To Serve well

Serving with Excellence for a Life of Excellence

Christian

Rewind: We need your voice

(Rewind: This is a relevant post circa June 2016)

I found this sign on my drive back from an appointment last week. I immediately did a U-TURN and turned around to go snap a picture. I know I have seen business owners/ churches, etc use their sign for humorous or inspirational messages before but this one is REALLY GOOD. It’s SIMPLE and YES, I do need to call my grandmother more often, and probably my dad for that matter. GREAT REMINDER, THANKS SONIC, I’LL DO THAT RIGHT NOW! IT’S IMPORTANT!

In addition to that thought, I am constantly thinking about how we should all use our voice. Whether you are America’s Drive-In, a 5 year old, or a 105 year old, God gave you a voice. Your voice is your point of view, your story, your contribution. The world needs it. Perhaps more than ever.

Our world is relying on it as a matter of fact. What insights do you need to offer your team at work? Your child? Your city? Raise your hand, write a letter, post a blog, tweet, Instagram or Snapchat. USE YOUR VOICE!

Simple Thoughts Sunday: Your champion!

Our sermon last week focused on prayer, specifically about ideas on how to view God as we go to Him in prayer. Like most of you, I know the importance of prayer but don’t always get it right… don’t always commit the time or the intention. It shouldn’t be hard to maintain consistency here.

The “stand out” theme for me is to view God as my “champion.” The one who ALWAYS has my (our) best interests, the one who is ordering the steps and days of my (our) life (lives). I like that idea… a lot! I also like the added part in the quote above: for both my protection and my enrichment, to make me(us) better, to allow me (and you) to serve better – to make a larger impact.

As you launch your week, I hope that you will consider that God is your ultimate champion. The one who will ALWAYS be there and ALWAYS push you toward your very best.

On another note, tomorrow is my mom’s birthday! It seems she is getting younger each year… I’m serious! So thankful for her! Please help me in wishing her the happiest of days and the best year ever!

Simple Thoughts Sunday FUNDAY

(Photo Creds: We Heart It)

A lot of people feel guilt for enjoying the gifts God has given us. I love the concept of “Sunday Funday” that became popular over the last several years. While Sunday is to be a day of Sabbath as a follower of God, it is also a day to get out there and HAVE FUN! To truly rest and refuel. One of the best ways I know to get truly refreshed is to have fun with people you love to be around.

As the scripture says, to “eat and drink” and enjoy what we have earned through working throughout the week. I hope that you have taken time today to HAVE FUN and if not, the night is still young!

Spontaneous acts are usually the MOST FUN. Grab your favorite and go get some ice cream, play Frisbee, take a walk… jump on the bed, catch fire flies… START YOUR WEEK OFF WITH CHILD-LIKE ENTHUSIASM!

Memorial Day 2017 – a day of honor

Memorial Day is about honor.

As we kick off this week, focused on honoring those that have served our country and lost their lives in that service, I pray that we will all consider the impact this sacrifice has had on our lives. In America, we experience freedom of every possible type. This has come at a price. It will personally be a great joy to lift up to God my many thanks for this gift. My gift in return will be to not only live a life of excellence, but to inspire others to do the same.

Let’s make this week all about HONOR. One of my favorite discussion topics, because we need to keep it front and center.

Have an amazing long weekend to those who will experience that – I pray that you will be refreshed and in spirit of taking time to honor those God has placed in our paths.

I want to also take a moment to recognize not only those who have left us through their service to our country, but to all who have gone ahead of us-  We are who we are because of your impact on our lives and this weekend we also honor you.

(Rewind – this post is from 2016)

Simple Thoughts Sunday: Trust over clarity

(Photo Creds: My own after my little road trip out to Comanche Iris Farm in Gower, MO…who knew such a cool place existed? Check it out.)

I absolutely love this blog I’m sharing with you today. I can’t begin to tell you how this struck home. (Also, I’m a huge Mother Teresa admirer.)

I also can’t tell you how many times the topic of “CLARITY” comes up in a given week. We all wish we had more and we all wish that God would somehow give us a preview of our life’s big decisions and how we should best select, choose, etc.

Read on and I know you will be so happy that you did!

