Where You Go, I'll Go -- Where You Stay, I'll Stay

These photo inspirations are near and dear to my heart. This day, 16 years ago, my Sweetheart and I re-said our wedding vows during our 35th year of marriage. I'd like to say it was 35 years of wedded bliss -- all sweet, rosy and delightful times that caused us to want to repeat our vows, and there were plenty of those, but in reality, there were plenty of ups and downs, times we were just not on the same page. There were lots of challenges and struggles. So on this 35th year of marriage, we were celebrating that we were two tough cookies that believed when we said our vows....."To have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness or in health, to love and to cherish till death do us part", we meant it. We stuck together like glue.....and as the years passed by, the bond we had became more precious.

Some of the vows I said were Ruth's words to her mother-in-law, Naomi, when Naomi told her to return to her roots after her husband, Naomi's son, had been killed. But Ruth said to her, and I said to my husband, "Do not urge me to leave you or turn back from following you; for where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God." Ruth 1:16. Who knew (we sure didn't) that I would follow my Sweetheart as he fell in love with the Catholic Church after having been a Protestant evangelist, pastor and teacher for most of his life and having had parents who were Protestant pastors for over 50 years. Those vows rang true as where he went, I went. His love became my love. The beautiful and loving Catholic people became my dearest friends. The spiritual renewal that ignited the Charismatic Catholic Renewal in the 60s, and continues today, caused our hearts to burn with love for all of God's kids like never before -- wherever they place their love and commitment to Christ. Today I am more active in evangelism and spiritual renewal than ever before. Honestly, leading people to Christ and the abundant life He promises and gives, is my greatest goal in life.

These photos were taken at the "re-saying of our vows" in a lovely Catholic chapel in National City, CA -- where we had just opened a Food Pantry to feed the hurting and broken people in that area. We also had donated a new vehicle to the Food Pantry for their deliveries and pick-ups. So, in celebrating our 35th anniversary, we were also giving out of our gratitude for God’s faithfulness to us. Commitment and resolve to finish what we started paid off in immeasurable ways for us and others.

While we were in that sweet and tender time of recommitting to those beautiful vows we had spoken 35 years before -- this time we did it in full knowledge that the roads could be very bumpy ahead, but it didn't matter because our devotion and love for each other was worth it all.

I shared all this with you, my dear FB friends and family, before this year ends, to share with those of you who are married and are experiencing some tough times -- challenging times, but I urge you to be TOUGH and steadfast to your vows before God, because tough times don't last, but tough people, tough marriages, and taking tough stands on what commitment, love, trust, and devotion are all about, do. It is worth every effort, because the toughest journeys make the sweetest victories -- even greater. Trust me. We proved it!

Round' and Round' She Goes, Where She Stops, Nobody Knows

"Round' and round' she goes, and where she stops nobody knows!" I heard someone say that about me. These days many of my friends and family ask me "Where are you now, Donna?" Yesterday, I showed up in frigid cold Tulsa, but I sure got to hug a lot of "warm hearted friends" last night.

Here's a little trivia for you. Long before "American Idol", "The Voice" and "America's Got Talent" became mega-hits, there was a radio and television series that started the talent competition craze. It was called: "The Original Amateur Hour" and on that show, the "gong" was made famous (those who didn't make the cut got the gong) as well as "the wheel of fortune" (identified who would be up next to perform) along with the phrase: "round' and 'round she goes, and where she stops, nobody knows." Some of those first-time struggling amateurs that performed included Frank Sinatra, Pat Boone, Gladys Knight, Ann-Margret, Connie Francis, Jim Stafford and many others. It's amazing what can be remembered and learned from the internet!

Back to me and this season of my life where I really am on the go. And, though I'm going from here to there and back again, you can count on one thing....I'm endeavoring to follow God's lead -- where He goes, I want to go.

When I was my daughter's travel companion and road manager back in the late 80's, we'd load up our van and head out for her next ministry/singing gig, and inevitably we'd sing Willie Nelson's song "On the road again -- just can't wait to get on the road again." But the song I love and sing often in my travels is Chris Tomlin's song "I Will Follow!"

"Where you go, I'll go; Where you stay, I'll stay
When you move, I'll move; I will follow you
Who you love, I'll love; How you serve I'll serve
If this life I lose, I will follow you.

Those are pretty bold claims, aren't they?: "Who you love, I'll love. How you serve, I'll serve. Where you go, I'll go. Even if I lose my life, I'll follow you." When I hear those words coming out of my mouth, it's a little sobering. Do I really consider the implications of what I'm singing? Or am I just speaking with bravado the way the Apostle Peter did in his early days of following Jesus? After all, he was the impulsive one who was always making those sorts of big, bold statements. He told Jesus things like "Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you." But when Jesus was arrested, those claims fell apart. Peter ran and hid and even renounced Jesus. Thankfully, that failure wasn't the end of Peter's story. In time, God's grace and power would transform him into a man whose boldness was based on God's strength rather than his own. In time Peter did respond in the only way a disciple can, by laying down his own ambitions and embracing what it meant to truly follow. At the end he even willingly gave his life for Christ.

But, sincerely, as a follower of Jesus Christ, isn't that the desire of our hearts -- to follow Him to the nth degree -- laying down our own agendas and faithfully show up to go or stay, move, love and serve as He did. The last quote reference I'll use in this post today is "Follow the Leader", a game we played as kids where the leader moved around and we had to mimic the leader's actions. What if we made that our mode of operation -- FOLLOW THE LEADER because I know where He goes....I sure want to go, be and do as He does! Stay tuned -- soon, I'll be back to Texas because I'm following my LEADER -- here, there AND everywhere!