Look for the Sign

Kolleen Lucariello has the unique gift of turning everyday circumstances into fun, intriguing, and life-altering lessons. In this Christmas UPLIFT post, she points us to three positive ways to discover the presence of Jesus this season.

I (Dawn) found this post point on for motivating the true Christmas spirit. But first, a funny story.

Here's Kollen . . .

“You’re in the wrong lane!” I shrieked as we approached our exit at a rather rapid rate, while boxed in by an enormous amount of traffic.

My driver, aka my husband, quickly darted over just in time to avoid a navigational miss.

“Why isn’t she talking to me?” He grumbled in frustration.

Which “she” was he referring to? I wondered.

“Wait. Who isn’t talking to you?” I asked.

My eyes had been in a book. I had no explanation for why his other copilot, Siri, had gone silent. I did question why he hadn’t seen the sign, however.

“I wasn’t looking for a sign.” He said, “I was waiting for her to talk.”

After years of significant Interstate travel, I knew exactly what happened—he’d gone into the zone. He was lost in thought with his eyes focused on the destination. Everything else became secondary.

“Well,” I said, half-teasing—half-terrorized, “Perhaps you could do both!”

The scene had nearly put me into heart-failure. Common, I think, when frightened by an unforeseen event.

No Siri on That Christmas

Incidents like this can help me empathize with the shepherds who were minding their business—as they did every other night—when they experienced their own startling and completely unexpected event. Imagine the look on their faces when an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared out of nowhere. The New English Translation says the situation “left them absolutely terrified” (Luke 2:9).

Understandable.

Terrified in the moment, but after listening to the proclamation of the Lord, it would seem no time was wasted in their departure to Bethlehem. That was enough for them to go “look for the sign” that would “lead them to find” (Luke 2:11).

Did they follow the star as the Magi had?

Can you imagine trying to follow a star? Without Siri to clarify every turn I wonder how long it took them.

Regardless of time, I know they did not give up until they found the one they’d been seeking. The reward for their obedience to go and look for the sign led them right to the presence of God.

Oh, that I might have the same tenacity to look for the sign that will always lead me into the presence of Jesus, rather than allow my troubles to become my focus. Especially during the season of Christmas when the pain of loss or the end of tradition seems to amplify its raging voice.

Are you looking for a sign that will lead you to enter in and experience the presence of Jesus?

Look for the Sign

Perhaps it’s the Sign of HOPE?

Every time the Israelites faced a new set of circumstances, they grumbled rather than remember God’s faithfulness through the years.

Are you able to “set your hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe?” (1 Timothy 4:10, ESV).

The Sign of PEACE?

Jesus is the Prince of Peace and He promised that when we remain in Him we will have peace.

“In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33, ESV).

We will never have peace that surpasses all understanding until we encounter the presence of Jesus.

A Sign of JOY?

Jesus promised that keeping His commandments and abiding in His love infuses us with His joy, and that would produce joy within that would overflow. (John 15:10-11).

We can abide in his love and experience the presence of his joy when we can’t muster it on our own.

Ultimately, what we look for we will find.

The shepherds could have tried to explain away what they’d just witnessed. They may have had a list a mile long of why they shouldn’t, or couldn’t, leave their location.

Yet, they didn’t.

Instead, they “said to one another, ‘Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, that the Lord has made known to us.’ So they hurried off and located Mary and Joseph, and found the baby lying in a manger” (Luke 2:15b-16, NET).

It was because they looked for the recognizable sign that others were made aware of the identity of this baby boy.

He was so much more than your typical child; He was Christ the Lord.

Are you waiting for God to reveal a sign when He’s asking you to simply recognize His presence is already with you?

Avoid a navigational miss: go and make others aware of all the Lord has made known to you.

Who does God want you to help discover the presence of Jesus this holiday season?

Kolleen Lucariello, #TheABCGirl, is the author of #beYOU: Change Your Identity One Letter at a Time and is the Co-Director of Activ8Her, Inc. She is passionate to help every woman realize her identity in Christ and live accordingly. Kolleen and her hubby, Pat, make their home in Central New York. She’s the mom of three grown children and Mimi to six incredible grands. For more information about Kolleen, visit www.speakkolleen.com.

Graphic adapted, courtesy of ooceey at Pixabay.

