A Moment in Time

"Life will always be stressful if you try to rearrange it."   I just read this quote from Joyce Meyer this morning and it hit me how true that is.  I don't know about you but I tend to spend a lot of time playing and replaying things out in my mind versus just staying in the moment and going with the flow.   Even a simple traffic jam will send my mind so many different directions, "should have left earlier", "shouldn't have looked at email before I left", "should have taken that other route", etc., etc.

We only have this very moment once in our lives and to spend it thinking about something that has past is futile and serves no purpose.  We can't rearrange our past; we can only learn from it and move forward.   So many times we can miss something God is trying to share with us by not being fully present in the moment.  It may be a sign to guide us, an answer we've been seeking or just a beautiful sunset to put us at peace.  Yes, I need to remember to embrace each moment for what it has to offer, find peace in that moment and stop trying to rearrange those moments past that are gone forever.

Be very careful, then, how you live —not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. – Ephesians 5:15-17

Peace in Our Day

God's peace is there for us each and every day. It's so easy to get caught up in the rush of life and lose that sense of peace. We often look to external things to provide that sense of peace when in reality we need to be looking inward. Seeking peace from external things will only lead to a peace that is momentary and fleeting. Seeking peace from inward reflection provides a peace that is enduring and everlasting, even in the toughest of circumstances.

Looking inward requires us to stop for a moment, be silent and just "be" - so hard to do in a society that continues to move at an unyielding pace. But that is where our true peace lies and the Spirit within us is eagerly waiting for us to turn inward to shower us with His peace "at all times and in every way".

"Now may the Lord of peace himself give you His peace at all times and in every way" - 2 Thessalonians 3:16

Hope vs. Faith

What is hope? The dictionary defines hope as "the feeling that what is wanted can be had". At first glance, hope and faith appear to almost be synonyms but if you go deeper you see a very clear difference. Hope is based more on a desire where faith is based on a knowing. Both relate to something that is unseen but to have faith is to truly believe in the outcome rather than wish for it. With hope, there is still a seed of doubt but when we have faith, we believe to our core that the desired outcome will prevail. 

We can either live our lives by hope or by faith. If you live by hope, you are not fully committing to your beliefs and desires. When you live by faith, you have that internal "knowing" that allows you to completely commit and believe in the outcome. Hope may provide the path but faith is our compass to travel down that path. Faith allows us to stay strong and anchored in our journey and not succumb to the challenges or trials along the way. I've learned the difference between hope and faith these past few months and yes, I choose faith! 

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see" – Hebrews 11:1

Forget About the When

I'm reading Wayne Dyer's newest book, "Wishes Fulfilled" and he reminded me once again in a very simple statement to stop worrying about the future. He writes, "Let go of all doubt, forget about the when. It will develop into a material fact on Devine time". We spend so much time planning and playing out different scenarios in our mind often times focusing on the negative outcomes versus the positive. We've been so ingrained to think the negative outcome has a stronger chance of becoming our reality that we don't even give much time or consideration to the positive outcome. We get impatient and want to know all the answers right away, many times feeling sure that the negative scenario we've already played out so many times in our mind already will be the outcome and we just want to get it over with. God must surely laugh at us!

It's so important to remember that God wants nothing but the best for us and while we plan and think we can totally control the outcome, God is in charge and will have the right outcome play out according to His plan and in His time. Yes, some trials may come in the process but those trials are there for a reason and as long as we keep our eyes on Him, we'll get through it and the outcome will most definitely be positive. We need to live in the moment and stop worrying about what happens next. God is there taking care of all the details making sure everything works out in His perfect timing. We need to be open to that so we don't miss his cues and learn to focus inward letting His spirit guide us and provide us with a sense of peace that can only come from following His plan.

