Listening with Your Eyes

photo by Angie Davis

It was the first day of November. The colorful leaves welcomed me as I set out for a day of work. Driving, I prayed, “God, I want more. Give me life. Give me a glimpse of your kingdom here on earth.” 

Easy to pray, harder to believe.

At lunchtime I drove into Homewood, a small, charming suburb of Birmingham, where I immediately felt, you guessed it, at home. The community welcomes you with open arms and seems to say, “Come on in … everybody is welcome here.” In fact there is one day a year set aside called, “We Love Homewood Day” because everyone who lives there loves it so much.

That day I was meeting two friends for lunch, both of them artists. One was a new friend named Elizabeth. Elizabeth had a dream and she wanted to share it with us. We were excited to hear about the vision that God had planted in her tender heart. She is an extremely gifted woman who teaches art to children and adults in a cool studio in Homewood. She’s also a potter specializing in Raku pottery. 

Something you need to know about Elizabeth is that she is hearing impaired. She has only a small percentage of hearing even with hearing aids, but she is able to reads lips. In fact, 90% of her communication comes from reading lips. You see, Elizabeth’s parents strongly believed this would be the best way for her to successfully interact with the hearing world. 

 And interact she does.

As I said, she teaches art to children. Think about that for a minute. Challenged but not overcome, she dreams, creates and acts.

Over a small scoop of chicken salad and another of pimento cheese, we southern girls chattered on and on. The farm table where we sat was surrounded by windows. Light poured in. The turning leaves outside were like giant watercolors hanging from the sky. They created quite a beautiful picture as I sat with my two artist friends. My Mama is a visual person when it comes to God’s creation. She has given me eyes to see and has taught me to appreciate beauty in nature! There was beauty that day in nature as well as in community.

The moments were vibrant, the conversation deep and rich. Watching Elizabeth engage was intriguing. She never missed a beat. As long as she could see us face to face, she was all in, but as soon as we turned away the communication was cut off. 

She must see to hear. Elizabeth poured out her heart to us. She expressed her vision.

She spoke of her passion. She told us her story with great emotion. Amazed and in awe, we sat in worship of our shared Creator.

The time ended all too soon as our schedules called, but before we rose, I felt drawn to pray. “Let’s thank God for what He is doing in Elizabeth’s life today. Let’s commit her dreams to Him before we go.” The 3 of us bowed our heads. 

Or so, I thought.

In the middle of my prayer, I was side tracked. I remembered that Elizabeth couldn’t hear me unless she was reading my lips. Peeking through the cracks of my eyelids like a young child, I saw that I was right! She was not bowing her head and her eyes weren’t closed. In fact, they were wide open, watching me as I prayed. I immediately lifted my head so we could be together in the moment, expressing our hearts to God in unity.

Before leaving, I had a new visual of God. He, like Elizabeth, looks at me as I pray. 

He sees me.

He cares about what I am saying.

He longs to hear my heart.

He is passionate about my words, my expression.

His eyes are not closed, His head is not bowed.

He listens to me with His eyes open.

I am moved. I am grateful. I believe.

"You are the God who sees me." Genesis 3:13

The Hurricane is Coming!

photo: Ryan-Tamm

Sunday night I was sitting on my sofa, glazed over, scrolling through Facebook, looking for anything other than politics and DIY videos. And then, there it was! A beautiful picture of a lighthouse taken with an iPhone. Who in the world was right where I wanted to be? It was a post by a high school friend from years ago. (Notice I didn’t say “old” friend. Time to stop that!) He and his friends, along with many other Charleston residents, were in the bay off the coast of Folly Beach, South Carolina, gazing at the Morris Island Lighthouse.

Why were hundreds gathered that night in boats and on the shore? The Morris Island Lighthouse stood dark and dormant for 54 years, since 1962. The storms had taken their toll on this structure over time. Sunday night, October 2, they held a ceremony to celebrate the 140th anniversary of the first lighting by re-lighting its beacon. 

I was in awe. 

I quickly browsed here to read more about this beauty. Many years ago this particular lighthouse was strategically placed as a useful guide through existing channels to aid in avoiding the jetties. 

Currently there is a concerned group of people in Charleston called “Save the Light”. They have raised funds for years and have slowly been rebuilding, preserving and sustaining this inured giant lantern. I know, I’m obsessed with lighthouse stories! The name of this group is “Save the Light”. Don’t you just love that?

As I tracked the history and the stories of the Morris Island Lighthouse, the analogies started washing over me! While this impressed me, I honestly didn’t think that you would be so moved by the history of a random lighthouse on the Eastern shore.

Until …

Yesterday morning when I woke up and saw a news alert on my phone that Hurricane Matthew was bearing down on the US eastern sea board. The tracker showed it making landfall very near my Morris Island Lighthouse! 

Oh my word. No!!! 

But then I remembered that group of people in Charleston that had made a huge investment over the years to preserve it and strengthen it and build it up. No need to fear. Matthew would not destroy it. The Morris Island Lighthouse would be safe. The investment and restoration was made for such a time as this!  

And now I sit on the same sofa watching the news. Authorities are using the words “mass destruction” and expect over 8 million people in the US to be effected by Hurricane Matthew. This terrible storm is converging on us and only God knows what the aftermath will be.

As I read about the life of this century old lighthouse I noticed words such as: 

cyclone - hurricane - earthquake - storms - high winds - destroyed

overturned - rapidly eroding - carried away - thrown out of position - cracked

These words would adequately describe life at times. I’m sure you would agree that you have had your own stories, moments that resonate with the above descriptive words. Sometimes it seems that life is on the verge of spiritual and emotional collapse and can no longer hold in the midst of the storm. 

But God …

We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed … 2 Corinthians 4:8,9

Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise Him, my salvation and my God.  Psalm 42:11

Below are the words in the Morris Island Lighthouse story that describe the restoration process:

concrete pilings built - cracks repaired - base stabilized - erosion controlled  

walls restored - secured the foundation - lenses replaced

It’s time. Time for strengthening, building up, preserving your soul for future storms. They will definitely come. But it’s not about the storms, it’s about the anchor that holds in the midst of the hurricanes that threaten your life.

So now, as you glance at Hurricane Matthew stories on Facebook and walk past TVs showing the winds of the storm, may you be reminded of the Morris Island Lighthouse. Remember its strength amid the high winds. Be grateful to God as your ever strong anchor when the winds attempt to blow out your light. 

God, as storms may bear down on my soul and try to smash, wipe out, and extinguish my flame, remind me that…"The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." John 1:5

Shining Announcement from Beacon People!

Nestled

There is a place just around the bend that your heart has been searching for day and night. Nestled deep within the trees, it calls to you from the end of the road. It is a place where you long to be. A place where your soul will sing and your heart will be free. A place where you will not only find shelter but where you yourself have something to offer. A place where you feel full and satisfied as you cry out in sheer thankfulness, “This is what I was made for!” 

Can you see the destination? That little house off in the distance offering fertile ground? Or has the winding road you have traveled taken such concentration that your attention has drifted off the path? Perhaps you have even stopped along the way thinking surely there is nothing better on the horizon, that you had better stop and take what you can get. For some it feels like being stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic, where you cannot even see the road in front of you. You live day to day hoping that tomorrow will be better, but you really do not even know what to long for. You feel stuck. You feel useless. So you quit trying and you give up.

For 42 years I swallowed the lies of the world. I took the bait, hook, line, and sinker. My life was characterized by an endless wandering around the outskirts of that little nestled house. And although I could see the hopeful lights flickering in the windows, beckoning me to come, I could not for the life of me figure out how to get home. Somewhere deep down inside, I knew I had something to offer. I knew there was a place where my heart would fit just right. A place where I would give and the world would yield. But just as soon as I would hope, a great fear would rise up within me, forbidding me to move, much less find purpose in life. The voices of shame and doubt left a deafening ringing in my ears, “Who are you to dream when your heart has been crushed? Who are you to think that you could offer anything to the world? How could such a mess of a person ever amount to anything?” I listened. I obeyed. And I gave up. The hunt for more was so utterly scary to me that I walked away from the visions of that little nestled house, I thought, never to return again.  

