A New Role

My beautiful daughter Mary is going to have a baby girl come this February. This is news we are all celebrating like crazy.  I seriously can't wait to meet her! 

One of the things that is so fun for me to think about is that my adorable grandson Everett is going to have a new role added to his little stature.  He will be a "Big Brother."  (Notice he's already wearing the t-shirt!) 

He isn't even fully aware of what's to come, but all of a sudden he will be given a new role.  He will be an awesome big brother.  He will have fun with his little sister and play with her and laugh with her and protect her. 

Like Ev, we too throughout our lives have new roles given to us.  The choices we make as far as what we do with them impact so much about who we are and what happens around us.

It could be a good idea to stop and think about the roles we have been given and pray for strength, guidance, and wisdom in our roles and to have fun with it.  We all have an opportunity to be a role model to someone; let's have fun living up to it. 

We of course all fail in our roles at times, but today is a new great day to take it on with determination and, like Ev, we too can wear the t-shirt. 👍

“In all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds...”

— Titus 2:7

Mexican Food Anyone?

"A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed." -Proverbs 11:25

One of the things I love about my husband, is that he pretends to like Mexican food.  He doesn't know I know this (although if he's reading this, he does now.) 😉

He pretends he likes Mexican food for ONE reason,  because he knows how much I LOVE IT!

If it were just up to him he would prefer a nice big steak or Chinese food with lots of that extra pink sauce. 

But he will say to me, "Hey Baby, let's go get some Mexican food!" and then I'll say "Oh,😭 is that what YOU want?" 😂  ... "Okay!" 😄  ...and we are off! 

Here is a fun challenge for us today:  let's do something for someone that is truly for THEM. Something we wouldn't do if it was just us.  Something that makes someone else feel good.

Maybe really even pause right now, and think of some person and idea that you could actually do today for someone else.  Then determine to do it. 

It's fun to do and certainly fun to be the recipient! 

“Kindness. Learn it. Love it. Live it.”

Hey! Get out of my Sun!

"Sun on Path and Sea in Galilee"  (Photo available in SHOP photo's)                                                                                               

I can't tell you how many times I've said to someone, "Hey, get out of my sun!"

And they've replied "It's not just YOUR sun." 

True, but the sun is so large that there is enough sun to go around.  So like I said, "Get out of my sun!" 😂

It's also true that emotionally and spiritually speaking there can be things in our lives that are blocking the light. It's sad when that happens because we COULD be walking and experiencing the beauty and warmth of the light God has there waiting for us.

Maybe it's fear or worry.  Perhaps it's unforgiveness towards someone.  It could be bitterness or envy.  It might be any number of things that are blocking the light God wants to bring our way today.

But WHATEVER it is, we need to say with attitude, "Hey! Get out of my Sun!"  And then just begin walking on the path of light that is already prepared for us. 

I love John 8:12.  It says "Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world:  he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." 

Jesus is really speaking to my heart and speaking my language.  

We don't need to be walking in darkness today, we can follow the Light of the World and we will experience the Son!

There's a bright day ahead for us my friends.  Go enjoy it.

“Hey! Get out of my Sun!”

— Tambo

Day of Adventure

If you look past my neighbors' beautiful daisies, you can see their cool AIRSTREAM in the background of this image. 

Every time I see it I think of adventure.  That reminds me that today is a day full of unknown and exciting experiences that God has for me today.  And for you too.

There is probably something in our day that we might dread. But instead of focusing on that, which we are sure to get on the other side of anyway, let's focus on all the unknown things God has for us today and be glad about that. 

Today is a new day we get to walk with GOD!  That sounds like a fun adventure to me. 

“This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.”

— Psalm 118:24

Focus Like a Goldendoodle

I'm dog sitting my grandog Winnie.  He is hilarious. He's like a little furry comic.

One thing that blows my mind though about him is that he has FOCUS.

He focuses on his tennis ball. He literally can't take his eyes off it.  He would rather not eat than keep an eye on it.  He is obsessed with it. The first thing he does when he opens his eyes after sleeping is find the ball and put it in his mouth. 

Don't you think God uses these funny and entertaining things in life to teach us important truths?

Winnie teaches me focus.  I can't help but think of one of my favorite verses in the Bible found in Philippians 3:13

“...this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before.”

The fastest way I lose my focus is by going back to past worries or fears.  Or going back to old ways that have never been productive in my attitude or thoughts.  

The BEST way for me to get focused, is by thinking about ALL God has in store for me and the calling He has given me. I think about the way He enables me to do things I couldn't do on my own.  On this VERY DAY I can be excited and focused on what He has called me to.

By focusing on that and reaching for those things which are before... I PRESS ON with focus and fervor.

Every one of us that are breathing today, have reason to focus on our Beautiful Father and focus on the fact that God truly has exciting plans for us.  He wants us to reach for what is before.  I guarantee we will be continually amazed at what He does as we reach for what is before. 

