Breakthroughs, I believe, are the ultimate payback for continuing to stretch yourself, being willing to be teachable, open-minded, and with the belief we can be better.
Category: Soul
What Row Are You In?
Last Sunday in church I sat in the general area where I typically sit. I looked two rows over where I spotted a friend of mine and waved hello. A few moments later two more ladies slid into the seats next to my friend, and I thought to myself, “That’s nice that they have each…
Beyond a Year of Firsts
I wouldn’t be truthful if I said last year was easy, because it wasn’t. Every “first” was a hurdle, each solo experience bittersweet. For months, I felt as if a dense fog covered me as I waded through shock and struggled to move forward. Small tasks felt huge.
Unlocking the Secrets to Resolutions That Actually Work
Reflect over your year and create your own list of successes, both big and small. This step of writing down your accomplishments is a confidence builder. It puts on paper the things you’re most proud of. We can get so caught up in the things that didn’t go well. Our setbacks, our failures and focus on those things. I think if we let ourselves, we can binge on the things that didn’t go well and get stuck. This thinking is so counterproductive. I do think that has a place; to be evaluated. But not today. We are getting ourselves prepared for an even bigger and better year. It all starts with our mindsets.
The Music of Heaven on Earth
Sunday, I had the joy of singing in our choir Christmas presentation. This year was different. Jim wasn’t sitting in the men’s section. Unlike last year, when Jim remembered his music was still at home halfway there, I got to the church on time. After the presentation, I hugged my family, who were in attendance,…
Anticipation of Success—a Christmas Vision
You get to decide from the experiences you want to create—beginning with the end in mind. This exercise will help you clarify what is important and once you get this clear vision you can sketch out your game plan from there. The specifics and the details of all that needs to be done will not just come from head knowledge but heart knowledge. If you accept this challenge and take the time out to do this exercise this will change your experience. I think we get so caught up in the doing that we neglect to think about the why we are doing what we are doing. This exercise is a game changer. It’ll help keep everything in perspective.
“He Outlived the Carpet!”
Advent is about waiting and watching. We are invited to be still so that we don’t miss God’s loving embrace among us. A slowed pace is antithetical to our North American approach to this holy season in the life of the Church. We have the longest to-do list of the year when it comes to Christmas preparation. Our foot is on the gas pedal. We jump out of the car and race around the store. Our fingers scroll through our online buying options, searching for gifts that will be dropped at our doorstep the very next day. We bake. We entertain. We inscribe cards. Even in our churches the pace ramps up as children rehearse for their parts in the annual pageant (which I always love!) and folks brave the cold to go caroling. I invite you to intentionally slow down. When you catch yourself breathlessly rushing toward a neighbor with your own agenda, put on the brakes. Maybe someone is excited to tell you how their pastor outlived a tired church carpet! So, when the adrenaline rushes as you panic over what needs to get done in a December day, breathe deeply. Turn your heart heavenward.
How to Overcome Fear with Courage and Rediscover Your True Peace
I believe a lot of us hide behind a mask. But our secret life is exploding with all kinds of fears. If this sounds like you, I want to share that you are normal, there is nothing wrong with you. Having feelings and a thinking brain is what sets us apart from all of the animals in the animal kingdom.
In Everything, Give Thanks?
“Everything” doesn’t mean only what is pleasant, good, happy, fun. “Everything” means, well, everything, all that life brings, including the difficult, challenging, hard, sad, and unpleasant. Giving thanks in everything involves broadening your perspective on life and understanding there is always something you can view with gratitude.
Gratitude Unleashed: Transforming Your Heart for a Meaningful Thanksgiving
What can we learn from exploring the opposite of thanksgiving? We can all agree our hearts can deceive us. It looks different for each one of us. And we all have this same heart issue. Even as believers, feelings of ungratefulness, resentment and discontentment can all creep into our thoughts. We can all fall into the trap of allowing our thoughts to build on themselves, justifying feelings, which can so easily create our actions. And for many people, Thanksgiving, which brings family members together, can reveal conditions of our heart.