"What does love require of me?"

Today I was sitting by the pool. After last night, life on the outside seems the same yet under the surface it feels different.

Can you relate?

As I was reflecting on why things feel different, it came down to the idea that there is a new unknown ahead of us.

The unknown has been and will always be a part of our lives. So what can we do when we are experiencing an unknown?

I don’t have answers.

But I do have a question that I ask myself to help me stay anchored when the world feels untethered.

“What does love require of me?”*

I share this with you today in case you too feel unsettled within and want to anchor yourself rather than allow the unknown to rule your heart and mind.

I invite you to join me to…

pause. breathe. pray.

May we recognize we cannot control what happens outside of us but we can control what happens within us. Let’s take a moment to ask this transformative question, “what does love require of me?” so that we remember that no matter our circumstances, we can still be a vessel of love. May we be prayerful of how we can live out love in small or large ways each day so that love rules our hearts and minds and not the unknown. And when we choose love, it will not only transform our hearts and minds but when more and more of us choose this path, it will transform homes, communities, and beyond.

With love and hope,
Shawn

And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.

God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. - 1 John 4:16

There will ALWAYS Be Obstacles

This morning I got all geared up to hit the trails. When I arrived at the trail, two trees were down across the trail.

I had to do a long run and as someone who doesn’t like running, I could have easily looked at this as “a sign” to go back home, but I didn’t. Instead I saw the trees and laughed. What I have learned in life is there is will be obstacles between us and our goals. And rather than seeing the obstacle and giving up, it’s so important we prayerfully look and seek the way around or through it. And when we find a way, let’s take it instead of giving into the temptation of giving up all together.

I share this with you today because I know you too meet obstacles along the way to your goals. I invite you to join me today to…

pause. breathe. pray.

May we not allow our mind to talk us out of what we need to do when the obstacles present themselves. Instead, may we pray, and invite God in, to help us find a way through so that we can accomplish what we know we need to.

With love and hope,
Shawn

Prayer for those missing their loved ones

This past month while I’ve been walking beside Gavin through the end of his senior year, there have been a few families on my heart.

Sadly over the past few years we have lost a few people we know to cancer. And this week their kids will graduate. I wanted to take a moment to shine a light on these families so that we take time to pray for the kids, the siblings, and the spouses and what they are internally navigating not only on their gradation day, but every day, and with each special event, where the presence of their loved one is missed.

So if you would take a moment to join me to…

pause. breathe. pray.

Let’s pray for the families however we feel lead. And if there is more for us to do beyond prayer, may we do it to shine God’s light and love their way. And may we also remember, sometimes saying and doing nothing is a way to express God’s love towards someone too. May we be prayerful in our interactions with each person, honoring them for who they are and what their needs are in moments like this.

With love and hope,
Shawn

Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. - Romans 12:15

Thermostat vs Thermometer

This past month has been a wild ride. It’s been exciting and also emotional as life is changing with Kate and Gavin heading off to college in the fall.

Yet life is full of ups and downs.

If we simply read the news each day and we see this. 
So how can we handle the changes and ups and downs in life without feeling like we are on an emotional roller coaster?



Author Tim Elmore gives powerful insight into this by discussing the difference between a thermostat and a thermometer.


As you know, a thermostat is the device on the wall in our homes that we set the temperature on. The temperature is set and no matter what the outside temperature is, it doesn’t impact or change the temperature on the thermostat. 

This is unlike a thermometer which doesn’t have an inner temperature established. Instead, the temperature wavers based on the environment it is in.

Do we want our inner world’s “temperature” to be determined by our outer circumstances - or - do we want to establish our internal temperature so that that we live with greater peace even when our circumstances waver?

I am guessing you, like me, seek to live like that latter.

But how?

By setting our inner temperature by praying and meditating on God’s Word throughout the day.

When we do this, it doesn’t mean we won’t experience the ups and downs of life, but our inner world will be more steady like the thermostat. I know from experience, the more rooted I am in God, the more calm I am within. The less rooted in God I am, the more I am like a thermometer.


I share this with you today in case what is happening in your world, or the world, has your inner temperature rising and falling, like I do at times. I invite you to join me to...



pause. breathe. pray.



May we listen to this wisdom from Tim Elmore and consider not being a thermometer, but instead be a thermostat, setting our inner temperature in alignment with God, above all else. And by doing this, with God’s Word as the meditation of our hearts and minds, we can have a renewed perspective and great peace within, no matter our external circumstances.

With love and hope,
Shawn