I believe we all can agree that we’ve shared a collective trauma over the past few years. That’s why I want to let you know I’ve got a new YouVersion devotional plan!

Everyone’s story may look a little different, but a lot of us are finding it hard to find our stride…to get back into the swing of things. In fact, I’ve had numerous conversations that lead me to believe that many are finding it difficult to break some negative habits or destructive thought patterns.

I know I’ve had to work through some difficult emotions and explore my own thinking. But, it occurred to me that some of you might sense there’s something amiss, but you don’t have a clue where to start.

God’s Word is living and active.

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

Hebrews 4:12

Still, no matter how much you know God’s truth, it can be hard to apply it when your mind and emotions are stuck.

Are You Stuck? Daily Steps To Break Free

First, you’ve got to identify the lies that have you in their grip. Then, you can learn practical steps to draw you outward and onward.

This will be my second devotional plan on the YouVersion app. The first one, Find Freedom From the Draw of Food: Renew Your Mind for Lasting Change has had more than 25,000 completions. I’ve loved hearing testimonies from people who were impacted by the devotional and Find Your Weigh.

I hope you’ll join me in this new Youversion devotional plan. Better yet, why don’t you make the YouVersion app part of your daily routine? There are tons of great resources to encourage you in your faith and challenge you in your walk with Christ.

~ Shellie

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Have you ever found yourself repeating the same action over and over again only to find yourself continuously disappointed by the outcome? I mean, let’s be honest, we all do it albeit unconsciously. I recently found myself in this unproductive cycle until it hit me…Shellie, get to the why!!! Why are you so surprised by the outcome when you’ve done absolutely nothing to change your actions?

So, what sparked this not-so-new revelation that I’ve lost track of my why? Well, it all goes back to my weight story, which is and will continue to be a running theme in my life. Yes, I’ve written a book that addresses the mental and emotional roots of our behavior with food. And yes, those principles I continue to find the most effective in navigating my food journey.

But, the last two years have thrown a new wrench into my well fashioned and fully formed routine…hormones.

I’d heard about it, I’d read about it…but now It’s time for me to wrestle with the frustration of hormonal weight gain. It literally moved in about 6 months ago. I was chugging along fine; making occasional adjustments here and there as I’ve learned to do over the past seven years when I started to notice my weight creaping up.

It was insidiuous at first; probably because it starting taking hold in December when I typically expect to gain some weight. The problem is that the extra pounds didn’t disappear as easy as the holiday decorations. In fact, they decided to stick around. What’s worse, those pounds invited a few of their friends to come hang around like uninvited guests.

I know some of you are biting your lip about now because you know exactly what I’ve been feeling. The well-honed routine I’ve followed for years just isn’t getting the job done anymore.

Hmm…so, I hit Google hard researching all the words: hormonal weight gain, perimenopause, causes, symptoms…to get to the why behind my spiraling weight gain.

Unlike past years, creating a calorie deficit was just not going to cut it anymore. I needed to shift my focus from how much I was eating to the kinds of foods I was eating. I am a self-declared carb junkie and my post-50 body was saying, “Nope, not anymore!”

Ok body, I get it…I’ll change things up!

Well, that was about six weeks ago. I’ve lowered my carb intake, cut way back on sugar and I’ve stopped eating after dinner.

Get To The Why

Here’s the point in the story that I come to my “get to the why” lesson for today.

Most of us have struggled with the scale at one point or another in our lives. I knew not to weigh-in too much in the first couple of weeks, but around week three I found myself walking over to the scale every morning. Initially, it awarded my A.M. pilgramiges with signs of downward movement.

But, then around two weeks ago my progress came to a screaching halt. I hadn’t changed my new habits, nor had I dipped in my resolve. Nope, I’m doing the right things; however, the scale refuses to award me for my efforts. In fact, it appears dead set on moving in the wrong direction.

Yet, every morning I find myself walking to the scale, hoping that my persistence will reveal something different. Then, when it doesn’t, it’s like a kick to my resolve.

Have I developed healthier habits? Yes. Does my research confirm that these habits will contribute to a healthier me and lessen my chances for developing secondary health issues? Yes. Are there any other reasonable adjustments I can make to my current eating habits without going overboard? NO.

Then, why do I insist on weighing myself everyday when the practice does absolutely nothing positive for my progress or my resolve?

Why do we often fail to ask why?