When Back Leads to New

Kolleen Lucariello always surprises me with her out of the box thinking and spiritual insights. In this Spiritual Growth UPGRADE, she asks us to consider what might happen if God sends us "back to" in order to bring us to an "experience of new.""When I consider going back to something I have viewed it as regression," Kolleen said. "It’s an odd phenomenon for me when going back leads to new."

I (Dawn) pondered this post. I asked God, where do I need to go back, Lord? Then I realized God had already taken me back several times. He took me back to a place of abuse to give me new freedom in forgiveness. He took me back to a place of shame to give me a greater sense of His strength, mercy, and grace. This is a powerful message. Ponder it.

Kolleen continues . . .

• We send our children back to school to experience a new year.
• I personally, had to go back to traumatic spaces in therapy to experience a new perspective of my identity.
• The life of Moses is a great example of how going back to can lead to an experience of new.

After years of oppression in Egypt, Moses’ birth announcement comes at a time when the law of the land is death to any Hebrew baby boy at birth. He’s saved because his mother placed him in a basket and sent him floating down the Nile. He is discovered by the daughter of the man who made the awful law.

She sent him back to his birth mother to experience life as an Israelite. When he was old enough, his birth mother sent him back to Pharoah’s daughter to experience a new life as her son—an Egyptian.

Eventually, those two identities would become incompatible, and Moses would commit an act of murder against an Egyptian to protect the life of a Hebrew.

This feels a bit treasonous. After all, Moses spent more years living as an Egyptian than as a Hebrew. But, when the news became public, he was a man on the run.

Eventually, Moses would be minding his own business as a shepherd tending to the flock of his father-in-law.

Until the day when Moses came to Horeb, the mountain of God, and God introduced himself.

“You’re the man I’m looking for, Moses! I’m going to send you back to Egypt so my people can experience a new unoppressed life.”

Of course, this is the Kolleen paraphrase and there is much more to be read of the story; however, this example shows us that God is not opposed to sending someone back to what we’ve been running from if it will assist another to experience the new.

Yet, after God’s explanation, Moses expressed some self-doubt—fear, perhaps?

“Who am I?” Moses asked.

Who was he? Was he a Hebrew? Was he an Egyptian? Was he a shepherd?

Did he have any memory from his earliest beginnings? Or had he blocked those days of his birth family?

Regardless, God knew who he was, and Moses needed to know who God was.

“I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob” (Exodus 3:6, NIV, emphasis mine).

God was taking Moses back to his roots, but first Moses would go back to Egypt for a new experience within Egypt. While in Egypt, God would give Moses a new experience with the people of his ethnicity and, together, they would go back to the mountain of God.

I’ve been shaken to the core by a loss of identity. And like Moses, I needed to go back to the place I had been running from and allow God to do a bit of cleanup so I could come out and experience something new.  

My years within my own "personal Egypt" had diminished my identity and God needed to send me back to the foundation of my faith to reestablish and reaffirm the truth of my identity.

My parents laid a foundation of faith, but I spent a few years running from it. The Lord led me back to the church where my own faith was established. God used this time to challenge my mischaracterization of His identity and I began a new experience with Him. 

Never discount what God can do by taking you back to your foundation of faith.

God isn’t afraid to dismantle what is cracked or was poorly laid and reveal His true nature.

When God identified Himself, “Moses hid his face because he was afraid to look at God” (Exodus 3:6b).

When fear and shame from my time in Egypt turned my face away from God, He led me back to the Cross, and I began a new experience with forgiveness and Truth.

What's YOUR Back to the New?

Does God want to do some cleanup in your life? When He instructs us to go back to the root or our "personal Egypt," remember, He’s not asking us to settle there again.

Too often we believe we are the sum of every mistake. That’s not how God sees us.

What’s really cool to me about Moses’ story is that God would add one more title to his identity.

When Moses wondered, "Who am I?"—A Hebrew? An Egyptian? A Shepherd?—I can almost hear God whisper, “You have been every single one, Moses. But now you are “My servant, Moses” (Numbers 12:7).

Where might God ask you to go back to so He can lead you into the new?

Kolleen Lucariello, the  #TheABCGirl, is the author of #beYou: Change Your Identity One Letter at a Time, and is the Co-Director of Activ8Her, Inc. She is passionate to help every woman realize her identity in Christ and live accordingly. Kolleen and her hubby, Pat, make their home in Central New York. She's the mom of three grown children and Mimi to six incredible grands. For more informaiton about Kolleen, visit speakkolleen.com.