Until one cool October day in 2015. For several months, faint whispers of hope had been tickling my ears. An unquenchable desire for purpose was welling up inside of me, and I knew it was time for me to really live. I began to sense that my entire life had been a dress rehearsal for what was to come. The hope for more filled me with excitement as I begged the Lord to make it my time. I begged to find the place in life where my heart would sing and where I would shout, “This is what I was made for!” But where in the world do you start when you have no idea where you are going? Although I had a pretty good understanding of my strengths, gifts, and passions, they all just swirled around in my head like a big mess of desire. Oh how I longed for help! I longed for someone to listen to my heart and to what I loved to do. I needed someone to listen to my history and my struggles and my hopes for the future. I needed someone to help me figure out how to solve what felt like a great big puzzle to me.  

At the same time, in the heart of one of the most amazing people I know, God was placing a very special desire. pathFinder was birthed out of a God-given passion to help others find purpose in their lives, to help them wake up excited about living in a world where they are being used by God. I have had the privilege of watching Anna Nash as she has sought the Lord in every step of this book, listening and being very brave to do what He has called her to do, to say things the way He has said them to her, and to bring hope to those of us who have lost our way. By far the most beautiful part of the process to watch was the unveiling of God’s plan for pathFinder. I had a front row seat to the Father gently revealing His place, undergirding every single principle in this book. He made it abundantly clear to Anna that this was His plan, His book and His purpose. And you know what? The more God took over, the more Anna loosened her grip. I watched her heart grow in humility as she relinquished control, and I can still see her contagious smile as she delighted in knowing that God had chosen her to spread this message of hope.  

You hold in your hand a book that was written from two little knees. A book that was written while praying. A book that was written out of obedience. I have watched lives changed, including my own, through this book. I have seen God use pathFinder as a tool to reveal and clarify the paths of those who earnestly seek Him.  

Every day of my journey through pathFinder felt like Christmas in my heart. I woke up excited to see what the Lord would reveal to me that day. I longed to listen to His voice instead of to the voices of the world. I learned to see myself more like He sees me. I began to see my gifts the way others see them. And for the first time in my life, I began to walk in freedom! pathFinder became a safe place for me to throw off the constraints of the world to explore my deepest hopes and desires. It was finally okay to dream without worrying about what I should or should not be doing. I was changed. I am changed. But I am also still changing. This quest for more is a journey we will enjoy our entire lives. When I think about that, I get so excited! We can wake up to Christmas morning everyday as we continue our pursuit for purpose here on earth. 

There is a way to find that little house off in the distance, the one beckoning you to come and thrive and flourish. And when you arrive, it will be just the right time. As you embark on this journey toward more, let God redeem the broken parts of your life and make them into something far more beautiful than you could ever have imagined. And I pray that in doing so, you will see the purpose in your own story that He has been writing since the day you were born. You have always had a story. You have always had hope, and you have always had purpose. Now it is time for you to begin to see yourself as the Father sees you. Your grand unveiling awaits.

Brook Duell, 2016

(For more of Brooks' writings go to:  goldfeather.org)

Finally, the new edition of pathFinder is here! We are ready to get it into your hands as a wonderful tool to assist you in discovering new purposes and passion in your life. Go HERE to order pathFinder and read a bit more about what its all about.

About the Author

    Recently, my college roommates and I met for a weekend reunion at the lake. We came from three different cities to reconnect and rest. Years of life, work and family had pulled us apart in so many ways. We savored the time sitting for hours looking at old photos, talking and laughing.

    The warmth of the sun at the quiet lake without interruption fostered some sweet, sweet time of opening our hearts with one another after 25 years of stories. 

    Four Stories. 

    We took turns narrating our stories for one another. There were moments when we would all exclaim, “Really?!” Life had taken us all down some pretty unexpected paths and here we sat walking one another down these paths. It was as if I had read three huge novels by the time I returned home.

    Up early one humid, July, Alabama morning, the four of us pulled on our walking shoes and headed out to burn some unwanted calories from the delicious dinner we had enjoyed the night before. Up and down rolling hills, we curved around the exterior of the lake. We talked and talked and talked some more. We had twenty-five years to catch up on, the short forty-eight hours together just wasn’t enough. 

    As we walked the conversation turned to Katy’s life. Katy is my childhood friend. We used to meet one another at the stop sign on the corner in our neighborhood to ride bikes. Katy was the quiet one, me the talker. She and I shared a rich friendship over the years and we ended up roommates in college. We shared a long history and I thought I knew her well, until…

    She told us that she had written a book. 

    “Whaaaaattt?” we all exclaimed. 

    Surprise of surprises. She had taken writing courses, worked hard, and YES, written not just one novel but two. I couldn’t believe my ears. I had no idea! My introverted friend, my friend of few words had enough words within her to write a novel? She spoke with passion about her newfound love of writing. I saw a side of Katy come out like I had never seen in all these years since hopscotch and the popsicle truck. Even during our years in college I would have never predicted this. It made me curious and I just had to know more.

    As we returned from our getaway, of course, I emailed Katy for a copy of her book. She obliged and before I knew it I was entrenched in a novel full of detail, color, description, and dialogue! I saw so many cool things in the book because I was Katy’s friend. I knew her as the author of the story and because of that I understood the book like no one else. I could read between the lines of her personal history, names and even funny details. As you can imagine, this was an amazing experience for me.

    You know the feeling, don’t you? When you pick up a book you want to read about the author first. You know that you will have a much better understanding of the story if you know where the author is coming from. You flip the book over to find out more. The bio and the author’s picture help you more fully engage in the words written by him or her. We all want to understand the story and why it was written and, believe me, if you know the author personally, reading the story is an entirely different experience.

    We all have a story. This is a common theme among bloggers and speakers today. “What’s Your Story?” “Your Story Matters.” “My Story Will Be a Good One.” These are the titles of just a few blog posts I’ve read recently. For some, revisiting the story is scary. For others, it’s just too overwhelming. And still others don’t believe they have a significant story to tell. But all of us want to understand our story. We want to know why the pages have turned like they have. I long to find clues about what is coming in the next chapter.

    Let’s jump back to my life with Katy and her novel. I was able to read the story and understand it to its fullest is because I knew Katy and I knew her well. Ask yourself these questions. Do you know the author of your story? Do you know Him well? Most of us agree that God wrote the pages of our story before we were ever born. (Psalm 139:16) Take yourself on a winding walk through the details of your life. Examine your story. If this is as challenging for you as it is for me, get to know the author. Read His bio, His “About the Author”. It’s the Word of God. Before you know it you will be brave. You will be confident. You will rest assured that your story was written for a purpose and it’s a pretty amazing one! In fact, it’s a love story. So go ahead and read about the author of your story. Once you do, you’ll see your life differently. Your story won’t always make perfect sense, but it will always be your perfect story. Because it is His story written just for you. 

Katy blogs at https://whatsheread.wordpress.com/

Jesus at the Coffee Shop

photo by Michaela Quan

Jesus at the coffee shop...

Recently, I saw a picture of Jesus at the coffee shop. As many mornings as I can remember, I ask God to give me a chance to see a picture of Jesus at some point during my day. I love it when He answers and one day, not too long ago, He did.

My husband, Tyler, is currently managing a fairly new coffee shop in our area as he has discovered a passion for being a barista. He serves from a bar type counter with stools lined up full of people. Often, it is my privilege to get to go and sit at the bar and hang out watching him do his thing. (He also makes a killer americano which is a perk as well! #pun.) Well, the other day I went in at a very busy time and he really couldn’t pay me much attention, which is fine because that meant business was good.

I sat at the bar scrolling on my phone, saying hello to friends and just watching him make drinks, while I waited for a brief visit that we are sometimes able to grab.

I noticed a man walk in, and as he was greeted by my husband, the barista. I noticed that his order was never taken. Tyler just started making his drink of choice without asking what he wanted. These days, it’s not just regular or decaf...it’s become quite complicated! They visited then the man took his drink and left.

Another immediately followed and the same thing happened. No order was given or taken. The barista just knew what he wanted and got busy serving with care whatever special drink he wanted. He left after a short visit, catching up on things that clearly they had visited about before.

Yet another customer pulled into a parking space right in front of the shop within Tyler's view. This time it was a lady. Before she'd even walked in the door he already had begun making her drink having seen her car. He greeted her and held out her cup of bold coffee poured up before she could hardly say hello.

