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Trisha Keehn

Writer

Trisha Keehn is a creative writer fueled by a lifetime of faith. She is part of the Life.Church and YouVersion Bible App creative writing team, and uses her broadcast news background to help companies choose their words wisely. Trisha is a wife, mom, coffee connoisseur, lover of libraries, and a savvy traveler.

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Discovering Joy in the Journey

What I love about the ring of a new year is the hope that’s swirling in anticipation of a do-over. All those leftover disappointments from last year hit the reset button.

It’s uplifting to be around people who believe they can begin again.

However, by the time this post is published, statistics say one in four people will have already abandoned their mission for the year. And unfortunately, these numbers show it will be the same goal that’s been spoken and broken at least ten different times now.

Over the years, I’ve picked numbers and words, scarier dreams and SMART goals. Some are successful, while others get tangled up in small setbacks before Spring. Interestingly enough, 60% of all new year’s resolutions will be dumped by June.

Has this already happened to you?

Perhaps you started the year flying high on your hopes that these coming weeks would be your best ones yet, but no sooner had the party favors been put away, your goals plateaued leaving you on autopilot for a repeat of last year.

The devil is constantly trying to run us off the promised land God has for us.

Pastor Steven Furtick with Elevation Church says this, “resolve cannot change what routine created. In other words, the faith to step out is worthless without the faithfulness to stick it out.”

Powerful. Let those words marinate in your mind awhile. It took me a couple days to soak this in.

journey to get thereThere are so many nuggets to draw out in Mr. Furtick’s sentences, but what it says to me in this moment is that reaching a goal is less about the final destination and more about the journey to get there.

New mantra: To rejoice in established routines I walk out today as they develop the faithful habits I need for the following months. This will lead to the goals I plan to conquer that eventually fulfill the dreams God has for my future.

If the mind isn’t satisfied and celebrating in the incremental advances in the moment, we will lose sight of why this goal is tangible and meaningful today.

The end is only a conclusion to the story; the real adventure is in the peaks and valleys. If we’re not grateful for where we are, we won’t appreciate goals when we reach them.

Beware! The devil is constantly trying to run us off the promised land God has for us. There is no room for regret in a life full of God’s good things, so turn over these stones of setbacks and allow them to become the wisdom you need for tomorrow.

Jerry Jenkins, author of nearly 200 books and most notably known for writing “The Left Behind” series and Billy Graham’s autobiography, has a great take on goals and success.

“My father had long counseled me that the popularity of goal setting as a means to success was good only to the extent of the definition of success. “Be the best you can be at what you’ve been called to do,” he said. “And you’ll be more of a success than the person who is the best in the world at it but is not working to his potential.”

So my aim became to obey and let the results fall where they may.”

Remind yourself that God’s promises will come to pass and you have been gifted to carry them out. Give yourself permission to try again, and then pick up that God-given assignment and start, no matter what month we’re in. Drop the pressure to perform and be confident that you already have what it takes to carry out His work. Give Him your best and the rest will be blessed.

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The Risky Right Thing

“In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing. The next best thing is the wrong thing and the worst thing you can do is nothing.” That’s from Theodore Roosevelt.

Have you ever heard Roosevelt’s story before He moved into the White House?

His bride died after giving birth to their daughter… just hours after his mother, who lived in the same house, died of typhoid fever.

Historians say Roosevelt wrote a large ‘X’ over February 14, 1884 in his diary and then penned, “The light has gone out of my life.”

Though this pain wore at his heart for a season, I think it may have actually fueled his strength to persevere in unexpected circumstances.

Twelve years later, in 1898, Roosevelt was elected governor, and in 1900 vice president, and then upon McKinley’s assassination in 1901, at forty-two years old Theodore Roosevelt became the youngest president of the United States.

Be encouraged in your struggles and pain today that God has given you the ability to overcome. Do something with the choice you have. And if your decision brings even more hardship, step back and start again.

riskyThe more mistakes you make means the more chances you took. A life of chances is what creates courage to carry out success.

Take chances in your career.

Get ridiculously risky with love.

Embrace vulnerability and expose the raw truth.

Strength for future favor can come from your circumstance if you press through the pain and persevere.

Allow the unexpected to fuel a life without regrets. Do something.

May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance. 2 Thessalonians 3:5

…because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. James 1:3

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Dancing On Life Lessons

“Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” – Confucious

The falls in life usher new seasons that change the chromatic scale of a soul.

When my life feels tangled up with complicated cords, I jump. Four years ago, my work and relationship empire began to crumble. Under pressure, I plunged from the pain and got twisted up in an exhilarating free fall that had me parachuting into the world of dance.

Some lessons later, I was swinging away the blues with a new focus. In class, I stumbled over the feet of a confident partner who was a little cocky in his push and pull, which I enjoyed. We swiveled West Coast Swing into any space we could.

