Know yourself. Be yourself. Trust in God.

Everything I need to know about the recipe for overcoming fear I learned from David as he prepared for battle with Goliath.  

David, in his infinite faith in God, raised his hand to battle the giant.  Saul did what he thought he needed to do to prepare David for the battle.  He dressed him in a suit of armor and provided him a sword.  But David knew himself well enough to know that he wasn’t comfortable in that suit of armor.  He knew that he couldn’t win unless he used his own God-given talents to slay the beast.  So he took off the armor, and picked up the tools with which he was comfortable fighting - a few rocks. It was with those rocks that he took down Goliath.   

“Then Saul dressed David in his own tunic. He put a coat of armor on him and a bronze helmet on his head. David fastened on his sword over the tunic and tried walking around, because he was not used to them. “I cannot go in these,” he said to Saul, “because I am not used to them.” So he took them off.”

1 Samuel 17:38-39 NIV

God gives us every tool that we need to succeed in.  When we know ourselves and trust in God, and stop trying to fight our battles as anyone other than ourselves, we will succeed.  

Know yourself.  Be yourself.  And most importantly, trust in God.

Forever, Bless this House

Bless this house
...and all who enter.

Bless every morsel of food
...every drop of wine.

Fill our hearts with love and laughter.
Let tender words be the stronghold.

Let this home be a welcoming place
That embodies your goodness and graciousness.

Let the sun shine bright through every window
And your gentle breeze flow through our doors.
Keep every room filled with your amazing grace.

Keep us safe within this house
...and put an angel on our shoulders to protect us when we leave.

God, forever bless this house.

“Now be pleased to bless this house of your servant, that it may continue forever in your sight; for you Lord, have spoken and with your blessing the house of your servant will be blessed forever.” 
2 Samuel 7:29

A Line in the Sand

Yesterday I had two of the hardest conversations I have had in a long time.  

With tears in my eyes, feeling like a fool, I sat down and talked to my bosses about how I have been feeling at work.  Overwhelmed, floundering, lacking confidence, feeling like I am failing --- feeling like they deserved better. Feeling like I wasn’t sure if my new the job was right for me. 

The overwhelming support they showed me was a gift from heaven.  David especially -- reminded me of a very simple truth -- mindset is everything.  

I was the one who had to make the decision that it either was or wasn’t going to work.  

It reminded me of a quote I have used 1000 times in my fitness coaching efforts -- a quote by Henry Ford that says -- “Whether you believe you can or believe you can’t, you are right.”

I am grateful for both Chip & David and the way they talked me off the ledge.  They supported me and gave me the shot in the arm that I needed to see my work, my role, and my purpose a little differently.

This morning I woke up and decided I was going to make this work.  And I reminded myself that it starts with taking care of me.  

In my prayer journal I wrote...

The line has been drawn...today marks my new beginning.  

Self-care means:

• Daily devotion

• Meditation

• Writing

• Healthy, nutritious foods

• Plenty of Exercise

• Water

• Good sleep

• Daily personal development

I know this recipe works and sets me up for success in all aspects of my life...including my career.

So beginning today...I will fill my cup and let it spill over to serve others.  

With that, I opened my bible to begin my daily devotional...and was met with these beautiful words.

‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” Revelations 21 :4 

The line in the sand has been drawn.   It is a new day.   And I am back.

Today I pray with a grateful and happy heart.   

Thank you for your patience with me.  

For putting the right people and the right messages in my life

For quieting my mind so that I can hear you 

It’s a new day.

I'm coming home.

It's been too many long years away....but I'm coming home. 

I never felt so fulfilled as when I was maintaining Today I Pray -- but as I shared this morning on my Facebook page -- Good Life Sister -- when my job circumstances changed years ago, so too did my daily discipline for writing.

This stops today.

Please enjoy the post I shared this morning on Facebook -- and just as I'm asking my Facebook friends to get to know the Lauren who maintained this blog, I'm asking you to get to know the Lauren who has found her purpose at Good Life Sister.   Expect to see me more -- in fact, expect to see me daily.

My posts may look a little different and the blog itself may undergo a transformation -- but it is still the same me -- trying hard to become a better person, to inspire hope and joy, and to connect the dots between these different times in my life.  

I know that everything happens for a reason... and I am putting my trust in the Universe that this is the step I am meant to take...regardless of how imperfect or ill-prepared I am to take it.  I trust that I am stepping further along the path of my purpose.

Enjoy the post ...and I can't wait to reconnect with you.

