To Serve well

Serving with Excellence for a Life of Excellence

Joy

Rewind: Go ahead, jump the fence!

(Photo creds: We Heart it)

(This is a throwback post to 2017, because levity goes a long way.)

I told my son I wanted to do something funny today – something to add some levity to our day and get away from anything too serious.

Initially, this idea of “jumping the fence” was captured in a conversation about diversity and the need for us to not be afraid to experience different cultures, food, people, environments, etc. That is still a good idea, but what’s better today is this perspective of the image.

Through all of the stress that America has realized over the last few months, and what seems like a never-ending back and forth accelerated by social media, we really need to laugh.

So maybe this photo captures how you feel as you try to get away from your friends’ viewpoints on Trump…? Or, perhaps you had so much fun watching the Grammy Awards on Sunday that you gave some thought to changing career paths to become a rock star… You know you’ve got that image now of you on Monday morning with your blazer on and your friends cheering you on running & jumping toward your new found PATH TO GLORY.

No matter what it is, make it a demonstration of fun, friends and no doubt a lot of laughs. (By the way, that may be me struggling to even get up the dang fence.)

I’m in the mood to jump the proverbial fence into brighter territory. Into something meaningful and beautiful and truly FUN. Grab your tribe this weekend and create some memories filled with laughter!

Love BIG: Prepare your heart for Christmas

(Photo Creds: We Heart It)

I think all of my boys would say Christmas is the best time of the year, but one of my sons really loves Christmas. I bought him a sign with the message, “It’s the most wonderful time of the year,” a few years ago and he proudly hung it in his room everyday of the year until he went off to college.

I love that, and I love that he understands the message of Christmas and that it’s truly all about LOVE. My mom-heart hopes that he will hold on to this truth all through his life.

Loving well is central to our hearts as humans. We are meant to love and often we get it right, and sometimes we don’t love as well as we can or should. Regardless, we strive toward LOVE and the world usually magically gives it back to us.

As we head into this week, my prayer is that we love well – the best we can! Even when the world sometimes doesn’t give it back, we press forward and continue to love. Thanks to the Christmas story, we know the truth is that God so loved the world, and he gave us his only son…

And our hope in this wacky wonderful world is real and beautiful. Enjoy every minute of this week leading up to the MOST WONDERFUL DAY OF THE YEAR.

Love my friends! Love well!

Simple Thoughts Sunday: Increase from giving

It’s the “season of giving,” and while our backseats are loaded with gifts and front porches stacked with boxes, we turn our focus on how to best show love to those we adore. It’s really so much fun.

The insight for today comes from what might be a reminder to some to put GIVING to those who may need a helping hand at the top of your conscious. (Side note: For many years, as much as I’m a natural giver, it was at the end of the list instead of at the top.)

As many of you know, I often use Sundays to discuss my faith and rely on scripture as my source. It is my source to tell you the truth. Today’s scripture is found way back at the beginning of the Bible, in Genesis where we find Abraham (yep, the same “father Abraham” that you may have sang about at some point in Sunday school…).

Abraham was the first real GIVER and he is the first person to give his land freely — and even to even give his son. As you read and embrace the text, all of his gifts were returned to him with more than he gave. That’s how the God I serve has worked in my life and I think that’s worth sharing. The more generous I have been (even when it was a sacrifice), the more God has given me in all areas of my life, providing me both protection and provision.

I now LOVE to give, especially to those who don’t expect it. Is there any chance this season that you know someone who could use a helping hand or a surprise gift that would be a game changer for them?

Bonus story: I am a fan of Joyce Meyer. She is a passionate gal who is often pointed in her remarks. She said in one of her podcasts (this won’t be perfect but you’ll get the idea…): “I am tired of Christians saying they know someone whose washer went out and they put it out in their ‘prayer circle’ for God to provide a new washer. If you can, you should just go and buy them a new washer, or offer to do so. YOU ARE THE PROVIDER. God gave you the ability, so why are you praying about it? Go do it!”

I love that, and it has been a mind shift that has been a game changer for me. I hope it inspires you as well.

Hello November: Making plans to finish the year strong!

