Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.

Philippians 3:12  (NIV)

Here is a short blog post for a short month!

Life goes forward whether we make plans or not. Ever found yourself at a crossroad in life? Which would be the best way to go???  Sometimes the way to go is obvious…a way that would not cause harm to others…a way that would benefit others, including us! Other times the answer is not obviously clear to us.

We have to set goals and make specific plans. Anything in life worth having has to begin with a plan to achieve it!

We can take NO CREDIT for anything worthy and excellent in life just because we wished for a desired outcome.

Plans and goals are our way of setting God’s design for us in motion. So dream and plan BIG! That means trusting God to bring our goals to fruition!

Count on a BIG God for BIG dreams and plans.

 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,

Ephesians 3:20  (NIV)

When we trust God with our plans…we’re not just relying on our strengths and abilities. We are trusting Him for the right outcome.

When we’ve prayed asking the Father for His direction…we know we’re not just wishing it. Now we can feel confident taking steps to make that desire a reality.

Here’s a simple example. Want to help with a cause? Then join the group…attend the meetings…get to know other members. Offer to assist with projects. Then we can actually know what IS being done…How & WHY.

Don’t want to get involved? Don’t think there’s enough hours in the day? That’s understandable. Just stay open to opportunities. It’s ok to say ‘No’…but always be looking for what God is putting His “Yes” on.

Dear Lord,

We know You have big plans and dreams for us. We don’t make things happen just by thinking or talking about it. That just gives us an ‘opinion’.

Remind us to turn to You when we’re ready to invest the energy in making a difference in our life outcomes or the outcomes of others.

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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 43:19  (NIV)

It’s time for some movie GIFs!

Billy Crystal’s friend, Norm, in the movie, City Slickers is having a bad time with his marriage and career. Crystal declares that it’s time for a ‘Do-over’! A whole different life!

In a scene from the movie, Forrest Gump, one of the ladies in the bar (one of Lieutenant Dan’s entourage) says to Forrest…”Don’t you just love New Year’s? You get to start all over. Everybody gets a second chance!”

It’s not New Years Eve anymore…but it’s still the beginning of a new year. All of us get to start over.  ALL OF US GET A ‘DO-OVER’. We don’t even need a new year to do that.

Isn’t that how we feel when life isn’t going as we expected? We can get depressed or frustrated. We can feel stuck. We can even give up!

That’s NOT how our heavenly Father wants us to react. He wants us to find (or create!) a new way of going forward. If we feel defeated from trying the same actions over and over again…perhaps it’s time to try something NEW! Maybe something totally different.

All it takes is a new mindset

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Romans 12:2  NIV

When searching for a new mindset, prayer is the best starting point. We all know how to petition, asking the Lord for things. We need to develop the skill of LISTENING in our prayer time. That means staying still and not speaking or thinking. Easier said than done! It takes practice to keep thoughts (bad or good) from coming. Don’t plan to hear anything immediately, but….

EXPECT to hear from God. Sometimes it’s just a ‘knowing’ in our heart. Sometimes we read something (i.e. the Bible? Something else?) that confirms our thinking or course of action.

It could be that someone else’s action leads us to what we should do. God doesn’t just speak through His word. Sometimes He will speak through other people or circumstances. Although it’s best to make sure our plan of action lines up with what the Bible says about it. Our job is to listen for that thought/idea that surely came from God. Then test it with what the Bible says on the subject.

My 2024 New Year resolution was to accept help and reach out more to others. My inability to move quickly and effortlessly often leaves me feeling an inconvenience for others…unless I’m teaching an exercise class. So once home from work, it’s easier to just stay put and not reach out to others. T.V., exercise, reading/writing and prayer time easily fill my evenings.

My son Andrew is currently living & working in Louisville. He practices his culinary skills at my home usually at least 3 times/week. That gives me wonderful company, an excellent meal and a trip to Kroger each time Andrew visits. Unlike many, I really enjoy going to the grocery. Shoppong is shopping! 

