Our weekend sailing trip started with blue skies, white fluffy clouds, and a whole lot of sunshine. Nothing signaled that a storm was just around the bend. Until it hit. I thought the thick, low-hanging, midnight-black clouds would reach down and wrap us in darkness. The wind tipped our little sailboat precariously onto its side. The icy rain came at us sideways; it felt like shards of glass on our faces. Once we were able to get the sails down, our captain yelled only one command: “Just hang on!” You bet we did. I’ve never been Continue Reading
Kindness is My Responsibility
Hi, friend. I’m writing this the weekend before the Tuesday elections. When you read this, we may know who our President is for the next four years. And perhaps we are still waiting to find out. Whatever our situation is … Kindness is our responsibility. Yours and mine. Some are excited about the next four years and are celebrating. Some are worried about the next four years and are grieving. Kindness is our responsibility. How about this … Lord, help me to guard my tongue. Remind me that boasting and gloating in Continue Reading
My Emergency Board Meeting
So, I had a little meeting with myself this afternoon. Kind of like an emergency board meeting when something is bubbling up that needs to be addressed right away by those responsible for overseeing all things before the situation gets out of control and does more damage. Since I’m CEO and chief overseer of my life, I scheduled the meeting, put myself on the agenda, prepared a snack (strawberry kiwi collagen protein drink), and called the meeting to order. The agenda item? Moving out of the swirl and finding fresh strength. Have Continue Reading
Give me Jesus
These words tumbled out of my heart today. I am praying them as a prayer for you, dear friend, as you live in your daily. Wherever you are and whatever you need . . . Jesus is there. Give Me Jesus When my worries are great, Remind me that you are greater. When everything seems so dark, Please bring me a ray of sunshine. When the world screams, Help me hold my tongue. When I feel forgotten, Nudge me and hold me tight. When life seems lonely, Please send me a friend. When my heart is sad, Show me the joy. When I want to Continue Reading
When Life Becomes the List
Last Sunday afternoon I picked up one of the books I’ve written and started to re-read it. I know. That sounds kind of weird, right? Maybe it was the horrible Vikings game that seemed to drain the life right out of me. (Come on, Vikings! What on earth?) And of course, there’s all the stuff going on in the world that invites us to believe that Hope has walked out the door and bought a one-way ticket to Pluto. Meanwhile, my to-do list seems to be screaming at me while the days get shorter. Sigh. But. I knew that my emotions were Continue Reading
Today I Will
I’m guessing we’re all feeling a little “off” these days, right? On one hand, we want information about what’s going on with everything - the virus, the economy, our jobs, our neighborhoods, etc. And on the other hand, we just want the news to stop. It’s too much. Sigh. Thinking about what’s on my mind and heart to share here feels the same way, knowing we are all moving through this time so differently. Some of us are very afraid and anxious. There’s a deep seriousness in our souls, with no room for jokes or laughter. The Continue Reading
My Mom
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6). This verse was mom’s favorite, and we have repeated it over and over and over again during the last month. Last Friday, my mom died. It was a peaceful home-going without any pain. Mom’s heart has been getting weaker over the last few months, and three weeks ago we brought hospice care into her home. That care was so helpful and loving, and my sisters Julie and Lori and Continue Reading
Sigh. And sigh again.
Sigh. Can I say it again? Sigh. Do you find yourself exhaling as you say that word? Me too. And in my head, I say it in a whisper. There are some days that I just need to sigh. Exhale. Today has been one of those days. I know you and I want to know joy. We want to feel it in our bones. We want to wrap it around our hearts. And you know? Sometimes joy doesn’t show up in the giggles or the parties or the fun times. Sometimes we find the joy in our sighs. Author Kay Warren defines Joy as “the settled assurance that God is in Continue Reading
My Cotton Candy Thoughts
My mind feels like a cotton candy machine. It’s going in circles, and as it spins, it collects more to-dos, deadlines, and random thoughts swirling inside it. My brain starts to feel sticky. Then I open my eyes and wake up. My alarm clock says it's a couple hours before my feet need to hit the ground running, but my heart and my head are wide awake. And my stomach feels like I just ate too much of that airy, sugary, nothing-healthy-in-it, cone of pink messiness. Sigh. There are many morning - most mornings - that I am excited Continue Reading
“In Everything” Includes the Dentist Visit
The dentist’s office is not my happy place. Not even in the same zip code. Or hemisphere. When the hygienist checks my blood pressure and tells me it’s a little high, I try and act surprised. She doesn’t know that my anxiety is about ready to make my head explode the minute they wrap that little napkin around my neck. This week when I went in for my regular exam, I had a big ‘ol cold sore on my upper lip. You can probably guess how comfortable that was going to be when they’re stretching my mouth open, right? This very sweet Continue Reading
Make a Fresh Start
I love do-overs. If I don’t like what I’m writing, I hit the delete key and “do-over.” If my hair is having a bad day, my brush winds its way through and creates a “do-over.” If my chicken dish doesn’t turn out…well, I just throw that out. Wouldn’t it be freeing if we could “do-over” or throw out some of life’s moments that make us cringe? Stupid decisions we made. Hurtful comments we shared. Hot pants worn. “What on earth were you thinking, girl?” None of us are immune to creating silly, awkward, or embarrassing Continue Reading
Our Response
