Repeat, Again and Again... "It is Well With My Soul"

None of us truly know how we would react or respond to such overwhelming circumstances and tragedy unless we have personally experienced it. I love the story behind Horatio G. Spafford, the successful Chicago lawyer, who back in the late 1800 wrote “It is Well With My Soul”.

The words were not composed out great success but came as a reflection at a time of great personal tragedy. To lose so much, rejected by those who should have loved and yet stand on this foundation that produces such extraordinary purpose, well, it continues to amaze me every time I hear the story.

Dr. David Jeremiah shares the history of this amazing life beautifully. 

What an example, to know your mission and purpose and to truly come to a place where no road block, distraction or tragedy can deter you or your journey. Oh, I still have such a way to go, but how grateful I am for my journey.

I hope you don't allow something or someone to derail your journey.

Transitions ~ A Few Female Perspectives

Back on Father's Day earlier this year I presented the "Father's Day Project" which was a collection of perspectives from different women and what "Father" meant to each of them from their own view.  Everyone enjoyed this so much that I decided every so often, as convicted, I would seek out different women to write about topics which are big issues and concerns for those all around us. About a month ago, I was moved by a devotion focusing on "Transitions". We all deal with this differently and some people move through transitions easier while others struggle. Whether it pertains to a new location, change in job, family dynamics or even image issues, we all face transitions in different ways. We all come to crossroad, then the choices become ours. 

Interestingly, this last half of 2014 is bringing about many different forms of transitions in my own life. Change in job, school change for Mr. Matthew and unfortunately, right now, body changes as I move into a new "time" of life! All have required inward searching on how I process forward. All with the heart to be where God wants me to be, even if it is kicking and screaming at times. Because of some really tough places several years ago, I believe God has given me more peace to move through different transitions, showing me more clearly where I need to be and where I need to move on from.  I am grateful this year for many changes which have brought new relationships, opportunities, and expanded the places I am currently moving through. The riches of transition for me is knowing I am where I should be and no matter how the changes come. It is a peace through the process.

This "community" post is from 3 different women.  I actually pray over and consider the women I ask from stalking them over a period of time....LOL....ok, I guess that sounded a little scary?  I have a great respect for each of these incredible women, knowing all they face and deal with through this space called life.  I hope something touches the lives of all who "peek" in!

Michelle Metzger Niehouse

 When I began writing this I thought I knew exactly which transition topic I would write about, but my mind began jumping to so many incidences of transition my life has taken and what I've realized is that life is simply a series of transitions with some downtime sprinkled in along the way.

My entire childhood I knew exactly what I wanted to be, and what I wanted to become.  What I became was 19 and pregnant with no college degree.  We married prior to my daughter arriving and struggled daily with finances, time, marriage, and life in general.  The day my daughter, Summer, arrived became my most profound transition that has and will carry through the rest of my life.  The transition into a life that is no longer just about me.  Every choice, every decision now had double the joy but also double the consequences.  I learned that the “want to’s” in life change to the “have to’s” and that they are generally very different.  But, there’s a lesson that comes with each transition and what I learned during this time is a question I still ask myself when life seems to be coming at me from every angle.  “I know I can’t change it all, but I can do something.  What can I do right now, what change or action can be done today to help tomorrow?”  This relieves that overwhelming sinking feeling, and little by little the big struggles seem to be put at bay.

Let’s jump forward to 12 yrs later to when my husband and I decided to part ways and divorce.  I’m blessed that my ex and I have always been and still are pretty good friends, but every divorce gets ugly because its divorce and divorce is ugly!  The transition to single mom/divorced woman is brutal and humbling.  The most pivotal piece of advice I received was this… Don’t involve yourself with divorce groups or others that speak out about or allow speaking against the divorced spouse.  I’m grateful for this advice because instead it made me focus on the only thing I could change – myself.  I learned more about what truly makes or breaks a marriage throughout the divorce process than I ever did throughout my 12 yrs of marriage.  When I focused on my faults and downfalls it alleviated the resentment and bitterness toward my ex and I grew as a person and as a mother.  My ex and I could focus on the transition to separated parenthood without emotional baggage getting in the way.  Our daughter was the only tie that now and forever would bind us and the only tie that mattered.  The past was in the past and we were and are able to parent in a rational manner.

