To Serve well

Serving with Excellence for a Life of Excellence

Easter

The gifts of Easter

Sharing this throwback Easter post from 2020 that still feels like the message we need in 2021. Praying for you and cheering you on!

What does it mean to “have life” and “have it to the full?” This jumped out at me as if reading it for the first time this morning.

If I close my eyes and dwell on that for a moment, I see all that is bright, good, joyful. I see a day at the lake with family and friends. I see our college tribe laughing endlessly. I see my boys on soccer and lacrosse fields and, at this age, seeing their dreams come true after endless hours of studying. I see every post-holiday meal conversation in the living rooms of my grandparents, parents and sister. I see rollercoasters and oceans and the kindness of a door being opened for a young mom. I see an older couple, still nurturing and loving one another, hand in hand, despite those years that have not been filled with joy.

What do you see? What is a full life to you? It’s freeing to stop and think about what a full life is, and even going so far as to contemplate what areas of life aren’t quite full right now.

My belief is that God sent his son to live and to die – and of course, the best part: to be resurrected – so that we truly could have life. As our creator, He knew our fragilities and had a plan for that. A plan, that despite what we have gone through, would mean that we would be able to find ourselves in communion with Him. And in doing so, we would find peace, joy, and outrageous and indescribable love. His desire is for us to live fully and bring forth all of the gifts and promises to us, and by using us to bring light to every conversation and to every person across the world.

Wherever this Easter Sunday finds you, know that you are loved beyond your comprehension. Also know that in every season there is JOY- It often comes after a season of rain in the most glorious way. We can know that to be true thanks to the Easter story! My prayer is that his promises fall fresh upon you today.

The gifts of Easter

What does it mean to “have life” and “have it to the full?” This jumped out at me as if reading it for the first time this morning.

If I close my eyes and dwell on that for a moment, I see all that is bright, good, joyful. I see a day at the lake with family and friends. I see our college tribe laughing endlessly. I see my boys on soccer and lacrosse fields and, at this age, seeing their dreams come true after endless hours of studying. I see every post-holiday meal conversation in the living rooms of my grandparents, parents and sister. I see rollercoasters and oceans and the kindness of a door being opened for a young mom. I see an older couple, still nurturing and loving one another, hand in hand, despite those years that have not been filled with joy.

What do you see? What is a full life to you? I love this little girl running through a field. It’s freeing to stop and think about what a full life is, and even going so far as to contemplate what areas of life aren’t quite full right now.

My belief is that God sent his son to live and to die – and of course, the best part: to be resurrected – so that we truly could have life. As our creator, He knew our fragilities and had a plan for that. A plan, that despite what we have gone through, would mean that we would be able to find ourselves in communion with Him. And in doing so, we would find peace, joy, and outrageous and indescribable love. His desire is for us to live fully and bring forth all of the gifts and promises to us, and by using us to bring light to every conversation and to every person across the world.

Wherever this Easter Sunday finds you, know that you are loved beyond your comprehension. My prayer is that his promises fall fresh upon you today.

Simple Thoughts Sunday: Why you can stand still & hold your peace

Our Easter service last weekend was incredible. Sometimes I think, how in the world can someone tell the story in a different way, and somehow God showed up with a relevant narrative that hit home. I think it might for many of you as well.

The simple message above… stand still and hold your peace. God is indeed fighting for us all. He can take the best and worst parts of our life (and even those decisions we make that might not serve us well) and turn them into something productive.

Why do we, in our humanity, insist on letting our peace fall suspect to the latest concern or challenge? Our minds wander down trails of “what ifs” or “how did I get here,” or “what should I do next.” Sometimes we lose sleep and sometimes we can’t stop talking about whatever “IT” is, which only puts a spot light on something that may even be out of our control entirely.

The bible gives us this great news right at its onset in Exodus 14. “The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

The reminder continues throughout the old and new testaments in Romans 8:31, Josh, 1:9 & 23:10, , Ps 44:5, Deut 3:22, Is 40:31. Clearly we needed a constant reminder that in every generation there will be challenges, and we can find rest in knowing God’s in control.

I loved this. I hope you do too. Stand still my friends and hold on to your peace. God’s got this.

Simple Thoughts Sunday: There is power in His name

Rewind! Throwing it back to a forever-relevant post from a previous Easter. Cheering you on, friends!

What a wonderful name! WHAT A WONDERFUL DAY!