But that’s not prompting me to reach out to others more. It’s just making my life more satisfying. I know more than some that circumstances can change on a dime!

When we reach out to help or encourage others though…it seems to have ripple effects that others can remember us for.. It gives new meaning to our life…to those we are encouraging. Then we feel so satisfied, we want to do more! Could that be hearing from God?

It can be so simple! Try texting a different friend everyday to let them know you are thinking of them. No requests…just a ‘thinking of you’. Don’t we all love to get those messages? They require NOTHING!

Once we feel we’ve heard from God, then act on it! A new way of thinking about something is uncomfortable. It’s not what we’re used to. When we start to put that new mindset into action, it starts to become real for us. Then it will become second nature.

Getting a new beginning  will require us to try new things. Let’s be sure to inquire of God before we go running off in a new direction!

I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

Philippians 4:13  (NIV)

Once we feel confident that God is in our corner, a do-over is possible for any of us!

Dear Lord,

You are the Father of NEW BEGINNINGS. Remind us to go to You first before we start any new adventure.

With You as our guide, help us to discover new ways of doing things that will make an impact on others and help us to DO-OVER any wrong mindsets that we have held onto.

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For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.

2 Corinthians 4:6   NIV

Christmas is often called the season of lights. We see the twinkling lights all around us. Lights illuminate all that is around it…a tree…a wreath…and always the darkness.

During this holy season, we celebrate the birth of God’s only begotten son. Jesus is known as the light of all mankind.

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

John 8:12   NIV

Let’s try this Christmas season and all throughout the year to be a light for others who cross our path. The ways we can do this are countless…

• Pay them a heartfelt compliment.
• Acknowledge their efforts on a project…and then participate in helping them make it a reality.
• Broadcast their good works to others.
• Ask for their help on an issue. Others need to feel their opinions matter.
• Lend a hand on a problem they are facing.

We are behaving like Christ would when we do these things.

In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Matthew 5:16   NIV

Being a light for someone, we are a shining example of treating others’ needs above our own. In this selfish world we live in…that is not always easy. Human nature makes us think of ourselves first.

As we celebrate the birth of our Lord…let’s try to act as He would act toward our brothers and sisters. We know God loves us all. Let’s make Him pleased that we are His children!

Merry Christmas! May the light of Christ brighten your holiday season!

Dear Lord,

May we all bask in the light of Your love for us this Christmas!

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.  John 1:14  NIV

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Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain.

Psalm 127:1  (NIV)

We do most everything in our life by habit… when we rise, when we sleep, what we eat, who we spend our time with….the list goes on! It can include both good and bad habits.

One good habit we make is how much of our time we spend with God. We can start our day, end our day or include Him in every area of our life. I bet we can all think of ‘God moments’ that will occur any time in our day… sort of like ‘divine reminders’.

I am always looking for new ideas to talk about in my blog. My friend, Kim suggested I write about worship as something we can & should do 24/7. She had many practical ideas on how we can do this.

Just as we care for our bodies around the clock through exercise and diet and rest, we need to care for relationship with God 24 hours a day in Prayer, Praise and Thanksgiving.

Try parking your car at the furthest end of the parking lot and using that longer walk to praise God. Thank God that you can drive. And He’s given you an automobile and the ability to drive. Thank God for the mobility.

Be humbled, knowing that at any moment, it could all be taken away. Make time to give God the reverence He deserves as our creator and Lord. Just like anything else it all can become a habit. 

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5-18  (NIV)

There are so many ways to bring the Lord into our daily lives.If we’re daily Bible readers…wonderful! Just be sure to bring God’s word into the normal, every day aspects of living. Many of us read daily devotions that point us to where to see God working in our life and the lives of others. I read a daily devotional called Jesus 365. It helps me to see where He may be presenting himself each day!

Many Catholics attend daily Mass or pray the rosary honoring Jesus’ mother, Mary as Mother of God.

