Expanding Our Horizons

Yesterday morning, my daughter and I reminisced as we took a road trip to Tulsa, which included spending time with Mom (aka Granny). The highlight of visiting 96-year-old Granny was when she suddenly started speaking words of great wisdom into Staci for her life and ministry -- treasured words that will be forever imprinted in Staci's heart. That of itself made the trip worth it.

Back in the 90s, I was Staci’s travel companion. Often, we traveled by air and other times, we traveled in our high top van all over the country and Canada. She would take the wheel and I would sleep on the bed in the back and vice versa when it was my turn to drive. We covered a lot of territory in that van and touched many lives at the ministry and motivational events where she sang, spoke and shared Christ's Good News.

Our lives together have never been stuck in a rut. This girl has kept me on-the-go, even to today as I am still greatly involved in her ministry which has continued on in so many ways.

Yesterday, as we reminisced about so many lives that were changed by God’s wonder-working power, I recalled an old song we sang that reminded us to remember God's faithfulness:
"He’ll do it again. Just take a look at where you are now
And where you have been.
Hasn’t He always come through for you,
He’s the same now as then,
You may not know how. You may not know when.
He’ll do it again.

To look back at some of those “where you have been” and “He’ll do it again” blessings, I took along the newsletters (way before social media) that we distributed, far and wide, from our make-shift offices in our garage. Oh, the places we went; oh, the lives of so many people that were radically transformed; oh, the lessons we learned and oh the joys of serving God.

Many seeds were planted in those days, months and years. We also experienced the joys of harvest time. We've come a long way, Baby! Now so many of those transformed lives are making a difference in the world. Staci and her precious husband, Larry, are 100% focused on changing lives. That little ministry that started in a renovated garage has expanded to nations today.

My post today isn’t about a focus on my girl or her love for God, serving Him and helping people to know Him more, though it’s worthy of focus. I wanted to impress upon you to reminisce about the goodness of God in your life. We don’t look back with wishing we could go back. We look back to count our blessings. So many seemingly impossible situations became possible. We realize there are possibilities available to us when we reach beyond where we are and allow inspiration to move to the forefront again. Who wants to be stodgy, dull and uninspired? Not me!

Matthew 13:15 says “For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, and their eyes they have closed." Maybe it’s time for you to take a road trip and reminisce about the drive and determination you once had and ask God to light a fire under you again. We’re still here so we’re not done running our races with zeal and making sure we impact many along the way!

What is PUZZLING You?

Fun photo of my Larry and Staci working hard on a jigsaw puzzle together. Not! Not the puzzle because it was lying there waiting for attention, but asking these two, who were very busy working at their computers, to pretend they had the time on this day to find a few pieces and connect them. They helped me stage my inspiration for today's blog.

It isn’t out-of-the-ordinary for this family to have a jigsaw puzzle going at the end of their kitchen island. And I have been known to add to the continuation of the fun by gifting another one to them. I’m catering to my own enjoyment of finding a few pieces to add to the project when I stop by. But, this recent puzzle has been sitting on their island since I gifted it to them for Valentine’s. The border is done (that’s the easy part) with some added pieces, but progress has been slow with this one. Why?

This jigsaw puzzle is lenticular which means the image has an illusion of depth and changes when viewed from different angles. In other words, what I saw as a fun opportunity to expand our horizons, has become an “eye-sore” – literally. The way the light hits the variegated shiny pieces, you have to move your head back and forth to not only see the angles of the pieces to match a partner piece, but the colors are so skewed, your eyes get sore just looking at it. I offered to take the puzzle back, but, as in anything they do, they are up for the challenge! In the meantime, we are all puzzled by this puzzle!

Tomorrow, Ash Wednesday starts the season of Lent when we have the opportunity to work on the skewed, difficult-to-reason-out pieces of our lives – those “eye-sore” pieces and welcome this time of seeking God for a clean slate and being transformed to who He desires us to be. We will receive ashes on our foreheads, in the form of the cross. We will be thinking, “I welcome transformation. I welcome You, Lord, to cleanse and purify me as I approach Good Friday when your Son paid the ultimate price for me. I welcome Resurrection Sunday when I rose with Him into the abundant life He promised to give me as I walk faithfully with Him."