Why do we insist on performing the same rote actions only to find ourselves dealing with the same negative outcomes?

1. The action used to work for us in the past.

For years, I’ve relied on the scale to provide an objective benchmark of my current weight. But now, my weight fluctuates widely depending on how the hormones decide to rage on a given day.

People change and circumstances change. If an action that used to positively reinforce your mood or outlook no longer produces the same results, then it’s time to ask yourself why you’re still performing it.

2. We are too busy to notice that we’re stuck in a rut.

The auto-pilot syndrome is real. Often, we do what we’ve always done because we just don’t seem to have the time to explore why we feel bad. In fact, a lot of us just assume we’re tired and cranky because of our schedules, when in reality it’s because the way we go about our daily duties just isn’t working for the people we are today.

3. We are resistant to change.

Finally, we get to the “C” word that so many of us resist. We are just plain-out scared of change. Our past successes can paralize us from changing actions that used to reap positive results.

• You’ve always worn your hair past your shoulders. But lately, you’ve noticed that your long hair seems to be making you look older.
• You’ve always had dark hair, but you can’t hardly keep up with the gray roots.
• You’ve always dressed a certain way, but your body is no longer shaped the way it used to be so the style seems less flattering.
• You’ve always had a three bedroom house, but now the kids aren’t home and some of the rooms are never used.

I think you get the idea at this point. Take some time. Schedule it in if you need to. But find some time to think about your life and your routine. Do your daily actions fit who you are today? If not, it’s time to get to the why.

God always calls us to examine the whys in our lives because it’s the why that reveals what’s truly in our hearts.

Test me, Lord, and try me,
examine my heart and my mind;

Psalms 26:2

So, I’ll be saying goodbye to my daily weigh-ins for a while, but I’ll keep pursuing all the positive changes I’ve made to my daily routine. Why?…because those are the things I can actually control, while the rest I ultimately have to leave in God’s hands.

~ Shellie

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On this 3^rd Advent post, I’m talking about the Joy…joy that He came, joy that He offers to all who love Him and joy that He’s coming again to call up all who believe in His name.

We’re all known for something…maybe it’s your hair or sense of humor. Me?? I think I’m known most for my smile. Interestingly enough, I didn’t use to smile in pictures. In fact, there’s not a tooth to be found in most of my childhood photos.

Somewhere along the way I found my smile in late high school and early college. But, here’s the thing, a smile is only as good as what’s behind it. For me, it reflects the joy of knowing I am loved, valued and accepted by God.

I’ve accepted the good news that the angels heralded so many years ago…news that a savior came to earth to save me and invest my life with meaning and abiding joy.

The angel said, “Don’t be afraid. I’m here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David’s town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. This is what you’re to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger.”

At once the angel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing God’s praises:

Glory to God in the heavenly heights,
Peace to all men and women on earth who please him.

Luke 2: 9-14 (The Message)

Does a sense of abiding, there-all-the-time-regardless-of-what’s-going-on-around-me, joy sound appealing to you? Believe it or not, that’s why Jesus came!

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If you don’t have the joy I’m talking about or, pretty much, you feel joyless a lot of the time, then I encourage you to do something about it. And wow, Christmas is the very best time to find out about the authentic joy found only in Jesus.

Practically every church in the country will be doing a special Christmas program this Sunday and they’ll be excited to tell you more about the true meaning of Christmas.

~ Shellie

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I’m huge on planning and organization. Yep, all eyes are on me when it’s time to plan a family vacation or trip. No one stresses because they all know that I’ll have everything figured out when the time comes. So, I guess it shouldn’t surprise me that peace and preparation go hand in hand for this second week of Advent.

Here’s an interesting fact about me…I played Mary in a live Nativity in my hometown every year from the age of 12 until my senior year in college. Of course, peace is an easy one. We’re all familiar with the iconic phrasing recited and remembered at every community Nativity observance and yes, I heard it spoken as I held a host of little babies throughout those years.

For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given,
    and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
    Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6

Peace

Well…maybe it’s easy to see how peace fits into the Christmas narrative, but I don’t think any of us assume it’s a foregone conclusion in everyday practice. We get the concept; we know we’re supposed to have it, but the daily execution can prove much more difficult to master.

Why is it so easy to allow fear and worry to replace peace in our hearts and minds?

