You’re Not Losing the Battle

'You're not losing, you're fighting the battle the wrong way.

The real battle isn't the one you see,

it's what you believe you must do to win.'

 I am smitten with these little YouTube videos.

Cute stick people, and a fun way to be inspired and stay focused.

This is the one I listened to this afternoon while fixing dinner,

and it seemed to pair up well with notes for the day.

Journaling today....

Guard your gift of receptivity.

Nurture it.

Focusing on your concerns keeps you in a state of tension.

When you think of God answering your prayers,

your mind-set becomes much more positive.

Make every effort to add to your faith-

goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance,

godliness, brotherly kindness, and love.

2 Peter 1: 5-9

Train your mind to move quickly from problem mode,

to prayer mode.

Gather an arsenal of prayer, and speak them boldly.

Step out of fear and into freedom.

Make courageous changes & expand your faith.

What's your next move?

Do not merely listen to the word, 

and so deceive yourself.

Do what it says.

James 1: 22

You are known for your actions.

Thank God for who you are.

Start appreciating yourself.

When you focus on the wrong areas,

you don't get the right results.

"We were so busy dealing with the negative

that we didn't hear the positive of what God said."

God decorates you on the inside.

"God painted a wonderful piece of artwork

one day. That painting is you."

Light and love are on your side.

Breathe through.

be well...

xoxo

💝

"May this season of waiting bend your heart

toward adventure-

an unexpected invitation to journey through the 

wild of where you are.

Or maybe, just maybe you don't

have to go very far to encounter something 

meaningful that will make your wait

worth while."

January 10, 2026

The aroma of fresh coffee before that first sip.

The song and dance Polly goes through before

finally finding a place to settle down on my lap.

The lightness in my soul after an evening 

spent with an old friend to share our struggles, dreams,

and our faith paired with pizza, and pup cuddles.

My kiddo's thoughtfulness, random texts, and charming sense of humor.

The way the sunrays shine through the window and warm my skin

on a cold morning.

The letter that formed in my

journal notes this morning.

I may not always know where I'm going -

but today I sense that I'm 

heading in the right direction.

Dear beloved,

The more you trust Me, 

the more I empower you to do so,

Trust me here and now. You are in vigorous training-

on an adventurous trail designed for you alone.

I am doing things you can't understand.

Trust Me.

Cling to My hand as you follow this trail

of shadowy darkness.

Find hope in Me beloved, for I am taking care of you.

Focus on enjoying Me and all that I am to you-

even though your circumstances scream for resolution.

Refuse to obsess about your problems, &

how you are going to fix them.

Affirm your trust in Me, wait hopefully in My

Presence and watch to see what I will do.

I always know what is in your best interest & act accordingly.

Regardless of what your circumstances look like,

I know how to turn them for your good.

I am aware of everything influencing the situation

as well as all the potential consequences for you and others.

I alone comprehend the totality of every decision.

Stay in continual fellowship with Me.

You may not know what to do today,

but I do - perfectly.

Seek Me and pay attention to what I am teaching you.

I am faithful to lead you in the way you should go.

I have plans for you that are good and lasting and important.

Work with what you have - 

not what you wish you had.

Times of desperation often lead to great revelations

if you make the choice to be open and look for them.

Invite Me to build something beautiful and lasting.

Participate in life to the best of your ability.

Relax. Your best is good enough.

~Jesus~

be well...

xoxo

💝

"A spiritual journey truly is unlearning fear &

remembering love."

~Gabby Bernstein~

"What you think 

becomes what you believe.

What you believe

determines how you behave.

How you behave determines 

what you experience."

"You are today where your thoughts have brought you;

you will be tomorrow where your thoughts take you."

~James Allen~

January 9,2026

Dealing with a mixture of long-standing unresolved issues, 

clarity, & discouragement lately....

'People talk of peaks and troughs.

Hills and valleys.

Metaphors make sense.

You can definitely feel the steep descents

and uphill struggles in life.

But it's important to remember the bottom of the valley

never has the clearest view.

And that sometimes all you need to do in order

to rise up again is to keep moving forward.'

journaling lately...

Cling to hope and rays of light will reach you through the darkness.

"We encounter God all over again every time we're

desperate enough to realize we're not actually in charge."

'God uses uncertainty to chase us out into the open

where we can find Him all over again.'

"When all signs tell us there's no way out,

we find God in uncertainty,

and He always makes a way.

Take confidence in this.

Realize your terribly needy.

It's a good thing."

God cares for us so much that He will not allow us to 

stay where we are.

You may encounter many obstacles as you move toward your

goal, but don't be discouraged - never give up!

(Blue Jay visiting...)

Much stress results from wanting to make things happen 

before their times have come.

Look for the right way.

Toward what is true. Noble. Lovely.

Enjoy the beauty and goodness.

You will encounter things that make you cringe,

things that are wrong or ugly.

Deal with those as you must, 

but do not let them become your focus.

Don't worry about all the steps. Begin.

Be diligent and thoughtful each step of the way,

you don't have to fret about contingencies down 

the road. Don't worry about what may or may

not happen.

Trust that it will all work out in the end.

be well...

xoxo

💞

"The kindest and most generous behavior we can choose

is taking responsibility for ourselves - 

for what we think, feel, want and need.

The most beneficial act we can perform is

to be true to ourselves,

and let others take responsibility for themselves."

~Melody Beattie~

"Underrated life skill:

Being so grounded in your own vibe

that you stop adopting other 

peoples energy."

~Yung Pueblo~

"I don't think people realize how peaceful

it is to come home, tidy up your space,

cook a good meal, take a shower, and 

just focus on your own life."

~positive minds~

 

January 7, 2026

Yesterday I started off on the wrong note.

So I packed my book, journal and snacks, and 

went off grid.

This morning I felt great.

 I sat down at the table in the stream of sunshine,

with my coffee, and suddenly broke into tears.

I started writing, had a realization, a break-through,

and then a come-to-Jesus-moment.

I sat in stillness....chased off the stray cat in the backyard,

finished my coffee...then

put a loaf of sourdough in to bake.

...those moments of clarity that come in the

seemingly mundane.

What if the moments we don't give a second thought to

were the moments that mattered most of all?

Journaling lately....

"Change the world from where you are, 

while your moving toward where you wish you were."

Start. Just take a step.

"Sometimes the 1st step isn't to fix the painful things in 

our lives or anyone else's

but to mourn them. It's an important 1st. step in our

own healing."

'Knowing who you are, what you want & what you love

will serve you faithfully.'

'Clear objectives is 1/2 the battle. 

If you can't see it in your mind,

or feel it in your heart,

it may not be your dream.'

"Be a practical dreamer backed by action."

~Bruce Lee~

Practical means you believe the dream is possible.

"If you think a thing is impossible,

it's impossible."

Stay present and aware.

You'll know when a certain path isn't working.'

Sometimes the harder action is making the first move.

Every moment is a new moment to start again.

We strengthen what we put our attention on.

"Keep your mind on the things you want

and off those you don't."

'You don't have to have all the answers to begin.

Just begin.

Sometimes you have to begin to find the answers

you were looking for.'

be well...

xoxo

💓

"Your daily habits literally

dictate where you will be in a few years.

You don't have to do anything 

extraordinary on a daily basis.

You just have to do a few ordinary

things that love you back,

consistently."

"Maturing is realizing you prefer a quiet life.

You don't chase after friendships or relationships,

your happy with the few friends you have,

no drama, just working on being the best version

of yourself, not comparing your life to others,

and learning to enjoy your own company

instead of relying on others to be happy."

~Dr. Will Cole~