😎🐫🎤 Christ’s peace be with you. Life and relationships are acts and actions of give and receive to keep you in balance. Activity and Rest. Work and Home. Learn and Lead. Public and Private. Mentor and Mentee. Journeying though this very different Lenten season, I’ve been thinking these past couple weeks about relationships. How relationship choices form our lives. And the need for balance of receive and give in order to thrive with Christ at the center of our core. With that thought process playing in my mind, I keep finding myself being drawn to the lives and relationships the disciples lived. Balance…We typically think two weighted items that draw against each other to come to a place of level. But there is also that center point. We have the need to be poured into, to learn and receive. But what good is all that knowledge and wisdom if there is no one to offer it to? You know, those that in turn have you as a source of knowledge and wisdom. On one end we are taking it all in. On the other end, we give it away. And then there are those with equal receive and give, equally yoked relationships. So, if I were one of the 12 disciples it might look like this. I receive from the Lord. I give to those the Lord takes me to, in cities and towns as I journey this road. But then there is that balance. The other disciples that I share so much of my time and journey with, where there is an equal balance of giving and receiving knowledge, wisdom and love. When the Lord pours into us, it is an undefinable gift that many times we overlook. We see these gifts as challenges that we don’t really want to deal with and in the moment could care less that it’s going to make us a better person down the road. Right now, you only feel growing pains, maybe beat down and weary from the journey. You know we could get an Amen from the disciples on that point. Surprisingly as we pour into others, we can walk away with a similar feeling of being beat down and weary thinking and questioning, how long will it take for them to get this and understand. Right now, I’m hearing an Amen from God. Both these ends of the spectrum are needed. And that brings us to the balance. Those other disciples that pour into us and us into them. A real give and receive balance finds you full and still able to pour forth from the overflow without becoming drained and empty inside. Search your heart and identify the sources that fill you. Now, identify the sources that draw from you. Finally, identify those disciples (family and friends) around you that allow your cup to flow without ever running low. All three sources are needed and wanted, but we must always start and allow ourselves to first be poured into and molded by the One True Source. Bless others and be blessed.

#CastingCrowns – In the Hands of the Potter

😎🐫🎤 Christ’s peace be with you.  Walking from the parking lot to my office yesterday morning, I was serenaded by a group of birds.  Ahh, breath in the morning.  The peace and calm of that moment brought a smile to my face.  Shortly before that, as I was driving to work the streets were less crowded.  Less vehicles speeding and darting between the lanes.  Heading home at the end of the work day, knowing that there is nowhere that I need to be, other than home…Ahh.  Have you noticed there are less emergency vehicles and sirens?  Can you feel it?  It’s as if God is saying “Just breath in My peace and I will give you rest.”  Rest…  That’s a hard thing to do when we have our days, weeks, months so packed with activities that we blink and a year has passed.  When we are unwilling to rest on our own, sometimes God will offer us a sabbath.  Jesus did some of His best healing during sabbaths.  And those Pharisees were always there to point it out, as if it wasn’t a good thing He was doing.  I know we’re all in this social distancing thing together for health reasons and maybe it’s just me, but have you noticed that people will swing wide when passing you, as if they need just a little more distance?  Okay, I get it, but something else I’ve noticed is that people won’t look you in the eye or smile when passing by.  I’ve also noticed that people’s attitudes have been kind of down.  I really hope it’s just me and you haven’t been experiencing this too.  Why is this?  It got me to thinking.  First things first, God created us to be in relationship with Him.  Second, He created us to be in relationship with each other.  When we don’t have balance in our relationship with God and each other, we can feel fear, darkness and depressed.  The birds of the sky may not notice a difference in this time of sabbath, but missing human contact will take a toll on us.  At this time, although we are to keep our physical distance, that doesn’t mean we should build a wall and block our spiritual connections.  Smile, greet each other, offer an air high five, or a complement.  Although they are not physical contact, they are still fuel to the spirit to brighten your day.  Hey, we are all in this together.  It’s not just Dayton, or Ohio, or the US.  We are all in this together.  One world.  Let’s lookout for each other and be a light of hope to those who may be struggling in this time of sabbath.  Bless others and be bless.

