Follow Truth

Do you ever feel stuck sometimes?

I do.

With all that is happening in the world, and in the lives of people we love, or our own lives, sometimes I feel stuck in between emotions. For example, I find myself hesitant to write something positive on here some days because I don’t want those hurting to feel like I don’t see them and hear them. And those days when I have something heavier to share, I hesitate to write as I don’t want to bring someone who is joyful down. So then I just don’t write. I don’t think that’s the solution as I know I love hearing other people’s hearts daily, good or bad, but the reality is, I get stuck sometimes.

If you too have found yourself at times getting stuck in some way, I invite you to join me to…

pause. breathe. pray.

May we recognize that God doesn’t want us to be stuck or have our emotions to lead us. Instead He wants His truth and peace to lead us. A verse I lean into a lot is “may the peace of Christ rule your heart.” In this verse I see that when emotions rule my heart, they take me on a wild ride. Yet to live in His truth and peace gives me and grounding I need, with greater clarity. Our emotions are a blessing and we are to experience them, but if we find ourselves stuck living in them, I pray we can lift our eyes up vertically to where our help comes from so we can gain wisdom on how to get unstuck in our horizontal living.

With love and hope,

Shawn

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.

And be thankful. - Colossians 3:15

Harness the Hurt

Tonight at Matt’s school there was an event that encouraged the students to spread kindness. This thoughtful organization was started by a mom who lost her son. She took her hurt and chose to harness it to spread kindness to others.

I share this today to shine a light on this wonderful organization and to recognize that so many organizations were started from someone harnessing their hurt to make a difference in the lives of others.

If you have a current hurt, or past hurt, I invite you to join me to…

pause. breathe. pray.

I don’t know your story but what I do know is that we all experience trials in our lives. Tonight I was reminded that when we take our hurts and harness them to make a difference, it will not only help others, it will also help us heal.

With love and hope,

Shawn

To learn more about this organization visit: @bensbellsct

All things work together for good to them that love God,

to them who are the called according to his purpose.

- Romans 8:28

Kate is 16!

Kate is 16!

Today we are celebrating our girl’s 16th birthday. I can’t believe Kate’s 16! One of the things I absolutely love doing with Kate is our car rides together. We sing songs at the top of our lungs, she often shares her heart, or we sit in comfortable silence together. Oh goodness these moments are sweet and something I cherish.

Sixteen is a stepping stone to Kate’s independence and I’m recognizing those car rides will become less frequent soon, once she gets her license.

Sometimes we don’t recognize the gift in front of us until it’s gone, or grown.

I share this today to celebrate my girl but also for all the parents who too are in the season of letting go.

I invite you to join me to…

pause. breathe. pray.

May we give thanks for all the sweet memories we get to make beside our kids. May we cherish the moments, big and small, and see them for what they are, blessings from God. And as our kids grow, may we be willing to step back and watch them step forward into the people God made them to be.

Although I will admit, that until Kate’s off on her own in a couple of years, I will invite her for random car rides. And in them I’ll cherish every song we sing, every conversation we have, and every moment of comfortable silence I get with my girl.

With love and hope,

Shawn

Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed,

for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go. - Joshua 1:9

Be the Helpers

I invite you to join me to…

pause. breathe. pray.

May we be a part of the change we pray to see, near and far.

With love and hope,

Shawn

The crowds asked him, 'What then should we do?' He answered, 'Whoever has two shirts must share with the one who has none, and whoever has food must do the same. - Luke 3:10-11

True Friendship

The other day I was with Kate and a couple of her closest friends. As I watched them walk beside one another I thought about how these three have walked through the valleys, along the plateaus and to mountain top moments together through the years. They are completely themselves with one another and love each other for who they are, accepting one another, not trying to change each other. They build each other up, and don’t tear each other down. There is a calm confidence when they are together and it’s truly beautiful to witness. They may not be beside one another in person every day, as they are at different schools, but they always know they have one another.

I share this today as their friendships remind me of the love of Jesus. He’s a constant in our lives we can turn to who meets us where we are with love and walks beside us, no matter the terrain. If you already walk with Jesus, or would like to give it a try, I invite you to join me to…

pause. breathe. pray.

May we make a conscious choice to walk beside Jesus today. For when we do, we will see how He loves us we are, whether we are put together or a mess. His friendship is the one we can count on, anytime, any day, always.

And like these three girls know, there is nothing better than a friendship that will last a lifetime.

With love and hope,

Shawn

…I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. - John 15:15

Focus on the Light in the Darkness

Tonight I chose to sit in a dark room and light a candle.

Why?

Because the darkness is real, it’s thick and it’s heavy. There is so much happening in the world, far and near, the darkness can seem consuming. Yet I sat with this flickering candle as a reminder that the light does overcome the darkness.

I needed this reminder and am sharing in case you needed it too. I invite you to join me to…

pause. breathe. pray.

Whatever darkness we may be experiencing, may we remember the truth God gave us; that darkness will not overcome the light. So when things seem dark and heavy, may we remember to purposefully focus our eyes and tune in our ears on God’s word. His Word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. And just as this candle helped bring light to my dark room, God’s Word will shine a light into the darkness of life and renew our sight and perspective.

With love and hope,

Shawn

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. - John 1:5

Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. - Psalm 119:105

The unfolding of your words gives light

- Psalm 119:130

Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are healthy, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are unhealthy, your body also is full of darkness. See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness.

- Luke 11:34-35

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.

- John 8:12

Value People

As we move through our day where not much has changed in our day to day happenings, may our hearts extend compassion to the Ukrainian people whose world was changed over night. Together let’s lift our prayers to God, praying as though the families impacted were our own and for their provision, protection and for paths to be made to safety and peace

With love and hope,

Shawn

…be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. - Romans 12:12

Count Our Blessings

Today my mom and I took a walk and had lunch together. I am thankful for the memories we made and that I am able to see these little moments are truly the big things in life.

I share this with you today to invite you to join me to…

pause. breathe. pray.

May we take time before we go to bed each day to count our blessings. From the blessing of waking up and saying good morning to our loved ones, to the walks to the bus stop, the talks in the car on the way to or from practice, a visit with a loved one, a phone call with a dear friend, and more. May we give thanks for the sweet bits of time we get beside our loved ones, and see how these little moments are truly big moments of our lives.

With love and hope,

Shawn

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances;

for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. - 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

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