Obviously, God knows it’s a daily struggle for us to walk in peace. That’s why the His Word consistently encourages us not to worry or fear. But, did you know that the Bible actually mentions “fear not” 365 times Yep, one time for every day we’re tempted to succumb to doubt, fear and anxiety!

Preparation

While the worries of this life loom daily, so does the firm reality that God has our lives and this world under control. It’s right here that the whole preparation part comes into play…this world as it is right here and right now isn’t all there is…nope! Jesus is coming again and we can be ready.

‘‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
    make straight paths for him.
⁵ Every valley shall be filled in,
    every mountain and hill made low.
The crooked roads shall become straight,
    the rough ways smooth.

Luke 3: 4-5

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What does this preparation look like in practice? It means to consistently take things back to Jesus and God’s Word. When I feel tempted to follow the path of cynicism or speak words of judgement, I ask myself, “Where is this emotion coming from and does it reflect Jesus?” God promises to bring peace as long as I refuse to allow myself to wander down crooked paths.

Christmas comes around each year to remind us that God’s got a plan for every step of our journey…and that plan starts and ends with Jesus.

I encourage each of you to reflect God’s peace this Christmas season. You may know that this world and all its problems is not the end, but is your life reflecting this reality to others who so desperately long for peace?

~ Shellie

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I can’t let the holiday slip by without seizing the opportunity to say how thankful and blessed I am this Thanksgiving, 2021! And you know what? My gratitude has absolutely nothing to do with my circumstances.

I sit here typing out this post in my Manila apartment…I’m literally a world away from the family I hold most dear in the world. I’m sure I’m not the only one, but long ago I determined that if I could have just one super power, it would be teleportation. Wouldn’t it be great to just snap your fingers and be anywhere in the world you wanted to be?

But then, having said this, I’m filled with a host of conflicting emotions because where I am, right now, in this very moment is also exactly where I know God wants me to be!! And frankly, when it comes right down to it…I want to be right, smack-dab, in the middle of wherever God wants me.

It’s a miracle we made it back to Manila; a place that’s been virtually out-of-reach for over a year! Thank you God for making ways where there seems to be no way!

Nope, I can’t wish away God’s provision with a click of my heels, so I’ve decided to flip the script in my head and heart. Instead of focusing on what I don’t have this Thanksgiving, I will choose to thank God for what I’ve got!

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Thankful And Blessed

• I’m thankful for the awesome view from my apartment windows.
• I’m thankful for my three happy, healthy kids who all love God and choose to serve Him.
• I’m thankful for my husband who loves me and makes me yummy muffins for breakfast whenever I ask.
• I’m thankful for supportive family members who also choose to see God’s provision in our separation.
• I’m thankful that my feet always stay the same size, so my shoes always fit.
• I’m thankful for crunchy ice in my iced tea.
• I’m thankful in advance for all the pictures I will get to see tomorrow from your holiday celebrations.

My counsel for you is simple and straightforward: Just go ahead with what you’ve been given. You received Christ Jesus, the Master; now live him. You’re deeply rooted in him. You’re well constructed upon him. You know your way around the faith. Now do what you’ve been taught. School’s out; quit studying the subject and start living it! And let your living spill over into thanksgiving.

Colossians 2: 6-7

My list could go on and on…I am thankful and blessed…no buts or “if-onlys.” Life is just too short for that…I’m living it!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone

~ Shellie

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If you’ve read my blog for any time, then you know I’m big on perspective, because I believe it’s the secret sauce for living a victorious, overcoming life. I’m convinced that our lives are determined not by what challenges life brings our way, but by how we choose to think and subsequently act when faced with inevitable obstacles.

When life gets hard, pour on some perspective and watch God elevate your character to frame your circumstances in a whole new light.

While blogging is one place I hang my hat, I spend most of my time as a missionary working alongside my husband. In addition to our work in the Philippines, we’re also oversee an awesome band of fellow missionaries in Southeast Asia.

Today, I’ve asked one of our missionaries to the Philippines, Lindsay Choi, to share her recent journey and some tips she’s learned to help shift your focus when you lose perspective.

Panic, Pesos, and Perspective

I was in the fetal position in my daughters’ closet, weeping, sweating, terrified, and only able to stammer a few words: “God. Help. Please.”

A week earlier, a wave of inexplicably severe anxiety had crashed over me. Panic attacks sprang on me without warning, leaving me gasping for breath, unable to function, tortured by devastating scenarios that played on repeat in my mind.

What instigated this storm? I honestly don’t know.