(Photo Creds: Canva)

Okay so it is SO cold today here in KC I had to go with the fire.

Honestly I want fall back and pretty fast. We are 54(ish) days until Christmas (roughly eight weeks) and that means we are running out of time to knock off our biggest goals, projects and plans for 2017.

I know it will all come through like a rushing wind if I don’t sit down and plan a few things to finish strong and also to ensure I’m intentional with my holiday plans. Who are those friends, family and colleagues I really need to thank for helping make this year what it has been? What are the few things I “must” get done… Is there anything I’ve been putting off (of course there is), like budgeting (don’t forget this or these 56 days can show up late into 2018!), travel anyone? Health goals (uh-oh…)? Learning or books, etc.? Planned giving that needs to be addressed? How can I serve best this month? Who needs my help?

Okay, so that’s my insight today. I would love to hear what you are doing to plan a STRONG WRAP TO THE YEAR! We can all use all of the creativity and help we can get!

Getting to mindfulness

(Photo Creds: Canva)

I absolutely loved swinging as a child — I still do when I get the chance. When we were in Tuscany, the property we rented for a few days had a wonderful swing and I snuck on there as soon as I got my chance without an audience. I am not sure why I find it to be so exhilarating, but I imagine it’s what it’s like to be “mindful.” To be a child again, not a care in the world, feeling the wind hitting your face, your feet swinging around and overall being aware. I like the idea of doing that more… If you do as well, follow the next few thoughts that I dug up.

With the onslaught of social media and life in general just plain being increasingly fast-paced, distractions are imminent. This is the genesis for the focus by wellness experts on “mindfulness.” As I shared Tuesday, the idea being that you get to a higher level of awareness and focus. I had no idea it had gone so mainstream… There is even a website addressing this — who knew?

So with or without the distractions we have today, the mind in general is wired to wonder 50 percent of the time, according to a Harvard study. The idea of  being more mindful doesn’t mean those distractions go away, but it does mean that our we handle them better via the mental training practices that we establish. It was related in one of the articles to a “mental gym.” I liked that idea, and thought you might too since it’s a bit challenging to wrap your head around.

So, what does this gym look like? I like the Huffington Post for topics like these, because they seem to drill it down to my level. Here are some of the many ideas they share:

  1. When you eat, eat. When you drink, drink. Focus all of your attention on the act of mindful eating.
  2. Walk mindfully. Pay attention to the movement of your body and your surroundings. This time of year is my  favorite because of the leaves crunching.
  3. Observe your breathing. When you pay attention to your breathing pattern it takes you out of your mind and into your body.
  4. Connect with your senses.  Touch, smell, taste, sound and sight: they are the gateway to the present moment. When you are lost in thought you don’t experience all your senses have to offer.
  5. Get lost in the flow of doing what you love. Incorporate more of that into your daily life.

As you power through the rest of your week, I hope that you’ll stop and think about the idea of being truly aware. Fall is a beautiful time to observe what life has to offer and going into the holiday seasons even more so… Enjoy! We have one life!

Simple Thoughts Sunday: Spread more joy

(Photo creds: Unsplash.com)

(Another throwback for you on this glorious Sunday, because who doesn’t need a reminder to spread some joy?) 

Joy is contagious! It transmits the type of energy needed to thrive. If you are in the work place and happen to be a leader, this may just help your employee satisfaction or engagement as well. Bottom Line: Folks want to work, live and serve where they are happy!

Joy makes a person more productive! I don’t know about you, but getting a bit more done in my given 24 hours would be a huge positive! I found this great little article to back that up.

Joy can make you healthier!  That same article highlights the great benefits of joy, which include reducing stress, solving problems easier and fighting disease! I am all about all of those! A great blog post here that goes a bit deeper!

As you get ready for another week, remember to take some time to spread joy! I promise you will be better for it.

By the way, don’t put it off until later, stop now and send three brief messages and fire up the joy. It will be the best five minutes of your day.

Never miss an opportunity: Tales of my Uber driver, part 2

I was reminded during this Uber drive – and by the way, thank you for sharing your stories on Part 1 – of our trip to South Africa a few years back. This photo is from a now-local gal, Renee Terrill who has committed her life to the service of the children that we visited through her role as Global Impact Coordinator at Westside Church in Lenexa.