Don't spend your time weighed down in worry or trying to rush an outcome. Just remember God is there making sure it all works out. As long as we're seeking and trusting in His guidance, the outcome will truly be better than anything we could have ever possibly planned for or imagined.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future". – Jeremiah 29:11

Learning to Surrender to What You Can't See

I'm very slowly learning to truly embrace that God will bring into our life exactly what we need when we need it. He is there to understand and encourage as much as to provide answers. What may seem like chaos at the time has a purpose in a bigger vision we cannot see. It's so hard to fully grasp this but God helped me tremendously the other day by bringing a song into my awareness that so beautifully summed up everything I've been feeling lately. It felt like He literally was speaking to me through this song, reminding me to believe in what I cannot see. I've been so caught up in trying to figure things out my way in my own timing that I've missed His reassurance that it will all come together in His way and in His perfect timing. As I listened to the words in this song, I realized exactly what I was doing and knew it was time to as the song says, "surrender to what I can't see". Since then, that message has been reinforced for me in numerous ways reminding me that He truly is there for us when we open our hearts to His presence.

We can imagine a bigger vision but look for solid proof that our vision is real and worth trusting in because it seems so impossible in our realm of understanding and we cannot conceive on our own how it can come into reality. There is a sense of chaos as if God is stirring the pot yet there is also an intuitive knowing that a bigger plan is at work and an inner sense of peace that surrounds that. God is teaching me to not question the chaos but to rest in His peace, trust in His plan and surrender to what I cannot see. When we surrender to God's way, we know we are surrendering to something heavenly that is far beyond any limitation we could ever place on it. Through God, ALL things are possible!
  
"For the vision is yet for the appointed time; It hastens toward the goal and it will not fail. Though it tarries, wait for it; For it will certainly come, it will not delay. - Habbakuk 2:3

 

The Beauty of Space

I love this time of year – my favorite! Everything is in bloom and all the colors are just so wonderful and energizing. My container pots and planters are filled with pansies and absolutely bursting with gorgeous color right now which definitely hasn't been the case in prior years. Each year, I make the trek to the nursery, buy the tiny pansies and then come home and overfill the containers because I want instant color. I'm not patient enough to plant the recommended distance apart and sure enough, they usually die very early on in the season because they just have no more room to grow. This year I decided to take a different approach and plant them spaced apart. They looked so lost in the beginning, these tiny single pansies overwhelmed by the size of each container and I truly did have to fight the urge to add more in! But this morning as I looked out to admire their color, I realized just how incredibly beautiful they are this year! Each container is overflowing with big colorful blooms and looks so healthy. By giving them their much needed space to grow, their true potential and beauty came through. It dawned on me that there is probably a life lesson here.

How many times are we impatient and want immediate results? We don't allow the space or trust for God to work His magic. Instead, we press for the results and often get frustrated or feel like we've somehow missed the mark along the way. Often times, the answers lie in that quiet space but if we're too busy pressing for an immediate answer, we push out and miss what otherwise could have been. I think I now get it. Beautiful things will happen when we're willing to be patient and give into the space that must exist for God's greatest works to be done.

"But if we look forward to something we don't have yet, we must wait patiently and confidently" – Romans 8:25

 

 

Wait for the Lord

Do you ever have that unsettled feeling that God is up to something in your life but you're not exactly sure what? I've had a restless feeling for months now and can't quite put my finger on it. I sense the answers are coming and I just need to be patient – the hardest part of any journey!

Sometimes I feel like the answer is right in front of me but I have a blind spot around it. Other times I feel like the answers haven't been fully revealed and I'm pushing too hard to find them. There is old proverb I love, "Don't be pushed by your problems, be led by your dreams." How true! When feeling unsettled, it's time to trust the process and let your dreams lead you forward. It will make the "wait" less difficult and help you focus on the goodness and abundance that awaits you regardless of your current situation. Yes, I need to spend more time focusing on my dreams while I "wait for the Lord".

"Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord" – Psalm 27:14

PS-

After I posted this, I found the following when I went to Facebook:

Sometimes you are delayed where you are because God knows there's a storm where you're headed.

Amazing how God works when you finally agree to let go :)

Indecision is not from God

I found this scripture the other day and it spoke to me in a very powerful way. “Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes’ and your ‘No’, ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one”. –Matthew 5:37

When we are faced with indecision, it’s time to get quiet and listen for God’s guidance. He will provide the insight and direction for us to go. It sometimes may only be gut feeling while other times we may see a clear and direct path. Often times we are searching for signs or that lightening bolt from sky but more times than not, it’s a still quite voice inside that leads us to the answer.

