To Serve well

Serving with Excellence for a Life of Excellence

Faith

Life is measured by love: Upping our love game this week

(revisiting a post from 2020)

Who doesn’t love puppies? (Okay, kittens, too. Heck, let’s add baby ducks and chickens!) I ran across a tweet from Pope Francis today that stopped me in my tracks. I couldn’t get it out of my head, so I am hoping this is as powerful for you this week.

The tragedy we are experiencing summons us to take seriously the things that are serious, and not to be caught up in those that matter less; to rediscover that life is of no use if it is not used to serve others. For life is measured by love.

Is that not just perfect?! I love this idea of “summoning us.” As in, I am calling you into my life. I am bringing in all that is good and lovely and true.

The last couple of years have revealed again that suffering and joy often come linked together, hand in hand. We learn through both, and when we take the focus off of ourselves and instead dedicate ourselves to service and love, we are able to better find joy in all circumstances.

How can we all love the best this week? Serve the best? How can we take the focus off of all things COVID-19 and world drama and become a pain reliever for someone in need? How can we shift the energy and the story to create stories of love? As a Christian, Jesus spent time cleaning the feet of the disciples… this was in a time and geography that certainly would have made this an especially sacrificial act. This urges me to dig deep and think outside of my normal service patterns. I know if you are reading this, you are likely a “giver” and someone who constantly focuses in this way, but I am thinking this is a call to going deeper still. What is one thing I can do to in sacrifice in service to another?

Cheering everyone on, and praying for you and your loved ones. May the Lord cover each of you and inspire your minds and dinner time (and Super Bowl) conversations with innovative ways to up the ante on our capacity to spread love this week.

Simple thoughts Sunday: The wilderness taught David to see beauty everywhere

When my grandparents used to travel, they would come home and be so proud of their photos. They took the time to print them and put the pictures under those protector sheets for safe keeping and for display. At the time, I thought it was so boring – picture after picture of mountains, fields, and birds… I wanted more go-karts and less potted flowers, I guess.

My, how things have changed.

I’m not sure entirely if it’s age and wisdom, or how Apple’s iPhone has creates endless possibilities and opportunities to be creative. Maybe both! Regardless, I find myself mesmerized by the beauty in a yellow-breasted bird sitting on the fence, visiting me for breakfast. The soaring mountains, the painted deserts, the astounding perfect design of moss growing on a fallen tree on a long winter’s walk, and the aging hands of those a couple of decades ahead of me. So of course i take ample pictures of all of these things. As of today, I have 42,224 pictures, to be exact.

But back to my point: Beauty can be found everywhere. I’m sure my grandparents knew that those mountains and rivers of life had deeper meaning that they learned as they traversed their lives. What I know is that often the more painful and challenging parts of our lives seem to create a pause that offers us this incredible time to look up, look around and realize that once you get off of the highway, you find yourself surrounded by beauty.

I am so thankful for these moments – every last one of them. I’m grateful for the season I just left, which presented me with another opportunity to see God’s beauty throughout my life. I pray that I will use this to serve well in every day I am given.

I heard a message once that said you are either in the middle of a challenging season, just left one, or are headed into one. In other words: We’ve all been there most likely. Wherever this message finds you today, know that you are not alone. In fact, God has given us more love and beauty than we can imagine. Look around, breathe deeply and know that God will unveil all manner of stunning and extravagant love in so many forms when we are ready and willing to receive. In the midst of our adventures, let the simple bird pictures be plentiful.

Cheers to a wonderful week ahead and the ability to walk into the days with finding and serving up beauty at the top of our to do lists.

Simple Thoughts Sunday: Pointing to the promises

Advent officially kicks off today, and it’s quite a season of celebration. My son and his beautiful fiance will be married this week, and how appropriate is it that we are headed fully into a season that just absolutely shouts LOVE and JOY? I’m not sure if they knew when COVID-19 forced them to reschedule that they were selecting this magical week, but here we are! (Perhaps it is God’s divine way of showing us His hand is in every detail, and that He gave Tucker and Libby this gift as a wonderful reminder every year on their anniversary of the power of love.)

As we launch into the holiday season formally, I love this idea of the season “pointing us to the promise.” The Advent devotional I picked for this year via Proverbs 31 Ministries is appropriately titled the same. The beauty of this season is that we have an entire 4-week period where most of the world around us is literally on a joy seeking mission. Celebrations abound & decorations dress the halls and fill our homes with reminders that it is truly something special… a season set apart.