As a nation we were facing social upheaval, a contentious election, and divisive opinions about the pandemic… but this anxiety was more personal than all that. The icy hand of fear grasped my heart and conjured up visions of the worst things I could imagine happening to my family.

The anxiety and panic plunged me into depression. While I was never suicidal, I remember thinking, “If this is what my life is now, I can’t do it.” And the enemy of my soul shouted back: “YES! This is your life now. Give up!”

What eventually pulled me back from the brink of despair?…Scripture, worship, prayers and messages from my family… and a lesson I actually taught on perspective back in 2012.

I was teaching English in the Philippines, and we were using the book of Habakkuk to practice reading comprehension. As we watched Habakkuk go from fear to faith, I prepared a simple object lesson to demonstrate how Habakkuk made that leap.

I had each student hold a Philippine peso, a coin about the size of a nickel, up to their left eye while closing their right. When they all complied, I asked the class what they saw.

“The peso,” came the replies.

“Only the peso? How is that possible?” I pressed. “I’m here, and I am a little bigger than a peso.”

There were a few giggles… and then from a student in the back came the one word I was seeking: Perspective.

I reminded my class that day that our focus can warp reality. Small things loom large when we hold them too close. We may be surrounded by beauty, by friends, by opportunities. But if we’ve brought our small, insignificant concerns to the center of our vision, life will shrink and our souls will be threatened by a coin-sized fear.

In Habakkuk 1, the prophet is asking God some modern-sounding questions: “Why? How long?” He vents his frustration and confusion. And God answers:

Look at the nations and watch—
and be utterly amazed.
For I am going to do something in your days
that you would not believe,
even if you were told.

Habakkuk 1:5

Notice how God’s response to Habakkuk was not the obliteration of evil nor relief from pain; it was simply an adjustment of focus. Look, God says. Watch. In other words: shift your focus. Raise your eyes. See a different reality.

In 2012, I went to the Philippines as a missionary, leaving home out of a season of disappointment. While overseas, God highlighted Habakkuk 1:5 for me. For years, I had focused on my struggles; I finally realized that it was my focus, not my circumstances, that had birthed the disappointments I was fleeing.

God was calling me to watch what He was doing. And He was right: I would not have believed if I’d been told what He was going to do with me.

Fast forward to that August day in 2020. I huddled in a closet, unable to play with my kids or cook dinner or chat with my husband or consider the future without terror. And this verse is drumming through my mind on repeat: “I am doing something. I am doing something. I am doing something.”

I didn’t feel the truth of that statement in those agonizing moments. But I learned that you can know something is true without feeling it.

you can know something is true without feeling it.
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So again and again, I dragged my eyes away from the “peso” that had swallowed my vision and I looked up.

Minutes later, I would find my gaze fixed once again on the peso. Almighty God, Creator of all, King of kings and Lord of lords, had been eclipsed by my infinitesimal human fears.

Not once, not twice, but countless times I lifted my eyes until I saw Him once again, seated above the flood. Eventually, the turbulent sea of anxiety stilled and I floated again on the gentle waves of His goodness.

A repeated adjustment of my perspective finally brought me to the same conclusion that Habakkuk comes to at the end of his short book…

Even if the worst things I can imagine do happen, I will rejoice. I will trust. I will invite the Sovereign Lord to be my strength.

Practical Steps To Shift Your Focus

If you are in a season where your focus is continually eclipsed by “coins,” I encourage you to do a few things I’ve found most helpful:

1. Find Scriptures that speak to your situation and write them out by hand.
2. Post these scriptures around your house where you will see them often.
3. Fill your home with praise music.
4. Let trusted friends and family know you are struggling, and allow them to send you words of encouragement, lyrics to songs, and Scriptures.
5. Remind yourself, as many times as necessary, what you know is true; not what you feel is true in the moment.
6. Pray for a perspective adjustment so you can see your mountain as God sees it.

You will find proportions drastically changing as your focus shifts. Mountains may shrink down to molehills. Molehills, things that were on the periphery and seemed insignificant or mundane, may swell to become holy mountains.

The right perspective, a heavenly perspective, gives you power to hop over molehills, climb mountains worth climbing, and move forward in God’s perfect plan for you.

If you could peek behind the veil and see how God is working in the darkness of your situation, you wouldn’t even believe it. Lift your gaze to the One who is truly larger than it all… and prepare to be utterly amazed.