Yes, 3 regulars in a row. His kind heart, warm smile and inviting eyes welcomed each customer, but those regulars felt extra special. Why? He knew them. He knew them, not only by name, buy also by drink. He knew what they wanted and he was eager to get to them exactly that. The warmth in his expression and in the drink he made for them started out their day just right. Special. 

You see, we all want to be “regulars." It makes us feel unique. It makes us feel known. It makes us feel like someone thinks we are special. Even my name written in black ink on my cup makes me feel a little important.

I saw a picture of Jesus right there at the coffee bar. He is the barista and I’m His regular. He sees me coming. He welcomes me with warmth and acceptance. But most of all He knows what I need and prepares it for me. He is waiting to love me with His gifts for me. He makes me feel special and unique. But there’s one condition for being a "regular".

You have to go often.

You must know the barista.  

He knows you well enough and how to meet your needs. You know Him because you have spent time getting to know Him better.

Today, may you believe God's opinion of you more than the opinion you have formed of yourself. He made you in an amazing way and He thinks you are pretty significant. He is ready for you to walk in the door. Now go and feel His love.

"Your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask Him."  Matthew 6:8

Groundhog Days

We sit at the table together in a coffee shop. Failures. Both failures. This happened a number of times just this week. Maybe it’s the weather. Maybe it’s the month of May. But mostly I realize that it’s because we live in a broken world. We live in a world that’s a mess and always will be but it preaches to us messages like,

“You can do this.”

“I can and I will.”

“If you can dream it, you can do it.”

“Anything is possible.”

“You have arrived!”

“I have arrived.” (said no one ever!) For years I believed the message of “arriving”.

I would try hard, do good, fail.

Try hard, do good fail.

Try hard, do good, fail, FAKE IT.

Tiring really.

We look around and everyone else seems to be making it successfully. That’s exactly what I want people to think about me - that I’m making it. That’s exactly what they want me to think about them. Look at Facebook and Instagram. Enough said. If only I was the person my Facebook makes me look like I am.

One of my favorite current memes is,

“She believed she could so she did.”

It makes me laugh. I’d like to re-write that one to,

“She believed she could so she did. (Oh, and then she didn’t!)”

But then she believed again. And then she didn’t.” You get the picture.

Dr. Seuss nailed it in Oh, The Places We’ll Go when he said,

“You won't lag behind, because you'll have the speed.

You'll pass the whole gang and you'll soon take the lead.

Wherever you fly, you'll be best of the best.

Wherever you go, you will top all the rest.

Except when you don't.

Because, sometimes, you won't.”

We buy into the belief that there is this place out there that is obtainable. Reach for the stars. Find them. Then live happily ever after. Really? Yep, we’ve been preached  that message from the moment we could understand fairytales.

I’m tempted to believe this is possible in life - my marriage, my family, my parenting, my work, my mission, my calling, my ideas, my dreaming….it’s saturates across the board.

I heard a talk decades ago on the butterfly. The speaker used the analogy of metamorphosis to inspire the audience. Climb out of the darkness and ugliness. Stretch your wings and be the beautiful self that you are. Now fly off into the sunset, blue sky, wings flapping in slow motion. Beautiful music playing. You did it!

I believed that was possible so I worked very hard to climb out. It seemed like everyone around me was flapping around the beautiful wildflowers in freedom and joy and “arrivedness” except for me.

While we do have those butterfly moments, and for that I am grateful. Today I realize that the groundhog would be a more fitting comparison for me.  He creeps very slowly out of the darkness of the ground. He sees his shadow. He says, “Nah, not yet.” He turns around and goes back in his hole. Yep, that’s how I feel many days. In fact, I think we have more groundhog days than butterfly days. What in the world makes the groundhog go back in his hole? For me, it’s fear, inadequacy, rejection, depression and much of the time just plain ole selfishness.

But you see, that’s exactly who Jesus came for … the caterpillars and the groundhogs. Because He won for me on the cross, I am free to fail. The only requirement to come to Him for renewal is neediness. Embrace who I am in His love and how worthy I am in Him.

Oh the satisfaction of embracing the truth that life is not about the final becoming but the ongoing, day to day becoming. You’ve heard it said, “Life is not about the destination. It’s about the journey.” The pressure is off.

Crash and burn, rebuild, take off, fly.

Then crash and burn, rebuild, take off and fly again.

Rinse and repeat. You get the picture.

Something about embracing this mentality of reality brings freedom.

Now believe it and rest.

Lost and Found in Being a Mom

Cece. That’s my mother-in-law. You don’t have to wonder if you have ever met Cece. If you have met her you will never forget her! To try to describe Cece in a few words is a mountain I won’t try to climb, but trust me, she is a jewel. 

Recently she passed down to me a beautiful diamond tennis bracelet. She has always been dripping with diamonds. We call Cece a diva at 91 and she shines and sparkles from her diamonds all the way down deep from within her soul. While I was pleasantly surprised to be the recipient of the bracelet I’m not really a diamond kind of girl. Yes, I would enjoy it, but not because of its worth, more because it was Cece’s and I love her.

The bracelet was a tad large and the clasp didn’t seem as strong as it should but I wore it anyway with the thought in mind to run by the jewelry store at some point and have it checked.

Just a few short weeks later I was running around and I looked down to notice that the bracelet was gone. I did what we all do when we lose something of value. I retraced my steps but the bracelet was no where to be found. I was ashamed. I felt so guilty for not having it checked. I felt sure it had fallen off somewhere along the way. Disappointed and full of shame I told my husband and a friend but no one else in my embarrassment. As the weeks went on I would notice my arm and feel a bit empty as this something of beauty was missing. I hoped I would find it one day and more than that I trusted I would find a reason for the loss.

6 weeks passed. Still no bracelet. I had less and less thought of it but the loss still lingered in my heart. My husband and I were cleaning out the basement. 3 grown kids moving away from home, returning and leaving again had turned our basement into a jungle of everything you can imagine from an Evil Knievel motor cycle helmet all the way down to some pocket change left in a pair of pants. Clearing a large table in our laundry area I picked up a stack of old newspapers and there it was. The bracelet! It the midst of the rubble of the everyday it was shining and screaming at me, “Here I am!”  I squealed so loudly my husband probably thought I had uncovered a spider. I’m not sure you can hug a bracelet but I stood there covered in dust and filth and rejoiced over my beautiful treasure.

I’ve thought about this string of events a lot since it happened. It’s so crazy to me that the bracelet was within 18” of where my arms did laundry every day and I didn’t know it. It was right there all along. How did I miss it? As some would say, “If it was a snake it would have bit me!” 

As mother’s day approached this year it coincided with the last of my 4 children graduating from high school. It’s interesting that they placed Mother’s Day within a couple of weeks of graduations. I wonder if that was on purpose. Compounding these 2 events brought strong emotions of “both and”. I felt both happy and sad that this motherhood thing was passing. I loved being a mom. I wrapped myself in it. I could say I lost myself in motherhood. And I’m glad I did. Many would be a critic of that and say, “You should have kept your identity apart from motherhood.” While this is true, I’m waking up both satisfied and lost. I’m satisfied with these child rearing years but also lost as to who I am after 27 years of being a mom. If I had the chance, what would I say to the band of mom’s coming after me? 

So let’s talk about that bracelet story again. My life, my gifts, my talents, my personal identity were set aside and lost for a bit as I gave myself to being a mom. Those things were never far away, right there all along. The shining beauty of my identity and the way God made me, just me without children, was there all along underneath the everyday.  It was not far off. The me apart from earaches and antibiotics, sack lunches and gatorades, skinned knees and homework was just waiting. Lost but not forgotten.  Waiting to be rediscovered, enjoyed and appreciated. And you know one more amazing thing about this analogy and the most wonderful thing of all? I appreciated that tennis bracelet more than ever when it was found. It was more beautiful than I had remembered. It had so much more value having been lost and then found. There you stand smelling like laundry and covered in love, holding your gifts just waiting to be used! You have probably forgotten just how beautiful you are. 