Yes, as with the jigsaw puzzle, life can present "puzzling" challenges and "puzzling" situations, but when we submit to His desires for us to be renewed and transformed, our Master Creator steps in and gives us His wisdom for handling the challenges and He'll be sure to help us finish OUR "life" puzzle with all pieces intact -- and it will be JUST as He planned it to be!

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:2

Centered AND Bordered

We were huge fans of putting together jigsaw puzzles. It started when the kids were little with those easy-to-do wooden puzzles. Putting a jigsaw puzzle together at Christmas was one of our family traditions. The box top would be in a prominent place where ALL EYES could see it, and, strategically, we'd get the border done first. Often, the search to find a certain piece would get tedious, so we’d have to walk away from it, refresh, and come back with a whole new perspective. When we did that, we'd find that piece that ALL eyes couldn’t see before. It can be quite "puzzling" to complete a puzzle.

In many posts, I've shared about making God the CENTER of our lives, then whatever happens – the ups and downs, the frustrations or the celebrations, the highs and lows, with Him as Center, we will always make it through life's variables.

When God is not only our CENTER, but like in puzzles, He is also our BORDER, then we’ll living as His fully devoted followers, making daily decisions from His vantage point. When He is our border, He holds our lives together and we won’t cross the boundaries that would cause a break in our relationship with Him. I never considered being unfaithful to my husband because I loved him too much and never wanted to damage the sweetness of our relationship. I just wouldn’t, not just because I loved him so much, but also because we had borders (vows & promises) before God that we made to each other on our wedding day. They were clear borders: “I take you as my lawfully wedding husband to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part.” The same is true for my relationship with God. Matthew 22:37 says “Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' That much love is a clear border for when we're weak and are tempted to do anything that displeases Him. That border should be so clear that if we carelessly cross it, we'll be quick to ask for forgiveness because we want to right the wrong we made.

When He is our border, and the more intent we are to please Him, the more the picture of who He wants us to become and the purpose and destiny He has for us because evident, just like the total picture emerges when we work puzzles.

At the beginning of this season of Lent, we have the opportunity to welcome this time of pondering, meditating, and seeking God for a clean slate and being transformed to who God desires us to be. When we received ashes on our foreheads yesterday in the form of the cross, we were saying “I welcome transformation. I welcome You, Lord, to cleanse and purify me as I approach Good Friday when your Son paid the ultimate price for the sins I’ve committed. I welcome Resurrection Sunday when I rose with Him into the abundant life He promised to give me as I walk faithfully with Him.

Yes, as with the jigsaw puzzle, life can present "puzzling" challenges and "puzzling" situations, but when we submit to His desires for us to be renewed and transformed, our Master Creator steps in and gives us His wisdom for handling the challenges and He'll be sure to help us finish OUR "life" puzzle with all pieces intact -- and it will be JUST as He planned it to be!

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:2

The World Needs a STABLE Influence

Day 353 of Photo Inspirations -- The World Needs a STABLE Influence
The phrase, "under the influence",  is typically used in defining someone's mental or physical faculties that are impaired because they are intoxicated or on drugs.

But, I heard that phrase used yesterday to describe those of us who are "high" on the Christmas spirit.  I like that.  We are "under the influence" of He Who is the originator of joy, peace, and love so, of course, we are "high" on all that this beautiful season holds.

At the announcement of Jesus' birth, the shepherds were under the influence of the angels.  The magi were under the influence of HOPE and the Star they saw in the East.  I, too, am UNDER THE INFLUENCE of this beautiful season where I hear God's voice in the music, the bells ringing, and the squeals and delights of children.  I see Him in in the lights shining so brightly and in my friends and family as we open our hearts to His love.  I smell Him in the sweet aromas of holly, evergreen, cinnamon and spice.   I taste Him in the sweet and yummy delicacies of fresh baked cookies and treats.  I am UNDER THE INFLUENCE of the REASON for this beautiful SEASON, when I hold a friend's hand, when I touch a pine cone or garland or tinsel or wrapping paper, when I write a love note to a friend when I send them a Christmas card.