Her story is a great example that any of us can go deep if we choose to in whatever calls to us that needs to be improved.

I don’t know Renee well, but I cherish her work. It is gritty and real.

I chose the photo because I feel it provides the best visual of what I walked away with on our trip and it stays with me today… PURE JOY. I wear a bracelet that I don’t take off from this great country, and it serves as a reminder of TRUE CONTENTMENT AND JOY.

Here’s the thing: In this particular region in South Africa, scarcity is an everyday reality.  From a lack of protein to feed the children, to consistent good water, to poor transportation. You would think there would be great sadness, but it’s really just the opposite. The people seem to EXUDE JOY. They are, quite simply, CONTENT.

I asked my driver about this, and he said it was because they didn’t know any better. This “land is all they have known.” That made me realize once again that here in the United States, assuming you are reading this from there, that the many choices and opportunities we have may be doing us a disservice.

I could get in a philosophical conversation right now, but I should probably just stick with the point: True contentment and joy is a CHOICE. No matter our situation, or where the world places us in any given season, or moment, we can find JOY if we look. My prayer is that you will indeed find JOY and CONTENTMENT today!

Simple Thoughts Sunday: CHOOSE JOY

(Photo Creds: Canva)

Happy Sunday! We are hitting the second half of September and closing in on starting the final quarter of the year. Many have worked through the first month of school and started fall projects… yard work, remodeling, work, etc. I’ve even started seeing homecoming pictures… seems too early, but here we are! Fun fall events and action-packed days. Let’s remember to stop and CHOOSE JOY in those days! These moments mark our lives and this is such an important scripture for us to start our days with! I’m cheering you on as you conquer this week!

Celebration marks the moments of your life.

(Photo Creds: Cindy Reynolds and her lovely, and obviously fun, better half. Cindy and Dennis own Somerset Ridge Vineyards & Winery outside of Louisburg. It is beautiful, fun and one of the BEST KC experiences! Check it out.)

Okay, so for real… this eclipse experience was just FUN. I was on a plane, so did not get to experience it, however, the pictures were just a thrill to look at! I love it when everyone just stops and has FUN.

Props to the companies, schools and organizations that took the time to MARK THE MOMENT. Regardless if you are a science nerd and loved every minute of the details, or if you just wanted to don the cool glasses and join the festivities, it was something for everyone to celebrate! A once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Celebrating is important! It is actually more than important and I need to do a better job of celebrating small moments. I actually decided I needed to ALWAYS have a bottle of pink champagne in my refrigerator to have on hand to celebrate the little things in our lives, family, neighbors, colleagues…

Here is a thought: How else can we make celebrating easy and top of mind? That’s the thinking for the day.

Celebrating is a GIFT we have on hand every day and week if we choose to use it! What do you need to celebrate? Seeking out the good in life is a key to happiness and to a life of serving others and yourself well.

Simple Thoughts Sunday: Peace & Joy

(Photo Creds: Canva)

I loved this quote from from a book I read this week. I mean, who wants their problems to take over their mind and their peace?

The book continued: “While God calls us out of complacency, his peace allows us to CHOOSE contentment with our place in the world.” – Chrystal Evans Hurst

One of my life mottos has been that we must CHOOSE. Every day and often more than once a day, will we choose peace, joy, etc. in the situations and conversations we experience? We do have a CHOICE, and I happen to LOVE THAT. Imagine if we didn’t?

She said it another way…

“Know Spirit? Know peace.
No Spirit? No peace.”

I believe that has been true in my life. When I stray away from my disciplined life of reading scripture, attending regular church services, hanging out with other believers, I find myself farther away from peace. It’s funny how when we drift from what we know aligns best with our values and soul, that we almost immediately get signs that prod us back to where our focus should be. If you are familiar with scripture there is a terrific verse in Galatians 5:22-23:

“But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”

Essentially, God provides for us “deep, abounding joy that is not dependent on our circumstances” (Hurst) if we stay close to him. I hope that this week you will CHOOSE PEACE AND JOY.