Tag Archive | Peace

Word Search For 2025

How can this be…January 1st has come and gone yet God did not give me my “Word for the Year”. This has never happened to me before!!! In the past, I knew what my word would be long before New Years Day. My brain went into overload. I listened with laser focus to every word I heard on TV, podcasts, and YouTube. I also read blogs and scripture. Yet, not a word. I even laid in bed at night wide awake brain storming and praying to find my “Word”.

Now, the desperate pursuit of the word had become serious almost to the point of being unpleasant. The pursuit had become serious and I had become unpleasant. In fact, the word search had sucked the joy right out of me! As I thought about feeling gloomy and down, I realized I have been pretty serious for a while.

Well, Duh…while it was a great year 2024 was a HARD year! My post 2024 Year in Review: A Journey of Gratitude definitely served as a reminder. It highlighted all I did and went through last year. No wonder I didn’t feel joyful…

JOYFUL

That’s it…My Word for the 2025

Now don’t get me wrong. I’m not sad, depressed, or hopeless but just gloomy. Now, I’m sure that has to do with the fact I’m recovering from surgery. Just four months ago I had an Anterior posterior fusion L5-S1 with Graft using rods and screws using robotics. I also had a cyst removed. The surgeon said “if your cyst were a fish we would’ve had to mount it…it was that big”. So, there’s that but I know it to be more than just that!

All my life I have been somewhat serious. Raised by overachiever parents, I’ve always had both spoken and unspoken expectations placed on me. After all, I was the oldest child and they depended on me for a lot. Everything was serious! And for those times I did try to relax and let loose, I did not enjoy myself. It was foreign to me. That is until about 2005. We were empty-nesters and were more spontaneous. We RV’d, rode the motorcycle, and went on short excursions as our schedules allowed. I felt like for the 1st time in my life the weight of the world had fallen off my shoulders.

Then, I went into long term care. Not as a bedside nurse but as a Director of Nurses. There they were again…Spoken and Unspoken Expectations. State surveyors, Chief Nurse Officer, Regional Vice President, Administrator, and Regional Nurse, all piling their expectations on me. Yes, I know that goes with the job but…It was also a trigger for me. All the expectations were overwhelming and I had to be serious and laser focused. Once again, I was no longer joyful.

Then in June of 2022 I retired to care for my mother full time. She was total care requiring a lift for transfers and wheelchair bound. She also had postoperative complications after surgery for a hip fracture. So, now the expectations were based on my degree and professional experience. I was now my mother’s nurse. Oh but wait, things got a little muddled for me when childhood expectations are mingled with care expectations. Then stir in family dysfunction and everyone’s different personalities…What a MESS!!!

While I still care for my Mom, it has become so much easier. Since we moved from Texas, we have more of a routine. There’s less external chaos and peace has been restored to our home. Most importantly Mom is at peace and happy. While things have lighted significantly, I want to strive to be more joyful.

Joyful Synonyms:

Delighted
Happy
Satisfied
Glad

Characteristics of a Joyful Person:

Gratitude (Haha…It all ties together! My Word For The Year 2024)
Optimism
Living in the present
Forgiveness
Resilience
Finding Joy in little things
Spirituality
Healthy relationships
Goals
Pursues personal growth
Kindness and generosity
Contentment

Oh My…That’s Quite a Laundry List For Me to Work On!!!

Will it be hard…Yes!

Will it be worth it…ABSOLUTELY

My word for 2024 was Gratitude and it was so incredibly easy to live in a state of gratitude. 2025 though, will definitely require some work for me but…I am determined to be JOYFUL again no matter what!!!

So, do you have a word for 2025? If yes, please do share!!!

Craving More

Jan16

So you say to yourself, “I will have just a small bite of that cake or pie. Just a sliver…” Then as you finish that sliver you find yourself wanting more?

It is human nature to crave those things in life that evoke pleasure and comfort; those things that satisfy our fleshly desires. How often is it though that we have to make ourselves eat those things that bring healing and health to our bodies? I struggle in this area!

