Joy in the Morning

On Friday we celebrated Kate’s 17th birthday! I had Dancing Queen playing as she came into the kitchen that morning. I grabbed Kate by hand and we danced as the lyrics sang, “young and sweet only seventeen.”

I grew up watching my parents dance together in our kitchen. At family gatherings my grandparents would dance together while my Mom and one of her brothers would do their version of swing dance around the room. The joy in those moments has always stayed with me. And I get to carry on the tradition and twirl my daughter around our kitchen, as we celebrated a new day, and a new year for our girl!

Celebrating life is a gift! Sometimes having birthdays is something we can take for granted. Yet every day, week, month and year, is truly a blessing from God!

I share this with you today, in case you, like me, somedays forget that there is joy available for us each morning; as we get to celebrate the new day we’ve been gifted.

Today, I invite you to join me to…

pause. breathe. pray.™

May we celebrate the gift of life today, whether it’s a birthday, or just another ordinary day. We are here today with breath in our lungs, eyes that see, ears that hear, and with voices that get to speak, “I love you” to those we love. Yes, life is full of hard, heavy moments, days and seasons. Yet when we choose to lift our eyes from the struggle and put them back on God, He can help us see what a blessing it is to get to be here, even if we are in the midst of a trying time. So whether we are in a light or heavy season, may we celebrate this day we have been gifted and experience the joy available to us each day, like the joy I experienced when I got to be here beside Kate as she turned 17 on Friday, and got to dance with my girl in the kitchen.


With love and hope,
Shawn

"...joy comes with the morning.”
- Psalm 30:5

How to Expand Our Horizons

Do you ever stay in your comfort zone?

I do.

I've seen this in myself in many ways and the other night I clearly saw it when Matt and I were skiing.

On the way to the mountain I had mentioned how I am comfortable on green and blue trails now.  At the end of the night Matt said, "Mom, it's time you try your first black diamond. You said it yourself on the way here, you are comfortable on those trails and you don't challenge yourself."

Sometimes when truth speaks to us it's the last thing we want to listen to but it is what we really need to hear. 

Also, I have been inspired by Matt. In a few ski seasons, I saw him start on the bunny hill and end up on a double black diamond.  He showed me that growth is possible when we continuously challenge ourselves. Yet was I willing to grow myself?

There were a lot of excuses I could have used to try and get out of this opportunity, such as I could get hurt, but I'm trying to move away from living behind my - keep things safe - excuses. So with Matt's guidance, he carefully lead me down my first black diamond. 

And then we did it again because it was so much fun!

I am sharing this with you in case you can relate and also find yourself living behind excuses and not allowing yourself to step out of your comfort zone at times to see what we are really capable of, like I have been.

If you can relate, I invite you to join me to...

pause. breathe. pray.™

We know that growth comes from stepping outside our comfort zones, from putting off the old self and moving into something new. Yet the distance between knowing this truth and living it our may be miles apart. May we pray that wherever God needs us to step out of our old, comfortable ways that we are willing to do it. And let's ask God to equips us with whatever we need to step into our new self. May we be willing to lay down our excuses and live a Spirit lead life. When we choose to live this way, we will naturally be tempted to revert back to our old, safe ways. To avoid this, may we trust God wholeheartedly that He is with us and will lead us well. Also, may we trust that God will even provide others who will come beside us on our new journey; like Matt did to guide me down the mountain the other night.

With love and hope,
Shawn

"to put off your old self, which belongs to your
former manner of life...and to be renewed in the spirit
of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after
the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.”
- Ephesians 4:22-24

What Challenge Lies Ahead?

Last weekend our family took a day trip to New Hampshire to hike Mount Monadnock. It was amazing hike with stunning views spanning more than 50 miles at the top. As I watched our family climb, I recognized that we each have our own ways for tackling the challenge ahead of us. For example, one of our kids patiently endured the climb from start with joy while another was more reluctant and impatient with the process at first, but grew to enjoy the climb. Watching them made me wonder, how do I tackle the challenges ahead of me? Some challenges I am able to patiently endure with joy, while other challenges I endure with impatience and reluctance. 

Can you relate?