This excerpt is from Pete Wilson’s blog, which is new to me but I sure do love it so far…

There is a great story relayed by Brennan Manning concerning Mother Teresa. He tells how the renowned ethicist, Jack Kavanaugh, journeyed to Calcutta to work with Mother Teresa in her ministry to the dying. When he got there, he asked her to pray for him.

She asked him what he wanted her to pray for, and he said, “Pray for clarity.” But Mother Teresa refused. She made the wise observation that Kavanaugh was clinging to clarity and that he must release it. He questioned her, saying that she had always seemed to have tremendous clarity.

She laughed. “I have never had clarity. What I have had is trust. So I will pray that you trust God.”

Interesting, isn’t it? I’d be willing to bet that some of you are praying for clarity these days.

God, how much longer is this going to go on?
 God, when will things get better?
 God, give me a sign of what we should do.

But, maybe you don’t need more clarity. Maybe what you need is more trust.

Jeremiah 29:11 “I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you a hope and a future.”

God says, “I know the plan I have for you” not “You know the plans I have for you.”

Is there one area of your life where you feel maybe God is asking you to be okay with less clarity and at the same time engage Him with more trust?

Celebrating big this month: The power to imagine

(Photo Creds: We Heart It)

I am a huge sucker for good commencement speeches. My sister was telling me about Will Ferrell’s graduation address to USC over the weekend and, of course, that has to be an instant classic. We all need more humor and I am confident that most USC grads were beside themselves with excitement at the notion of Mr. Ferrell joining their celebration!

Although I’m sure that was terrific, I prefer the graduation speeches that are a bit more poignant. A bit more hit you right in your spirit, lump in the throat, type advice and inspiration. Something I can sink my teeth into.

I really love this quote from J.K. Rowling. It speaks to us no matter our age or degrees are – or perhaps are not. I sit firmly in the camp that we are all gifted with everything we need to CHANGE THE WORLD. IMAGINING the POWER that this idea has is something to really think about. What if God has already given me everything I need to make the impact I am supposed to make? To CREATE A LASTING LEGACY? To truly change our world for the better in my lifetime?

I hope today you will think of the POWER YOU HAVE. To join the thousands of graduates worldwide and just IMAGINE the possibilities… no matter your age. I am betting that we can add some significance to this day if we all do so.

The winding roads of life – take in the beauty

(Photo Creds: We Heart It)

I thought today would be a good day to let my readers know that I launched my own health care advisory group.

It’s an exciting time and one that I know God is leading me through. Boy, when I left KCIM, which as of now will go down as the best career experience of my life, I had no idea that Humana would only be a stop on the road. God has interesting ways in which he guides us through life, to learn and to connect with great people and of course, to challenge. I am so grateful for the opportunity to learn the health insurance side of the business and to have a met some brilliant people that are transforming our communities across America.

Here are a few of my insights from the experience as I look toward my next adventure…

  1. Beauty can be found everywhere. There is beauty even in life’s side roads that find you wondering why in the world you may have arrived there. Literally, if you SET YOUR MIND to find the BEAUTY (the good, the positive, the inspiring….) it is INDEED THERE, and often front and center.
  2. Once again, God reminded me that He is leading and I am to follow. Those ideas about life that we have of where, how and what we will be doing at any given stage of our lives… Those are open to change at anytime. If you truly follow his lead, I believe he will use the right people and places and the right time and situations to bring you right to where you are intended to be to achieve your highest purpose. Again it is up to us to CHOOSE TO LISTEN to those promptings and be obedient to following.
  3. Finally, STAY EXPECTANT. I am truly excited about this adventure. I have learned so much over my career, and the opportunity to pull it all together and build a business around those pieces is exciting. It may be a little scary, but I choose not to look at it in that way. As the last few months have offered clarity, I am reminded that the right people are placed on the path at just the right time, and that if we step forward and reach out and do our best work, that there will be honor found in the process.

So whether your path today is straight or winding, I hope you will great BEAUTY all around.

Simple thoughts Sunday: Spiritual nutrition

(Photo Creds: We Heart it)

I love this topic and idea of “spiritual nutrition.”

