Watch for the Signs -- Give Some Signs

Today I’ve got my eyes wide open for “signs” – you know, those sweet reminders of loved-ones passed or the Christmas card or phone call or text messages from friends and loved ones, but mostly, the “signs” of Emmanuel – God with us. Tonight, we’ll attend Christmas Eve mass at my church and “signs” will be everywhere – the hundreds of gorgeous poinsettias, the ginormous Christmas trees that don the altar area will now be lit for the announcement of Jesus’ birth and Baby Jesus, whose manger was empty on Sunday, will show up in the manger. We’ll attend the 5:00 pm one where the children will sing. It will be packed because all the parents and family members want to be there to celebrate their children. And, isn’t that what makes Christmas so special – the Baby in the manger and all the children who grasp the WHO and WHY behind Christmas?

On December 24th, 2010, just a little over a month after the passing of my husband, I spent days rummaging through his treasures and items that represented who he was. I gathered the items together and strategically placed them in six very fine treasure boxes for our grandchildren. We had always been Christmas Eve gift exchangers with our kids and grandkids. So, after all the exchanges of gifts with each other, I presented each one with their treasure box. Of course, I was sentimental. I wanted to continue giving “signs” of their Papa’s love and life. In the oldest grandson’s box, was Papa’s wallet that held his pilot’s license (Braden had just completed his first “solo” flight.). In the second oldest grandson’s box, was Papa’s sports pins from the 2000 Super Bowl that he attended, as well as his OU Sooner lighter (Bear was the avid sports fan with lots of sports memorabilia). In 10-year old Payton’s box was Papa’s fishing knot tying book (Payton is the fisherman – following in Papa’s footsteps); in Alexia’s box was a little stuffed animal that I gave Papa many years ago and she always loved it. And in all of their boxes were other symbolic items that spoke of the Papa they knew and loved: his favorite gum – Trident Citrus Flavored; Smarties candies – Papa would always have some hidden in his desk drawer for them; Breath Freshener Strips – he always made sure his breath smelled good; a measuring tape – represented Papa’s ability to build, restore, and remodel; one of his hankies; one of his pocket knives; some of pins from the many organizations he belonged to; one of Papa’s crosses and religious coins; a pair of his glasses and one of his watches.

Nothing in those boxes represented much monetarily – but each item symbolized the Papa they knew and loved. They took those boxes home and they wtreasure them and open them again and recall the joyful times they had with Papa. They are all SIGNS of a precious and loving Papa. Then, I gave an envelope to each one of the children, grandchildren and Ron’s Mom. Those envelopes contained photos of Papa with that person. Each of us told about those photos -- what we were doing with him and what we felt during that time. A range of emotions followed. It was a celebratory time – time filled with tears and laughter – but special in that each of us, individually, and collectively, were able to release our emotions and tell about the love we had for Papa, recall the special man of God he was, the special Papa he was, and the dad and husband that laid a sure foundation of faith, hope and love in our lives. We shared those precious memories together and all agreed that we will get busy with doing what he taught us with actions and words to do – to be a family that bases our lives on trusting in God, sharing the good news of great joy everywhere we go.

SIGNS are everywhere at this time of year for us to remember WHO made this such a big, lit-up, joy-filled and hope-filled season. A star or an angel tops our Christmas tree. The tree, itself, is a SIGN that reminds us that the babe in the manger was also the great Creator of everything. A nativity scene reminds us of our Lord’s humble birth. Gift-giving reminds us of the most treasured gift of all given by God when He gave us only begotten Son! The carols and songs we sing are SIGNS of the angelic chorus announcing His birth.

Look for the signs this Christmas. Believe in miracles. Believe that love is stronger than that which separates us. Remember no matter how hard this day is, know you are loved beyond words – because LOVE broke through the sound barriers and showed up for us. Find your Christmas miracle. You might be surprised when you open your eyes to all that Is possible. I believe they are never far.

“And this will be a SIGN for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” Luke 2:12

Excuse Me! Could I Have Your Undivided Attention, Please?