If so, I invite you to join me to...

pause. breathe. pray.™

May we take a moment to bring to our thoughts something we are challenged with. Let's ask ourselves if we are enduring this challenge patiently, or impatiently?  Are we enduring the challenge with a joyful attitude, or begrudgingly? May we ask God to help us turn away from being impatient and reluctant to the challenges before us. No, this will not be easy but let's trust the process. May we pray to be rooted in God's presence and Word to help us grow in patience, and in joy, whatever the challenge is before us. And no matter how long we have to endure, may we trust that God will make good of all things even though we can't see it now, just like there is always a worthwhile view after climbing a mountain. 

With love and hope,
Shawn

"...being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might,
for all endurance and patience with joy."
- Colossians 1:11

Turn Our Discouraged Hearts Into Encouraged Ones

I've been coaching Matt's basketball team this season. It's been a fun experience coaching ten kind, enthusiastic fifth and sixth grade boys. At the start of the season I made sure to tell them I care about them more as people than as players, and that our work together was to build them up as people, then as players, then as a team.

And let me tell you, this team has come so far this season! Yes, admittedly we have more losses than wins yet the last game we had spoke volumes about the progress these boys have had. We have been telling them that so much of the game starts in their heads.  Throughout the season, if the boys have fallen behind, their body language has shown their discouraged hearts. Yet in the last game, the boys were down by 10 and rather than getting in their heads and taking themselves out of the game, something new happened; the boys turned their energy up rather than down, they stayed in the fight rather than taking themselves out of the race.

They made one stop on defense. Then they made one shot. Then another stop. Then another shot. Then another stop. Then another shot. Then one of the boys made a foul shot!

These boys came within three points and with 12 seconds left in the game. They made a great play and got the ball back so we called a time out to set up a play.

On the inbounds play, the boys lost the ball but rather than giving up, they hustled back on defense and made another stop. Then as the clock ticked down...3...2...1...one of our boys took a three...

and missed. Yes, they were disappointed not to tie the game but my heart was bursting with joy because these boys showed themselves, and each other, what they had inside of them; drive, determination, courage, perseverance, belief they were able to do it, teamwork and more!

I share this exciting moment with you because in life, sometimes we can get discouraged, like the boys have been during their games. We can allow our circumstances to dictate the state of our hearts and minds rather than looking above the circumstances and looking to God; allowing Him to refine us within through the process and equip us with what we really need.

As we move into this week, I invite you to join me to...

pause. breathe. pray.™

May we remember that God goes before us and knows what is along our path this week.  May we ask God to equip our hearts and minds with whatever it is we need and align our thoughts and ways with His to help us through. And when we get discouraged, may we pray to look above the circumstances to God, to help us persevere and run the race before us with dignity, grit, and grace, like the boys did in their game. So at the end of the day, we know in our hearts God would say to us, "well done," not because our circumstances were what we wanted, but because we lived aligned with His Word and truth.

With love and hope,
Shawn

"Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us."
- Romans 5:3-5

The Joy Of Giving

I know Valentine's Day is  a day that comes with mixed emotions, some people love celebrating it while others would prefer the day didn't exist. For me, Valentine's day is a fun day to express my love to my loved ones but one that I hold lightly to.

While Stephen and I dated, he was in the Navy and often we were not together for holidays, including Valentine's Day. During the six years he served, we learned to embrace the time we had together whenever we got it.  Growing in our relationship this way really taught us to embrace the time we had together, no matter if it was a holiday or not.  All these years later, we continue to hold lightly to Valentine's Day.

I share this with you today because sometimes we look to holidays as a time to celebrate our loved ones.  Yet the reality is, every day we get together is a gift.  If we look to just tell others we love and care for them when holidays tell us to, we are missing opportunities on a regular basis to share our love and appreciation with those we loves.

I was convicted of this a number of years ago regarding gifts. I have very much been a "kids put it on your birthday and Christmas list" type Mom. Yet when I look to God and see He pours His love our way daily, and gives us gifts everyday, it changed my perspective on gift giving.  Now don't get me wrong, I don't give my kids gifts every day that come wrapped in paper, but there are many other ways we can give gifts to our loved ones daily as God does to us. Our words, our time and our attention are all gifts we give our loved ones on a regular basis. And yes, here and there, surprising our loved ones with an unexpected gift, even something small like their favorite gum, or taking them for out to lunch, is fun to do.

