BUILD: Logos and Language
Oftentimes when we receive instructions from God it is difficult to know where to begin. With God, there is typically no blueprint and no carefully laid out 5-year strategic plan. It’s usually just one word, phrase, image, or scripture. As I’ve said before: THIS CAN BE FRUSTRATING! However, if you understand that the sovereign God wants you to trust Her in all things than you learn to accept the instructions willingly and obey (don’t miss next week’s post on Build: Willingness and Obedience). Dependence on God to order our steps is Discipleship 101. Foundational right? Wrong! It is FORMATIONAL. It is ongoing and I feel like it keeps getting more…
2020 Update
Hello to everyone in the blogosphere! Thanks for staying engaged with me in my pursuit of shalom! 2019 was an AMAZING year. There were times when I was overwhelmed at the depth of Gods love towards me. He allowed me space and time to heal and grieve. Not only that, but He did it through the outlets of travel and writing. The fact that I never lacked one thing is a testament to the One who provides all things. WHAT AN AWESOME GOD WE SERVE! So naturally, when you come out of a miraculous season the question becomes – Okay God, What’s next? Where do we go from here? I’ve…
Dreaming Vs. Planning
Have you ever met a person who is a dreamer? They can envision a certain idea, concept, event, future that is absolutely INCREDIBLE! Most dreamers are able to convey their dream to others in ways that spark excitement and passion in the hearer. I love dreamers! They are essential to any team or organization. However, dreamers are not necessarily doers. In fact, planning and execution are generally not strong characteristics for most dreamers (in my experience). Of course, this frustrates us planners. I mean REALLY frustrates us (I mean me). I consider myself a visionary. My imagination is vivid and I can envision a project, event, sermon, trip, and idea…
Monday Musings: Changing Seasons
If you’ve been following my blog for any length of time, you know that I love fall. September, October, and November hold a special place in my heart. It’s not just because of the changing of the leaves, the chance to wear warmer clothes and/or consume all things pumpkin related. It’s also because I feel a noticeable shift in the atmosphere. It is the fourth quarter and the end of the year is approaching. It is a season of thankfulness leading into a season of celebration. Change is all around us in the Fall. When the seasons change in our lives, there is also a shift. If you are self-aware…
Monday Musings: Do-Over
Have you ever wished for a do-over? For a chance to take back a harsh word, re-do a botched assignment, or completely start all over again. I have. In fact, I have entire weeks that I’d like to “do-over”. Weeks where I completely dropped the ball. Weeks where I walked through life in a fog and missed important moments. Just plain AWFUL weeks. Yep, I’d love to be able to push a button and rewind time like that movie “Groundhog day”. But, life doesn’t work like that. Or does it? Every Monday we have a chance to start over again. Monday’s are like mini New Years. The key is to…
Monday Musing: Self-Perception
Fall is my favorite season. Leaves are falling off, the weather is cooling down and the candles, blankets, and hot tea come out. It is a great time for self-reflection. For years I’ve had a morning confession that helps me change my negative self-talk. All of us have it. Those voices in our heads. That tape that plays your mistakes and failures. Our self-perception can be one of our biggest hurdles. How we see ourselves impacts all of our interactions. If you cannot overcome negative self-perception you will find yourself settling for things and people that feed the negativity. We all need to do the work of overcoming negative self-perceptions.…
Monday Musings: Imagine
Amidst news of shootings, families being torn apart, conspiracy theories, and our individual chaos the current reality is OVERWHELMING! Taking time and finding space to envision something different is equally daunting. However, unless we imagine a different future we remain rooted in the present. So, this week I encourage you to prioritize time to dream and space to imagine. Allow yourself to form a mental image of where you want to be and how you want to get there. Let’s imagine together!
Monday Musings: America, We Have A Problem
Two more mass shootings. This time one occurred three blocks from my mother’s job. In the place where I grew up. I held my breath as names of the injured were released. I called my family and friends to make sure everyone was okay. America, WE HAVE A PROBLEM. Numbers don’t lie. You can lie to yourself. But, the numbers don’t lie. There have been 250 mass shootings in 2019 alone. In one year! According to Wikipedia, The definition of “mass shooting” is an incident in which four or more people, excluding the perpetrator(s), are shot in one location at roughly the same time. America, WE HAVE A PROBLEM. When…
Monday Musings: The Three C’s
Choice. Chance. Change. Three powerful words. Every morning we wake up we are faced with thousands of choices. Each one integrally tied to the other. Is today the day that you take a chance and pitch that new idea? Is it the week that you dust off that business plan and/or complete your manuscript? Are you ready for the change that will occur if you make that choice and take that chance? Three C’s that have the power to transform your life. Simple, yet profound. As you enter this week, What choices are you contemplating? What chances are you taking? What changes are you making?
Monday Musings: Are you laughing enough?
Last night I attended a comedy show and laughed until my side ached. This was fitting because over the holiday my sister-in-law shared a statistic about kids laughing exponentially more than adults. According to an article in Psychology Today, “The average four-year-old laughs 300 times a day. The average 40-year-old? Only four. “ Now, I don’t know if these stats are true. But, I know I don’t laugh enough. So, I’m determined to up my laughter quota. Won’t you join me this week? It will certainly help us in our pursuit of shalom. I’d love to hear from you if you decide to join me on the quest to increase…