We seem to have a world flooded with information on physical nutrition, health, etc. You could argue that if your spiritual life isn’t in great shape, you will be overwhelmed with the pushes and pulls of life, thus negating your good work in eating right and exercising!

A good friend of mine and I were talking about how we go about getting “fed” spiritually. As a mom of “aspiring” adult young men, this is a very important topic for me. Heck, it’s important to me for the folks I am friends with and mentor. I so badly want them to know AND practice staying close to God in daily prayer and scripture reading. Of course, this could be through devotionals and could easily be via videos, etc., on their phones, but I want it to be the core part of their lives, a deal breaker in relationships and an overall “must have.” I learned the hard way that the only way to really “hear” from God and know his direction for my life is to stay close to his word.  Once I understood this, it was like I knew where he wanted me and how to fulfill my purpose. I’m not sure I really “got” this until much later in life, so to help others grasp this earlier would be a game changer.

I would love to hear from you all today on just how you do get “spiritually fed.” Also, how do you embark on a conversation about this with those you care deeply about? It’s a personal question. One that many people I feel don’t know how to answer. If you have any insights, great ideas, effective ways to approach the subject, please let us all know. Here’s to an AMAZING FIRST WEEK OF MAY!

MANY BLESSINGS TO YOU ALL!

Simple Thoughts Sunday: A simple step of faith = power

(Photo Creds: My own from Heritage Dog Park, April, 2017)

I hope you will appreciate this sweet photo. I took my new puppy and her big sister to the dog park this week and let’s just say that “Waffles,” AKA the new second in command at the house, HAS A LOT OF FAITH.

We could all learn a bit from her BOLD STEPS OF FAITH. She thought nothing of stumbling down a three-foot ledge to get in some mucky water on a spring day… It was clear by her face, that she fell in the same camp as me in not knowing if she would sink or swim. Thankfully she clawed herself out and hit the path again, ready for the next adventure. WHEW! (The idea of a life-saving swim on this chilly spring day was not what I had in mind!)

Her FAITH, like the pure curiosity of a child allows her to experience all that life has to offer in her little world right now. (Matthew 8:3 tells us this importance of having this “child-like” faith, right?) Oh how fun that is to watch in puppies and children.

This weekend I attended Carver Bible’s Women’s Conference and Chrystal Evans Hurst, spoke about the importance of taking ONE SMALL STEP OF OBEDIENCE. When we are able to do this, God will show us the next step, and the next step, and slowly but surely we WILL FIND OUR PATH BLESSED because we are following his guidance and direction for our lives. Sounds simple, but most of us know that listening for this “still, small voice” can be challenging in a world of distractions. Her encouragement was to make getting “quiet” and in a place where we can hear these a top priority.

My prayer for you as we go into this last week of April, is that you will make the time to listen, and follow the steps that you are destined to take and achieve ALL THAT GOD has prepared for your ONE LIFE.

Simple thoughts Sunday: A week of Expectations and Hope

(Photo Creds: We Heart It)

What a beautiful day we are having today, the Saturday before Palm Sunday and the launch of Holy Week for Christians.

I love that the various religions have their special celebrations. For us, this is perhaps the greatest celebration. As Christians, we believe that Jesus came to earth in the image of God, lived a perfect life, was persecuted for his faith and three days later was resurrected.

This simple story is deep with HOPE and EXPECTATION for our religion. It is a story that, when “peered” into deeply, showcases that despite our human transgressions and the raw parts of this world, we have hope in a “risen” savior that promises an eternity of peace and beauty.

The human struggle has been on vivid display this week with the bombings in Syria. For those that hold on closely to the news, anxieties rise. For those with children or family serving our country, it is downright painful to watch and wonder where this might head. This is one example, there are of course hundreds more that grab our attention and show our vulnerability and weaknesses as a human race.

I have always found GREAT HOPE in the POWER OF THE EASTER STORY. As you go into this week, I hope that no matter your religion, you will consider what a life changing message HOPE brings. Hope gives us the expectations that just maybe, there is a RAY OF SUNSHINE at the end of our times of struggle. I LOVE HOPE! I need HOPE! I know you do, too!

Praying many blessings for all of you this week!