To Serve well

Serving with Excellence for a Life of Excellence

Simple Thoughts Sunday

Simple Thoughts Sunday: Trust the re-route

I absolutely love this.

Actually, let’s re-phrase that… I have grown to love the idea of this. God has taken me on some crazy paths in my life, and often they have (at least in the end) made sense. Some, on the other hand, make me wonder “what the heck was that all about?” Sure, the twist and turns of life are what makes it interesting, but also downright scary sometimes.

Yesterday, I came across a scripture (Exodus 14:13-14) that I have needed to remember many times in my life. Actually, make that two scriptures. The second, was on a sign over my bed at summer camp a few years ago. It was new to me, and one that has given me great comfort in those scary times.

The first: “But Moses told the people, ‘Don’t be afraid. Just stand still and watch the Lord rescue you today.” Isn’t that amazing? I have often needed God to be on a rescue mission for me and those I love. In fact, as I type this, I have several friends going through pure hell who are in need or rescue. I’m praying this over them right this minute.

The second: “The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.” WOW. That is the one that hung over my bed. I walked into the room for night one of camp and while I’m not sure what season I was in on that day, the message sunk deep in my soul. I know I needed to surrender and let Him do the fighting. My human spirit had had enough, and could no longer muster up the strength to take on whatever giant I was trying to take to battle. I needed to surrender.

As you go through this week and connect with others, I hope that you will keep these two front and center. Trust the re-reroute. God has you and those whom you love absolutely covered. When trust is hard – because for me, it always is for some reason – remember that He is fighting for you. Stay calm and watch.

Have a simply beautiful week.

Simple Thoughts Sunday: Our thoughts are powerful

Our thoughts have the ability to consume our lives – literally.

Our thoughts keep us up at night, and can cause us to drift off and end up in our driveway without remembering the drive home. Our thoughts can both energize us and make us physically sick. The Bible verse above continues on to say that we must take every thought “obedient to Christ.” The intent, to be sure our thoughts are leading us in the direction God would want us to go.

Lysa Terkeurst, a best-selling author, reminded me recently that “as we think, we eventually act.” That was powerful to me, and perhaps will be to you as well. As most of you know, on Sundays I keep it brief. Today, I am leaving this with you with this very idea…

Let us all be more in tune with our thoughts.

Are they leading you where you know in your heart you are supposed to go or are you unsure? If you are unsure, I would point you to prayer and reading God’s word or seeking the input of someone you know has a strong spiritual life that can come alongside you to help. I am confident they would be happy to! That’s what we are all here for… to help, encourage and elevate.

Have a great week and know that you have an army of people cheering you on and praying for your great success.

Simple Thoughts Sunday: Stay expectant

“For I am doing something in your own day, something you wouldn’t believe even if someone told you about it.” Habakkuk 1:5 NLT

Living in a state of “EXPECTANCY” is important. We are reminded in scripture that God is always working in the background of our lives, creating, orchestrating and helping us navigate sometimes-tough terrain. He sends angels to protect us and to comfort us, and he clears our paths and minds so we can see more clearly and make better decisions. He elevates us by amplifying our strengths at just the right time, and turns even the bad situations we find ourselves in at times, into a story and lesson that helps us and future generations.

Expectancy is one of my dear friend’s “word of the year.” It is a good word for all of us. Leaning in to EXPECTING God to show up and to lead us is something that would make all of our years so much better. Expectancy brings us anticipation and hope in the knowing that everything is being worked out for our good. All we need to do (I know this is really hard!) is exercise faith by moving forward positively and by doing the “next best thing” that we feel God is calling us toward. You will be amazed how he will not only work out the details, but they will be perfect for your life at this specific time.

As I close this, I am expectant that our Kansas City Chiefs win the big game tonight! Fully knowing that we will put it all on the field and together, the city will rise in energy and admiration for the incredible season we have all had the opportunity to take a part in! Regardless of the outcome, this is Chief’s Kingdom… EXPECTANT. (If you are reading this from another area, insert the power of your COMMUNITY!)

Decide today that it is going to be an INCREDIBLE WEEK! #LET’SROLL!

Simple Thoughts Sunday: What does a victorious life look like?

WOOHOO! I’m 13 days into my annual Daniel Fast as you read this (assuming I make it a few more hours today… I have to say, not giving in to nachos at the Chiefs playoff WIN was a challenge). I often have people ask what I am “learning” during the fast, and I have to say so far it has been pretty clear that God is calling me to pray more specific prayers.

What does victory look like your life? What prayers might you ask that would provide that for you? I heard someone once ask “What would change in the world if all of your prayers were answered tomorrow?” Would they change your world, or would they go deeper and make our world better? That always gets me, because I definitely need to work on that!

I’m ready to step into this week asking for some clear and specific outcomes. I know God isn’t a genie and isn’t going to answer them all right away, but I fully believe that He will provide a clear “go ahead” or a clear “no” at the right time. I also believe that whether I like the response or not, the answer is perfect for me at this point in time.

“Ask and it will be given to you. Seek and you will find. Knock and the door will be opened to you.” – Matthew 7:7

I for sure am praying for VICTORY for all of our lives as we embark on another week, and another opportunity to make a difference in the world we’ve been assigned.

Simple Thoughts Sunday: Reset your soul

Starting 2019 by resetting your soul seems like a great idea. I have to be honest, that is absolutely my goal.

There is well known scripture, Ecclesiastes 3, that reminds us that there is a season for EVERYTHING in our lives. So, whether 2018 was a challenging year or a year of great favor, you can rest in the peace of knowing that there are all types of seasons in our lives — and better yet, we can (and will) not only survive but thrive in order to achieve our purpose.