I’m Lindsay Choi, wife, mom of 2 princesses, missionary, teacher, and writer. I inhale coffee and doughnuts, and if I have a minutes of free time, you’ll find me curled up in a comfy chair with a book… or five. God has been incredibly gracious to me. I am humbled and honored to share my story with you. If you would like to support my family and me as missionaries to the Philippines, please click here.

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I’m a Florida girl who’s spent almost her whole adult life in the tropics. What can I say? I love summer and long days and heat and beaches! So, it just seems right to share some of my favorite summer stuff!

But first, I thought I’d kick off with Olaf’s song, “Summer.” Just imagine me singing along.

“When life gets rough I like to hold on to my dream of relaxing in the summer sun just lettin’ off steam!”

My Favorite Summer Stuff

Fresh Air

I can’t help but compare this current season to where I was last year at this time. Undoubtedly, my number one most favorite summer thing is breathing in fresh air whenever and wherever I want to!

One year today, I was experiencing my first day back in the United States after a 28-hour plane trip from Manila where I had spent the prior three months in my apartment with only a window’s view to the outside world.

Today, I walk and live each day with a greater appreciation of the very air I breathe!

Earthly Choice Cauliflower Rice

Ok, I admit I may be late to the party, but I have just discovered the wonder of cauliflower rice! I’ve been trying to find ways to cut some carbs out of my daily menus. Cauliflower rice allows me to make several of my favorite things without the huge carb load…whoop, whoop.

Better yet, I’ve discovered microwavable rice that can be stored in your normal pantry without refrigeration. I’ve included the Amazon link here, but you can find a much better deal at Sam’s club.

Earthly Choice Cauliflower Rice

Here are a few great recipes to add to your summer menu.

Cauliflower Pizza Recipe

Loaded Cauliflower Casserole Recipe

Brocolli Cauliflower Casserole

Espadrille Sandals

This girl absolutely loves espadrille sandals and I literally have them in all kinds of styles and colors. The espadrille sandal is a combination of cuteness, style and comfort all squished into one glorious shoe.

Dark Chocolate Pretzel Crisps

I like to store my dark chocolate pretzel crisps in the freezer. This cool, crunchy snack is perfect for long summer evenings…crisp, cool, chocolatey goodness…who could ask for more in a snack? But I do leave you with one word of caution…do not eat these straight out of the bag! Pay attention to the nutritional label on the back and pull out the amount you intend to eat before you take your first bite.

Colorstreet Summer Nails

Your nails are the perfect place to show off the fresh colors of summer. Colorstreet nail polish strips come in all kinds of fun colors and styles that don’t require constant upkeep. Shoot me a message if you would like to learn more about them.

Long Summer Days

It just feels like I have more time in summer; time to go outside for a walk after dinner or to sit and chat in the back yard as the sun slowly fades on the horizon. Thank you God for long summer days that draw my attention to the verdant beauty of nature!

The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
² Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they reveal knowledge.
³ They have no speech, they use no words;
no sound is heard from them.
⁴ Yet their voice^[b] goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.
In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun.
⁵     It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber,
like a champion rejoicing to run his course.
⁶ It rises at one end of the heavens
and makes its circuit to the other;
nothing is deprived of its warmth.

Psalms 19: 1-6

Yep, I love summer and all my favorite summer stuff! I hope you are carving out a little time each day to enjoy it while the sun is still high in the sky.

* This post does contain a few affiliate links. This means I may receive a few cents for sharing the products, but you pay no extra to use them.

~ Shellie

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A few weeks have passed since I’ve focused attention toward this little space of my world. My time has been occupied with my mama space, which truthfully, whether for good or for bad, seems to eclipse most others.

I’ve been away setting my daughter up in a new state for her new job.  It took us three days to drive 1,100 miles in his dad’s sturdy, black Ford 250 truck. Well, I guess it’s more accurate to say I sat in the passenger seat for a 1,100 mile road trip.

I typically never drive on long trips. I’m always content to ride and leave the driving to the king of the road. But in this case, our vehicle was so big and so loaded that every move took deliberate consideration…nope, this girl’s got no time for that! My mind was on furniture placement and wall hangings.

We glided along the interstate like an ocean liner set for Missouri; literally stuffed with my daughter’s worldly goods. Upon arrival to the “Show Me State”, we spent a week unpacking and scouring the surrounding area for the best deals to fill in the missing pieces. Yep, that would be one full day of couch shopping and one full, rainy day to find a used washer and dryer.

