There’s no question I was a “hare” most of my life, and I would never have imagined that I would turn into a “tortoise”. I have been a confident risk taker, quick to take action. However, my overall journey of life is based on faith and is steady and consistent. I’m patiently waiting for Jesus to guide my way. For much of my life, I thought the “tortoise” and the “hare” were mutually exclusive. How is it possible to quickly make decisions and take action, and also be slow and methodical about your decisions? Seemingly incompatible with each…
Living life with a sense of peace does not eliminate suffering. What I have found is having inner peace grounds me for any and all suffering that comes my way. When my late husband died people said I was strong. It was not my strength it was my inner peace knowing that whatever suffering comes my way Jesus will ground me and show me how to move through the chaos. That time was not without suffering, but I was able to move forward because I chose to rely on something greater than myself. I gave control to Jesus and believed…
As I walked by photos that are displayed on the wall of our home, I realized the photos displayed something very different to me than the photos that are hanging in the home of my parents. In the home of my parents, the photos generate warm and fuzzy feelings that are moments in time that are captured and that bring a smile to my face and inner peace. In my home our photo gallery brings feelings of overcoming adversity, a wall of strength and endurance, highlighting what we as a family have endured. Looking at my kids’ photographs each…
Whenever I am forced into battle I want to fight fair. The only way I know how to do that is to first engage in prayer and second to make sure my total being is coming from a perspective of love. When I am engaged in prayer and focusing on love, I begin to feel compassion for whatever combat is headed in my direction. I normally avoid battle, but sometimes I am tossed in before I even know what is happening. When I am caught off guard I have to stop and focus on what is most important. For me…
I was speaking with someone who was a bit frustrated with a friend who lives life as a follower of Jesus. This person was given advice to trust in Jesus, and that it will all work out. Here is the catch. The friend giving the advice was very worried about something and was not following their own suggestion. The question was, “How do I help someone who is giving me advice to trust Jesus, but is not trusting Jesus with their own worries?” Think about how strong we would be as followers of Jesus if we all applied his advice…
It is time to stand strong seeking truth, unity, and love. As we move through our day we are targeted with information from every direction. It is not easy to uncover the truth. Much effort is necessary to begin to uncover what is real and what is misinformation. The truth often is hidden behind everything circulating on social media. I utilize prayer to uncover the information I believe is needed to make important decisions. Praying that I will see the shortcomings of the misinformation and that I will be led to the information I need to make an educated decision…
When I am aware that my mind is awake the first thing I do is make the assumption that it’s going to be a good day, and thank Jesus. Before my feet hit the floor I know that everything is going to be okay and that there is a reason to get up and enjoy the day. I don’t give myself time to think about how I feel or all that I need to accomplish. I simply move forward and assume it will all work out. There never seems to be an advantage to thinking about all…
It took decades for the real me to expose myself fully. Not even understanding that the real me was in disguise. I felt like I lived by the “Golden Rule” and genuinely attempted to do the right thing under all conditions. There were times I was wrong or off path, quickly adjusting to get back on track. I was a good person trying to live life with compassion. That life was interrupted and turned upside down. For most of my life, I was a leader. Someone who took charge when necessary but stayed in the periphery by nature. My predictable…
If you want to become closer to Jesus, it is simple. Not always easy, but very simple. It starts with love. Difficult things are going to happen, issues are going to arise, problems will need to be solved. Those are all things that happen in our daily lives. The difference is how we approach what comes at us each day. What is our perspective? Are we able, under all circumstances, to keep focused on love? Problems come to all of us in different ways at different times, and often they are only visible to us who endure them. Rarely do…
Have you ever been part of the periphery of a gathering, club, sport, job, culture, etc.? If you have, you know the feeling that starts to creep through your body as you fully understand that you aren’t within the circle of influence. That you are on the edge looking in by choice, because of fear, due to finances, ethnicity, or because you are new to the circle. There is some reason you are not part of the influential group. I have lived most of my life on the periphery. Much of that is by choice. But some of it…