Faith

Practice Being Transformed

Visual evidence of change is more recognizable than what’s unseen. So let’s compare mental health to physical health for renewed perspective and greater understanding. When someone gains a significant amount of weight, it’s obvious. Their frame has changed shape and size. When someone has a clogged artery that’s blocking the flow of blood necessary to sustain life, you can dissect the artery and visually see the plaque buildup. When someone loses an extremity that was previously there, they have to relearn how to function, with or without a prosthetic, and navigating the world, at least initially, is a bit different. So let’s view the mental in a similar way. When someone is bogged down with ceaseless, uncontrolled thoughts, it adds invisible, yet real weight in their ... Read More

You’re Not Wired for Fear

I recently read an article by a well known writer that made me cringe. God gave us fear were her words. And yes, I re-read them several times in disbelief. I believe her matter of fact sentiment aimed to provide women with a sense of peace and encouragement that fear is here because it's just a part of who we are. Unfortunately, this is far from the truth and the impact of this particular message could be devastating. The Bible says "For God did not give us a spirit of timidity or cowardice or fear, but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of sound judgment and personal discipline [abilities that result in a calm, well-balanced mind and self-control]." 2 Timothy 1:7 AMP. When fear is granted space, your God given sound mind goes right out the window. Fear then ... Read More

Experiencing Whispers of Rest

I gazed out of the window watching the trees blow in the wind realizing the mundane experience of getting an oil change had given me a breath of fresh air. It was the first time in as long as I could remember that I had just stopped, just waited, just enjoyed. I had given our daughter my phone so she could watch a movie during our possible two hours wait, so I wasn't scrolling, answering or checking. We were stuck as we waited for the work to be done and the view faced a line of trees dancing in the morning breeze. I was both thankful and a bit ashamed. Thankful that this experience was happening, even if it was in a not so cozy car care space. And ashamed because I don't do it more often. That somehow I've come to a point in my life that has caused me to squeeze out the dear ... Read More

Keep Believing and Doing the Work

Achieving greatness requires a tremendous amount of hard work and dedication. You may have to wake up earlier than everyone you know and stay up after everyone has gone to sleep. You may have to skip events, turn off the tv and limit your time in all other endeavors. But in the end, the work that you put in and the sacrifices that you make will be worth it. Your craft, your purpose, your dreams are worth pursuing, worth focusing on, worth fighting for. And let me be clear. Some days, you'll want to give up. Some days you'll wonder what you were thinking and if you're even headed in the right direction. And then the fog clears and you know you're right where you need to be. So I encourage you to hang in there my friend. No one said it would be easy, but you can do hard things. Keep ... Read More

The Heart of Stressing Less

Tracie call 4485... Tracie call 4485.... Could it be? Am I getting another chance? There's nothing but great excitement and anticipation when that call is made knowing there's a CABGx4 (coronary artery bypass graft surgery) on the operating room board today. Yes? We need you to be heart holder in OR12. Okay! What a sacred honor. To place your hands in the chest of a living being and hold their heart while the surgeon ever so meticulously reroutes their vessels. I always stood there, hardly breathing, in awe of the gift and the opportunity. They'd never know I was there. They'd never know the gift they'd given me or the prayers I'd pray for them, yet our lives crossed paths and would never be the same again. The only thing I'd ever wanted to do as a nurse was work in ... Read More

Take the Leap

I challenge you to do something radical with your life. Something that you've been longing to do, but have, for whatever reason, convinced yourself not to do. There is no better time than now. There is no set of circumstances that will offer you a greater chance at success. It is your right now leap of faith that will propel you forward and bring you joyously closer to the goal you have in mind. Tomorrow is not promised to you. Your existence in this world in finite, but the power you posses is infinite. So go for it. You need to take the leap. ... Read More

I’m Not Saying It’ll Be Easy. I’m Saying It’ll Be Worth It.

[one-half-first] Can we pause for a moment to give thanks for absolutely everything?! This little piece of joy arrived in the mail yesterday. It's an article I wrote for the American Holistic Nurses Association's Beginnings magazine. It's exciting to see your work in print, online, or quite frankly, anywhere. And I wanted to take a moment to say thank God for the strength to write it. I also want to encourage someone who is struggling to accomplish their goals or wondering if their work matters or afraid of what it will take to go after their dreams. I think I average about 102 new ideas per minute. This used to deeply frustrate me because it's practically impossible to work on each of them. What makes this even a bit more interesting is that my writing and nursing practice ... Read More

Scriptures on Leadership

Discipline your son, and he will give you rest; he will give delight to your heart. – Proverbs 29:17 ESV The rod and reproof give wisdom, but a child left undisciplined brings his mother to shame. – Proverbs 29:15 AMP Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. – Ephesians 5:1 NLT But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine. – Titus 2:1 ESV Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the LORD your God is giving you. – Exodus 20:12 NLT Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity. – 1 Timothy 4:12 NLT Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not ... Read More

Scriptures on Sacrifice

Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body. - 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NLT And he said to all, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. - Luke 9:23 ESV If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. - Matthew 16:25 NLT I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the name of the LORD. - Psalm 116:17 ESV Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy. - Ephesians 4:24 NLT Strip yourselves of your former nature [put off and discard your old unrenewed self] ... Read More

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