"I don’t always feel it, but that’s when I need it the most"

“I don’t always feel it, but that’s when I need it the most.” - Brandon Lake, Hard Fought Hallelujah

These words couldn’t be more true.

Don’t you often find the thing you need to do, that will bless you, or others, is often the thing you find yourself most resistance to?

For me, I have two things I am working on and the reality is, this week I have yet to feel like working on either of them. Yet I continue to sludge through the mud to work towards completing them.

Why?

Because my future self will thank me for it, and more importantly, I know it will please God that I do these because they benefit other people.

I share this with you today to invite you to join me to…

pause. breathe. pray.

May we remember that our feelings can mislead us, yet truth will lead us well. May we pray to know the difference so that we gain clarity about is ours to do, or not do.

And for all who are trudging through the mud when you don’t feel like it because you know it’s the wise choice, know I see you, and get you. May we choose to patiently persevere towards what we need to do and trust the feelings will come, even if it’s when all is said and done.

With love and hope,
Shawn

LOVE IN ACTION (WATCH THIS!)

CLICK PICTURE TO VIEW THE VIDEO

A week ago today was the Boston Marathon. This beautiful moment was captured and shared by many. I wanted to share this with you today as we start out week as a reminder of how we are called to live.

In Proverbs 16:9, it reads, we are to make out plans but let the Lord direct out steps.

This video is a beautiful example of that truth in action. Pedro, the runner, has his plans to finish the race. Yet he saw a fellow runner struggling and instead of choosing to complete his plan, he aligned with God's, which is to "love your neighbor as yourself" (Matt 22:40) and "to treat others the way you want to be treated." (Matt. 7:12)

Pedro was quoted afterwards, "I lost gained one minute to my marathon time so that he could finish his race."

Pedro's wife shared that his goal time was to finish the marathon in 2 hours and 40 minutes or less. He finished at 2 hours and 41 minutes. His wife shared, "He dreamed about a sub 2:40 and when he were ALMOST there, God used him to lose a few minutes and do something with much more meaning."

I share this story with you as it is God's love and faith in action as we are called to live in our days.  No we aren't all running a marathon, but we are running the marathon of life today, and every day, for God. As we enter this new day, and this new week, I invite you to join me to...

pause. breathe. pray.

May we make our plans yet may we keep our eyes and ears open to those in need along out path. May we not be so focused on accomplishing our plans that we miss the opportunities to be the hands and feet of Christ to those along the way. And may we, like Pedro, even be willing to sacrifice our own goals, so that others have the chance of meeting theirs.

I pray this message encourages you. Wishing you a blessed week, friend!

With love and hope,

Shawn 

A Little Jesus

One of my sisters introduced me to “little Jesus.” She was given them at her church to put around her house as a reminder that “a little Jesus makes a big difference.”

So I bought a lot of little Jesus’ to hide around my house, and to give away. When they arrived I hid a few and left the bagful on the counter.

The night before I headed to Boston I walked into the kitchen and one of the kids had decided to empty the bag and leave little Jesus’ everywhere.

I don’t know that my kid knew what this act of love did for me that night and just how much I needed to focus my attention on Jesus. Also, I needed the good laugh this gave me.

And a little Jesus truly made a big difference.

I share this with you today with Easter the horizon. I don’t know if you believe in Jesus or not. And I get it if you don’t, as most of my life I didn’t. What I realized though is I didn’t believe in Jesus because of people who misrepresented him. I actually didn’t really know Jesus. When I started to get to know Jesus, beyond the people I struggled with, I couldn’t help but believe in Him.

There will always be people who are Christians who will misrepresent Jesus, myself included. Why? Because no one is God therefore no one perfect. Yet let’s not allow people to be a stumbling block to the one who truly will make a big difference in our lives.

I invite you to join me to…

pause. breathe. pray.