I remarried about 4 yrs ago to an absolute wonderful man who was the catalyst that lead me to Christ.  I’m thankful for the lessons I learned and reflections I made during my divorce, it truly has been pivotal in my second marriage.  We live by the verse that we are a “strand of three cords, not quickly broken” as Christ as our center.  A new marriage is a transition all its own but it was the transition for my barely teenage daughter that was the hardest.  Teenage girls are difficult enough, but throw in a new marriage, a step-dad; a toddler step-brother and you have a hormonal tsunami!  And she did NOT want to transition.  It wasn’t that she didn’t like Joe, she feared change and didn’t want to share mom and she showed it daily.  Our pastor gave us the best advice on our wedding day, advice I never believed would work with a stubborn husband and equally stubborn teen.  He simply told my husband to hug my daughter everyday, and most days he wouldn’t want to hug her, and she wouldn’t want the hug but that’s when to give it.  It was rather amusing watching the eye-rolling and teeth-gnashing.  The quick pat-on-the-back hugs or the tight squeezes that weren’t tight because of love but rather the mutual look of “I hope I’m squeezing so hard it hurts…) But then something amazing happened.  After about a year or so of uncomfortable, unwanted hugs my husband came home from work one day, kissed me hello and too tired and spent to bear another awkward act of love he instead just walked past my daughter.  That’s when our miracle came.  She immediately jumped up and asked “Um where’s my hug???” She then walked over and gave him his first genuine loving hug looked up at him and said “I love you Joe”.  Then she turned and went back to whatever she was doing.  That moment will forever be in my heart; because it was that moment my daughter finally transitioned.

We have recently been blessed with our amazing Grace, our now 10 month old baby girl.  The day we brought Gracie home from the hospital my daughter summed it all up!  All 5 of us were sitting on the couch watching our little bundle open her eyes and my daughter said “It all makes sense now; ya know how it all happened to get here. It finally feels right, we are officially a family”

Transitions are a fact of life, a necessary evil, and a joy bestowed on us by our amazing Creator.  It’s a series of checks and balances.  A myriad of unanswered prayers, and prayers unknown.  I think it’s these moments in life that the apostle Paul was speaking about in Romans when he wrote the passage to the right...

Brandee Courtney Rowles

 Transition:  (noun) the process or a period of changing from one state or condition to another.

I don’t know about you but this does not conjure up a happy image, memory or visualization for me at all! In fact I dread transition, I know that if I’m not just coming out of one, or in one then I better buckle up because I’m getting ready to be in one.  (gggrrr insert angry face here)

I have never heard of anyone saying, “Hey let’s transition from this awesome party to the next one.” Or “I’m transitioning from that wonderful executive position to this amazing presidential position.” DARN YOU WEBSTER!!!!!!  That word was not born of happy, smiley usage to get you from one magnificent place to another, rather it was created to soften the blow of what is real……to be sensitive to the reality that your circumstances are CRAP and you will be moving out of that in to something hopefully less CRAPPY! There I said it and I feel oh so much better, sorry for my vulgar language but sometimes the occasion calls for it.

I have an 18 year old who graduated high school this past May 2 teenage boys who start high school in 2 weeks that barely have the hygiene skills of a wild ferret and who for the most part graze my kitchen around the clock like Templeton at the carnival, I know I’m not the only one but as I grumble and groan behind that is a mommy who cannot grasp this current transition, the place where I am letting my children find independence without me and who has to find a way to let go and let God! For the past 11 months 2 weeks and 3 days I have been whole heartedly trying to teach all 3 of my kids to wash and fold clothes, load a dishwasher properly, make a sandwich in crisis (ya know when I’m at work), save a penny, know how to operate an ATM and maybe just maybe NOT have to use Netflix as their current employer. Well I am happy to report that all is going almost as planned.  Although while in the midst of this transition of getting young teens to be young adults I have found that I might be losing my place of being needed.  God is bringing me to a place of loneliness that I must find peace in after all I made this bed right?………oh yeah “teach kids to make beds……….check!!”

