He gives us...

....clear direction for our life.

Don't move until you have it.

Peace is the umpire.

notes...

Charles Stanley is my favorite.

He's soft, caring, comforting, Fatherly....

I listen to his audio books in the car,

before I go to sleep, & sometimes in the morning 

when I just want to be still and be soothed by the word.

I've binged Charles this week.💖

He's also hubby's favorite...

so that's a bonus.

God gives us the capacity to make very wise 

decisions and gives us clear guidance

clear the pathway

a pure heart

exercise patience

be willing to wait

be alert to pressure

exterior pressure:

people telling you what you ought to do

how you ought to think

and give you advice

no matter what the circumstance is

if God doesn't give you clear direction

do not step into it because of pressure

shoulds, oughts, and musts,

will get you in a lot of trouble

persistent prayer

when you are praying for something

don't let go of it

meditate on God's word

He tailors words to fit you

it will grab you and give you direction

wait for peace

harmony and oneness

disorder, disharmony, unrest, frustration, anxiety,

fear, all those things are not God

your soul wait in silence

not murmuring, fuming, criticizing,

and blaming

avoid the pressures

wait in peace

the circumstances may not change

but you can walk through the difficult times

and face them

create harmony in your heart

be well...

xoxo

💝

 

Echoes of a story....

...that started long before you were born.

"We were already born into a story that was 

already mid-chapter."

'Sort through the luggage and decide what is worth

keeping and what needs to be left.'

"It starts when you look at the heaviness in your spirit

& say 'This isn't mine to carry anymore'."

'Walk forward with your hands empty & your heart open

to whatever is actually yours.'

You're no longer a passive passenger in your own life.

You stand alone against the tide.

You stand up as the protector you always needed.

The story takes a different turn, the pen is in your hand.

Your harsh inner critic begins to soften.

Stop blaming yourself for how you were shaped.

'Moving forward requires you to look at the gaps

without letting them swallow you.'

'You are not what happened to you,

you are what you choose to become.'

Your spirit needs specific things to thrive

You have a heart with it's own set of instructions.

Take up the space that was always yours.

'By taking care of yourself,

you are actually becoming a more

grounded present person for 

the people you love.'

You have more energy for the people 

and things that actually matter.

You have to be okay disappointing people.

You are finally home.

notes to self...

be willing to let go of familiar comforts

so you can say a wholehearted "Yes"

to life

don't waste your energy projecting yourself

into the future - trying to walk through

those "not-yet" moments in your mind

you have unlimited resources,

and a vast army of angels at

your beck and call to provide

what you need

pray as you make decisions

what is driving you?

reject discouragement

there is a benefit in the challenge

settling for the ordinary when 

extraordinary is right around the corner

doesn't get you anywhere

identify what is keeping you back

pray for the guts & grit to do something

about it

be well...

xoxo

💞

"To let no one ever know of your vulnerabilities

is to let no one ever know of your courage."

"You pray for a miracle--

for divine intervention--

until one day it finally hits you--

that you are the tool by which God intervenes,

that your prayer for a miracle

was answered on the day you were born."

"One thing that we probably have in common with the ancients

is that they didn't know they were living in biblical times, either."

 

What is missing....

....from many of our days is a true

sense of enjoying the life we're living.

filling up at an old pump

Savor the small, authentic moments that 

that make you smile...

and simple pleasures that often get overlooked.

notes...

an unexpected refund, 

a flatbed full of pumpkins

& sunflowers

pulling up to fill the tank at an old gas pump...

sharing a story with my kiddo...and laughing over the phone

enjoying the simple things....

embrace moments of happiness that are

uniquely your own

you can spot God's gifts all 

around you

be aware of the little things

that bring a smile to your face

keep a list of what triggers delight

your day

stop thinking that things outside of 

your control are going to make you happy

happiness that can't be taken away 

grows in your soul

be willing to pursue it

commit to making it a personal

priority in your life

hunt for small surprises

in the midst of the mundane

realize the value of a minute

and how precious the seconds of 

your life are

protect your time

and how you spend it

you have a life to live

one that has purpose and meaning

daily meaning is important as daily bread

be well...

xoxo

💝

"Every time you make a choice you are turning

the central part of you, the part that chooses, 

into something a little different from what it was before.

