Bringing the Lamp

"There are persons so radiant, so genial, so kind, so pleasure-bearing, that you instinctively feel good in their presence that they do you good, whose coming into a room is like bringing a lamp there." Harriet Ward Beecher

As you read that quote, I bet someone comes to your mind. Someone that is so warm and kind, they light up the room whenever they walk in. 

This gift is not reserved for a select few. Whether we acknowledge it or not, we bring a presence into every relationship and room we enter. The pertinent question is not about whether you have influence; but rather, how are you using it? 

Living our best lives is opening the gift of our lives and learning how to give it to those around us. It's being the first to smile and say "hello". It's listening. Caring in the most practical ways. It's looking people in the eyes as they talk. And sharing stories and laughter, tears and sorrows. 

Let's not sit around and wait for others to do it around us. Let's lead ourselves and be the lamp that lights up the room. 

For you. For others. So that together, all of us can live our best lives. 

 
 

Bridge building

I often find myself running a search on Google or YouTube looking up how to do something. It's amazing how many tutorials are out there for cooking, fixing household items, pronouncing new words... you name it! While I am thankful for simple instructions that help me learn to do something new, it clearly has its limits.

There are places in all of our lives where we hope to bring change or growth and there is no aid in a Google discussion board or WikiHow. We are experiencing gaps or obstructions between the points we wish to connect. Things like navigating what I have, with what I need. Or where I am, with where I'd like to be.

We need a bridge between what is now and not yet. I've found that how we even go about building that bridge taps into our core beliefs and life strength. It will determine if the bridge will hold our weight and serve the purpose of getting us to the other side.

Bridge building is work. What materials do we use? Where do they come from? Who swings the hammer? Do I have energy or time to build a bridge... I really just want to be "over there".

Two things are helpful here. First, determine your source. Where are you going to pull from to get the job done? I have a good friend in his 70's who tells how he lived a long stretch of his life with the motto, "I can do all things." His willpower and grit produced a certain amount of success. And then his eyes light up when he talks about the life-defining moment when he came to understand, "I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me." Philippians 4:13 

Jesus is the best bridge there is. For every gap, weakness, shortcoming, dream, desire, and hope. This is what makes grace AMAZING. Receive his life, death and resurrection as your reality over and over again. Ask him for wisdom, ideas, motivation, and strength. He will supply you in the most practical areas of life as you look to him.

Secondly, do it with others. Say it out loud in your small group. Tell someone when they ask how you're doing. Speak it as you try to figure out how you will even live it. The secret is, that is how you start your bridge. When we share our tough spots with others, we find a SEA... Support, Encouragement, and Accountability that holds us up; and yes, even brings us further than we could ever go on our own. 

Living your best life is one of purpose and growth. You will build a lot of bridges in the process. Determine today to do it well and you will find your bridges not only bring you where you want to go, but also provide a pathway for others to follow behind you. 
 
 

Light a Candle Award

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:5

Living in Sync is excited to announce the inauguration of the Light a Candle Award, which is a $500 academic scholarship given in recognition of someone who has overcome adversity and exemplifies a giving spirit towards others. 

Rather than being shut down in the challenges of life, this person embraces hope and a determination to make the world a better place. They embody the words of Eleanor Roosevelt, "It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness." 

This year's recipient is Bryce Davis, 18 year old senior at Waukee High school.

When Bryce was in 7th grade, his mom, Chris, was diagnosed with sarcoma. Life was a journey of good days and bad days and many surgeries along the way. In three short years, life changed forever as he held mom's hand and said a final good bye as Chris passed on to heaven.

Bryce has not let this trial shut him down or make him bitter. Rather, he has continued to live generously towards other people. He has put in many hours volunteering for organizations and helping others throughout his high school years.

His passion lies in the creative arts, particularly in music and dance. He has many accomplishments including his latest work of providing accompaniment for the Waukee High school play Les Miserables this spring. Here's a sneak peek.

Bryce is attending University of Northern Iowa this fall and will major in Elementary Education with a middle level endorsement in English, Mathematics, and Science. 

Light a Candle Award funded through the generous gifts of people who know the power of lighting a candle together and the difference it makes in people's lives. Donate to the scholarship fund here.

Here's to lighting candles and making the world a better place.

You are there.

If Life was a Baseball Game

I can get intense sometimes. Anybody else? If life was a baseball game, my swings would be hard and followed through. Every ounce of focus, sweat, and muscle going for the home run. That probably sets me up for a few more strike out's and a little more fatigue by the end of the night. But why play the game if you don't put everything you are into it?