TRANSITION – nope I really don’t particularly like the word but it is the only one I know that fits these moments in life so well without it sounding sad or abrasive, maybe it’s not so bad….the word or the event of it all……maybe just maybe TRANSITION and I can get along, maybe we could live together if I would only realize that in order to transition I need to get still, look up find my focal point and move toward it with all my heart and soul knowing full well that it only means getting to a better place than where I am right now.  Don’t look back, there is no future in the past.  So while we transition from grieving and mourning to a new normal in our lives, or transitioning from a broken marriage, financial hardship, loss of job, from old home to new home or from one season of life with children to the next, God is already there, waiting for us to show up with His arms outstretched saying, “Come on, I’ve been waiting and you’re doing a great job.”

Well lookie there, I sure didn’t see that coming, me in a good transition.

Christy O'Connor

Before I jump in to the subject of "transitions" I first want to thank Pam for asking me to be a part of this project, I am humbled and honored to be able to share what God has done in and through me during all of the transitions in life.

So....here we go.

If you were to look up on Wikipedia, transition, it would probably show you a picture of my family. We are people who seem to live in a state of constant transition. As a child of a military man, it was inevitable that we would move in order to be where the government needed my dad. So, from the get-go, life has always been a transition. But, it didn't really stop there....when my parents divorced my mom and I began this journey that would seem to be bring about transition over and over again. It was either in search for happiness, a better job, needing assistance from family/friends, or just to be closer to the ocean. My mom is a native Californian, so she needs her cement city close to the waves. But I digress.....That nomadic/transitional lifestyle, usually every 3 years, has continued on into my adulthood and is something that I actually enjoy. For me when we transition there is excitement in seeing new places, meeting new people, and beginning life with a new start. While that is exciting on one end....a part of me longs to have those friendships that have lasted for decades....those "I went to kindergarten with them, or they were my best friend in high school." And because we have transitioned so much, I can say, many of my friendships tend to be very season....which is one reason why I have not always embraced transitions. There have been times when I've kicked and screamed and threw a fit like a 3 year old when they haven't gotten that special toy they really want. Those transitions, I began to question God and almost felt like He had abandoned me. I felt alone. I had no one. But on the other side of that transition, I can say, He was saving me. Change is inevitable....transition for me brings change.....I can either embrace it or I can push against it. I determine what joy or pain I get in those transitions.

If I were to pin-point the most life changing transition that has happened in my life....I would say that it was in 2010 when my husband was called to go into a job that would take our family on the road for almost a full year. Each week we lived in a different city/state. Some states we were in for a 2-4 week period, but the city changed. So on Sunday's we would pack up our 5th wheel trailer and get everything situated for the long drive to the next city. Sometimes we would pull into a truck stop and sleep in trailer....which was a lesson in itself....when you don't have the most efficient tools to succeed...there can be frustration...we had a 5 gallon gas generator that would give us heat for about 5 hours...so, my husband had to wake up to change it out....good morning cold air!! Then we'd be up and back on the road to make it to our next destination. We'd get there, get the trailer all balanced and ready....we'd unpack the dishes (packed away so they didn't break during the drive), hung the TV back up, and pulled out the toys for our 3 year old. We'd get all situated and settled when it was time to get packed up again....usually 4 days later. Annnnndddd, we're off to another city. This may sound crazy, but there was some of that that we truly enjoyed. I enjoyed being able to see the different cities and check out the children's museums....explored the different foods and cultures....and all that seemed glamourous. So you may be asking why was this transition so life changing.....welllll....for those of you who know me...I have worked outside the home since I was around 14. When we were called to travel on the road, I was working full-time as a Children's Ministry Pastor for a church. Ministry was my life....my calling....my passion. But God chose that time to show me how my priorities were so out of balance. First of all....I transitioned from putting God after ministry and family....to now He's my first priority....don't get me wrong...I'm not perfect with this and there are days I don't give him my first....but He is my first. Then, I realized that He wanted to bless me by using me to bless my husband and son with a love for cooking and by managing the responsibilities at home. Then I realized, that during all the struggles and challenges and pain and hurt of these transitions....God is always present and He's guiding me through. At first....I wasn't sure what to do with myself....God said....love me and I will show you. Serve me and your family....and I will bless you. Trust me....and I will never let you down.

So....now as I go through transitions....whether big or small....directly affecting me or indirectly affecting me....when I put my faith, trust, and hope in Him, he is victorious. There have been many transitions that I have gone through when I didn't put Him first or see him....those were the hardest and seemed to last the longest. So, I look at transitions like seasons....they are needed in order for new growth to happen. We see new life in the spring...it goes through the fires of summer, and begins to change in the fall....to finally die out in the winter....all for it to go through rebirth and become something new. How we weather those transitions.....will determine what the other side will look like.

