Honest Reflections

“Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.”  Colossians 4:6
I teach tennis.  I started three years ago, I’m beginning my fourth year of teaching this year.  Tennis is a great way to learn life lessons.  You call your own lines, it shows your level of honesty.  It requires patience, endurance, perseverance.  It teaches you how to win and how to lose.  Those are just a few.  There is one thing teaching tennis has taught me that has revolutionized my life.
Did you know, 80% of what you say to children they remember?  However, you only remember 20% of what you say to children.  That’s intimidating!  I can’t even remember what I had for lunch yesterday, much less every word that has come out of my mouth.
I have found, the older I get, the less I remember.  I have found there is only one solution to this statistic.  Make sure everything you say is uplifting and encouraging.  Then you don’t have to worry about remembering what you say.
I can’t say I am perfect at this.  I can say, every time I look at the sweet face of a child I remember that rule.  It holds me to a level of accountability that I appreciate.
One of my good friends gave me this piece of advice when I started coaching.  They don’t care about how much you know until they know how much you care.  There is no better way to show them how much you care than with the words that  you use.
Lord, help me be uplifting and encouraging in all I say.  Forgive me the times I fail.
 
 

“Be still and know I am God” Psalm 46:10
It is humbling watching God’s work unfold around me.  It is hard for me to put in words how awestriking it is He chooses to use someone like me.  Even more amazing how much He loves me.
I have had so many incredible conversations this week.  I have been brought to the edge of tears watching people get connected and grow.  I’ve watched them take steps of faith, get out of their comfort zone and engage.  I’ve watched them get back on the journey with God.
It is truly awe inspiring.  Humbling. Miraculous.
My heart aches for those who do not know Him.  Every time someone takes a step towards Him, my heart sings.
“No one is in your life by accident, they are all divine appointments.” Mark Batterson “Whisper”
Thankful for all of the divine appointments I encountered this past week.  Grateful for the ones I will encounter next week.  Enjoying this day of renewal the Lord is giving me in between!

“Therefore, just as the Holy Spirit says, “TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE,”  Hebrews 3:7
I’m listening to the book “Whispers” by Mark Batterson.  It’s about hearing the voice of God.  He compares learning to hear from God like learning a new language.  He uses the analogy of Helen Keller,  who at 19 months old contracted an illness which caused her to go deaf and blind.  As a result of this,  she honed her sense of touch to such a degree she could listen to music by placing her hands on the radio, sensing the difference in instruments by the changing vibrations.  She learned to “hear” words by placing her hands on a persons’ larnyx and “feeling” the vibrations of the vocal cords.  She learned to communicate through sign language.  As a result she was the first deaf and blind person to receive a Bachelors of Art Degree.
Effectively, Helen Keller learned a new language to communicate and live in the world.  It was adapted to her circumstances, her life, her abilities.
When we hear from God, we are doing the same thing.  We are learning a new language. One specific to our relationship with God.  One geared to how we communicate with Him and how He communicates with us.
I think this is a fascinating perspective.  I had never thought of it like this.  I’ve heard many a sermons on “tuning” into God the same way we tune into a radio station.  I had never thought of it as learning a new language.
Yet when I think of different friends in my life and how they communicate with God, it truly is a unique and personal experience.  I have one friend who hears from God in her dreams.  I have another who feels it in her spirit, not necessarily in words.  I myself hear Him most through the scriptures.  When I’m not sure what to do, one will come to mind from somewhere deep in my cortex and I know it is the Lord speaking to me.
In the same way, we all communicate with Him differently.  I have some friends whose best God time is when they are on the commute to work.  Others it’s at bedtime.  For me, it’s first thing in the morning.  I love to close myself in my prayer closet, open my Bible and lose myself in Him.  Others prefer worship music and wide open spaces.
Each person is different, each unique.  It is like learning a new language.  One created for each of us.  One no one else knows.
Most important of all, the more we study our individual language.  The more we learn to talk to God through it.  The more sensitive we are to His whispers, the louder and clearer we will hear His voice.