❤️Lauren

P.S.  If you are reading this -- I would love it if you left even just a single word comment below.  I am looking for signs.


Posted today on Facebook

If you really knew me....you would know that years ago I maintained a blog called Today I Pray. I loved that blog and the ritual that came with it.  

Every morning I would get up and walk -- camera in hand -- and I would snap a picture of something in nature that spoke to me. It was like a walking meditation....and after my walk I came home, poured myself a cup of coffee and let what ever inspiration I had found, flow through me and into a poem....and then into my prayer for the day.

It was like magic.

It filled me with joy every single morning....and at that moment, I knew I was somehow fulfilling a purpose I didn't quite understand.

That practice ended when I started a different job with more rigid hours. It left a big void in my heart. Day by day though, I am starting to realize I am finding that joy again. The outlet may be a little different -- or maybe it isn't at all.

I'm getting up early...camera propped up to snap pictures of the thing that moves me (literally)...and afterwards I sit down with my shake and share whatever inspiration comes to me during my workout.

Perhaps it's time to connect the final dot...to let that inspiration flow into my prayer for the day.

Yes...I believe today I had an ah ha moment...and I'm taking another step into my purpose.

Today I Pray...

...take my hand and guide me.
...if this is the path I'm meant to walk, illuminate the way.
...help me live a life of purpose and meaning. To inspire others to find their greatness.

... I trust in You.

Always have. Always will. 

The Unthinkable

They were jubilant
Aching
Tired
Exhilarated
Proud

They were moms and dads
Sisters and brothers
Aunts and uncles
Friends and colleagues

They were runners
They were fans

Taking the final strides
Towards the finish line
Shouting words of encouragement
And celebration

When the unthinkable happened

They say that in the moments
Immediately after the explosions
There was an eery quiet
As the victims lay
Wide eye
In stunned silence

Hours later
I sit here
In the quiet of my home
Still in shock

My heart aching...
...for the victims
...and their families

...for the people who were there by chance
...and the ones who had a change of plans and couldn't be there afterall

...for the people who were at mile 25
...and those who had already crossed the finish line

...for those whose memories immediately took them back in time
...and those whose lives will never be the same again

On this day, I dedicate my prayers to you.

 

Today I Pray...

...with a aching heart

...for those that were taken from this earth too soon
May you find peace and rest in heaven

...for the families whose lives were forever changed
May you be surrounded by loved ones
And find strength from the prayers
That are being offered around the world for you

...for my family and friends who were too close for comfort
All praise to the Lord for keeping you out of harms way

...for the first responders, law enforcement and health care providers
May God guide your work

...for those responsible for this tragedy
May God help to heal your troubled heart

...for a world that wakes -- still stunned and feeling broken
May we each find a way to make this world just a little better


"Because he himself was tested through what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested."  Hebrews 2:18

Wonder & Awe Revisited

Just a month ago I wrote Wonder & Awe
A post for my children
To let them know what my heart holds for them

Today I discovered
This beautiful song
That captures even more of those emotions

Thank you Mark Harris for this beautiful expression of love.
It made me smile...and cry.

Roots and wings...
That really is the very best that I can give my children.

Nature's Chorus

From the moment I left the house this morning
I could tell that today was different
The world was quiet
Sleeping perhaps?

Not yet aware
Of nature's chorus
Being sung right outside the door

The birds seemed to dance
From tree to tree
Awakening the world
....Singing a sweet song of salvation

And in the distance
Even the rooster crowed
A joyful alleluia!

He is risen!



Today I Pray...
...with a grateful, humble heart

How do I even begin to understand
The amazing sacrifice You made
So that we might enjoy
Eternal life?

I cannot.

I can only pray
that somehow,
someway,
I live my life
In a way that makes You happy

Moon over the morning

Heavenly Hugs

Everywhere my eye could see
Cotton candy swirls
Of delicate pink
Against a soft blue sky

A morning hug
Straight from heaven

Today I Pray...

...with gratitude
For another glorious day

A Zip-A-Dee Doo Dah Day!

Setting out this morning
The air was brisk
And the grey sky bulging with the snow
Its been waiting to drop on us

Though the sky is lightening
In the early morning hour
There is no hope of a sunrise
To start the week

The coldness reminds me
Of the somber week ahead
Recounting the suffering
our Savior endured

My reaction is to walk
With my head down

But lo and behold
I'm reminded otherwise
As a dainty blue bird
Fluttered across the path
And perched in the tree

As I walked the path
He swooped along with me
Moving gracefully
From branch to branch

His beautiful blue wings
And salmon underbelly
Vibrant against the grey sky

Beautiful, delicate, hope.