I'm so thankful for transitions....and cannot wait for the next ones to come my way.

Much love to you all and I pray that when transition comes your way you will see that our amazing God is walking you right though it.

First morning of our Northern Journey...

This morning I had such a privilege to share a cup of coffee and great conversation with my cousin Pat Chappell in one of the most peaceful, sweetest back porches. i love the times I get to begin my days in one of my favorite places. Back Porches.I am reading a devotion by Christine Caine, emails as well from her site. She is the founder of the A21 Campaign which deals with human trafficking. Below is her daily devotion and this vacation/journey to the Northern part of the US and Canada is just that for us. A time of refreshment, nourishing the soul and a time to look at some doors that may need to close while new ones continue to open.  What if we thought outside of the box like Christine shared below?

"What if we actually lived the radical life of faith we hear about every Sunday?

Imagine if we lived according to what we profess to believe.

Imagine the conversations we would finally have, the acts of kindness that we would do, the inconveniences that we would endure, the places we would go, the money that we would give, the serving that we would commit to, the forgiveness we would extend, the words of affirmation we would offer, the prayers we would pray, the offences we would forgo and the people we would reach!

First Corinthians 2:5 says … your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God (NKJV).

Imagine. Great things happen when we activate our faith and trust in Him!"

The Father's Day Project

The term “project” may seem strange for a Father’s Day event but this has been a very unusual year for my family concerning my dad. Most know he had battled through two major back surgeries and for years struggled through Parkinson’s and Neuropathy. But for those closest to me know we have dealt with a much deeper and very painful situation. In what could destroy and divide some families we have chosen to love and stand together, yet not always easy. I can not say my childhood was filled full with lot of happy memories, but if anything, the past 10 years have taught me to focus on so much I have to be grateful for and to look at it truly through the eyes of  Romans 8:28, “in ALL things God works for the good of those who love him”. Not just the perfect places or happy times, but in ALL things. And in all things I have been blessed beyond measure, given all the tools and guidance to rise above any obstacles. But, only if we choose to. 

As I began reflecting on Father’s Day I am so grateful to share in a community of some really incredible men and fathers. I began asking some friends, newer and older, if they would consider writing about their husband, father experiences or something that inspires them concerning Father’s Day. I put no restrictions or boundaries other than the question, “What makes up a good father?” That can vary from many different perspectives and I am sure yours is unique as well.  I am honored by the ones who have written and truly it has been a therapeutic experience for me. There are so many extraordinary men I am blessed to know and it was difficult to just ask a few women to write! I hope each one of them doesn't mind that I took some liberties of “stealing” some pictures and sharing them throughout their writing.  Just my minor perspective looking in on their hearts and lives.

No matter how minor or little value the world makes of “fatherhood” it is a very vital part of each life. It can affect in positive or negative lights, but it leave an imprint on heart either way.

Happy Father’s Day to each who reads!

From the heart of Brandee Rowle’s…

Mmm- k so honestly when Pam asked me to write a short paragraph or  so for her 1^st blog I was both excited and FA-REAKED out.  I mean I love to talk, I love to blog (insert total stalker here) but to blog about what I talk about? Well this was like going on stage or camera for me but I said yes.  And why did I say yes? Well 2 reasons, its Pam and well she wanted us to talk about Fathers.  AAAAHHHH two of some of my favorite things AND people. Coincidently my good friend Pam wears both hats, the Pam/mom hat, and a majority of the time, the Dad hat. 

Have you ever read, heard or seen anything that has made you weep at the sound or visual of it EVERY SINGLE TIME? This could be as simple as a Hallmark commercial, a Lifetime movie, a worship song, a prayer or as cherished and lovely as a sleeping child?  Maybe it’s all of those but for me I have a list, a very, verrry, verrrrrry long list but at the top 10 of this list (did I mention the list was long?) is Paul Harvey’s 1978 penned speech of “God made a Farmer” oh come on you know you know it.  It made an overwhelming resurgence last year when it was set to a Dodge commercial for the 2013 Superbowl.  

