Anniversary

Fourteen years ago today I was back home visiting,

 when Pastor Bob pulled me aside after our church service.

He placed Jesus Calling in my hands as a gift from him to me.

And so began the journey of putting God first every morning.

Sometimes requiring me to roll out of bed at 2 AM, to devote

an hour before heading to work.

My ritual has evolved over the years, and more devotionals have been

added, but Jesus Calling always starts the day. 

It has carried me through the toughest times.

Journal notes...

Focus on the beauty in life, and that is what I will 

most often experience.

The opposite is also true.

'Make a decision to believe in spite of everything.

Don't look to your circumstance or pay attention

to the opinion of others. 

Listen to God.

Open His Word and trust what He says.

"Small streams don't plan to become mighty rivers.

They just run in the direction they were created to move,

and their Creator decides what they'll become."

"I will instruct  and teach you in the way which you should go;

I will counsel you with My eye upon you."

~ Psalm 32:8 ~

Obey what He leads you to do.

be well...

xoxo

💝

"There is a universal, intelligent, life force 

that exists within everyone and everything.

It resides within each one of us as a deep wisdom,

an inner knowing. We can access this wonderful

source of knowledge and wisdom through our intuition,

and inner sense that tells us what feels right and true

for us at any given moment."

'Learn how to develop, listen and trust this inner voice.

Trust that there is a natural flow to life, and choose to go 

with it, not against it.

Instead of believing every fearful thought,

choose to listen to what your heart has to say.

Know that if there's tension and anxiety present within you,

you are disconnected from your authentic self.

If you feel peaceful and at ease, if love flow through you,

it is because you have chosen to relax into your true nature,

to allow life to guide you and to trust that it will take good care of you,

because it will.'

 

Simple

She made herself at home in the backyard for the day.

She napped in the wicker chair, stretched out in the shade, and snacked under the rose bushes.

Then, as the sun started to set, she flew away.

dove...peace, love and new beginnings 💕

These little things are the roots that hold me steady.

These are the moments that stay with me,

the ones I want to capture.

When everything else seems to move faster & louder,

nature flows at it's own pace, with a certain ease.

 It rests. It waits. It breathes.

 There is a quiet strength in pausing to watch nature flow,

naturally and perfectly with out any help. 

It has it's own way of pulling me back into the present.

be well...

xoxo

💝

"I wish people knew that healing happens

when we choose:

Calm over chaos.

Stillness over stress.

Presence over popularity.

Breathwork over busyness.

JOMO (joy of missing out) over

FOMO (fear of missing out).

Foods that love you back over

foods that don't.

Your body will thank you."

~ Dr. Will Cole ~

 

Fear

Realization, unveiling, truth, processing, stillness,

awareness, mindfulness, signs, resistance, shattered, grief,

shadows, burdened, humility, emotions, isolation, release, shift, glimmer, experience,

motivation, steps, lightness.

Turning the page into a new chapter, and getting sucker punched

right at the start.

An uncovering. Revelation.

A volcano of uncontrollable emotions.

Letting them go.

Kleenex littering the ground around me. 

Birdsong playing background tunes.

Closing my eyes to take it all in.

Aware of the faint breeze, a delicate tinkle of the chimes, the songbird.

Opening my eyes just in time to see the mockingbird perched above,

and catch it's little jig before it flew off into the maple tree.

"Mocking bird teaches you how to discover your voice,

all while showing you what inspires and ignites your soul."

"Inventiveness, keen-mindedness, happiness, playfulness,

protection, thankfulness, security, and most of all

communication."

"Be curious and learn from experiences. Listen carefully, and put the

knowledge into practice for personal progress."

 

Journal notes...

The world wants to squeeze you into it's mold.

Be still and attentive and listen to God.

He did not give you a spirit of fear.

'Do not fear. I am with you.

You face nothing alone. I will strengthen and

help you.

Let those words enfold you like a warm blanket,

sheltering you from the coldness of fear,

and dismay.'

~Jesus devotions~

He will reveal things to you.

Let go of your defects,- issues, behaviors,

old feelings, unresolved grief, and beliefs 

that are blocking you from the joy that is yours.

He speaks to your heart.

Somethings take longer than others.

The process is the reward.

you are learning along the way.

Growth, insight, and perseverance

are some of the results.

You don't have to force change.

You don't have to do it yourself.

Have an attitude of willingness & humility.

Be patient and thankful even when it's tough.

Create a space for the light to get through.

You will change through the process.

Relax and do your part.

Allow the rest to happen.

be well...

xoxo

💓

"Underneath all your fears, and doubts and insecurities

there's nothing but pure & unconditional love.

Love for yourself, love for those around you

and love for life itself.

But because you have been clinging to fear for so long, 

you no longer remember this truth.

You can no longer make the distinction 

between what is real and what is not."

'Where there is LOVE, you have peace, joy, contentment, serenity,

and forgiveness.

Where there is fear, you will have anxiety, sadness, depression,

fatigue, judgement and guilt.'

"Let go of fear and allow love to rule your world.

Let go of fear and allow love to show you

the way back onto your path."

~ 15 Things You Should Give Up~

Steps

Phases, moments, passions, humility, presence, appreciation, connection,

uncertainty, new, teachable, willing, allow, curious, mindful,

direction, conviction, truth, receptive, answers, open, change,

perception, worship, healing, service.

Today I am grateful for the difficulties that give me an opportunity to grow

& make me stronger day by day.

It all happens in steps, and you can see them for the magic they are

when you stop and look back one day. 

Todays my day.

The little moments that seemed insignificant 

at the time. The fears and the struggles and how they eventually

 ( and painfully slow in my case)

start morphing into a stronger faith, and small wins.

This week I followed the cues. 

Got up at 3:30 one morning to meditate 

on the front porch, read devotionals by lamplight. 

Journaling some instructions for the day.

Thoughts. Guidelines.

Nervous going solo to a early yoga class at the Y,

and then to my first day as a volunteer to assist in hippotherapy,

(horse therapy)

as a side-walker.

Breathe. Trust. Mindfulness.

Deep breath in stretch, breath out.

 Words of affirmation and love,

as we flow from Childs pose to Plank to Downward Dog up to Warrior pose.

Breathe in love...breathe out kindness.

Restoration pose, an offer to rub lotion on our feet.

"I'm want to serve you."

Tearing up as I gave myself permission to receive.

Having a moment.

Unity.

Arriving at the arena early to volunteer. Willing to help in any way.

Plenty to do. Happy to serve.

Therapy time and time to assist.

An old retired race-horse. 

A teenage boy.

A therapist.

Humility, reality, and a glow in my heart.

Everything coming together for a greater purpose.

Connection.

Passion.

Flow.

Journal notes that day...

The Holy Spirit will guide you and correct you as needed.

Refuse to entertain a gloomy view of the future.

'Morning is a time of preparation and opening.

It's a lovely time to prepare for the day & visualize

the outcome you desire.'

'Every time you put your passions into action,

you learn things you couldn't have learned

sitting still. You grow on the way.'

Decide for yourself what you want and need to do.

You belong. You are worthy. You are valuable.

You'll miss the blessing if you refuse to open your heart fully.

You must be non-resistant. Fear not. Poise is power.

"Sometimes an insignificant incident may be

a turning point in a mans life."

(typing this....Ha! Hindsight....as this is 3 days later...)

Today is Sunday. This song hit me right in the feels!

There's more to this little story, 

and I thought I would share.

This is how the mini-saga began. 

It began with a high...

then suddenly the low.

I had to let the dust settle.

be well...

xoxo

💞