Time for Change -- FALL Back!

Summer is officially over….though it has seemed to drag its feet here in Tulsa! We’ve had way warmer temperature than usual…..but hold on…..change is coming. In fact, it’s cooler today – just in time to give a little ARK (Act of Random of Kindness) to my FB friends. I'm wanting you to get that extra hour of sleep that you deserve! Daylight saving time 2016 will end tomorrow morning, Sunday, at 2 a.m., so it'll be best to set your clocks back an hour before retiring tonight!

This is my favorite time change – the one that “falls back” and we get a much needed extra hour of sleep – unlike the Spring time change when it advances an hour and we lose an hour of sleep. We adults can get this and adapt quite readily. But, oh my goodness, I remember when my babies and grandbabies were babies and those time changes came and it was a work-out to get them on the new schedule. They didn’t understand they could get an extra hour of sleep in the Fall. But, these days, wise young moms have learned to trick the time clock. They start regulating the kids’ schedule way before tonight. They gradually moved bedtime and morning wake up time and nap times later by 10-15 minutes. By the time Sunday comes those kiddos’ schedule is already tracking the new time.

I love that. Adapting to change. Rather than grumpy moms, dads and kids….be forward thinking. What can I do to make what I know is coming…..an easier, calmer, less-stress outcome? First of all, ACCEPT that changes are inevitable. Like this Daylight savings time change – it’s going to happen where we want it to our not – we can thank good old Benjamin Franklin for that! He proposed rising an hour earlier in order to conserve candles, but it didn't take root until World War II, when President Franklin D. Roosevelt started what he called "War Time” in an effort to save resources. Thanks, Ben, & President Roosevelt!"

Being willing to embrace change has so many rewards. Last Tuesday night, at our Women of the Madalene Meeting, those sweet ladies gave me a really special tribute because of my move to Texas. I was reminded that my friend and I as President and Vice President, 10+ years ago, saw the need to change the name of our women’s group from “Women’s Club” to a name that would be more inclusive of ALL the women in the parish. We had no desire to be an exclusive “club”. After much thought and deliberation and acclamation by our Board – the CHANGE was made and the group’s name was changed to Women of the Madalene. Did it ruffle a few feathers because “It’s ALWAYS been the Women’s Club – why change?” Yes. But here we are years later and the name stuck like glue….and now other parishes have changed their Women’s Clubs’ names, too. Change was good.

Change in our lives is inevitable. We can hold change like the tight reins of a horse and resist it and refuse to submit to change, or we can take off those old hats of “I’ve ALWAYS done it this way, and I’ll never change” or put on those new hats of “I’m going to embrace change – and grow and learn and adapt and be ALL God destined us to be.” Maybe it’s time to rethink that potential new hairstyle, that better job, that computer course to up your game, that circle of friends, that same-oh-same-oh attitude of gloom, doom, and despair. Just maybe it’s time to get a new lease on life by being willing to CHANGE!

The Great Unknown But Great Friends Behind

So I’m in the final countdown to two big events next Tuesday, November 8th:
1) The election – I’ll be voting based on my conscience and aiming for the party and its candidate that aligns closest to my belief system. I sure don’t know what November 9th will hold, but I know that no matter which party is elected, God will still reign and He will be in control. What assurance that is!!

2) My saying “See ya’ later!” to Tulsa as I make my “pilgrimage” home to Texas. I’m leaving based on my conscience, God’s very obvious nudges, and aiming for the work God will have for me there. I sure don’t know what tomorrow will hold, but I know that no matter where God leads, I’ll follow; where He guides, He’ll provide. He is so trustworthy – of course I can place my confidence in Him.

Reality that I'm leaving really set in over the last couple of days with so much love shown me by dear friends. Precious giirl friends, my Hyde Park Family and my Church OfThe Madalene Women of the Madalene. I am indeed a most blessed gal that have walked and run this journey of faith with me and all are so valuable to me. I'm so thankful for the memories as an Oklahoman -- that started way back in 1971.....a 7-year stint in Canada in between but back here in Tulsa since 1993. I cherish that season and now a whole new adventure awaits me . My hope is built on the faithfulness of God. He's been with me every step of the way, so why would I expect that to change?