And taking your life as a whole, 

with all your innumerable choices, all your life

you are slowly turning this central thing into either

a heavenly creature

or a hellish creature."

~C.S. Lewis~

"I compare the pursuit of happiness

to a day of fishing--

it helps if you stock the pond."

"Perhaps if one knew when one was happy

one would know the things that were

necessary for one's life."

Even though...

...you may not always see it in real time,

the moments when you practice peace

are truly beautiful,

even if it feels like a struggle.

notes...

warm and sultry morning

hubby's negative stress test results

starting to spiral 

a short pithy prayer

and the next thing I know

I'm following a nudge 

to go jump in the lake

 

*side note

water bottle quote:

"your body is about 60% water

don't forget to give it 

a refill "

one positive voice can drown out all others

if you are listening for it

be picky about who you listen to

become picky about your daily inputs

put weeds in and weeds come out

put virtue in and virtue comes out

good thoughts and actions

can never produce bad results

bad thoughts and actions

can never produce good results

be more intentional about

what you feed your mind

don't sacrifice things that are important to you

to get a little approval or validation from others

refuse to be conformed to the worlds standards

no longer define your sense of worth by

the actions of others

when you love others well

you don't have to worry about what they think of you

claim responsibility for the conditions of your life

sometimes it's dreadfully difficult

but doing so begins an upward spiral

own your own power

or someone else will

 improve the quality of your life

by improving the quality of your thinking

keep vigilant watch over your heart

change what you can

there is so much you can change

do what you need to do to take care of yourself

if you can't do anything about the circumstances

you can change your attitude

remember the reason you are doing what you're 

doing

&

why

give yourself what you need

anchor your soul firmly in hope

take moments to recharge

be mindful of your limits

wherever you hear God's voice

go there often

there are all kinds of ways to hear from Him

fill your cup 

so you can continue to give love

let yourself be

be well...

xoxo

💞

..."Even though you did not know 

where the path would go.

Even though you did not know

where tomorrow would lead.

You were headed in the right direction

or where you were meant to be."...

"Love and compassion are necessities,

not luxuries.

Without them humanity cannot

survive."

~Dalai Lama

"Your vision will become clear only when

you look into your own heart."

~Carl Jung

 

Organically grown....

...established by decision,

nurtured with right thoughts

and time released.

Fiercely tested,...

 but fully developed

it cannot be taken away.

#Joy.

notes....

deciding last minute

on a whim,

high water levels

and sun filtered through trees

a blanket thrown on the rock

pups with zoomies and sticks

their human swimming

and belting out along

with Cody Jinks tunes

&

 moments when simply showing up 

is enough

show up for yourself & for the people

God brings your way

with love & intention

the stories you tell yourself

about the unknows

are always worse than the future

that unfolds

your circumstances teach you

how to sit and let things be

the longer you sit there

the more you notice

everything that went unnoticed

practice peace in your daily life

remain present in your moments

and keep breathing

if you believe that God has great plans

for you and your future

it changes things

big time

joy is not a distant destination

it's a path you choose to travel each day

joy must be deliberately cultivated

your example speaks louder 

than your words

living with joy is your birthright

lasting solutions are surprisingly simple

joy is within you

it must be released

show up day in and day out

without judging how it's going

if it's going at all

that's enough

remember:

this is your one shot at life

be well...

xoxo

💝

"Remember, being happy doesn't mean you have it all.

It simply means you're thankful for all you have."

~Unknown

"I don't care much for things I can't take with

me after I die.

Give me love.

Moments.

Purpose.

Things that'll settle the soul."

"In the end, people will judge

you anyway.

So don't live your life impressing others.

Live your life impressing yourself."

 

Identify where...

