God's Remarkable Color Palette

Take a look at these beautiful “Spring” flowers. Breath-taking – literally! Not just the beauty, but the fragrance is exquisite. Well, these flowers should be – they’re growing in this exotic climate of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico where my Austin family and I are here celebrating Spring break and family love. I was delighted when they invited me to be a part of the fun. There is something about being entertained by God’s beauty in another area of God’s beautiful earth.

As beautiful as this week is for me, it only holds a candle to a little over eight years ago, when I went to Cabo with this family after a whirlwind previous couple of weeks of major decisions to be made, funeral preparations, and all the responsibilities that went with my sweetheart's graduation to heaven. Cabo was just what I needed – to get away – find that place of consolation, peace, and comfort. Everything about the previous few weeks – in fact, the last eight months had seemed quite surreal. But, I had walked through the valley of the shadow of death, and, because of this profound place of peace, I literally feared no evil. God was there to comfort me – that was His promise in Psalm 23 – He had kept His promise. I was comforted.

Of course, I'm nostalgic being back here in Cabo this “Spring Break” week and, I’ll admit, I’m savoring the memories – especially those that were so healing to me. Embraced by family. Embraced by God and His creation. Embraced by the sounds of laughter of my grandchildren. Embraced by the knowledge of knowing that God has given me so much tender loving care during this life-after-death. It was a choice I made early on and it seems the more life I live on purpose, the more life gives back to me in monumental ways.

I assure you, it is possible to feel the loss for a while in those times of life, but NEVER to stay there. To grow and celebrate this season of life, we must pick ourselves up and be willing to go to a NEW SEASON. As Spring is surfacing and the trees and flowers are blooming, we can see God’s reminder to let go of the old things and expect the new things He’s wanting to do in our lives. Expect that there are good and beautiful things to come. As the flowers are being resurrected to new life, the trees are sprouting from what seemed to be a lifeless state, the green grass is peeking through the brown remains of winter, may we SPRING FORTH in fresh, new strength and vitality that comes from taking off those grave clothes, and putting on garments of praise and joy! It's a new day, it's a new season, it's a time for great expectation that this will be the BEST day and times of our lives!

Isaiah 43:19 "Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert."

The Rhythms of Life and How They Ebb and Flow

Life is interesting, isn’t it? We go through different stages of life in what seems like a blink of an eye. After my sweetheart left for his heavenly assignment, the sweet rhythm of God’s grace and love had steady flow that kept me wrapped up in such peace and security. I had my family, church, church family, a home in a lovely community and the friends that went along with it. Sure there were ups and downs, but they came in and went out – like the tide’s ebb and flow. Beautiful rhythms.

Then the big change came for me when I moved from those comfortable rhythms in that season of life, to Texas where, honestly, I’m still endeavoring to establish some consistent rhythms again. I get it -- I've wandered for a while from city to city and church to church – store to store – street to street – looking for familiarity and a consistent rhythm.

Night before last, I went to bed feeling completely out of sync. But, during the night, I had one of those “King David” moments (1 Samuel 30:6) when he encouraged himself. I encouraged myself. I determined to give the worries to God and recognize that I can’t, but HE CAN! He tells us so in this scripture: “Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take up my yoke and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest (sweet rhythm) for your souls.” Matthew 11:28-29.

I bounced out of bed yesterday morning with an empowered mindset. I took matters into my "rhythmic" hands that are empowered by God's strong and mighty hands and made some positive decisions. The best part, I realized I have the opportunity to use my faith to make those “walls of discomfort” tumble down by praising and thanking God for so many blessings. Philippians 4:6 “Don’t worry about anything, but in EVERYTHING, through prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

Did He say EVERYTHING? Yes, and what’s so exciting is that we are told to come in confidence, knowing, with relief, that He loves us enough to want us there, right at His feet resting in His love and grace.

Most importantly, I got out of myself and into sharing God’s love and encouragement with a young tow truck driver (that's a story for another day) and an air conditioner technician (another story for another day) -- and was even able to pray with one to find his way back to God. It’s amazing how people open up when they sense "a rhythm" of God’s love coming at them.

Thank you, Lord, for the slow and smooth rhythms that are so sweet, but I thank You for even the staccato, disconnected rhythms – because more than anything I desire to be in sync with Your ebbs and flows – in tempo that connects me to your ways which are so much higher than my ways!

Keep on Stretching

Day 288 of Photo Inspirations -- Keep on Stretching!
I'm in that season of life when it's so important to keep stretching.  What happens when we don’t stretch? Nothing. For a while. We feel good. We think stretching is just for yoga girls and old folks. Then we wake up one day and there's a slight pain in our lower back or legs. Nothing major. "Ouch", we say, as we roll out of bed.  Maybe we lean over and touch our toes, which, coincidentally are very far from the tips of our fingers. It helps a bit, so we forget about it. But then we notice that after sitting at our desk or even the dinner table, our lower back is aching.  We try to stretch it out. Maybe we put our hands on our lower back and  do the old man, "Tim Conway" shuffle. But once we're back at it, we forget about it again.  Then, one day we start our day again, and this time, it's hard to walk OR breathe.  It feels like our back has completely gone out of place.  Something's wrong.

WHAT HAPPENED?

At this point, we just think we need to schedule an appointment with our chiropractor. We think,  “A little adjustment will do the trick."   But, actually, we need to make some daily adjustments to our life.   If we continue to stretch and MOVE, stretching can help improve flexibility. Better flexibility improves our performance at work and decreases our risk of injuries by helping our joints move and enabling our muscles to work most effectively.  Stretching also increases blood flow to the muscle.

THAT commercial was for STRETCHING OUR BODIES!

BUT WHAT ABOUT OUR SPIRITUAL MUSCLES?

What happens when we don't stretch our spiritual muscles.  Nothing.  For a while.  Life is going okay.  We are getting along with our family and friends and work associates.   Our financial needs are met.  Our health is good.  Then one day, BAM!!!  A crisis at work or home or family or loved one or even our own health happens......and we fall apart!  Something's wrong.

WHAT HAPPENED?

We stopped stretching our faith, our joy, our hope, our relationship with God.  We put him at the bottom of the priority totem pole, instead of being at THE TOP.  Time with Him that guarantees being stretched in our commitment to Him and His Word has become almost nonexistent.  The fact is, we must ALWAYS be in the stretching mode with God to guarantee strong faith.

Hebrews 11:6:  "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those WHO DILIGENTLY SEEK HIM."

Faith is absolutely central to our walk with God.  We enter into a relationship with Him through faith and this verse tells us that without faith it is impossible to please God. Faith is a big deal!

As we all take this "stretching" message to heart, soul AND body today, let's   stretch our bodies and our faith. Just like physical stretching isn't easy, neither is spiritual stretching. Stretching requires us to push beyond our normal level of comfort and ease.  But, in the long run of success in living the abundant life God wants us to have, we must be continually STRETCHING to be the best US we can be!

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.