Could we have done it in less time? The short answer is yes, but then I redirect you to the object of our search…the best deals. Aha, now most of you know exactly how these searches go. You look at one item and then set out to beat it, only to return to the same store five hours later after realizing that yes, it was a pretty good deal after all!

The apartment took shape from boxes and piles to quaint and cozy. Yes, this mama’s work was done, but then I looked at the date on the calendar and the faces of recent 2021 graduates smiling from my social media feed. I realized that a year had passed since my Baby Girl’s graduation day had slipped by with no pomp in rather somber circumstances.

Yes, I had just finished unpacking and setting up a two-bedroom apartment after a three-day road trip. But, the light bulb came on in my morning shower. I emerged with plans to throw an impromptu “Moved to a new state, new job, new apartment…oh, and never celebrated her graduation” party in two days before we headed back to Florida.

Almost everyone I invited with only two days’ notice found space in their hearts and calendars to celebrate with us. The party went off without a hitch! Well, except for the part where I framed the wrong diploma, which was actually for her AA degree instead of her bachelor’s degree. The location of her diploma is yet a mystery.

The next day, we turned the truck around for the 1100 mile road trip back to Florida. Thank God for husbands because this girl was practically comatose for half of the trip!

We got back with a day to spare before heading to an annual ministers’ conference. Wow, I must say that it felt strange and oh-so-good to be with people again.

Was the trip hard? Not nearly as hard as missing it would have been!

In the end, we always make time and expend the effort to do what we really want to do not matter how hard it is.

I guess that’s why it always helps to get down to the why of what we do. If we act with our why in focus then we will always find greater joy, contentment and a sense of accomplishment.

I’ve been asked if it was hard to leave my Baby Girl so far away. Honestly, I would love it if I could see her face every day of my life. But then, I realize that making my life easier would never allow her to fully live hers.

Instead, I rest in the knowledge that she’s set up in a really nice apartment under the watchful eye of a really good God!

Now that’s something that makes the distance bearable, well that and video chats…smile.

~ Shellie

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I’ve just returned from a grand adventure! My daughter and I launched out on a three-day road trip from Florida to Missouri to move her to a new city. I’d never driven further than the northern borders of my own state prior to this trip, but my girl had a new job waiting and this mama was going to get her there.

Quite frankly, the newness of this undertaking didn’t occur to me until a few hours into the second day. I was forging new territory, on my own…hands on the wheel and foot on the gas. This is not to say I’d never covered this ground before…no, I was familiar with the landscape, but I had always experienced it in from the passenger seat.

This time, I was forging new personal territory by doing something I’d never done before.

The second day taught me that I have the distinct talent of stretching a seven hour trip into ten hours. It all started with a detour to Buc-cees, the Disney of gas stations. We gassed up, grabbed some sugared nuts, a brisket taco, made a gourmet hot chocolate and snapped a few photos along the way.

Only after driving away did I discover that our little detour had added the first hour to our trip. But that was ok…we were fed and ready to hit the open road; however, the road wasn’t as open as I had anticipated. In fact, it was downright small; all two-laney and sloooooow.

After a call to the husband, we were now educated to the fact that Google maps doesn’t figure in speed when determining the best route. We were in uncharted territory…a small, winding Alabama road. Thankfully, the road eventually widened to four lanes as we began our northern ascent through Mississippi.

Of course, our stomachs were soon calling again, so we branched off to a nearby town to hit a well-reviewed burger joint. But alas, we gave up after circling the block three times; only to find out from a waitress at the second highest reviewed spot that the burger place was indeed there; tucked behind the post office, down a tight lane across from the second-hand store. Nope, you can’t really see it from the road…sigh.

Here, I should mention that rest areas are few and far between on off-interstate travel, which left the two of us searching for other points along the path…where bathroom doors are opened with screwdrivers OR where each girl takes turns as the lookout while the other uses the men’s bathroom as the co-workers can be overheard puzzling over what would make someone think they could flush “that” down the women’s toilet??

I’m sure it’s starting to sink in about now…what’s the point of a road trip story without diverging on the path of a life metaphor?…well, at least when I’m telling the story.

This three-day road trip was little about the drive and a lot about the journey.

Yep, I learned a few lessons along the way…

Lessons From My First Long Road Trip

Don’t get so caught up in the destination that you miss the moments along the way.

