Chaos has sadly become our new normal. When we have times of quiet and solitude we often feel uncomfortable with it. It feels foreign to us. We tell ourselves, "I need to be doing SOMETHING!" This is because it doesn't feel natural to just be in the moment, because we are so used to rushing around, running here and there with our endless "to-do" lists. I think the chaos absorbs our lives and minds so much that it becomes a part of us. We identify being busy with accomplishing things which then allows us to feel accomplished as individuals. It's as though we are somehow better, or that we then matter, because we knocked off a huge "to-do" list. This has become the mind set of many of us. I've found myself bragging about all the details … [Read more...]
The Gift Of Our Presence
Each and every year at Christmas I find myself getting wrapped up in the presents, instead of being present. I get swept away in the flurry of the "to-do's" and the "have-to-get-done's", following a lifetime of traditions. The decorating of the tree, hanging the lights, writing out Christmas cards, baking Christmas goodies, and buying that "perfect" gift for that special someone. Every year I say, "This year is going to be simplistic, this year I am not going to do all the things I normally do because it is expected. I am just going to celebrate the reason for the season!" And yet another year passed by that I didn't follow my true hearts desire. Instead, I got wrapped up in the presents and didn't remain in the presence of loved … [Read more...]
“Teardrops”
"God has not allowed one of your tears to drop to the ground-He's caught them all and made them into something beautiful. By all that you've been through, you've been uniquely trained to comfort those who are going through the same thing. You know what it is to hurt as they hurt, fear as they fear, and yearn as they yearn. You can show them how to survive and be comforted as you have been comforted. The tears of your biggest hurts have been resoundingly transformed into your most amazing opportunities for ministry. So today praise God for helping you overcome your trials, and console others with the wisdom you have received. God, I praise you for turning my biggest defeats into my greatest victories. Thank You for Your marvelous … [Read more...]