Graphic adapted, courtesy of Openicons at Pixabay.

The Worry List

Kolleen Lucariello never fails to peak my interest between her humorous perspective on life and practical applications from daily experiences. In this Attitude UPGRADE she reminds us there is a great, biblical cure for worrying.

"The room was silent," Kolleen says. "The small lump in the center of the enormous bed across the room lay motionless. It had been a full day and I sensed my muscles relaxing as my body began to enter a well-deserved rest.

"Then the small lump spoke, 'Miiiiiimmmiiiiiii….'

That sure got my (Dawn’s) attention! Was something wrong? Scary?

Kolleen continues . . .

Our six-year-old grandson had been assigned the extra bed in Papa and Mimi’s room while we vacationed together. After hours at the water park, it was now time to say goodnight and rest up for the next day's adventures.

His words broke the silence. “Miiiimiiii, I'm just having a hawrd time falling asleep.”

“Why is that?” I asked.

“Well, it’s just that I have a whoarry list in my mind with about eight things on it that I can’t stop thinking about.”

I listened as one-by-one he began to list them. 

• First on the list was the fear he might lack self-control.
• Next came worry of the not–good–enough kind.
• Number three was the worry he would never become the best football player of all time. He was worried that his Uncle Jeff thought less of him because he had missed a few catches when they’d played football together that day.

It was difficult for me to suppress a few chuckles as he made his way through his list of worries.

I, of course, have the benefit of age which allows me to recognize his list of worries now would be different than his list of future worries. Even so, I took his worries seriously.

Why? Because I recognized a few similarities between his list and my own.

When he finished, I said, “Okay, now let’s turn your worry list into a prayer list.”

From Worries to Prayers

1. We began praying for self-control.

I assured him that regardless of our age, everyone struggles to maintain control of self. This will require a lifetime of reliance upon Jesus.

As I listened to him articulate the reason for his worry, it occurred to me how the loss of self-control can lead a person into embarrassment or even humiliation.

In an instant, I was transported back to a few I-wish-I-hadn’t-said-that moments when my failure to employ self-control over my tongue led to embarrassment for me—and others.

Wise Solomon wasn’t joking when he wrote, “your mouth can ruin everything” (Proverbs 13:3b NLT). On the flip side, he said, “Those who control their tongue will have a long life” (13:3a).  

2. We prayed for patience as we grow in the abilities God has given us—at every age and stage.

It doesn’t matter if we are six, 26, 56 or 86, God has given us talents, and we have the potential to fulfill a purpose for Him.

God filled the grandson of Hur with “the Spirit of God, giving him great wisdom, ability, and expertise in all kinds of crafts” (Exodus 31:3 NLT). He was “a master at every craft!” (vs.5).

Does that mean he didn’t need to develop it? Doubtful. But it sounds like he, and others with him, served God by using their talent as instructed.

3. We also prayed for God to help us both break the habit of assuming we know what people are thinking.

He had convinced himself that he knew what Uncle Jeff thought of his athletic ability with no confirmation his assumptions were correct.

Oh, my heart! He’s too young to create his own account of what someone may, or may not, be thinking about him, I thought.

First, we create narratives based upon our own insecurities, opinions, or point of view.

Then we insist others must be thinking exactly as we are.

Overthinking creates worry.

No need to worry what others may be thinking when we accept that we all miss a few catches, right?

With the conversation between Grandmother and Grandson complete, stillness filled the room, and I heard the deep breathing of a six-year-old at rest.

He was able to rest physically because he had put his worry list to rest mentally.

It is likely we’d ALL sleep a little more soundly by taking a rest from our worry lists.

This was Paul’s instruction in his letter to the Philippians, and it is ours now:

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done” (Philippians 4:6 NLT).

Don't worry . . . pray!

What keeps you awake at night? Turn your worry list into your prayer list and then thank God for all He has done.

Kolleen Lucariello, #TheABCGirl, is the author of #beYOU: Change Your Identity One Letter at a Time and is the Co-Director of Activ8Her, Inc. She is passionate to every woman realize her identity in Christ and live accordingly. Kolleen and her hubby, Pat, make their home in Central New York. She’s the mom of three grown children and Mimi to six incredible grands. For more information about Kolleen, visit www.speakkolleen.com. 