Yes, that second day was long, but I wouldn’t trade the chats; the podcasts of “Crime Junkies”; or belting out songs in harmony with my best girl. We’ll always remember that screwdrivers make great keys.

Sometimes, you’ve just got to get behind the wheel and drive.

Life is full of opportunities…to do something that you’ve never done before; to go somewhere you’ve never gone or to be something you’ve never been. We are seldom limited by lack of opportunity, but rather by our own inability or unwillingness to step past our comfort zones or the four walls of our accepted reality.

Just because things didn’t go exactly like you expected doesn’t mean they weren’t perfect for you.

We seldom laugh and reminisce about the perfect days.
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We seldom laugh and reminisce about the perfect days.

It’s the bumps and inconveniences that make the best life stories. You alone decide how to perceive events of your life…do you cry or laugh over every missed step? It’s amazing how your perspective can frame your journey!

The Lord directs the steps of the godly.
He delights in every detail of their lives.

Psalms 37:23

And, just like that, we ended up in Missouri three days after we set out on our first solo road trip. Baby Girl is moved in and I’m back home in Florida with a journey in my pocket and a few more shared memories.

~ Shellie

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Today, on this sunny Florida afternoon, I’m reflecting on the past twelve months of craziness and one steady God. That’s the only way I can adequately describe how the last year has felt on so many levels.

On this very day twelve months ago, I sat in my Manila apartment and stared out the window to the ground 12 floors below. At this point, I had been on mandated lockdown for one week…and the reality of the situation was sinking in.

The things that I typically enjoyed so much about our apartment…no yard to mow, no dog to feed…we could just pick up and go anytime we wanted, became the very things that suddenly seemed restrictive and confining.

I remember thinking, “What in the world am I going to do with myself all day, everyday with these physical restraints?” I was not allowed to leave the apartment and we had no balcony. In the first weeks, I would open my windows periodically to stick my head out to feel the breeze and hear the wind rustle through the trees below.

I had just come off a busy season of travel and appointments. In fact, I remember laughing about how hard I had worked to carve out a little time for rest and renewal during the busy few months of 2020.

Then suddenly, my “schedule” changed as if by the clicking of a switch. I had time…luxurious time…then, TOO MUCH TIME…to rest. Now, the things I used to fit in on the fly between all the other important stuff in my life became the only things I had to do.

I eventually sank into a rhythm by mentally dividing my days by various rituals. I became more mindful about creating positive connections by posting one encouraging or uplifting post per day on social media. And, I considerably upped my video game by making a series of videos.

In retrospect, I learned to live without the press of the next appointment. I realized once again, as I had in past life seasons…God didn’t send me here to do, but to be.

How many times has God brought me back to this same place?

I remember learning this lesson for the first time two decades before as a mom of young kids in the small communist country of Laos. I spent my days…and a lot of boiling hot ones at that…reading stories, fixing lunches and waiting for nap time. Shouldn’t I be doing something meaningful with my life?

Eventually, God got my attention. He didn’t love or accept me because of my competency or my ability to get things done….in that season, he wanted me to be present for my kids.

Twelve Months Of Craziness & One Steady God

Yes, the Covid season of 2020 was 12 months of craziness that hit many of us by surprise, but I have experienced other seasons that mirrored it in many ways. And, when it comes right down to it, it’s my presence in less-than-ideal circumstances that’s spoken loader than anything I’ve accomplished in this life.

Why would I leave America to raise my kids in a third-world context? Why did I stay in that Manila apartment for twelve straight weeks without leaving but a handful of times when I could have hopped a plane for the United States? Yes, America was also in lockdown, but I could have at least been able to walk outside the front door.

I did it because I can trust God with my days. It’s a lesson He’s taught me over the years…God is only ever interested in my heart, not what I do.

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. ¹⁷ For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. ¹⁸ So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Corinthians 4: 16 -18

God renews us day by day and we can choose to fix our eyes on him regardless of the storms. Yes, it’s been twelve months of craziness! But ultimately, it’s our presence that speaks value to those we’ve been called to love and serve; whether it’s precious children; a husband in a two-bedroom high-rise apartment or the woman who reads these words in a blog post.

I believe God will continue to use me as new seasons arise, and yes I look forward to fully embracing, squeezing the life out of, some happier seasons to come. But, this one lesson I hope to remember…my greatest contribution is not to do, but to be.

~ Shellie

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