#TobyMac – One World

😎🐫🎤 Christ’s peace be with you.  This past week has been filled with the humanity of sadness and loss, and the promise of everlasting joy in and with the Lord.  Last Wednesday, March 11, 2020, a friend and member of our Greater Dayton Emmaus community passed away in his sleep.  Chris Wissinger was only 54.  I last saw Chris the Monday before his unexpected passing and he seemed so full of life.  Chris was the Vice Chairman of our Emmaus community and effective April 1, 2020 Chris would have moved to the Chairman of the Board and Community Lay Director position.  The link below is a video that features Chris and was going to be shared on the Greater Dayton Emmaus website upon his transition to his new role.  I would encourage you to watch the video and take it to heart.  So many of us that have experienced the Walk to Emmaus weekend experience have had very different, but at the same time similar experiences, transformations, and desires to grow and share our relationship with Christ.  Chris’ passing was unexpected and didn’t offer a known opportunity to saver those last moments.  On the other hand, me, my husband and multiple members of our family spent last Wednesday through Monday sharing some precious moments with Shirley and each other as we day by day watched her transition through the end stages of life.  We laughed.  We cried.  We sat in silence…Except for The Food Network that was on 24/7.  For someone that had no desire to eat, she sure liked watching those food shows.  Even when she was no longer able to speak or keep her eyes open, none of us changed the channel. 

I’m working on processing the events of this past week and I know that God’s hand of blessing has been all over us.  One lesson learned from this past week that I would like to share with you was something that I learned from Shirley’s Hospice of Dayton case worker, Kimberlee.  She told us about a training experience that she had when she joined the hospice team.  She was given a special set of googles that gradually caused her to be in the dark, unable to see and communicate with those in the room around her, but she was still able to hear.  She shared with us that the sense of hearing is the last to go and how helpless a feeling it was to be able to hear people talking around you and about you, but not talking to and with you, and also not being able to communicate your needs.  I tried to keep this in mind as we spent those many hours with Shirley.  Take a moment to think how important those final words you hear will be.  It will make you pause and think a little differently about the words you speak.  It’s so important to speak life and love to those around you.  It is only by God’s grace and His love within you that you are able to speak true and real everlasting life and love.  Now is the time and now is the place, for you know not what tomorrow holds.  Bless others and be blessed.

#GreaterDaytonEmmaus

#TheAfters – Well Done

#HospiceOfDayton

😎🐫🎤 Christ’s peace be with you. Discernment. That’s a tough one no matter what point you are in your journey. Our decision can allow a life to flow smoothly along, cause it to turn on a dime, or might bring you a combination of smooth and edgy. Sometimes lack of discernment and fear of making a decision will cause you to be frozen in your path, not allowing a decision to be made. Which in and of itself is making a decision to stay right where you are. Maybe part of what holds you back is stinkin’ thinkin’ that tells you that you aren’t worthy of better. You might as well settle, because this is the best you’ll ever do. Or maybe it’s telling you don’t go down that path, there will be growing pains. Your job, where you live, your children, relationships, how will you grow in Christ, where are you being called to serve? These are just a handful of discernments you may be currently working through. Watching my mother-in-law as she is working/discerning her way through the transition from life to her afterlife, it really got me to thinking about discerning that final decision to let go of life as we know it and allow ourselves to run full steam to the Lord with nothing holding us back. You know, it doesn’t sound bad, but I would bet, in the moment that will be the toughest decision we will have to make. Even Jesus faced discernment at the point of transitioning from life to death. His was a very brutal and ugly death because of the ugly darkness we carry in this world. As you discern that which you are faced with, first talk with the Lord. He’ll talk you through a few options, then leave you to choose. He’s good like that. If you listen, He’ll share with you the good and the bad, but He won’t make the choice for you. Seek wisdom and truth in your discernment, so you may choose that which will light your world and the world of those around you, that you may carry and shine forth the light that never fades. Bless others and be blessed.