DING DING DING, yep that’s the one.  And I bet you also remember bawling just like me, don’t lie, you know you did! EVERY SINGLE TIME ON REWIND (oh, that was just me?)!!!!  I wouldn’t pretend to steal or copy Mr. Harvey’s work but I have thought about those deep and profound sentiments and how we could weave daddy’s and Father’s in to such a beautiful piece of work or at least use the texture of it to manifest something near to honor a Father. I’m sure this will be massaged and re-worked over and over because hey that’s just who I am but I hope you enjoy reading as much as I enjoyed writing.

 SO GOD MADE MY FATHER

And on this day, God looked down on a future family and said I need a great man to bring life to these children and lead them and bless them all the days of their lives.

So God made my father.

God said I need someone who can get up before dawn, tenderly stir the children, start the coffee, make breakfast, feed dogs, shovel his way from the front porch to the car, firmly wake the children, warm up the car, scrape the frost off the windshield, HOLLER at the children to wake up, take chicken out of the freezer, count out lunch money from the coffee can, take kids to school in their pajamas to teach them a lesson of the value of time and then begin his work day.

So God made my father.

God said I need a man willing to work all day in the hot sun and warehouse without A/C or the slightest movement of air, who can tolerate a sweat soaked, dirty t-shirt and jeans, getting his hands greasy and cut, who can constantly wipe the sweat from his brow and blood on his pants without the first complaint of being thirsty or sore. He will need to saw, hammer, lift, repair with exhaustive creativity and zero budget and occasionally skip lunch.  I will need him to punch in at 7 punch out at 5 and be loyal enough to do this same thing for 45 years day in and day out with the same company.  The big pay-off is the spirit of triumph of a job well done.

So God made my father.

He said I’m going to need a man who can change the oil in the driveway, bathe a dog in the tub, build a shed with his bare hands from scraps in the garage, birth a goat in the backyard and cry, castrate that baby goat without crying, build a fence, marinade chicken and grill it to perfection, shoot a deer for food, cut a tree for Christmas,  take his kids on a walk to hand pick asparagus growing along the railroad tracks and make it all memorable, fix a hose, help a neighbor, put a bandaid on a scraped knee with his calloused hands and kiss it ever so gently.

So God made my father.

God said I’m going to need someone strong enough to lift lumber and scrap metal, a sledge hammer and a tractor tire, yet gentle enough to watch his older brother die, his father cry and help his mother mourn. He’ll need strong arms to carry 2 kids from the back of the truck after the drive in movie to his own bed and be willing to sleep elsewhere. God said he must laugh, tell jokes, tease and wrestle but hug them and love them even after a hard spank.

So God made my father. God said I’m going to have to ask him to let his kids leave, let them come back and let them leave again with nothing but love and grace, raise his son to be just like him and his daughters to accept a man who is nothing less than him. He will let

them all leave with nothing but encouragement and trust that they go with the skills they've been taught and better yet, caught.  He’s going to have to cry silently but pray loudly even if his kids never hear him.

So God made my Father

God said he’s going to have to learn and trust that his daughter will have love, care and laughter. That she will experience loss and heartbreak, develop nurturing and selflessness, joy and a spirit of giving, that she will know the value of hard work, save money, spend that money and meet a man who can live up to his (and her) expectations. He would be just like her daddy, a firm handshake and the respect of looking another in the eye when speaking, honesty and integrity.  He will need a tender hug for sadness, a smile for when she’s happy and an attitude of flexibility when she’s feeling both in the same hour. He will pray for a stranger in the parking lot, embrace adventure, cry with a friend weather experiencing great joy or sorrow and answer every request wiht “anything you want baby” just like her father…….….

So God made my husband

From the heart of Jill Polk…

When you asked me to do this, my immediate thought was that I have been blessed with two very different but Godly men to lead me in my life First, my father. He was to me and others around him, the personification of a servant for Christ. He didn't talk the talk as much as he walked the walk. His Godly leadership over my home growing up absolutely resulted in "raise up a child in the way they should go and when they are old, they will not depart from it." And for the majority of my life, I have been blessed to be married to a man who quietly exemplifies a

Godly husband. Never once have I felt he didn't act in my best interest or the best interest of our family. He has provided for us in so many ways that I probably don't even realize how spoiled I am. The Lord has placed people in his life that needed to see Christ in him and while he's not necessarily vocal, although he has been when it was warranted, giving his personal testimony to co-workers that needed to hear it, Tim has been an example of how you conduct yourself in business, in friendship and in relationships. Proverbs says whoever finds a good wife has found the favor of the Lord. It has been easy to be a good wife under the headship of this man who follows His Lord.

