In celebration of February 14th, the day dedicated to all things love, I decided to make heart shaped pancakes this morning. What I didn’t expect though, was to see God in the midst of my breakfast plans. It’s just like God though, to show up when we’re not expecting him. After the first pancake was cooked, not too deformed and still resembling a heart shape, I had an inclination that something else was needed. I walked across the kitchen, opened a drawer and pulled out an edible marker that was unknowingly being saved for this very moment. And with marker in hand, I looked down and knew exactly what was missing. I wrote in black, “You Are Loved”. Simple words with heavy truth. I wanted my kids to know they were loved, and God wanted them to know it also. You see, as soon as I finished writing on the first pancake, a song played on the radio with the exact words, “You are loved”. As they listened to the song, their faces lit up with wide smiles. A sign, from our Father in Heaven, that they were loved by him. God moves in ways we don’t expect, when we’re not expecting him to. Like during breakfast, using a pancake, a marker, and a song. If I can encourage you in anyway today, I hope you know that you are loved this day and everyday. And just as God saw me making pancakes this morning, waiting to send word of his love, he sees you and he’s sending the same words to you. It’s been a long while since I’ve wrote, but I had to write this morning because I have this inclination that someone else needs to read these words also…

Sitting here in the quiet of the morning, a light illuminates over my cup of coffee and I try this writing thing once again. It amazes me that all of a sudden I can’t find any words to put on these pages… And it looks like this is as far as I will get today, two sleepy boys have awoken before 7 am and one is in need of a diaper change and both will be wanting their morning hot chocolate. I might have a little help from Luke though, he offered to get his little brothers milk…very sweet and kind, and very helpful. One thing I want to remember this day is how blessed I am to be here for my kids, that the mundane tasks I do every day are more important than I realize at this time. God has blessed me with the amazing responsibility to love, guide, care for and serve our children. While I may not get a notable award for all that I do for them, I do get to make sure that they never doubt how much they are loved and valued. And hopefully my love will inspire them to go out into the world with kindness, compassion, empathy, patience, and most of all LOVE as well. The world could definitely use a little more love…

Photo Credit:Monty Winters

The cries of pain catch my ears. I see you coming towards me, tears pouring down your face. You’re hurting, and I know exactly where. Your hand covers your heart, I see you trying to hold the broken pieces together. I want to embrace you so you know you’re not alone. If you let me, I’ll hold you forever, as long as it takes. I’ll hold you close. I’ll tell you that the pain won’t last forever, that I understand how it hurts. I know my words won’t take all the pain away, but I want to give you hope to help you endure until joy comes in the morning, until your cries turn into laughter, your tears disapear, and you get a glimpse of the goodness I am bringing. For now though, you can just rest in my embrace and find shelter from the storm. In my arms, I whisper my promises over you, count on them…

I will not leave you or forsake you…Deuteronomy 31:6

I will make all things work together for your good…Romans 8:28

These troubles are only light and momentary when compared to the glory that will last forever…2 Corinthians 4:17

I know the plans I have for you, they are for good, not harm or evil… Jeremiah 29:11

I love you…John 3:16

~ Your Heavenly Father

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” ~Romans 15:13

When the days blur together, when exhaustion, pain, or the boredom of routine continue day after day, getting up in the morning can be challenging. I have found this encouragement though…If we wake up alive, Jesus has called us to get up. As long as we are breathing we have purpose. God works and moves in every season of our journey…Life is a mountain, sometimes the walk is easy and the view is breathtaking. Then, there are times when the terrain is steep, rocky, and barren with seemingly impossible to climb moments. When the upward ascent becomes difficult or wearisome I hope you remember that our struggle is not wasted, God uses these times to shape our character, if we allow Him. Perseverance, faithfulness, hope, trust, forgiveness, love, humility, and patience can become the beauty of adversity. During these character refining seasons we often need a strength other than our own. You see, God wants us to draw close and trust in Him…this happens best when we come to the end of ourselves. (As a mom of four, I find myself here quite often…) Placing our confidence in Christ’s strength, the strength that allowed Him to selflessly surrender His life for our own, enables us to endure, persevere, and keep climbing. This dependence is not weakness though, it takes great humility and trust to surrender and rely on God in our most vulnerable and challenging seasons. If you are struggling to climb, walk, or even rise to your feet I want to encourage you to keep your eyes on Christ, not on the mountain. Reach out to Him and He will take your hand and show you how to navigate this part of your journey with hope, faith, and trust. Rest and surrender your weary heart in His love, listen for His guidence…Christ will not fail you or leave you alone. He is faithful and will lead you to a place where everything will become clearer; allowing you to once again gaze upon a view more beautiful than you ever could of imagined. And eventually He will bring you to the top of the mountain where an eternity of comfort and joy in His presence is yours forever. 

With love,

Shawny

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64sJP94X7uE&list=RD64sJP94X7uE

​As a society we are completely broken. Like a piece of shattered glass- fear, division, injustice, lack of compassion, pride, ignorance, and selfish motives have left us…broken in our wrongness. My heart breaks for everyone who suffers in injustice, whatever form it has come to them. God does not look away from those that cry out to him, the needy, orphaned, widowed, trafficked, abused, wrongly accused, murdered… so neither should we his children. In our heartache we must decide to do everything we can, to pursue all that is right, and to defend those that may be powerless against the dark powers of injustice. We need fearless men and women of honor, integrity, and compassion to rise up and become the leaders and power holders within our community, nation, and world. We need to care more about what actually matters and less about the empty things we try to fill our lives with. We need more unity and less division, more hope and less fear, more love and compassion and less hate. If we want to see change happen, we need to first change ourselves. I would love to see our society come together to resolve it’s issues instead of fighting, dividing, and drowning in fear, violence, and hate. I will do my part, however I can, with all the love I can to make our world better and right…I will also try to make the future brighter by teaching my daughters and sons to love God and follow his command to love their neighbors to the extent of loving their enemies as well. I will teach them to respect everyone and to do their best to remain humble before others and God. Lastly I will teach them that love conquers fear every time and we need to use that love to serve and protect others. We have the ability to make it right,to pursue all that is just, and to unite and fight together instead of against each other. We also have the power to lead our children to make right choices for their families, communities, and their world. The choice is ours, will we allow ourselves to live in love and be moved in love on behalf of others so they may live…

He leads us to places we can’t see. Beside us, along the winding path, He is our guide.

Even though there is mystery in the plan, our dreams and our life surrendered, we’re safe in His hands.

Quieting our spirit, we remain in His love.
Resting our hearts in His, we keep our eyes fixed above…

To the heavenly throne and a heavenly home, where He sees and establishes all that will be.

Because of His salvation our spirit remains secure. With hope, every step we walk, we walk sure.

Confident of His love in this place, living for all that endures and what will remain.

Letting it all go, following the One who knows… our path, His plans, and the way our unknown journey goes.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all of your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. -Proverbs 3:5&6