Hearts in Service Blog

We had a few smoke-filled days from the wildfires that are raging in Canada and the air quality was in the very unhealthy range. Our windows were shut tight and yet, the house still had a smokey smell. I am thankful that the past two days things improved tremendously. This was the mid-day sky on Thursday. The sun was so eerie looking and the sky was full dark and hazy. I've been deliberately putting things in my schedule that bring me joy - walks, time with friends and family, times to create, writing.  I had a second television interview on Saturday about plant-based eating and my cookbook. It was a different and fun activity. Yesterday, was our day off and Dan and I ended up going on a four mile hike. We ended the morning by going to a favorite spot and sitting on a boulder "on top of the world" to have lunch. Perfect! I've deliberately started scheduling in times of being present, times with important people in my life and times of working on projects (not work-rel...

God has been steering me down the road of leadership over the past decade and as the eldest child in my family who was given much responsibility, I'm a natural born leader. But that doesn't mean I always like it. It's a heavy mantle to wear at times and not one that I wear lightly.  Here are ten things I'm learning as I lead: 1. I'm learning a lot about myself - strengths and weaknesses.  2. I'm learning that leadership doesn't come with an instruction manual. 3. I have learned that sometimes people can be disgruntled just because you are not the previous leader and that I have to be okay with that. 4. I have learned that some people are an absolute joy to work with and others will complain and find fault no matter what because that's their nature. I have to be okay with that too and not take it to heart. 5. I've learned that bearing the weight of responsibility is not possible if I don't stay connected to the vine.  6. I am learning to have sche...

  What is your response when facing an obstacle?  Is it to become fearful and anxious?  To spend hours worrying and replaying it over and over in your mind?  To spiral into depression? To feel like you are going to be crushed by the burden? Or something else? As I read in 2 Chronicles 20, I found a better solution for the problems we all face. 2 Chronicles 20:1-4 (HCSB) ~ After this, the Moabites and Ammonites, together with some of the Meunites, came to fight against Jehoshaphat.   People came and told Jehoshaphat, “A vast number from beyond the Dead Sea and from Edom has come to fight against you; they are already in Hazazon-tamar”   (that is, En-gedi).   Jehoshaphat was afraid, and he resolved   to seek the   Lord . Then he proclaimed a fast   for all Judah,   who gathered to seek the   Lord . They even came from all the cities of Judah to seek Him. Jehoshapat is facing a huge obstacle.  Three other nations were on thei...

Acts 20:24 ~   I count my life of no value to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of God’s grace. I've been reading Acts lately and have been inspired by Paul's missionary journeys. As he approaches the end of the record of his travels he talks about knowing what he is going to face - beatings, jail, torture and even death, and makes this statement above. His only concern was finishing the ministry that he was given and staying the course of sharing the gospel. Most of us will never face the things that Paul faced, and yet, so easily to veer off course. We allow worries, finances, family and a whole host of other things to get in the way of the ministry we've been given or get in the way of following where God leads.  I know there have been times when I've allowed that to happen in my own life and when it does, I need to adjust my course and get back on the path that I know God has set me on...

When I started this blog 18 years ago (has it really been that long?), my goal was to share from my heart. I often share ways that God is speaking to me and I never wanted to come from a position of "I have all the answers so you should listen to me." The reality is that I'm figuring out life as I go along and I want to be transparent enough so that those reading could actually relate to what I write.  Life is hard. There are not easy answers and if anyone tells you that, they are not being honest. Sometimes as I share it seems as if I come to one conclusion about something, but then change my mind at a later date. And that is because as God deals with me I may find that I was wrong about something or need to tweak it. So the problem with being transparent is that I have to come back and write about a different conclusion.  It was interesting today as I was walking and contemplating about my life and some of what I wrote the other day about needing connection. And then I ...

  I love spring as it ushers in song birds, blooming flowers, greenery every where I look and the renewal of all things. Nature comes alive and everything is fresh and new. Of course, here in the northeast, we still have chilly days and nights but overall it's refreshing to know that warm temperatures are on the way.  I have renewed energy and renewed hope. The extended and brighter days also reveals corners in my house that need a refreshing and cleaning. With a very quiet few days ahead of me I plan on doing some spring cleaning out of those corners and a refresh and reset in my house.  I got out and walked at the local audubon center the other day as that is one of the places that is a healing balm to my soul. Ministry is hard and sometimes, people can be difficult. And for me, being able to connect to the Lord while out in creation is essential. I find as I walk and pray, think and photograph my spirit is renewed and refreshed. I come home better able to deal with iss...

I had anticipated the beginning of last week with high hopes. My new book, Fostering a Positive Ministry Environment, had been accepted into a bundle and was heavily marketed to a wider audience than I have. I was excited about it and spent weeks getting it ready to release. The time arrived and I pictured lots of social media sharing and while the e-book was offered for free for the three days of the bundle, I also had a paperback available on Amazon. Last Monday I awoke with anticipatory glee! After a week and a half I can safely say that the response from that bundle was just "meh". It really didn't produce much of anything and I was deflated.  The other downside to being part of this bundle was that I had to heavily do self-promotion which I absolutely hate. It's uncomfortable for me and I would rather have others just kindly share for me rather than me having to do it myself.   It is a new week and with some reflection, I realize that some good has come from it.....

I've spent the past two days in this room, painting it from an ugly flourescent green to this camel color and looking out on this little garden area. My son-in-law and daughter purchased their first home and I'm visiting for a few days to help out with the painting. But as I'm painting, I'm also praying. Praying that God would bless them in their new space. That they would recognize His hand in their daily lives. That their marriage would be blessed and that any future children they have would grow up feeling loved and safe. I love to paint, but after doing it for long hard hours, there comes a moment of feeling completely overwhelmed and wanting to throw in the towel. But I pressed on, got mutiple second winds throughout the day and the finished result is beautiful.  That's a lot like parenting or anything hard and yet, worthwhile in life, isn't it? It's long difficult work. It's exhausting at times and exhilirating at others. There are ugly moments whe...

I'm getting ready to spend the last day of this never-ending January at a conference. It's 4 a.m. and Dan and I will be headed out in a couple of hours to drive the hour and a half to get there. To be honest, I don't really feel like going since it's 8 degrees out and I also have a long list of things I could be doing. But the main reason I'm attending is we have a couple of younger people from our church going and I want to encourage them, especially the young woman who is attending.  I turned 64 last weekend and there is part of me that feels as if my time is over, but then I remember I still have much to offer. I'm finding that as I age that the opportunities in my life are less about me and more about coming alongside the next generation and helping them lead and grow.  I head up a writing team for our national women's group and what I've been doing is seeking out younger women who normally may not have an opportunity to write for a larger audience. ...

One  of the greatest lessons I'm learning in my life is to go with the flow or to pivot. I was talking with a friend and said to her that half the battle with the holidays is not to be so rigid in what we think these days should look like. As I've learned to be easy going about my expectations it has made for some very pleasant memories. I cringe to think back on my earlier years and all the times I threw a fit because things weren't going according to the plan I had in my head. The reality is that we cannot control anything in our lives and the more we try to, the more unhappy we will become. This year's holiday plans included a lot of pivoting and yet, it has been one of the most pleasant I can remember. A lot of that had to do with the fact that I was determined to be okay with things being different.  We had our traditional Christmas eve service (being in ministry means some things will always be the same). But my daughter and son-in-law ended up staying home and co...