Is  daily formal prayer not a part of your routine? We’ve all heard the saying…pray constantly… and if necessary, use words. God is much more concerned with how we treat each other and look out for each other than any repetitive prayer we recite. As long as we acknowledge that He is the source from where our actions come from.

Make it a habit to always ask, ‘What would Jesus do in this situation?’

If we make the Lord part of our daily routine, He will show up in ways we never imagined.

Just make it a habit through continuous repetition!

Dear Lord,

Help us to make acknowledging You a habit in our lives. Your word tells us You will never leave us or forsake us. Thank You for understanding our fallen human nature. We DO forget You sometimes!

Remind us to use the holy Bible, devotionals as well as how we behave in this world to always point to You as the source of our continued joy.

If you have any topics you would like me to address in a future blog…please email me at [email protected].

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With your own eyes you saw those great trials, those signs and great wonders

Deuteronomy 29:3  (NIV)

God DOES speak to us…not in an audible voice, but in very specific circumstances in our lives. We need to be consistently looking for the signs God sends us…or He’ll just keep showing us the same lesson over and over again.

I learned this lesson the hard way a few weeks ago! I rode my TRIKE up to the UPS store to drop off a package. I don’t have the balance for a regular bike. Unfortunately, I also don’t have the balance to correct a falling TRIKE.

One of my back wheels caught the curb as I was riding up the little ramp going to the shopping center. Over I went! I was wise to protect my head with a helmet AND my hips. So I threw my arm out to stop the fall and snapped my clavicle (collar bone). I suppose that could’ve happened to anyone, BUT…

That was NOT the first fall off my bike. Two years ago, I hit a pothole as I entered a shopping center. I went over quickly. My sunglasses scraped my scalp just over my ear. That’s when I learned that scalp scrapes REALLY bleed. I was ok…but all the blood scared me. So I secured a PROPERLY -FITTING  helmet from the Brain Injury Alliance of Kentucky.

My next fall was a year later in the same shopping center…same uneven pavement. This time my head was protected as I landed on my face. The scrapes & bruises changed my appearance for several weeks.

My first fall just scared me. The second fall beat my face up. The 3^rd fall landed me in the hospital for 3 weeks with a broken clavicle.

I chuckled as the EMS got me settled in the ambulance. Wow! I’ve always wondered what the inside of these things look like. The only other time I’ve been in one, I was unconscious!

Unfortunately, this was not the first time I had caused my family grave concern about my wellbeing. My sister, Julie was my immediate savior this time. She lived close, so was able to get to me even before the ambulance did. Then Julie spent several hours in the Emergency Department as I waited for a room.

My TRIKE fall changed my ability to move independently; scared my family and temporarily ended my passion in life… which was teaching seniors how to be fit & move correctly. I sure could not move correctly with a broken collar bone!

Was God asking me to stay out of shopping centers? I KNOW He was telling me to stay off of uneven payment. I loved riding that TRIKE! I think I’m being taught a lesson here. The endorphin high of riding is NOT worth the cost of falling. Lesson learned Lord!

This is just an example of how the Lord may send us a warning. He also loves to send us GOOD signs!

A much more PLEASANT sign God gave me is just how much others care for me! I was astonished with the cards, flowers, gifts & food I received from friends, students & family. I believe that even in this horrible incident God was showing me just how much others care and how many lives I have touched.

The Lord sends us signs all the time. Are we listening? More importantly, are we following His lead?

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Romans 8:28  (NIV)

Maybe the Lord was giving me a repeated warning to stay off the TRIKE. He was also showing me the impact of my actions on other people’s lives. When I was finally able to start teaching again…I think my classes were as excited as I was.

We never know how our actions and behaviors are impacting others’ lives. Our desire should always be to improve their lives and NOT just to have them think better of us.

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,

Colossians 3:23 (NIV)

The dearest lesson the Lord showed me was the love and support of my son, Andrew. He has lived in a different city than me since he was 4 years old. Since January he has been living and working here in Louisville.