So here’s to finding life again, this side of motherhood. You are special. You are beautiful. You hold great value. Give yourself the gift of “you rediscovery”. If you search with all your heart you will find that you are still there and that you are pretty amazing! Cheers to us, the moms! But more importantly the daughters of the most High King who made us and thinks we are pretty special! 

And by the way, I hope you get to meet Cece one day because she is sure to be your favorite too.

Early Morning Lessons from a Labradoodle

photo by banksnash.com

I have a side-kick. His name is Nate. He is a one-hundred pound yellow Labradoodle that’s been around for a while now, nine years in fact. Most days morning calls as he comes to my bedside, his collar in his mouth, which is his way of screaming at me, “Let’s go on a walk!” Other than any crumb of food he can find, this is the most exciting and thrilling part of Nate’s life. The daily walk. As we leave the house he leaps, he bounds and runs in circles around me as if to say, “Oh thank you, thank you! You are the best master ever!” He runs around each mailbox, sniffs at every tree and greets every neighbor. If you have a dog then you’ll agree that “the walk” in doggie world is pure heaven.

One cool spring morning we were headed out. After the first mile of our 2 mile walk Nate’s pace slowed significantly. He went from a fast paced trot to a meandering stroll and nothing I could do would speed him up. Very frustrated I began to wonder if something was the matter. Was he hurt? I didn’t think so because it seemed as if was if he was protecting me. He walked very close and kept looking right and left like a bodyguard. Was something out there that he sensed might threaten us? I pushed to get our normal pace back but couldn’t seem to motivate him. After a couple of blocks of this senseless meander I stopped. I sat him down to talk, reassure him and attempt to figure out his plight. Then I realized Nate’s dilemma. Tucked back in his mouth I found a small bone he had discovered somewhere along the way in a ditch to be taken home and enjoyed. He carried it the entire second mile of our walk. He continued very slowly and fearfully looking over his shoulder protecting his nasty treasure instead of being his usual "just happy to be on a walk" self. What normally was the most satisfying part of Nate’s day was hijacked by something he wanted more. He made a sacrifice. He missed so much of the walk in his obsession. He missed the sights, sounds, smells and freedom of the outing.

How often do I miss the joy of the journey when I, like Nate, am bound by the illusion of a perceived treasure? We are misguided when we believe that the getting life brings the more joy and happiness than the giving life.

Here we see life as God intended it to be:

“If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.” Matthew 16:25 (NLT)

Until, we believe and live as if we have everything we need from our Provider we will never be able to walk the path unguarded. Like Nate, we will live in constant fear, shoring up whatever we think we need for the happy life. Step out to give of yourself in freedom and taste the simple but most fulfilling of joys of just being on the walk.

We leap, we bound, following after our Master in freedom. This is a taste of heaven. We experience heaven on earth when we realize that He is a good, good Father and He longs to be gracious to us.

Prayer:  “God, may I  freely walk today not bound by my own illusion of earthly treasures. Give me eyes to see, pursue and treasure what you treasure.”

How to Check Your Life Purpose Gauge

If you feel that any of the following statements could be true of how you feel, your life may be lacking purpose.

1. My life lacks meaningful purpose.

2. I’m bored. Every day seems the same.

3. I often find myself feeling unfulfilled. I’m busy but feel empty.

4. I don’t know what my passion is or how to find it.

5. I need a change.

6. I’m not living life out of my gifting.

7. I’ve lost my way.

8. Where I am doesn’t feel right.

9. I’m in major life transition and its scary.

10. I don’t think I’m making a difference.

 

“I want more!”

Did any of the statements resonate with you? Life, for me, presents the struggle of finding and staying on the path towards my God-given purpose.  Watching and observing others who seem to be struggling, like me, to find a fulfilling life is disturbing. There are thousands of books, websites, podcasts, bloggers and videos out there that are screaming at you. “Find your purpose!”  

I had a friend say to me just the other day, “Someone asked me what my passion was and I freaked out! I had no idea!”

Why does this question put us under so much pressure?

To embark on the journey of life change seems overwhelming, tiring and frightening. Sometimes it is easier to just stay stuck in the known than to step out in the unknown of following a new path. Yeah, I get it.  

Countless people at all stages of life just don’t know how to connect with their God-given purpose in daily, organic ways.  Many of us have never tapped into the veins of giftedness that our Creator planted deep within our DNA since day one. And then, when we are able to see our design clearly, there is so much fear, inadequacy, pride and shame that begins to wrap around us. The wrapping shuts us down. The struggle is real - creating a huge YES to the statements in the assessment above.

“I agree with you but what in the world do I do now?”

Begin by introducing and implementing these integral parts into your life:

Fight! Fight to believe the truth of what God says about you, more than you believe your opinions of yourself. (Psalm 139 for starters.)

Forget! Don’t believe the opinions of the world and the culture around you that scream, “You are not enough!” Reprogram (rewrite and revise) your thoughts by saturations of truth.

Formulate! Live out each day with intention. “What can I do today to make a difference in the life of someone else?”  A good one for starters!

Find Friends! Surround yourself with people who get it. Find a community of people that see you as God sees you and push you to live out your greatest potential.

I propose that when we move towards these components as a part of our regular routine, sparks begin to fly.

“Well, that doesn’t seem very practical, I want more!”

Some would suggest to take a personality test or a spiritual gifts test. Others might say a strengths and weakness test would help you find out what you are good at.  Then others encourage meeting with a vocational counselor to help you discover something new.  While all of these ideas are very helpful, I saw a need for a tool that would be a tad more organic in nature. Engaging the Creator in finding out what life purpose is all about made a lot of sense to me. I long to hear a call. We all do, because that’s how God made us.

So, why not consult with my Maker to find out why He made me?  It’s as simple as that. I would choose God’s personal and unique assessment of me over an online test any day. There is no cookie cutter with God. He adores me and has laid out an individual map for my life. Many have never rolled out the map to look and see and get on the path towards purpose. Would you dare to believe that YOU are the only one on this earth who can carry out a very special assignment written by God? That sounds pretty amazing to me.  

We are all created for MORE.  Oftentimes we lose our way as life happens. Believing that the greatest fulfillment in life comes from finding our God-given purpose, pathFinder was written. This is an interactive book that takes you on a 4 Section discovery towards living a more purposeful life.  It is a tool for personal use, small group content as well as for mentoring.  pathFinder walks you through a life mapping project, defines your strengths, weaknesses and passions, as well as assists you in formulating a life mission statement. As a result of collecting clues along the way of the pathFinder journey you will begin to see your life in a really amazing and different kind of way. It wraps up with goal setting based on your life mission statement that will encourage you to live a more intentional life. During the process, you will engage with God as your Creator through His Word and intentional prayer, asking Him to be your guide as you embark. pathFinder is a great opportunity to begin the greatest treasure hunt of your life…

your  journey towards purpose.  

You’ve always been amazingly unique.  It’s time to finally embrace who you are, and why you are that way. Be willing to try new things.

Change direction.

Uproot.

Plant.

Bloom.

You will begin to live more fruitful and satisfying days of purpose and life will get very exciting!

“The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.” ―Pablo Picasso.

To find out more about pathFinder go here.

Tell Us Your Story

My daddy was an amazing story teller.  I remember friends and family sitting in our family den listening to him as he sat in his arm chair, legs crossed, throwing his head back in laughter as he recounted a memory or tale he had heard. Sometimes he would laugh so hard at himself that his eyes would water and he would have to wipe his nose.  I’m not sure who enjoyed the stories he told more, him or us?! This is a sweet memory for me.  Well, I guess you could say I’m a chip off the old block.  I just love to tell stories. Telling my own story?  Now that’s another story!

There is no way to put a price tag on the value of mapping out your life and seeing your own story.  Rediscovering your story can be illuminating both for your present chapter and the unwritten chapters to come.  The value lies in seeing purpose, redemption and weavings all throughout your days so that you believe with conviction that there is a reason for this crazy thing we call life!

But, yeah, I can hear you right now.  You are saying, “It’s hard to tell my story.”  Well here’s why...

The Four Myths of Telling Your Story

Myth #1 “I don’t have a very impressive story.”

Life has a way of complicating things.  We become wrapped in day to day needs and struggles.  The mundane takes over.  Each day seems like the day before.  As we get entrenched in the day to day it is so easy to forget the bigger picture.  Believe me, YOU DO HAVE A STORY...its your’s and nobody else’s.  Your story is unique and no one has a tale just like your’s.