Graphic adapted, courtesy of Clkr-Free Vector-Images at Pixabay.

Wrapped Up in Buried Treasure

Kolleen Lucariello is funny and witty, but also uncommonly wise, in this Christian Life UPGRADE, she encourages us to be aware of the need to store up "treasures" to help us in the tough times.

"I was wrapped up in many ways," Kolleen says, "as I sat on the porch that morning: a warm bathrobe, a heavy blanket, and my worries that had become the focus of my conversation with Jesus.

"That is, until I found myself wrapped up in distraction from the activity of a squirrel."

I (Dawn) laughed hard as I pictured Kolleen's squirrel story. I hope you will enjoy—and learn from it—too!

Kolleen continues . . .

I sat perfectly still as I watched my little squirrel friend.

When he arrived on the scene, his cheeks were bulging and s-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-d from one side to the other as he maneuvered over the grass.  

What is he looking for? I wondered.

Suddenly, little squirrel stopped and put front paws in action; dig, dig and dig some more until all I could see was its middle section down to the tail. Once satisfied, the squirrel sat upright and spit the nut from its cheeks into its front paws, gave it one last glance and plopped the nut into the hole.

Then, with great precision, the squirrel pulled the dirt over the nut and commenced leveling and arranging the grass. A little pat here and a little pat there until satisfied and then, little squirrel scampered away.

Amazed by what I’d witnessed, I wondered if I’d be able to find the location of the nut. I was stunned to discover I could not see—with or without my glasses—any evidence of where the squirrel had just been!

Two days later, I watched the same course of action take place in another area of the yard. The squirrel was preparing for winter.

But, how does a squirrel remember where it buried its treasure?

I thought to myself. If I can’t see it, how will the squirrel find it under feet of snow?

I did my own digging on the topic and discovered that, not only do they have great memories, squirrels also hide a food supply in several locations in the event they might forget or they are consumed by another.

My daughter-in-law shared a Snapple cap of “RealFacts” with me that said, “Squirrels lose more than half the nuts they hide.”

Mesmerized, I experienced an upgrade in my life as I watched the little critter bury its treasure in the yard that day.

1. The Importance of Reinforcing PREPARATION.

Just as that squirrel was preparing for winter, I was reminded of how we can prepare for the seasons of life that feel most like winter by burying the treasure of the Word of God within us.

“I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you” (Psalm 119:11, NLT).

When the Word is within us, it provides the warmth of hope when we feel frozen by fear or tossed by the storms of this life.

2. The Reality of EVIDENCE When Our Memory Fades.

My failure to find the exact location of where the squirrel’s treasure was buried did not erase its existence. It simply meant that I couldn’t see it; but, the squirrel knew.

It can be tempting to assume God is nowhere to be found when we feel buried beneath the heavy weight of circumstances. Life certainly has the ability to resemble winter’s harsh and bitter season.

However, I am reminded—often—that my inability to see God does not erase His existence. When I’ve buried the Word deep within, the Holy Spirit is able to bring to my memory and remind me of who He is—so it becomes easier to find where He is.

“But the Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will help you remember everything that I have told you” (John 14:26 AMP).

We must never be fooled when our memory fails us or our treasure becomes consumed by another, such as with time and circumstance. the treasure is still there. He’s always there. 

3. The Need for MULTIPLE TREASURE RESOURCES.

In the same way the squirrel had buried multiple sources of supplies, we can do the same.

We can set up a system of support for the moments when we simply can’t draw from our memory bank the Word treasures we’ve hidden; or for—as the enemy likes to do—times when what has been planted is stolen (Mark 4:1-8).

“Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed” (Ecclesiastes 4:9, NLT).

During the storms of winter, when it can be tempting to isolate, there is treasure to be found in community.

God is your main Source, but where, or who, are the other sources in your life to offer life-sustaining spiritual nourishment when you most need it?

So on those dark days, ask yourself: what’s my treasure and where have I buried it?

Kolleen Lucariello, #TheABCGirl, is the author of #beYOU: Change Your Identity One Letter at a Time and is the Co-Director of Activ8Her, Inc. She is passionate to every woman realize her identity in Christ and live accordingly. Kolleen and her hubby, Pat, make their home in Central New York. She’s the mom of three grown children and Mimi to six incredible grands. For more information about Kolleen, visit www.speakkolleen.com

Graphic adapted courtesy of Alexa at Pixabay.