I walked the rest of the path
With the Song of the South
playing over and over in my mind

"Mister Bluebird's on my shoulder...
It's the truth, it's actual...
...wonderful feeling, wonderful day!"

I couldn't help but smile
Filled with hope for what this week brings

As I crossed the street back to my house
My bluebird friend followed me
And swooped into a nest
In a shrub in front of my garage

"My oh my, what a wonderful day!"

 

Today I Pray
....with gratitude for the many ways
you reveal yourself to me.

Daybreak Speaks

I don't know what it is about sunrises,
but one look through my photos
and you can see how amazed I am by them. 

Maybe it's the fact
that like snowflakes
...each one is different. 

Perhaps it's the representation
of a brand new day
...a new beginning.

Or the amazing transformation in the sky
to which we all can bear witness.

Whatever it is...
...sunrise speaks to me.

During my walk today
the sky lightened without any great incident
It seemed another day was beginning
without great fanfare.

But then as I stood at the kitchen window
I saw what appeared to be
The quintessential sunrise

An orange ball slowly rising over the treetops

Imagine my surprise when I saw
what my camera captured.

Once again, I am amazed.

My God is an awesome God.

"To give to His people the knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins,
Because of the tender mercy of our God,
With which the Sunrise from on high will visit us,

To shine upon those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, 
To guide our feet into the way of peace."  Luke 1:77-79

Skies Are Changing

I see you everywhere

In the chirping of the birds
I hear your voice

In the sky
I see your face

In the glow of the sun
I feel your warmth

Somehow you always find a way
To let me know you are there

You remind me
In ways that only you could
Of the simplest
of life's lessons

And you give me reason
To trust and believe
To have faith

But today
You confused me
There's an uneasiness
That I feel in the pit
of my stomach
I am scared, unsure, and anxious

The very first glimpse at the morning sky
Was ominous
Heavy grey clouds
And a coldness in the air
That immediately struck my bones


But as you so often do
Within just minutes
You revealed the splendor
of the sunrise
And you put my mind at ease

With each step
A more magnificent sky
Colors so vivid and rich
Combined with the crisp cold air
It took my breath away

I was awed by the dark branches
Against the amazing sky
It reminded me of life

So many twists and turns
People coming in and out of our lives
Decisions made along the path

And then...just moments later
Only a few steps down the winding path
That brilliant sky
Was gone
Without a trace

All I could think
Was just how quickly
Things can change

Had I started my walk
Just 20 minutes earlier
Or later

Had I blinked

....I would have missed it all

Today I Pray...

I feel so unsettled right now
I look for you
In the sky

And I hear you
In the wind

And today's dramatically changing skies
Sent a chill through my veins

I don't want to take
Even one moment
Of this journey
For granted

Help me to make the most of it all
To see beauty in every step
To seize the opportunities
Enjoy the friendships
Let go of the hurt
And always
Always
Live in the light of your warmth and love

"Give ear, listen humbly,
for the Lord speaks." Jeremiah 13:15

We're All in this Together

We are on our own unique journey
Some of us searching...
Some celebrating...
Some hoping...
Some praying...

As much as I hope Today I Pray can be a source of inspiration ...
I hope it can also be a resting place for those who visit
A place where you can find comfort
....share what's on your mind
...seek support
...and show support to others.

Life is so full of ups and downs
Find strength in knowing
You are not alone....

....we are all in this together.

Today I Pray
For a heart full of compassion
and understanding

For peace
And comfort in the knowledge
That despite the differences
We are the same

All searching for happiness, acceptance, and love

Help me every step of the way
To give and accept these blessings

That's Just Love Sneaking Up On You

Like any other day
I set out for my morning walk with the pups

The sky was still mostly grey
With an ever-so-slight
Hint of a new day breaking

Across the street
To the path
Up the street and around the corner

I thought I was alone
And lo and behold
There You were

Your calming light
Peaking over the mountain
Dancing on the treetops

Again You've blessed me



Today I Pray

Lord, I offer you my prayers, works, joys and sufferings of this day.

May I never be too busy
Or too consumed to remember
That You are walking beside me

Wonder & Awe

When they were younger
I watched them in awe
Their tiny feet and hands
The gentle coos and giggles

Tiny miracle.
Heaven sent.

They're older now...
Almost all grown up
And still filling my life
With wonder and awe

Did I do enough? 

Do they know all the talents
That God has bestowed upon them?
Will they let themselves dream?
Will they reach for the stars?
Will they make the most of each day?

