In your simplicity...

...dwells your power.

'Silence means rest, rest of body and mind

in which you become available for 

Him whose heart is greater than yours.'

Give up control over your actions and thoughts,

allowing something creative to happen

not by you but to you.

Silence is that moment in which you not only 

stop the discussion with others

but also the inner discussions with yourself,

in which you can breathe in freely

and accept your identity as a gift.

It is in this silence that the Spirit of God

can pray in you and continue His 

creative work in you....

Without silence the Spirit will die in you

and the creative energy of your life will float 

away and leave you alone, cold, and tired.

Without silence you will lose your center and

become the victim of the many who demand

your attention.'

( from  a Henry Nouwen reading)

some notes:

there is no randomness about your life

walk in the here and now

every moment is alive

ground yourself in truth and prayer

be still 

set aside a time for listening

blocking out distractions

reconnect with your soul

find the still-quiet place within you

a dream is planted there

discover what you want to do in this life

faithfully pursue it with integrity and hope

without this time

your soul becomes malnourished

set priorities 

and do the most important things first

stand in awe of the life around you

be merciful

learn to trust yourself

take care of yourself

simple awe is not complex

not expensive

sunrises & sunsets are free

live so much in awe of what's going on 

around you,

there's no time to live in judgement

of others around you

resist the distraction of comparison 

& criticism

be calm and quiet by yourself

fully awake & following with

close attention every move 

going on inside of you

seijaku (Japanese)

tranquility, serenity or active calmness

profound inner stillness and peace

maintaining a steady focused mind

a quality of quiet, even when noise is present

stay home with yourself

there's no shame in not having the answers

healing feels like finally finding a friend that understands

it might taste like the morning air that reminds you

of your freedom to breathe

when the mind gets quiet

something beautiful happens

you are most beautiful on the inside.

be well...

xoxo

💝

"In the end it's probably less important that you believe in God

than that there's a God who believes in you."

"I understand now that the vulnerability I've 

always felt is the greatest strength a 

person can have.

You can't experience life without feeling life.

What I've learned is that being vulnerable to 

somebody you love is not a weakness,

it is strength."

~Elisabeth Shue~

Passion becomes...

purpose when it redeems your pain.

morning notes...

concentrate on the present moment

this is where you are meant to live

fear only has the power you give it

hope works the same way

fear is usually a story you tell yourself

you can tell yourself a story of hope instead

Timothy 3:2-5

humbling verse

stand apart while everyone else 

is trying to stand out

don't rely on your own understanding

God is always available to you to 

strengthen, deliver, pardon, encourage,

guide, rescue, & bless you.

Stop pushing Him away.

be well...

xoxo

💝

"You do not have to be good.

You do not have to walk on your knees

for a hundred miles through the desert,

repenting.

You only have to let the soft animal of your body

love what it loves.

Tell me about your despair, yours, 

and I will tell you mine.

Meanwhile the world goes on.

Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain

are moving across the landscapes,

over the prairies and the deep trees,

the mountains and rivers.

Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean

blue air, are heading home again.

Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,

the world offers itself to your imagination,

calls to you like the wild geese,

harsh and exciting-

over and over announcing your place

in the family of things."

~Mary Oliver~

 

Thank You seems....

.... too small today.

I woke up this morning feeling a much bigger word,

 one I can't come up with.

 I need....something... more.

 I looked out the window as I filled the kettle for coffee, 

a Grosbeak landed in the back yard.

(rare)

I whisper a joyful "Thank You".

My kiddo still asleep in the other room,

here for work.

"Thank You for him."

Gary's relaxed in his recliner, coffee in hand, catching the news.

"Thank You for him too."

"Thank you for my people."

Sunshine and a fresh cool breeze, after all the storms.

Refreshing. Energizing. Restoring.

"Thank you for this clear & beautiful day!"

Charles Stanley? Or maybe it's Jr.?

A bright red cardinal

with a missus... 

without... 

tail feathers.

I whisper a "Thank You, for him, & that he survived

whatever misfortune took his tail."

I smile that he, the cat and my grand-dog all have nubby butts.

"Thank You for all the little things."

 Tears well up.

I take a deep breath &

  say "Thank You! For good news on 

the condition (stenosis) of my neck.

That I am okay."

"It should be fine as long as you'll need it to be!"

Surgeon says.

"There are options for pain...."

"Thank you,

I got this for now..."

He agrees.

Grosbeak:

Live in harmony with yourself

embrace who you are

forgive yourself

trust your instincts

meditate more

be kinder to yourself

Practice contentment

"Fear and doubt can keep you

from living your best life.

So you mustn't give them a place

in your mind."

~Grosbeak~

Notes:

the dawning of each new day is a gift

not to be taken for granted

the earth is vibrantly alive with blessings

slow your pace

learn to see

trust God fully in all areas of your life

vulnerability is not a sign of weakness

but of strength

happiness comes by living simply

to know that less is more

&

quality is better than quantity

if you search for the positive

your mind is calibrated to 

find it

be well...

xoxo

💖

"When A great moment knocks on the door 

of your life, it is very often no louder than

the beating of your heart,

and it is very easy to miss it."

"What we are is God's gift to us."

"Remember that you already are

what you are seeking."

 

Peace in the moment....

.... after tornado sirens, hail, and severe weather alerts,

adrenaline rushes,

forgetting to breathe...

 and cramming cake in my mouth

as I started catastrophizing.

Tornado season makes me wiggy.

On my way to the Neurosurgeon today.

notes:

all is well...

do not be discouraged by the hard things you encounter

live a life of prayer

pray without ceasing

rely on God moment-by-moment

celebrate the gift of being alive

what you think about determines how you live

trust 

the uncertainty in your life 

reminds you that you are not in control

you can't google your way to a solution

or change your circumstances

don't look for a way out of the difficulty your in;

look for God in the midst of it

make your choices one at a time

each is contingent upon the decision that precedes it

slow down and appreciate 

the full entirety of the moments

it just is

do not despair

pay attention to the stillness in the silence of the moment

take time to enjoy the scenery each day

be grateful

center in your inner being

breathe

align with truth

sometimes you have to sift through

the noise to hear the real message

every moment holds so much

be well...

xoxo

💞

"Grace is the experience

of being delivered from 

experience."

"Slow down.

Don't allow yourself to fall into the trap

of glorifying busy-ness.

Life is intended to be savored

and this moment is the most important.

Move through your day consciously.

Notice the little things

and expand your awareness.

Flowers bloom for only a season;

children grow up fast;

and the leaves change and eventually fall.

Savor what's in front of you 

and appreciate the moment you are in."