The Prayer of Journey

Dear Lord,

Is it true that each of us are facing a new venue, a new adventure, put in place by You to lead us forward for You?

Perhaps it is a physical destination or an emotional freedom, a place new to us where we haven't been before.

We balk, Lord. We get sick or fearful or somehow stuck, wanting deep down to stay where we are, even when it is not your next best for us.

If we could talk to our unborn babies, wouldn't we have to coax them out of the womb? We'd say, "Come on out and join us. There are adventures laced in love and goodness!" But the babies might say, "We have everything we need. It is comfy here."

We are those unborn babies, not wanting to trust that You have our next steps covered and waiting. There are adventures laced with love and goodness. But, we think, we have all we need and it is comfy here.

So, Lord, we offer this prayer of journey for ourselves and for those we love.

Administer your courage in exactly the right dosage to get us to our next steps.

Thank you for going before us. We are right behind You, holding your hand, believing that Your adventure, laced with love and goodness, is your next best for us.

Don't let go.

Amen.

Strengthen-ers

I think the purpose of this blog is to explore ways that we can get stronger with every decision, every thought, every practice that make up our days.

At the end of every day, you are stronger or weaker overall than you were the day before.

What are your top 5 personal strengthen-ers?

Yep, I know that is not a word, but it works, right?

Mine are:

Every day: predawn time with God and a pot of coffee (I save one cup for my husband).

Every day: mostly a whole-foods, plant-based diet.

4-5 days/wk: walk 3-4 miles, Pilates, weights.

Every worry: I put my trust in You, Lord. Go before me.

What I want to learn most: how to bless God's heart.

When I stay in this circle of practice, I am strengthened. Every time I move away from it, I feel weakened and afraid and frustrated.

There is something to feed your strength. I just know it.

The Color of Your Journey Here: Part 2

Some people seem to live with a glimpse of heaven in their mind's eye.

They don't sweat the small stuff. They are present in the moment and listen fully and love others with a freedom that draws them into this invisible circle of hope.

The color of their journey here is a hue of hope that is so beautiful, so contagious, so expressive of God Himself. It radiates the truth that God is enough.

For others of us, the color of our journey here is warped by worry--worry is our trademark endeavor. If the personality of our effort always expresses an undercurrent of worry, we are saying to God, You are not enough.

Worry is a choice...always.

So is there a better way? Is there a thought process that I can put into place at every turn when worry wants to color my journey?

Yes. Every time worry mounts, I say:

Go before me, Lord. I put my trust in You.

Then I step back and wait. The color of hope returns to my heart and in my mind's eye, I get to glimpse heaven.

The best color of my journey here is a glimpse of the unimaginable colors in our journey to come.

The Color of Your Journey Here: Part 1

There are two journeys you will make in your life: one here, one in eternity.

We have a handle on what this one looks like and we set in motion the color of that journey by what endeavor most defines us.

If someone close to you named your trademark endeavor, what would that person say?

Are you known for generosity in every setting of your life?

Are you known for quality work and honest dealings?

Perhaps your trademark endeavor is to serve at a moment's notice and volunteer for those jobs for which no one else seems to have time.

A trademark endeavor is the substance that pours out of your heart. It is the color of your journey in this life because it "colors" everything you do. It is the personality of your effort over time.

So ask of that special someone: What is the personality of my effort over time? What is the substance that pours out of my heart?

With the answer in mind, ponder: are you content with the color of your journey here?

Forever Fabric

Your life is a story.
Its events, emotions and 
people connections create a 
unique and colorful fabric, unlike any other.
A storyboard is a series of pictures that trace the
development of a company, a book, or in this case, your life.

Your faith is a story.
Its events, emotions and
people connections create a
unique and colorful fabric, unlike any other.
A faith storyboard highlights how you are becoming
ever closer to God on a unique journey of intimacy and love.

Keep your storyboard growing.
There is no greater endeavor in this world.
The relationship between you and God is a forever fabric.