#TheAfters – Light Up the Sky

😎🐫🎤 Christ’s peace be with you.  Last Hump Day was Ash Wednesday and Sunday was the first Sunday of Lent.  For going on 52 years now, I’ve experienced the Lenten season.  Typically, it’s been my least favorite liturgical season, but it feels different this year.  It doesn’t matter how many times you hear something, your current attitude and outlook on life will bring a new perspective on what can seem like a dust covered message.  Sunday’s second reading was Romans 5: 12-19.  The verse that rang clear as a bell to me was verse 19.  “For just as through the disobedience of one person the many were made sinners, so through the obedience of one the many will be made righteous.”  We all know the One that we will be made righteous through is Christ.  What came to mind next was that Christ also gives us the opportunity to contribute to this turnaround from sin to righteousness.  Sin entered paradise because of selfishness.  Wanting more than paradise could offer.  Seems kind of silly, right?  What’s better than sharing paradise with the Lord?  Sin is the no brainer choice.  Choosing the love and grace of God is a conscience choice.  That’s were obedience comes in.  You know those “random acts of kindness” that make you feel good and happy?  Do you really believe they’re random?  They seem to me to be planned opportunities that the Holy Spirit presents to us.  Opportunities to step outside of our selfish selves to be obedient, thereby drawing one step closer to the love and grace of our Father and paradise as it was originally offered to us as His sons and daughters.  During the season of Lent there is a great focus on prayer, fasting, and alms giving.  True, these are things we should be focusing on every day.  As you draw closer to Christ’s road to Calvary this Lent, you are once again presented a greater opportunity to choose to receive the love and grace of our Lord through your obedience, when He presents you with opportunities.  Don’t just make the no brainer choice.  Stop and make a conscience choice. 

Just a quick reminder to go to the menu and checkout the Walking with Emmaus page.  Our first walking share group will be Sunday, 3/15/2020 1:00 PM at Charleston Falls in Tipp City, OH.  All are welcome to join our walk.  If you are an Emmaus alumni, bring your name tag and group reunion card.  I hope to see you there.  Bless others and be blessed.

#Kutless – Grace and Love

😎🐫🎤 Christ’s peace be with you.  Wow, what did the Emmaus weekend experience mean to me?  I listen to music when I’m getting ready for the day, but Monday I made a conscience choice to not be distracted by the music and allow myself to listen for Him.  I allowed the workaholic in me to relax and not even crack my work computer open.  When I got back to work on Tuesday, a coworker asked me how the weekend was.  I told her it was so good that I didn’t even crack open my computer on Monday.  She said “Yeah, I kept expecting to see something come through from you.”   

 It all started Thursday night when I met a new friend that I was so comfortable with that it felt I’d known her, her whole life.  When we met, I had no idea the healing He started in motion.  Saturday the Holy Spirit did some phenomenal works opening my eyes to an area that I had no idea I was holding onto so tightly.  I opened my heart to let go and in return found many hands reaching out to support me and an army of angels praying for me and with me.  Allowing that unrealized burden to be thrown into the sea of forgetfulness has lightened my step.  It’s crazy how things can weigh us down without ever realizing it.  But what’s even more crazy is when we grab some bate, a fishing pole, and charter a boat to bring us back to the deepest depts of the sea of forgetfulness to try to drudge up that which we were freed from.  It’s so easy to hash and rehash experiences in our lives, to feed off the negativity, and live in the muck and mire.  It’s time to burn the ships, break the fishing pole, and throw that bate to the gulls.   Leave that junk in the depts of the sea.  I don’t even want you standing on the shoreline dipping your toe in it.  Every decision we make to look in that rearview mirror blinds us to what lies ahead and sets us up for wreckage.  Make a clean break and don’t turn back.  Bless others and be blessed.