My daughter Brandi has taught me so much about clean eating; organic and all natural foods. I watch her prepare her meals adding only the freshest and healthiest ingredients which I might add taste incredible! So, why is it I find myself craving those foods which are unhealthy and un-natural? Because those foods are satisfying, familiar and comforting. They are the foods associated with an emotion embedded deep within the fibers of my being. I am working on that…I am trying to teach my body to crave what it needs for health and well-being…

So, what about Spiritual food? Why is it we find it so easy to digest a book or magazine over the Word of God? Why is it we find it a challenge to pick up our Bibles and feed ourselves the pure and natural food for our souls?

Whether it is food for the body or food for the soul…We eat what makes us “feel good”…Not always what we need. Now don’t get me wrong, there are a lot of scriptures in the Bible that make me feel comforted, peaceful, and loved…those are not the scriptures I am referring to. It is those scriptures that pierce the core of my being with conviction. These scriptures much like the healthy foods…once devoured and digested begin to bring about results…

Sparkling eyes
Glowing Skin
A Healthy Heart
Deeper Breaths
Stronger muscles
Over-all sense of well-being

Then, before we know it, We find ourselves…

Craving More!

This song says it all for me…

As the Deer Pants for the Water (Click to Listen)

Love Lee ♥

It’s Mind Control

Jan22

Being a woman of results it has been quite difficult to be patient when it comes to making the right decision on the type of house to build, the perfect floor plan, and the best builder for us to use. Decisions…Decisions…Decisions!!!

Life is full of decisions…

Where to work
What to wear
Who to spend your life with
What to make for dinner
How to invest your money

And on…And on…And on…

So, how do you choose?

For me, it all boils down to one thing “PEACE”!!!

No Peace…then it is a No Go!

A sense of ease must flow over me before my foot hits the ground to propel me forward. And, when there is a sense of dis-ease…I must

STOP & EXAMINE MY MIND…

What am I thinking???

The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; Romans 6:8

I seek PEACE!!!

It’s Mind Control…

Love Lee ♥

What A Mess

Sep20

Recently we put our home on the market so we could pursue our lifelong dream of building a house. Whoop Whoop….

Who knew selling a house could be so much work? How on earth did all this stuff get into my closets? Where did all this dust come from? These are the questions that kept going through my mind as I was getting the house ready to put on the market.

All the time I was cleaning I kept saying…

What A Mess!

Then it dawned on me, our lives become much the same. Before we even realize it our lives become cluttered with negative thoughts and emotions, stress, illness, unhealthy habits, white lies…Hmmm wait, let’s just call it what it is…SIN

As with keeping up a house so to avoid clutter, dust, and depreciation, we must perform routine maintenance on our lives. And, just as there are times we are forced to ask for help around the house,we must call on the name of Jesus; an ever-present help in time of need for a Spiritual cleaning.

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

Confessing our sins is our Spiritual house cleaning…What is it that is cluttering up your Spiritual Life? It’s time to clean it up so we no longer have to say…

What A Mess

Love Lee ♥

Dealing with Difficult People

Sep8

“Life is too short to spend your precious time trying to convince a person who wants to live in gloom and doom otherwise. Give lifting that person your best shot, but don’t hang around long enough for his or her bad attitude to pull you down. Instead, surround yourself with optimistic people.” ~Zig Ziglar

Ain’t That the Truth!

I would rather rob a liquor store than be around that person but unfortunately you have to work with that person or worship with that person or perhaps even live with that person. We have all had to deal with that difficult personality who is miserable and wants to share their misery with everyone else by being…

Negative
Hateful
A Bully
Vindictive
A Kill Joy
Angry
Unrealistic
Passive aggressive

You get the picture and I am sure someone’s name or face came to mind as your read the list of negative descriptions. So, how do you deal with this person you are forced to interact with?