Myth #2 "I’m not a good writer/storyteller."

Get over it!  I remember vividly in junior high learning to write an essay.  It started with something as simple as - beginning, middle and end.  After reading, Show Your Work by Austin Kleon I wrote a tiny story about my life for the very first time.  Austin made it simple and doable and gave the motivation I needed to just jot it down.  So I’m stealing from Austin Kleon here because as he instructed us in his first book, it’s okay to Steal Like an Artist! Yep, beginning, middle and end. That’s all it takes. (BTW, I recommend both of those books.)  The story itself is worth the telling, not because of how well it’s written. Besides, this may not ever be read by anyone else.

Myth #3 "I don't like my story."

Many stories contain pain, sin and suffering which make it difficult to approach.  The is where the gospel comes in!  "He has come that we might have LIFE!"  He has given new life through the riches of His love, the righteousness of His Son and the resources of a Heavenly Father who adores you.  Lay this gospel over your story for sweet healing. (Oh, and go see a counselor when necessary! I believe in therapist!)

Myth #4 "There’s no point in telling my story."

The value of your story will become crystal clear once you have taken the time to put it down on paper. What is the point?

• To see the bigger picture of your life. #perspective

• To see redemptive threads. #gratitude

• To see that God has taken care of you all along. #Hisfaithfulness

• To see that things worked out after all, even though sometimes differently than you had hoped. #hope

So, why are you telling your story again?  You tell your story to yourself (and maybe someone else someday) to be more intentional in the way that you live each day.  You realize that you are the main character in the story and you play a major role in how it is being played out.  You begin to live life with more purpose when you believe that this thing called life is a big story and you can decide how the next chapter is written.

Here is a video made up of some brave women who stepped out to tell us a part of their story.  May their stories inspire you and in turn may your story inspire others.

(The life mapping tool in pathFINDER sets the stage for writing your story.  Consider Mapping your life soon.  You will be glad you did.  Go here to see a few Life Maps.)

Why “50 somethings” Aren’t Hashtagging, DIYing, Pinning and Snapping

So why aren’t “50 somethings” hashtagging, DIYing, Pinning and Snapping? In our own ways we have "been there done that!”  

We wrote recipes on 3x5 index cards and shared them with our friends.  

We took rolls of film to be dropped off and be picked up a week later costing $10 for 24 pictures. Half of them were blurry or too dark to even see what the picture was. We had photo albums where we slid each picture into plastic pockets on pages.

We looked at magazines and cut out pictures with scissors and took them to the paint store to match the paint or to find fabric at Hancock.

For some face time with a friend we would sit in real life and chat.

We washed our faces with Dove soap and that’s all because that's what our grandmother did and that's what our mom did.

To share something fabulous with our friends we would call them on the family phone that was attached to a wall with a long curly cord that oftentimes got tangled. (Our’s was aqua!) The phone was hung on a hook and if you didn’t put it back on the hook no one could call. (Okay, that’s it!  Now I’m officially sounding old!)  

We called a list of 20 people to plan an event, left messages on answering machines and didn’t mind waiting until they called back.   

We wrote handwritten letters on yellow legal pads to friends. (Yellow was the only color.)  

When we traveled we would stop in certain cities where friends or family lived, find a phone booth, pop in a quarter to give them a phone call to save money on our long distance phone bill.  

We loved making collages. We would cut out words and pictures from magazines and glue them on poster board with Elmer’s drippy white glue which caused the clippings to warp when dry but we didn’t care.)

For party invitations we visited the Hallmark store, bought a tiny package of 20 invitations, filled in the blanks, licked, stamped and sent. (Think Precious Moments here.)

There was only one book store. We would browse to find a book to buy and read. We had no idea what all of our friends were reading but that didn’t matter.

The athletic department at Wal-Mart had two items for exercise. Gym shorts and t-shirts.  This is what we wore to exercise. By exercise I mean walk or jog. But we did get excited when step-aerobics was offered at the church.

We “50 somethings” have decorated, crafted, “recipeed”, trained children, traveled and exercised and shared it all with others in our own simple ways.

We have also addressed one too many Christmas card and we are tired. It was amazing how many of my friends decided not send out cards this year, but more interestingly, were “okay” with it. In a wonderful way we feel free of being defined by all of that but at the same time we are thinking, “What now?”

Here I am in a blink -  I just turned 51. I am the “older woman”. There was something cool and savvy about turning 50, but being 51 feels pretty blah and hum-drum. Welcome to the 50’s!  It didn’t feel very welcoming to me. It felt more like I was about to go down a long dark hallway not knowing where it would take me. As I sat and pondered all of this, God spoke and said to me,

“But what if you haven’t even seen your best days?”  

What? Many of us feel as if “those days”, the days when the house was full of kids, activities and even the dreaded laundry, were our best days. Why? Probably because we enjoyed it so much. Maybe it’s time to change our perspective.  

We have lived out many of our dreams and still feel a bit dissatisfied. It was so wonderful (well, most of it!) and we doubt there is a future up ahead that can beat those days. I do wonder where the mother bird flies when her nest is empty? The comfortable life of retirement seems attractive but sometimes purposeless. I’m convinced that we don’t want to live our lives around “the next time the kids come to visit.” And something tells me that they don’t want that either!

You’ve heard it said, “Live every day as if it were your last.” What does that do to you? It makes me feel under so much pressure.  Like, live every minute to the fullest. Is that even possible? These kinds of messages drag me down because I’m sure I can never ever measure up to this. That’s why I got excited when I began to believe that I hadn’t even seen my best days. That message shines such a positive and winsome light. I started looking for my next purpose in life. I started praying earnestly that God would send it to me. I began to look at all the ways God crafted my life, my strengths, my passions, my skills for a particular purpose and the future began to seem very exciting. I was telling my friends, “What if we haven’t even seen our best days?!”  In fact my family heard me chant it with so much joy and expectancy that my husband had my birthday cake decorated with “The best is yet to come!”

My friend Leslie and I were discussing living out our lives with the fullest, God-given capacity.  Capacity means “grown and stretched, not withdrawn and shriveled.” She reminded me of the purpose of wineskins. This is such a fabulous analogy for those of us who are entering this next stage. (Notice, I didn’t say season. If I say that I feel like I’m probably winter...cold, dark and dead!)

Leslie said, “The wineskins are filled regularly - they stretch to hold much more than they could when first made. Unused, they shrivel and shrink.”

That’s it!  Fill ourselves with God-given purpose on a continual basis. How am I living out my days at fullest capacity?  This is driven by purpose.  We were designed to live life making a difference no matter what age or stage.  So go out there and find your purpose. Then you won’t retire...you will refire!

I am that “50 something” woman - and I’m getting okay with it.

These types of posts can be inspiring but very frustrating at the same time. You might be thinking, “It sure is easy for her to say, ‘Go find your purpose!’ And leave it at that.”  

Here is a little takeaway. I believe that life has changed us with its bumps and trips along the way. This, coupled with amazing experiences, as well as the not so amazing, has made us new people. We are different. Life has changed us. We have more skills, more understanding, more grace and definitely more freedom. It’s time to go and discover who we are now at 50 something.  It’s time to re-discover who we were before we were wrapped in the amazing role of motherhood.  Take some time for yourself and go on a treasure hunt. You are a treasure right where you are.  

So wake up tomorrow believing the possibility that,

“Your best days are ahead!”

If you are interested in going on a treasure hunt of finding new life purpose you can go here to read more about how to re-discover your life.

She Smiled ...

It was a frigid, windy morning in January as I headed to the coffee shop to meet a young woman as she was seeking her next steps in life.  Recently graduating from college, Emily was energetic and excited with so many possibilities ahead of her as a talented artist.  We grabbed some hot tea and found a seat away from the door which opened and closed  blowing in the cold wind air. Conversation about worthwhile things makes my heart sing.  We opened our journals and began chatting about life, meaning and purpose.  As we talked warmth set in all around us with hot tea cups in our hands and happiness in our hearts.