#ForKingAndCountry – Burn the Ships

😎🐫🎤 Christ’s peace be with you.  I’m so thankful the sun is starting to rise earlier.  Seeing and sharing a sunrise absolutely warms my heart.  Driving to a meeting Saturday morning, a friend and I were heading straight into the rising sun, which sparked a conversation about how transition lenses don’t change in the car because the windshield has some UV ray protection build into it, therefore my glasses won’t change.  My friend commented that even on cloudy days, 70% of the sun’s rays make it through, so you still need to wear sunscreen.  That put a big smile on my face.  Even on your cloudy, dark days, the Son will always be a ray touching your life.  You may not see those radiant beams of light on the cloudy days, be that doesn’t mean He’s not with you.  And as long as you don’t put Sonscreen on, He will leave His mark on you.  You know what I mean, that undeniable glow that shines forth from the faces of those basking in the Son.  There’s no other glow like it. 

Thursday evening kicks off the Greater Dayton Women’s Walk to Emmaus #107.  I’m so excited for the 22 Pilgrims that are going to be spending 72 nonstop hours of being drenched in the Holy Spirit.  I’m also excited for the 30 team members and the community of volunteers that have been and will continue to freely give of themselves this weekend to ensure these Pilgrims have everything they want and more.  You know, sometimes its in the receiving of that which we didn’t even know that we were missing or needed, that can turn a mind…heart…life around.  Even if someone told these ladies everything planned on the schedule for them this weekend, they still wouldn’t have a clue as to what’s about to happen in their lives this weekend.

With that being said, in powerful moments like these, Satan is bound to be pounding on the door and trying his best to sabotage any and everything he can to keep God’s Pilgrims from experiencing the unconditional love and grace of our Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Three in One.  Of the 27 live in team members, five are Michele’s/Michelle’s.  As you may know, Saint Michael is the patron saint of Michele/Michelle.  And Saint Michael is an Archangel, a defender of the kingdom of God.  The team kind of took that as a sign that this Walk needed to call upon Saint Michael to help protect all those participating in Women’s Walk #107.   As the Lord places these Pilgrims and this team in your thoughts and hearts this weekend, will you please say a pray that God’s Will be done.  And if you’re willing, maybe pray this prayer to Saint Michael.

Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle.  Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil;  May God rebuke him, we humbly pray;  And do thou, O Prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God, thrust into hell Satan and all evil spirits who wander through the world for the ruin of souls.  Amen

Bless others and be blessed. 

#GreaterDaytonEmmaus

#WalkToEmmaus

😎🐫🎤 Christ’s peace be with you.  One-on-one interactions and relationships are where I thrive.  As much as I would like it to be, our world doesn’t consist of just one-on-one relationships.  We’re all an integral part of society.  When people know that you’re a Christian, they watch you and are taking notice of how you act and react in situations.   I used to volunteer with a high school youth group and we had this one individual that had a pretty foul mouth.  When she would say a cuss word, I started yelling “Foul ball!”.  The first time I did that everyone just looked at me strangely.  The second time, they started to pick up on why I said it.  It took a while, but the foul balls became less and less.  One day that individual came up to me and said “My friends notice that I haven’t been cussing as much and wanted to know what was going on.”  So, she explained what had happened in our youth group.  She then said that her friends weren’t cussing as much either.  Isn’t it amazing how one small action can create a far reaching ripple effect?  Making a difference in our world doesn’t have to be some huge monumental situation.  Let’s face it, very few of us will have that kind of opportunity.  More times than not, our opportunities will show up as small, barely noticeable items.  That single drop of water that grows into a ripple.

In Matthew 25: 31-40 Jesus clearly states what mercy looks like.  Feed the hungry.  Give drink to the thirsty.  Welcome a stranger.  Clothe the naked.  Care for the sick.  Visit those in prison.  Let’s take a slightly different look at these merciful acts.   

