Encouraging Deep Roots

Ignore the condition of my very old shoes! I always think of myself as fairly adventerous.  I like to explore and  I believe that I'm up for many things, but I don't think I really have wanderlust. And a s I've gotten older, I really think I'm more of a homebody. I love getting out to hike and explore, but I would rather sleep in my own bed at night.  I enjoy making my space a beautiful and peaceful enviornment.  I prefer staying in at the end of the day and enjoy a quiet evening at home. My bedtime is the same time every single night. My sewing room/office is my haven.  I enjoy days when I can putter around my house and spend some time cleaning and straightening it.  I recently had the opportunity to travel to Cote d'Ivoire in West Africa to present at a workshop at our denomination's first world fellowship women's conference. The leadership team I'm part of was hosting the event. Part of me really wanted to go and I thought it was an honor to be asked....

Last week zipped by as I traveled back from my weekend retreat on Monday, worked on three messages that I'm giving at a different retreat this coming weekend, did church ministry, and got some walks into my days. I took my father-in-law to visit my mother-in-law's grave on their 65th anniversary (the first without her) and then out to lunch with him. I did some sewing. Made meals as normal. Red Lentil & Quinoa Wraps Lentil Meatballs Did some cooking with my son.  Visited my daughter and son-in-law and attended a fall festival with them. Found hidden gems. Weeded the front flower bed at church, organized towels that we distribute to those in need and set up 6 towel basket deliveries, including one I delivered myself. Taught a small group class and then rocked and read to little ones in the nursery. I sat and read and wrote.  It was a good week and I am thankful for every little thing.

Ministry can be tiring and there can be moments of wanting to throw in the towel. But then there are also those moments when someone's life is changed and I think, "There it is." "This is the reason I keep pressing on." There were a few of those "aha" moments this past weekend. I opened up my Bible to read this morning and this was the passage I landed on.  Psalm 116:12-14 ~  How can I repay the  Lord  for all the good he has done for me?  I wil take the cup of salvation and call on the name of the  Lord .  I  will fulfill my vows to the  Lord in the presence of all his people. God has been so good to me despite my inadequacies. I want to continue to press into the calling He gave me so many years ago. His goodness is there even when I forget to recognize it.  It's there in the good times and the bad. It's there when others praise you or when they criticize. It's there in times of abundance or times of scarcity.  David is asking a q...

I leave later this morning for my weekend retreat and I'm enjoying the peace and solititude before the busyness begins. It's about a 4  & 1/2 hour car ride with stops. I really don't mind driving as it gives me time to reflect and pray or listen to music and podcasts. I'm leaving a day early because I'm staying with a friend and this way I'm not traveling and jumping right into the weekend. I can have a slow start tomorrow morning and take my time setting up. I love the many layers of these events. I enjoy prepping and event-planning. Of course, as with any sort of event-planning, no matter how organized I am there is always something that goes awry. Someone doesn't read all the information or there is a snafu thrown into the mix. But for the most part, I'm prepared and am praying that it's a good weekend. The main thing I'm praying is that God would help me keep my eyes and ears open and that I would be able to listen well to others so that ...

Normally, I sit down on Monday and reflect on the things I'm thankful for in my life. Yesterday was a busy day and so I'm doing this a day late, but sometimes you just need to stop and say, "Thank you!" Ministry: I have a district-wide fall retreat coming up this weekend and have been busy putting together all the finishing touches on that. Usually, I start having dreams around this time that center around me being unprepared so I'm amazed that hasn't happened.  I also have to prepare three messages for a conference I'm speaking at in Texas the second weekend in October. It's coming up quickly and I really was starting to get concerned, because while I know what I'm speaking on, I didn't have anything down on paper. However, yesterday I sat down at my laptop and was amazed that two out of the three  messages came together. That's usually a sign that I have gotten out of the way, and allowed the Lord to give me what He wants me to say. My pl...

The fog was hanging in the valley as I went for an early morning walk yesterday. It was still and peaceful and incredibly beautiful.  I was reminded once again of the importance of disconnecting from the blaring voices of social media and just keep my focus on the Lord. It's been a stressful week in many ways which revs up my anxiety, and I know that it is important for me to stay connected to the source of my strength. I received a text from a friend who was going through a difficult time with someone and asked for prayer navigating the relationship. As I was walking and praying for her, I felt my anxiety calming down, and God reminded me that I need to be an instrument of His peace. That simple act of praying for another was the catalyst for my own inner peace. God's word tells us that being a peacemaker is the task of anyone who is a Christ-follower. We can read it over and over again in Scripture. Matthew 5:9 ~   "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called ch...