I heard a message about the new year that highlighted the idea in the photo above: RESETTING your soul. Sometime between Christmas and New Year’s my phone did a hard reset. For several hours, it was completely wiped. I’m sure many of you can imagine the distress that might occur when literally everything had reset back to zero — nada, nothing. Not even one of my 18,000 photos, or a single app, password, or any of my hundreds of notes. Thankfully after reaching “Level 3 support” from Apple, I was able to recover much of the data, though it felt more like recovering parts of my life.

After that trauma, I could only be amused when just two days ago, it did it again. Then, I heard this message. I had to laugh. It was as if the whole thing was speaking right to me. Have you ever felt that way? (Somehow the universe always knows what we need to hear as individuals, and delivers us that message at just the right time.)

I do believe it is purely logical that God would power the whole thing (i.e. my soul) down, in order to resurrect it and bring it back. I like to think that when it comes back, it is FULLY RESTORED — or at least restored to the original, or maybe even a better self, getting rid of any “corrupted data” so to speak.

Do any of you need a reset? Perhaps a soft reset would be enough, and perhaps a full out hard reset would get you to your optimum level of power. I hope that over the last few weeks you might have been reset and restored. If not, I hope you might find time soon to get to that space. Winter is a great opportunity to hide out a bit and allow these resets to occur.

Cheering you all on as we go into our best year ever.

LOVE BIG!

I think all of my boys would say Christmas is the best time of the year, but one of my sons in particular 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… For many this is what most believe holds the MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR.

Love my friends! Love well!

Simple Thoughts Sunday: God says Go

(Rewind! This post is adapted from December 2017.)

How many times have you had something difficult to overcome and you kept going to God in prayer, hoping he would take it away or change it somehow?  Frustration increased as it seemed like nothing was happening, and you began doubting your own faith? 

In my life there have been  plenty of times that I simply had to CLIMB over “it” (aka those “issues”) and through them.  Often it seemed like there had to be  blood, sweat and tears involved. (Okay… so maybe tears and night sweats but not blood so much, thank God.) , and yet I had to keep my focus to CLIMB.  I’m sure you might resonate. 

It is in those experiences that I believe we truly grow deeply and learn the most about ourselves.  I feel that it is how we endure these challenges that reveals who we are and how much we can achieve in life.  As you are planning your week, give some thought to anything that you have been hoping that God would take away or change. Perhaps your direction is to move up and over, or through it instead.  (After all, what fun would taking it away be anyway? Haha) 

I am praying for all of us to have the energy, resilience and peace of mind to overcome … to both CLIMB hard and with grace.

Have the very best week! Only a couple left in this crazy year!

Simple Thoughts Sunday: Living the best life by sharing our “more”

How we respond to life matters. From my point of view, God blesses us with many gifts, some more recognizable than others. Our purpose is to use those to elevate the world around us.  The very community you are in — your group of friends, peers at work or those in your neighborhood — I believe all were designed to be in your life.

I heard a message last weekend that stuck with me. The idea being to ask ourselves what have we done with those gifts we have been given… (“the more”)

Did we receive an extra dose of JOY that others could use?

Do we have a cozy apartment or home that we can share with others?

Have our life experiences delivered a powerful story that would inspire and help others overcome their challenges?

I personally hadn’t thought about my “joy” as a gift, but I think it can be. Do I use it as often as I could… especially at home? Most of us have been given more than we need in every category and the next few weeks it is fun to see how people all around share that “more” in the many ways the season offers.

Have the best week and revel in sharing your gifts.  

Simple Thoughts Sunday: Pause, reflect, celebrate

Happy Sunday and welcome December, the month of culmination… love… joy and celebration. I’d submit that this is true only if we allow it. If we pause. If we reflect. If we set our intentions early on to achieve peace and resolve to find open spaces of quiet.

I’m committed to find this in the next 29 days – to pause and embrace solitude when I can and have quiet conversations that center around true joy. Getting to the depths of…

  • What brings me true peace?
  • Who brings me full joy?
  • What activities create a positive energy that leaves me wanting more?
  • Where can I see growth?
  • How can I curate more days of fullness and beauty?

These are not easy questions. I need to recognize that and take time to go all in. I would love for you to walk this path with me this month. I’d love to hear your stories and I’d love to know what questions you may add to the list. At the end of the month, let’s celebrate this reflection and forge into 2019 with a fresh view of God’s purpose for my life.

I am praying as I write this that you find yourself right now in a moment of gratitude and commitment to use the month to find the joy you so richly deserve. I believe that is God’s plan for all of us… to fully feel the love, joy and peace available to us.

Simple thoughts Sunday: You have the power over your “IT”

I firmly believe this statement.  Over and over again in my life I’ve felt it personally and I’ve seen it to be true on the front lines of the lives of my family and friends.

Isaiah 40:29 is one of the most known Bible verses, stating, “He gives POWER to the weak, and increases the strength of the powerless.” Some believe that the scripture is all about the sick or downtrodden. I believe it’s for all of us.

We all have moments of grief, sadness, and yes, even weakness.  As in… I don’t know how I can get through this situation, trial, or whatever life may have ushered in — God’s power is there for each of us to grab on to and when we don’t know how we made it through, we can know that God provided exactly what we needed for that moment. That may be extra sleep, a friend calls or texts at just the right time, a child belly laughing from across the room… He provides precisely what will give us the POWER to push through.

As you start the week, know that you have ALL THAT YOU NEED! We are covered in love and strength for our journey. Now, that is all of the good news I need to kick off this chaotic and fun time of the year.