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”  1 Thessalonians 5:11
I was listening to a message by Greg Surratt, Pastor of Seacoast church in South Carolina.  I loved what he does instead of making resolutions at the beginning of the New Year.
He chooses to do short sprints.
A short sprint, as defined by him, is choosing a verse, such as 1 Thessalonians 5:11 and then committing to doing it for a period of time.  It could be 7 days, 14 days or 21 days, whatever he chooses.
His church was starting a 21 day fast, so he was going to do a short sprint during that time.  I can’t remember what verse he had chosen.  What a great partner practice during a fast.  I wish I had listened to this message at the beginning of our 21 day fast.
Nonetheless, you can start a short sprint at any time.  Of course, I now have the desire to start a short sprint.
My first short sprint is going to be all about 1 Thessalonians 5:11. I want to speak only uplifting and encouraging words to everyone, no exceptions.  From my husband to the passerby on the street, for the next 21 days I’m going to focus on this particular verse.
I’m so excited, can’t wait to see what God does with my first short sprint!
Ready, set, go!

“He sends the snow like white wool; he scatters frost upon the ground like ashes.”  Psalm 147:16
I thoroughly enjoyed the brief snow we received last night.  24 hours later and there is barely any left.  Life in Virginia.
As I walked this morning in the snow, it reminded me of my Mom.  Growing up in Pennsylvania, snow lasted a bit longer than it does here in Virginia.  One of my fondest memories of my Mom were her early morning walks in the snow.  We lived on the 15th tee of the Gold Course in Treasure Lake.  She would rise early, bundle herself up in her warm coat and heavy boots.  Then she would walk the golf course holes 15, 16 and 17.  All up and down hills, not an easy walk by far, add the heavy snow and you have a work out.  She did it faithfully, day in and day out.  I’m grateful for the example.
I don’t have it nearly has hard.  There are no hills, rarely any snow.  I think of her example every time I head out.
I’ve realized, over the past few weeks as I’ve made changes to my lifestyle, accepting truths into our lives can be difficult.  My husband and I have recently joined Liberty Healthshare,  an alternative to health insurance.  It is a Christian based organization based on the Biblical principle of sharing each others burdens.  For more information, click the above link.  It’s a wonderful option.
The downside to Liberty is it’s difficult to join, mainly because if you have pre-existing conditions they won’t be covered, at least not at first.  Thankfully, we don’t have any, except for one, my weight.  As a result, we pay an extra fee and I have been assigned a health coach who I check in with each week.  Once I reach my goal weight, I graduate from the program and we no longer have to pay the fee.
It’s been a God send for me.  It has helped me accept difficult truths into my life:
I ate more than I thought I ate.
I exercised less than I thought I exercised.
I weighed more than what I thought I weighed.
I’ve also learned that watching what I eat and exercising regularly is a discipline.  Just like reading my Bible daily is a discipline.
I have had so many conversations with different people about reading their Bible daily.  How the practice of seeking God each day makes it easier to seek God when the storms of life hit.  As our pastor said this week in his message, its sets us up for a future win.  He also talked about how the real reward is the repetition.
He’s right.  The repetition is the reward.  I look forward to my daily time with God.  It is truly the best part of my day. Now, thanks to Liberty, I’m adding new disciplines into my life.  I am starting to find the reward in the repetition.  I am now starting to look forward to my daily walks as much as I do my quiet time with God.
This mornings’ walk was particularly special.  I spent it thinking about my Mom.  It felt like taking a walk with her. I thought of how I would love to sit and have coffee with her one more time.  I would love to tell her about my life, and all that has happened since she left us.  I wish I had taken one of those daily walks with her back then.
Miss you Mom, today a little more than most.