Recognize The Enemy:It is spiritual warfare. Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8
Put Your Armor on: Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. Ephesians 6:11
Say to Yourself: “They are not the enemy”. You are not fighting against flesh and blood. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [places]. Ephesians 6:12
Pray: Take a mental pause from the ranting and raving to whisper the name of Jesus over your situation. And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men, for not everyone has faith. 2 Thessalonians 3:2
Love: We are instructed to love our enemies so when this difficult person is acting out make a conscious decision to love. But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, Matthew 5:44

It is easy to get caught up in drama but we must be the rational healthy one and recognize we can not change this person but God can. And remember that is why they are refered to as…

Difficult People

Love Lee ♥

Trusting His Heart

Sep6

It has been a week…

We have been reminded life is fleeting and we are only promised the here and now. With Richard’s mother in ICU fighting for life, our grandson lost his half-brother in a car wreck today, and my loss of a beloved pet our hearts are hurting.

When life doesn’t make sense or seem fair and we feel all alone we have to learn to trust His heart…

This song is so incredibly perfect for where we are in our lives today…Listen closely to the words of this song. When everything in our world falls apart we have to…

Trust His Heart

Love Lee ♥

Freedom in Passion

Jul23

More times than I can count I have been told I am passionate about different things…

To that I respond…YES, I AM!!!

I am of the belief we must be passionate about our beliefs, life, people and things we love. It is the passion we feel for all of these that give validity and importance!

In-fact…I have a passion meter; the higher the passion the greater the importance. While the term passion meter may not be used everyone has one. Other terms people may be more familiar with are

Soap Box
Button (as in when someone “pushes your button”)
Focus

To be passionate at any level ensures you are connected, engaged, care, or on board…In-fact the absence of passion leads to bondage; the bondage of apathy, listlessness, and disconnect.

Think about it…If God were not passionate about us He would have not given His Son as the ultimate sacrifice to give us freedom from our sin!!!

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16

Allow His passion to free you from your past, your sin, your apathy…The more you become aware of His passion the more you will become passionate about Him, people, things and the life He has blessed you with!!!

Step into Freedom…Connect with your passions!!!

Love Lee ♥

Quit Clawing and Let God

Jul22

Thought for the Day shared on Facebook by a precious Sister this morning:

“We struggle, we climb, and we claw our way through the challenges that life throws at us. Sometimes we win; sometimes we lose. But the one constant that is always there is that God is always waiting to help. We don’t need to go it alone and with God anything is possible.” – Elmer Laydon

What are You Struggling With?

Quit Clawing and Let God!!!

Love Lee ♥

Just Keep Dancing

May11

David danced before the LORD with all his might; II Samuel 6:14

One of my favorite television shows to watch is “Dancing With the Stars”. I love seeing the contestants start of with minimal skill then as the weeks go by they transform into skilled dancers with precision, poise, gracefulness, and moves that I could not even dream of being able to perform…

This show reminds me much of life. We start out clumsy and easily frustrated but as we face greater challenges we begin to handle them with more poise and tolerance.

Does it happen over night? No!
Will we miss steps? Yes!
Will those we must dance with irritate us? Absolutely!

But…it is so important we remember…whether we are tired, sore, frustrated, challenged, or even tempted to quit we must …

JUST KEEP DANCING

Love Lee ♥

Go The Extra Mile

May10

Living a life of service is not easy. Even in our jobs we tend to lose focus of the fact we are ministering spirits…Ministering God’s Grace in various forms. In a recent encounter, I was reminded of the difference one can make for another human being just by going the extra mile…

Do you find people have become a bother to you?
Are you tired of the interruptions people cause?
Are you irritated by others?
Do you find it an inconvenience to assist someone in need?
Do you find yourself saying “That’s not my job”

Trust me…If you feel people are an inconvenience or a burden they know how you feel!!!

Perhaps…it is time to get back to the basics of Christianity…

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 4:9-11

It is often refered to as customer service but I like to think of it as Christianity…Treating others as you would like to be treated. We must treat people with love and respect…You have the power to make a difference in someone’s life by going the extra mile.