...you want to grow or change

then start dreaming about

possibilities for getting there.

one of my favorite daily "do's" #10minutewalk

notes...

this week I'm taking my own advice

 and drinking more water

(1/2 body weight in ounces)

dinking out of a 32 oz. mason jar full in the fridge

has made it easier to keep track

 avg. 120 oz. a day

 noticing my energy level perking up

so is the house

day #3

the birdfeeders are on the ground every morning

guessing a coon 

setting the livetrap tonight

dream beyond where you are

what could you do with an extra hour today?

when you choose to be present

there is room for learning, growth,

healing and restoration

begin where you are

and make the right choices for you

what can you do to make your life better?

where are you leaking your 

energy and your time?

you won't be distracted by comparison

if you're captivated by purpose

most everything will fade into the background

if you are going to step into a new thing

you are going to have to do things

a little differently

blaze some new trails

'change is easier & offers more options

than you think'

"there are over 293 ways to make

change for a dollar"

quit limiting the way you think

about enacting change in any

area of your life

try new creative ways of

walking towards the changes you want to see

A healthy body produces energy

a healthy mind produces joy

joy does not depend on the outer conditions

of your life

'cut back on joy-reducing thoughts

increase  joy-producing thoughts'

change your mental diet

nourish and hydrate your soul

now is always a good time to start

you will learn as you go

you will find your way

take a step

the choices you make today 

will impact your future

be well...

xoxo

💓

"Your energy reflects your mitochondria.

Your mood follows your gut.

Your focus follows your blood sugar.

Your skin mirrors your liver.

Your sleep follows your nervous system.

Your body keeps an honest

record of how you live."

~Dr. Mark Hyman~

"Gratitude rewires your brain.

It enhances brain regions linked

to self-control and emotional

regulation, helping you bounce

back from stress & adversity.

Feeling thankful literally changes

how your brain responds to life."

~Dr. Mark Hyman~

 

Discover what it is...

....that stirs your soul.

There is no right or wrong;

just tune into your heart

 & head in the direction it's pointing you.

notes...

We sat in the truck and read while waiting for the rain to let up.

Once home...we decided to re-load and head to our favorite burger place.

Well..., mine.

The rain let up & the clouds were so beautiful.

Took the long way home on roads less traveled.

stop trying to figure everything out

be filled with hope

but even more filled with love

discipline your mind

your true challenge is to return 

to the center of your heart

to find the gentle voice

that speaks to you &

affirms you in a way

no human voice ever could

open yourself up 

to the beauty of today

be well...

xoxo

💖

"Be yourself. Weird, wonderful, sensitive,

impulsive, crazy, mystical, vulnerable,

lovable, magical and beautiful.

The right people will adore you."

"Don't let the ugly in others

kill the beauty in you."

"It is less what love sees in you

than what love chooses to overlook."

 

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~

To be aware...

...of the nudge,

is to be heading to my cozy nook

on the porch

with coffee in one hand &

 a basket in the other,

and Polly at my heels.

And end up at the lake during a 

thunderstorm, listening to the fish splash,

 and disappointing the cat.

Signs..(in order of sightings)

Woodpecker: 

pay attention

significant change

Eagle:

reconnect to your Spiritual path

listen & heed your spiritual directions

as well as your heart

allow them both to lead the way

stay grounded

Loon:

tranquility & peace

"spirit of the north"

pay attention

live in harmony with others

and nature

notes to self:

absolutely wonderful

God provides the guidance 

you need

life isn't about chasing more

it's about choosing better

sometimes the simplest moments 

are the richest ones

time is your most valuable currency

cease striving and simply enjoy being

present

pay close attention

inhale in a mindful way

exhale and let things go

focus on the goals that are closest to your heart

be intentional about what and who you 

decide to be available to

be engaged in things that impact your life

(or mind-numbing distractions)

it's your choice

be purposeful

the ability to choose and change

who you're being in this life

is a gift

be well...

xoxo

💝

"Peace comes when we invite it in like a welcome guest.

As peace enters our soul, we feel an expansion

where anxiety and sorrow once were.

When peace arrives we feel lighter.

To prepare your soul for peace,

take the time to breathe,

clearing the clutter of your mind

and opening to the expression of your spirit.

Welcome peace in by releasing the tight grasp

of anxiety and sorrow.

Let go of pain so that peace can soothe."