They Call Me Blondie

Honored to have gotten to share some of my writing this week with Still Waters Publishing: "Hearing His Voice Apart from the Hustle"  <repost: Have you ever heard the quote by Corrie Ten Boom, "If the devil cannot make us bad, he will make us busy?" Today's article by Wendy Henkelman address the key roles of busyness and stillness as they apply to finding and pursuing God's calling on our lives. What's keeping you busy? Is it worth it? Tell us what you think. Photo by @wj_blondie, post by @sarahverno> I recently read an article about obedience over hustle and found it quite profound. The reality is if most of us were to look at our lives, rarely would we describe them as calm and restful. Agree? But instead of saying busy and chaotic, we throw around the word “hustle” like it’s a good thing. Then who ever really talks about obedience? The big profound question in the article was what happens when we’re challenged to slow down the ‘...

In honor of World Down syndrome day today; Id like you to meet Mark and Mike! Some of my favorites! They competed and weight lifted w/ Arnold Schwarzenegger in the 80s, believe it or not with the special Olympics; and they continue to bring love and laughter to those around them!!!  I've so enjoyed getting to be part of all that @activ8sports does and the annual Tebow Foundation's Night To Shine # nighttoshine   From the twins pictured here to hundreds of beautiful men and women who love without bounds, embrace one another, and truly teach people about the purity and radical love of God! I am a better person because of amazing faces like these.  #nationaldownsyndromeday

It's known as the "love passage" but there's some profound points of 1st Corinthians to recall & remember... love is not proud, self-seeking or easily angered; it keeps NO records of wrongs,  LOVE does not delight in evil!!  It ALWAYS protects,  ALWAYS trusts,  ALWAYS hopes and  ALWAYS perseveres---  love truly conquers all and ultimately love NEVER FAILS! .... Yes some of the words are left out (abov e in the passage) but bottom line; LOVE is the greatest evidence we're connected to the heart of Jesus; and even if we can do great things, when we don't live and operate in "loving" others then it's pointless.... Take a moment to slow down. Just think: there are people around the globe so void of love or feeling loved that it's crushing! Victims of abuse and sex-trafficking, people of the slums, the family member ex-communicated because of their "issues," the heartless man or woman was once a victim too...  Perhaps if we ...

Look at it. Just still. So crisp. The crackling of the snow beneath my feet as I take it all in. Captivated by beauty. Every detail. The gorgeous blues & the white peaks.  The green tips of the trees; the water almost frozen too. And then there's the shadows: the dark parts. Jagged edges of rock define the mountainsides & bring more attention to the peaks! How many times in life though, we wrestle with the shadows & wish them away?! We long for things to be a breeze; when much like this picture, if there wasn't any storms there wouldn't be any beauty. The sights that cause us to stop and pay attention would be dull. If it were grey all the time we wouldn't get to appreciate the beauty produced by the storms. Much like these mountains; had they not endured a storm, we wouldn't get to experience the snow and the delight it is either! The challenging part of life comes when you're in the thick of your storm, and you can't seem to grab hold...

"....and she shall rejoice in time to come" proverbs 31:25 Whether the road seems long or you've endured quite the journey, take heart my friend. God is in the business of restoring and redeeming all that has been wronged. Feel like you've been in the battlefield for a while now? Keep going... you have a champion behind you to help you through the final rounds; even if it's still going. He will be your strength and YOU WILL rejoice in time to come. Remember "The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seek him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. It is good for a man to bear the yoke while he is young. For no one is cast off by the Lord forever. Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love. For he does not willingly bring affliction or grief to anyone... You, Lord, heard my plea: “Do not close your ears to my cry for relief.” You came near when I called you, and you said, “Do ...

Thankful for new beginnings to look ahead to.... as we enter 2017 with great expectations for so many hopes and dreams to come to life and truly thrive, may this be a year you experience his fullness of promises fulfilled! May your rescue be found in knowing your every step is known and He has a plan so good you would not believe it if you were told. May you see his true redemption from everything the locusts stole; and experience His complete restoration of all you've been stripped of! May you be encouraged that you have a faithful Father who works behind the scenes to work all things together for good for those who love him and are called according to his purpose! He cares about every detail and if he can part waters, cause manna to fall from heaven, set a blaze to a bush, heal the blind with one touch, rescue the rejected with one word, and conquer death and the grave and rise again; He CAN show his hand in your story!! Feel like you need a new beginning? This can be it!...

Ever feel like you missed your cue to exit? Or perhaps You have adventured down such a long road you're not quite sure how or where the last turn you took got you to where you are; and suddenly by the time you look up; you notice you're not where you thought. You allow worry to set in wondering if this was how it was supposed to be; you're most certainly assured it couldn't be. But perhaps you are! It just looks different from this angle; only God knew you'd be here. Right now. For such a time as NOW.  I heard a quote that said "you're in my thoughts at 4am" referring to Ps.121 where it says “He won’t let you stumble, your Guardian God won’t fall asleep. Not on your life! Israel’s Guardian will never doze or sleep.” Psalm‬ ‭121:3-4‬ ‭MSG‬‬ He knows every detail. He knows where he's taking us; even when we don't recognize the path. We can trust his hand to guide us. Being assured He doesn't slumber or go far from us is our comfort. And ...