Listening for the New Year

New Year's Eve... with many thoughts swirling through my mind, I sip another cup of coffee and reflect.

My dad at his favorite watering hole; Dunny's in Nooksack.
He met many a friend there for coffee several times a week!

Nine years ago this morning Dad passed away. I wonder how many cups of coffee he's enjoyed with Jesus since then? (I'm sure I acquired my love of coffee from my dad. After all, he started me on it about the time I was weaned!)

 I don't spend a lot of time wondering what heaven is like but when I do, I'd like to think we'll still drink coffee. Can you imagine sitting across the table from Jesus, and chatting over a steaming latte? Perhaps some biscotti to go with it. (Calories and gluten intolerance wont exist in heaven, of this I am certain!)

I do love a coffee date with a friend and many a great conversation takes place while we sip. What do you suppose one would talk about with Jesus? Oh, the possibilities are endless.

Speaking of talking, Jesus has been. Talking I mean. To me. I've been choosing a word now for the past several years, a word that would be my focus for the year. Love, Grace, Relationships, have been some of the words I've committed to. So, of course as this month started to close in I began thinking of a word for 2016. There were a couple of words that immediately came to mind. I even had a word for my sweetie (of course he was ever so grateful for me sharing that with him! HA!!) After I have a few words, I then bring those words before the Lord and ask Him to direct me.

He did. He brought me the word "listen". 

What? That wasn't on my list. I shook my head when I heard it. "Listen? Really Lord? That's what you want me to focus on in my new year?"

Well, now look. I like to talk. I mean, coffee dates, hello!
I'm often guilty of interrupting, in my enthusiasm for sharing my opinion or ideas. And I admit, when I'm tired or my internal battery has been depleted, zoning out is much more likely to happen than giving rapt attention to whomever is talking.  As a creative introvert, I am constantly processing internally all that is going on around me. Sometimes this results in getting lost inside my head and I begin to tune out the noise around me. Even when the 'noise' is the voice of a loved one.

But the Lord keeps reminding me that he gave us only ONE mouth and TWO ears so there must be a reason... which is to listen twice as much as we speak. He also convicted me in that its not just my earthly companions I need to listen better for. I need to be listening more for HIS voice....

This is what I read in my daily devotional a few days ago. "Are you interested in praying a prayer that could revolutionize your life? Try this: Begin each day by asking God a series of questions. "Lord how can I love you today? What acts of worship can I do? What words can I utter that will honor and bless you? What act of service can I do to represent your love? How would your scripture inspire me to pray today?" *

Whoa. That's some serious questioning and it will require intentional listening to discern the answers. It almost feels like too much to ask for. Because revolutionizing ones life sounds a little intimidating! Scary! Risky!! But, conviction gripped me and I knew this was meant for me to undertake at this point in my spiritual journey.

A day after this reading I learned from my boss that they were keeping me on after the holidays! I am delighted as this job has turned out to be a blessing in many ways. And when you are in the retail/customer service arena listening is very important. It's not about me, it's about serving others.

Then, just after I informed my husband I was pretty sure this was the word God has given me for 2016, I went on my phone to play a word search game and the very first word that I found was.... "LISTEN". Say what? Oh, God has such a sense of humor and I just chuckled... and the word was cemented in my heart.

*At His Feet; the one year devotional by Chris Tiegreen, Tyndale House Publishers Inc.

On Setting Goals, Being Smart and Choosing My Word

I had my word for 2015 all picked out a couple of weeks ago. I even shared my word last night with my husband as we waited for the clock to strike. The word was "Joy" and it's a beautiful, lovely, meaningful word but this morning on my walk, as frosted grass crunched under my feet, the Lord spoke a different word to me.

It's not a new concept, anymore than Joy is. I looked over my words from the last few years; relationships, gratitude, love.... are on the list. As I reflected on the new word I realized that I have a pretty good grasp on joy these days but grace is a more slippery fellow. The more I chewed on it the more it became clear to me: I need grace and I need to extend grace. The more I read Facebook, newscasts and blog posts and the more time I spend in traffic, grocery stores and relationships, the more clearly I see how desperately our world needs more grace. And I was convicted that it starts with me. I need to extend grace to those who offend me, extend grace to those who are hurting, to even extend grace to myself! I need God's grace every day or I'd be in such a deep deep hole I'd never see light again. And if I need grace so desperately I can only imagine how much others need it.

