Learning to "be"

I look outside to a winter wonderland

Snow blowing to and fro, completely covering the earth. 

And in the midst of the snow, the big storms are over, and I have slowed down.

Thank you God for times like these that slow me down and help me  refocus….

What is important? 

What do you have for me today? 

What do you want me to do? 

What do get to be a part of?

Turning the media off. 

I hear the beautiful of silence

The gentle wrestling of the wind

My daughter's lullaby plays as she drifts to sleep

And it is here, in the quietness, in the stillness that there is rest.

It is here, in the being that my cup is restored.

It is here, in this moment that I take my first real breath of the day.

Breathe in peace.

Breathe out anxiety.

Taking in this moment…

Pondering what is

And what can be

Do you long for rest?

Do you long for more to this life than what it seems to be?

I have heard that it is in silence that we learn what lies within our soul,

Within the secret places…

“Our hearts are restless until they find their rest in thee.”    St. Augustine

And He says come.  Come as you are.  So thankful I do not have to do anything, but just “be.”  What freedom.  What true rest.  Thank you Jesus.

Dream Big

Dream Big.
Don't give up.
Don't quit.

I sat...at the location of my new business, just a few weeks in...
And prayed, BIG, prayed Renew would someday fill all the rooms, and be able to do so much more to help people to heal, to influence KC for the greater good.

He did it.  To my dismay He did it.

Dream Big
Don't give up.
Don't quit.  Even if you feel pain.
Lessons learned through it
If God has created it
God will see it through.

God created the business  I have the privilege of leading.
And I felt as if all was coming tumbling down a few years ago.

But NOW... it is beautiful
Beauty can come out of ashes
He can use His scars to heal us.



What is one thing you can do to start dreaming bigger?  Write a bucket list of 100 things you want to do in this lifetime.  Have fun!

time

It is time to be thankful, to catch my mind when it goes negative and oh how it can go downhill fast.. and allow brilliant light to throw a snowball into my mind, my thoughts so God through divinely powerful spiritual weapons can destroy it (2 Cor. 10:3-5).

It is time to live life with intention... to plan fun memories with families and friends, instead of sitting back and just going along with something someone else planned.

It is time to be an adult, to decorate and be ok to invest in beauty as we celebrate the holidays.  To have beauty is not wasteful when it can cause one feel at home, have hope, feel a little more alive.

It is time to pray specifically for others, to serve and use how I was made to bring joy to others, bring glory to God, and give me a sense of fulfillment that I can not have otherwise.

I see people lost, bored, wondering what more there is in life.  I see there is LIFE, ABUNDANT LIFE, by a God who is crazy about you.  He just wants you to get to know the REAL HIM.  Not the one you grew up with that was tainted through your experiences, your parents' experiences if they were a turn off.  But through the ones where you have sat and wondered, "Could this have been God?"

What time is it for you?

falling leaves

We wait for fall, to cool the air and watch leaves twist and turn, floating through space as the find the earth.  Their colors filled with life and beauty as they meet with death.  I have learned of several losing loves ones.  How I would like to be like a leaf on a tree... reaching for the sky and praising the Lord Must high.  To sway in the wind, to the beat of the Spirit guiding me.  And to be so alive and in old age turn even more brilliant beautiful colors before I a carried to our real home in heaven.  Would that not be magnificent?

Fear & Hope

I wrote this a few years back, heart hurting and a war going on within in order to not hurt again.  I wonder if there was a time in your life that you may have struggled in guarding your own heart?

Fear & Hope

Hope lingers

My risky, fair weathered friend

She fills me with excitement

And then flies away far into the starry night.

She beckons me to live beyond day,

            to dream,

            become fully alive,

            laugh and play.

But she offers no guarantees

No assurances again the depths of darkness

            destruction

            heart break.

Breathe in hope

Exhale fear…

Yet fear is so much easier to live with,

believe

buy into.

He guards my heart from truly living

As my soul goes into a catatonic state of “being.”

A war wages on between hope and fear…

Both risky and out of my control.

Which way do I go?

Where do I turn?

I will walk in love

And not be consumed with this inner world

            of darkness and confusion.

In hopes of others receiving your embrace,

That they would be lead to healing and wholeness of soul.

I will choose love.

I will choose peace…

That you would guard my heart and mind in Christ Jesus.

Peace that passes all understanding

Peace that you say you’ll never leave me.

Fill me with your peace.

And I will hope in you--

That this journey is a bigger story.

That you know what you’re doing.

You make all things new.

You will make rough places smooth,

You adore me,

You will hold my heart,

You know me.

I will hope in you.

I will try not to be afraid.

For you are my helper

What can mere man do to me?

Hope lingers

Fear waits…

I will not give up the fight.

Thankful

Today a friend painted Renew with me.  She planned it for several weeks, drove 45 minutes both ways to come, and unselfishly gave expecting nothing in return.   And I am reminded of so many who have done the same.. and serving the mission of Renew Counseling Center... inspiriting and restoring wholeness to those with struggles.

I am humbled to think over the past 7 years how many, dozens and dozens of men and women have picked up the towel and basin and served in whatever way they could, expecting nothing in return.

"If anyone wants to be great among you, he must be your servant."

True greatness in bowing down, prostrate before our King.
True greatness comes, in serving with no strings attached.

And I want to learn from these men and women who have served me like this.  So kind, so loving, so joyful.

Maybe someday I can be like them when I grow up.

Reminiscing on such beauty fills my heart with joy and gratitude.  

What does your Heart Say?

Soul, how are you?  How am I taking care of you?  Am I ignoring you?

Have you ever asked yourself these questions?   I know they are kind of strange to think of this way. Perhaps you feel so hurried by the day to day that there is no time to sit and ponder.  I know for me, I have to force myself to be quiet, turn off media devices, and sit in silence to be able to listen to my soul.

“Guard your heart with all diligence.  For from it flows the wellsprings of life.” 

So if your soul, your heart could speak to you right now, what would it say?  For me, I hear, “Kori, rest.  Be still.  You have been so busy going from one task to another.  Stop multiple tasking and just fully BE with your daughter, enjoying those moments.  Things really can wait.  Write, create, do art, read My Word… these things fill your soul so that it can overflow once again.

What does your heart say?  What fills it up?