Beauty

It was my youngest daughter's birthday yesterday.  I was able to spend the day with her yesterday in LA.  She is an easy one to celebrate because she has brought nothing but joy ever since the day she was born. 

She is the epitome of beauty.  She is not just gorgeous outwardly, but all that comes out of her is beautiful as well. 

We love hanging out together.  We have everything in common, and she has a way of making me feel like a million bucks.  

Do we make others feel like a million bucks?  Do we make others feel like they have value?  Mary does this in such a natural way, and that's just one of the many things I love about her.

God help me to do this!  Let's see if the people in our lives feel valued by us.  Let's see if Our Father might show us specific ways to do this in our different relationships.

It's so fulfilling when we do do this, so let's have fun looking to God to help show us how to find many different ways to do this throughout our day... just like my daughter Mary does. 💛

Mary, Ev, and Grambo 

“Encourage one another and build one another up...”

— 1 Thessalonians 5:11

The Path

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We are all on this path of life.  We can sometimes be worried about what's going to jump out in front of us or what's around the corner.  

Sometimes we can grow anxious and concerned about things that never even happen.  Or if they do happen, we get to the other side.

Think about anything you're concerned about on the path that's ahead of you and try this...

Be still and know that God is God.  

As you think about every and any worry you might have.  Stop.  And then KNOW that your loving God has it all dialed.  Know that God has made a way.  Know that nothing happens to you, it only happens for you!  

You can rest in that fact.  

Now enjoy the secured and adventurous path ahead.

“Be still, and know that I am God...”

— Psalm 46:10

#selfie

Lula taking a "Selfie" yesterday of  "Girls day out with the  Fro's (Dreads) "✌️✌️

A couple of my all-time favorite days of the week are Mondays and Wednesdays.  Mondays are "Girls day out with the Reds,"

"Girls day out with the Reds" 👍👍 (A picture's worth a 1,000 words)

and Wednesdays are "Girls day out with the Fro's," but I think we need to change that to "Girls day out with the Dread's (Dreadlocks)." 😂

Now Mondays and Wednesdays aren't the only days I hang out with my granddaughters, but this is kind of our ritual we set up!  

I love this fun "selfie" Lula took yesterday.  Now it's a selfie +2,  Lula + Char and myself.

Often selfies are taken by yourself because there is no one there to take the picture of you.  I don't ever take selfies myself because the picture never turns out very attractive. 😳😂  But if I liked taking "selfies" in this scenario,  it might kind of feel lonely except for the fact that I know, when we take "selfies" we are really never just by ourself.  It is always myself... + One.

One of the reasons I love being by myself is because I know it's always, and I mean always "selfie" + One.  And the One I'm talking about is The Magnificent One! 

We actually feel less lonely when we are alone oftentimes, because it's then that we actually take time to notice that God is with us. 

When I recognize God... did you hear that?  That GOD is with us, and we are NEVER alone, all of a sudden our days looks different.  We have more courage.  We're not afraid of things we would've been otherwise. We're all of a sudden strengthened. 

Let's remember today we are never, and I mean never, alone or all by ourselves.  God is with me.  God is with you.  God is with us today.

That is really really really incredible!

“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

Anticipate With Excitement What is to Come

My husband and I had a fun day yesterday walking around Ashland and just enjoying the afternoon together. 

It was a gorgeous day, and you could feel fall coming as the mornings and evenings are so much crisper than they were even a week ago.

Jon's favorite time of the year is fall.  So he was super proud of this quote he found and would "drop it" yesterday at any possible opportunity. 😂 He said it to me several times, to the girl scooping up our ice cream, etc... This was the quote:

“Fall is the second Spring where every leaf turns into a flower.”

This is a glorious quote because it speaks of how beautiful God's creation is, and it makes me excited for the season to come.

A thought for today is that sometimes in life we are robbed of today because we are worried about the future season to come.  We needn't be as we know we have a loving Father that has already gone before our future... and it will be a victorious, beautiful season as we walk with our amazing and miraculous God. 

So let's find ourselves excited, prayerful, and anticipating a beautiful season that's on its way.  It'll be a season where we see God's handy work everywhere! 🍂 

A Soft Gesture

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Are your favorite relationships strained at times?  Or maybe a relationship you have with someone is always strained?

It could be with a co-worker, a neighbor, a parent, a spouse, a kid, or even just an acquaintance; maybe a disagreement you had with a clerk or something?

Sometimes talking (or even yelling) things out has gotten you nowhere. 