He tasks us to follow through by faith, moving forward with our decision and not looking back. Results come only when we take clear and decisive action. Indecision is not a peaceful place to be and God knows that. This scripture reminds us that when we stay in that place of indecision that is when we typically get into the most trouble and ultimately stall out. He wants so much for us and has such great plans for us. We need to take the first step and prayerfully seek Him in our indecision and be fully committed to whatever answer we feel led by – He will surely provide once we do.

God Is In Charge

Last night I was reminded once again that God absolutely is in charge. You know the saying, "Man plans and God laughs"? That definitely applied to me yesterday. I had committed to a business trip last minute that would take me out of town Tuesday night through Thursday afternoon of this week. For some reason, I didn't have a good feeling about it but I chose to ignore that feeling and kept forging ahead. God reached in along the way as I planned, trying to give me indications the timing was not right. Every time I tried to make the airline reservation, the computer would time out. Then when I finally got through to the site in a back door way, the airfare had increased. Not a lot, but enough to make me think. I decided to still move forward.

God reached in again to cause me to question my plans. My daughter became ill Monday and by late Tuesday afternoon, it was unclear she was going to school today. To complicate matters, both my husband and I were traveling so where I thought I covered the bases and had each of my girls staying with friends, it now appeared one of us would have to cancel our trip to stay home with Jenny. We talked and my husband graciously offered to change his plans if need be but again that gnawing feeling came through which I chose to ignore.

Well, God decided that if wasn't going to respond to his subtle nudging, He'd have to take more drastic measures. When I got to the airport last night, my flight had been delayed which meant I wouldn't make my connecting flight. They tried to get me on an earlier flight but their computer kept timing out. Once they got through that, the attendant needed an override which we had to wait a few minutes for. When the supervisor came over to enter the override, he said we're now too late to book that flight, we had just missed it by a "few" minutes! I now was beginning to sense I really was not supposed to go on this trip. The final answer came when my only option was to fly out in the morning but that would cause me to miss half of the meeting. Yes God, I heard you. For whatever reason, I am not supposed to go on this trip.

While I was disappointed I wouldn't make the meeting, I did feel comforted in knowing that God is there providing us signs all the time on what direction we should take. It's our decision whether or not to follow those signs. What was even more comforting was the reassurance that God will step in and make sure we're on the right path. He truly is there to protect us when we open our heart to Him.

A man's heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps - Proverbs 16:9

God is in Our Silence

I was just reading something this morning that reminded me that God exists in our silence. All that has ever been created first emerged from silence. It is in the silence that life can takes form just like the notes in a symphony. Without the silence between the notes, we'd experience chaos and noise. It is in the silence that life and meaning are given to those notes.

The same holds true for our lives. We must embrace silence to fully experience the symphony God has created for us. If we are constantly pressing forward allowing no time for silence, we lose the music. It's no wonder we wonder aimlessly about searching for our purpose and sense an emptiness yearning to be filled. God reveals His unique purpose for us in our silence for that is where He resides and creates. We just need to allow ourselves to be still and silent to personally experience the incredible symphony He has created for us.

Be still and know that I am God – Psalm 46:10

Why Me?

How many times have you uttered those words? Lately, I feel like I've been uttering them too much. When faced with struggles, it's easy to succumb to that mindset. You start wondering why this is happening, it is just happening to me, etc. and that starts to the cycle of dwelling on the problem rather then searching for a solution.

I just read something this morning from Rick Warren of the famed "The Purpose Driven Life" and he challenges us to not ask "Why me?" but instead to ask "What do I do with this, God?" Very powerful because in asking that question, you are automatically reaching within and focusing your thoughts on finding a solution.

God does not let things enter into our lives accidentally. While we may feel like the suffering at times is unbearable, there is a reason for our journey and that suffering is part of the journey to teach us and make us even stronger and more Christ like in the end. The next time you're feeling overwhelmed with a situation, stop and take the time to ask God what you need to do or learn from that situation. Have faith that God will indeed show you the way.