May we remember that Jesus is the selfless leader who chose to spend his time with people others in society didn’t want to associate with. He is a compassionate leader who helped those in need. He is a powerful person, who had all the authority of God, yet never used that power for his own benefit, only to bless others. He is a humble soul who chose to sacrifice his own life for the lives of others, including for you and me. Jesus offers us peace, hope, courage, strength, compassion, love and so much more.

So if you need someone to help calm the storms of your heart and mind, like I did the other night, may you remember a little Jesus can make a big difference in your life.

With love and hope,
Shawn

N.E.D.!

After a nerve wracking morning on Tuesday, Stephen and I got to celebrate that my scans were clear🙌 I am beyond grateful to God, and to you for your prayers🙏

As grateful as I am, the reality that others don’t get to hear this news isn’t lost on me.

Please join me today lifting those people up in prayer for their healing journey. Thank you💕🙏💕

With gratitude and hope,
Shawn

Look Up

This morning I was unsettled. I learned someone in our ACC family, who has been NED, no evidence of disease, for 18 years found out the cancer is back. Please pray for him and his family🙏

This is one of the challenges with ACC. It can be gone for a long time and come back without any signs or symptoms, which is why we continue to get scanned for life.

One of the reasons this was unsettling for me is because I have my annual scans this week. I try not to impose other people’s stories as my own but it can be challenging.

I decided to hit the trails to get my anxious energy out. I was praying trying to let go and trust God with my scans and asking for a cure for ACC. Yet my mind was fighting to stay focused on God and not the fear.

Then the first person I passed on the trail was wearing this sweatshirt. I read, “look up” & thanked God. This was just what I needed to see, and do.

I smiled as we passed and I continued my run. On the way back, I saw her again, and not knowing if her shirt was about God or not, I stopped her and asked if I could take a picture of her sweatshirt. She was very kind and turned around, and when I saw the back of her shirt, my eyes teared up and I told her that this was just what I needed this morning.

Her shirt is a scripture, Colossians 3:2, reminding us to set our eyes on things above, aka God, and not on the things here on earth, like my scans. She graciously offered me a hug and we went our separate ways.

I share this with you today in case you too woke up this morning to something that caused you anxiety. I invite you to join me to…

pause. breathe. pray.

May we set our eyes on things above today, and not on the things here on earth. May we look to Jesus this Easter week and be reminded that when all hope was lost, He gave us a hope we can hold on to to anchor our souls at all times. May this truth bring hope and peace to our souls, even in the midst of unsettling circumstances.

With love and hope,
Shawn

A Story of Compassion

This week I read a story of a woman who had an affair with a married man. The penalty in her culture for that offense was to be stoned. The woman was brought to a place and surrounded by people who were ready to stone her. Yet a leader there came and stood between the woman and the people. The people shouted saying she needed to be stoned. Yet the leader said to them, “the one of you who hasn’t sinned, throw the first stone.” He then bent down and drew in the sand. When he stood up, no one was there but him and the woman. He asked her where they all went and she said they went away. He said he would not condemn her either, as they hadn’t, and for her to go and no longer do what she was doing.

What struck me about this story is how we can be quick to judge and condemn someone else, when we ourselves aren’t perfect. This story reminds me of a leader who didn’t condone the woman’s behavior yet chose to meet her with truth, mercy, and grace.

This leader is Jesus.

With Easter on the horizon, I just wanted to remind myself, and you, of the character of Jesus.

In the midst of chaos, he brings calm, clarity and wisdom.

I share this with you today in case you need some calm, clarity and wisdom in chaotic moments and days, as I do. I invite you to join me to…

pause. breathe. pray.

May we look to Jesus and see a leader who chose to use his time and energy to build others up. Did he have times when he was firm?Yes. Yet only after giving people chances to right their wrongs, as he did with this woman. May we look to Jesus when we are feeling chaotic so that we can access the calm, clarity and wisdom He provides.

With love and hope,
Shawn

Champions in Every Way

Yesterday we watched the Uconn women's game. What an incredible win! What I loved most were the interviews afterwards with coach Geno Auriemma and player Paige Bueckers.

There is such wisdom we can learn from their interviews, whether you are a sports person or not.

