You Are Always On My Mind

Do you remember that feeling when you first met your sweetheart and you couldn’t get him or her out of your mind? That’s all I thought about – morning, noon and night – that cute, black haired, brown eyed boy stole my heart AND my mind!

This year I found that the principal thing is the simplest thing -- noticing, purposing to be aware of God everywhere, recognizing the beauty in His creation, in the talents and abilities of His kids, savoring the everyday realities of His grace that are so abundant. Willie Nelson recorded the song, "You Are Always On My Mind", and that has been my love song to God this year. In being "tuned in" to Him and being grateful for the simple yet obvious "God" encounters in my day, He has been on my mind...a LOT!

I sincerely want to continue that awareness of Him and having Him on my mind. "Him I will keep in perfect peace whose mind is stayed upon Me." Isaiah 26:3. But, I also know the struggle it is to stay "in the moment". It's just so easy to be distracted from the very things He wants to show me.

And that’s what Christmas has been about — finding Him in the midst of the chaos, in the midst of the interruptions and distractions. No question, He is everywhere, but the simplest, purest, most humble and less grandiose place we'll find Him, is still -- in the manger. Wouldn't it make sense that we, too, will find him in some of the least expected places of our life? Perhaps in the homeless man on the street corner, a newborn baby, the hug from a friend, the "My pleasure" from the Chick-Fil-A cashier, in the "answered prayer" story of a friend, or simply, the cross hanging from someone's neck?

This is still His Christmas. Remember the chaotic, stinky, messiness of Jesus' birthplace? That's where we'll find Him in our world too. We'd love to be distraction-less and have ongoing sweet, encounters with Him....but, it just doesn't matter. He meets us where we are -- in our busyness AND in our stillness. He is there. God is always there waiting for us. When we're "practicing His presence" we'll find Him embracing us, giving us aha moments, seeing Him everywhere and in everything.

And if going to the stable and the manger in our minds is too much of a stretch.....after all, it really is quite stinky and messy there.....then we can go to the foot of the cross where He paid the ultimate price for you and me. We were on His mind from the manger to the cross. We are ALWAYS on His mind. Shouldn't He ALWAYS be on our mind?

This Guy AND I Came to Live Out Loud!

Yesterday morning, I was on the road again! Thanks, Willie Nelson, for the song to accompany my travels to here, there and back again. I really am so grateful that I can hit the road at any given time to be a part of special occasions, get caught up with dear friends and family members and take in some of my favorite places. This time will be a real joy as I stay at my BFFs’ lovely home and then have a special package delivered to me by his grandpa who lives further south in Oklahoma, my 11-year-old, Bryson. He’s going to be my buddy for the next several days here in Tulsa and back home in Frisco. And the finale of this trip will be attending the confirmation of a precious young woman I have sponsored into the family of God.

I'm taking it all in as I get to bask in these precious moments, events, celebrations and accomplishments of my precious family and friends around me. In the words of Émile Zola, French Nobel Prize winner in 1901, “If you ask me what I came to do in this world, I will tell you, I came to live out LOUD.”

I'm certainly not a "rocking chair" grandmother. No offense, if that's your gig -- rock on, Baby! But, for me, I've set big goals for my life and I won't accomplish them if I take a laid-back approach. To me, living out loud means living life with passion, being open to possibilities, and reaching for the stars.....well, at least the top of trees! Living-Out-Loud is living, laughing, and loving unashamedly. It means deliberately choosing to be inspired and motivated enough to live without limits -- or just getting off the couch and doing something! It means letting go of fear, getting gutsy and getting going.

Living-out-loud is unique to everyone. See this guy with the sign "Honk if you love Jesus!" He was standing outside of the service station where I filled my car up with gas. In this Texas heat, one could say "He fell off the turnip truck -- to stand out there with one of "those" crazee signs -- it's obvious there's something wrong with him!" Nope. He is merely living OUT LOUD, because he can. I pulled over and asked "Why do you do this?" He said "Well because I can. On January 9th, after being told I wouldn't live beyond a few months, I was totally healed. I had told the Lord that if He'd heal me I'd declare His love and healing power every chance I could. So here I am -- keeping my promise." He is really living out loud -- so loud that I noticed him. He is using his gratitude, zest-for-life and enthusiasm to make a difference. What if we did the same?

