Things Our Hearts Forget: You're Loved

Hello, You...

The one beginning your week,

maybe thinking about your hurts,

hoping no one wil notice until you are better.

Lean in close,

You are already good enough.

You don't have to be better.

Not because you're perfect (because none of us are)

but because you're loved

by a God who is committed to

"completing the good work He started in you."

You have grace enough for this day.

You have something to give.

You are created with care

and placed in this world with a plan,

His plan.

No one can take your place.

Whatever this week will hold for you,

let Him be the One to hold your heart,

the One will never stop telling you

all the ways you're loved.

P.S. Today is the last day for the $1.99 eBook sale of God's Heart for YOU. You can find it at Barnes & Noble or Amazon! Happy Monday, y'all!

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Things Our Hearts Forget: We're Made for Rest

I skid my toes along the edge of the water. It's brilliant blue, the color of the deepest sky. I let out my breath slowly and close my eyes. I listen to the waves. In. Out. In. Out. I match their rythm and slow down inside.

I think of words spoken by my life coach and friend, Denise. "Holley," she said, "People aren't made to keep the same level of productivity all the time. It comes in waves. Go with it. You need rest sometimes." 

I watch the ebb and flow of the tide and I know she's right. I've known this somewhere deep inside every time I've come to the ocean since I was a little girl. But I forget. In the middle of the busy and expected it gets lost.

We are not machines. Only machines can work nonstop. And even then, they break down.

Rest is not wasted time.

Rest is preparation.

When it's quiet in my life, when I can't hear God's voice, when I can't see the next adventure, I begin to think something is wrong with me. I try to raise the tide. Surely if I can just do something then I will prove my worth again.

But the God of the Sea whispers instead to my heart...

"Peace, child, you are loved.

Peace, child, you are right in the middle of My purpose for you.

Peace, child, more will come when it is time."

I let those words wash over me again and again until my heart knows their rythm. Yes, this is the way it is meant to be. Work and rest. Rest and work. And love in it all.

I throw a small shell into the water. It sinks to the bottom and I watch it resting there, wondering where the waves will take it next. The inevitable journey.

There is no more reason to strive.

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Things Our Hearts Forget: We're Made to Celebrate

We slide into the last four empty seats on the patio. Red umbrellas wave in welcome as they hover above couples on dates, coworkers winding down, and groups of friends gathered to catch-up. Stephanie and I are here with our husbands for a different reason.

We're here to celebrate.

We've just finished a project. We don't yet know how it will turn out. We've only seen glimpses.

But we're celebrating anyway.

Because after years of creativity and work we've learned this: we're to celebrate God's goodness and our obedience--not results.

The moment you say "yes" to God and move forward in what He asks of you is the moment you become successful. Not when you hit the numbers. Not when you meet expectations. Not when you make heads turn.

True success happens when no one is looking, no one hears, in the quiet of your heart where there's only a divine invitation and an acceptance of it.

We feast under a clear blue sky that smells like just-after-rain. The pavement is still wet in some places. There are clouds in the distance. Who knows if they may come.

But for now we make time stand still. We don't ask, "What's next?" We don't say, "We really should have...." We hold our God-sized dream in our hands and we drink deep of it. And we feel the delight of the One who gave it to us.

Time ticks again and problems arise, disappointments come and we're glad we did this first. Before all that. Because it reminds us of what matters.

We need celebration because it covers our souls, a red umbrella. Joy stretched out above us, held by the unseen hands.

How do you celebrate?

P.S. I am writing from Canada this morning, Wednesday, May 16th, because I am on the show 100 Huntley Street. If you would like to tune in, please do! Or if you miss it live, you can watch it later online.  

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