Stay In The Moment!

I awoke to a whole houseful of my grown boys...oops I mean men. It was one of those heart swelling, overflowing moments. But then I found myself counting how many days I had before Jullien goes back to New York (4) and Elijah heads back to school in Missouri (5). Then I thought, "Why do I do that? Why do I jump ahead instead of staying in the joy of the moment? I have them here right now and I'm dampening my mood by focusing on next week already."

Today, I'm thankful for recognizing a habit that I all too frequently fall into. I'm thankful that in the noticing I can "take captive every thought", submitting it to The LORD in prayer, asking for HIS help to keep me right where HE has me. A time of over-abundant blessings, happiness, love, and heart-filled joy with my boys...men (I have a hard time thinking of them that way😬). So today I will soak it in. I will let it pour over me. I will stay right here and enjoy the day I've been given. 

Friends, join me in remembering that right here and now is a gift from The LORD. It may be a gift of overflowing, growing, learning, resting or even trials that teach the importance of drawing closer to JESUS...your Helper, Savior and Redeemer.

"We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."~2 Corinthians 10:5

Jump on the Thankful Train...what are you thankful for?

Is It Time For A TRANSFORMATION?

Transformation. Yes, that is what I'm thankful for today. 
I look back on so many years of trying to be "good enough" for myself/my husband/my kids. I continually tried to keep up the "appearances" of having it all together, when deep inside, I felt like a failure at so many things. 

I was relying on *me* and always falling short; a perpetual cycle. I became good at masking my hurt, pain, failures, and shortcomings behind a mask of aggressive words/actions that kept people at a safe distance (no one's going to get close enough to hurt me ever again). But what I didn't realize at the time was my wall of protection was keeping me locked in a prison of my own making. I was hardening my heart. 

Then one day when everything was crumbling around me and my family, I said "JESUS, please help me. Please fix this mess. Fix me." I began to allow HIM to work on the things deep inside my scarred, broken heart. I laid it all at HIS Feet every day. And to my surprise, HE did the work that I never could. I felt HIS Peace, Joy, Happiness, Comfort and most importantly Loved and Forgiven. Transformed. 

Friends, if you too are in that place of feeling "not good enough"..."wandering", call out to JESUS, ask HIM into your heart and life today. Let HIM take over.

"Therefore HE is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to GOD through HIM, since HE always lives to make Intercession for them."~Hebrews 7:25

Turn Off Your Cruise Control

I often dream of going to far off places. Visiting other countries, seeing different cultures, sites and people, breaking free of my normal life. Adventure and change has always held an appeal to me.

Taking small road trips in the meantime to satisfy my need to explore. Stopping at abandoned homes to take rustic pictures, imagining who lived there, what happened in their lives that made them leave. Trying to look at things in a different way, finding beauty and joy in the unexpected.


However, in my everyday life, I find change very difficult. I get stuck in my routines, going to work, pick up the kids, make dinner, clean up, and then getting everything ready for the next day and start all over again.

Why do we go on auto pilot? Saving up excitement and joy only for vacations. You need to turn off the cruise control. Open your eyes to what is going on around you. The adventure you are seeking can be the lonely neighbor who's lost a loved one and needs some company. A friend who asks for help. The elderly person struggling to unload their groceries, or cheering up a co-worker with a smile, and encouraging words.

It may not sound like the adventure you were hoping for, but there is absolutely nothing more satisfying than giving of yourself...living a Christ like life. He has shown us the true way to happiness...showing love to others by giving of yourself. Take a look around you this week and see if you can find an adventure waiting especially for you! Turn off your cruise control & auto pilot...step into the excitement all around you. Pray that God will open your eyes to your true purpose and remove the blinders! Only then will you find true peace, happiness and joy that may be missing from your life.

Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:4-7