True Ambition ....Greatness in Serving

Offered as a prayer -

Give us true ambition—ambition to find our greatness in serving others, and the ambition to put into life more than we take out. — William Barclay

My parents always said as we hiked, visited parks or most anywhere to always leave a place better than we found it…. Often this found us picking up trash left by less careful trekkers, but we saw it not only as a duty, but a delight to make the area more beautiful. There were those that would look at us as though we were nuts or at other times, somewhat grateful for the small improvement.

In this “true ambition” we are to understand that it really is the only eternal thing we have to offer this world – and as believers – we are not home, but only here for a short while until we go home to be with our Heavenly Father. There is a line from a Christian song that has always struck me - we are but aliens in this world. Meaning – we won’t be understood fully, our actions may not make the headlines or cause us to be renowned, but we follow our Heavenly Father as adopted heirs through Christ Jesus, our Lord and Savior – and we march to a “different tune” – one I hope others find more loving, kind, considerate and refreshing.

In my Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.... John 14:2

HOME I’m so grateful God is in control. Now go out and change your world! You can do it – one smile, act of kindness, conversation, or even piece of the discarded at a time. ENJOY!

Intentions go wanting without action...

Mother Teresa said, "Don't look for big things, just do small things
with great love.".

Recently I learned a valuable lesson. I have always had a thing about
giving the perfect gift for an occasion or I would feel really
bad...sometimes my budget wouldn't allow me to do as I wished for
another and instead of doing what I could at the time, my head would be
stuck with the perfect gift and I would do nothing at all because it
would not meet my own expectations. I would feel awful, but more
importantly the intended recipient would feel as though I didn't care
because I wasn't there. A small thing in love would have made them feel more special.

"Do what you can with what you have where you are." Theodore Roosevelt

"...if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing." 1 Corinthians 13:2b

You see, no one knows our intention unless we act. That person you've been praying for could use a kind note or word from you. It's only then that they even know you care, that you're in their corner and supporting them along the way.

So today...ask God to bring someone to mind that needs an act of kindness and act.

Tired? Focus on the Truth

Lately some "bug" has been making it's way through our office and I have been waking a little “under-the-weather” with wishes of remaining in bed for a few more hours of rest. I find myself slow to move and – as I have found – also more susceptible to
negative thoughts and words followed by the sting of regret for having allowed a momentary lapse in the guarding of my mind and sometimes even my tongue. OUCH!

It is too easy to allow the negative to creep in, especially in this trying economic climate where tension, fear and doubt seem to hang in the air and the media is constantly blasting us with news of our further demise. We can often feel as though we are wading our way through the quagmire – trudging along with each tentative step in the shifting bog.

Lucky for us there are instructions as to what to do in these times. First we repent. Get right before God and our peer(s) and move on to … whatever is true, whatever is honorable,whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. (Phil. 4:8)
Truly – we must dwell – live in the midst of and fill our mind with those things that are true,honorable, right, pure, lovely, of good repute, excellence and worthy of praise. It changes our face, step and very essence as we do so. We become more approachable, more likely to share a smile and to be a beacon for another whose lost their way.

So today - here goes...I'm choosing to begin with my focus in the right place. Won't you join me?

Guard your heart so you can be a blessing...

I love going to my email and finding a message from family or friends. I hear the writer's voice, see their face and have a few moments with them no matter the time of day or night. It is a lovely oasis any time...a place where my heart is filled to overflowing as I basque in that life-giving moment. It helps to combat the stories of gloom and violence that seem so prevalent. I can see why we are to Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Proverbs 4:23 I rarely "catch the news" these days. The violence and unkindness that we human beings have the ability to inflict upon one another is just too painful. It is but one of the ways I attempt to guard my heart.

Did you know that it is even good for your health to have a happy heart? According to Proverbs 17:22 a cheerful heart is good medicine, so let's open the doors of our happy heart and bless those around us with good medicine.

The familiar...

These are familiar sites for me – along Lake Tahoe. They make me smile and it’s almost as though I can feel the sun shining on my face – the cool mountain air dislodging my hair enough to cool my neck.

Familiarity rests within our heart and is brought to the forefront when we see, hear, touch or smell something from our past or the joy of our heart in the present.

For me – my present is wonderful – a place where I love and am loved – my cup runneth over. When I view these familiar sites I am welled up to overflowing as they blend with my state of being.

To know and be known – to love and be loved – are the greatest cries of our heart. And now these three remain – faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13

Love is what makes “chores” into blessings to another. Love is why we hold onto someone dear shivering with fever with no regard for our own health. Love is what gets us up out of a comfy embrace to fetch a glass of juice or water for another…to do the mundane so that someone does not have to. It is love that never fails.

So in this new day … eyes twinkling bright with the love that fills your being - let it shine. Speak to another with a smile and let them feel familiar… loved.

I am so grateful for this new day.

Every Day a New Day

“Teach us to number our days and recognize how few they are, help us to spend them as we should.” Psalm 90:12 TLB

Each day the news is a reminder that we are not on this planet at our own will and design and that each day is a day that can not be returned once spent.

Today is a new day – a new week – a new adventure and I want it to count for everything. Should tomorrow take me to heaven, I want to have lived and loved well…to not have withheld love, kindness,goodness or encouragement from anyone, but to have added to the lives of those with whom I come in contact.

So I will number this day 1 and tomorrow day 1 and the next day 1 as well, planning to live each with the life and newness every new dawn brings.

Meet every circumstance with gratitude in the midst

James Allen said,"Circumstance does not make the man; it reveals him to himself." What an amazing truth! It is in time of crisis that we find out what we are made of. Is our first reaction one of blame or anger? Or do we remain faithful; grateful for all that we have been blessed with as we move forward through the challenge?

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
Now may the Lord of peace Himself continually grant you peace in every circumstance The Lord be with you all! (2 Thessalonians 3:16)


Remember - as your neighbor witnesses your kindness to others, he/she also witnesses your reaction to a flat tire, a broken lawn mower, a noisy neighbor, or any of a number of unpleasant surprises. All that you have done well, with love and care can be undone in those moments if your reaction belies the words of encouragement you've shared in their moments of distress.



So be vigilent .... be grateful... always.



Have a wonderful day filled with gratitude in the midst of your circumstance. I'm in the balcony cheering you on.