Andrew was at the hospital the night I arrived. He came to see me every night I was there. He filled me in on work news, family news…and he brought the AV chord from my DVD player at home to hook up movies from my laptop to the big screen in my hospital room! I am not that technologically advanced!  It sure made for a more entertaining visit though!

Then Andrew moved in with me for two weeks after I returned home. I thought everyone was being overly cautious…but I sure was glad he was there! I never realized how much we cannot do without full use of one arm.

God’s signs and wonders are all around us. Sometimes He will bring us outside of our routines and comfort zones. We might be missing valuable lessons is we try to ignore His promptings!

Dear Lord,

Thank You for saving me from breaking more than my collarbone! I’ve been a fall-risk for over 25 years. Thank You for all the other falls You’ve protected me from.

Thank You also for showing me through this accident just how much others want me to have a functioning, independent life. I am truly humbled by others’ concern for me. Thank You for giving me so many signs!

I promise to not ever give up. Because of Your signs & promptings though, I also promise to slow down a little. Please prompt us to always look for Your hand in our lives.

Thanks for always having my back!

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Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.

Ephesians 4:15  (NIV)

If we look at our TV, our newspaper, our laptop or our phone…we see a lot of discussion about certain classes or even races being privileged and entitled. Are we not ALL privileged and entitled? We should be.

I recently went to my 50 year grade school reunion from St. Raphael, the Archangel Catholic School. The reunion began with the regular Saturday evening Mass…with 5 rows of pews reserved for me & my classmates. It continued with a tour of the school and a social.

I felt very privileged to be a part of the 1973 graduating class. All of us had quite literally grown up together. We started together at 5 or 6 years old as 1^st graders. We went through our awkward adolescents, and then began puberty, graduating from 8^th grade at 13 or 14 years old.

We were all privileged to attend St. Raphael because our parents thought that a Christian education was paramount to our upbringing. They believed the curriculum would teach us all the scholastic requirements, while also teaching us what God expected of us and how to love others.

We learned ‘reading, writing and arithmetic’ like every other child our age. We also learned about the holy sacraments and traditions of the Catholic Church. Most importantly, we learned that we were a part of God’s family; that He loved us dearly; and was expecting all of us to love and help each other.

We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing.

2 Thessalonians 1:3  (NIV)

It was sort of surreal seeing each other after all these years. I recognized most everyone. I brought my walker instead of my cane so I could move quickly. I was prepared with my two-sentence explanation of what had happened to me….but no one even asked!

My brain injury was 26 years ago. Perhaps they had already heard. Perhaps they were just being kind. Whatever the reason, I was ecstatic to just be part of the group again and not have to talk about my own misfortune.

We all have misfortunes in life. Mine just happen to be very visible. After 50 years, I’m certain that my graduating class had their share of life adversities. We all however had the privilege of growing up in a school that taught us to lean into God when things got difficult. We learned how to make lemon aide out of our lemons.

And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

Ephesians 2:22   (NIV)

Jesus Christ gave His life for all of us by dying on a cross. He was resurrected to a new life, allowing us to spend eternity with Him. Because of this, if we believe in Him, we are entitled to live our life after we die in the paradise He has prepared for us.

Entitlement is defined as having a right to certain benefits or privileges. I’m not referring to ‘government entitlement programs’. Nor am I talking about entitlement based on riches, talent, social class or race. All of those seem to have a negative component attached to them as they leave specific individuals out.

I’m talking about our entitlement as children of God. If we are faithful to His precepts for our life…then He will be faithful to us. Then we will all be entitled to live with Him forever…no matter what group or class we belong to. And I am expecting to see all my classmates from the graduating class of 1973!

Dear Lord,

Thank You for giving us all the privilege of serving as a member of Your family. We know it won’t always be easy. Sometimes we will even suffer.

Console and encourage us with the fact that as Your children we are entitled to live forever in Your kingdom.