I'm learning in life, that sometimes it's okay and even necessary to simply get a base hit. This type of swing is focused, yet tempered in the force behind the swing. Holding back some of the power, so that the ball can land between the outfields, allowing you to make it to base safely. It leaves room for the next hit to advance you around the bases. 

And what about the times the batter is called in to bunt and sacrifice his own hit to make way for a teammate to steal a base? Are there times I would be willing to lay down my own 'hit' and trip around the bases so that someone else can advance and we get a win for the team? 

When we focus too much on the home run's - we miss the true goal - of winning the game. And maybe that's not the true goal, either. Maybe it's enjoying the sport, playing to the best of our abilities, embracing the team spirit, and letting the outcome rest in God's hands. 

If life was a baseball game... I'd learn to slow down. I'd listen to the coach and watch his signals. I'd remember there are more times up to bat and more innings to come. Not everything rests on this one swing and hit being perfect. 

If life was a baseball game... I'd enjoy the smells of hot dogs and popcorn, watching the fans bungling for foul balls, hearing the organ riffs, and take the time to autograph baseballs for the little guys on the sideline. 

If life was a baseball game... I could hear the umpire say (imagine the inflection with me) - "Let's Live Life!" 
 

Here's to living our best lives one swing at a time and enjoying it.

Every Chapter Whispers His Love

Last week, I was given the opportunity to share my life story. It's always an interesting task to determine what is relevant and what is not and how to capture over 43 years of living into 30 minutes. I prepared through a simple prayer - Lord, bring out what you want said and highlighted.

As I walked down memory lane, I found myself ending with more questions about my life than answers. A few of which were...

• What made this moment significant? 
• Where was God? 
• What did I learn? 
• Why is this part important to share with others?

A few days later, I heard someone say, "A true friend is someone who loves you because of who you are and not in spite of who you are." 

Something like fireworks went off inside of me. Within a flash, I was back within the early days of my story remembering how my mom was pregnant with me when she left my dad. It hit me afresh how untimely my conception and birth was for this very rocky marriage. 

From there, I knew deep down, that somehow despite everything I knew about God's love for me... I didn't really fully understand it yet. Subconsciously, I had viewed my beginning years of life from a broken sinful place. It was like my life with God began 'at the cross' - where "in spite of" who I was - He poured out his love into my life. 

In this moment, a few verses in Psalm 139 came streaming into my mind... 

For You shaped me, inside and out. You knitted me together in my mother’s womb long before I took my first breath. I will offer You my grateful heart, for I am Your unique creation, filled with wonder and awe. You have approached even the smallest details with excellence; Your works are wonderful; I carry this knowledge deep within my soul.

It was the Lord revealing to me my true beginning as His handiwork. His love is poured out in my life BECAUSE I'm his. Personally knitted, hand-crafted, signed, sealed and delivered into this world and my birth family. I was perfectly equipped and fashioned for the place and moment of my entry into life and His love has been with me and carried me every day since. 

Living your best life is knowing deep down how deeply he loves you. From your hand-knit in the womb beginning, to every breath of air that has filled your lungs, until the end of your earthly life, when you find yourself with face to face with him. 

Every chapter of the story whispers His love. May you carry this knowledge deep within your soul.

Heaven's Gifts

There are those moments in life that catch your breath, delight your heart, and carry your soul. More often than not, they are not anticipated, much less a plan we came up with. Quite possibly that is what makes them so wonderful. Surprises are heaven's gifts. 

I had two amazing surprises today. 

First, for those of you following me - you know we recently got a puppy. And with a puppy, comes many things... one being the need for a backyard fence. The short version of the story  is to make this fence possible was going to take the removal of trees. That's a big undertaking. 

My friend Tom has generously been helping with the chain saw action. In fact, he spent over five hours cutting yesterday. That left me with an enormous amount of wood to move. Just so happens this week we are blessed to have 13 young adults from Heroic Leadership Institute (Vineyard leadership program) here in town. They came over and in 30 minutes they had it all moved to the front for pick up! 

Heaven's gift came with muscle, energy, and big smiles.

Secondly, with this being my first year in my home I am still discovering things around here. Wouldn't you know, as we hauled the wood through the yard, what caught my eye but the beginnings of purple tulips!

Heaven's gift came with spring life, beauty, and vibrant color. 

Living our best lives is delighting in the surprises that come our way. Keep your eyes and heart open to the love your Papa showers on you.  

Every good gift bestowed, every perfect gift received comes to us from above, courtesy of the Father of lights. He is consistent. He won't change His mind or play tricks in the shadows. We have a special role in His plan. He calls us to life by His message of truth so that we will show the rest of His creatures His goodness and love. James 1:17-18