Thank You, Custodians

This morning as I was dropping Gav off I saw the custodians directing traffic. It caused me to pause and give thanks for these men and women who often go under appreciated. When we pause to think about the work they do, 99% of us would rather not do it. Yet they do it, and to be honest the custodians I know do it with a smile on their face - while also often times bringing smiles to the faces of the students, staff and families they work with.

I just wanted to take a moment today to share my appreciation for who they are and all they do usually, especially in these times. I’ll reach out to them directly but I wanted to raise awareness that they are such an essential part of our school communities.

I also feel compelled to share one of the best life lessons I learned which was from Big J, a custodian at the school where I was a PE teacher.

Big J was such a content person. I was in my twenties when I worked with him and was curious what made him so content, especially when I saw him cleaning up the messes in the school daily. So one day I asked him.

He told me, “I love my simple life. While other people want more, I have saved up enough to retire. I have what I need to live a good life. I don’t need much, just gas in my truck, food on my table and to go fishing when I want to.”

I share this today because I have carried Big J’s words of wisdom with me all these years. And when I looked at all the cars driving in and out this morning, I was curious how many of us are content like Big J, living a simple life with what we need, or are we striving for more?

Either way, I invite you to join me today to...

pause. breathe. pray.

May we give thanks to the custodians in our lives; not just in our hearts but let’s send a note or drop something off their way as an act of love to remind them what a valued member of our community they are. And may we also consider Big J’s wisdom, and that the path to a content life may not have to do with gaining more but in living with less and being thankful for what we have.

With love and hope,

Shawn

As it is, there are many parts, but one body. - 1 Corinthians 12:20

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When We Fall, Seek God

Recently I have had a number of conversation with people going through really tough times. My heart and prayers are with them and with any of you who are experiencing tough times as well.

Something that came on my heart this morning to share is something I do when I am experiencing a heavy season. I read the book of Job from the Bible.

Why?

Because Job’s life was attacked from every angle and something he chose to do is so powerful.

Job lost almost all of what he had, including his kids, in one day. The news of this great loss caused him fall down to the ground. Yet it is what Job did next that captures my heart every time I read it.

When Job fell to the ground, he worshiped there.

Worshiped? Wouldn’t it be more natural to yell at God or blame Him for everything?

Yet he didn’t blame God. He didn’t even turn away from God. He actually chose to turn towards God.

Job’s story inspires me to do the same.

I share this with you today as we all have something heavy on our hearts. Something we have in common is that we are still dealing with a worldwide pandemic. There may be other layers we are dealing with too. If so, I invite you to join me to...

pause. breathe. pray.

Whatever it is that is heavy on our hearts, may we know it’s okay if it brings us to our knees. Yet may we choose to follow Job’s example and not turn away from God, or blame God but turn towards Him. I know it’s easier said than done yet it is a worthwhile practice that has helped me on rough days and through tough seasons and I wholeheartedly believe it will benefit you too.

With love and hope,

Shawn

“Then Job arose and tore his robe and...fell to the ground and worshiped there...

through all of this Job did not blame God.”- Job 1:20&22

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Listen to God's Truth

I know the lies can grow louder at times in my mind and it’s a practice to keep my ears and ears tuned into God’s truth. If you too can have the lies grow louder than the truth, I invite you to join me to...

pause. breathe. pray.

May we pour in God’s truth today. May we do this to help us weed out the lies that try and take root in our minds so we can more fully live in this day we have been given

With love and hope,

Shawn

And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.

- John 8:32

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4 Years NED!

Four years ago today I had an appointment with an ENT. I almost canceled the appointment because, I figured the problem would go away and there were other things that were more important for me to do. Yet something inside of me said to go and I am forever grateful I listened.

It was this day four years ago the tumor was found in my nasal cavity and palate- and the following week when I was diagnosed with cancer.

This day brings with it joy because I am still NED and get to be with my family. It brings gratitude for the breath in my lungs, for my family, friends and for all the people who were there beside us during our walk with cancer, and since.