Advent serves as a time to prepare our hearts. To take the time to really let our hearts catch up with the beauty of all that is good in this world. As this week’s devotion pointed out, “He promises love, life and light that the darkness cannot overcome.” I am so thankful for this and so many other promises and for holding on to a faith that allows me to know I am always surrounded by good, even and especially when it is hard. As I go through this week and through the next four leading up to the ultimate celebration, I am praying that my faith would be strengthened and that each of you might feel the power in the season.

I am especially prayerful for the wedding, and that Tucker and Libby might find warmth and delight in their moments leading up to their wedding and that they will always keep pointing to the promises of God. Would you join me in that prayer? I think that would be absolutely wonderful and know they would value the gesture!

Have a wonderful week. Cheers to a season of celebrations and hearts filled with peace and joy.

Simple Thoughts Sunday: Paths paved by faith

Our human thinking is often so limiting. We question God and wonder where He is in all of “this.” Whatever “this” is in the moment. Do you ever stop and think maybe God is taking you on this path for a reason? Maybe you think you want something, and maybe God wants you to have something better. Something that might exceed our greatest desires. Steven Furtick’s message this time a few years ago was incredible. Here was my takeaway at the time:

“Faith cannot rest in God fulfilling OUR agenda.” If we “zoom out,” there may be a purpose that is greater and a plan that is bigger than we can even conjure up in our simple minds.

I am believing this today my friends. I often find myself in a place of wondering. It is a familiar and well-worn path in my mind, to question where God is taking me. Despite being under some great teachers in my life, I get dragged in by my own reasoning. I am grateful today that God’s logic is not even close to mine and that His ways are greater. I am counting on better paths and in God’s great design to exceed my wildest dreams.

Simple Thoughts Sunday: I need you to know…

I thought a lot this week about both the beauty and fragility of life. With so much whirling around us, we could miss the extravagant world. As you go into your week, I wanted to leave you with a few thoughts that I hope remind you of who God says we are… It’s helpful to hear that we aren’t defined by our status, personality, possessions, habits or opinions of ourselves or others. Focusing our mind on truth is always a good idea. So, let’s fire up a short list.

I need you to know…

That you have everything you need to fulfill your purpose. (Col 2:10)

That you are forgiven for all of your mindless and even your intentional mistakes. Good to know, because I sure do make a mess sometimes and need this one! (1 John 2:12)

That you are the light of this world. Each of us are charged to bring forward the good and brighten the path for those around us. I LOVE THIS ONE! (Matt 5:14)

That you are MORE than a conqueror… fully equipped to to deal with what this life hands to you. ALSO.. AMAZING! (Romans 8:37)

That you are created for GOOD WORKS… Let’s BRING ON THE GOOD TOGETHER! (Ephesians 2:10)

That you are guarded by God’s Peace… WOW, this one is so essential… Anyone else? (Philippians 4:7)

My friends, there is SO MUCH MORE… you are blessed, protected, accepted, healed, surrounded by God’s mercy, never alone, sufficient, STRONG, joyful, and absolutely WONDERFULLY MADE!

It’s a hard world out there some days and weeks and even years. Yet, we are so much more than we often call to mind. You are also covered in prayer and I am hoping that you have the most incredible week ahead.

Simple Thoughts Sunday: A week of courage

Ryan Holiday is a terrific author. I have read almost all of his books (Ego is the Enemy, The Daily Stoic and Stillness is the Key (my fav)). His latest, “Courage is Calling” is worth a week of blog posts. I hope you will find these as wonderful (and helpful) as I have. Ryan’s books are easy reads – small but mighty.

On Sunday I try to focus in on how faith coincides with key insights that help us build better lives. Courage is a hot topic in this arena, and even those who weren’t raised around the church are usually familiar with the David and Goliath story. The epic battlefield scene that called on the least likely warrior (a young boy) to lead his tribe to victory in defeating the town giant. Sometimes life’s giants call us to overcome our fears with a strong dose of courage. How we might do that is worth some dialogue.

