Author Blogs
Last Saturday, I attended a half day conference and heard a speaker talk on Designing Your Life; it was amazing! I got so much out of it; I took seven-teen pages of notes as I listened to her speak and share words of wisdom, from her personal life experiences. Whenever I attend a gathering and have pages and pages of notes, I always try to condense it to one page of bullet points, with the main things that I want to focus on and apply to my life, at the time. After doing so on Saturday, this is some of what I had written down: My need: be free My desire: be happy My legacy: be myself I shared this with my lifecoach this week and she pointed out to me how great it was that they were all “to be” statements and they were not about “doing” anything. This is huge for me, for I am such a check things off my to-do list type of person. I realized, I really am becoming free (my word for this year)! It was very encouraging to me. How freeing it is to know that the legacy I will leave on
While being interviewed on a morning talk show, this week, the guest star (an actress of a weekly TV series) was asked, “Is it hard for you to not know the future of your show and what’s going to happen to your character in it?” Her reply resonated with me, so much so that I came home and wrote her words down! She responded to the question with such transparency saying, “Yes, it is hard for me because I have a ‘type A’ personality and am a ‘control freak.’” Then she went on to say (and this is the part that really struck me), “But, I have learned to be okay with it because I
It was back to school for me, this past Thursday, for the Fall semester. The first day back is always a mixture of joy and overwhelmingness, at the same time, for me. It is a joy because I get to see me classmates, that I haven’t seen all Summer, for the first time. There are lots of hugs and smiles and joy in that. Then there is going to class and going over the syllabus and coming face to face with all that will need to be done or is expected of me this semester. This inevitably overwhelms me, every time. I am learning, however, to simply take a deep breath and remind myself of the truth that every semester I am overwhelmed; yet, every semester I manage to get the work done, one week at a time, and it always gets done well. So I am seeking to be free (from stress and overwhelmingness) in this area of my life, with God’s help.
I don’t know about you but I am a woman who can often be tied to her to-do list. While having a to-do list can be a good thing (it helps me to get necessary things done), it can also rob me of peace and joy, if I let it; for I am the kind of person who can’t seem to relax until her to-do list is done. However, God is working on me regarding this. As you may remember, if you have read any of my previous blogs, “my word” for the year is “be free!” Be free from being stressed out; be free from being down on myself or hard on myself etc., etc. For me, I believe part of being
God often speaks to me through songs and this morning He put the song “Gold” on my heart by Britt Nicole. This is a special and beautiful song; the lyrics of the chorus go like this, “This, this is for all the girls, boys all over the world. Whatever you’ve been told, you’re worth more than gold. So hold your head up high, it’s your time to shine. From the inside out it shows; you’re worth more than gold…” Wow, those are powerful words and what an impact they can make on our lives when we let the truth of them sink deep down into the recesses of our heart and mind!
In spending time alone with God this morning, He put it in my heart that I need to stop trying to figure everything out. And instead I need to follow the truth of His Word and trust Him with all my heart and lean not on my own understanding; in all my ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct my paths (Proverbs 3:5 & 6, NIV). The Message Bible says it this way, “Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track.” I love that!
A dear friend of mine called me yesterday, seeking guidance and needing encouragement. I listened, with love, as she cried and poured her heart and pain out to me. At the end our conversation, and before I prayed for her over the phone, I found myself saying the following words to her… Just remember these three things and you will be all right…
I heard someone say, this week, “Little things done over and over, equals big changes!” Wow, that is a powerful statement, especially when it is lived out! Now this statement was made by a physical fitness trainer. He was giving words of instruction and encouragement regarding wellness and fitness. In that, if you and I do little things over and over, like walking or exercising, it will equal big changes down the road. There will be results from our consistent efforts! While I
“Gentlemen (and ladies) start your engines!” were the words I heard—for the first time in many years—when I attended the Coke Zero 400 NASCAR Race at Daytona this weekend with my brother. Growing up in Illinois, it was a childhood memory for me to go to the stock car races, with my family, in the small town nearby on the weekends. I loved hearing the famous words, “Gentlemen, start your engines” and then hearing the roar! The words still make my heart beat fast today. I had a great time at the race, despite all the rain, and I learned some important life lessons, as well.
I found myself praying and journaling the following words this week, Heavenly Father, I lay down my want to: to be right, to be understood, to be accepted and loved. I continued, For the truth is… I am fully understood, accepted and loved by You, the King of the Universe! My heart instantly felt light! (Now please know that I am dearly loved by many. I know and believe that today, but, for some reason—a reason I cannot even remember right now, I was not feeling loved that morning. And thus I was pouring out my emotions in my journaling, with my time with God.)
Latest Book Release
God Doesn't Love Us All The Same, by Nina Guilbeau
Janine Harris never really thought about homeless people. She barely even notices them as she passes them by on her way to work in downtown Washington D.C. All Janine can focus on is the shambles of her own young life, afraid that she will never be able to get past the painful mistakes she has made. However, all of that changes on a snowy evening in December when Janine unexpectedly finds herself alone with Vera, an old, homeless woman who seems to need her help. Now Janie wants to know what could have possibly happened to Vera to leave her so broken and alone.
As Vera shares her life story with Janine, the two women form an unusual bond and begin a journey that changes both of their lives forever. Reluctantly, they each confront their own past and, in the process, discover the true meaning of sacrifice, family and love. Although to truly move forward in their lives, they must fast the most difficult challenge of all – forgiving themselves.
Read More