratitude makes all the difference."  Immediately, I knew we were on the same "gratitude" page.

I, typically, just go in for my monthly weigh in, but, this day, he urged me to stay for the meeting, and I was so glad I did.  Not only was I inspired by his training about living a healthy lifestyle, hearing his own weight loss and well- being journey, but his overall optimism caused us to feel like we can accomplish anything with the right tools, goals, and undaunted persistence and determination.

As he spoke, I looked around the room and saw these posters that put everything Renny said into perspective.  I thought...."what a place to be -- this was a safe place -- it was an encouraging place -- it was a postive place".  And I thought about those of us who often hang out with negative folks, on purpose.  I thought about those who watch negative tv shows and listen to negative commentary on the radio, read it online and they just settle there.  And, have you noticed, negativity attracts negativity?  

I don't know about you, but I'm determined to go to places and hang out with folks that build me up, make me strive to be a better me, and make me look at the brighter side of life (one caveat is -- "unless God has me mentoring someone who needs my encouragement").  I think I'll just keep hanging out at church, at motivational meetings, at Weight Watchers, and with optimistic friends and family.  I like the way Jim Rohn puts it...."You can't soar with eagles if you're hanging out with turkeys."

I think I'll go soaring with my eagle friends today!

Thanking God For So Many Sisters

Day 241 of Photo Inspirations -- Thanking God For So Many SISTERS!
My world once revolved around my family.  And, quite frankly, I’m still at their beckoned call if they need me, and they are there for me if I need them, but I’m HERE and they’re THERE – in those seasons of THEIR lives and I’m in this season of MY life.

It's a new season.  My biological sisters graduated to heaven, but God has placed me with so many precious friendships that I love to call “My SISTERS” in THIS season.  There are many special “single” women in my community, and we laugh and share so many things in common – particularly our singleness, our love for this season of our lives, and the freedom that goes along with it. Then I have my two incredible walking sisters and we join together at least three times a week to walk with the purpose of praying and sharing and encouraging each other.  They have wonderful husbands and families – and we pray for them all, including mine, as well as our community and country.  I have a special BFF sister and sister-in-law that are there for me WHENEVER & WHATEVER is going on.   I am also a part of a leadership group of women that I call my sisters.  We meet once a week to pray, encourage, plan and prepare for a women’s retreat that is coming up soon.  Then, in October, I’ll be leading a Women’s Bible Study for 8 weeks.

There’s also my No Limits Life Group – truly my sisters that we do life together – sharing each other’s challenges, as well as victories.  Meeting every week at my home, we laugh, cry, and give each other support on so many levels.  My place is a SAFE place.  We’ve got each other’s backs.   We are a diverse group:  single and married – some work full time, some are part time and some are retired.  But our single most important goal in life is to be fully devoted followers of Christ and to live with believing there are NO LIMITS to what God can do in and through us.  And so many of our prayers have been answered.  We are accountable to each other. We coach each other. We make each other better.

I’ll admit it.  I’m a woman on purpose to help as many as I can to live an overcoming victorious life. I wrote my goals in my journal earlier this year – one of which was “Doors of ministry opportunities continually opening for me to impart Godly wisdom”  and those prayers and goals are being fulfilled beyond what I could have asked for…..simply because I asked.

My photo inspirations today are from last night’s SISTERS Event at LifeChurch.tv – Jenks, where hundreds of SISTERS came together to praise and worship God with an off-the-chain band and singers, and we heard a powerful word about “Listening Well”.  I’ll share about that amazing talk another day, but I wanted to share today about the importance of having friends or SISTERS in your life.  And in the men’s case, BROTHERS.  Sisters and Brothers that we can depend on, ask for prayer (and know they will pray), convince us to not give up, make us feel loved and accepted in spite of our worthiness.

In this season of my life, I could have easily withdrawn and gone into a solemn, lonely place because, quite frankly, I could.  But, there is such a better, more fulfilling way of living.  I’ve said it before, “If you want to have friends, show yourself friendly.”  Yes, it will mean you have to get out of your comfort zone.  You may find it by joining or starting a small group from your church.  You may volunteer to facilitate a Bible Study or join a Sunday School Class or a Choir or another group where they're living a life of purpose and destiny.  I assure you.  It will be worth the effort to make the effort to be a part of a group or to start a group that makes THIS SEASON of your life the BEST SEASON of your life.  I'm so happy that I did.

God May Be Allowing the Rains to Come

Two weeks ago, I drove 4-1/2 hours to Texas in torrential rain. When I finally arrived at my destination, I found myself incredibly dizzy and my equilibrium was completely off. Clearly, I could have been mistaken by others, as having had "too much to drink". We determined that my focus to stay on the road while avoiding the flooded areas and staring at the windshield wipers and the rain, was probably what made me so loopy and wobbly.

Yesterday, there was another downpour as I started home from Dallas. Up ahead I saw flashing lights and several emergency vehicles. A small car had crashed into a huge truck. Clearly, the driver had been distracted and not focused on what rain does to dry roads. That put me on high alert as I drove home – all the way in torrential rain again. I put more space between the cars ahead of me in case I had to come to a quick stop. I was observant to everything around me because of the elements that were against me. No temptation at all to “text and drive” or be on the phone. I couldn’t be in an "auto pilot" mode. I had to be alert and conscious of my behavior and actions in every way.

I’m thinking that God must use the rain (in the natural and in life) to get our attention. Oftentimes, we go through the rain storms and we wonder if we'll get to our destination on time. Bottom line -- it's okay if we're not on time. What's important is that we get there....period.

Today, whether it’s a sunny day or rainy day -- let's keep our eyes on what's around us. There may be reasons why God is allowing the rains to come. During the stormy seasons of life, and all too often as a last resort, we are drawn to God – those times when we feel powerless, out of control, and circumstances are torrential. We recognize Him as that “safe place”. As I drove in the rain, I was calling upon Him. I was acknowledging Him. I was more attentive to him. Maybe he allows the rains so that we'll draw closer to Him.

Isn’t that like us? Though we don't like to see our children suffer, sometimes having them cuddle up to us for reassurance and peace, just feels good. Should we think that our Father is care-less about His kids? I don't think so. I believe He could be strategic in allowing some things....that He knows draws us closer to Him. “ Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.” James 4:8.