Lucky for us, there are countless people throughout history who have displayed crazy bravery. From Nelson Mandela, to Malala, to Teddy Roosevelt, Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks or perhaps your own parents or grandparents. The stories are worth learning and relearning in my opinion. In his writing, Holiday spends quite a bit of time focused on Florence Nightingale. I didn’t know just what an amazing human she was, and what a beautiful example of every day courage she demonstrated. I’m planning to spend more time on her in Wednesday’s blog. Today, I am focusing on perhaps the key to conquering our fears…

“We must make courage a habit,” is what was my greatest takeaway when you strip it all down. There are endless examples, from athletes who didn’t expect to hit the game-winning goal, to the lawyer who stood in front of the mirror reciting their rebuttal over and over, to the teenager who walked the halls before school started to get a bit more comfortable with that feelings of entering their next stage of life.

He continues, “How can you trust that you will step forward when the stakes are high, when you regularly don’t do that even when the stakes are low? So, we must test ourselves.” That is soooo good to me! The idea of how we navigate our own everyday lives by practicing the good we hope to produce seems fundamental, yet complicated. The decisions we make even when thinking about helping others with our resources comes to mind. Sometimes we are too afraid of not having enough, that we don’t give generously, even though we know we could meet a need of our friend or co-worker. Ruminating on the idea of practicing... testing ourselves doing everyday good is worthy of our thinking and of our efforts.

As we think through the idea of testing on the big things, It is clear that we must start with small things. The adage, “Do one thing each day that scares you,” is a step in that direction. I believe we must always be pushing ourselves to the other side of our comfort zone.

I recently finished up my scuba diving certification and it was way out of my comfort zone. Honestly, that surprised me, because I’ve always been an avid swimmer, but the idea of carrying around an oxygen tank on your back and going 30 feet under seems daunting. Nevertheless, I made it a personal goal to do hard things, especially as I get older. The instructor almost didn’t get me to finish because I was quite adamant that I just didn’t want to, and frankly didn’t see the point during that moment of near panic. The bottom line is that I, for some reason, was too scared. He ultimately was successful by getting me to just “go on a little swim” over and over until I eventually built up the courage to keep going so I could pass the certification. It may seem like an insignificant example but I assure you, this is how I and others have done almost everything that was scary to them: by continuing to move forward, one small step at a time.

Regardless of if it’s deciding to push yourself physically, to become emotionally uncomfortable for a bit while you address a hard conversation, or if it’s something spectacular, it all starts by practice – forward progress in the direction you are headed. David did this during his daily practice as a shepherd boy, and most likely so did everyone else that has encountered a courageous moment.

My faith gives me courage, and my friends do as well. My boys give me this unbelievable desire to stay strong and be courageous in all that I do. I hope that you will feel called to be courageous and in one way or another, be inspired to practice courage daily. Sometimes just getting through the day should be considered practice. Sometimes we have to think through what areas of our lives have we really not prepared ourselves really well? What stress or pain points need confronted with a bit of Rosa Park’s bravado? I have a short list and imagine you may as well.

As I close out today’s post, I leave you with my son’s favorite Bible verse. It’s a good one and he picked this in 3rd grade, proving it is never too early. “Be on your guard. stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.” (1 Corinthians 16:13).

I think I’ll go try to do that this week! Anyone else?

Simple Thoughts Sunday: What an unbelievably beautiful world

I am fairly sure I could write on that blog headline alone for months. So many ways to approach that.

On this Sunday, I am struck by the beauty surrounding us all. The people God has surrounded me with alone showcases his absolute goodness. How about you? Who in your circle brightens your world? Isn’t it an amazing thought to consider? My head swims with why I am gifted with such incredible people. I know for certain I have done nothing to deserve that, and yet…

In Ephesians 3, verse 20, we find that God promises that he will provide more than “all” we can ask or imagine. Folks, I, like many of you, have faced many trials and sometimes the logical mind just cannot wrap it’s simple thinking to create a narrative you or I can understand. Many hard realities just flat out don’t make sense, and YET, we are promised good. Over and over in my 53 years, I have witnessed this truth. It makes my head spin with joy really.

Today’s simple thought is a call to stop and truly look around and take inventory. No matter where you find yourself, at a mountain top moment in life, or in a “WTH” moment (Google it if you need to ? ), your mind will be blown away by the beauty surrounding you. I went to a church for a season that always ended the service with “God is good all of the time, and all of the time, God is good.” That is true.

Have a wonderful week ahead and enjoy every last bit of this delightful season we find ourselves in.

The gifts of Easter

Sharing this throwback Easter post from 2020 that still feels like the message we need in 2021. Praying for you and cheering you on!

