To Serve well

Serving with Excellence for a Life of Excellence

Simple Thoughts Sunday

Happy Easter Sunday!

blog_782046_2879190_1459085848Easter is an incredible holiday.

The Bible verse in this photo is my favorite and a perfect “simple thought” for Sunday. I love to remember that Jesus came to serve and save. The action has the opportunity to center us around a common purpose. I believe he wants us to serve others in the same spirit, every chance we get. We are in fact called to do so!

Let us pray today that our country will come together and unify around the idea of service and love for one another – ALL OTHERS.

Happy Easter my friends!

(Photo Creds: I Heart It)

Hope rises!

blog_779096_2875342_1458488334You may have noticed that I have ended a few of my Sunday blogs this month with the thought that hope is rising. Well indeed, today is PALM SUNDAY and hope is rising!

This week we are going to talk about ideas! We are all always in great hope that we will have those IDEAS that create something special, something fun, meaningful and perhaps even INCREDIBLE. An idea that brings our family closer, elevates our career, fills our financial needs, or brings meaning to those things we care about passionately.

I fully BELIEVE that “GOD IDEAS” (A God idea is one that you can’t stop thinking about, and has grabbed your heart… one that surely must have come from God) – are quite possible for us to attract if we simply give our lives to God in prayer and faith. As the above captures so perfectly. Make him your first priority and he promises a fulfilled life.

Happy Easter Week! My prayers for you to be filled fully with HOPE this week!

(Photo Creds: Pinterest)

Cheers to a “long line of friends” today

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Today is my birthday – WOOT WOOT!

A few years back I decided that birthdays are really about celebrating those people in your life that lift us up and become the threads and ultimately the beautiful fabric of our lives.

TODAY, I celebrate ALL OF YOU and the many that have crossed my path and been a part of my story. I cannot even begin to tell you the impact of teachers, grandparents, neighbors, fellow “PTA” and “SOCCER” family, workplace colleagues turned life-long friends, sorority sisters, “fellow” Belton Pirates, WWMB friends and mentors, cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents, and of course my immediate family.

To my lovely sister and handsome brother, Mom, Dad and my incredible boys, a special CHEERS TO YOU! Through, the amazing days, crazy years, and always thrilling and/or education adventures, you are a huge part of who I am today and I AM DEEPLY BLESSED.

I RAISE MY GLASS TO YOU ALL!  Have an amazing week wherever life may have you out making a difference!

SIMPLE THOUGHT SUNDAYS! Here comes the sun!

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(My all time favorite version of the song by Brooke White)

What a gorgeous weekend! Today I leave you with this song that I love and my hope is that you will sing, hum, or whistle this all week long! It will make you smile and remember that no matter what is going on the sun is coming!!! It’s Easter season and HOPE CONTINUES TO RISE this week!  BE EXPECTANT!

(Photo Creds:  We Heart It)

Simple thoughts (Oscar) Sunday

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I’ll admit it, I love the Oscars.   I have always loved watching the Oscar speeches, and I’m a huge Meryl Streep fan. (Watch her 2012 Oscar winning speech)

Tonight those who also have this adoration for those gifted with acting skills will watch this year’s nominees shine. My brother Brandon and his gal, Nikki are proud actors living in New York City and trust me, God gifted him with the stage and musical talent in our bloodline. It is amazing to watch him transform an audience and engage their very heart beats into the story.  In fact, that is what I love about the good movies, they transport us into another world and make us laugh and cheer on the underdogs and often teach us a few things about life!  blog_771674_2860372_1456676823

My son Sam and I have until this year tried to take in all of the best picture nominees in order to be somewhat educated about the films.  This year, with Sam in Michigan for college, my mom and I did this, and that was a gift to us both.  I chose this movie and quote because Sam and I both love the movie. It’s downright vintage for Sam, having been born in 1996, but it is one that showcases freedom, leadership and love for our fellow man!  To me, that is truly living.

Have an amazing week, and go out and TRULY LIVE!

By the way, my favorite movies tonight are Brooklyn and Bridge of Spies.  I’d love to hear what you think!

Oh, and I also hope Chris Rock has a fantastic night as host- We could use another repeat of Ellen’s fun performance and audience engagement. (Most retweeted photo ever up there under Mel Gibson… So much fun, and if you remember, she ordered pizza during the show for the audience). 

Simple thoughts Sunday – Love

blog_766571_2849775_1455410271Happy Valentine’s Day!