While a new year usually brings up the subject of setting resolutions, the latest trend is to set some goals instead. I like that. I recently came across this nifty little acronym about setting SMART Goals. It goes like this:

(sometimes I see Action & Reasonable in place of attainable and relevant )

I remember back when I had my fitness center, when a new member joined, we'd set goals with her. Often the woman would say she wanted to lose X amount of weight. We'd ask "why?" so we could keep the reason for doing so in the forefront of her mind. Just as often the answer was: I want to be healthy. Which is great but I always pressed further: what exactly does that mean to you? What does healthy look like for you?

One of my favorite answers was from a gal who truly struggled with obesity. She thought long and hard and finally in a whisper and with tears in her eyes, replied that she was a brand new grandma and she wanted to be able to get down on the floor to play with her grandbaby. In her current condition there was no way she could get down on the floor, not to mention, get back up. She was able to keep that picture in her mind's eye about kneeling on the floor with her grandson and playing games and it kept her motivated to stay with the program and lose the weight. (The day she brought in a picture of her laying on the floor next to her 2 year old grandson playing with his train set was a red letter day for both of us!)

Ah, yes, good memories.

Smart goals and a word to live by. That's my focus this first day of 2015. 

What's yours? 

Nothing Tastes As Good As...

skinny feels. 

Making those New Year's Resolutions is easy. It's the sticking to it that provides the challenge.


I, like so many others I know, kind of gave up the making of resolutions each January in favor of choosing a word to live by for the year. The word I chose for 2014 is Relationships. It feels good to have one thing to focus on. One thing to be intentional about. One purpose to pursue. In the past, words like, Love, Health, Forgiveness, and Grace, have made my list. But this year it's relationships; this word choice came to me at the recent family reunion we celebrated.

Not two weeks into the new year and I see my word bearing fruit. An estranged relationship that has long brought me considerable heartache, and kept me in prayer, has had a wee break through. It requires much patience and restraint on my part as we baby step through a minefield of old wounds. But each step, be it tiny or not, is a move toward what I pray will one day bring understanding, forgiveness, and eventually, healing.

Not two weeks into the new year and I see my word bearing fruit. Our small group-- LIFE group-- restarted this past week. We've added some new faces to the circle and decided on a new course of action for study and growth. We'll be reading the book of John and reviewing sermon notes (which directly correlates to the the gospel of John) for the next several weeks. Our first night however was spent just getting to know each other a little more. We took turns pulling questions out of a can, and sharing our answers. Each question was intended to spark conversation and learn something about one another. It was fun and informative. We learned that if given a time machine to travel anywhere into the past, I would choose to step into the pages of my favorite novel, Gone With The Wind, right about the time Scarlett O' Hara meets Rhett Butler for the very first time. (My sweet husband informed me that the place I'd chosen to travel was fictional -- like that made it a wrong answer, but I pointed out that time travel machines are fictional too, so there! --- yes, we are modeling good mature behavior to our life group members)

Not two weeks into the new year and I see my word bearing fruit. My ladies group also resumed this week. It's smaller than it was before but also has added a new face. We are going to be using the book Captivating, by John and Staci Eldridge. Just the other day I delved into the study guide that goes with the book and came to a screeching halt before I'd gotten half way down the page. We're going to be dealing with some emotional stuff in the next several weeks. Gulp. I thought that baggage got shipped to Siberia or Timbuktoo many many years ago but judging from the niggle in my gut, it would seem there are some areas that need a little tune up....

Not two weeks into the new year and I see some changes happening. My attitude about some relationships in my life that seem out of balance, some relationships that annoy me to no end, some relationships that I may just have to let go of, some relationships that are proving unhealthy... all cause for prayer. Choices to make, follow through needed, accountability, and always, always, more grace needed.

Not two weeks into the new year and physically speaking I pause for a celebration. I have successfully maintained my weight loss through what is known as the toughest time of the year for dieters. I maintained my exercise schedule despite some really nasty weather. To reward myself for all my excellent behavior, I bought new walking shoes and some waterproof jogging pants. I was also rewarded when I went clothes shopping by finding myself trying on a pair of jeans another size down from what I have been wearing. (I am sure the sales gals thought something was wrong in the dressing room when I whooped out loud, but I don't care! My relationship with stretch denim is special.)

I started this post off by saying nothing tastes as good as skinny feels but truthfully, for me it's nothing tastes as good as healthy feels. And, by golly, it feels good. 

and so we reflect

It's the last day of 2013. A time for reflection, examining the past, and then pressing onward, looking to the future with expectations. I came across this popular post on Facebook , perhaps you have seen it? It is credited to the popular author Debbie Macomber and it's an excellent tool for thought provoking conversations with others and ourselves.

What was one of the greatest blessings I experienced this past year?

Three things immediately come to mind and it is hard to pick just ONE but these top 3 need little explanation for making my list. 

