To Serve well

Serving with Excellence for a Life of Excellence

Christian

Simple Thoughts Sunday: The power of the wait

This is a Christian truth.

Wait, maybe it’s just a life truth.

There is POWER in the wait. As we hold tight to our faith, and pray that God will reveal our “next step,” our “best next move” our optimal “way to succeed” in this life, we try to keep our faith strong and forge ahead with grit and hope. It doesn’t matter if the topic involves, school, career, relationships, finances, etc., it’s all the same… the WAIT is a real part of our lives. We endure the WAIT so we can CELEBRATE the “next” outcome and eventually become our best self.

Here’s my thinking today… we just HAVE to try our best to be optimistic, hopeful and even eager to see where God wants us to go next. We have to believe there is a “better” for us… A place that helps us to understand why we have been where we have, and where we are headed. A “next” step to fulfilling our purpose and allowing us to use our gifts, talents and resources to improve humanity all around us.

Here’s what I know… as a 50 year old, I know that my faith is what helps me endure the wait. My faith gives me all I need (although sometimes it is not pretty) to know that His plan is perfect and I’m headed in the direction I’m supposed to. I have truly found that I am strengthened during seasons of waiting and that I am better able to sustain and even prosper during “dry” seasons due to my knowing that there is a better plan… A plan much better than my simple mind can understand.

As you go into the week, know that if you or someone you love is in a period of “waiting,” that God has them right where they are supposed to be. If it happens to be you, I pray that you will be strengthened by this post and are able to realize that the WAIT is WORTH IT and before you know it, you will be STEPPING up to the next level.

It’s better — truly better

Rewind! This post is a throwback to last fall. An oldie, but a goodie!

I am always fascinated by what makes a place “all of the rage.”

You know, those cult-like places where folks like us stand in line for hours waiting for our share of their awesomeness. In KC, there are several of these, but my favorite stand out right now is an ice cream place called BettyRaes.

(Photo creds: Canva)

It is SO HOT that Trip Advisor named it a top 50 “ice cream shops worth traveling for.” And it’s only a few years old, if that. Believe me, folks do travel for it and most days the line is out the door. But why? (Other than the s’mores sundae with coffee ice cream — pretty much is the best thing I’ve ever had…)

My perspective: It’s better. As in truly better.

It has created a unique offering via it’s menu. The service is better. The shop is community focused.

As Seth Godin, the famous marketer, would say: it’s achieved the notion of BETTER.

As we think through how we serve better, let’s think about what else we can do better. Be kinder, more focused on those around us, more open minded, more giving, more courteous drivers, more patient (that one resonates with me!), etc…

If you are in business — profit or non-profit — how can we be deemed “worthy” of a line out our door? We start by looking in the mirror and identifying areas where we can be better, and then we dive deep to get to worthy… and ideally, sustainable.

Your ideas are welcome!

(Here’s a song to get you in the mood and the mindset!)

Iron sharpens iron

(Rewind! This post is throwing it back to an oldie, but a goodie, because you can never be grateful enough for the people you get to share this life with.)

I can’t imagine my life without those around me who sharpen me. It is one of the lessons I try to impart upon my boys, although, I know it is different for boys. They don’t naturally share with one another like girls do, but it is just as important for them. God designed us this way.

Today, I thought it would be a great time to just sit down and make a list of those that have sharpened me and when possible send them a quick thanks…

To the teacher that invested in my life, drawing out a young girl, inspiring, pushing gently, pulling at times, but always encouraging, thank you!

To my sister who was and is the one who has the hard conversations and who also celebrates life’s important moments with us, thank you!

To the gals in my personal tribe, friends from many groups… WOW… I am far better because of all of you, thank you!

To my mentors or mentees… I have learned an equal amount from each of them, thank you!

To my boys who have always pushed me to be the best version of myself from early morning feedings, to late night talks about college life. (I won’t give up on the whole “boys need to be in community too” part!) Thank you, boys!

Who has “sharpened” you, raised the bar, elevated your “game”? I bet they’d love to hear from you this week!

Simple Thoughts Sunday: Operating from a place of full trust

When we operate out of a place of knowing and believing that God will provide, we can breathe easier.

When we know we will never truly lack, and that there will be the right words to say, the right resources to do whatever it is we need to do and a never-ending supply of grace to cover our misgivings we are truly free.

The opposite of that is operating out of a perception of lack and worry. That path leads us to be selfish with our resources and our full self.

If today you find yourself at times not believing that you are fully “covered,” then pray that God will give you a spirit of trust and abundance. Like the Fall harvest each year, there are seasons of bounty and seasons of “not so much,” but there is ALWAYS a harvest that provides exactly what we need.

Have an amazing week!

 

Simple Thoughts Sunday: Spiritual stamina

So love this. Stamina, endurance, staying power, fortitude, strength, energy, toughness, determination, tenacity, perseverance, GRIT.

How is your stamina today? How about your spiritual stamina? (Spiritual: “relating to or affecting the human spirit or soul…” Thank you, Google.)

When we go through our days, there is no doubt we encounter obstacles. We are all flawed people and most of us work, go to school or somehow interact with other flawed people daily. That fact alone makes it 100 percent likely that we will encounter challenging events, conversations etc. and will need to respond out of wisdom instead of emotion.

One of my absolute favorite stories in the Bible is found in 2 Chronicles where Solomon when he became king, asked God for wisdom above all things. We can and should all ask for wisdom. Wisdom allows us to take a deep breath and not allow ourselves to be caught up in an emotional reaction that we didn’t really intend or hope to have. Wisdom is healing.  Wisdom makes us better.

