To Serve well

Serving with Excellence for a Life of Excellence

Religion

Simple Thoughts Sunday – The fight is won

(Photo Creds: Steven Furtick-Instagram)

Love this. I don’t know who else is having some “battles” starting 2017, but I already feel the pressure. I know that many of my friends are struggling too… broken marriages and other relationships crushing their spirits, etc.  The cold, flu or whatever this nasty bug is that has entered the homes of most people I know is still running rampant. Pressures of work and really just the struggle to achieve the ultimate desire to MAKE A DIFFERENCE in the midst of it all creates an uncomfortable “I’m not enough to do this on my own” stir. I believe this is exactly the point.  God wants us to rely on him for all things.

This photo came across this week and I thought I need to print that off and put it squarely in front of whatever path I’m on – I needed this message and I’m hoping that this falls on some other “ears” that may need it as well.

Let us all remember that WHATEVER comes our way, that because of our faith, we have already OVERCOME. Even IF at first glance it appears otherwise (beaten and bruised and otherwise ready to run down the street crying “uncle”). We have someone else fighting for us and that is such a relief.

Merry Christmas!

(Photo Creds: We Heart It)

Merry Christmas!

It’s Christmas night – a time to reflect on the joy of the moment. Today we celebrated the greatest gift ever given and my prayer is that you embraced the tenderness and joy that this gift offers. I am concluding tonight with an excerpt from Ann Voskamp’s ‘The Greatest Gift‘ advent book as it captures this time so very well…

“Christ came into the world for you- and you came into the world for him.

The world will be still tonight.

There will be lingering, longing. We will long for this wonder to go on. One Christmas candle will flame in the quiet. This CANNOT FADE – none of this can ever fade.

‘For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given’ (Isaiah 9:6)’

God is with us.”

That’s all I need – all we need. God is with us. As we sit in silence to embrace whatever this day offers to us, be it joy, tears or love, we have what we need: God is with us indeed.

Merry Christmas from my sweet family to yours!

Simple thoughts Sunday: JOY

(Photo Creds: We Heart It)

I love the JOY of this picture. I’ll never forget the first real snow my dog experienced years ago. She ran, galloped, rolled and literally jumped INTO THE JOY. This is our opportunity this week. It’s Advent week three and the theme is JOY.

As Christians, we begin to let the season sneak into our hearts. No matter your faith, we all find ourselves singing along to favorite Christmas songs… ‘Baby it’s cold outside,’ ‘Mary did you know,’ Mariah Carey’s ‘All I want for Christmas is you,’ and the ol’ faithful songs like ‘O Holy Night.’

Those famous lyrics seem to GENERATE JOY and a feeling that something “is different” about today – about the season we are in. It IS DIFFERENT. It’s special.

As you go into your week, my prayer is that you will not only find JOY AROUND EVERY CORNER, but that you will EMBRACE the reason for this season.

For those who want to go deeper, the following is the Prayer of Peace of St Francis of Assisi (St. Francis is one of the most venerated religious figures in Roman Catholic history (had to look that one up). Even though this was written likely in the late 1100s, it stands true today.) 

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.

Where there is hatred, let me sow love.

Where there is injury, pardon.  Where there is discord, union.  Where there is doubt, faith.

Where there is despair, HOPE.

Where there is darkness, LIGHT.

Where there is sadness, JOY.

O Divine Master,

grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;

to be understood, as to understand;

to be loved, as to love;

For it is in giving that we receive.

It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,

and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

HAVE AN AMAZING WEEK!

Simple Thoughts Sunday: Peace through obedience

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(Photo Creds: Billy Graham advent devotion)

Advent week two: Last week was focused on ARRIVAL.  The meaning of the Advent season and how to begin to prepare our hearts to truly understand the significance of this season in our lives. Week two is officially focused on PEACE, a truth that is top of mind for people all over the world. How do we get more of this? How do we participate in ensuring or improving PEACE? Big questions, without a straightforward answer. For that reason alone, we are compelled to go to God in prayer for his direction and guidance.

While preparing for this blog, I found this wonderful insight from the Reverend Billy Graham. His wisdom has always created a stir in my heart. This idea that we need only look at the beginning of the Christmas Story, where Mary and Joseph showed us how to gain peace around what seemed to be an impossible situation. What did they do? They listened and were obedient to God’s call on their lives. Please know that this was not without some initial push back (Joseph wanted to cancel their engagement), however, ultimately both followed the plan and had faith in the unknown. The result was a situation that escalated from unbelievable to scary to creating absolute wonder and awe.

As we think about the season we are in and try our best to embrace the moments of quiet, and those of joy and yes… even chaos, I pray that we remember that we can achieve PEACE throughout the year by being obedient. By listening and using our gifts that he gave us to best serve our communities and families.

Simple Thoughts Sunday: ENLARGE YOUR TENTS!

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(Photo Creds: We Heart It)

This is SUCH A STUNNING SCRIPTURE! I had never really had it enter my mind fully until three or so years ago and then I only caught on to part one. I love how God shines a light on some things/ideas/etc at just the time we need them. When I was transitioning to a new role, this scripture served as a validation that I was indeed being obedient to what I thought was God’s direction or calling.

What I wanted to share with you all today was an “add-on” I just learned last weekend. So, if you really pay attention to the entire scripture, and not just the part that appeals to you, it goes on to say what would be required when enlarging your tent. The part I find the most significant is the idea of STRENGTHENING YOUR STAKES. In other words, go DEEP.

As it was explained to me, the larger your tent (when God gives you more responsibility, etc.), the more the winds will blow you around, and therefore the greater need to have secure and deeper stakes, tight cords… SECURED, LOCKED IN and LOCKED DOWN. NOW THAT IS HUGE!

How could I have missed it? Right there in front of me, in the very same scripture, God gives such clear directions. When we are “enlarging” (and that can be anything by the way – another child, a grandchild, a new role, a new place to live, a new financial responsibility, etc.), we MUST STRENGTHEN our minds and soul. How do you do this? Scripture, living in a community with people that lift you up and guide you and support you, ongoing learning, etc… There are so many opportunities to choose what methods work best for you!

FOR ME, I am deciding to GO DEEP in the word and in surrounding myself with people that hold me accountable and challenge me … I want to be STRONG and I want to endure the wind and storms well! If I can do that, I can serve well… Which is the whole point!