This photo may look familiar. It should because I was in this very spot two years ago. I’m back in Tulsa for a few days that lead up to my mother-in-law’s 96th birthday on Wednesday. After my home sold two years ago, I stayed at a dear friend’s home for another six weeks because I had speaking engagements and other responsibilities here. I am back in this sweet spot and I get to enjoy this little piece of heaven again. This city holds so many precious memories, precious people, and so many favorite places to go. It’s not a vacay, but it sure is a favorite place to be.

I sat in this very spot each morning for my morning devotions when I was here before. I’d look out across this beautiful pond that my home backed up to. I received so much peace and comfort in this spot. I like to think that God also enjoyed my stay here because He got my undivided attention.

I wonder how God must feel about the lack of our attention because I get a little frustrated when I don’t receive full attention when I’m with someone. I can be having a nice conversation with someone, and then their phone rings or dings and, without even a second thought, they leave me hanging while they answer their phone or text message. Okay! I'll admit it. I've been on both sides....the one singing "All By Myself" while others were heads down in their phones and I've been the one with my head down in MY phone. What in the world? Where did our respect for others go? I'm ashamed of us!! It's time for putting those phones in another room or turning them off so we can get back to what's REALLY important -- being a sincere, caring, and respectful friend and family member.

Even worse is how disrespectful we can be to God. We can be right in the middle of sweet fellowship with Him when our phone dings and we can’t resist checking to see what that text message is all about. After all, it could be the plumber, the friend that we’re meeting later or one of our children or grandchildren who might need us. Right? But, oh so WRONG! We can be fully engaged in conversation with our Heavenly Father and our Savior Who gave His life for us and we allow ourselves to be interrupted. Sound familiar? God must be tapping His fingers on the arm of His royal throne as He tenderly and lovingly says “Excuse Me....could I have your undivided attention, please? I have secrets to reveal and plans to give you for your good.”

Just look at the object in this photo that the enemy of our souls uses to steal our alone time with our Best Friend, our Father, and our CEO? There it is, smack dab in the middle, instead of away from being a distraction to my one-on-one time with my royal guest. Jesus sat the example for us in Mark 1:35-36 "And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, He departed and went out to a DESOLATE PLACE, and there He prayed."

God Help Me! My Routine Went AWOL!

Routine: sequence of actions regularly followed; a fixed program, practice, pattern, regimen, plan, habits, schedule

My routine, first thing each morning, is to send a text message to my children, and my sister-in-law. Just a few love words to let them know that I was thinking about them and praying for them. My next morning routine is to go to my office and tap the SEND icon on my Facebook post and PUBLISH on my blog post. Then I quickly scan some of my friends’ activity on FB. Yesterday, I was shocked to see that my wonderful Tulsa dentist, Dr. Mark Tiernan, had passed away. Dr. Mark was a dear friend, amazing and fearless man of integrity and honor, missionary to nations to give his love away while providing his dental skills to those in need and precious man of God. Heaven just got sweeter.

My next routine is to make my way to the fitness center. I sat down at the stationary bike, inserted my ear plugs and turned on the TV. I should have avoided the news, the bickering and the sensational soundbites. I saw Mark Zuckerburg (Facebook’s creator) giving testimony to Congress about the data breaches that have made global headlines in recent weeks. I hope Congress and Mark can figure it all out and get their ROUTINES fixed, because whatever was wrong, FB is my mission field.

It doesn’t take long to deal with my own emotions, hear personal news from family and friends, along with the daily news, that the weight of the world invades my mind. I returned home from my work out and I was bombarded with those weights – not from the gym, but the world. I began to do the ugly cry – for my friends, my family, my world AND ME! I was having one of THOSE mornings. My upbeat, joy-filled, press-on, unwavering, tenacious attitude AND ROUTINE was interrupted with a wave of doubt, unbelief and concern. I was drenched in a puddle of self-pity.