Well into our conversation Emily’s phone began to ring.  Being the polite girl she is, she quietly ignored it so as not to disturb our conversation.  We continued to talk.  A few short minutes later the phone began vibrating again, prompting her to check it in case it was urgent.  She picked up the phone, looked at the incoming call and her expression changed in a blink.  Emily cocked her head and a smile spread across her face.  She has the most amazing smile, by the way.   She was full of joy.  I knew whoever was calling her was unusually loved by Emily and clearly she loved them back!  This didn’t seem to be an everyday call by her response.  She has studied all over the world and has a multitude of friends.  I thought that it was probably one of her friends from far away that she hadn’t heard from in a while.  

I said, “Who is it? Please feel free to answer.”

As she grinned Emily said, “It’s my dad.”

Wow.  Her dad.  Emily is very close to her family and speaks with her parents often.  This was not an unusual phone call at all.  I was so moved by her joy. My immediate thought was, “She must feel so loved by her dad and she must love him a tremendous amount as well.”  This is truly a gift that many would give anything to have.

Her dad was in town and had a few things to drop to her.  Nothing special that day, just a typical conversation, but clearly not a typical relationship.

We finished our tea and the day beckoned us to leave.  I walked back out into the windy air, got in my car, but before I even drove away I remembered that moment that Emily smiled.  I felt God saying to me, “I love you so much and I adore calling you. Do you see me as this kind of Father?”  

I long to hear the call of God.  I have so much desire to live the abundant life He promises for me through the very way He created me.  I think He calls but many don’t have Emily’s expression because they do not see God as an unconditionally loving and full of grace Father.  

As I drove away, I felt His love and His smile.  I longed to know what this loving Father had planned for me.  

Emily smiled and I was moved.  

He smiles at me which makes me smile.

God smiles at YOU because YOU are His masterpiece. He created you uniquely for a very specific purpose. Our lives are busier than ever with less purpose than ever. pathFINDER is the foundation for Beacon People. It was written to guide you on the greatest treasure hunt of your life - the treasure being your life-giving purpose. Go here to read more about pathFINDER.

Post-Holiday Blahs

After 3 weeks of people, food, errands, gift opening, relaxing and fun I'm feeling a bit of an emotional hangover.  I feel blah, unmotivated and draggy, not just physically but very much emotionally.  I wonder where my drive went?  Just yesterday I texted a friend and said, “Is there an emoji that is a slug?” If there was I would have used it a number of times the last few days.

While I have loved every minute of the holidays and am so thankful for a break, enough is enough.  Rest and relaxing is from God for a season and for that I’m grateful but there is a time for everything. 

I feel very alone.  It’s like everyone else is full of life and doing just fine this week.  I’m pulled to believe that I am the tree that’s been thrown out because its dead and no longer needed.

I’m wrestling with why these negative emotions start to flow, for me, the day after Christmas and camp out in my heart until after the first of the year.  Unmotivated and de-energized,  questioning thoughts of my purpose and existence swirl.  I struggle to get off the sofa.  It’s as if my mind has been erased of any desire to work and produce through the work God has given me to do.

I wonder where my passion went?  I miss it.

I am also dealing with a tremendous amount of fear and insecurity. Thoughts that weren’t there as we entered the holiday season are now saying, “I’m not really good at what I do.” or “Does anyone appreciate me?”

Chances are you are feeling the same way.

Why do the holidays do this to us?  As I ponder, I believe it has something to do with investment and the way God has wired us.  We get out of something as much as we put into it.  This would definitely be true in this case.  I have not done much at all towards my work and calling these last three weeks.  Therefore, I've gotten no return emotionally on my investment.  That's encouraging because I realize that as I get back to His work He has designed for me, fulfillment will return.  He gives these positive emotions to keep our engines running for His kingdom.  

So I got out of my chair, made a phone call to someone to share how I was feeling and I felt a drop of rain on my spirit.  I felt a bit of oxygen enter my soul.  Then I emailed and connected with someone that has been on my list for collaboration and again, more energy returned and I thought to myself, "Ah, there it is! It hasn't left after all!"

If any of this resonates with you, you are not alone.  I think many who are listening for God's call on their lives and working towards that call are feeling much the same over the holidays.  

Desiring richness and satisfaction in life is good. It’s God-given.  Desire helps me see how much I love what He has given me to do. Resting and relaxing, then feeling empty is a good motivator to remind me why I was made.  That longing for more than just parties, presents, food and relaxing is a really cool thing so let’s push for more in 2016.  I like to compare it to the Christmas decorations around our house.  By the time Christmas is over we are more than ready to pack them away and not look at them anymore! But then next year, when Christmas rolls around they will be fresh and new and we will be so excited to see them again.  

Here are few tips to help you in the post-Christmas recovery process:

Get off the sofa.  Take a walk.

Call a friend and share your thoughts.  They are probably feeling similar and would welcome the call.

Make a connection with your God-given, purposeful work through a phone call or email.

Jot down some awesome things that happened in 2015 through your work.

Jot down some awesome things you’d love to see happen in 2016.

Together, let’s taste the gift again.

Greater things are yet to come!

Ecclesiastes 3:9-13  What gain has the worker from his toil? I have seen the business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God's gift to man.

One More Thing:

So, you might be reading this and thinking “I feel this way year round, not just post-Christmas.”  Maybe you have no passion for what your day to day looks like right now.” Your job or the way you are spending your time just doesn’t seem to be life-giving. You long for more joy in your work.  Kicking off a new year is the perfect time to re-evaluate.  Yeah, I hear you…you have to pay the bills and I get that!  Maybe the way to find more fulfillment in the day to day is to find life in new ways at your existing job, look for a new job, study a new skill or get a new education?  Another thought might be to find more purpose in life by finding something outside of your day job in volunteering or giving back.  Life is meant to be lived outside of yourself. If you are interested in embarking on a new journey, you might consider going through pathFINDER. This is a 4 week interactive journal to discovering your purpose.  Go here to read more about this.  It would be a great way to kick off the new year. 

Airing My Christmas Dirty Laundry

by:  Anna Nash

“Christmas, a time for giving.”  

What does that phrase do to you? Messages like that, for me, can seem burdensome.  They put me under pressure.  For years, to me it meant, “Now go and get that giving spirit on!”  You should.  It’s what everybody is doing.  Get in the Christmas spirit!  If ever we should give to others and show acts of kindness, it is now. 

Drop a few coins in the red metal bucket by the store entrance.

Take a loaf of bread to the neighbors I don’t see the rest of the year.

As I think back, honestly, its quite humbling to admit.  I gave for two reasons.  The first reason I gave was because I should.  I saw it as a rule to follow at Christmas to make myself feel better about me.  I could clean myself up and look good to others by giving. That was a quick fix of pharisee type steroids.  I was so kind and good, wasn’t I? Obey the Christmas “rules” of giving.  There, I did it!  Check it off my list and move on.

Give that person the closest parking place.

Rally my family to take gifts to the “needy”.

The second reason I gave was because people like you more if you give them gifts.  I needed other people to like me and think I was wonderful.  Gift giving was a way of getting what I needed from them.  Crazy and backwards I know! Read that again, “Gift giving was a way of getting what I needed from them.”  

Wrap a gift for a family member that is hard to love.

Participate in opportunities at church to creatively give.

The strange thing is, I didn’t even realize how off base I was. 

Isaiah 9:2  The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.

That was me!  I was the one walking in darkness.  I believed that the people walking in darkness were the ones I was seeking to save and serve with my Christmas giving.  I didn’t realized that I needed a great light. I needed rescue from Christmas self-giving. I had no idea that I was the “needy”.

Now that I’ve aired my Christmas dirty laundry in front of you…let me go on.

In recent months I’ve discovered a new way to experience Christmas.  What a relief!  The old way was very tiring and weighty.  I was constantly decorating not just the tree but myself as well.

Worn out and spent each year, I began to be convinced that there had to be another way. By the the time Christmas day arrived I was secretly thinking, “Okay, we need to do this so I can go take a nap!”  

Was there a Christmas secret?  Yes there was.

John 10:10  "I came that they may have life and have it abundantly."

It was time.  Time for God to reveal to me that the story of Christmas would solve my Christmas messiness.  He showed me that I had it all backwards.  I thought that I was doing God and others a favor with my showers of “blessings.”  

Here’s how He did it. 

John 1:9  The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.