"We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed." (2 Corinthians 4:8–9)

The Power of a Smile

I never realized how powerful a smile could be until a random encounter last week. I took my daughter Jordan for a doctor’s appointment at Georgetown Hospital. The trip to Georgetown was not easy with stop and go traffic all the way in and stress levels rising as we watched our appointment time tick away while stranded in traffic.

Fortunately, the office was flexible and willing to still see us once we got there. We were quickly sent down to have x-rays taken. As we sat in a small room waiting to be called, I still felt so stressed from the ride in and then started thinking about all I had to do that day which only increased the stress level. I sat staring straight-ahead when this teenage boy, I’d guess to be about 14 years old, was wheeled around the corner. We instantly made eye contact and he immediately smiled at me. I smiled back but that moment will forever remain with me. This teen’s face was horribly disfigured. It wasn’t clear if he was badly burned or in a horrific accident but the injuries sustained were obviously very severe.

In light of that, he still managed to hold his head high and simply smile. He wasn’t going to let whatever had happened to him hold him back. So powerful!, This young teen found the strength and courage to move beyond his injuries and chose to be a light to the world.

How many of us choose to hide behind our problems rather than be that beacon of light to world? It’s amazing the power a simple smile can give. It reminds us that this world really is about kindness and love. We may spend our days stressing about everything else but when the day is done, none of that really matters. I feel so blessed by that encounter and he probably has no idea how important that smile was. I’m thankful he felt empowered to shine his inner light to world. Yes, a smile can change a life; he certainly changed mine!

Embracing Each Moment

We are told the greatest gifts of life come when we can learn to live in the moment but doing so, especially in today's world, seems almost impossible. We have so many things pulling for our time and attention that it is so hard to shut it off and only focus on what's right in front of us, right now.

I was reading something earlier last week when I suddenly felt an acknowledgement from within that true happiness comes when we learn to live in the moment and embrace everything about that moment. It's funny, I wasn't even reading anything about "living in the moment"; it was as if someone randomly whispered it in my ear. I suddenly understood why we should not worry about the past or future, they honesty mean nothing. The only thing we really truly have is the moment we are presently in and there is always goodness in some form within that moment. If nothing else, that moment is bringing us another breath to experience life.

We are closest to God when we live in the moment. God does not bring fear, doubt or anxiety – those are emotions we bring on to ourselves when we live outside of the moment. They are byproducts of our thinking about the past or the future and distract us from fully experiencing all the goodness of that moment. We can absolutely experience the fullness of God when we learn to live in and embrace the moments of our day and in turn, acknowledge His divine presence in our lives.

Be Ready For The Blessings

I was flipping through the channels the other night when I stumbled upon a new show hosted by Oprah on her OWN network. I can’t recall the name of the show but in true Oprah style, she said something within minutes of my tuning in that reached deep within.

“You have to be ready for the blessing when it shows up”. I felt her words reach deep to my core but wasn’t exactly sure what they meant. As I thought about it, I realized exactly what she meant and how timely it was for me to hear these very words. We’re often so busy planning ahead and looking towards our future that we don’t even recognize the blessings that are right in front of us each and every day. We keep moving forward failing to acknowledge the now and the blessings of the moment. The blessings continue to show up but we’re not ready or more likely, we’re not living in the moment to fully appreciate those blessings. We don’t expect the blessings so we don’t prepare for them.

The Bible has shown us that God has a multitude of blessings in store for us but we need to be fully aware and ready for them to show up. This doesn’t mean standing still and waiting for them to fall into our lap but rather being aware and thanking God for all those little blessings he sends our way each and every day!

“And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” - 2 Corinthians 9:8

It Takes Discipline of the Mind

I'm reading "Working with the Law" by Raymond Holliwell for the third time now. I absolutely love this book-every time I pick it up, I find new insights!