I share this today as a reminder first, that God loves you.  And secondly, to invite you to join me to...

pause. breathe. pray.™

Whatever our view is about Valentine's Day, may we choose to celebrate those we love this week, whether is is with our words, time, attention, or a little gift. May we do this not just because the holiday tells us to, but because we get to spend this week with those we love, and that is worth celebrating every week.  And as we celebrate those we love, may we be reminded too of God's great love for us everyday too.

With love and hope,
Shawn

"A new command I give you: Love one another.
As I have loved you, so you must love one another."
- John 13:34

Where Does Our Strength Come From?

This morning Matt was getting ready for school and he took his backpack off the hook.  The bag made a thud as it hit the ground.  Matt proceeded to pick it up and asked, "Why is everything so heavy?"

Without thinking I said, "to help us grow stronger."

I don't believe Matt acknowledged the comment, nor would I have as a 10 year old. Yet after I said those words, it made me reflect on some things I have going on in my heart, and some heaviness I have been experiencing.

In the Bible study I am in, we have been studying 1 & 2 Peter. They are not books to dive into if you've never read the Bible. I hadn't read through them since 2017, after I have finished cancer treatments. The books are heavy yet powerful; a reminder that our struggles serve a greater purpose, including to refine our faith by deepening our relationship with God and help grow us stronger within through the process.

I share this with you today in case you too have moments, days or are in a season that is heavy. I invite you to join me to...

pause. breathe. pray.™

May we remember that when things feel heavy, God wants us to turn to Him and have us ask Him to help lighten the heavy. When we do, He will help strengthen us, from the inside out, through the process. May we entrust our souls to our faithful creator so when things feels heavy in life, like Matt's backpack did for him this morning, we can confidently say, this is making me stronger - through Christ who strengthens me.

With love and hope,
Shawn
 

"And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast."
- 1 Peter 5:10

The Sun Is Always Shining - Even Behind the Clouds

Recently Matt and I went skiing. On my final run, this was the beautiful view in front of me. It made me smile, not only for the beauty before me but seeing this reminded me of something I had read in my prayer time yesterday.

"The sun is always shining behind the clouds," are words that captured my heart. This statement is true, not only in our physical world, but in our spiritual world as well.

There are so many things that can become "clouds" in our lives; thoughts or things that cast a shadow in our hearts and minds that may fog our perspective and dim our days. As we enter this week, I invite you to join me to...

pause. breathe. pray.™

May we remember that no matter what those clouds may be in our lives, the light of the world, Jesus, is always with us.  He wants to help lift the fogginess the clouds can create in our minds and shine a light on truth to give us clarity and perspective. May we begin this week, asking God that we grow more focused on Him than on the clouds to help us see our days, and lives, from a renewed perspective. And if we struggle to see beyond the clouds, may we pray to remember that God is always with us, shining His light and love into our hearts, even when we don't feel it.  And just like the sun is always shining behind the clouds, may we trust God's love is more infinite than the clouds that come and go in our lives, for His love and light are everlasting.

With love and hope,
Shawn

"The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it."
- John 1:5

What "Extras" Are We Carrying Around Today?

Recently I was reminded of a day when I watched Kate walk towards me after a game. She was carrying a backpack on her back filled to the seams with her school books and another full backpack on her front filled with her sports stuff. If that wasn’t enough, her hands loaded with a few extra items. When I saw all she was carrying, all I wanted to do was lend her a hand and help her to share the load and lighten the heavy. I asked her if she needed a hand but she said she was fine she continued to the car without receiving the help that was offered her way.

As we drove away my eyes were opened to how I am like my daughter.

Although I am not carrying around physical backpacks on my front and my back and extra items in my hands, every day I am carrying around all that I need to do as a wife, a mom of three, a daughter, sister, friend, neighbor, teacher, and a writer. Yet that isn’t all I carry with me. I also carry around what is happening with our family, friends, and all that is happening in the world. I saw how I am like my daughter, going through the motions, carrying more than I need to, saying I am fine, and doing things on my own strength.

I know we have a gracious God who sees me and wants to share the load and lighten the heavy. Yet I was humbled that day to see how I often can be towards God, how my daughter was to me.

Can you relate?