From the heart of Caroline Anderson….

When I first met my husband, he was the type of man that I knew would be a great father someday. In a lot of ways, he’s a big kid himself. He loves to have a good time, has a great sense of humor, and has a love for singing and theater, which has come in handy when pretending with the girls or putting on a “show” with them. When my girls were just toddlers, he would play with them in their rooms, allowing them to put boas around his neck and he would proudly wear the tiara, just to get a good laugh from his girls. He has always been a very involved dad—volunteering to coach our oldest daughter’s t-ball team, leading Chapel services at our youngest daughter’s school, and being a regular volunteer at our girls’ schools. He would go in and have lunch with Alex and Emma regularly, read a story to the class, go on field trips with the girls, and help out with special events at their schools.

Walt is always present when our girls have something special going on. He truly understands the concept that time goes by so quickly and he strives to enjoy every moment he can with them.

The greatest thing that Walt continues to do, even today, is to read to the girls every night before they go to bed. He does a devotion with the girls, prays with them and for them, and then reads a book to them or a chapter from a book. Then, he tucks them in and sings a song that goes like this:

“As you go to sleep tonight, know that there is only one hope in this life. God is God and He will never change. His love, will remain the same, through the days of your life. So hold to His love, Hold to His promise. Hold to His hand, it will carry you through your darkest night. It will carry you through your darkest night.”

As I often listen in to my husband singing this song to my girls nightly, I know that he is taking the time to reassure the girls that he values them, that he loves them, and that he cares for them. Most importantly, that God cares deeply for them and watches over them. Even if Walt is tired at the end of the day, he still takes the time to do this nightly routine with the girls. He is making memories with his girls that they will never forget.

Walt would tell you that he is not the perfect dad. Like everyone else, he falls short. He may get upset with the girls when they don’t obey. Or, when they are throwing a temper tantrum, it’s easy to lose your cool. But whenever Walt makes a mistake, he is quick to ask for their forgiveness. He can admit when he is wrong and does his best to make things right. I believe this is a valuable lesson for the girls. It is teaching them that we all make mistakes, but we need to ask for forgiveness and make things right. He is wonderful at showing grace to our girls as well. He truly is a wonderful father, by setting an example of a person who will protect them, love them, cherish them, and take care of them.

From the heart of Amy Gaffney…

Magnificent Father of Twingles

We never planned on having 3 children. Our little family was complete with our precious daughter….or so we thought.  At his “advanced paternal age” my husband never even dreamed that he would be the proud daddy of twin boys. He has commented that his high school friends have children graduating from high school and college while his boys haven't even started pre-school.

I truly cannot imagine another man more ready and equipped for the task of fatherhood like Gary is. Our lives have changed so dramatically over the last 3 years.

But God gives us what we need when we need it. He blessed us with the privilege of raising 3 beautiful children. And he blessed our children with an amazing father who loves them  unconditionally.

From the heart of Stephanie McGuire…

When I think of my father I think about strength. My dad is a man who worked hard to provide for his family. He and my mom endured many hardships unbeknownst to me and my siblings in an effort to make sure that our family was taken care of. Although we were not rich, we didn't want for anything. He and my mom made sure we were raised in a very loving family with a strong support system, good education, and most important to put God in the center of our lives. My father was my teacher—without even knowing it. It wasn't what he said, it was what he DID. He taught us discipline and was the model of honor in our home. He showed us what love looked like as little girls when he would open the doors for my mom, buy flowers and cards on each birthday, anniversary, and Valentine ’s Day, to this day he still does this and so does my brother;  and I would watch them sit up late at night playing cards, laughing and talking. He and my mom are inseparable.

My dad taught us girls to never settle for a man that wouldn't respect us or keep his word. He taught us that if he couldn't buy us what we wanted we didn't need it. Wow what a revelation! Especially in today’s culture where girls are taught to use what they've got to get what they want. In my home you were expected to be respectful, work hard, go to church, and as siblings to take care of each other. I am so thankful to have such a wonderful example of a father in my life. A dad who loves me, and a Heavenly Father who loves me more! And you know what’s great? My children have the privilege to grow up with a father just like mine. A man of honor, wisdom, strength, faith in God, and uncompromising integrity, and I am confident that when Phoebe chooses her husband she will want him to be just like her daddy too!