Geno shared that he went on a walk before the game and said, "God, I don't need another one of these (wins) but my players do. Can you do it for them?"

And then in Paige's interview, she thanked everyone who is a part of their "team" from the coaches, players, practice players, managers, assistants, massage therapist, fans and more. She recognized all the people who help the players become who they are and help them do what they do so that the win was possible. Also, she shared that " We lean on God's strength here, with God's power and for God's purposes."

These two interviews spoke of the selfless, outward facing care of a coach, and a player who sees the whole picture. Paige wasn't there to be the center of attention, instead she chose to be humble and honor those beside her who help build her and her teammates up while also acknowledging that this win was bigger than them and for God's purposes.

I share this with you today, to invite you to join me to...

pause. breathe. pray.

May we pause to see the character of Christ reflected in their interviews; the selflessness, care, humility, wisdom, strength and courage. May their words and work inspire us this week to be aligned with God's Word and to reflect His character to others. And when we finish our day, and week, may we be able to say, as Paige did, that what we said and did was in His power and for His purposes.

With love and hope,

Shawn

And whatever you do, in word or deed,
do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus,
giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
- Colossians 3:17

Beauty Can Grow from Dark and Barren Spaces

Today on my walk I saw the buds on the bushes and trees starting to grow. It always amazes me that out of these barren branches, the beauty that grows from it. Year after year it happens yet sometimes I take it for granted and forget to see the wonder of it all.

There is a lot of heaviness in life from personal things to hardships in the world. Seeing these branches was a reminder to me that sometimes in life we may feel like the barren branch and lose the hope that something good can grow from whatever our circumstances are.

Yet seeing these buds blossoming today was a powerful reminder of how every year without fail out of these barren looking branches beauty grows.

In case you are heavy hearted about something right now, I invite you to join me to…

pause. breathe. pray.

May spring be a reminder to us of how out of the dark and barren of winter beauty grows. This isn’t to negate the hardships we face yet to be encouraged and hold on to hope that God, in time, can make something grow from whatever we are going through too.

With love and hope,
Shawn

my God turns my darkness into light. - Psalm 18:28

The Journey of Letting Go

This weekend things started to get real. We took a couple of college tours with Gavin to help solidify the decision. As we get closer, it’s hitting my heart more and more that he’s heading off to college in a few months.

When I watch him on the tours, I see that sweet baby boy in my arms for the first time. I see the little toddler laughing and playing with his sister. I see the little boy who was enamored with his little brother the first time he met him and held him in his arms. I see the boy playing whiffle ball in the yard for hours. I see the kid jumping off the dock at the lake with his cousins. I see the boy who’s always been up for a game of any kind. I see the boy who brings calm, thoughtfulness and humor to conversations. When I look at Gavin in this season, I see vividly who he was, yet in the same breath, I see who he has become.

He is a fun-loving, witty, loyal, dedicated, hardworking, compassionate young man who loves his friends and family deeply. I see him embracing the season he is in and how he looks forward to the next season to come. It’s beautiful to see yet sometimes I find myself wanted to hold on rather than let go.

I share this for the other parents out there navigating sending your teen off to college soon as well. Know you’re not alone. I invite you to join me to…

pause. breathe. pray.

As much as we want to hold on to the past and the present, may we look to the past with joy and to the present with gratitude. And may we look to the future with hope as we watch our teens take a step of faith towards their future self. May we prayerfully let go and trust them in God’s hands. He will be with them every step of the way, and let’s pray our kids remain with Him too.

The journey of letting go isn’t easy for us, or for our kids. May we remember that as we walk beside them through this. May we meet one another with love and patience and make the best of the time with them home the next few months.

Wishing you and your teen all the best in this changing season💕🙏💕

With love and hope,
Shawn

His last season

Gav brought home his baseball jersey today. Senior year is going too fast for this mama’s heart. Yet watching him do what he loves to do are the simple moments I live for that become treasured memories. I look forward to seeing him play but I can’t believe this will be his last baseball season.