Action. Blog #358.

I know the plan I am to follow, it’s time to take action.  There are excuses that I can allow to block me from my purpose, but I know what is right.   It is clear what is expected of me, the question is will I take action?  Will I let go of what I want for myself and surrender to Jesus’s plan?  If I continue down my intended path, my life will be far richer than if I choose my own path.  Despite knowing that, it is difficult to let go of what I desire and continue with…

The Unexpected. Blog #357.

Do you feel ready for the unexpected?  Sometimes we allow stress and worry to get in the way, particularly when we allow the outside world to guide our every moment.  There are things I do to help me be prepared for the unexpected.  Although it might be nice if life were consistent daily, we need to be ready for the unknown. Living in the moment allows me to ebb and flow daily as life brings new challenges.  That doesn’t mean I have abandoned the future or don’t have dreams or goals, but it does mean I’m open…

Endurance. Blog #356.

It normally takes endurance to run with Jesus.  Sometimes, he will take us on a 50-yard dash, but often, our journey involves running a marathon.  We have to pace ourselves so that we are up to the challenge. Enduring through difficult times is important, but so is understanding when your path needs to be changed.  I endured through years of infertility.  But at the same time, I was exploring various paths and alternatives to becoming a parent.   Each alternative was investigated until the path came to a dead-end.  Quitting was not an option, but changing the path was…

Trick or Treat. Blog #355.

In life, I look to avoid tricks and strengthen the treats.  This chaotic world does not make it easy to identify tricks and treats.   Tricks are often wrapped in beautiful packaging looking too good to be true.  Sometimes we convince ourselves that the beauty is real, but deep down we know what’s in the package is not authentic.   We might sense that something is off but still want to hold onto the dream that it is real and kind.  Disregarding the pit in our stomachs, forging forward through the mud until we hit the dead end.   Hindsight tells us…

Resistance. Blog #354.

Should we or shouldn’t we, the question of resistance.  As we hold on to control what we do and don’t resist, becomes ours to decipher.  When we let Jesus take the reins, we simply follow the path of peace.   Giving control to Jesus is simple, but not always easy for those of us who like to know where we are going.  In this case, we are totally surrendering to Jesus and the path he intends for us to follow.  It is likely we might not want to do some of the things on that path.  We might even…

Slow Down. Blog #353.

It’s not often that we get an opportunity to slow down our life.  We can’t turn back the clock, but we can do what’s important with the time that we have available to us.  We can evaluate how we use that time and make choices that align with our priorities. That means we first have to identify our priorities. That is not easy particularly when life brings great chaos.  Most of us probably have a handful of priorities we can articulate immediately.  But are we living our lives according to those priorities? Are we spending our time…

The Upside. Blog #352.

Some might take it as a bit delusional, but no matter the circumstances I choose the upside.  I understand many people have lived through more pain and suffering than I have, but I have yet to find a time when light was absent.  Each hiccup gives us an opportunity to become stronger or stressed.  When I tell my kids to look for the light, the positive, the upside, they often reply, “What upside?”  Often, it is hard to see the rainbow through the storm, but if one searches for light, I believe one will always find hope.   Prayer is my…

Spiritual Growth. Blog #351.

My spiritual growth soared as my definition of love was redefined.  My faith has been strong most of my life, but it was not until I was introduced to Dr. Issam and Kathy Nemeh that my definition of love changed.   The importance and role of love is known to many, but how many of us live with love?  Kindness and the golden rule were at the forefront of my life, but I did not live with love.  This is not romantic love, but living life with love and compassion for all.  I didn’t realize I could love people I…

It’s Free. Blog #350.

I often think about how motivated we are when we find something we are able to acquire for free.  Some might be motivated by a free logo item, food, beverage, and/or admittance to an event.   For me, it’s all about knowing that I can live with inner peace for free.  There is no secret to obtaining peace, the answer is through love.  One simply has to address all aspects of life with love.   This is a selfless love.  It means choosing to move through life from a perspective of compassion.  Not taking the bait to fight.  Knowing there…

What We Don’t Know: Second Chance. Blog #349.

I will never know how often I have walked past the opportunity to provide a second chance to someone in need.  But I have learned to look beyond what I see, ask questions, and offer a plan for success.  I was responsible for a division of a company and had an employee who was not responding well at work.  It was not a matter of being unlikeable or rude, but underperformance.  When listening to management, it did not seem to be an issue in the past.  I was concerned for her and the performance of our team. Before hearing the…