The leaves formed and fell as my dancing feet moved with the rhythm of life. And then, a new season came, swaying my course into a new city. Reluctantly, I boxed up another chapter.

Dust settled on the shine of those dancing shoes as unfortunate circumstances chiseled away at the emotional edges of walls I had built.

I clung to my brokenness, and stuffed my soul with the false security of familiarity.

And yet, God met me with mercy in those tears, as He unwrapped the wounds and purified the bleeding pain. He revealed fresh layers of faith and revived buried passions.

This year has been a journey of beginnings. So it should not surprise you that last week, I took a leap right into Lindy Hop; back into the world of dance.

In the sway of those old songs, I was reminded a good dancer is one who follows the tender touch communicating which way go. This is a lesson for me in life, as sometimes it can be a struggle to restrain my tendency to control things with others and with God. Truthfully, I discovered a greater freedom in following the gentle nudges and flick of a wrist that send me sailing left over right in a thrilling twist of surprise and pure joy.

A dance begins on trust; otherwise, partners will fumble and fall over footwork. Expressions with the hands and body inspire each other in speechless conversations. I feel a blanket of peace covering my mistakes because I know this partner is a step ahead of me with his arms held out to catch me in a fall.

dancing on life lessons

As you’ve been reading this, I hope you caught the reflection of God as your partner in the dance of life.

It can be difficult to close your eyes and concede control when you don’t know a companion, much less the dance. Yet, the only way to experience the thrill that comes with taking chances is to trust. Trust the One who is already ahead of you in the dance.

He will never let you go. Even when you’ve flung yourself so far away and gotten twisted up in the momentum of your mistakes, He’s always waiting to whirl you back in; He welcomes with open arms on the return.

When you place your confidence in the palm of His hand, this unspoken permission allows Him to gently shimmy you in the way to go. It also grants Him access to press into your steps to stop and steer the course before you spin out of control.

You may be like me, with a tendency to escape pain, the unknown, and sometimes things that seem too good to be true.

There is no escape from the grip of God’s grace, interwoven and wrapped around every fiber of our being. He goes with us into the dances we do around life’s hard stuff so that we can discover the deeper love from a Father who never walks away, no matter what we’ve done.

God leaves the pattern of His fingerprint on every experience we encounter. When we know the lines in His hand and let them sink deep into our hearts, the imprint of His image stamps our soul with the Spirit’s seamless whispers, ‘I love you, I love you’.

Press into Him and feel the beat of His heart. Get close enough to taste the breath escaping His lungs through His lips.

Pray. Study Him. Seek His attention.

Open your eyes and notice His personalized expressions of love and beauty surrounding you. His embrace is warm and tender, His heart is compassionate and kind. He is for you. The identity of your first love is waiting to be discovered. The King is asking you for this dance.

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Future Advocate

Your past and present place in life is just the beginning. It cannot confine or keep you from the prosperity and riches God has in store for you. Believe that and expect undeserved favor to fall in arenas your feet have never been.

Slopping my feet through the puddles as I made my way to an entrance of the high school, I shook my head, ‘what am I doing here? I don’t know what it takes to parent at 15-year old boy?’ Shaking hands with his teachers, sitting face to face with lawyers and ‘powers that be’, we passed around papers and made decisions on how to help this guy succeed.

As a Court Appointed Special Advocate for children, this volunteer opportunity offers me a chance to redirect the path of neglected kids.

With his head hung low, a few dreadlocks fell over the child’s face as he found a seat in the back of the room. I thought to myself, ‘what an intimidating place for a teen to take, listening to a bunch of adults planning out the course of his life.’

He’s a wonderful writer. On home visits, he digs through the masterpieces to share some treasured transcriptions with me. As the teachers tried to push tutors and extra testing to improve his grades, something clicked in me as writer too.
“Hey ‘C’, what if you used your rhyming and writing skills to learn biology material and math equations? Could you use poetry to help you remember stuff?”

His head lifted and his eyes lit up. God sparked a new fire.

I concluded that my past and present place in life (by not being a parent) cannot hold me back from what God has for my future.

Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Ephesians 3:20

… Let the Lord be magnified, Who takes pleasure in the prosperity of His servant. Psalm 35:27

… I will bless you [with abundant increase of favors] and make your name famous and distinguished, and you will be a blessing [dispensing good to others]. Genesis 12:2

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The Outpouring Mercy In Our Pain

We stand on the dusty road of our circumstances, and experience tells us the clouds will roll in soon and we’ll be left exhausted, knee deep in the mud. The humanity of it all is that we will find whatever we are looking for. Yet, the mercy of God’s hand reaches down to shield our hearts from the calculated pain, and offers something better for each of us than we could ever imagine for ourselves.

dusty road, trishakeehn

 

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Facing Fear and the Truth

Three years ago, when I turned 30 (for the first time), my heart skipped a billion beats in anticipation of the glorious days this era would bring.

