I Failed but am Not A Failure

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This week Matt came over to me with his head low and said “Mom, I feel like a failure.”

“Why do you say that?” I asked.

Matt replied, “Because I haven’t done as much of my work as I should have done by now.”

I quickly thought about my day and how I had been struggling with some of my work stuff too. I looked at him and said, “Me neither. I guess I am a failure too.”

He looked up surprised by my reply. Then I grabbed his hands in mine and raised our arms together towards the ceiling screaming, “failures unite!” and we both started laughing.

I share this with you because my guess is in some way, shape, or form each of us feels like we have failed this week.

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

pause. breathe. pray.

Matt and I want you to know, you aren’t alone. You are welcome to unite with us as well! Yet to dwell in the mindset that we are failures in not healthy nor beneficial. Yes, we may have failed but that doesn’t make us failures. May we not allow our shortcomings, or struggles, to define us. Instead may we meet ourselves with the love and grace God meets us with, and allow His truth and who He says we are to define us.

With love and hope,

Shawn

For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. - Deuteronomy 7:6

Be Patient with God's Timing

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I am so thankful for the taste of spring today. How I wish it would stay.

Practicing patience and remembering God’s timing is always perfect.

With love and hope,

Shawn

For everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven. - Ecclesiastes 3:1

Walk Humbly with God

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On our walk yesterday, while the rest of us avoided the ice, Matt walked on it the whole way. At one point I told him he could go faster if he walked in the grass. He said he enjoyed the challenge of the ice and was completely content with his slower pace.

I share this with you today because so many of us unknowingly opt to walk on the grass throughout our week. We take the easier, fast track.

Yet what if we instead, like Matt, chose a more challenging path? One that would help us slow down and walk with purpose?

This is what walking with God is like.

I invite you to join me to...

pause. breathe. pray.

This week may we choose to walk with God. It may not be the easy, fast track, yet walking with God will help us to slow down a bit and give greater clarity and purpose to our steps.

With love and hope,

Shawn

“Walk humbly with God.”

- Micah 6:8

His Vantage Point

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Our family loves hiking to Heublein throughout the year. It’s a quick, local hike with a beautiful view at the top that looks down at the valley below.

I was passing it the other day and paused to get this picture. I was reminded, as I looked at the tower, how when we go up there everything below looks so small below.

I share this with you today because often the struggles in front of us feel so big, and some of them are. Yet when we look to God and invite Him in, He can help us step back and widen the lens, like what happens for me at the top of the mountain. When we are able to do this, sometimes what we thought were big problems are brought down to size. Other times, the big problems don’t shrink in size yet we can gain a renewed perspective for the struggle before us from His vantage point.

If you have something in front of you you are going through, I invite you to join me to...

pause. breathe. pray.

May we take a step back from the struggle and a step closer to God. May this faithful step help us widen the lens and give us greater insight, clarity and a renewed perspective

With love and hope,

Shawn

I lift up my eyes to the mountains—

where does my help come from?

My help comes from the Lord - Psalm 121:1-2

Rest in the Brokenness

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Rest in the brokenness.

On so many levels I think this is what so many of us are seeking. In so many ways we experience brokenness, whether it’s our story or someone else’s that we hold in our heart.

I don’t know your story but I want to reflect this to you, in case you too are experiencing brokenness. There is a place, a person, who we can go to where, if we open ourself to the possibility, we will find rest.

In God’s presence.

It’s an inside out, upside down statement in our current world but a truth that has brought me rest in my brokenness over and over again. I wholeheartedly know that this rest is available to you too.

I invite you to join me to...

pause. breathe. pray.

May we bring our brokenness and surrender it to God. May we find comfort in His loving presence so we can find rest in the brokenness, and peace for our souls.

With love and hope,

Shawn

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. - Matthew 11:28

Thank you

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Hi friends,

Whether you have been here beside me from day one or are new connecting with me here, I just wanted to say, “Thank you!”

I am honored to have space on your feed and hope that when you scroll through, my posts with help remind you to...

Pause from the busyness and noise.

Encourage you to take some deep breaths.

And to pray. Inviting God in to your day and/or circumstances to help bring greater calm, clarity, insight and perspective within.

With love and hope,

Shawn

Bridge Hearts with Others

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Can you feel the difference when someone is looking at you from the eye of judgement versus when someone is looking at you from their heart of love?

Me too.

I invite you to join me today to...

pause. breathe. pray.

May we choose be the ones who meet and greet others from a heart of love, seeing others beyond the surface and bridging our hearts with theirs. May this choice be a gift we extend to others throughout our day, that blesses you as well.

With love and hope,

Shawn

People look at the surface, God looks at the heart. - 1 Samuel 16:7

Shifting Thoughts

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Last night the wind was crazy here. It woke me up a couple of times and of course I pictured trees falling on my house. To shift away from those fearful thoughts, I prayed over our home and my family, picturing God protecting them and then fell back asleep.

Please don’t think this came easy. Ten plus years ago whenever there was a storm or wind, I would assume the worst and spiral into a panic attack that would have me watching the weather channel nonstop. Being able to wake up, pray, and fall back asleep has only come by practicing trusting God over and over and over and over again, day after day, year after year. It’s not an easy practice and it’s one I am still practicing daily, and will for life, as I am not sure we ever fully trust God with all parts of our life consistently. Maybe you do but I find when I trust God in one area, I unintentionally don’t in another.

I share this with you today because we all have those wind moments in our life. Many it is not literally the wind, but moments that grip us with fear and spiral out thoughts into negative outcomes. I invite you to join me to...

pause. breathe. pray.

May we practice letting go of the fear by trusting God with whatever it is we are dealing with. May we trust that He loves and cares for us and has us in the palm of His hand. This doesn’t mean we get to know the outcome but it puts our trust in the one who is in control of the outcome and may we find rest in that truth.

With love and hope,

Shawn

I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from?

My help comes from the Lord - Psalm 121:1

Soften the Edges

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This lovely stream is on my street and I walk by it on my way to the trail. Not only do I enjoy the sight of the stream but the sound of the water rolling over the rocks is soothing to me as well.

When I walk by this I am also reminded how freely the water flows over the rocks. Over time, the water is able to soften even the hardest of edges on the rocks beneath it.

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

Pause. Breathe. Pray.

This week may we recognize the hard edges we have. What I mean by hard edges are those things we are stressed about, the challenges we are facing, the fear, worry, the unknown, etc.? May we take these hard edges before God, who is also known as the spring of living water. (Jeremiah 17:13) May His love and truth help bring a calm to our mind and soul and this stream can do. And over time, as we consistently and persistently spend time with Him, He soften the edges by giving us wisdom and perspective for our days.

With love and hope,

Shawn

Clear Scans! + A Divine Appointment

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Today Patrick celebrated my clear scans with me

I met Patrick four years ago while in treatment. Every day when I walked to treatment I would turn the corner to @masseyeandear and was greeted by Patrick and his warm smile- which unfortunately you don’t get to see today. He, Adil, Danielle, Kim, are just a few of the people who have become like family to me over the years.

When I go to Boston for scans and appointments, I know I am not alone as I have these incredible people there to visit with.

I share this with you today to yes, share the good news, but also as a reminder when we are going through tough times, to take time to...

pause. breathe. pray.

And as tempting as it is to stay focused on the struggle, let’s try and keep our eyes and ears open for the people God has placed along our path. You never know, a simple smile can turn into a friendship that nourishes your soul.

With joy and gratitude,

Shawn

“A sweet friendship refreshes the soul” -Proverbs 27:9

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