Who Are You? What Are You Doing Here?

Kolleen Lucariello is one of my favorite writers because she is funny and factual (biblically), practical and passionate (about God's Word). In this special UPLIFT, she writes about her dad, and a precious lesson she learned about herself while observing his life.

"'I don’t mean to be blunt, but who are you and what are you doing here?' my father repeated to the unfamiliar face joining my mother and I at the kitchen table.

"I’d given him the information," Kolleen said, "but with Alzheimer’s holding him hostage, he asked again, 'Who are you and what are you doing here?'"

It's not hard for me (Dawn) to understand that scenario. I remember how brokenhearted I felt one evening when I spoke to my mom and sister on FaceTime. My mom peered at the image on her screen and asked my sister, "Who IS that?" I wiped away a tear.

I'm glad Kolleen goes on to share a sweet lesson she learned after her dad asked those questions.

Kolleen continues . . . 

I reintroduced the new home health aide to my dad. 

“A home health aide? Well, what do we need one of those for?” Dad continued.

 “Help. Sometimes, we just need someone to help care for us.” I replied.

His rebuttal held little doubt of his confidence that they needed no help, when he turned to the aide and again asked, “Who are you and what are you here for?”

When I’ve replayed that moment countless times over the months since, inevitably two thoughts enter my mind.

First, sorrow floods me with my front row seat of this awful disease that is stealing my dad from us.

My second thought is to pause and reflect on his question: Who are you and what are you doing here?

The answers to these questions evaded me for many years of my life, causing such inner turmoil and conflict that I often found myself wrestling with dis-ease.

If you had asked me to answer my dad’s simple questions a few years ago, you might have heard something like,

I am Kolleen, and I am here to make other people happy.

I have since discovered that a heavy weight of dis-ease was created when I conditioned myself to believe my sense of identity and purpose could only be found when I felt others’ approval and acceptance.

A near emotional breakdown led me to the realization that we were only meant to live for the approval of the One who created us. 

I am so grateful John took notes the day Jesus spoke these words to the crowd:

“Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me” (John 15:4 NLT).

It is through my remaining, or abiding, in Christ that I become the most authentic version of myself. However, whenever the familiar nudge to win approval sneaks in desiring to hold me hostage, I am the only one who can decide if I’m willing to participate.

It still catches me from time-to-time when I shift my focus and allow my heart to wander from that place Jesus invites each of us into—the place of abiding. 

It doesn’t take too long before those who know me best recognize that shift of focus and help me find my focus again. We need to be in relationship with others who help us live in the identity and purpose God has for us. They help bring an upgrade in our life. 

So, who am I?

• I am the most authentic representation of my true self when I remain in Jesus, for it is in Christ that I am blessed, chosen, and alive.
• I am even a masterpiece in the Father’s eyes (identity) created to do the good work He prepared for me to do (purpose) (Ephesians 1:3, 2:1,10).

And if this is who I am in Christ, it’s who you are too. After all,

“God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us” (1 Corinthians 12:6 NLT). 

What are we here for?

We are here to reveal the character of Christ to everyone through every encounter so good fruit is produced and brings glory to the Father (Matthew 5:16).

What might happen if we no longer lived according to our own plan and purpose and instead asked God to show us His?

Imagine if whatever we do or say, we “do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus” (Colossians 3:17a NLT). 

In Christ, we no longer live life just “to please ourselves” (Romans 15:1). Instead, we “patiently embrace others” with our goal being “to empower others to do what is right and good for them, and to bring them into spiritual maturity” (Romans 15:2 TPT).

Paul empowers every New Testament believer to know who they are so they can live a life of purpose and identity. He gives us detailed descriptions of who we are in Christ in the book of Ephesians.

I think it’s time for you to be released from the effects of dis-ease by living in the identity Jesus died to give you.   

Now, I don’t mean to be blunt, but I must ask: Who are you and what are you here for?

Kolleen Lucariello, #TheABCGirl, is the author of #beYOU: Change Your Identity One Letter at a Time and is the Co-Director of Activ8Her, Inc. She is passionate to every woman realize her identity in Christ and live accordingly. Kolleen and her hubby, Pat, make their home in Central New York. She’s the mom of three grown children and Mimi to six incredible grands. For more information about Kolleen, visit www.speakkolleen.com.

Graphic adapted, courtesy of ar130405 at Pixabay.