This is when life begins.

It is the monumental moment when a 20-something mistake-maker finally grows into a mature and sophisticated version of herself, with less baby fat.

The first few moments were great! But in the following months, everything came crumbling down. My job. Relationship. Friendships.

And my health. A brisk walk was no longer burning off that pumpkin spice latte! I failed to factor an aging body into my fantasy of a ripe, slightly older age.

With my imagination zapped by this rather rude reality, another nightmare ravaged my picturesque vision of 30… Adult acne.

I’m talking about cystic craters too deep for even over-the-counter creams and pill-popping prescriptions to zap.

Disturbed by my appearance, I caked on clearasil and tried facials, doctors, and dermatologists. Helplessly, the barrage of blemishes continued to plague my life.

If you’re a man reading this, it may mean nothing. If you’re a woman, you probably feel my pain.

Society makes it worse with its infatuation of a selfie-centered culture. Sure, I can keep my camera at bay, but friends and family are a different story. Everyone wants a picture. Smile. Cheese. Snap. It’s done before you know it.

Two years went by and my face was still a mess. I opted to see skin ‘aesthetician’. She suggested a procedure that would extract cysts caught beneath the surface of skin. A fine needle injected several skin layers deep, heats to the temperature of lava. Painful? That’s an understatement.

The nurse gave this disclaimer when she finished the hour long session: What you’re about to see will heal in about a month or two.

IMG_20121201_205516My heart hiccuped at “a month or two”. Where was that vital note an hour ago?

Blood flow stopped when I saw the reflection.

Embarrassment. Humiliation. Sadness. Any little bit of self esteem I was holding onto, all flushed out the moment that mirror reflected hideous wounds on my face.

My mind conceded in defeat. How could I face job interviews looking like this? How could I be seen in public?

For fear a depression could lead to that dark place I had been just a year before, I bought a one-way ticket home to heal.

It was December. My folks were happy there was timeline on my stay. However, my heart grew heavy as every distant relative cringed at first sight of the scabs. The infamous family gathering Q & A’s ensued, reminding me that I still had no job, no house and no plan.

“A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength.” Proverbs 17:22

Under the exhausting, emotional pressure, my fake confidence finally collapsed in tears. Discreetly, I took my meltdown to the bathroom. Never have I seen a room with so many mirrors. Gigantic reflections all staring back at me and projecting the very image I now hated.

Standing face to face with the fear, I saw another reflection. A deep-rooted bitterness. Anger. Pride. Defeat.

This scarred tragedy on the surface was transparent to the emotional crisis going on underneath.

The outside concerns distracted my reflection of an inside condition.

As I peered past my skin and saw my soul, my  mind understood the deep rooted pain buried beneath. This is when my focus shifted.

My knees met the ground with prayers for a sickness others couldn’t see. For restitution. For restoration. For peace.

Suffering can produce unspeakable intimacy with our Creator. Never more than in the furnace of my affliction have I experienced the profound presence of God.

My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. Job 42:5

The fire refined jagged edges and impure desires. In my weakness of pain and suffering, God purified and polished a radiant bride of Christ.

…I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction. Isaiah 48:10

My mistakes still blemish the beauty of His design, but suffering produced character and growth (James 1:2-4). God used these hardships to mature my faith and develop a resilient spirit.

He can redeem pain in our lives. We serve a God and Savior who knows suffering.

My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. 2 Corinthians 12:9

Through this suffering, the transformation of my mind has blossomed into a beautiful daughter, mirroring her Father’s image. Though I know suffering will still come in seasons, my heart is awakened and wrapped up in His love, basking in the glorious gift of His presence today.

You may be reading this in the midst of your own suffering. Perhaps a lot of things have come against you and it seems like the more you pray, the worse it gets. You might be doing the right thing, yet the wrong thing is happening. It would be easier to throw in the towel now.

Look closer. Stand steady. Rest in His Truth. You’ve come too far to stop.

Whenever life gets difficult and the lies bombard your mind, that’s the time to dig in your heels. Put on a new attitude because you are closer to real freedom and victory.

Doing the right thing in the midst of our pain and suffering when it feels so wrong, is what grows us in deeper places and stays with us longer than what’s on the surface.

Instead of being bitter and discouraged, look in the mirror and see through the surface. Keep standing, keep praying, keep hoping and stay in faith even as the intensity turns up!

Jesus, my Healer and Deliverer, You have seen the things I’ve been through. You know what I’ve had to endure. And I trust You. I see the places you have taken me from and I am encouraged by Your promises that this is not my destination. You are working behind the scenes.

