Finding Hope in Difficult Times

In times of uncertainty, I invite you to join me to…

pause. breathe. pray.

If there is anything that is ours to say and do, let’s do it. And for all that isn’t ours, may we trust God with it and pray for those who are in positions to say or do something. May they be willing, and have the courage, to do what’s right, even when it’s hard.

With care and hope,
Shawn

Be still, and know that I am God. - Psalm 46:10

Easter Morning Message

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Thank you, Jesus🙏

Why Following Jesus Changes Everything: Hope, Purpose, and Truth

In this world, there are many people we could follow, but will everyone we follow lead us well?

No.

But there is One who will lead us best, Jesus.

Why?

He truly has our best interest in mind.

He is a leader, not one who stands above the crowd, but one who sits beside His people.

He has all the power of God, yet never uses it for self-gain, only to serve others.

He lived with purpose and gives us our purpose, to love God and love others well.

He didn’t just preach, He walked the talk, all the way to death on a cross.

He is strong, courageous, humble, full of grace, compassion, and care.

He is not concerned with what is seen, but what is unseen, our minds, hearts, and souls.

He speaks truth with love.

He builds others up and leads them well.

He heals, comforts, and redeems, He is our living hope.

He sat with those society cast aside.

He is the bridge to a new way, the way, God’s way.

I could go on and on.

Saying yes to following Jesus is the best decision I have ever made.

Life is not easy, but following Him helps us see life differently, not through our own lens, but through His, through His Word.

His way is upside-down and inside-out. Yet when we choose to walk with Him, we will experience love, peace, joy and life like never before.

If you have not yet chosen to follow Jesus, take a step of faith toward Him. Listen. Learn. Open the Bible. Go to church, especially this Easter weekend, which is the cornerstone of our faith.

Don’t just listen to people, even me. Get to know Jesus for yourself.

And I wholeheartedly trust that, in time, you will choose to follow Him, and His love will transform your heart, mind, and life, just as it has mine.

With love and hope, Shawn

“He is not here; He has risen!”
- Luke 24:6–7

“In His great mercy, He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.”
- 1 Peter 1:3

The Power of Mentors

I was so excited to run into this great guy yesterday. Don is someone who made a lasting, positive impact on me, and on so many others growing up.

He worked for our town’s Parks and Rec Department as a referee for our basketball games and also ran clinics. His presence, time, and energy were a blessing in my life, and so many others.

Don was a staple in our lives.

Every Saturday morning, our middle school gym was packed with games from 8 a.m. to noon, and Don’s voice filled the space. He wasn’t just making calls, he was correcting us, guiding us. He wasn’t there simply to referee, he was there to help us become better players, and better people.

Don is known for his rough edges. He’s not always polished with his words, and he’s not shy about his tone. But those of us who had the privilege of being coached by him knew his heart, he always had our best interests in mind.

Today, people like Don are still needed, on and off the court.

People who care enough to speak hard truths. People who love us enough to redirect us when we’re heading in the wrong direction. People who are more concerned with who we’re becoming than how comfortable we feel in the moment.

Don didn’t just invest in us on those Saturday mornings. When we reached high school, he showed up at our games. Many of us even became referees ourselves under his guidance on those Saturday mornings.

He was committed to us as players, but more importantly, to us as people.

And he’s still showing up today, now cheering on some of our kids at their games.

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

pause. breathe. pray.

Let’s give thanks for the people in our lives, like Don, who have had the courage to speak the truth in love to us. May we learn from their example, and care about one another enough to speak the truth in love to each other, seeking to build each other up, from the inside out.

Also, may we remain humble enough, no matter our age, to listen when truth is spoken into our lives, trusting that when it comes from someone who cares about us, it is worth leaning in to.

With gratitude and hope,

Shawn

From Cancer Survivor to Wounded Healer: 9 Years of Faith, Healing, and Hope

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Click picture to view video…

9 years ago today I had much of my palate removed to remove the cancerous tumor. I now use an artificial, removable device called an obturator that helps me speak, drink and eat.

One of the blessings from having this invisible wound is the reminder that I am not alone. Everyone has some form of wound they are walking around with, some are visible and some are invisible. Whatever the wound, every person is worthy to be seen, heard and loved.

