Archive by Author

Emotional Currency

3 Nov

I just attended a fantastic event for the Women’s Foundation of Colorado. The guest speaker was 9-time Wimbledon Champion – Martina Navratilova. Her story is inspirational and challenging, but she said one thing that really stuck with me: FOCUS is emotional currency; you must make sure to spend it wisely.

Even as I type, I am realizing that, like real currency, I only have a limited amount of Focus and I must choose what I spend it on. Does what I am focusing on reflect my values? Does it reflect who I am?

I’m forced to think about the obnoxious amount of time I’ve spent focusing on things that don’t reflect my values and have no lasting impact.

Thanks Martina!

What have you been focusing on?

Waiting for What?

5 Oct

I’ve always been the “young one”. Started kindergarten at 4, always the youngest in my class, graduated at 16, professional career started at 17, married by 18 – and the whole time I was longing and waiting to be older. I imagined if I was older I could magically have success and respect.

Now, at 27, I see 20 year olds with their successful fashion blogs, albums, and creative ideas and I think – what was I waiting for?!?!?

There is a person the same as as me who is a Senior Vice President at our company. It makes me excited to think that I don’t have to wait for anything. It’s time to pursue my dreams right now. It’s time to pursue YOUR dreams right now. It’s not too late and it’s not too early.

So, what are you waiting for?

From Here to There

19 Sep

I’m feeling stuck in neutral lately – my job, my home life, my relationship with God, my attitude…

I keep longing for “there” when I’m stuck “here”. Stuck is really an unfair word to use. I’ve put myself here. I have done certain things to maintain this stagnant pursuit of “what could be”.

Now is the time I ask myself, “what lie have I exchanged for the truth?” And it always come down to believing that there’s something outside of myself that I need. Security, money, approval, promotion, control.

Jesus is enough. He is enough for me now. He is enough for me “there”. He is enough for me “here”. He has already accomplished and given me one thing that I truly need. I should be able to live in the joy that revelation brings. I should be able to lay down those things that so easily ensnare me.

Don’t Forget to Remember

20 Apr

I spent some time reading through old blog posts from 2008 – when my blog was really on fire. I found some incredible inspiration in these blog posts which were seemingly lost in the interwebs.

As I recount my life and the revelations God showed me during that time, I am encouraged and inspired. I am surprised that I was so witty and my writing was so good. Not to toot my own horn, but because I’ve been feeling lousy about my writing skills and my ability to communicate. It’s so refreshing to read these old posts and believe in myself again.

thanks me. your welcome you.

The Danger of Networking

14 Apr

The word “networking” has become a dangerous cover up for me. The idea of networking isn’t dangerous by itself. In fact, many people have benefited from connecting with others. However, networking has ignited a desire to use people for what they can give me and what they can do for me. I hide behind the term in order to create superficial relationships with people so I can promote selfish motives. My initial thoughts when meeting someone has turned to, “What can they do for me?” I find myself only connecting with those who can further my agenda.

Instead of thinking how I can have a genuine relationship with people, my thoughts are filled with self promoting fantasies. I desire to see my name in lights.

I pray I see people as souls, not objects. I pray for deep relationships, not superficial acquaintances. I pray for a heart that genuinely loves people, not notoriety.

What do you pray for?

Art and Soul

11 Apr

In our pursuits for Christ and deep study of theology, we run the risk of becoming serious, legalistic, religious, conservative, dry and judgmental.

One very potent guard against this risk is basking in the beauty of art – music, poetry, animation, and everything made to express an emotion or idea. Don’t forget how to FEEL while searching for Christ. Don’t forget to desire, dream, love, sing, dance, spin, scream and cry. It’s a good thing to be moved and inspired.

Thank you Arcade Fire and Pixar for reminding me of this.

What inspires you?

Battling “Enough”

22 Mar

As we continue our “Lenten” journey, we are reading more scripture than ever, praying more diligently together, and spending more family time together. All of these things are exciting and refreshing, but I battle with fatigue of even the best of things. I have always had a difficult time “being a strong finisher” and this journey is no exception.

Sometimes when we are reading our latest devotional, I tune out and think – “Haven’t I had enough of this today? Haven’t I been diligent enough today? Haven’t I been practicing discipline enough today?” The answer is a resounding NO. I imagine the disciples had the same thoughts at the Garden of Gethsemane – just as Jesus was rebuking them for being fatigued. Wait…pray…stay alert. Yes, these are the things I must be doing.

Isaiah 40:31 Those who wait upon the Lord will renew their strength. They will rise up on wings of eagles. They will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint.

I have been doing a lot of praying, reading, and praising – BUT, I have NOT done a lot of waiting. Now…it’s time to WAIT. What are you waiting for?

