😎🐫🎤 This past week as I celebrated my 51st birthday, I experienced a few firsts in my life which opened my eyes to a greater understanding of God’s love. On Thursday my daughter Crystal and her family call from North Carolina and for the first time I her one of my grandchildren say “Happy Birthday”.  Caylex’s words sent a feeling of deep love and excitement through my body while at the same time I hear God say, “That’s how I feel when you call My name.”  WOW!

The following day after dinner I got to hear one of my other grandchildren, Cece sing happy birthday to me. Another first. 

Then I received the best birthday gift I ever remember receiving. It was actually a group gift that my daughter, Diana organized and an incredible gift of agape.  She contacted family and friends with a unique request for my birthday. Would they be willing to offer up spiritual gifts in my honor?  I was overwhelmed and humbled as I read through all the cards attached to a spiritual bouquets: Praying the rosary, attending Mass/church, visit the Blessed Sacrament, attend additional church services, pray a novena, a day of fasting, random acts of kindness, having family prayer time, bedtime prayers, cleaning up toys, and praying for me. All in my honor. It was and still is a surreal feeling. I can’t help but smile as these gifts bring tears to my eyes, even now.  

The gift of God’s love is incredible. Just when I think I really understand it, He introduces me to an even deeper level of understanding, through those He’s blessed me to walk this journey with.  And the thing is…I know He still has so much more love to offer me, if I’m willing to accept His gift. I’m absolutely in awe.  Lord, to know You is to want to know You more. Bless others and be blessed. 

#CastingCrowns – To Know You

😎🐫🎤 Distractions and inconveniences. That’s what Satan uses to keep us from where we need to be. This past week Satan was working overtime in my life. Monday I started training someone to replace me in my current job position, which is a good thing.  But as you know, training someone properly takes time, which in the beginning will cause you to get behind on your work. Wednesday morning I woke up at 2:30 AM and wrestled with Satan the rest of the morning, until I got up at 5:06 AM to get ready for work. Wednesday evening our neighborhood had a gas outage, which meant the furnace, water heater, and stove were not working. Thursday morning I woke up at 1:30 AM and wrestled with Satan again until sometime after 3 AM and then was awoken at 4 AM and 4:20 AM by calls from Vectren about our gas still being out. Then up at 5:06 AM to get ready for work. We finally had our gas service restored at 10 PM Friday night.  Just when I thought things were back to normal and I finally got some sleep, around 3:30 PM Saturday we lost our electric service.  We went to 5 o’clock Mass, dinner, visited with my parents, and when we got home our electric was back on.  Thank you Lord!  

In the big scheme of life these were all really minor things.  But at the same time, I can’t help but think that God had some important foundational things happening in my life this week that Satan was trying hard to keep me distracted from receiving. What those foundations will turn into are yet to be seen. One day at a time will reveal His wisdom and glory.  No matter how many distraction Satan throws my way, I can’t help but look for God’s presence in the mix.  Training a coworker = using and passing along the talents, knowledge, and patience God has given me. Sleepless nights = time spent praying and fighting for God’s will at a time I normally wouldn’t.  Gas outage = family and friends opening their homes to us.  Also, we were part of the first group to get our gas restored which allowed me to make three pots of soup for a dinner next Friday.  Power outage = time spent at Mass and with family.  God is present in everything.  You will see Him if you choose to focus on Him instead of the negative in life, which is often easier to focus on. 

Distractions and inconveniences. That’s what Satan uses to keep us from where we need to be.  But God is always greater. He can use anything that Satan throws at us to make us stronger and better equipped to be a glorious light in the kingdom of God here on this earth.  Bless others and be blessed. 

#TobyMac – Everything

😎🐫🎤 Fear of God. That’s a saying I just can’t seem to wrap my brain around. Growing up I learned respect for those of authority and power in my life and that’s how I experience God. A friend and authority in my life that I respect, not a deity that “demands” my respect or fear. He is such a loving Father, Brother and Spirit. Why would/should I fear Him?  As an adult and parent, one of the hardest lessons I’ve learned is that we can’t always fix or takeaway our child’s trials, pain, and hurt.  Sometimes we have to allow them to fall, based on their own choices and it flat out hurts to watch them suffer. But just because I don’t jump in to make everything better doesn’t mean I’m punishing my child for their unwise choices. In my humble ability to love, I know that God’s love for us is to a depth that I can’t even fathom, which tells me that the depth of hurt He feels for us when we turn away from Him, make unwise choices and struggle to find our way back to Him is heartbreaking.  Just because God doesn’t jump in to “save” us (He already did that once) doesn’t mean He’s punishing us. We punish ourselves enough.  God doesn’t need or want to punish us.  The pain and scars we choose to carry come with a price. And that price is separation from the love of our Heavenly Father.  Every second we focus on and hold those scars close is a moment we choose distance from the love of our Father. As you reach your arms toward and walk/run to The Father, you will find that those hurts and pains you’ve been holding so tightly to will fall to the ground behind you.  Every second you choose joy with The Father is a thousand times better than a second in bitterness, pain, or anger. Choose joy in the presence and arms of our Lord and Savior. Bless others and be blessed. 

