Encouraging Deep Roots

  Each morning I wake up and stumble my way to the kitchen and pour myself a cup of coffee. I then make my way to my favorite chair, open up my bible and journal, and settle in to spend some time in the word and hearing from the Lord. This morning time has become sweeter as I age and is something I look forward to each day. It's been the time that centers my thoughts and prepares me for the busyness of each day. It's also the time when some of those anxious thoughts that nag at me recede and where I find hope and joy to face each new challenge. I also find that it is the time when I'm reminded of the multitude of blessings that I have in my life.  On Monday I look back over the previous week and attempt to come up with a list of ways I've been blessed, where I've seen the Lord at work, and things I'm thankful for in my life.  Last week was very busy as I plunged back in after vacation. However, there are many things to be thankful for in the middle of the busyne...

  Dan and I arrived home last yesterday afternoon after spending a few days at the beach with our daughter, son-in-law and his family. I would describe it as relaxing, rejuvenating and reflective. There is something about the ocean and the beach that forces you to slow way down.  We have one day left of vacation and I'm still in a reflective mode as I get ready to plunge back into my busy life. I've been spending a lot of time reading Ecclesiastes this week and as I get older I realize how much wisdom is in that little book.  Life is short, make wise decisions, choose your words wisely, stop being uptight about everything and enjoy each moment. If you don't enjoy your life there is no point to your activity. Realize that life is full of ups and downs regardless of your choices, but make good choices anyway. Trust God in all things.  I've oversimplified the message, but those were some of my takeaways. Some I do fairly well at and others I definitely need to work on. ...

Every so often, I will take a psalm and rewrite it in my own words. I find it helpful to put it in my own "language." I did that this morning with Psalm 16. Father, I find my safety and security in you so please place your hand of protection over me. The only thing of any value in my life is you. You are worth more than the collection of all earthly treasurers. Lord, I find absolute delight in those who follow your precepts and seek to live righteously. On the other side of that coin are those who reject you and consciously turn their back on you. It saddens me that they have chosen to reject your beautiful promises. Father, you are my daily sustenance. You are the author of my past, the God in my present, and you are weaving together my future.  You have set boundaries for my life. They are not restrictions, but protections to help me walk in the path you have for me. The boundaries are not something to fight against, but are a beautiful reminder of the unique plan you have ...

I'm excited to announce that I have a new e-book available as a free download on my website. It's called, "Fostering a Positive Ministry Environment: Encouraging Deep Roots Series." A positive ministry environment doesn’t happen by chance. It is the result of intentional effort from every member. So many leaders forget the importance of creating an environment where team members feel affirmed and valued. This little book will help you begin to intentionally think about your leadership style and your team and how to foster an environment of growth where team members can thrive. At the end of each short chapter, I have added questions for reflection. Take time to prayerfully answer them and you can also use them to facilitate discussions with your team. 35 pages Downloadable e-book You can find it here: https://encouragingdeeproots.com/books-and-resources I also updated my website and added a shop so people can purchase any of my books directly from me rather than have ...

This past weekend Dan and I traveled across the state to attend the Celebration of Life service for my stepfather.  Both Dan and my brother-in-law were asked to read some scripture, say a few words and pray. Then others shared their memories. My stepfather was a kind man who impacted many lives. It was a special time of remembrance and he will be missed. I was especially thankful that I got to spend some time with my sister and brother-in-law. We only see each other once a year or so and it was wonderful to catch up. While it was a wonderful weekend, it was also difficult as we all processed the hard road of having broken families. My sister and I felt like we were intruding on his children's grief  and not feeling like we really belonged there. Our stepdad came into our lives when we were older, but he treated us as if we were his own and we loved him. But I'm certain his children have also struggled through the years from having a dad who divorced their mom and married ...

We are on vacation for the next few weeks and have been trying to do a few different things than our normal hiking trips. We love to hike and will still incorporate that into the weeks, but also wanted to do a few fun things that make it actually feel like vacation. We started the week by driving 2 1/2 hours to go to The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Now to be honest, I actually thought I wouldn't enjoy this as much as the guys did. I was wrong. This was 6 floors of exhibits, music, and memories from my growing up years. I loved every minute of this place and it was well worth the money. Dan and Stephen loved "The Garage" which was a floor dedicated to instruments and being able to play them all. They had a studio where you could play with a live band and they jumped right in to play. Of course, they have both played for years so did great. It was so fun! On Tuesday, Dan and I went hiking on a local trail and did a 6 mile hike on a very hot and humid day. I love that there ...