Feed the hungry and give drink to the thirsty:  Maybe what they hunger and thirst for isn’t physical, but hunger for the Word of God and thirst for streams of Living Water.

Welcome a stranger:  There are many people in this world that feel invisible and completely alone.  I encourage you to make eye contact with someone.  Smile and say “Hi”. 

Clothe the naked:  Think about all the clothes you have packed away in your house that you haven’t worn in months or even years.  How much of a difference could it make to a single mom if she was able to go to a thrift store and purchase an outfit that she could confidently wear to an interview?  It could mean the difference between getting that higher paying job, so that she could better care for her child, or not.

Care for the sick:  That includes boo boos, life threatening diseases and those fighting to break the chains of depression, alcohol and drugs.

Visit those in prison:  Don’t forget the elderly that can no longer drive themselves around town.  Their homes can feel like a prison as they wait day after day for a visitor to come.

To make a real change in this world, mercy (meeting a person’s need) and justice (addressing the cause of the need) must go hand in hand.  For example, mercy is giving a food basket to a family in need.  But justice aims to determine why this family is hungry and addresses the factors causing that need.  Be a joyful witness for Christ in all you do.  Show others that your source of strength and zeal comes from our Lord.  Bless others and be blessed.

#CastingCrowns – Courageous

#Courageous – the movie

Christ’s peace be with you. After reading the Wednesday, February 5, 2020 😎🐫🎤 message, a follower and coworker stopped by my office Friday morning and said that I needed to read the Our Daily Bread message for Friday, February 7, 2020. At the end of my work day instead of just jumping in my car, I decided to pause a moment with God and read the message that was lovingly passed onto me. It very much so touched my heart, so I wanted to share it with you. Does what we do matter? I’ll let you decide that for yourself. Thank you friend for being a smiling face and blessing for me. Bless others and be blessed.

https://odb.org/2020/02/07/working-for-gods-glory/

#OurDailyBread

😎🐫🎤 Christ’s peace be with you.  In two weeks it will be one year that I’ve been at my job.  I’ve been told repeatedly, by multiple people that for those who are willing to stick it out, it will take about five years to become comfortable in this position.  It’s been extremely challenging for me, being that I feel like I’m not serving my customers as timely, completely, and confidently as I want to be able to serve them.  I don’t know, maybe deep down I figure the more hours I put in, the sooner I’ll get to the five year comfort level.  The problem is, I’m having a very hard time allowing myself to walk away from my work.  I work late almost every day.  I work at home at night.  I also work on the weekend.  My mental and physical wellbeing are out of balance.  I’m pretty sure that’s because I’m working instead of taking the time to go on hikes in nature and clear my mind.  It frustrates my husband.  My mother-in-law tells me I shouldn’t work so much.  “I know.  I know.”  I was talking with a friend about it Monday and it seemed like without hesitation she said “How do you reconcile that with God?”  Oh, that one hurt.  As so often the truth does, when we have chosen not to face it.  It’s sad to say, but it can be easy to blow off those around us, thinking they will always be there.  I feel better mentally, physically, and spiritually when I take the time to walk in nature.  And it also clears my head so that I can be more mentally available and present with those that I’m with.  The Holy Spirit and I have our greatest conversation in nature and I’ve really been missing that this past year, along with missing time with my husband, family, and friends. 

I don’t think anyone likes waking up all hours of the night and early morning thinking about all the work that still needs to be done.  I’m kind of feeling like a body that’s growing too quickly and ending up with some permanent stretch marks.  I need to give myself permission and allow myself to grow a little at a time, so that I’ll be more balanced, pliable, and won’t leave a trail of damage in my wake.  You may find yourself in a similar situation.  How can I allow myself to be filled with Him, if I’m always overflow with work?  I’ve decided that I need to free my mind of the pressure I’m putting on myself.  Regain the balance between my personal and work life.  And allow the Healer to be what fills my life, not work.  Bless others and be blessed.

#MercyMe – The Hurt and the Healer