I would ask you to try a "soft answer" or "soft gesture."

It could be something as simple as a sweet text, a kind note, or maybe bringing someone some fresh flowers or homemade cookies. You fill in the blank of what might be natural for you.

Some people might consider this idea "sweeping the issue under the rug," or maybe people might say "you're getting stomped on."

I call it moving forward in peace.  I call it being the bigger person.  I call it heroic.  It takes a strong, confident person to be unaffected by the disagreement and just reach back after conflict with words or with a gesture of something good.

Maybe pausing for a minute today and thinking about a strained situation or relationship whether slight or large, and responding with a soft word or gesture will take the relationship to a peaceful place.  Ether way, what have you got to lose? 👊

“A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”

— Proverbs 15:1

You Are Growing

After

When We bought our little cottage in Jacksonville, it was pretty much in need of lots of TLC.  Including the yard.  The yard was full of dirt and dirt alone (See "before" photo below).

It was fun to design and landscape.  It's only been about 4 years and you can see how the gardens have taken root and grown into pretty flowers and greenery. It's turned out to be a peaceful and tranquil backyard. 

When I go in my backyard today (pictured above), I forget what it used to look like until I think back or look at an old picture.  I think our lives walking with God our much like this.

We sometimes get discouraged because we know the steps backwards we've taken, but we forget about the steps forward we've taken... And we aren't actually able to see our growth accurately.

But I want to tell you, as you walk with God, walking in wisdom and understanding... you are growing.  Even if you don't notice it yourself.

So don't give up.  Through the spiritual rain and sunshine you are growing.

Maybe you're saying, "Actually I haven't been walking with God in wisdom and understanding, and I've taken my life to the spiritual metaphor of your backyard in the 'before' picture..." Know today you are forgiven and you can move forward.  No need to live in the past and in guilt.

It might seem like there is a lot of dirt in front of you, but just start planting my friend.  You're still breathing which means it's not too late to start now!  You will be surprised at just how fast you begin to see life! 🌱 🌴 🌳

Before

“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”

— Proverbs 4:23

From Generation to Generation

3 Generations: Papa Merle, Jon, and Ben Courson

I ran across this great old picture the other day.  I'm guessing it is right around 25 years old. 

One of the things I love about this picture is that it has 3 generations.  And what is so cool is it is 3 generations of men that live and lived their lives walking with God.  And the impact has been a great and beautiful one. 

What's interesting is... Papa Merle came from a tough home life.  Though no one ever heard him speak of it, Jon's mom Mary tells the story that Merle as a young boy had a Dad that was brutal and mean and drove Merle's mom to commit suicide right in front of him.

All that to say, Merle didn't say "this is just the family line I've been given so I'm going to just continue on more of the dreadful same."  Instead, he decided to walk with God in a simple yet beautiful and glorious way.  

He was a kind and loving man with a beautiful smile.  He was giving and thoughtful.  He is now in heaven, and it will be incredible to see him again!

Merle is such a great picture of the fact that one doesn't have to settle for what was handed to them in any area of life. We can instead settle for what God has in store for us, and it's not more evil but rather to usher in God's love and beauty into the world. 

Merle decided to "...Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.  Be kindly affectionate to one another..." Romans 12:9-10. The effect Merle's decision has made on the generations that have followed him is something to marvel at.

“One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare you mighty acts.”

— Psalm 145:4

Go ahead...

Go ahead... and set that phone down every once in a while. 😊

The other day, Jon said to me laughing "If I believed in reincarnation I would want to come back as your iPhone." 😂😭😳

I laughed too, but I did think about that.  Because that came from somewhere.  He maybe sometimes feels like my iPhone gets a bit more attention than I actually give him. 

Now I am exceedingly thankful for my smart phone.  #1 it's smarter than I am.  #2 it allows me to stay in contact with those I love so much. #3 it is a great resource to use to accomplish a lot.  #4 it is wonderful to document life by always having a camera with me, bringing a smile to my face when I see fun pictures I've taken.

BUT, I also don't want to forget to sometimes just lay it down.  It certainly won't hurt anything, and I don't need to fill every minute of my life with it. And on top of that, I absolutely don't want my husband to feel like he is always competing with it! 😉

Maybe this is a simple thing that you can relate to too, that might be helpful for you as well to think about.  Just in case it is... I'm posting it! 👍

“...All things are lawful for me, but I will not be enslaved by anything.”

— 1 Corinthians 6:12