Do they know how loved they are...
Here on earth and from the Heavens?

Do they know?

 

Today I Pray...
Bless my sweet children
Guide their journey
That they might step tenderly
On the path You have made
Just for them

Keep their hearts open
Giving, loving, and kind

Keep their hopes high
And their faith deep
With the knowledge
That with You
All things are possible

Help me too sweet Lord
To be the best that mother
That I can be

I know I have stumbled along the way
I keep trying.

They are my miracle
My gift from You
My Heaven on earth.

Every Step For You

Each morning as I walked my dogs
I try to use that time
For thoughtful reflection

I let my lungs fill
With the crisp fresh air
Enjoy the wind at my face
And thank God for the clothes on my back
That warm me

I admire the changing skies
As the sun peaks over the tree tops
Or slices through the dense morning clouds
And I marvel how the skies change
Just like the seasons

But this morning as we walked
I watched my dogs running down the path...
A path we walk daily

I was struck by the enthusiasm
That filled their every step

They ran from tree to tree
Sniffing and exploring
As if it was the first time
They had ever walked that path

The landscape hadn't changed one bit
Since yesterday
Yet to them it was brand new

Running in and out of the brush
Circling the trees
Running freely through the field
Stopping occasionally
To roll in the grass
And delight in the day

 

Today I Pray...

That I might embrace every day
With unbridled enthusiasm

That I might relinquish
my worries and troubles to You
And remember that
As sure as the sun rises
You will be there for me

And all You ask in return
Is for me to live my life to the fullest

"Find your delight in the Lord, who will give you your heart's desire. Commit your way to the Lord; trust that God will act, and make your integrity shine like the dawn, your vindication like noonday." Psalms 37:4-6

Renewal

In this season of Lent, my pledge is not a sacrifice but a heartfelt renewal.

May my mind and heart never be too busy to remember my daily offering to you.

Today and always I pray....

Lord,  I offer you my prayers, works, joys and sufferings of this day. 

Every Morning

"You've got to get up every morning with a smile on your face, and show the world all the love in your heart..."



Thank you Carole King!

Celebrate the Moon

My new neighbor owns a rooster,
so for the past few months
I've been getting used to nature's reveille
A morning greeting
A true "cock-doodle-doo"
That breaks the silence of the night
At the very first moment
the sun slices the morning sky

Crazy as it sounds,
I've come to love it
Dependable, certain,
Yet subtle and distant enough
To quickly fade off
Into the buzz of the day

On this morning however,
That rooster's crow surprised me
Coming long before the sun was ready to rise

This morning the rooster crowed
For the brilliance of the moon
That shone across the field

I laid in bed and listened
The moonlight shining on my face
Like a spotlight on a stage

Not bothered,
But inspired

This rooster was His way of reminding me
To celebrate the shining lights in our life
That are sometimes forgotten
Or overlooked
Or taken for granted


image from Google Images


Today I Pray...

There isn't a day that goes by
That You don't amaze me
With the gifts You bring
Every day

Thank You for each and every one
The ones I see
And the ones that go unnoticed

Help me today
And always
To appreciate my blessings

Keep me ever-aware of the power
of some very simple words
when said with sincerity...

"Thank you"
"You are wonderful"
"I need you"
"I love you"

Today and always
Help me
Celebrate the moon

Seasons Change

Quietly reflecting
On the way the seasons change

How one morning you can wake up
And your summer blooms are still clinging
To that last breath of warmth
In the Autumn air

And that very same day
They become buried under a blanket
Of unexpected snow
And those vibrant flowers
Surrender to the Earth

...Quietly thinking about how life
So often mirrors nature
And one moment
Changes the next

...How an anxious "little girl"
Walks down the aisle
Clutching her daddy's hand

And just moments...
and two simple words later
that little girl becomes her joyful husband's bride

...How one moment
Our world enjoys the laughter and joy
Of a compassionate, generous man

Or the free, and easy spirit
Of a young teen

And the next moment,
They are gone
And the world is still
...and speechless

... Sad for its loss
But happy to have ever known them

If there is one thing
This year has shown me...

Enjoy every moment
Take nothing for granted

When you think
You have given all you can
Give a little more

Choose to live every day
...With purpose


Today I Pray...

...For a happy ever after
For my beautiful niece and her husband

You may not know what each day will bring
But remember how you feel today
And hold onto that love through
every season.

And ...

...For the peaceful rest
Of two special people
Both taken from this life too soon

The world is a better place
...because of the way you lived
...everyday.