#ForKing&Country – Joy

😎🐫🎤 The events of this past week forced me to do some purging. It’s incredible how adding one thing here and another thing there can clog up our lives.  No joke, I’ve already spent three hours clearing contacts out of my phone and I’ve only made it to S.  Why do we hold on so tightly to these things that clog our lives?  They take up our phone storage, fill our cars and homes. But those things aren’t near as important as purging the unforgiveness, pride, toxic relationships, lack of contentment, and other sins that we allow to consume our mind, time, actions, and peace.  Every moment, even if it’s just a few seconds here and there, that we focus on this negative stuff, draws us away from our relationship with our Lord.  It clogs our minds, our hearts, our sight to what God is calling and drawing us to be in relationship with Him.  A few years back when I found myself in a toxic friendship, a good friend of mine, with love in her heart, looked me square in the eyes and said “Shelly, it’s okay to let it go.”  Those words were incredibly freeing.  Whatever it is that is clogging up your life today, I’m telling you with love in my heart, “It’s okay to let it go.”  I hope you’re ready to move this morning, because I know I can’t sit still to this song. Bless others and be blessed. 

#MattMaher – What a Friend

😎🐫🎤 Lately I’ve been challenged with trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up. As I was contemplating that Sunday, God said “Work in your strengths, but grow in your weakness.”  His response brought me back to the first reading at Mass this weekend Numbers 11: 25-29. I have been given the Spirit of God (aka my strengths) to be a prophet (aka my weakness) to those God has placed beside me on this journey. You may have a similar experience as me in the fact that looking back you can see that as you mature in your journey with the Lord, you have more freely accepted and acted upon your role as a prophet. But there is still much room for growth. 

Every person we encounter is at a different step in their journey with the Lord.  He is guiding us to reach out to others, listen for His promptings, and act to help His Spirit move and flow through our interactions and relationships, to help others and ourselves move to the next step in our journey with Him. When you think about it, that’s an incredible responsibility we all carry.  Probably not one you think of very often and talk about even less.  But it is something that binds us together as one because we have all been given and called to this same glorious task. It’s not something that can be left solely to the ordained, the youth leaders, the singers. They are great sources, but they aren’t with you in your child’s room at night. They aren’t with you when your coworker is struggling. They aren’t with you when you’re driving with a friend. These are the moments that God is calling you and you alone to be His words.  His Spirit.  His love.  His laughter.  His shoulder.  When He next calls you to be His prophet, how will you answer?  Bless others and be blessed. 

#CastingCrowns – Love You with the Truth

😎🐫🎤 If you’re like me, at times you don’t want to share with anyone what’s going on in your life because you don’t want to look and feel like a failure when you don’t follow through and they hold you accountable.  What I find in those situations is that I make it all about me and how I will look. Wrong answer, I know. Over the past 18 months I’ve had multiple people suggest that I publishing my writings on my walk with God. I keep kind of ignoring those promptings, but this past week I asked myself: Why?  It only took a second for me to answer…and yes, sometimes I talk to myself. 1) FEAR of failure.  2) I don’t want to have the pressure of “performing”.  What if God stops talking to me, then what?  Well, God won’t stop talking with me.  It would be a matter of am I listening, not is He speaking.  And why am I so focused on myself anyway?  God of course shed some of His light on the subject. “My words are not for you alone.  So don’t hide the light under a basket. Let it shine bright for all to see.”  Fear can blind us, but God’s word will always bring light and truth. Matthew 5: 14-16 are verses that God often reminds me of when I’m at similar crossroads. Allow His light and truth to be magnified in and through you. Bless others and be blessed. 