My latest "aha moment" is around discipline. Holliwell writes of this one woman, "She lacked discipline in her mind except where others demanded it." The moment I read that sentence it really clarified something I've been allowing in my life. I am disciplined in meeting everyone else's needs but when it comes to being accountable to my own tasks and needs, I fall short. My tendency is to give attention to whoever or whatever enters my mind at the moment versus taking planned disciplined steps towards completing something. No wonder I have so many personal projects half way done. Had these projects been for a client, they would have been done!

That little distinction between allowing myself to be disciplined to respond to others needs and not when it comes to my own is tremendous. It's exactly the nudge I needed to bring clarity around why I always feel busy but not getting anything done. I need to give as much attention and relevance to my own tasks and projects as I do for others. I can then take planned action and start getting these things done. I need to make room for my life and start treating myself like a client. Sure enough, once again the answer lies in changing your mindset!

Remembering…

As I sat remembering and watching the events of September 11th, it brought to mind a trip we took into New York City that following Thanksgiving. We were moving from CT to Virginia in the coming spring and it had been a wish of mine since a very young age to see The Macy's Thanksgiving Parade. I had grown up on Long Island and the events of 9/11 seemed so unreal, like a Hollywood movie playing out before our eyes. I knew it had really happened on one level but felt pulled to visit Ground Zero almost to seal it in my mind, "Yes, it's true". I just could not picture lower Manhattan without the sight of the Twin Towers in the skyline.

As much as 9/11 will stay in our minds forever, that day visiting Ground Zero will stay in my mind forever as well. I remember walking up to the site and shaking my head as I fully comprehended all the pictures on TV were indeed reality. What once were two gleaming beacons of NYC were now reduced to a smoldering pile of twisted steel. What once had been a bustling financial district in NYC was now a ghost town. The surrounding streets resembled what I would imagine a war zone would look like. We watched as workers and cranes carefully sifted through the pile. I found myself drawn to the only recognizable piece of the Twin Towers that stood in the midst of this pile and said a prayer, fully knowing a large number of those who perished on 9/11 were still under that pile.

Perhaps the most significant memory for me was all the signs posted around Ground Zero looking for loved ones lost on that tragic day. So many of these signs appeared to be fresh, showing their enduring hope that there still may be survivors. It broke my heart to read the detailed descriptions of their missing loved ones. It made the magnitude of the loss of life that much more real. I saw one person posting a new sign and just watched and cried imagining the intense pain they've had to endure. While we would go back to a Thanksgiving meal with our family by our side, this day would only intensify their grief and loss.

Amidst that scene one word kept coming to mind, "hope". The signs looking for missing loved ones represented hope, the workers carefully sifting through that huge pile of twisted and mangled metal represented hope. We had lost so much on 9/11 but the one thing that still remained was hope. As we walked away, I knew my life would be forever changed by not only what I witnessed on TV on 9/11 but more so what I saw firsthand at Ground Zero that Thanksgiving Day.

As I sat yesterday thinking how can I pay tribute to those who so innocently gave their lives on 9/11, I came up with the idea of setting a burning candle on my front porch that night to honor their lives and symbolize the power of light to always overcome darkness. I will do this now each September 11th, because we haven't forgotten and yes, we still have hope! I hope you will join me in remembering them next year.

Learning to Serve

This morning I read a passage about asking how you can serve each and every day. It really resonated with me and as I journaled, I asked God to show me how I can serve in a powerful way today. Little did I realize God was about to teach me a lesson in learning to serve.

The morning continued like any other morning and I took our dog Toby for a walk. As we turned a corner I noticed a dog in the yard ahead who appeared to not be on a leash. I slowed down but the dog saw us and came running over. It was the sweetest little Shih Tzu, full of love and energy with his tail wagging a mile a minute. I talked briefly with a homeowner who shared that this dog had been hanging around their home for the past couple of days but it was not their dog or any of the surrounding neighbors. The dog followed us home and before I knew it, I was taking care of this little dog on our back patio. I felt the stress start to build as I watched the hours pass away caring for this dog, realizing yet another day's work was interrupted, the earthquake yesterday and now a stray dog. No sooner did I finish that thought when I heard a voice whisper, "You asked how you could serve in a powerful way, here it is".