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For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.

2 Corinthians 6:2  (NIV)

I left Little Rock in 2000, leaving my then 3-month-old son, Andrew with his dad. So many times in the last 23 years, I’ve longed and prayed for him to live in the same town as his Mom. Because of my balance disability, he was better off in Little Rock with an able-bodied parent to care for him. I HATED IT! This was not the life I signed up for! My dreams certainly weren’t coming true.

I had not even grown accustomed to my new, disabled life when I was hit with a divorce and custody battle. Seriously God! What else? I have learned over the years to not ask that question. It was more important for Andrew to have a normal life, surrounded by friends and family who loved him….but not his Mom.

Fast-forward 23 years. Andrew is now living in Louisville with my brother Andrew. Years ago my brother, Andrew decided to change his name (around the family) to Uncle A to eliminate all the confusion when my son was in town about which Andrew was being spoken to.

So now Uncle A is employing my son Andrew at his own company AND has invited him to live in his home. Uncle A is a marketing consultant. His purpose for having Andrew live and work with him was to help him grow up and take responsibility for his life’s direction. With that newfound confidence, my son could either flourish in a new career or complete his college degree…OR BOTH!

I’ve seen Andrew’s confidence level increase since he’s been here. He seems truly happy being able to accomplish tasks he never even tried before. He’s meeting new people and learning a whole new city. My prayer now is for him to develop some friendships to make Louisville feel like a real home.

It almost seems surreal to have Andrew living right here in Louisville. My first thought was of his father. He actually encouraged Andrew to move here. They are so close!!…yet he prompted him to move here in hopes of giving him a new purpose and direction in his life. What a totally unselfish love he showed for his son. Being in Andrew’s company so much now makes me realize what his dad sacrificed in hopes of giving him a brighter future.

One of the gifts that Andrew inherited from his dad was his passion and talent for cooking. Now my son cooks for me! My idea of cooking is constructing a good, healthy salad and microwaving leftovers that someone else made. Home cooking is a new and novel experience in my kitchen.

Am I happy that my dream has come true? I thank God every day for giving me an opportunity to be more than a long-distance mom. I’m keenly aware though that this is not about me. As ecstatic as I am to have my son here, he needs to feel that what he’s doing is making a difference for him, and for others. I want him to experience that sense of purpose and accomplishment that comes from doing the best thing.

I know that God sent this blessing to me! In typical Mary fashion though, I’ve worried about what I might do to mess it up. Don’t we all do that in some ways? We can’t believe it happened. We didn’t deserve it!

“The Lord has done this for me,” she said. “In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.”

Luke 1:25 (NIV)

Why can’t we just let God be God…and love us like He wants to?

It’s human nature to magnify the negative things that have happened to us. We keep looking for the other shoe to fall. We tend to look over the countless blessings we have in our life. We need to remember our special gifts and talents; our relationships and that we live in a free country!

Most importantly, we need to remember we have a heavenly Father who adores us! We didn’t do anything to deserve it either. He loves us because He created us in His own image. We are His family!

We can thank God by being the best version of ourselves. We can pray and surrender not just our worries, but all the people we love to His loving care. Trust our God to know the best way to mold others….then leave it alone! He knows much better than us which way a person should go.

If we truly believe that we are God’s beloved, then we can also believe that He will send us gifts/blessings to show that precious love. So pray for…and then EXPECT the blessings to come…in God’s timing of course. That’s the hard part. Pray for a healthy dose of patience too!

When I think about it, God has not only made my dream come true. He’s also showing his love and favor for Andrew, his father, Uncle A and all those who are enjoying this current change in Andrew’s geography.

Give thanks to the God of heaven. His love endures forever.

Psalm 136:26  (NIV) 

Dear Lord,

You continuously surprise us with Your blessings. Help us to just relax and enjoy Your favor. We know that You work everything together for all of our good. Show us the good You want us to do in response to Your kindness to us! 

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