“When you fast…”  Matthew 6:16
I have spent my entire life in the church, my fondest family memories are sitting in the wooden pews of Tidal Presbyterian.  Dad, Mom, Matt, me and Ron all seated in a row.  The older gentleman behind us, God forgive me, I can’t remember his name, always gave us chiclets.  Dad always stood outside the front doors, smoking cigarettes with the guys before the service started.  Rev. T. Donald Hamilton was our pastor.  Loved him!
In all those years though, I never remember learning about fasting.  There is a real possibility that I may not have been paying attention.  I didn’t really start to learn about fasting until I was an adult.  I definitely didn’t start practicing fasting until the last 15 years of my life.  I did know about Lent.  I always liked to give something up for Lent every year, even as a child.  I didn’t truly understand the full scope of what I was doing.
Now I do.
Fasting is a powerful tool.  My devotional this morning said it best:
“There is a closeness to God that you simply will not experience from prayer or personal devotions alone.”  Excerpts from Awakening: A New Approach to Faith, Fasting and Spiritual Freedom by Stoval Weems (pp. 63-64)
That is why I love fasting.  It draws me into God’s arms.  It is like nestling into His shoulder, all warm and cozy.  The insights He reveals to you during times of fasting are life changing.  He has changed my life through every fast I’ve done.
There are several different types of fast you can do.  Our church started a 21 day fast yesterday. Here is a great resource to learn more about fasting:
https://www.watersedgechurch.net/21daysofprayerfasting/
During this 21 day fast, I am fasting one meal a day and spending the time in prayer.  My husband and I are completely fasting one day a week together.  I have already been doing a modified Daniel Fast which is why I chose to fast an entire meal.  A lot of people are doing the Daniel Fast for the 21 days.
I am so excited about what God will do in my life, in our marriage and in our church through this collective fast.
There are so many facets of fasting to talk about, I can’t do it in one blog.  I want to share one of my most life changing fast experiences with you as an example of why I love fasting.
It was several years ago.  I was going through a difficult time with my immediate family.  My Mom had been diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer,  My brothers and I were at odds with each other, no one was speaking to each other.  We were all so torn up in our emotions, no one knew what to do, we all felt so helpless.  In desperation I turned to God.  I didn’t even know what to pray, but I knew I needed Him more than ever.
I started a 10 day fast.  I decided to fast breakfast and lunch, praying during those times instead.  I have to tell you, those prayers were more like groans.  I didn’t even know what to pray.  I just clung to God, trusting Him.  Pouring it all out to Him.  It was about half way through the fast I felt the tides turn, for lack of a better way to describe it.  I knew that I had found victory in the spiritual battle I was fighting.
Immediately I thought, “Yay, I can stop fasting!”  Even quicker I heard God say, “Do you want the full victory or the partial victory?”  I knew I wanted the full victory, so I continued the fast.
I received the full victory.  It didn’t happen overnight, it didn’t happen in the next week or month.  In fact, some aspects of it took years.  My family is fully restored.  My brothers and I learned to work together.  We learned to enjoy Mom’s last years here on earth with her.  We were able to let her go to the arms of Jesus when the time came, all of us at peace.  All of us together.
The person who God changed most during this particular fast was me.  He didn’t change the circumstances. He didn’t change my brothers.  He changed me, because I was the one who needed to be changed.
If I ever need to be reminded of the power of fasting, I just think of those ten days that changed my life forever.
Thank You God!

“Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?”  The blind man answered, “Teacher, I want to see.”  Mark 10:51 NCV
It is the end of the first week of January.  It was a tough week trying to achieve the goals I set forth for myself just over seven days ago. By the grace of God I did. I laid in bed this morning thinking, “I didn’t write my blog this week.”  (One of my goals for 2018, write one a week.)
Then I read my devotional this morning.  Titled Goal Setting is a Statement of Faith.  It went on to explain the reason Jesus asked the blind man what he wanted him to do wasn’t because he didn’t already know.  Jesus knew a blind man would want to see again.  It was because He wanted Bartimaeus, the blind man, to state his faith.
God’s timing is always perfect. I needed the reminder.  I can’t do anything without Him.  The reason I wrote my goals in my blog was for accountability.  God just let me know, it was also a statement of faith.  It is what I want God to do for me this year.
At the end of my devotion today, it challenged me.  It reminded me, Jesus asks the same question right now:
“What do you want me to do for you?”
He asks it ever day, every morning.  Have you ever thought about how you would answer that question?  I have to be honest, I didn’t have an immediate answer.  All of my requests seem so trivial.
Then I thought of this verse:
“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:34
Jesus isn’t asking me what I want for tomorrow.  Just for today.  Today is Sunday.  It is a day of rest (Exodus 20:8).  I get to go to church and worship.  I get to come home and spend the day with family and friends.
Today, Jesus, I want you to help me rest.  We’ll worry about tomorrow when it gets here!