I rushed to my journal, another routine, and I began to write: “My feelings hurt! I’m too sensitive. I’m too fleshly. I'm weary. I feel so weak. Restore my soul, oh Lord. Renew a right spirit within me. Lord, PLEASE HELP ME!” I quickly went to another of my morning routines, my Bible and my devotional booklet. Up popped these scriptures from Psalm 34, and, soon, all was well.
~ “I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall ever be in my mouth.”
~ "I sought the Lord and He answered me and delivered me from all my fears.”
~ “Look to Him that you may be radiant with joy and your faces may not blush with shame."
~ “Taste and see how good the Lord is; blessed the man who takes refuge in Him."

Thanks be to God. I could breathe again. I’m so thankful that the Bible goes to great lengths to show us that all the people on its pages were ordinary and average, doing one little thing after another, rooted in trust, grounded in good news, and drenched in fear or hopelessness. Even people like Moses, Noah, Abraham and Sarah had their weaknesses and made their missteps. The only one who rose above it all was Jesus. As for the rest of the people in all the stories of the Bible, God filled them up with His Holy Spirit and breathed life into their ROUTINES, their dreams and their plans, and God, through ordinary people who did ordinary things, made miracles happen that changed the world for good.

Maybe today, your ROUTINE is out of whack. You also long for the “all is well” state of being. Take heart, my friends. All IS well. We just need to keep breathing….deeply. We do our part. We fight the good fight. We keep looking up. We can count on God's ROUTINE...He is ALWAYS faithful.

Excuse Me....Could I Have Your Undivided Attention Please?

Excuse Me....Could I Have Your Undivided Attention Please?
These days, it's almost impossible to have a meal or a focused conversation with someone without being interrupted by a phone call or text message. How does it make you feel to be having a nice conversation with someone, and then THEIR phone rings or dings that indicates a text message coming through, AND, without even a second thought, they leave you hanging while they answer their phone or text message? Ugh! And how do you feel if you're sitting at the dinner table with others and instead of carrying on conversation with you, you seem to be the only one at attention because the others are all checking their Facebook, Instagram or emails?

Okay, I'll admit it. I've been on both sides....the one singing "All By Myself" while others were heads down in their phones, AND I've been the one with my head down in MY phone. What in the world? Where did our respect for others and being laser focused on others in their presence go? I'm ashamed of us!! It's time for putting those phones in another room or turning them off so we can get back to what's REALLY important -- being a sincere, caring, and respectful friend and family member. It's like going into a store -- you made the effort to go to the store and BE THERE, when the store's phone rings, and the sales clerk answers it and carries on a conversation with them, instead of honoring the fact that YOU ARE THERE!

The point was made ever so profoundly yesterday morning as I sat on my friend's lovely screened-in porch that overlooks the beautiful pond and fountain, sipping my coffee, worshipping and praising my Lord as I read my devotion book and scriptures, WHEN.....my phone dinged, alerting me to check out who just left a text message for me. After all, it could be the plumber, the friend that's coming over later today, or one of my children or grandchildren needing me. Right? Oh, so WRONG! I was fully engaged in conversation with my Heavenly Father, Maker of Heaven and Earth, My Creator, My Savior Who Gave His life for me, My Confidant, Healer and the King of all Kings....and I let myself be interrupted. Oh, and to make matters worse....while I was checking that ding, I just had to check my Facebook account and any emails that may have come in. Are you kidding ME? How could I be so inconsiderate? How could I be so unthoughtful? Suddenly, I was well aware of how rude and disrepectful I have been. Immediately, I heard God's tender and loving words "Heaven to Donna!!!! Could I have your undivided attention please?" While begging for forgiveness, I took the phone into the house and then went back to my Welcomed Guest and resumed my one-on-one with The Almighty! My goodness!

So let's do a Where's Waldo?" search. Where is the object in this photo that is used by the enemy to steal my alone time with my Best Friend, Father and my CEO? Oh, there it is.....smack dab in the middle.....instead of AWAY from being a distraction to my one-on-one time with my ROYAL guest. Jesus sat the example for us in Mark 1:35-36 "And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, He departed and went out to a DESOLATE PLACE, and there He prayed."