Lent and a Raid

15 Mar

Last year, my husband asked if I would join him in sacrificing and dedicating ourselves to prayer and devotion during Lent. Being raised in a Pentecostal home, I had never observed Lent, but here my husband was asking me to join him in a new adventure. I, of course, said YES!

Little did we know that those 40 days would become an open door for God to start to change our lives in a way that we had never experienced. We gave up certain foods which wasn’t hard, but the daily devotion and prayer with our family was actually a struggle. We were surprised that we weren’t “better” at doing this.

This past year, God has launched an all out RAID in our lives. I use the word raid because nothing else can describe it. Everything has changed – and I mean everything. From the way we communicate, to the way we pray, to the way we hurt for the lost. Even the way we desire each other and desire the Lord has changed (all for the good I might add). All areas in our life are more passionate and filled with revelation. We recognize that this didn’t happen overnight, but God was whispering to us to draw near to him.

This year, we are observing Lent again and it has taken on a new meaning in the light of the amazing year we have had with the Lord. We have given up TV (which is a gigantic sacrifice for us) and we can already see our hearts changing in less than a week.

God is drawing all men unto himself. Are you prepared to resist him or pursue him? It’s really one or the other.

More Than My Baby

15 Sep

As Mark and I raise June Jett – our single most pride and joy in this world – we are quickly discovering new areas of growth in our lives and in our marriage. We recently learned a very hard lesson which seems almost cruel and hard to articulate:

We must put our marriage before our daughter.

Even now, it sounds odd and out of whack. It’s actually a very hard thing to do for us because June is such a light and joy in our lives. The love we feel for her is unconditional and goes beyond all human reason or desire. However, as hard as it seems, we must do this for the sake of our family being healthy, whole and balanced.

We always thought of “God first, family second, ministry third”. We never thought, “God first, spouse second, children third, ministry fourth.”

Mark and I have to remember that we are one flesh – our children will have to be released from us someday into their own marriages and families.

Twitter trouble

14 Sep

I’ve started and restarted the same blog post about 10 times today. Only to get one line down on the page. I’ve been twitterfied! I have spent the last year neglecting my blog and only twittering.

What once was a thoughtful narrative is now only a short sentence. I keep trying to find creative ways to express my emotions, thoughts, love, believes in 140 characters or less.

Not sure if this is a good thing…

Everyday Wonderful for Everyone!

13 Sep

Last week, I had a huge surge of folks read my blog due to Carlos Whittaker’s post. His question got me thinking about the joy that Mark and I experience in our marriage and our parenthood. I truly feel that “Everyday Wonderful” is not just a crap shoot. This concept of Everyday Wonderful can be attained by anyone. An old Roswell friend of mine married a truly exceptional woman who just had this revelation in her own life. Please ready this post – it articulates Everyday Wonderful in her own words. Read on!

http://www.morgandaycecil.com/a-radical-thing-and-a-fork-in-the-road/

A Change Is Gonna Come

10 Sep

You’ll never do anything…until you just do it.

My desire is to live with the passion and desire to see this world change. How ever will it change until I change?

It’s not enough to be a dreamer, a thinker, a writer, or a visionary. I’m doing something different today. Even if it’s just one thing today.

Impacting People

7 Sep

My life was impacted this week from the most unsuspecting source – a touring musician, riding his bike across the country to meet people and to spend time in the communities that he’s playing in. He set aside a considerable amount of time to hang out with Mark, June Jett and I during this busy schedule of riding and playing. The fact that he plays some of the most amazing music I’ve ever heard is secondary to the friendship we created this week.

I spend so much time preparing for church to impact others…

I spend so much time organizing events to impact others…

I spend so much time worrying that I’m not impacting others…

Maybe, I just need to spend more time with people…

Seeking the Uncomfortable

2 Sep

In the past 2 months, Mark and I have been flooded with ministry opportunities. Ministry in the way of actually impacting people’s lives.

Here’s the thing about impacting people’s lives though – in EVERY single instance, we had to be willing to be put in the most uncomfortable situations.

Having addicts in our home, standing around a hospital bed, one-on-one prayer counseling, hanging out with the homeless, and visiting the county jail are not typically high priority on our to-do lists. However, we have seen the most radical transformations, healings and victories in each situation.

Maybe it’s time we seek the uncomfortable…

The End of It All

8 Jul

I thought having a baby would…

  • end my career
  • ruin my marriage
  • be full of tedious work
  • end of many friendships
  • end my social life
  • make me boring

Instead, having a baby has…

  • given me a new passion for my work
  • increased the joy in my marriage
  • shown me that tedious work for your own baby is actually fun
  • started and bloomed many new friendships
  • started a whole new social world
  • made me more alive with energy with new perspectives

We hear so many negative reasons why people don’t want to have kids. I’m here to tell you that if you have a good foundation and joy in your life, a baby will enhance everything you already have.  Now…get to baby making!

← Older Entries

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.