From Surviving to Thriving

We have sure had the opportunity to be tested, tried and sentenced over the last few months. How is it looking for you? Would you have been convicted of giving up, throwing in the towel, quitting, sulking, murmuring and complaining about it all? Or would you receive glowing testimonials from your family and friends about being tenacious, relentless, determined, staying optimistic and being grateful for the blessings in your life?

No one is judging – certainly not me! I’ve come to realize that I don’t want to have gone through these times with an attitude of regret and remorse because I couldn’t take the heat. No one should blame anyone who got a little cranky over the last few months. And, for good reasons. But, wait just minute, Mr. Postman! We have so many reasons to be thankful and be boasting about our God Who has kept us, protected us and provided for us. We’re still here! We have survived! Psalm 27:13-14 says “I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! Wait on Him and take courage.”

I AM living in this land of God’s goodness and mercy following me (Psalm 23:6). I believe it and speak it. My daughter runs a non-profit outreach called EMwomen that exists to rescue and restore women who have suffered through some of life's most difficult challenges – many of whom were homeless, jobless and hopeless. But, what does God do right in the midst of this pandemic? Every single one of those women now have homes, great jobs and are “living in the land of the living”. Because they had an attitude of gratitude, God’s goodness was magnetically drawn to them. Maya Angelou said: “My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.”

I have seen men and women rise and shine, accelerate, and go to a whole new level in their faith, confidence and trust in God during these times. They say with all-out fervor: "Bring on the heat! I was made for this. God power-packed me to win. I will come out of this heat and not even smell like smoke!”

The three Hebrews, Shadrach, Meschach and Abednego, not only survived the fiery furnace, but they weren't even singed and their clothing wasn't scorched. They didn't even smell like smoke! And that will be our story, too! As we praise and trust God Who causes us to triumph, we will come out of our “furnace situations”, alive and well. So what can we do to turn it all around from just surviving to thriving? Praise God. Our praise will jack up our faith. It’s time to step into the thriving circle of praise. Let's have some flash backs about what God has already done. When our hearts focus on the right place, we will more than survive – we will thrive!

This is the surviving to thriving scripture proof: "Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us." Ephesians 3:20
That power working in us is the Holy Spirit and His fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control." THAT is thriving!

I Raise a Hallelujah

I heard the story behind Bethel Music’s anointed song, “I Raise a Hallelujah”. A few days before Christmas, 2-year-old, Jaxon, was airlifted to intensive care and the church began to fight for his life. A symphony of prayer rose up. Two weeks into the fight, Bethel songwriter, Jonathan Helser, received a text from the dad saying they weren’t sure Jaxon was going to make it through the night. As Jonathan read the text, he said, “A giant of unbelief stood up in front of me. All of a sudden, this song came out of my gut and the unbelief began to fall”:
“I raise a hallelujah, in the presence of my enemies.
I raise a hallelujah, louder than the unbelief.
I raise a hallelujah, my weapon is a melody.
I raise a hallelujah, heaven comes to fight for me.
I’m gonna’ sing in the middle of the storm.
Louder and louder, you’re gonna’ hear my praises roar."

Joel Taylor, Jaxon’s father and CEO of Bethel Music, recounts his experience, “God’s timing often doesn’t make sense until you look back to see that mountains were climbed and canyons were crossed on no strength of your own. In the battle for Jaxon’s life, the global church community rose up like a mighty army and joined us in prayer and worship all over the world. Our son was miraculously healed and today is perfectly healthy.”

I have my own “raise a hallelujah” story that began 15-years-ago when a young couple in our church had just given birth to their third child. This couple weren't just casual church attenders. They were all in! They served. They gave. So, when we received the word that little Owen had lung and kidney complications and his situation was very “touch and go”, we felt an urgency to go and encourage them in their faith -- to "raise a hallelujah" with them. After that first night, we continued to go regularly to encourage their faith. After leaving the hospital, Owen continued to have issues with his kidneys and lungs and underwent many surgeries and many hospital stays.

I’ve watched Owen grow in more will and determination than thought possible. We’ve “raised a hallelujah” many times in his life. Now, here’s our miracle “raise a hallelujah” story. This last weekend I went to Tulsa, really on purpose for several reasons. To see my dear mother-in-law, and family, see my niece play soccer, spend time with my best friends, and to see this precious family because it’s birthday month for all four of their children. My godson, Owen's recent medical reports, are at a level of 80% for his one kidney that survived and his lungs, which were only at 40% capacity before, are now at 75% capacity because he took up swimming. He has thrived in his swimming and his team will be going to State for Bishop Kelley High School in just a couple of weeks.