I didn't recognize then how taking care of a stray dog would equate to serving in a powerful way but later in the afternoon when we were able to reunite the dog with its owner, I realized God was showing me exactly what that meant. That reunion was so heartwarming and as I watched I heard that same voice whisper, "The littlest acts of kindness can serve in the most powerful way."

God had taught me a very powerful lesson today! I felt the pull of work but made a conscious decision to focus on that dog and ignore my work, realizing where I was truly needed most at that moment. Oddly enough, I received very few emails today and no phone calls, unheard of! It was as if I agreed to answer God's call and He cleared my calendar so I could serve where I was needed most. Such a tremendous lesson! I now understand what is meant by serving in a powerful way. It's not our own measurement of what is significant that matters, it's being open to God's call to serve and then more importantly answering that call and following God's lead. If we commit to being open to serve, He will pave the way.

A Reminder from Toby

Our dog Toby reminded me this week to slow down and begin each day with a spirit of love and thanksgiving. Toby is our one-year old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel who is full of endless energy and always ready to play, with a toy in his mouth and tail wagging hard. He has these eyes that truly melt your heart as well - one look and you're done! His eyes convey nothing but pure love and devotion.

Toby has started this routine every morning now that requires me to stop and "show him some love" before we start our day. I'll open up his crate and call him for a walk but he will not come downstairs until we've said a "proper" good morning filled with lots of hugs, licks and "I love you's". I think he sensed I was moving too quick and not taking time for the things that really matter.

I've found the lessons of life often come to us disguised in our everyday activities and they remain hidden unless we're open to what truly is around us. Toby reminded me to take the time to greet each day with gratitude and love. It's so easy to just jump out of bed and begin full steam ahead into our daily routine. But that is not what God asks of us. I found this quote from Mother Teresa that sums it up so well, "There is more hunger for love and appreciation in this world than for bread." We need to take a few moments each morning to express our gratitude and love for all the blessings in our life and let those whom we care about know how much we appreciate them. When we do, our days begin on much more positive and peaceful note.

"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." – Matthew 6:33

Look to the Things Unseen

It is amazing how you can hear or read something again and again and then one day, suddenly connect with its true meaning. I've heard countless times, "Look to the things that are unseen, not to the things that are seen" (2 Corinthians 3:18) and I understood it at one level but reading this scripture this morning, I suddenly felt a much deeper understanding of what this verse is really trying to teach us.

We so often spend our days focused on what is around us, what is "seen" as the scripture says and base everything we do on that. We are logical creatures and we look for validation and answers employing logic. Logic is based on the seen, the facts. But often the next step we need to take resides in the "unseen". We need to step out of our logical mindset and move into a mindset of faith and trust. What is the definition of faith? Hebrews 11:1 says, "Faith is the assurance of things we hope for being the proof of things we do not see".

God is there to guide us every step of the way but His way commands we have faith in the unseen. If we feel the spirit within us move when we think about something, that is God's way of guiding us. We need to tune into that. I can't tell you how many times I've felt an inner assurance about something but didn't see the "how" or the "way" to make it happen. I took the chance anyway and stepped forward believing it would happen and it did!

When we "look to the things that are unseen, not to the things that are seen" the journey becomes more exciting and the pieces somehow always come together. Be willing to take the chance and let God's unique purpose for you unfold.

The Tranquility Within

The tranquility of God is mirrored in us. It's so easy in the hectic pace of life today to forget that the peace of God is with us and ever present. We get caught up in the externals and move away from that inner peace because we forget to acknowledge His spirit within us.

Wayne Dyer has said EGO stands for edging God out. When we allow ego to control our thoughts and actions, we edge God out and move away from the peace and tranquility God has given us. Those who are living a life truly in Spirit outside of ego resonate that peace within. You feel a certain calmness and joy in their presence. That is the Holy Spirit working through them and that gift of true peace is available to us all. We just need to make the space to nurture and connect with God's presence within us each and every day.

"Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil—this is a gift of God. They seldom reflect on the days of their life, because God keeps them occupied with gladness of heart." - Ecclesiastes 5:19-20