How do we use our voices, our time and our talents?

We live in a time when so many things are controversial. Everyone has an opinion on how people should live, what we should be doing in the world, how you should believe, and it goes on and on. My views are probably very irrelevant to where you may stand in your life. I could spew all day an “opinion”, but my passion as I age is more about the heart of each person, the motive and the basis  or agenda concerning positions held.

For instance, one place I hold deeply in my heart is concerning human trafficking and slavery. I don’t know a person in realm of my friendships and relationships who look over any period in history and doesn’t hate those places where human life and the value of it have been so demeaned. For those who dwell on it, or bitter over those times, I hope your energy and time is now spent in places which continue to fight these issues. We need passion greater today, than ever before in history.

One organization I support is the A21 Campaign. According to their website (http://www.thea21campaign.org) “There are more slaves in the world today than at any other point in human history, with an estimated 27 million in bondage across the globe. Men, women, and children are being exploited for manual and sexual labor against their will.”  I have a great deal of respect for them because they don’t just bring awareness to this international problem, but there is a working plan and process in place.  There is prevention, protection, prosecution and partnership.

You have probably heard many times, Hollywood elite, authors, business owners, etc,  who have the privilege of a soapbox and influence of those who listen to them. When I hear complaining and so much negativity about issues and progress of the world, my prayer and hope is they are investing their own money and time to help be part of solution, not just talk about the problems. Inciting people to anger but not to change definitely doesn't benefit our world!

I know you may have a passions for a specific change in our world today concerning many different issues whether personal or global. How do you use your voice, time or talents? It may appear to seem small but whether it is your family, our community (from neighborhood to city), our state, country and world, if you are passionate and persistent you can make changes. Collectively, we can make even greater changes.

What is your passion? How do you use your voice?

The Power of Touch

Many people have seen this famous picture of a twin hugging her other twin. If you don’t know the story behind the picture it not only shows the power of a hug, but literally changed medical process in many hospitals.  This is a true picture of Twin girls, Brielle and Kyrie, who were born 12 weeks prematurely on October 17, 1995.  Check out this short video of the story. I forewarn you, get your tissue ready!

This was powerful to me, because hugging and touching is not really natural to me. My immediate family was not that way when I was growing up and I wish I could say it was easier for me. I truly believe that is one of the many reason Matthew came into my life the way he did. Matthew is very loving and close and quite the hugger. Through that relationship it has made me more purposeful in being closer. Now, some who read this are probably laughing because this is easy for many people! I can say I am very grateful to those who “push through” with me. Those huggin’ friends who don’t even ask, they just hug me anyway! The power of touch in my own life has brought me to tears and at times broke something within me which impacted different parts of my life. It can make a difference. If you are a hugger, keep on hugging! You don’t know what your touch might be to someone who just needs it today.

We know, there is power in the touch. We know it can be life changing. 

Mark 5:25-34, 

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+5%3A25-34&version=ESV

How Much Energy is Wasted on Offenses?

It is true that offenses aren't given, they are taken. It is our choice whether or not to agree with the suggestion to get offended about what we feel may have happened to us or been said about us.  Taking an offense is a great way to hinder the progress God is making in your life and work. You can get stuck and over think it, dwell on it and all it does is grow within you.  This can be a great enemy to our life progress.

The initial “sting” is not the problem. We are human and our feelings do get hurt and sometimes others may initially disappoint us.  It’s important to immediately give these thoughts and feelings up when they appear. Forgive quickly if you is need to (whether you “feel” it or not!) and remind yourself where your identity lies.  The problem that comes when we allow these feelings and thoughts to flourish is nothing good or beneficial for our lives. If the seed remains in your heart it will manifest with pride or bitterness which led to division and separation in relationships.  

This can be challenging if we tend to take things personally, but not impossible to work through. It is like anything else, practice, practice and more practice!  It is intentionally challenging the way you think about anything directed toward you. It is like gratitude. When we intentionally look for all the reason we should be grateful we eventually stay more in a state of mind of gratitude. In Philippians 4:8-9 it says,  “⁸ Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.⁹ What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”

Life is too short! Remember, those who talk down about people or degrade other have something wrong in their hearts! Think about it…CHANGE your thoughts, and you CHANGE your world!