For Christians everywhere, today is the day that we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. For today, I thought I’d keep it simple and remind you of all Jesus can be in our lives (list below). I for one am thankful he is my counselor, teacher, and that his power shows up in every aspect of my life, providing peace, love, joy and forgiveness.

Have a wonderful week, and no matter what you celebrate today… you are loved indeed.

A short list of some of the names of Jesus:

Almighty   Rev 1:8

Alpha and Omega  Rev 1:8; 22:13

Author and Finisher   Heb 12:2

Beloved   Matt 12:18; Eph 1:6

Christ   Luke 9:20

Comforter   John 14:16

Counselor  Isa 9:6

Creator Isa 43:15; John 1:3; Col 1:16

Deliverer  Rom 11:26

Faithful and True  Rev 19:11

God of hope   Rom 15:13

Light of the World  John 8:12; 9:5

Lord of the Harvest  Matt 9:37-38

Lord of Peace  2 Thess 3:16

Mediator   1 Tim 2:5; Heb 8:6, 1 John 2:1

Rock  1 Cor 10:4

Physician  Matt 9:12

Shephard  Heb 13:20; 1 Pet 2:25; 5:4

Teacher  Mark  6:34; Luke 4:15; John 3:2

Victor John 16:33; Rev 3:21; 17:14

Wonderful  Rev 19:13


Cultivate something that brings joy

Rewind! This is an adapted post from 2017. Happy Easter weekend!

I love the idea of community gardens. If you aren’t familiar, community gardens are managed by groups of people, generally to meet a community’s needs. Sometimes that need is because the area is in a food desert and other times it’s education. No matter the reason, it is a positive initiative that brings great value, and improves health and happiness.

A few years ago, our church did a sermon series around the idea of “cultivate,” which got me thinking about areas in my life where cultivation is needed.

“Cultivate” has a double meaning. One is about preparing and using land for crops or gardening. We do this by tilling, plowing, fertilizing, mulching, watering, weeding… the type of hard work that community gardeners know all too well. The second meaning is to “acquire or develop” a quality, sentiment or skill. (Also hard work)

The two definitions are connected.

At the time, I associated the series with the word “joy”. This association struck me as an area I needed to focus on during that season of my life… to develop … cultivate if you will. I’m sure you know by now that I consider joy to be important. I feel so strongly that JOY is something we can have but that it often requires cultivating, especially during hard seasons.

You might have an area of your life that you want to cultivate, and I encourage you to pursue that. I am hopeful some of you will join me in generating some joy in our homes, neighborhoods and workplaces! What can you do today to elevate and cultivate joy? This is a terrific weekend to do just that!

Let’s be of service to those around us!

It’s Easter week. Full of hope and excitement – if you let it.

So, what can put us into that frame of mind?

Whether you are reading this with a heart full of joy – feeling that momentum in your soul – or during a rough season of life, I have found that there is profound power in focusing on others first.

Let me explain…

I consider this idea of “serving well,” and getting outside of my own head, to be one of the most important thing I can do. I love Oprah’s reminder in the quote above that service is an opportunity – a gift, really.

We have the choice to serve others every single day, whether or not you’re “feeling” the positive energy within yourself at the time. It is still a choice. Giving love and being a source of help where needed is arguably one of life’s greatest gifts. We were born with a heart to serve.

I hope this Holy Week fills your heart (and Easter baskets!) with hope and joy by extending a hand to someone that God has placed in your path.

Simple Thoughts Sunday: Why acts of kindness belong at the top of our to-do list

“Outdo one another in honor.” Romans 12:10

This verse… is my life verse. This verse has the power to change the world alone. It gives us clear instruction to be devoted to one another in love and honor. It showcases that our humanity is here to help each other rise above and face both challenges and celebrations by turning our attention off of ourselves and on to the people God surrounded us with…even if we may not support their approach or their actions.

My dear friend Mindy Corporon is the most courageous and honoring person I know. Mindy’s story is known by many in our community, and now around the world. Her son and father – along with another lady in Kansas City – were brutally killed 5 years ago by a man whose life was infiltrated with hate. Her choice was to focus on the above – to love and to develop understanding, ultimately allowing her to get to honor. That’s a heavy story and the boldest example of what it means to love even though we flat out don’t want to. The significance of that cannot be described.

