Thy Will Be Done

Do you need to calm your soul this morning? Me too.

Rather than watching the news or scrolling through social media, I am purposefully choosing to fix my eyes on Jesus.

Why?

He is able to calm the storm in our soul.

I invite you to join me to...

pause. breathe. pray.

May we look to Jesus and see how he leads with wisdom, knowledge, humility, courage, truth, integrity, and unwavering character. He was an effective communicator, just, he sits beside those considered outcasts, he walked the walk and was as selfless as they come, to the point of dying for others, including you and me.

Jesus, lead us today. Give us knowledge on how to best reflect your light and love in this messy world, and wisdom to choose a leader who will best reflect your character, and do your will.

With love and hope,
Shawn

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. - Matthew 6:9-13

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Love Each Other Deeply

“May we agree to disagree yet still love one another unconditionally.” - @andy_stanley @northpointcommunitychurch

With love and hope,
Shawn

“Above all, love each other deeply...” - 1 Peter 4:8

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Change Can Be A Beautiful Thing

In this season, may we not forget to...

pause. breathe. pray.

And see that change can be a beautiful thing.

With love and hope,
Shawn

“Forget the former things;
do not dwell on the past.
See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.
- Isaiah 43:18-19

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Real Connections

Last night I opened my phone before heading to bed to learn it was national daughters day. I felt this overwhelming sense of failure for not posting about my wonderful daughter. I was about to sit with my phone to find the right pic to post and the right words to write about her, but instead I...

paused. breathed. prayed.

And recognized where I needed to be was offline, beside my daughter, wishing her a national daughters day.

I share this with you today in case you can relate to how I felt last night. We see something online and feel like we need to post something. The pull of social media can rule my heart.

If you can relate, I invite you to join me to...

pause. breathe. pray.

May we not allow what is on social media to rule our hearts but instead allow God’s peace, truth and love to rule our hearts. May we know that we are not less than, nor is the relationship less than, if we don’t say something on social media. There are so many of the national “days” we will inevitably miss some of them. That doesn’t mean our love for those people in our lives in less than if we don’t post about it online. The real connections we need most are the offline, in person connections. May we never forget to make those first. And if we choose to share online, may it be from the peace in our heart, and not the expectation of what social media is calling for us to be and/or do.

With love and hope,
Shawn

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts. - Colossians 3:15

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#bravelikegabe

Thank you @bravelikegabe for keeping @gigrunewald ‘s legacy alive, and for all you do for our ACC community💕🙏💕

Repost with @make_repost
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In 2017, Shawn, a mom of three, was diagnosed with Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma when a tumor was found in her nasal cavity and upper palate. She underwent a surgery to remove the tumor, which included removing her palate. She now wears an artificial palate called an obturator. “My experience has given me great compassion for others with invisible wounds. I realize we all walk around with them, in some way shape or form. I am truly grateful to be able to use what I learned with my walk with ACC to come beside others, and encourage them through whatever they may be walking through.”⁣
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Shawn is an inspirational author and speaker who dedicates her cancerversaries to helping others. On the one year anniversary of completing treatment, she launched her book, Our Struggles Have Purpose, which describes 55 life lessons she learned through her walk with cancer, from diagnosis through the end of treatment. “I wholeheartedly believe my struggles have led me to my deeper purpose; to love others beside me, from family to strangers, and to encourage those next in line.”⁣
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Shawn’s husband helped her stay active throughout treatment, arranging a place for her to stay where she could walk 3 miles to and from treatment every day. She found nourishment in the fresh air and routine walk in nature. Shawn describes this as finding what her body is able to do to take care of her mind and spirit. “Find what you like to do, and what you are able to do, and go and do it. By doing what we are able to do isn’t just for our body’s wellbeing, but will help nourish us within as well.”⁣
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Shawn, thank you for sharing your story and lifting up those around you. We can be #BraveLikeShawn today by walking, wheeling, or running some miles for ourselves and for those we love!

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The Most Beautiful View

Are any of you feeling a little resistant to life getting a busier again?

If you are, I get it.

This fall has me reflecting on something I learned after my treatments ended. We had a lovely summer as a family full of quality time together. Cancer stripped away everything that was nonessential & we were left with one another, & found joy in the simply things.

That fall, when school, sports & the busyness of schedules started, it was a shock to my system. During cancer, I felt like God had pulled me off of the trains we were on as a family & sat me on the countryside with my loved ones and I saw the most magnificent view of life.

Joy wasn’t in the busy, but in being present with others.

That fall I sat on the countryside resisting hopping back on the trains that were running that could take away this renewed view of life we had been given.

Although I resisted, I stepped back on the trains, because it’s what we do, right?

A number of months after hopping back on the trains I continued to feel the resistance within. Then in a quiet moment of prayer, I realized Stephen & I are the drivers of our family’s train. No one else is in control of our speed or the stops we make but us.

This renewed view freed me to do things in a way that fit our family best, even if it wasn’t in line with how others were driving their trains.