I hope we don’t miss it… In all the scheduled church services, the pageantry, the choir rehearsals, the Easter Sunday breakfast… I hope we don’t miss it. The opportunity to quietly make our hearts right with God. The colors, the emotions, the waiving palms. The darkness of Maundy Thursday, the deathly beating of the drum on Good Friday, and the Alleluia celebrations on Sunday morning. I love what they mean and what they remind us of during this Holy Week. They draw me in and speak to my heart. But…At least for me… It’s easy Continue Reading
Opening Prayer
Hi, Friends. I’ve just started reading Dallas Willard’s book, “Life Without Lack: Living in the Fullness of Psalm 23.” Wow. His words are reminding me of how little I expect from this amazing God. He is a generous God, and I too frequently live in a state of scarcity. Dallas wrote a poem that begins this book. It spoke right into my heart. I hope you can find a few minutes to let its message linger in your soul. Lord Jesus Christ, We are so thankful to you that you have said, ‘Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s Continue Reading
Please Give Her…
Her cheeks were flushed, and her neck was covered with the red blotches that I knew all too well. Her name tag read “Renee – Trainee,” and I think the reindeer antlers she wore on her head made her feel even more self-conscious as she tried to figure out how to enter “no whip” on my hot chocolate order. Continue Reading
A Place to Relax
Alone… Our shoulders are not big enough to carry what we think we must. Our emotions are too human to care as deeply as we think we must. Our perspectives are too limited to make all the decisions we think we must. We don’t need to live Alone. Continue Reading
Prayer is Letting Jesus In
No More Fretting
Good morning, Lord. It’s me again. Since you and I have this agreement that we will have truthful conversations with each other, Can I just say… All I want to do today is fret. Did you ever have a day like that, Lord? A day when fretting just seemed to be the ideal response to life? Yeah. I bet you did. Continue Reading
A Cleanse That Works
I should have thought it through a bit more. I guess they’re right (whoever “they” are)… Hindsight is 20/20. I had decided to do a cleanse. You know, one of those eat vegetables and make juices so all your insides get refreshed kind of cleanses. So I hauled 35 pounds of carrots, celery, parsley, cukes, and other green produce into our kitchen. Well, it wasn’t really 35 pounds…but it was a lot. A whole lot. And I began to get excited about the 35 pounds I would lose in exchange over the weekend. {Yes, my home address is Continue Reading
Rain and The Word
This Fall weather in Minnesota brings dampness. Drizzle. Chills. Life’s like that sometimes, isn’t it? Moments are ushered in that leave us needing…comfort. Decisions bring consequences. Misunderstandings wound. Change unsettles us. The soft snuggly piece of worn cotton that we had when we still used a pacifier would feel perfect. Something warm to wrap ourselves in. Something that would stop the shivers. And then there are times when the pastel-colored blanket just isn’t enough. The drizzles have turned into icicles Continue Reading
Everyone Has Something
Hello, God. It’s Gaye. I’m here with some of My Friends… Our little community that gathers once a week to encourage each other. When you look inside our homes and our hearts, You see that we’re a group of good people, Trying to do life well even when life gets hard. Each of us has struggles…because… Everyone has something. Hurtful words and resentment occupy space in some of our kitchens. Children make choices that break our hearts. Too many sleepless nights make us bleary and teary. And sickness too frequently steals Continue Reading
Disappointments Come…Ooftah
Sharing from the heart here… The frustration, the hurt, the resentment… it can seemingly come out of nowhere, can’t it? But it has its source… Someone let me down. Disappointed me. Someone didn’t meet my expectations. Note: Definition of Expectations: Something that I think should have been done…in a certain way…around my timetable. Sometimes it’s big deal kind of stuff… Mostly, it’s stuff that doesn’t really matter. Right? And when those expectations aren’t met… My response is quite clear. Nobody is left wondering how Continue Reading
Permission Granted. Stop Worrying.
OK. So I got a big wake-up reminder this morning from Oswald Chambers. (My Utmost for His Highest is one of my favorite devotionals.) Chambers is writing about Matthew 6:25... “Do not worry about your life.” What a simple statement / command. Right? Not too hard to misunderstand what Jesus is telling us here. “Beware of allowing the thought that this statement is made by One Who does not understand our particular circumstances. Jesus Christ knows our circumstances better than we do, and he says we must not think about these Continue Reading
My Worry Prayers
“Hip replacement that includes a hiking schedule” The billboard words convinced me that if I ever need a new hip (I don’t), that’s the medical facility and doctors I’d want to do the surgery. Why? They give me hope. They don’t just tell me the surgery would go well… They tell me that good things will happen after the surgery. They paint a picture of how much better my life could be if I turn my pain and suffering over to them. Here's what surprised me about my "sign-me-up-now" reaction if I ever have hip problems... I Continue Reading
Psalm 23
“God, my shepherd! I don’t need a thing. You have bedded me down in lush meadows, You find me quiet pools to drink from. True to your word, you let me catch my breath And send me in the right direction. Even when the way goes through Death valley, I’m not afraid when you walk at my side. Your trusty shepherd’s crook makes me feel secure. You serve me a six-course dinner right in front of my enemies. You revive my drooping head; my cup brims with blessing. Your beauty and love chase after me every day of my life. I’m back Continue Reading
A second-grader’s prayer
From the heart and pencil of a second-grader... “Dear Lord, help me change help me meet all the kinder gardeners and give them my kindness and my love and for all my sins to be washed as white as snow and I just want to thank you for offering to forgive me and thanks for watching me and help me express my feeling on paper and help me love you and I could go longer but I can’t I’ll write more later. -- Julia.” My favorite youngest niece, Julia Charron, wrote this just before starting second grade. (She is now fifteen.) Her prayer has Continue Reading