A part of this journey has resulted in the Faith Always Wins Foundation and this week’s Seven Days – Make a ripple, change the world. This week is set aside each year to bring our community together to focus on how we get to love and honor by raising our awareness of our differences and embrace all who are walking this journey with us.

The Seven Days events culminate tomorrow night with the Seven Days Faith and Love Walk. The focus that day is ONWARD. The power of locking arms with each other is profound. The back of the t-shirt for the event is perfect: #HeyWhatsYourRippleOfKindness. I hope you will consider grabbing a friend and join us at the WW1 Museum and Memorial at 6 p.m. It’s a short walk and the community engagement will strengthen your hope and infuse your life with love.

Acts of kindness are the ultimate example of living this out. They bring hope to the room, elevate the energy around us and even save lives.

So hey, what’s your act of kindness going to be? I think we need to start each day with this at the top of our to do list. With Easter week upon us, there is not a better time to spread love in every space we enter. Have the best week!

Simple Thoughts Sunday: Rise and shine

I have decided that snow, wind or hail, I’m going to pretend it’s a SUNNY DAY!

Seriously folks, we desperately need spring. You know, that “rise and shine” feeling that only the sun can bring out in you. The spring in your step, the desire to skip like a worry-free 10 year old! The verse above calls us to “rise” out from the cold, the dust, the dreary days and the things in our lives that hold us back or down… It imparts the wonderful feeling of coming out and the season of new.

Last week we celebrated Easter. In the actual scholarly commentary on this verse it leads us to the fact that this was a chapter discussing the “glorious state of the New Israel, a reign that began on the first Pentecost after the Resurrection of Christ.” (Coffman’s Commentary) Truthfully, I had no idea of that when I picked the verse — I just wanted to talk about “rising” (above the ashes — or just out of my winter jacket and boots).

Please join me this week in RISING. Rising in honor, in attitude and with a downright simple JOY that makes people want to embrace the day no matter what mother nature serves up! I’m praying for each and every one of you right now.

Simple Thoughts Sunday: There is power in His name

What a wonderful name! WHAT A WONDERFUL DAY!

For Christians everywhere, today is the day that we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. So for today, I thought I’d keep it simple and remind you of all Jesus can be in our lives according to the Bible. I for one am so glad he is my counselor, teacher, and faithful in all areas of my life.

Have a wonderful week, as Easter offers us new life, and this year, a new month to start afresh!

A short list of some of the names of Jesus:

Almighty   Rev 1:8

Alpha and Omega  Rev 1:8; 22:13

Author and Finisher   Heb 12:2

Beloved   Matt 12:18; Eph 1:6

Christ   Luke 9:20

Comforter   John 14:16

Counselor  Isa 9:6

Creator Isa 43:15; John 1:3; Col 1:16

Deliverer  Rom 11:26

Faithful and True  Rev 19:11

God of hope   Rom 15:13

Light of the World  John 8:12; 9:5

Lord of the Harvest  Matt 9:37-38

Lord of Peace  2 Thess 3:16

Mediator   1 Tim 2:5; Heb 8:6, 1 John 2:1

Rock  1 Cor 10:4

Physician  Matt 9:12

Shephard  Heb 13:20; 1 Pet 2:25; 5:4

Teacher  Mark  6:34; Luke 4:15; John 3:2

Victor John 16:33; Rev 3:21; 17:14

Wonderful  Rev 19:13

Simple Thoughts Sunday: Relationship goals

Easter is early this year — two weeks from today, actually. If you participate in the season of Lent by sacrificing something, you are probably counting the days. The best I ever heard was giving up the snooze button. Clever, huh?

The idea of course is to remove our focus from something we enjoy, and focus more on God and how we can live a life closer to how God intended for us. Lent leads us to the celebration of Easter for the christian community. It is truly a time of joy as we celebrate the life, death and the resurrection of Jesus.

I just wrapped up Dharius Daniel’s book, RePresent Jesus, which focused on reintroducing core parts of his character to the reader. My favorite, you may guessed, is the “servant” that he was, fully focusing his life and ministry on helping others.

No matter what your beliefs — religious or not — the idea of serving others is a life value that most people I know truly embrace. The modeling of washing the feet of his friends (and enemy) on the night before his death, is a perfect display of selflessness and one that we can learn from.

As you go into this week, I pray that you renew your commitment to look for how you can best serve those in your circle of influence — and yes, even those who aren’t so lovable. We have an opportunity to dig deeper into how we and our families can be a better reflection of that wonder example of servant-hood.