Maybe your focus isn’t on the election or a big move, but we are all in need of God’s guidance in our lives—when to move forward, when to slow down, when to wait, when to say “yes” and when to say “no.” The most important thing in knowing God’s guidance is not about knowing a formula, but knowing God; not about hearing opinions, but hearing God’s voice; not about striving, but resting in God’s wise and wonderful will.

Here are some affirmations of faith that we can ALL speak over our lives:
~ I don’t know the next step on the path, but I know the Guide. “ I will instruct you and teach you concerning the path you should walk; I will direct you with my eye.” Psalm 32:8
~ I don’t know the next chapter in the book of my journey of faith, but I know the Author and Finisher. “Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith” Hebrews 12:2
~ I don’t know the best decision to make, but I know the Counselor “And he will be called Wonderful Counselor.” Isaiah 9:6
~ I don’t know how the need will be met, but I know the Provider. “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19

NO FEAR….only great hope and expectancy....SOMETHING GOOD is gonna happen for you and me!

Sweet "going away" photos of my dear friends attached!

It's Time to Build an Ark

Day 131 of Photo Inspirations - It's Time to Build an Ark
#TBT -- Twelve years ago, I wrote the play,  "The Red Carpet Women of the Bible Walk of Fame", and we performed it for our Women of the Madalene and for other organizations.  The play featured well-known women from the Bible -- to help us, in this modern era, to understand our journeys of faith are not so different from those women whose culture was so vastly different from ours.

I was the Broadcast Announcer, Kiane Sawyer, and provided the narrative. That's me on the far right. From left to right are Mrs. Noah, played by Mary Jean Burns;  Theresa Taron Witcher​, played the role of Barbara Walterstein and she interviewed each character; Sarah AND Judge Deborah, both played by Becky Grossman​; Delilah, played by Shannon Rziha; Martha, played by Margaret Carlin DeWeese​, Lydia, played by Sarah Rehm​, and Widow Mite, played by Nan Sibley.  These women were amazing and hilarious actresses.

With all this rain we've been having here in Tulsa, and with hearing so many, jokingly, talk about building an ark, I thought it appropriate to tell you about one of the characters from the play, Mrs. Noah, and how she handled it all.

Mary Jean, totally in character as Mrs. Noah, entered the stage -- swatting at flies and singing "Rain, rain go away!"  When Barbara Walterstein (Theresa) asked how she survived it all, she said, "Wow -- did I ever have my hands full -- the beasts, the boys, the smells and the noise.  Let's just say, that little show they call "Survivor" was child's play compared to the jungle in that ark!  And, talk about "clean-up"!  Whew!  It was a madhouse for a long time, but I survived.  It wasn't easy.  I could have snapped at any time under the pressure.  But I had one assurance of knowing that it was all a part of God's plan.  And knowing it was His plan, we came out as the world's greatest survivors!  The key to my sanity through it all was taking it all "one day at a time!"  And she left the stage singing "Singing in the rain, I'm singing in the rain.  What a glorious feeling, I'm happy again!"

I followed her with this message and I pass it on to you, my FB friends today:  "Think of it.  Mrs. Noah didn't have a dishwasher, a microwave, or a computer!  She couldn't email her friends.  She had no bug spray or scented potpourri.  There was no praise music to drown out the noises, no Christian TV to occupy her mind, no mall where she could escape.  She was stuck in a smelly, non-air-conditioned, floating zoo!  And yet, she managed to keep her sanity to live "one day at a time", knowing God was with her.  We can learn a lot from Mrs. Noah. As Moms and Grandmoms, we have days of chaos -- running errands and carpools, putting up with messy rooms and noisy fights.  We run ourselves ragged cleaning the ark, straightening the ark and then, the next day, we start all over again.  But the Lord knows what every Mrs. Noah is going through at every stage of life.  And He walks the ark with us each day as we love and care for our kids.  They face incredible dangers and temptations in the world, but when a godly Mrs. Noah gets them "up the ramp and into the ark," she trains and teaches them, loves and prays with them, and keeps them from the floods of life by placing them in His safekeeping.  If God can strengthen Mrs. Noah through it all, He will do the same for us!"

So where's the Bible women of today?  In God's loving care!  He loves and understands; He's there -- wherever we are.  He cares for us.  If you know who you are, whom you serve and where you're going, you're a woman of faith and strength in God's eyes....and everyday we are His royal women walking HIS red carpet, walk of fame.