Here's how I live out loud: I purpose to be present to take in God's signs and wonders. This is one I cultivate daily. I purposely choose positive thoughts and intentions. If a stray negative thought creeps in, I quickly change the channel. I take time to enjoy and appreciate family, friends, food, music, children, blue skies, sunshine and ordinary moments. I invest time in my relationships, put the “good” china on when I have friends and family over. I light up the candles for ambiance. I know that giving and doing my best is the most important thing I can do to show the love of life and of those who I value so much in my life. I take a deep breath and express my gratitude for being alive. And, while I’m at it, I observe the sights and sounds and smiles around me. I am so thankful I can see and hear!

I just may not pass this way again, so I'm making the moments count. I’m going to LIVE OUT LOUD with every moment that I can! Why don't you join me? It will be worth the trip! <3

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!

Seed Time and Harvest Time

Yesterday morning, I was on the road again! Willie Nelson, thanks for the song to accompany my travels to here and there and back again. I made my way back to Frisco from Austin and what a joy it was to arrive just in time for the performances of my Wallace grandchildren (and their Mama) as they performed at the Createvations Showcase last night. Lots of practice and hard work merited outstanding performances. It was another sweet night of celebrating these kids AND recalling to how we got here.

Here comes another blast from the past. From a very early age, we knew our daughter had a God-given talent to sing. She was always known as the little girl with the big voice. But that little girl needed vocal training -- proper technique and breathing, stage presence and lots and lots of practice to mature the gift. Who knew better how to develop those giftings than her daddy who had likewise been given incredible vocal abilities. It didn't take long for him to realize that God's giftings in her required an investment of his time to help cultivate her talents. Soon, his goal was to pour himself into our girl. He knew his investment of time could have the potential of yielding a huge harvest. Seed time and harvest time.

They spent hours and hours of time in our basement in Canada..... practicing and practicing. Staci would often be in tears when her daddy said “Sing it again, but this time..........” Today, Staci would be the first to tell you how grateful she is for her Dad’s relentless persistence and diligence in training her.

The icing on the cake is that those often miserable times of rehearsals and practices (the seed time) resulted in the opening of many doors of opportunity. Her musical abilities have served her well (the harvest time).

My husband was also a gifted and talented pianist. I can't begin to tell you the joy he had when Payton, Staci's son, wanted to follow in Papa’s footprints….er....rather, Papa’s fingerprints on the piano keys. Since four years old, Payton has been honing his love for playing the piano. Last night, what a joy it was to see, for the first time, Staci singing, with her son, Payton – Papa’s protégé, accompanying her on the piano. Papa must have been leaning over the rails of heaven cheering them on.

I shared this with my FB family today to emphasize the importance of seed time and harvest – what we plant, will eventually yield a fruitful harvest if we don’t quit. I’m so grateful to be a part of the harvest today as I repetitively see the fruits of our labors in our children and grandchildren

I encourage you to consider the seeds you plant each day into those you influence -- your children and maybe you don’t have children, but you have friends, loved ones, and neighbors that you could be planting seeds of faith, hope, confidence, and encouragement into them. Not only does your influence represent seed time into their lives -- but just maybe, you’ll get to be there when their harvest comes in AND when you watch them plant seeds into others, too.

Are YOU Always on Your Mind?

Day 20 of this Month of Love -- Are YOU always on YOUR mind?
Mark 12:31 says "Love your neighbor as you love yourself!" That's a lot to live up to, but that's what God tells us to do. But loving ourselves is one thing, and having ourselves ALWAYS on OUR mind is a whole other story.

