There are many things that you shake all with the purpose of changing it. You shake several ingredients together to make a smoothie. You shake a sheet to unfold it and make it reach the corners of your bed. Sometimes you might even shake a person to get their attention. My routine is going to get a good shaking. In thinking about it, I feel like a safety net is being taken away. The schedule I know and I’m comfortable with is getting revamped and although it’s a good and necessary thing, it’s also uncomfortable and unfamiliar. Many factors are causing the shaking; work, change of seasons that bring yard…

I was thinking of the saying, “April showers bring May flowers,” this morning and how not only are there beautiful flowers beginning to bloom throughout my yard, but how on a personal level, events that took place in April will directly affect events that will happen in May. A couple of my co-workers are facing some major trials and one mentioned yesterday, “When it rains, it pours.” My heart is heavy for both of them and May will definitely be a time of newness. I kept thinking of her comment and thought about my own experiences in April. It was such a beautiful season of God pouring into my heart.…

As I was looking back over the posts during the Lenten season and through Easter, I’m in awe of that time with God. I felt such passion and purpose and was taught so much in the study times. Then the week after was a time of comfort and peace and He walked me through my own times of remembering. I kind of feel sad now that it’s over. Where do I go from here? It’s like hiking to the top of a mountain and having time to look out across them at the most impressive and scenic views. Now it’s time to move on and begin the next part of…

I have a small book called Prayers to Share – 100 Pass-Along Notes for Joy. As I was readying through some of them today I came across another Barbara Johnson quote that summed up yesterday for me. “The truth is even in the midst of trouble, happy moments swim by us every day, like shining fish waiting to be caught.” It had been a very trying day filled with expectations and changes. Deadlines on several projects were drawing near, conference calls and training webinars stacked up an already busy schedule. And to top it off, I needed to complete my to do list early because I was scheduled for Jury…

I read a quote this morning by Barbara Johnson, “Attitude is the mind’s paintbrush; it can color any situation.” It gave me this mental picture of a clean white blank canvas ready to be painted by the events of the day, with each color on your palette representing a different feeling or emotion, what would your painting look like at the end of the day? Do you remember the artist Bob Ross? He had a TV show called The Joy of Painting and always seemed so calm and happy. When he was asked why he was so happy his response was, “It’s because I can create the kind of world…

Today is Brock’s anniversary. Twenty years ago today he closed his sweet little eyes while lying in my lap and opened them up a moment later in the presence of Jesus. I still think of the song I heard that morning called arise shine. The words were, “Arise shine for your light has come and the glory of the Lord rises on you.” I pictured angels singing this as he entered into heaven and met Jesus. I imagined that cute little boy running into Jesus’ arms and hugging Him tightly. Then sitting on his lap and telling Him all about his great adventure. I believe Jesus said, “Well done Brock!”…

The last month was quite emotional for me. It’s hard to explain but I’ll do my best. Each year I know that April 27th is coming. I try to think of other things and keep myself busy with positive projects to avoid dwelling on the date. But it seems that the more I try to not think of it the more I do. I first notice a difference inside. Little things become bigger than they should and I have this feeling of uneasiness. At first I’ll think I’m just having a bad day or that I woke up on the wrong side of the bed and the next day it…

A verse was shared at church on Sunday that keeps popping up throughout the week in my studies. Its 2 Corinthians 5:14-17: “For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come; the old has gone, the new is here!”…

You’ve heard of fair weather fans and if not, they are people who are supportive of and enthusiastic about a sports team only when that team is performing well. The bible is full of stories about fair weather believers and believers who remained faithful until their dying breath. Not all died from their professions of faith, but they experienced trials that still leave us amazed when we read about them. One of my favorites is found in Daniel, the story about the three Hebrews; Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. King Nebuchadnezzar was a fair weather fan. In Daniel 2: 47 he said to Daniel, “Surely your God is the God of…