To Serve well

Serving with Excellence for a Life of Excellence

Priorities

The power to CHOOSE

(Photo Creds: We Heart It)

Today’s post is a simple reminder: We have the power to CHOOSE.

Choose a chaotic or calm approach? How do I really want my home and life to feel? To look?

Choose to MAKE this a terrific summer, or choose for your days to be the same?

Choose to CREATE a plan to MAKE A DIFFERENCE, or not?

Choose to TAKE ACTION on your dreams and plans… To save for that great trip, or keep stripping away funds via Starbucks runs and too much frivolous spending…

Choose to LOOK UP & SMILE MORE, ENJOY the BEAUTY or walk around with your head down looking at your latest text, Insta post or Facebook feed?

It’s just a reminder that you get to CHOOSE. I love that… I need to CHOOSE better some moments and some days.

Heard at home: “I wish I was in Kindergarten right now”

This is terrific! Oh, how wonderful Kindergarten is. My boys had some amazing Kindergarten teachers, they got to take naps, color, sing, join hands with their class, and basically learn the important things in a well lived life.

When my son said this the other day, I laughed out loud. Is this not the truest statement? Even if for just a bit of our day, this time is down right THE BEST. If only we knew then what we know now.

When I was searching for the photo for the post, I came upon a quote, “Dear Kingergartners, if you don’t want your nap today, please send over to the high school.” There was another one, “Dear Naps, I am sorry I was such a jerk to you in Kindgergarten.” Ha!

Well, this post is just to make you laugh a bit, but we for sure can always use the reminder to appreciate the little things. I hope your weekend is great, and if it rains, I hope you will go do something wild and crazy like a Kindergartner… stomp in the mud, color and of course… NAP!

Simple thoughts Sunday: Stay the course

(Photo Creds: We Heart It…quote from Brian Houston, Hillsong, Live Love Lead book)

I am often asked how I navigate life… You know, make life-changing decisions, dodge bullets, celebrate the good AND the bad.

I think it’s my age, as I recall being a decade (or three) younger trying to figure out this puzzle.  My answer today is always based on the insight in the quote on the photo. I have only been able to be successful in anything from raising my boys to growing in my career to caring deeply and giving generously to our community through the gift of God’s word.

To be honest, even though I’ve had a strong faith since I was I girl, I was well into my 30s before I was able to get past the first few chapters of the New Testament.

As far as the Old Testament, I quickly lost interest after the creation story. It just seemed too overwhelming and perhaps a bit boring and even unrelatable. Wow was I naive! The word of God is not only NOT BORING, but it is funny at times, and pours out advice for a life well-lived. It seems like every day, at least one of the scriptures in my reading (I follow the one-year Bible reading plan), I am confronted with something that seems to be timely to what I am going through. It is incredible how the world aligns and speaks so clearly through His word.

I always wanted that “proverbial billboard” to show up on my way to work and shout out my next round of advice… a vision… a message that validated where I thought I was supposed to go or not go. The amazing reality is it was right in my nightstand… waiting to be opened.

I encourage each of you if you don’t regularly read the Bible, to give it another chance. I had to get the new living translation (NLT) version because I needed the commentary at the bottom to understand much of the Old Testament, but it is probably my favorite now. I don’t know about you, but I could use God’s direction pretty much in every area of my life. It is amazing what you will find when you simply open the pages.

Have an amazing week! Two weeks until Easter… Hope is rising.

The Language of Rain

(Photo Creds: We Heart It)

Rain. Rain can be…

Generous

Giving

Replenishing…

And at the same time….

Painful

Desperate

Overwhelming….

I wonder if the language of rain helps us understand how we can wrap our heads around serving better. The picture painted in Ann Voskamp’s the Broken Way, is on point: “The abundant life doesn’t have a bucket list, as much as it has an empty bucket – the giveness of pouring out.” I for sure feel like my “bucket” is full when I am pouring out versus being poured upon.

Our lives certainly experience all matter of “rain,” both the refreshing kind and the drenching kind. Today, let’s focus on the filling/refreshing of others who are being flooded with life right now. I think it’s interesting that if you decide that you are going to be more aware of those in need, that you start to see need around every corner it seems. Honestly, I dare you to actually do this, because it shifts and shapes your own perspective. Your fellow co-worker, an extended family member struggling and sharing on Facebook, perhaps someone much closer. We need rain and we need each other to fill those buckets with encouragement and service.

Let’s go out today with the goal to REFRESH.

