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...

At the end of my street the road ends and there is a path that goes up the hill, across a ramp over a little stream and then up into the local park. I often walk this way so I can walk around the park. From my front door and once around the entire park and back is a little over a mile. If I want to walk more I can do laps around the park or walk through our neighborhood.  As I cross the ramp to get over the stream there is a patch of daisies growing on the side of the bank. They are hidden away and would probably go unnoticed by most people. But every day their happy blossoms are peeking through the grass. Rain or shine, they are blooming. Some gardeners consider them weeds and yet, the simple daisy brings joy to my heart.  I feel as if there are many people in this world who are like these daisies. They show up day in and day out, blooming and bringing happiness to those around them. But many do this regardless of if someone notices or not. There is nothing showy or spec...

If any of you have read my blog long enough you may realize that I'm not known for my rest. In fact, the words I hear from so many in my life is, "You are so busy." And those four little words have started to bother me. They are bothering me because that is not what I want to be known for in my life. I don't want people to think that I'm too busy to have a conversation with them or that I don't have time for a connection.  But if I continually project the word, "busy," then I really can't get too upset when I feel alone. I don't have to necessarily stop all the things I'm doing though I am looking at what is necessary and what is not. God has given me a fairly high capacity to handle many things.  However, I do realize that I'm not always good at being present and focusing on the person I'm talking to at that moment. I find that I have a tendency to jump up in the middle of a conversation to go do something that needs doing. The m...

One of the reasons I love hiking so much is that it forces me to slow down and live in the moment. As I walk through the forest all I hear is the sound of my footsteps, the birds and the breeze blowing through the trees. I'm disconnected from technology and as I take pictures I'm noticing the details.  I spot things I normally wouldn't see. I can spend as much time as I want just listening and looking. I'm not enslaved to my to-do list. It also allows time for some self-reflection. I am thankful we live so close to some beautiful hiking trails. I can walk in our neighborhood, but as someone who connects to God best out in nature, it's something that is necessary for me. As the car climbed the mountain and came up out of the fog on Monday, I could feel the cares falling away. I find that my head clears on these hikes, I'm able to find solutions to a situation or gain clarity on how to proceed. Disconnecting for a bit helps me to reconnect and center myself to fac...

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've been missing in action here for more than a week. In that time, we've celebrated a birthday (my eldest's), went to a conference for a few days, ministry activities, and just been overall busy. Plus, to be honest, I just haven't had much to say. Yesterday afternoon, I spent getting ready for today's farmer's market. I'm torn with doing it because it takes such a large chunk out of my Saturdays. However, as a people person who is alone most of my days it affords me the opportunity to get out in the community and be around people. I've met new acquaintences. I've gotten some business opportunities, including being interviewed for a local television channel next Saturday about my cookbook and plant-based eating. Being at the market meets a need I have for connection. We moved here seven years ago and there are days when it's a challenge. It has been difficult to establish deep connections with some. I'm not sure why some people hold us at ar...

I've been hearing a lot about surrender lately in my reading, my prayers as the Holy Spirit speaks to me, in different messages I've heard. Philippians 2:3-8 ~ Do nothing out of rivalry or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. Everyone should look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus, who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be used for His own advantage. Instead He emptied Himself by assuming the form of a slave, taking on the likeness of men. And when He had come as a man in His external form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death— even to death on a cross. Surrendering to God requires humility and a laying down of my will.  It is daily - moment by moment. It means setting aside my pride and my need for others to notice. It means staying in a hard place in my life until the Lord has taught me...

I lay away in the wee hours of the morning on Sunday, unable to sleep and stressed about a situation. Psalm 23 began to run through my head and as I recited it to myself I walked through the verses and what they mean.  The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I lack. He gives me everything I need. He watches over me. He is my protector and provider. He is my defender. He lets me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. I find this verse interesting since the pastures of the Old Testament wouldn't look like pastures here in the states. They weren't green and lucious. They were just intermittent tufts of grass near where moisture collected by the rocks.  So the sheep had to keep moving to find nourishment. That's true of our lives. As we follow the shepherd we will have moments of nourishment and rest, but we need to keep moving to grow.  Shepherds didn't drive the sheep, they led them. God isn't pushing us forward, but He leads us and it's ou...

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...

It took a long time, but the snow has melted from my front lawn. The temperatures have been warm and wonderful the past week and I've been able to get back out at our local Audubon center and walk a few times during the week. The sun has been shining and my energy levels are up. It's been great! My activities have ramped up over the past few weeks as well. This is always a busy time of the year and it seems as if everything is happening all at once this year. I'm leading a leadership webinar next month so am working on that. I'm working on a program for this Friday night, prayer stations for our Good Friday service and getting ready for our district women's conference next month. I have a couple of articles to write. Whew! These are all enjoyable activities, but I also am taking time each day to sit and reflect, to get outside and do the things I love such as walking, hiking and photography. I have been trying to take time to do fun activities so that I'm not ju...

I awoke at 2 a.m. and lay there unable to go back to sleep. There was no good reason for being awake. I hadn't eaten anything different, I didn't fall asleep watching television, and I didn't have caffeine. But I was wide awake! So after tossing and turning for a bit, I used it as an opportunity to pray. I prayed for safety for a few different friends I have that are stuck in the Middle East at the moment and unable to get home.  I prayed for my family, immediate and extended. I prayed for wisdom as I'm juggling many things. I prayed about a webinar I will be leading next month and a conference I am putting together.  At times, I wonder if God really hears my small requests when there are bigger and harder things in the world. I mean my little problems really pale in comparison with the big picture. And our finite minds really cannot comprehend how God can hear all of the prayers of everyone at the same time. However, I had a revelation about this yesterday morning. I w...

  I've been able to get out and hike the past few days and that has made my heart sing. March came in like a lion with more snow and colder temperatures, but there are signs that spring is on the way.  One of the main signs is that animals are starting to make an appearance.  When it does snow it is quick to melt and there is a different feel to the sun.  The rythm of the seasons is a good reminder that no matter what we are going through and how bleak a situation may feel, we will come out the other side. The sun will shine again and we will emerge stronger. It's easy to forget that when we are bogged down in moment. I am thankful for tangible reminders of those truths. There is still some winter to get through, but spring is on the way.  I am thankful.