I for one am asking for wisdom right now. I pray your week is absolutely everything you want it to be!

Simple Thoughts Sunday: Staying in the spiritual gym

Happy Sunday!

Just like our bodies need us to focus on building muscles, exercising our cardiovascular systems and eating healthy, our spiritual growth needs a game plan to ensure we are operating optimally. I loved this concept and thought it was worth sharing.

The three key ideas I captured were…

  1. Staying disciplined.
  2. Lifting the word of God.
  3. Understanding that “resistance” is what makes us stronger (exercising faith).

A simple thought really, but powerful nonetheless.

If we are able to stay disciplined in our spiritual life we will be stronger. We will be able to better handle what comes our way and perhaps be more grateful along the path.

If we focus on the truth we find in the word of God, we can be sure our minds don’t get off track and run down a rabbit hole that isn’t speaking life into us. If we can understand that challenges and resistance can help us stretch and grow we will be less frustrated and make meaningful strides. I believe that takes faith and exercising this is a daily grind. It is a constant commitment to change our thoughts and recognize that God’s plan has us right where we are supposed to be… if we listen, we will know how that plan is supposed to unfold.

Cheering you on this week!

Simple Thoughts Sunday: The difference between your social circle and inner circle

Happy Sunday night. So, I heard this recently and it really spoke to me.

The truth is, from our school years onward we encounter a myriad of people. Some become our closest allies and friends, and some that are better left for a different group. Here is what was powerful to me:

If they don’t believe God’s best for your life, then they don’t get to have access to speak into you or be in your inner life/circle. 

I had to stop and think if I have anyone in that category. I think I do. People I have allowed in perhaps a bit too much. Perhaps I have spent too much energy with a few of those, and not enough with those true cheerleaders that do have God’s best at the top of their minds for me, and I for them.

The final thought from this conversation was equally significant to me, and perhaps for you as well…

Draw your strength from men and women of God that are headed in the same direction (eternal) direction as you. 

I am praying your week is beyond wonderful.

Simple Thoughts Sunday: When I’m in over my head… God has me right where I’m supposed to be

Even when I’m in over my head… God is “over my head.”

Sarah Jakes Roberts shared a message that made this powerful statement. It’s a great reminder for us all today. It doesn’t matter how awesome our lives may be, there are moments when we all feel not capable, not “up for the next level,” not able to come up with the “right words” to coach a friend, or support our child. The list goes on. When I was younger, how would we even pay the bills comes to mind…

The feeling  of being “In over your head,” happens and it’s a part of life we need to learn to master. This is a good time to place front and center in our minds that God is the ultimate “play caller.” He is not only there with us, but has walked ahead of us and will provide us with just what we need at the right time.

*For those that want to go deeper, there are so many scriptures that support this, but my go-to is always Psalm 23. 

Power in the wait

Waiting for the big trip to finally arrive…

Waiting for the big game…

Waiting for the big test…

Waiting to get your first real job…

Waiting to find those people that make you better…

Waiting to watch the daylight fall into the night sky…

The “power in the wait” is beautiful. The preparation, the holding on… it makes us better, more resilient, more determined, more focused. It is in the wait that we are able to go a bit deeper than we thought possible. Pushing ourselves past those self-imposed limits and adjusting our thoughts to the “what ifs,” realizing that it truly will all end up as designed. I have always felt that God has us exactly where we are supposed to be in any given situation, relationship or assignment. We wait, we learn, we grow. We continue with this cycle and if we are smart, cherishing these periods and recognizing that they help us ultimately achieve our best self. Being our best self is what allows us to serve each other well. It is beautiful. Whatever you may be “waiting” on today, my prayer is that you will anticipate it fearlessly and with passion, fully aware that the universe is cheering you on.

Have an amazing week my friends.

Simple Thoughts Sunday: History repeats itself

Tucked into Alex Seeley’s summer book debut, “Tailormade,” there is a sweet little chapter with this title.

The focus is on generational patterns and how they subtlety creep into our lives, even when we promise ourselves that we will or won’t “handle” life like those that went before us. It’s interesting that this behavior is exactly how the patterns continue. We must get to a place where we actually work through whatever caused us to proclaim that anyway, and where we can identify why we felt how we did. In a more simple statement: We need freedom so that we can actually stop the pattern.

I love the simplicity of the Psalms, and this one in particular: “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” (147:3)  (His promises on this topic are covered in quite a few other verses, so if you like to look up references, check out Isaiah 61:1 and 61:3.)

The verse is a little strong, so please recognize that not all generational patterns create a broken heart but to me, the idea that he “heals” us at all levels is comforting. I have found that both God’s word and being in a strong community of close friends with faith are essential to working through issues. I would also say a good counselor can be a game changer. When we are forced to ask the right questions we can all of a sudden seem to understand more. That clarity, mixed with taking action to recognize and deal with the answers brings us to freedom and the ability to actually stop the pattern.

Without a good plan, history will indeed repeat itself.

This week, let’s repeat the good, the healthy and the flat out awesome. If we have anything we need to better understand about ourselves, let’s look at our generational history and claim the outcome we desire. (For me, it seems like there will always be something I want to work on to be the best version of myself. Truly, it’s one of the favorite parts of  life… the sheer ability as a human to get better and stronger and help others in the process is as good as it gets.)