#FrancescaBattistelli – The Breakup Song

😎🐫🎤 As I was reflecting on this past week, looking for God’s presence, I wandered off thinking about the events of this weekend.  Brian and I were able to work together on a house project that we’ve been putting off for a couple years. Working on this project reminded me how well we work together. How good it feels to work side by side with my best friend.  And how much more we can accomplish together.  God said “Exactly.  Think about how well WE work together. How good it feels when WE work side by side. And how much WE can accomplish together.”  I’m not sure why or how it really happened, but this week I allowed myself to become a little distant from God.  Unfortunately, it wasn’t until I stopped to really focus on His presence that I realized how much I missed Him this past week.  As we share God and serve others in His name, we are pouring from our spiritual cup. If we don’t continue to refill our spiritual cup, it won’t take long before we’re feeling drained and running on empty.  We are made to first fill our cups with a loving relationship with our Lord and then serve others from our overflow.  Fill it to the rim with Him!  LOL That should be a tee shirt quote.  Bless others and be blessed. 

#KariJobe – The More I Seek You

😎🐫🎤 Something must die within us to allow new life in the Lord to spring forth from us. That’s what this log reminded me of.

I’m sure this tree stood for many years digging its roots in the soil as it searched for life giving water. Stretching its branches wide and toward the heavens, fighting to catch rays of sunlight. I imagine it was a display of God’s beauty and presence.  As seasons passed, temperatures changed, and bugs crept in, this tree became weary and weathered, to the point of death. Our lives are the same. With our roots planted in His Word and our arms lifted high reaching for the Sonshine, we experience passing seasons of joy, pain, growth, and dormancy. Our temperatures and attitudes chance with the passing of those seasons. And yes…those pesky bugs creep into our lives, eating us up from the inside out, to weaken us and tear us down. You may know them as fear, jealousy, rejection, anxiety, pride, depression, and so on. When we believe in and accept God’s awesome gifts of unconditional love, grace, and His friendship, we allow His new life within us to spring forth. New life will replace the dead and dying. But this won’t happen on its own. You must be willing to make changes, get out of your comfort zone, and fully accept the gifts you’ve been give from the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Unless you unwrap your gift, you will never know what lies within the neatly wrapped box. Bless others and be blessed. 

#Bonray – Inside Out

😎🐫🎤 Last Friday afternoon I met a friend for a walk at Charleston Falls. After she left, I wanted to walk some more and talk with God as I usually do when I’m by myself. I was telling Him “I like to bring friends here to walk, because I know that You are always here.  I can feel your presence.”  As I finished speaking those words, I saw a small buck about 250 yards away.  I stopped and we watched each other for a few minutes. I then notice a second, larger deer and they ran off together.  That was so cool!  God and I were having a good talk that day, so I decided to make another lap.  At one point I stopped at the creek to watch the fish swim and God said…”You’re not watching for snakes.”  I looked down and there were two little snakes about as big around as my pinky finger. They quickly slithered away. God knows how much I dislike snakes. Thank you Lord for watching out for me!  To be honest, I was so enjoying my time with God, I had to force myself to come home.

In our journey of life, we are presented with many wants and needs that fill our days. We may say that sharing time with God is a want, but in reality, it is a need. We were made to be in relationship with God. When we don’t fill that need, our life has a HUGE void. Spoiler alert, only God can fill that void. You may find temporary pleasure, but that void will still be there.  I can’t express to you how important it is to talk with God and interact with Him. He only wants the best for you. Talk with your Friend and share time with Him. You’ll have some great conversations, share some laughs, and He’ll even warn you when you’re stepping into an uncomfortable situation. Just like He did for me with the snakes. Don’t wait for tomorrow, start filling that need now. Bless others and be blessed. 

#MercyMe – Here with Me

😎🐫🎤 Have you ever noticed that when God wants to make a point in your journey, you’re walk with Him, that He will expose you to multiple situations in a short period of time to make sure you don’t miss the point?  This past week God presented me with both personal and work related events that actually hit on a couple points simultaneously.  It can be a real challenge to get out of our comfort zone, meet new people, and speak in a public setting. 

God placed me in three of these situations that exposed a real lack of confidence in myself and a big fault I have of not always praying before I act.  Thankfully He spoke with me before each event and showed me that confidence in myself was not what I truly desired or needed. It was the confidence in my relationship with the Lord that moved me forward, knowing that He only desires good for me, not evil.  Far too often we place our confidence in ourselves and never even approach the Lord before we act. I’m thankful He gently guided me through the events of this past week. God will always point us in the right direction, if we just take the time to listen and act upon His words.  

Bless others and be blessed. 

#SanctusReal – Confidence