No one has influenced and changed the world the way Jesus has. And UNDER HIS INFLUENCE, more lives have been positively changed than   by anything or anyone else in history.   No other great leader has inspired so many positive changes in the lives of his followers. People who encounter the risen Christ are totally transformed. Their outlook on life is altered forever. Staying true to their faith, they face hardship, persecution and even death with resilience and determination.  Many devote their lives to serving others, minimizing their own needs and desires -- all because of Christ's influence on them.

Not in the Christmas spirit this year?  Then, better check out what, or WHO, is influencing you. AND, what does YOUR influence look like in impacting others in a positive way?  Perhaps it's time we all took a trip to the stable -- it just might be that we'll be influenced by the precious baby in the manger and we'll have a "STABLE" influence, not just in our own lives, but all those we influence, too.

Transformed From the Inside Out

Day 258 of Photo Inspirations -- Transformed From the Inside Out
My grandsons were big fans of the Transformers -- the toys that could be converted from a robot to a car and vice versa.  They collected just about all of them.  I sure wasn't as proficient at transforming them as they were.  I just couldn't get all the parts tucked in well enough to transform it into a car. But they sure could.

Honestly, God surprises and amuses me daily with the photo inspirations that I get each day. Those toys are literally transformed from the inside out.  And isn't that what God desires to do in us?  He wants us to be transformed from the inside out.  God works with us to work in us so that what is in us.....comes through us to help transform others.  Not only can we be changed, but we can be the catalyst for change in others.

A friend of mine called me a couple of days ago, after previous calls that she had made to me to help her pray for a family member that really needed a life transformation.  They had some particular "issues" that needed to be corrected. We prayed.  But on this day, when she called, she said, "Today, I'm asking God to change me!"  I loved it.  It reminded me of hearing the TV Teacher, Joyce Meyer,  tell about how she kept asking God to change Dave (her husband).  Then, one day, like my friend, she started praying "God, change me!"  And when she did that, she started recognizing those areas that needed to be changed from the inside out in her -- her complaining, criticizing, selfishness, bitterness, and envy soon transformed into praising, encouraging, selflessness, and gratitude.  We know that the transformation Joyce experienced was the change catalyst -- the "transformer" in so many people's lives today.

Stephen Covey said,  "I am personally convinced that one person can be a change catalyst, a 'transformer' in any situation, any organization. Such an individual is yeast that can leaven an entire loaf. It requires vision, initiative, patience, respect, persistence, courage, and faith to be a transforming leader."

Isn't today a good day to say, "God CHANGE me.....transform me from the inside out.  Work in me so that what is in me....comes through me to help transform others.  Help me to be the catalyst for change in someone today!"

St. Paul: “I know that I am not yet what God wants me to be. I haven’t reached that goal, but I keep moving toward it to make it mine because Christ made me and saved me for this. I know that I haven’t yet reached my goal, but there’s one thing I always do. Forgetting the past and straining toward what is ahead."  Philippians 3:12-15

The Greatest Comeback EVER

At least two times a year I attend church with my mother-in-law, Easter & Mother's Day. I loved Pastor Norm Wilkie's sermon yesterday. He said, "Today celebrates the greatest COMEBACK ever. It's the day that hell had a panic attack. When Jesus said, "It is finished", the minions of hell said, "Oh, no -- we are finished!" There are many that don't believe in this day. They discount everything that happened. But, with the songwriter, I sing....."I know that He is living, whatever men may say. You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart!"

And the very best part, not only was this Christ's greatest comeback EVER, but it can be OUR greatest COMEBACK, too! Like Pastor Norm said, "Christ's resurrection wasn't for behavior modification and it's not a self-help course. It's an opportunity to have a transformed life by accepting His love and forgiveness." Indeed -- this day represents the greatest COMEBACK for Christ AND for you and me!