What does it mean to “have life” and “have it to the full?” This jumped out at me as if reading it for the first time this morning.

If I close my eyes and dwell on that for a moment, I see all that is bright, good, joyful. I see a day at the lake with family and friends. I see our college tribe laughing endlessly. I see my boys on soccer and lacrosse fields and, at this age, seeing their dreams come true after endless hours of studying. I see every post-holiday meal conversation in the living rooms of my grandparents, parents and sister. I see rollercoasters and oceans and the kindness of a door being opened for a young mom. I see an older couple, still nurturing and loving one another, hand in hand, despite those years that have not been filled with joy.

What do you see? What is a full life to you? It’s freeing to stop and think about what a full life is, and even going so far as to contemplate what areas of life aren’t quite full right now.

My belief is that God sent his son to live and to die – and of course, the best part: to be resurrected – so that we truly could have life. As our creator, He knew our fragilities and had a plan for that. A plan, that despite what we have gone through, would mean that we would be able to find ourselves in communion with Him. And in doing so, we would find peace, joy, and outrageous and indescribable love. His desire is for us to live fully and bring forth all of the gifts and promises to us, and by using us to bring light to every conversation and to every person across the world.

Wherever this Easter Sunday finds you, know that you are loved beyond your comprehension. Also know that in every season there is JOY- It often comes after a season of rain in the most glorious way. We can know that to be true thanks to the Easter story! My prayer is that his promises fall fresh upon you today.

Simple Thoughts Sunday: A focus on Lent

Happy Sunday, everyone!

As I mentioned before, I am going all in on this season of Lent. Those of you who follow my Instagram have probably already seen this, but I am posting daily devotionals on my page. It’s giving me space to connect with the meaning of this season and I am loving it.

Today’s Simple Thought is short… Check out my Instagram daily devotionals if you’d like to follow along. During this season, I might post a little less regularly on my blog, so I would love to see you on my other platforms for now.

Cheering you on!

Simple Thoughts Sunday: Time under tension creates strength

Good ole’ Job in the Bible had the absolute hardest luck. It seems he was under what most of us would consider torture and for days on end (AKA time under tension). His friends questioned his integrity and actions, assuming he must have done something in the eyes of God to deserve such a tragic episode of events. (If you aren’t familiar, think extreme illness, death of all close loved ones, etc. It was BAD!) He was in a bad way, and yet was able to keep his focus centered on God’s goodness…truths he had known throughout his life. He intentionally kept his attention clear and lived in full dependence on God’s promises. His actions are remarkable, given the human condition normally causing us to stir… to doubt… to question.

A week doesn’t go by where someone in my path is sharing how they just cannot believe we are still in this pandemic situation. They are anxious to somehow find themselves out of these restrictions, and back in a large crowd of people, enjoying live music, and sharing meals and drinks with lots of hugging, reveling, etc. That generally goes along with thoughts on just how many people have died and those who may still die… and a desire for good information that helps our minds make sense of it all. A flat out desire for clarity around a clear path forward.

Regardless of where you are in this season, it is true that we do not know how long or to what extent we will continue to encounter the new world we find ourselves in. What we do know is that we have been under this tension for almost a year now, and yet we are still learning. We are building mental stamina and fortitude that will no doubt be necessary tools as we move through our life journey. I have full faith that all of it will be used. I believe that, because no matter what I have gone through, it has all been used (every bit of it) for some greater good that I had no idea at the time would occur. (Perhaps an idea for another blog: the power of sharing our story with others…).

If you are a person of any faith, the Job story is there to show us how to persevere and to continue to be rooted in truth. To have the spirit, that “no matter” what comes our way, that we will continue to believe, and even be optimistic that something/someone much greater has a much larger view and is orchestrating the good and the bad together to create something we cannot even imagine.

Perhaps we needed more endurance skills, and to be reminded that being in pursuit of God is really the only way that we find true joy and purpose in life. I sure don’t know what the plan is, but I do know that I am focused on building strength in all keys areas of my life, with my faith being the most important area to continue to go deeper in. I am reminded early and often, that I have so much to learn. The depths of our faith and our lives can only grow with intention and action.

I hope that this week we are all able to take that in, and make the right decisions to ensure that we are taking this time of unknowns and intention and to seek God’s voice in all of it.

Also…one week until the SUPER BOWL! Let’s go CHIEFS!