I saw him compete on Friday and Saturday in his regional competition against sophomores, juniors and seniors. He medaled 5th place. He is freshman. His mom showed me this text message between her and him: She texted him “Swim like the shark is chasing you.” He replied “I am the shark!” The will and determination of Owen, his family and all who are "hallelujah raisers" are standing for his complete wholeness. We won't quit. We will continue to “raise a hallelujah” for him as he continues to thrive. BTW – godmother’s little boast: He is also a straight-A honor student – excelling in so many ways.

I “raise a hallelujah” today because these stories aren't isolated incidents. They're the stories of so many who truly “raise a hallelujah” to God in spite of their circumstances. These two boys both faced death, but they both survived and thrive today. Who is “raising a hallelujah” for you today and who are you “raising a hallelujah” for? Let’s sing in the middle of our storms. Louder and louder, may our praises roar!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awkO61T6i0k&vl=en-US

I Will Not Just Survive….I Will Thrive in This Heat!

I moved into my home a year ago in April, and I continue to be surprised by the plants around my home that the previous owners left me: the gardenia bushes, the redbud tree, and my canna lily plants. A wise-and-more-in-tune-with-gardening person would have spotted these lovely plants when they first walked onto the grounds of this place, but this gal – who was missing a green thumb from the start, never gave them a second look – not until they were blooming.

Initially, the canna lilies looked kaput, but when I looked out at my backyard yesterday, I was surprised to see them in full bloom, hence, my inspiration for today’s post. Here's what I found out about canna lilies: “Canna lilies are beautiful, easy-to-grow plants that effortlessly bring a splash of the tropics to your garden. They’re especially welcome to gardeners with very hot summers. Where other flowers shrivel and wilt, canna lilies thrive in the heat.” Well, hello canna lilies, you are in the right place at the right time in this Texas heat. Other plants have died (check out my poor holly that is dead as a doornail because of the heat AND the fact that our water here in Frisco is rationed.) The heat causes those canna lilies to thrive.

Here it comes. Another of my life analogies. I’ve heard some cranky folks lately complaining about this Texas heat. I remind them “Hang in there. In a couple of months, the cooler temperatures will arrive and you’ll thrive again!” I laughed when I saw my Canadian cousin’s FB post a couple of days ago. “It was a chilly night, but we still enjoyed eating outside and the kiddos thought the pool was nice and warm.” I commented: “Lord, forgive me for longing for that cool weather! She replied: “Lord, forgive me for longing for that Texas heat!"

We can all relate to experiencing heat – both in the climate and in times of pressure when our "top is about to blow", during a heated-up conversation or debate with someone or we’re in hot water because of something we said or did. Are we like the canna lily and thrive with the heat or are we like my poor holly bush? What keeps us calm in the times of the storms that come as heat waves? What keeps us cool when the heat is on?
Eleanor Roosevelt gave this quote about a woman, but I think it’s applicable to men as well. “A woman is like a tea bag – you can’t tell how strong she is until you put her in hot water.”

And, that is so true. I’ve seen women and men who rise and shine, who accelerate, who go to a whole new level in their faith and confidence and trust in God when they are under some of the direst circumstances. My husband had a quote on his desk that faced him every day “In the middle of adversity lies opportunity!” That’s how we can make it during the heat. We take it on with all-out fervor and say “Bring on the heat! I was made for this. God power-packed me to win and I will! I will come out of this heat and not even smell like smoke!”

In Daniel 3:23-27 we hear about three Hebrews, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego who Nebuchadnezzar threw into the fiery furnace because they wouldn’t bow down to his idol. Their trust was in the one true God. And, in the midst of the hottest heat ever, the Son of God showed up right there in the heat with them. And, that’s the key for us when we’re under pressure and the situation and adversity have over-heated us. Trusting in God in the midst of the heat. Daniel 3:27 concludes that story of the three Hebrews with these words: “Then the officials, governors, and advisers crowded around them and saw that the fire had not touched them. Not a hair on their heads was singed, and their clothing was not scorched. They didn't even smell of smoke!!” And that will be our story, too! As we wholly trust in God Who causes us to triumph and come out of our “furnace situations”, we will survive and thrive like my canna lilies IN THE HEAT!