Hope Victorious

  I excel at multi-tasking.   I make necessary phone calls while doing meal prep in the kitchen.   If I’m on hold with the insurance company, I start a load of laundry in the garage and then do another household chore while keeping the phone close by.   I read email while blow dying my hair and listen to podcasts while exercising or doing the dishes.   I plan out the day and make my mental “to do” list while I shower in the morning.   Productivity is elevated as a goal in our culture.   We push to see how much we can fit in each day; how much we can get done.   We strive for balance between all the demands on us in all our various roles.   Often this means that we are doing more than one thing at a time and usually feel “behind”. I have been proud of all that I can do in any given day or week.   My life is full of good things; I am a wife, a mom of four boys, I co-pastor a church.   I am a writer, a friend, a mentor and influenc...

Promise is a place in my heart where I am free Free to dream and run without fear or inhibitions   Promise is a wide-open field No obstacles or limitations Together we dance there We twirl and leap with wild abandon No evaluation -   no weighty decisions No watching or waiting Movement set free by innocence and the confidence of being loved Promise is a field I dance in   Promise is a deep pool of still cool water Clear and unclouded Together we dive in We explore the depths and float on the gentle waves No fears lurk beneath the surface No effort or depletion I rest suspended by the depths of your heart for me Promise is a pool I dive in   Promise is a whisper, faint beneath the noise Strong but still and small Together we listen - expecting to hear Wonder and beauty more than I can imagine No darkness or hint of doom A whisper like a mighty wind My soul soars as I listen to possibilities, abilities, power and wo...

  I’m walking towards love!   Every time I encounter fear, I’m making a conscience choice to turn away and move towards love.   There is no fear in love!   1John 4:18 says this: “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.”   When I experience fear, however big or small, I am taking it as an invitation to pursue love more.   Recognize the fear, turn away from it and turn towards love and run, run hard! Stress – often stress is covering fear.   I may be afraid of not having enough time, money, creativity or influence.   Stress is the response.   I am afraid it may get worse, afraid I won’t have enough, be enough, know enough.   Fear!   But love says there is always hope.   Love says that I have access to greater strength, wisdom and resources.   Love speaks hope; it may get better!   Love knows that God’s plans for me a...

So often we feel behind.   Our society seems to thrive on being busy.   Just think of how we have prioritized speed and efficiency in normal everyday tasks:   fast food & meal delivery, the express check-out lane at the grocery store, next-day and now even same-day shipping!   We are living life at high speed!   No wonder being tired and stressed are so frequently expressed! The reality is that some things cannot be sped-up.   We all have 24 hours in each day and 7 days in every week.   While we may feel rushed and, in a hurry, we can cram more activities into each day, but we cannot add hours to our day. Life is not a race.   Life is a journey. This is especially important to remember when we are feeling behind.   Often, we intend or desire to do much more than what there is time for.   The resulting stress may motivate us to be more efficient, but it also often causes us to evaluate ourselves harshly.   In these times ...