He revealed to me new understanding about my holiday image.  The giving of His Son was to bring me freedom…the freedom of not having to muster up kindness and generosity.  I don’t have to make myself look like I thought others wanted to see me.  You see, He took care of that.  He sent me Jesus to clothe me with His goodness and not have to depend on my own.  All I had to do was believe that.

Galatians 1:5  It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

I didn’t have to check the box of serving and giving on my list of “self-righteous check boxes.”  He not only checked that box for me, He removed the list altogether the day He rose from the dead.

Oh my word!  Revelation!  He loves me, in spite of me!  When He looks at me, as His daughter, He sees beauty, He sees His Son Jesus. He adores me. Tears. Tears of joy and gratitude. 

Romans 8:1  With the arrival of Jesus, the Messiah, that fateful dilemma is resolved.

It’s a crazy thing.  When I start to feel loved and accepted by Him, my heart is full. It is so full that it runs over with provision.  It spills over onto people all around.  It’s His goodness and grace, not my own.  It’s natural.  It’s the way He intended it to be all along.  Now there’s some comfort and joy!

I John 4:19  We love because he first loved us.

Formerly I read this passage as, “Since He loves you, you should go and love others.” Oh goodness, did I have that one backwards!  He took care of that guilt and shame thing on the cross as well.  No guilt in life…

How amazing that this is not just Christmastime perspective but year round good news!  The life and gifts He has given me on earth are for His kingdom and His glory.  Giving of myself to others, driven by the gospel, truly is the richest life I have found on earth.

So, I will keep being pulled to the old way of giving.  Even this morning I found myself consumed with wanting to impress others.  My Christmas secret?  Revisit the story.  Hear God telling you of His love for you, feel it.  Accept it.  Let it have its effect on you as you spend time with others this glorious season.  Every time you see a manger let it be a reminder of His open, loving arms.  The natural response is grace and gratitude and giving!

“And at the center of the Story, there is a baby. The Child upon whom everything would depend.”  Sally Lloyd-Jones

Shhhh, listen.  He is telling you a story.  It’s His story.  It’s your story.  It’s a love story.  This baby was His way of telling you of His deep, compassionate love for you.  Baby Jesus is the “word” I love you.

There Will Be a Package at Your Door Today

by Anna Nash

Everyone loves to come home to find an unexpected package by their door.  When you see the package a quick thought runs through your head.  A thought of excitement and anticipation swirls.  Who is it from?  What could it be?  You pick it up, feel the weight, shake it and try to see the return address. Who cares enough about me to send me a package?

This time of year the package is usually a Christmas gift.  A gift from someone who thought about you and wants you to know, comes in a bundle of something tangible they thought you would enjoy.  

Imagine you opened this gift today and found $24,000.  Attached is a note explaining that $24,000 will be deposited into a bank account in your name at midnight every night for the rest of your life.  There is just one small catch.  After 24 hours the balance of the account will go back to zero.  So, basically you have 24 hours to spend the money or it will disappear.  The account carries no balance.  

I think you can begin to see the analogy.  You are gifted 24 hours each day.  At midnight the hours you have been given cannot be rolled over.  It is not my intention to burden you or make you feel depressed with the “life is short so get out there and do something” message.  

Your perspective on the brevity of life changes dramatically through discovering God’s gifts each day, in and through this life He has given you. Instead of seeing the package of time as something you have to do or perform, see it from someone who wants you to know how much He cares about you. His gift to you is uniquely created by Him, for you. We all want to matter. He made us this way. You matter. God wants you to know this.

Finding your greatest worth each day is an adventure as you seek out how He has created you and what amazing things He has for you. Leaving your mark on the world is not a burden but a joy when you see how He has wired you with passions and strengths along the way that can be connected to your call in this life.  The greatest investment of the gift of time that doesn’t roll over is finding something to put your hand to that will last forever, to feel like you are making a difference.

So go open your front door, peak outside and you will have the gift of this day waiting for you.  Pick it up, unwrap it and ask, “God, what do you have for me this day?”

Oh, and by the way, tomorrow morning when you wake up, go peak again.  There will be another package at your door and its from someone who cares deeply about you.

Show me, O LORD, my life's end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting is my life. You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Each man's life is but a breath. Man is a mere phantom as he goes to and fro: He bustles about, but only in vain; he heaps up wealth, not knowing who will get it. "But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you. Psalm 39:4-7

So don't be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom. Luke 12:32

This Thanksgiving ... Changing Ordinary Opportunities into Blessings

So I have this friend.  Her name is Betsy and she lives on Lookout Mountain in Tennessee.  She is a beacon of light there.  How cool is that?  She is a beacon of light on Lookout Mountain!  In recent weeks Betsy has gotten involved with Beacon People and pushed to live for more with tremendous energy and passion.  Part of Betsy's passion is to champion people out in the world who are full of purpose.  Because of this, its as if she has put on glasses to notice the world in a new way, to see and believe in others who are making a difference.

Well, today, on this Thanksgiving Eve, it happened again.  Another everyday person filled with purpose crossed her path in an ordinary place who blessed her socks off.  I'll let her tell you about it...

"There was a young gentleman in front of me in line at the grocery store today.  He was probably in his twenties. Soft spoken, gentle.  He was using his WIC vouchers to pay for his food.  He had a number of items and for some reason, the clerk had to rescan everything.  In the end, he had an extra 10.00 to spend.  She suggested that he pick up some bananas because they were close enough to the register and everybody eats bananas.  He was so worried about making me wait.  He kept looking at me.  I was oblivious because I was reading emails.  I was in no hurry.  Didn’t need to be anywhere fast.  I was actually glad it was me behind him because it was Thanksgiving eve and I must have been the only one in the Food City not rushing around to cook and get ready for company.  I told him to go ahead and get the bananas.  I didn’t mind waiting.

He got his bananas, thanked me, paid, and left.  

When I got ready to pay at the register, the cashier held up a $20 bill and told me the gentleman wanted to donate to my grocery bill because I had been so patient to wait.  

I was brought to tears by a stranger.  I didn’t need the $20.  I wasn’t having a bad day and didn’t need cheering up.  I didn’t look downtrodden.  All I had done was practiced patience.  On any other day, I might have been irritated being made to wait.  But this day I practiced patience.  And then I was thanked.

He left me a $20 dollar bill that he could have used for something else.  I know some people might be irritated with the fact that he was using government vouchers to pay for his food, but had $20 to give to a stranger.  

My take:  He saw an opportunity to give and he took the opportunity.  So many people don’t. There is joy in the giving. 

I saw a quote today.  It said:

Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings. William A. Ward

What would it be like if we all took those ordinary opportunities and turned them into blessings?"

Thank you, Betsy, for such an awesome reminder as we enter the most thankful day of the year tomorrow.

Grateful beyond words. 

and "Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!" 2 Corinthians 9:15

(For more of Betsy's purpose-filled stories you can go here.)

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On the way to something unknown ...

Above all, trust in the slow work of God.

We are quite naturally impatient... in everything to reach the end without delay.

We should like to skip the intermediate stages.

We are impatient of being on the way to something unknown, something new.

And yet it is the law of all progress that it is made by passing through some stages of instability

and that it may take a very long time. 

And so I think it is with you; your ideas mature gradually

let them grow, let them shape themselves, without undue haste.

Don't try to force them on, as though you could be today what time

(that is to say, grace and circumstances acting on your own good will) 

            will make of you tomorrow.

Only God could say what this new spirit gradually forming within you will be.

Give Our Lord the benefit of believing that His hand is leading you,

and accept the anxiety of feeling yourself in suspense and incomplete.

-Teilhard de Chardin

Are You Running Your Life or is Your Life Running You?

“It’s been another crazy week!”

“Why can’t I seem to accomplish anything?”

“Why am I always saying to my kids, ‘HURRY’?" 

“I feel like everything I’m doing is done half way or never completed!”  

“I’m feeling the need to make a change in life.”                                                                            

If any of these statements resonate with you, it may be time to look at your life and evaluate your priorities.  The rhythm of your life can get out of whack from time to time and you may need some major adjustments.   If you lack purpose or are feeling overwhelmed, unproductive, or scattered, it’s time to re-evaluate.  Think carefully and honestly about your relationships, activities, and work.  Be open to the possibility that you might need to shift your priorities.  It might be helpful to write down or tell someone the changes you feel are necessary.  After you re-evaluate, you may start to see life in a new light and begin living more intentionally for the things that matter most to you. 