Love is such a rich part of our lives. I am sure I must have seen this before, but I couldn’t recall and I think it’s just perfect for the “Simple Thoughts Sunday” application. Simple and true. Love should be like that. On this day of “LOVE” I’m sure you’ve done it already, but in case not, take a moment to thank God for the greatest gift of love!

(Photo Creds: Pinterest)

Enjoy the brilliance of the game

blog_764385_2844933_1454892455Peyton Manning is no doubt my favorite quarterback of all time. (Brett Favre is a close second!)

I realize I’m joining the thousands who would agree and who are cheering him on in what is likely his last NFL game. Win or lose tonight, Peyton Manning has served his gifts well and is someone we can all learn a thing or two from. He has been a class act all along the way. I love the photo above because it simply portrays his focus and undeniable passion. Those character qualities make it no surprise that he quoted the above, showcasing his desire to keep his team’s eyes on the prize despite what will be thrown at them during their games. This level of leadership has placed him in the big game again tonight,  and those same qualities help us to rise to our highest levels as well.

For this Super Bowl Sunday, while (most) will watch the big game, enjoy great food, friends, family, and some entertaining commercials, we should remember to enjoy the brilliance of the game. The on and off the field preparations will culminate in grit and the glory and will all be played out in 60 short minutes and at the end the champion will hoist the Vince Lombardi Trophy.

As we forge toward the week ahead, I hope that we all are playing at our highest level, refusing to fail at the gifts God gave us!  Have an amazing week!

Simple Thoughts Sunday – January’s End

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It should come as no surprise that God gave us big goals to achieve.  When our minds wonder with the “what ifs” and the dreams of using our talents to best serve him he is in that moment trying to shake us out of our comfort zone…planting seeds through ideas and hopes.

Philippians 3:13-14 is a passage that can be misunderstood. “No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing:  Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead.” This verse I don’t think is really about the “past” but most likely about how doing the same things (aka being comfortable) will not take us to the next level.  In order to do that we have to be willing to step out and into those dreams and develop plans to get us there. As we gear up to start the month of February, (short and sweet: Finish strong Peyton Manning and of course the Oscars, love ’em or leave ’em it’s an opportunity to see the best of the best in screen acting being honored, which I think is always fun.) let’s all pray about where in our lives we are maybe too comfortable. Here are some ideas to get you thinking…

Am I too comfortable in my role as mom? Dad? How can I step up my game? Am I being the spiritual leader I know I can and should be?

Am I too comfortable in my generosity? Am I maybe giving some here and there and helping where I can, but not really sacrificing to help others?

Am I too comfortable in my career? Am I spending time to always deliver excellence? Am I reading and staying on top of what’s new and relevant in order to be at the top of my game?

Have an amazing week. Bold prayers for you all!  I’ll try to stay focused on the topic of important conversations! Stay tuned!

(Photo Creds:  We Heart It)

Simple thoughts Sunday 1/24

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This week the focus is ENERGY. What gives you energy? It’s Sunday and winter has indeed set in. As I write this, there is snow and ice on the ground here and a blizzard rolling through the East Coast. This month more than ever we need ENERGY. Strength gets its roots in our soul and through our spiritual foundation. This is probably one of the top 10 well known verses and for a good reason. YOU TRULY CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST. He is the reason for our strength and ability to go out and change the world.

Have an amazing week. Draw on his strength for your energy this week and I guarantee that your week will be better than you can imagine.

(Photo credits:  A beautiful drawing by Bulgarian born artist Boryana Korcheva found on Pinterest)

Bold prayers

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Favorite author- favorite life mantra! I have learned so much from reading Mark Batterson (Circle Maker, In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day, Wild Goose Chase, If, Trip Around the Sun, All In, Draw the Circle, The Grave Robber, Soul Print, Praying Circles Around the Lives of your Children, Primal).

He’s a midwest boy, basketball player, turned church planter in Washington D.C. His stories are easy to read, and inspiring. A perfect combination of compelling anecdotes and real life strategies.

This week we will be focused on bold visions, specifically bold visions for our country (since it is an election year, and a big one at that!) and bold visions for our families. What better way to kick off the week than to hit our knees (literally or physically) and push out some prayers into the universe that just might advance us to the next level in peace and personal satisfaction and create positive anticipation for what life has to offer.

I’ll be praying for all of you this week. Be bold.

(Photo Creds:  We Heart It)