I share this story with you because so many of us are carrying so much on our shoulders. We do not need to go through this week powering through on our own strength while feeling overwhelmed and depleted. That is not how God designed us nor what He wants for us. We have a choice before us, to keep walking through our days with the weight of all we are carrying on our shoulders, or we can turn to God, who sees all that we are carrying and is asking us to come His way so He can help us.

I invite you to join me to…

Pause. Breathe. Pray.™

May we turn to God and accept His invitation. May we be willing to lay all we are carrying before Him. May we ask for wisdom and help to know what is ours to do and what is not ours to do.

God wants to lighten the heavy for us.

Let's let Him in so He will help us. 

With love and hope,
Shawn
 

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble."
- Psalm 46:1

7 Truths to Encourage You

January 25 is a day of reflection for me. Do you ever have a date that brings up a memory and causes you to pause? That is what today is for me, and why I am writing to you on a Wednesday instead of Monday this week.

Six years ago today I went to an ENT for sinus issues. I went into the appointment expecting to get nasal spray and I came away from the appointment learning that I had a tumor in my nasal cavity that grew in to my palate. I later learned that I had a rare salivary gland cancer called adenoid cystic carcinoma. I've been reflecting on this day for a couple of weeks as I had been asked to give a talk last week at the bible study I attend. The question I addressed in my talk was, "If you knew your time here on earth was coming to an end, what would you want to impart on those you love?" 

I always try and take my cancerversaries, or important dates from my cancer journey, and make something good out of them. So today I decided to share with you to the talk I gave last week in hopes one or more of the seven truths I share may resonate with you.

The talk is about 24 minutes. Take a listen while you're driving, pop in your airpods and listen as you do mundane tasks around the house, or cozy up with a cup of tea on the couch. However you listen, I pray that these seven truths may be a blessing to you for whatever struggle you may be walking through in this time. 

With love and hope,
Shawn



P.S. If you, or someone you love, is walking with cancer and could use more encouragement, Our Struggles Have Purpose, is a compilation of fifty-five lessons I learned during my walk with cancer to encourage you on your journey. You can learn more about it HERE.
 

Come to me all who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest. 
-  Matthew 11:28

Where are we looking?

This morning I took our youngest, Matt, to a local cafe because every Monday there are veterans that gather there. Matt loves history and has sat with the veterans before, listening and learning about their unique stories. To my surprise, getting Matt up this morning was easy. He jumped out of bed, got ready and was excited for his day ahead. I'll let you behind the curtain a little and share that our school mornings school are not always this smooth. 

On the way to the cafe I complimented Matt for getting ready so quickly and for his positive attitude while doing so. I asked him, "what made it easy for you to get ready this morning?"  He replied, "I had something to look forward to."

His comment made my heart smile and also gave me insight into his school morning struggles. I asked him, "on school days, do you look forward to your day?"  He replied, "some days when I have art, PE and library, but not the other days." I appreciated his honesty, and then I went into Mom mode saying, "everyday there is something to look forward to, we just don't always know what it is, but we have to trust that God has something good in each day waiting for us." Matt said, "I guess you're right." I then shared, "let's try that the rest of the week, saying something that we have to look forward to in the day to help us get up and ready with greater ease."

As these words exited my mouth, I knew I was not only saying them for Matt but that I needed to hear these words as well. 

Sometimes I enter my day, and week, seeing the lists and tasks, and my heart's posture may not be right and ready for what's ahead, just like Matt's on some school mornings.  It made me think of a quote that I heard yesterday that I had shared with my family,

"If you look at the world, you will be distressed. If you look within, you will be depressed. If you look at God, you'll be at rest." - Corrie Ten Boom

I share this with you today in case you can relate to Matt and me, and be looking at the day instead of at God and what He has in the day for us.

I invite you to join me to...

pause. breathe. pray.™

May we not be so focused on our schedules, our to do lists, or our desires that forget the wisest place for us to put our focus; on God.  May we pray that we can be intentional, and directional, with our thoughts and remember to seek God first in our days.  When we do this, may He help remind us that we have breath in our lungs and therefore He has a purpose for us in this day. May we give thanks for the day, no matter what it holds. May we ask God to show us the blessings He has placed along our way during the day, and how we can be a blessing to others along the way; like the veterans were for Matt today, and I am sure he was for them.

With love and hope,
Shawn
 

I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
    where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord,
    the Maker of heaven and earth.
- Psalm 121:1-2

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