“For You are my rock and my fortress; For Your name’s sake You will lead me and guide me.” Psalm 31:3
If you had told me five years ago I would be living life in an RV I would never have believed you.  Now I pray for the day when we can become full time RV’ers.
Why?  The people we meet, the places we go, the experiences we have.
As I write, I’m surrounded by people from all over the continent, literally.  There are people here from Ontario, Massachusetts, Florida, Arizona, Ohio, Indiana just to name a few.  We’re representing Virginia.  I’ve seen Texas and California.  All of us here in the same spot for this moment in time.
I love talking to them.  I love finding out their stories.  A lot of the ones here are snowbirds, down for the winter.  Others are full time RV’ers just stopping by.  I learned about a new volunteer position, Camp Host.  They are here to help their fellow campers enjoy their experience.  They dole out firewood and ice.  They give guidance on the local surroundings and they share stories of the campground.  In exchange, they stay for free.  What a wonderful thing to one day be able to do.
This is the longest we have ever stayed in our RV.  I was hesitant, even anxious as we started this journey.  I prayed fervently for God’s guidance and direction.  I asked His angels to surround us on our journey and keep us safe.  I love when the peace that surpasses all understanding settles upon you once you give your fears to Him  (Phillippians 4:7).
I feel His pleasure when I take steps of faith and get out of my comfort zone and into His arms.  I’m honoring Him when I live life to the fullest as Jesus intended (John 10:10).
It reminds of a quote by Eric Liddell, Scottish Olympic Gold Medalist runner, rugby union international player, and Christian missionary:
“I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast. And when I run I feel His pleasure.”
I feel God’s pleasure when I overcome my fears.  When I live outside my comfort zone.  The angst I felt at the beginning of this trip has turned into gratitude for all of the blessings I’ve received. The moments shared with my husband that build our marriage stronger.  The sand dollar given to me by a stranger on the beach.  The stories I’ve been told by my fellow campers I will carry with me.  And so much more.
What fear is holding you back?  What journey are you not taking?  As the New Year begins, spend time with God.  Ask Him to take you out of your comfort zone into His arms.  See where He carries you, how He blesses you, how He grows you.
You won’t be sorry!

“Commit to the Lord whatever you do,
    and he will establish your plans.”  Proverbs 16:3
I’ve prayed over it all week.  It’s time to establish my goals for 2018.  I know the verse, I’ve got the word, now it’s time to add the goals.
It actually is so hard to choose.  Mainly because I still need a lot of work.  It’s useless to try and fix everything at once.  It will only lead to defeat, and inevitably failure.  Failure in itself is not bad, in fact it’s necessary to learn and grow.  The important part to failure is picking yourself back up, brushing yourself off and getting back on the road.
As I’ve prayed over these goals, I’ve tried to make them realistic.  Something I can and actually will do.  One of the passions God has re-awakened in me in 2017 is writing, hence the blog.  He’s brought writer’s into my life who have inspired and encouraged me.  I’m adding a fourth goal this year, one for writing.  What I learned in 2017 is the most important thing about writing is you must do it.  It’s not about being a best selling author, it’s about developing the gifts God has given you.
If you’re unsure of what your gifts are, ask yourself, what do you love?  Answering this question can point you in the right direction.
My goals for 2018:
Spiritual:  Praying over my calendar on Monday mornings.  Finding and completing a domestic mission trip.
Physical:  Continue my two classes a week minimum.  Increase cardio workouts to 5-6 times a week.  (Cardio meaning walking, biking, zumba etc.)
Financial: Come in on budget personally each month.
Writing:  Write a blog weekly.
That’s it.  That is what I’m going to work towards in 2018.  God help me, it’s the only way I can do it.  His first prompting is for me to create reminders and add it to my calendar so I don’t forget what I’m working towards.
Happy New Year Everyone!  I pray you are able to set and accomplish your goals!
 
 

 
“Commit to the Lord whatever you do,
    and he will establish your plans.”  Proverbs 16:3
My verse is Proverbs 16:3 for 2018, my word is Commitment. 
Commitment, when defined is the state or quality of being dedicated to a cause, activity, etc. An engagement or obligation that restricts freedom of action.  Commitment is challenging, takes work and is always a source of growth.
I have to be honest, I thought I was pretty good at commitment.  I try hard to live up to my word and do what I say I’m going to do.  Apparently, I’m not as good as I thought I was.  From God’s perspective He’s going to use it to grow me.
When I think of commitment, I think of Matthew 5:37:
“All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.”
What I’m beginning to see God outline for me isn’t that I don’t live up to my word, rather I don’t include Him in my plans.  I don’t take time to pray before I commit.  I’m not committing to the things God wants me to commit too.  That is what I’m beginning to understand.
For instance, one of my favorite things to do is pray over my calendar.  I like to do it on Monday mornings.  The problem is, I don’t do it every Monday morning.  I do it every now and then, but when I do it always makes my week better because I know, whatever is on the agenda has already been prayed about.
Hmmmm….maybe that should be my spiritual goal for 2018?
I really don’t know what God is going to do through this word in my life.  Is it my ministry?  My marriage? My work out routine?  Probably all of them in some way or another.  Good thing is it will take all of the 365 days of 2018 to figure it out.
If you’re working on your one word for 2018, here is a great resource:

It’s an easy read, not very long, but helpful in defining your one word!