Do you feel like your prayers go unheard? Or maybe that Jesus hears, but has not answered your prayers? I am not an expert in prayer or well-versed in theology, but I do know what has worked well for me. When I am struggling with feeling unheard, I ask myself this, “What is at the heart of why I want this prayer answered?” In general, what is the focus of my prayer? Am I continually focused on what I want, or how I would be better able to serve? When my heart is open to serve and to love…
For many it is scary to move forward into the unknown. It is one thing to survive in your comfort zone and another to walk your intended path. Early on in raising my girls, I realized the importance of guidance and finding the right tools to lead your way. When my girls were starting soccer, I neglected to explain to them the rules of the game. They never watched a soccer game to understand the concept. I didn’t even tell them they would be playing against another team. The girls and I often played soccer together in the yard…
Every one of us has a role in life, you make a difference. We make choices that lead us to where we are today. Sometimes we play the role we are intended to play and other times we get off track. The things that take us off track are easily avoided if we are willing to have a mindset of love. When our head is looking at treating everything with compassion our decisions become easier to make. We do have a choice when it comes to how we treat ourselves and others. It is easy to get caught up in…
When I first moved to our current home, there was an abundance of weeds overtaking all the beautiful plants. The beginning of spring always opens the door to the growth of new weeds. After that first year, I learned to clear them early by digging out all the roots. The more care and attention I gave to the job, the less work I had throughout the summer. I learned to go out when the ground was damp so that the roots were more easily lifted from the dirt. My intent is always to let the beautiful greenery shine, not be…
How is it that you recharge your battery? What is it that you do to get yourself back on track and refocused on your priorities? Most of us can probably relate to times when we put our heads down and charge through the responsibilities that are in front of us. Those times can be challenging and push us off focus. However, there can also be times when we dig deep and rely on our strengths. First, I have to recognize that I am in need of being recharged. Often life is so busy that we don’t take the time…
One of the most powerful things about one’s journey is that we have the choice to change paths throughout our lifetime. I believe Jesus has a plan for us and as we make decisions along our journey he guides us. It is our decision if we choose to listen or continue to remain in control of our direction. Some of us are thrown difficult forks in the road, some permanent some changeable. In this lifetime our path and journey are adaptable. Some of the things that happen to us and situations we encounter, our physical and mental abilities, might…
It would be nice if relationships stayed healthy and strong with no need to foster or cultivate positive synergy. However, for most of us, we need to invest some attention to those close to us. Once in the habit of fostering love for those we know, it becomes contagious to those around us. In recent years I have heard the term “secret sauce” used in various places, but the first time I heard it used was by a marketing consultant in Boston many years ago. His strategy is to uncover the business’ special ingredient that makes up its secret sauce…
I learned a valuable lesson about disappointment. Put very simply, despite various disappointments love conquers everything. Having love in your heart doesn’t prevent you from disappointment, but it provides a framework as to where to start and offers a different perspective. It makes it less about me and more about countering the disappointment with kindness. I can be criticized, walked over, or sat on, but because I have love in my heart, there’s something that enables me to get up again. Something that tells me that disappointment doesn’t deserve anger. That something that picks me up is…
Over time we often forget some of the details of our lives. Some things become easier over time as our memories fade. Other things are enhanced by a gentle reminder. Monuments often provide a reminder of important things that have happened in history. As we view the art our minds focus on the events of that time period. It is a gentle reminder of history; a person, event, or era. As I was listening to the Daily Audio Bible the reading touched on the importance of incorporating reminders into our lives. Things that will help us reference important personal events…
John Lennon’s song, All You Need Is Love, has been playing in my mind this past week. From podcast to televised church service the common theme has been we are what we believe. The concept that positive thoughts and actions bring about positive outcomes has long been a topic of discussion among those closest to me. I see things in terms of the cup 1/2 full and find very little cause to worry. While others find it very difficult to address all circumstances from a perspective of love and tend to hang on to stress and anxiety. I…