I saw Joyce Meyer coax her husband, Dave, to come to the stage so she could sing him a love song. She sang Willie Nelson's song, with two change of words…… "Maybe I didn't love you quite as often as I could have, And maybe I didn't treat you quite as good as I should have. If I made you feel second best, I'm sorry I was blind.  I WAS ALWAYS ON MY MIND.  I WAS ALWAYS ON MY MIND.  And maybe I didn't hold you all those lonely, lonely times. And I guess I never told you I'm so happy that you're mine. Little things I should have said and done, I just never took the time. I WAS ALWAYS ON MY MIND.  I WAS ALWAYS ON MY MIND."

It was hilarious....but point well-taken. Joyce shared that she was so self-absorbed for a very long time. The fact is, when WE'RE always on OUR own mind…selfish and self-centered, people will know it. And, when we are self-sacrificing, and always giving love, people will know it, too. People can always determine our character by looking at the fruit of our life. We're told by St. Paul that we should bear good fruit because that’s what we are going to be known for. Everyone we come into contact with, every single day, and in every situation, will see our fruit. So, how are you known? What kind of fruit do others see in your life? Are YOU always on YOUR mind?  Maybe it's time to have others on our mind -- to encourage, support, lift up and cheer on to their finish line.

You Are Always On My Mind

Day 350 of Photo Inspirations -- You Are Always On My Mind
At the end of 2014 when I was seeking God about my assignment for 2015, I clearly knew that my 2015 blogs would be inspired by photos.  So that has been my mission.  Just 15 days to go.....and then I'll start my new assignment for 2016.

What a wonderful journey this year has been for me. As I look back on this year, I've met some wonderful people who inspired me, heard some incredible stories, witnessed lots of "God encounters" from being aware of His presence, noticed Him in many "everyday" occurrences -- all of which helped me capture photos that will be a part of my memories and archives from here on out.

I've found in this year that the principle thing is the simplest thing.....noticing, being aware of God everywhere, recognizing the beauty in His kids, appreciating their talents and abilities, savoring the everyday realities of His grace that are so abundant.  Elvis Presley and Willie Nelson recorded the love song, "You Are Always On My Mind", and that has been my love song to God this year.  In being watchful and in being "tuned in" to His voice by listening intently to conversations of friends and strangers, He has been on my mind.

I sincerely want to continue that awareness of Him -- maybe not so much as to take photos, but having Him on my mind.  "Him I will keep in perfect peace whose mind is stayed upon Me." Isaiah 26:3.  But, I also know the struggle it is to stay "in the moment".  It's just so easy to be distracted from the very thing He wants to show me.

Here we are, designed to be here on this earth at this precise time for purposes set for us long ago. And in reality, we need One Thing most of all. We know we need Him first and foremost, but we get distracted by everything else.  We want Him to be Numero Uno, but distractions and interruptions keep us from Him.  Truth is, we really do want God with all of our hearts.

And that’s what Christmas is all about — finding Him once again in the midst of the chaos, in the midst of the interruptions and distractions.   No question, He is everywhere, but the simplest, purest, most humble and less grandiose place we'll find Him, is at the manger where He came as a baby.   Wouldn't it make sense that we, too, will find him in some of the least expected places?

This is His Christmas.  Remember the chaotic, stinky, messiness of His birthplace?  That's where we'll find Him in our world too.  Yes, we'd love to have those no-distractions, sweet, mellow encounters with Him....but, it just doesn't matter.  He meets us where we are -- in our busyness AND in our stillness.  He is there.  God is always there waiting for us.  The point is.....we must continue to "practice His presence" because in His presence, we'll find not just photo inspirations, but we'll find Him embracing us, giving us aha moments, seeing Him everywhere and in everything.

And if going to the stable and the manger in our minds is too much of a stretch.....after all it really is quite stinky and messy there.....then we can go to the foot of the cross where He paid the ultimate price for you and me.  We were on His mind from the manger to the cross.  We are ALWAYS on His mind.  Shouldn't He ALWAYS be on our mind?