God has a purpose and a plan for me and for YOU!  Let's be like Winnie and keep our focus on moving and reaching forward. 

Prayer is the BEST!

       Photo of The Garden of Gethsemane

"Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, "sit here while I go over there and pray." -Matthew 26:36

One of my favorite things on the planet to do is pray.

If JESUS needed to pray, That's a very strong case that I would need to pray.

When I was younger it used to be a discipline, but now I can't imagine life without it and I seriously can't wait to pray.  It's just been too good to me. 

I love to first begin thanking God for his great faithfulness and I run through thanking Him for specific answered prayers. It's so good for me to reflect and thank Him because that actually builds my faith for the prayers I pray after that.

When I pray it takes a load off of my mind and heart because I've handed it over to Someone that can actually do something about my problems, concerns, and desires. I feel free when I've handed things over to Him.

Prayer is the best way to truly be "Free People."

There is nothing better than seeing answered prayer after answered prayer.  And when the answer is "no"... all that means is God sees something I don't and does something even better as I look back! 

Just let's not ever give up praying...

Because prayer is a Win-Win! 

Better Humans Matter

Today is my oldest son Peter-John's birthday.  Both digits have turned on him this year from 39 to 40.

What?  (you say)  40?

I KNOW!  I said the same thing!  😭 When I married Jon, P.J. was only 8 years old and now he's 40? Time does fly!

When you think through one's life you think of their overall person and monumental moments in their lives and how they handled them.

The photo below was taken on what I thought at the time was a monumental day. It was taken right after Peter and I came back from him passing his Oregon's drivers license test. 

But as big as this day was, it didn't compare to moments that would end up being far more monumental. 

I can't help but think of a monumental moment that happened just this past year in Peter's life. He had to have brain surgeries that were just flat out scary. The outcome looked really bleak. Perhaps he was going to end up not even being able to put two sentences together Dr.s told us.  Or maybe even worse. 

But then God decided to do the miraculous and heal him! 

Not only can he put two sentences together, but even more important, he is a better human BECAUSE of it!

He is very literally, a better person! And as a Mom, it is fun to see Our God turn even this, literally around for the good.

The hard things in life can make us better humans, IF we let them.

Why does it matter if Peter is a better person or any of us for that matter?

First of all it just does! (Don't you love my logic here)  😊

Second of all, We have the potential to make someone else's day a little brighter and it attracts more people to us.  And when they're attracted to us, they want to find out more about us, and were our strength comes from. 

And then maybe others follow us as we follow Christ. And then they too become better humans.

And the more "Better Humans" there are, the better the world becomes.

WHO a person is matters.  It REALLY matters. 

Who are you? 

Who am I?

It does matter who we actually ARE. 

Let's pray God guides us and empowers us through the big things we go through, but also even the small annoyances throughout our day, because how we react to these things, actually determines who we actually become.

We ALL have certainly failed at how we deal and react to things that come our way. But today is a entirely new day my friends.

Maybe you're someone just trying to pass your drivers license or maybe today you are someone who just got what seems to be the worst news ever.

Look to God for strength. 

Talk to Him.

Trust Him.

Thank Him for all he HAS done in the past, and all that He IS going to do to turn even the hard things in our lives around for the good!

And you too, like Peter, will turn up a better human too. And remember Better humans matter. 

Happy Birthday P.J.C.!  

I love you. I'm proud of you. I'm thankful you are an even better human as you are turning the big 4-0!.

Be Uniquely You

"At Joppa there was a certain disciple named...Dorcas.  This woman was full of good works, and charitable deeds which she did...And all the widows stood by him weeping, showing the tunics and garments which Dorcas had made while she was with them." -Acts 9:36,39

JAPPA ISRAEL

                                                JOPPA ISRAEL

I love this story in the Bible about this women named Dorcas.  She greatly impacted and touched the world around her by being who GOD called her to be.  Very practical and "hands-on."

I love being inspired by others and I think talking things over with those we admire can be so helpful.  But I have noticed that often times the people that have the most impact don't do things the normal way or what is "expected" of them.

For example:

Some of us are designed to go to college to fulfill our God given calling.  

Others of us are designed NOT to go to college to fulfill our God given calling.

But the important thing is that we actually go to the one who CREATED US for the final decision in what we do on a day to day basis, for our small and big life plans. 

Because I have noticed that the best stories usually don't look identical to the next person.

Walking PERSONALLY with God is a blast and keeps life fun and interesting! Like Dorcas, I want to be a "disciple" of Jesus.  Because as she talked with Him and walked with Him, she got a unique mindset and beautiful ideas came into her head. Then she did what was on her heart and actually made grown people cry because of the way her life touched people in a very practical way.

So today lets be uniquely who GOD has called us to be and go with it in confidence!