1. Mom moving into Summit Place Assisted Living; she is settled in and thriving in her new environment

2. My sister and bro-in-love moving here. 

3. Our oldest grandson coming to visit for a week. 

What was one of the biggest challenges you faced?

Oh, wow. It was Bruce's decision to go on his mission trip to Honduras that challenged me in SO many ways. It tested our relationship, it stretched me in ways I thought would make me snap.  It required great relinquishment on my part and subsequently a deeper spirit of submission to both God and my husband. It also required forgiveness and acceptance, both of which were difficult for me to arrive at. It was not my favorite experience of 2013 by far, but yet it was also a very crucial part. I don't know yet what that sort of testing may someday lead up to, but I sense it is definitely part of a bigger plan God has for the two of us. EEk!!

What lesson did you learn from that challenge?

Not to try and navigate these sorts of things on our own. I think sometimes we forget that God created us to live in community and we neglect to bring in the wise council of strong fellow believers. It is natural and right for a married couple to turn to each other first when facing a challenge but what do you do when the challenge has you on opposite sides? For too many weeks Bruce and I were at such odds over his decision and we thought we could navigate this turbulent trial through continued conversations but those conversations only left me more angry and resentful. Finally we sought the counsel of 2 couples from our church that we respect and trust. It didn't solve the dilemma but it calmed the storm raging inside me. And that was the first major step in bringing me to a place of acceptance.  

How can use that lesson to help you grow as a person?

By realizing how much another believer can help me, I came to understand that if I offer that sort of help to someone else who is struggling, that in turn will grow me in ways that will never happen if I keep it to myself. One of my roles as a leader of a small group is to come along side of another and support or mentor them. I feel a strong affinity for young married women in particular. Not that I am an expert on marriage by any stretch of the imagination but I can offer to listen and to pray. I can turn them to God's word for instructions and encourage them as others have encouraged me. I liken this to my past role as a fitness coach. I learned the work out and then began to teach it to others. It not only was a benefit to my members but it served to reinforce my own learning of the workout. As a result, both the women who came to my club and myself, grew stronger. I look forward to using my own past experiences to fuel both myself and another who is challenged, into a brighter tomorrow. 

You know, 2013 was a pretty good year! There were plenty of other blessings and challenges that I could pull out and examine and I probably will as the week rolls on. Today brings to mind this scripture passage from Hebrews; Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses,  let us also lay aside every weight and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance, the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith...

Good bye 2013.... and let's get ready to embrace with JOY the New Year!!

Hello 2013

I saw this on a friends Facebook page and I thought... why not give it a whirl....

One Word
In giving some thoughts to goals and resolutions for this shiny new year, I decided to pick a word to live by this year. I am choosing 'gratitude'. We are encouraged, even commanded, in scripture to give thanks in all things and I realize that although my faith is strong and I trust God to care for me, to meet my needs and to bring me plans for good and not for harm, I am still not always fully aware and appreciative of all that I have. I don't always have an attitude of gratitude.

In the face of disappointments and challenges, remaining grateful can be trying at times. It will be good for me to find something each and every day to be thankful for. And not just thankful for the good things, but, pardon my Pollyanna, to find a reason to be grateful even in the things that are negative. Yah... I guess I like a challenge.

Today I am grateful for.... heat. It's darn chilly out!! But wow, what a spectacular view when the sunshine hits the frost!!

What I want:
To spend more time with family, especially those who live far away. I want to celebrate my next birthday with my sister (and it doesn't have to be in December) I want to visit my daughter and family again. For Christmas would be AWESOME!!!! I'd like to visit my brother and sister-in-law in Montana... maybe this summer.

What I need:
this is a good question to ask ourselves every once in awhile. Especially if preceded with "really".  What do I REALLY need?
Good health.
to be kinder
to slow down and appreciate the moment... (be grateful in it!)
A few close relationships. God and  Husband tops that list.
food, clothing, shelter.
simple really....

What I will share:
the Light of Jesus Christ. In word, in deed. The HOPE that lives within me.

What I will succeed in this year: 
I hope I will be successful in accomplishing my list! I'd like to memorize more scripture and be more proficient (confident) in having an answer for the hope that lives within me.

What about you? What are your goals, dreams, aspirations and resolutions for 2013? Whatever you pursue, I wish you success.

Good Bye 2012

thinking about 2012..... what we did....  thinking about 2013.... and what we will do....

we loved~ we laughed~ we lived. It was a full year of blessings.

You shall walk in all the way that the Lord your God has commanded you, that you may live, and that it may go well with you, and that you may live long in the land that you shall possess.
Duet. 5.33

May the Lord bless you and keep you, 

may the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you, 

may the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. 

Happy New Year Friends!!