Cultivate… something that brings joy

(Photo Creds: We Heart It)

I love the idea of community gardens. If you aren’t familiar, community gardens are managed by a collective group of people, generally to meet a need in a community. That might be an area that doesn’t have access (financially or otherwise) to fresh produce, but also teaching. No matter the reason, it is a positive initiative that brings great value to our communities… and improves health and happiness.

Our church is doing a sermon series right now on the idea of “cultivate.” This has me thinking about areas in my life where cultivation is needed.

Cultivate has a double meaning, one being to prepare and use land for crops or gardening. We do this by tilling, plowing, fertilizing, mulching, watering, weeding, etc. It is HARD work as anyone who has run a garden knows. The second meaning, according to Google, is to “acquire or develop” a quality, sentiment or skill.

The two definitions are connected, as it is my thought that anything that is developed requires a level of passion and good ole’ fashion work.

I wrote down the word “joy” in my program on Sunday. I’m not sure if that was an example given, or if I felt that was the immediate area I could use some FOCUS on. JOY is so important. I am usually an evangelist for SPREADING JOY in our world, and feel like we all need to consciously keep that top of mind.  The momentum that comes from a “joy campaign” can be incredible.

While you may have an area of your life that you want to “cultivate,” 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?

What if … Today I ….

(Photo Creds: We Heart it)

If you are in the workplace and have anything to do with marketing, you might follow Seth Godin.

He has daily, short blogs that offer up simple ideas on pushing you to the next level in creativity. His recent post caught my attention, and my mind took it another direction. His title, “Three simple and difficult steps” offered this:

  1. Get Smarter. Hurry. (Technology and life is moving fast)
  2. Solve interesting problems.
  3. Care. More.

His thinking was that most people do one of these, but what would happen if you became the type of person and does all three? You might add leverage and value and ultimately choices to your life.

I thought it was good, but here’s where my mind went with it…

What if today we set a goal to acccomplish something that really impacted our life/world? What if today was the day that we did not operate our daily routine, but instead choose to take a new route to work, craft a personal mission statement outlining what we’d love to do right now, and set forth a plan to make it so?

One day can be so impactful, yet we often let our days become routine and settle in. I like settling in, but I LOVE feeling energized and like I’m really doing something important. That one is much better! How about you?

What can you do today to UP YOUR LEVERAGE? To get smarter, or change paths or to just be a part of a nicer and better world?  My guess is that we can ALL DO SOMETHING.

Simple thoughts Sunday: His mercies are new every morning

(Photo Creds: We Heart It)

I love a country road.

Although this photo is not overwhelming beautiful, the simplicity speaks to the idea of new beginnings. I just finished reading Steven Furtick’s new book this week.

It is pretty much the Easter story, but his perspective on how we go through life via the “mile markers” of the story is fresh and new. Here are the “mile markers” he reviews:

  • Forgiveness
  • Salvation
  • Relationship
  • Abandonment
  • Distress
  • TRIUMPH
  • REUNION

I’ve been through these “mile markers” a few times and I know you have as well. I highly recommend grabbing the book if you are a reader.

My favorite for today’s insight is the quote captured above. If you take nothing else away, take this with you during your days. It is true. Mercies are NEW every morning… we get a new start to do whatever we need to do to fulfill our purpose. We can choose to view life that way and it should re-energize us and inspire us to take on the day. I of course also believe that God does indeed act on our behalf… over and over again. I know this from personal experience and it offers me hope and more than that… EXCITEMENT.

This is my birthday week – woot woot – so I am all about assessing where my life has taken me and looking forward to the work still left to do! NEW MERCIES… NEW OPPORTUNITY… NEW LEVELS OF SERVICE AND HAPPINESS.

Have an AMAZING WEEK!

Don’t give up – Chasing life’s victories

(Photo creds: My iPhone and the great capitol city of Austin, Texas)

How fun is the graffiti on the bridge? PAC-MAN! I love PAC-MAN, especially the Mrs. PAC-MAN version.

I never thought about the words the artist wrote next to it in this context. Clearly, the idea really grabbed my attention. NEVER GIVE UP! OF COURSE. Keep throwing in the quarters and eventually you’ll learn to navigate that puzzle, eat up the ghosts, get some bonuses along the way and then take your well deserved VICTORY LAP! What a terrific metaphor for life. Sure, we have to “power up” each day and work hard, and we also might get eaten alive, like in the game, but we can always start fresh. And if we keep at it, we will be victorious.

I was lucky enough to randomly get a runner in the photo and if you know her, tell her she’s a bad ass. I am NOT a runner but I LOVE the idea of it. Doesn’t she look amazing, perfect ponytail and all?