I share this today as a reminder that it’s okay to have our wounds, our stories. Yet may those stories never define us, but refine us. And may we not have shame about our wounds and may we even consider that the comfort we received from God in our healing is now something we get to pass along to comfort others who are wounded. As Henri Nouwen so beautifully said,

“When our wounds cease to be a source of shame, and become a source of healing, we have become wounded healers.”

I share this on this cancersary to invite anyone with visible or invisible wounds to join me to…

pause. breathe. pray.

May we remember we don’t know everyone’s real story on the inside. Yet rather than meeting people on the surface, may we look to bridge hearts with others, with love. Whether we know each other’s story or not, it doesn’t change the fact that we can meet one another in love.

And for those in the healing process, give yourself the grace and space to heal. And for those who are healed and live with the visible or invisible wounds, may we allow God to use our stories to be a source of comfort, hope and healing to others.

With love and hope,
Shawn

the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. - 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

The Grass Will Grow Back: A Reminder for Parents to Cherish the Moment

Gavin was home from college last weekend and I had been out. I came home to the yard filled with wiffle balls and it made my heart smile to see that the boys had been playing ball together.

I remember years ago when the boys put the bases down around the yard. Now the bases are permanent fixtures in the dirt, we literally mow over them. Also, we have patches of dirt around the pitching mound and our home plate.

The boys used to play wiffle ball for hours together and with friends.

The time in the yard together is naturally fading.

And I know that in time, the grass will grow back, and I’ll eventually pick up the bases.

Yet the memories made in this imperfect, worn yard will last a lifetime.

I share this today for all the parents whose grass is growing back too and for all the young parents whose yards are filled with dirt patches. I invite you to join me to…

pause. breathe. pray.

May what things look like on the outside, like our yards, come second to the joy and memories made within our hearts.

May the worn space in our yards and around our houses be the memory marks left from the blessing of time with one another.

For the grass will grow back, and our kids will grow up and one day move out.

May this give us wisdom on how to spend our time with those we love, and gratitude for the worn spaces made together.

With love and hope,
Shawn

Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”
- Psalm 90:12

Letting Go as a Parent: Trusting God with Your Children’s Future

As I shared earlier this week, Kate is 20 and it’s wild in many levels. The morning of her birthday I was driving and praying for her year and a song from Mama Mia came to mind with the lyrics, “Slipping through my fingers all the time I try to capture every minute…”

It’s a special song to us yet when I played the lyrics in my head that morning they had completely new meaning.

Kate has never been slipping through my fingers. She has been and always will be in God’s hand, not mine, as are Gavin and Matt. I just have the privilege to be their mom all these years to guide them to Him, who will guide them best towards who He made them to be.

This renewed perspective brought a joy and calm to my soul, and an excitement for what’s to come.

I share this today for other parents who have a hard time letting go. I invite you to join me to…

pause. breathe. pray.

May we remember God doesn’t have grandkids, only children. And as much as it’s a gift to to be our kids parents, in the end, we really don’t want them to need us, we want them to lean into Him above all else. May we trust God has them, and He has us too.

With love and hope,
Shawn

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight. - Proverbs 3:5-6

May we Remember Without Reliving It: Healing from Past Trauma

Yesterday I went with a friend to a couple of scans. What I didn’t realize is that going with her, I was going to be going back to the very place I went for scans when I was diagnosed.

As we drove in, I was okay. And as we walked in, I was okay. When we walked down the stairs, I was okay.

I was so grateful that it didn’t trigger my body into fight and flight as other places have through the years.

The night before, I actually had been watching a show, and there was a line in it that really struck me. A character said, “You know you’re better when you can remember without reliving it.”

So I am giving thanks to God for remembering but not reliving the fear and all that went with being in that place.

I share this with you today in case you too at times remember a past traumatic memory and relive it, in your mind or body. I invite you to join me to…

pause. breathe. pray.

May we trust it is possible to remember what happened without reliving it. May we remain prayerful to heal in whatever way is needed, so we can be free from the past, as I was fortunate to experience yesterday.

And for those who are waiting results, my heart and prayers are with you as you wait.💕🙏💕

With love and hope,
Shawn

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” - 2 Timothy 1:7