I felt compelled to share with you what I learned after cancer in case some of you can relate to the resistance to getting busy again in this season of “reopening.” I wanted to encourage you to join me to

pause. breathe. pray.

Even though things are starting to move forward, may we all remember we each drive our own family’s train. We get to choose the pace & frequency of stops along the way. Whatever we do, or don’t do, may we not lose sight of the beautiful view we were given when all that was nonessential was taken away & we were able to focus in on who & what is most essential in our life.

Whatever pace we choose, may we never lose the view from the countryside we were given. The view of who matters most; it’s the most beautiful view.

With love & hope,
Shawn

The mind governed by the Spirit is life & peace. - Romans 8:6

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Celebrate Small Joys

🎈🎉Today is Stephen’s birthday🎉🎈

“Many people lose the small joys in the hope for the big happiness.” Not this guy. I am forever grateful how he always keeps us grounded in the small joys🎈

☀️Here’s to another adventurous trip around the sun🍺☕️

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Speak Life

First try: After holding onto the first bar, Matt said, “Wow. I forgot how this hurts my hands, I can’t do this,” as he jumped down.

The next thing I knew he was circling back to hop on again.

Second try: “I can do this,” he said aloud as he went across with ease, surprising himself, and me.

Third try: “I keep getting better at this” he said, as his speed and confidence increased.

I was inspired listening to our youngest talk his way past the negative thoughts and into truth. This isn’t an easy thing to do. I know from experience. Maybe you can relate.

If so, I invite you to join me to...

pause. breathe. pray.

Let’s absorb this lesson I learned from Matt; that words have power. When we are at the edge and challenged, may the words we choose be ones of life and truth. May our thoughts and words not talk us out of what we are able to do. Instead may we remember that God made us more capable than we think we are. What often stops us from meeting our full potential are the words we speak to ourselves. So let’s move forward today speaking truth and life into our own hearts, and into others, and see what we are able to accomplish.

With love and hope,
Shawn

“My mouth speaks what is true, for my lips detest wickedness.” - Proverbs 8:7

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An Unexpected Gift

Sometimes an unexpected gift becomes the divine appointment you are needing.

The past few days have been wavy. I have had unexpected pain which lead me to having drs appts, labs and tests this week. Over the days I felt myself grow weary. I am tired that if something is off, I cycle through in my head wondering if the cancer is back somewhere else.

I think you all get a glimpse of it now with COVID, with a simple cough, you may find yourself asking, do I have COVID?

Well that is the life of many cancer survivors. With the new pain, or lump or bump, the question becomes, “can the cancer be back?” It admittedly sucks. Some people are past it, I pray I will get there at some point but am honestly am not there yet.

I knew my head was in a rough place this time. The physical pain was louder than my conversation with God, and started consuming my mind. I knew I had to shift my thoughts. I started with thinking of all I have to be grateful for. And although I told myself how grateful I was for my incredible, thorough doctors, having access to healthcare and insurance, my family, fresh air, and more, the words I spoke were true yet the feelings of gratitude haven’t been flowing as easily.

Then I arrived home to an unexpected gift from a friend. We haven’t spoken in a while and I was taken back seeing her name on the package. When I opened it I read her thoughtful note and pulled out this beautiful bag she made which reads...

“For every breath that you’re taking, it’s all in His hands.”

The timing of this gift and message in it couldn’t have been more perfect. I held the bag and read the words over and over again.

This truth was what I needed to hear.

Every breath I take is in His hands. Worrying doesn’t add one moment to my life, may I rest in His presence and care, once again.

I share this with you today in case there is some wrestling going on in your heart. I invite you to join me to...

pause. breathe. pray.

May we all receive these words as the gift they are. May they get below the surface and into our hearts to pulse life and truth through us and rid us of fear and worry or anything else we are carrying.

And when we get that inner nudge to send that note, or gift, to someone, even if we haven’t spoken with them in a while, let's write it or send it. What we give may be exactly what their heart is needing in that moment💕🙏💝

With love, gratitude and hope,
Shawn

Ps Thankfully all the labs and tests have come out clear and am feeling better day by day💝

Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? - Matthew 6:27

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Never Forget

May we never forget...

The day where everyone looked beyond the surface and felt each other’s humanness in our hearts.

The day where all barriers were laid down and our love for one another united us.

The day where selfless men and women ran towards the danger to help their fellow humans.

The day where people walked beside one another in their brokenness.

The day where hatred killed yet love prevailed in our hearts for one another.

The day we mourned together the loss of so many innocent lives.

The day courage showed its stripes and compassion shined bright.

The day we held each other close, and came together as one.

I invite you to join me for a moment of silence today to...

pause. breathe. pray.

And remember all the lives lost in NYC, PA and D.C., for all those we’ve lost since because of illness resulting from that day, for their loved ones, and for all the survivors who continue to live beside us.

May we never forget, September 11, 2001.

With love and hope,
Shawn

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