That alone is a great example for this message. Our health and general discipline around sticking with the “chase” in this area of life. I personally have a hard time on consistency in eating healthy. It’s a struggle and a daily choice. Why don’t I want to give up? Three reasons…

  • Energy and endurance (I’d love to keep up with some sweet grandbabies some day)
  • Physical and mental health, so that I actually enjoy my life and am able to conquer my purpose full on.
  • For those I love…

I could give so many examples of the proverbial chase… Career challenges, financial goals, etc., but you get the idea. My friends, DON’T GIVE UP! Throw another quarter in and show up and stand tall when receiving your VICTORY MEDAL. In whatever of life’s areas you needed to hear this, I’m cheering you on!

Bringing home the language of a strong manager

(Quote in part taken from a tweet from @ValaAfshar)

The original thought on this was the language of a strong manager. That’s true, I think a good leader definitely uses these simple but not always easy statements during a normal week. I have also learned over time that these are true for parents and friends and possibly others I haven’t considered yet. Let’s break it down:

  1. I am proud of you. Pretty straightforward? When is the last time you heard this from your leader? When is the last time if you are a parent you shared this with your children, toddlers to adults? (Shout out to my mom, who just told me that this week.) Lastly, a friend? “Friends are the family we choose,” right? If that’s true, then keep in mind that some friends don’t have family, and you may be the only person that can remind them how they impact you and our world.
  2. I trust our team. This is a little more complex. I do agree a “team” needs to be reminded that the core of a team is trust in one another. Trust built over time and the knowledge that we are in this together can propel teams to heights they never thought possible. I’ve seen that in action many times. This one may not hold as true for a group of friends, but it sure does for family: “I trust that we will get through this stronger, I trust that we are going to create a environment of love and respect in our home.” I don’t know about you, but I think this one needs to be played out more often.
  3. What do you think? Seems pretty obvious to me. I mean, we ask each other if others like our hair, our outfit, our project, etc. Do we think to ask our kids, mom, aunt, friend, what they think about our decisions? Do we include those that may hold us accountable? A favorite quote: “Cater to my success, not my ego,” can likely show up in this conversation. Who do we need to ask this question on something more challenging that might help us achieve the next level of success or happiness?
  4. How can I help? This one probably happens more at home and with our friends. But at work, how often we ask our co-workers how we might ease their load is something to consider.
  5. I was wrong. I am sorry. I have heard others actually say they wouldn’t apologize to their kids. They “are the parent” after all. While that might be true, I personally believe we as parents need to apologize when we show a behavior that we don’t really want our children employing in their lives. Think: raising your voice, walking away from a difficult conversation versus dealing with it directly, etc. This one is HUGE. It’s of course important in every aspect of life, but I think remembering to show our children we are human (at all ages) is important and will result in healthier conversations and families. That’s one perspective at least.

Anything missing? I’m all about getting better, one small step at a time!

Grounded and grateful: 3 reasons to reconnect with friends

What fun it was to spend a day with my college sorority sisters on Saturday. I have to say, after not spending any quality time with them over the past 25+ years, our time felt like we were still 19 hanging out talking about God knows what.

Today, my hope is that you will find value in connecting with some of your friends from the past. Here are a few reasons why it’s a good idea:

  1. They GROUND YOU! Sure, we have all moved on and experienced life, but these gals know me. They know me before the career, the family, the kids, the deaths, the divorce… Yes, life may change you, but your CORE is the same, and surrounding yourself with the folks who knew you “back then” is refreshing. I’m certain that if we would have had access, we would have permed our hair, put on some thick blue eyeliner, and sported some killer 1980s outfits!
  2. They INSPIRE YOU! This one I hadn’t really thought of and it was the most surprisingly cool part of the weekend. These ladies have gone through so much and despite it all, they have persevered and came out a quarter of a century or more later better and more beautiful. I felt like I could get through anything by hearing their stories.
  3. They PROPEL YOU! I know we were friends and we probably cheered each other on during college to some degree, but let’s be honest, at that point in our life we are all trying to get through, to achieve, to aspire, to move up the ladder of life. In other words, I’m not sure we propelled each other forward on purpose. What I know now, is that the encouragement these ladies gave me over the weekend is enough to keep me pedaling and pushing ahead.

We all need to be in “community,” and connected, and although I have an absolutely wonderful group of friends and colleagues, coming back to “home base” for me was notable. My encouragement is for you to reach out, schedule some meaningful time, tell the stories that “made you” and where you’ve been, what your hopes are…

It may be some of the best time you have spent in years… It was for me!