Yet it brings something else that I hate to speak of but it’s my truth. It brings up fear. I read something soon after I was diagnosed that caused me to close my computer and no longer read any more about Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma.

The stat I read that day is that the survival rate for ACC is 40% at 15 years. I pray with all my heart and soul to be in that 40%, and I humbly ask, if you think of it, to also pray that I get to be too.

With most cancers, the further away you get from your treatment, the more in the clear you are. With ACC the reoccurrences happen further out from treatment. So as grateful I am to be four years out, there is also a fear I need to wrestle through today.

I know my story in written in God’s book and not found on Google. My head knows that yet the reality is I have had trouble erasing this stat from my memory. Most days I don’t think about it, yet it’s on my heart today.

Even so, I will choose to celebrate the gift of being here and these four years I’ve been given. Yet you may now understand why I stay so close to God in my days. I need His truth and wisdom to lead me, and not my own emotions. I need to trust what He says over Google. I need to let faith, not fear, rule my heart.

My hope each day is to live close to God so that every day I am given I live with purpose; loving others as He loves me. I pray that as time passes, my memory of this stat will pass too, and that there will be more funding and research to help find a cure for our ACC family.

To help put away the fear today I am going to live out love towards my ACC family. As a family we will continue our donations to ACCRF, Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma Research Foundation to help fund the research we need to find a cure for this rare cancer.

I wanted to reach out and ask if you would join me today in one of three ways to live out love towards our ACC family:

1. Donate to ACCRF at

https://www.accrf.org/donate/

2. To go to Amazon smile and choose ACCRF as the organization you donate to every time you purchase from Amazon smile

3. Do both

Our ACC family sincerely appreciates anything you are able to contribute towards finding a cure for ACC.

And before I go, I also want to add, that if you have been hesitating making an appointment, or have put your well being on the back burner, please remember that we don’t get two chances at this one life we’ve been given. Please make that wellness checkup for yourself today to be sure all is well

With love and hope,

Shawn

PS To hear more of my story watch video with my dear friend Melissa Cole at HERE

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” - Philippians 4:13

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Promises of Your Future

With love and hope,

Shawn

You have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.

- Colossians 3:9-10

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It's Staying Lighter Later!

I took this at 5:15 pm which means...It’s staying lighter later!

Does anyone else get as excited as I do when you realize this?

Whether you do, or not, I invite you to join me to...

pause. breathe. pray.

May we go slow enough to see this change and give thanks for the extra light we get each day moving forwards

With love and hope,

Shawn

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. - John 1:5

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He Is the Light

With love and hope,

Shawn

I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. - John 8:12

You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. - Matthew 5:14-16

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Give Thanks for This New Day

May we...

pause. breathe. pray.

And give thanks to God for this new day

With love and hope,

Shawn

Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul. Rescue me from my enemies, O Lord, for I hide myself in you. Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.

- Psalm 143:8-10

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The Strength Within

It’s not the view I hope they remember, but the journey within that brought them to those heights

“Be strong and courageous do not fear or

be dismayed for the Lord is with you

wherever you go.” - Joshua 1:9

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What is Ruling Our Heart?

What is ruling our hearts today?

I ask this not for us to pass judgement or to cause shame, but for us to take an honest assessment of our hearts. For me, it’s often fear and worry that try and rule my heart.

If you don’t know, ask a loved one what they think rules your heart. How would they know? Often what we talk about most is what is ruling our hearts. For from the overflow of our heart our mouth speaks. - Luke 6:45

Whether we determine what is ruling our heart or not, the truth is what rules our hearts will determines our words and actions. And so I invite you to join me to...

pause. breathe. pray.

And may we make this verse our meditation this week. Why? Because when we allow God to rule our hearts, and not other people or our emotions,He will give us wisdom on what we really need to say and do with whatever comes our way.

We can be a vessel of truth and peace but it begins with what we give our heart to. So may we choose to give our hearts to God each day and trust where He leads us

With love and hope,

Shawn

W.O.W: Peace

V.O.W.: Let the peace of Christ rule our hearts. - Colossians 3:15

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