In order to look at the bigger picture and discover your desired direction, ask yourself these questions:

What am I living for right now?

What do I want to live for in the future?

Consider the following:

“Where there is no vision, the people perish,” Proverbs 29:18

“If you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time.”  Zig Ziglar

Now formulate a mission statement for your life.  Make it simple, make it straightforward, make it important.  And know that it will change over time.  As you re-evaluate your priorities, activities that were at one time high on your list may become less important or drop off the list altogether.  Align your profession and your passions with your mission.  If you are open to rearranging your priority list, you may find yourself living a calmer and more productive life.  

Next take time to review your mission statement and your new priority list.  Consider the following: 

1.  What are your priorities?  Be sure to include mental, physical, spiritual, and social.  Remember Luke 2:52, “And Jesus grew in wisdom (mental) and stature (physical), and in favor with God (spiritual) and men (social).” 

2.  How are you currently spending your time?  Evaluate your weekly schedule.  Write it down or enter it into your phone or computer.  Are you spending too much time on one area and not enough on others?  

3.  Are you satisfied with how you spend your time?

4. Are you taking care of yourself and your own personal needs?

5. What would you say is THE MOST important thing in your life right now?

6. What would you like to spend more time doing?

7. What do you want to spend less time doing?

8. What areas of your life need attention? Are there areas that should be dropped altogether?

9. Rank your activities in order of importance.

10.Think through the past year and more specifically the last 3 months.  What areas were out of balance?

So, after evaluating your mission, and your priorities, it’s time to set some goals.

 When setting goals make sure and remember to make them:

• doable, simple and not too complicated. 
• obtainable
• realistic
• match up with your desired life

Once you have defined your mission, your priorities, your goals, it’s time to implement your new life plan.  Set some objectives under each goal of how you practically are going to make changes.  It’s one thing to decide what you need to do, it’s another to do it.  Give yourself some time, determine if you are living life more fully and intentionally, and then enjoy your new, well-determined life. 

Living a life that is smart and well thought out is one of the best ways to become a more productive person.  Instead of running around with no direction, walk calmly through your days.  You might feel like you are doing less, but you will be accomplishing more.  And believe me, the people in your life will like you much better!

We all lose perspective from time to time and a little reflection does wonders.  So be strong and take control.  

Instead of letting your life run you, you run your life.  You’ll be glad you did! 

Ordinary Wrappings

So this week found Beacon People traveling to Tupelo, Mississippi. Most people travel to Tupelo to find the birthplace of Elvis or to find the sweet treasure of Tupelo Honey. But we found some jewels there worth telling you about!  An old Proverb says, "Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul and health to the bones."  We found some honey in Tupelo for sure!  This group longs to make a difference through a publishing company, a creatives group, a horse therapist, a gift shop owner, a crisis pregnancy center, a church outreach and so much more! This blogpost is by Sara Berry, one of the Beacons we met in Tupelo.  

Ordinary Wrappings by Sara Berry

I believe everyone longs to know their calling.  The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren was such a phenomenal and inspiring read and was embraced by millions of people.  Why?  Because deep down we all want to believe that we were born for a reason.  That we will leave this earth having made a difference.  That we will leave a mark on others, which will cause them to remember us. We long for meaning in our lives and many times we waste a lot of time, money, energy, and relationships trying to find that meaning.  

As Christians, we refer to this as the Call of God. Sounds really formal doesn’t it?  But it’s not really.  Think about your mother’s voice calling you in to dinner when you were a child.  Or a call from a dear friend with whom you haven’t spoken in a while.  Or what about the call of your child in the middle of the night, wanting to just be reassured that you are still close by.  These calls are familiar and dear to us, as should be the call of God to our souls.  

Sometimes the call of God is a reproof—a call to attention.  When Adam and Eve ate the apple, God called to them saying, “Where are you?”  God, of course, knew where they were, but they needed to be aware of where they had ended up.

The Lord Himself made clothes for them to cover their shame.  This was foreshadowing of the ultimate covering that would come … the covering of the Blood of Jesus.  It is because of that covering we can be called and used by God.

Do you realize that no matter what ordinary wrappings you have, God sees you as a chosen one?

You did not choose me, I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. John 15:16

He chose you for a special appointment, just as he chose Moses for his special appointment.  Will you accept the appointment?  Will you choose your “chosen-ness”?  

And then God says, “Go…Go and bear fruit”. Go bear the fruit of the Spirit:  love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control.  And only with the power and anointing of the Holy Spirit, will it be healthy fruit that will last.  Yes, people can do good things—things that help our society.  Humanitarian and social efforts can produce good changes.  But true, lasting fruit can only be produced when someone starts to realize and act like a chosen one who has accepted an appointment.  With that first step, with that surrender of our own will and feeble efforts, God is pleased.  And when God is pleased, great things begin to happen!  We step aside, and He steps in.  He uses our ordinary status, and brings about His extraordinary work.  

What is your calling from God at this particular time in your life?  Ask Him.  He will gladly show you!

What is Your "Happily Ever After?"

Six people came together on a hot, hazy summer night to enjoy each other’s company.  We sat around the table eating sushi and telling stories.  The stories we told were about our work, our families, and our lives. 

“You won’t believe what happened to me today!”

“Guess what I’m going to do when the kids get back in school.”

“My ninety year old mother-in-law did the funniest thing!”

As we shared our stories, intriguing details from everyone’s life began weaving an amazing tapestry.  The tapestry grew more colorful and lovely as the night wore on.  No two threads were alike.  Each person’s experience was unique and inspiring.  And each person’s life created a beautiful story.     

Once Upon a Time... 

My kids used to say, “Mom, tell me about the day I was born!”  Every life has a story.  Every story has a purpose.  And every purpose is important.  Take a minute to think about your story.  When did you discover your calling and begin living your life with purpose?  How would you finish the sentence that starts your “Once upon a time?”  If you’re not sure, let’s think about the Author of your story.  Our Author and Creator ordained all our days and wrote them in His book before one of them came to be, according to Psalm 139:16.  Isn’t that great news?  Your story already had purpose and significance even before you were born.  Now it’s your job to discover/uncover your story and begin living it with purpose.       

Plot twist ... 

Every story has “Plot twists,” or unexpected developments.  What are the plot twists in your story?  What are the details or circumstances in your life that you didn’t see coming?  Plot twists are challenges you didn’t ask for and gifts you didn’t want.  The good news is these unexpected twists encourage you to turn roadblocks into opportunities.  They encourage change, which leads to growth and progress.  They encourage you to figure out how to move forward with your story according to your Creator’s plan.  Isaiah 46:10 reads God’s purpose will stand.  Although your life might seem confusing, surprising, or even disappointing at times, His plan for you is always full of purpose.  The plot twists you face are not accidental, and as a result of them, the pages in your story will be beautiful.  Those gifts you thought you didn’t want become the very gifts you would never return.    

Happily Ever After... 

Ahhhh…and now for our favorite part.  The music plays and the characters walk off into the sunset with smiles on their faces.  Although we may not admit it, we all have a “Happily ever after” dream for our lives.  To determine your expectations, or your “Happily ever after,” think about these statements:

"If only _______________ would happen then I could ______________."  

"I hope my story turns out like this:  ________________."  

"I would like the last chapter of my life's story to read like this: ________________________"

Your Creator is the author of your story.  He wrote it for you.  But you get to decide how to live it, and your choices determine how your story will be told.  Your life may be different than you expected, but it may also be better.  The colorful threads you are adding to the tapestry make it complete.  So don’t try to rewrite your story.  Instead, find your “Once upon a time,” accept the “Plot twists,” and embrace your “Happily ever after.”  Your story is a beautiful narrative that has been written specifically and especially for you. 

So pull up a chair, have some sushi, and tell us your story.  Tell us His story.    

"Writing our stories and sharing them is one of the most powerful ways to grow and make that journey from the head to the heart.” Claire DeBoer

Stories connect us.

Stories heal us.

Stories give us purpose.

God is the writer I am just the narrator... the person who tells the story.