I have full confidence my current suffering is refining and growing my intimacy with You, Heavenly Father, as perseverance leads me in the path to victory. I keep my faith and trust in You and expect to see Your mighty hand in Jesus’ name! Amen.

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Be Content, The Rain Will Come

Are you looking for a new job because your current 9-5 is unsatisfying? Wanting a bigger house, a new city or major vacation? In search of Mr./Mrs. Wonderful?

WebDry seasons come and go. When the rain is pours, we pray for the weather to lift. When deserts get too dry, we beg for a flood. Our minds dictate constant change as a solution to the problem; a new job, a fresh relationship, sometimes just singleness. We admire bigger, and better, and are in perpetual search for a purpose.

Contentment is the key.

In life, it’s easy to get so focused on our dreams and goals that we tune out everything else. We can get to the point where we’re not going to be happy until we see ‘something’ happen.

If we have to have ‘something’ in order to be happy, our lives are out of balance. When a lack of ‘progress’ with our goals and dreams start to frustrate us, we lose our peace and don’t enjoy life. It’s a clear sign that we’re holding on too tightly.

What’s the solution? Release it. Freedom comes when you turn it over to the only One who can lift it, change it or sustain you through it. The Maker knows your desires and what’s best based on a future you cannot see. Choose to trust Him and His timing.

There is a season for everything. We were not designed to run a race every day of our lives. We need rest. Peace. Rejuvenation.

Many hours I have wasted ‘hunting’ for my blessings and realized it’s unnecessary when I serve an Almighty who lavishly gives on time, many times without explanation.

Being content for me means, even while my heart desires a husband and children, I will remain content with being single until God brings my Boaz.

Though my workplace denied a raise, I will continue giving my best and stay with the company.

While my home feels too small and the car leaks coolant and lacks air conditioning, I shall remain content with where God has me until doors open and He pours out His blessing in those areas.

My contentment comes from knowing the rain will come on time.

contentmentBe careful not to confuse contentment with being comfortable. The satisfaction in being content comes from trusting a change is on the way. It’s not necessarily a change in your circumstance. It could be a change in your heart.

Ask Him for a change of heart.

Instead of being bored when work is less demanding, shift the focus of your priorities and put more time into other areas. Health. Family. Professional development. Future plans. Discovering a new purpose. Helping someone else. Volunteering.

Focus on getting close to God. No, getting closer to God.

“…I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.” -Paul, Philippians 4:11

When we learn to be content whatever the circumstances, it takes away the power of the enemy. It takes away his ability to frustrate us. Not only that, but by our actions, we are showing our faith in God.

When you choose to trust His timing, you can live in peace, be filled with joy, and rest in Him knowing that He has good things in store for your future.

The rain will come and when it does, you won’t regret this time of focusing on other priorities in life and preparing to be the best you. Find freedom in contentment and rest in His everlasting peace.

Father, I trust You. I release frustration over the dreams and desires in my heart because You know what’s best for me. I choose to trust Your timing knowing that You are faithful. I will bless You in all things in Jesus’ name. Amen.

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We Win In The End

If you’re a believer, you know the end of this story… we win! Yet some days the battles seem unbearable.

In our minds we know we win, but our actions tell the world we lost the war.

Recently, I completed a week long fast. It was only a few hours before I began to feel the temptation to give in. Wincing at the thought that this was only day one of seven, I attempted to sleep my way through the pain. An hour later, my mind was awake in the same snare gravitating toward surrender.

That night God gave me a vision of day seven. I stood on a hill looking back at the days of fasting. There was immense struggle scattered throughout the hours, but there I was at the end of them all, standing over the time period as a victor.

There was a sword in hand, it had to be the Spirit. A helmet on my head, that was my salvation. The breastplate of righteousness was held securely by a belt of Truth and I was sitting high on a horse above the turmoil and noise below and behind me. I must have made it!

The next morning, my mind was encouraged by this foreshadowing conquest and it boosted incredible confidence in the present day struggle.

Knowledge only gets us so far. We’ve got to visualize the victory in our battles.

Seeing how this vision shifted my focus from the immediate battle pressing down to a spirit of fearlessness and triumph, I wondered how my impending years could also benefit from a clear vision of victory today.

Though we fight against powers and principalities of darkness constantly luring the flesh, peace comes from our identity in Jesus: 1 John 4:4 says, “Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”

No power or principality can take what you refuse to give it!

As days of my fast rolled by, every bit in me looked forward to the end. The gravity pulled at my ‘weakest’ moments, and my wicked heart seemed more like a traitor at times when it tossed in the towel and was willing to submit to the lust of just one bite.

Collapsing to my knees in this weakness, I would close my eyes to the vision of the end. This confidence encouraged my heart, I make it. I make it. It will be okay, I make it. Lifting my shield of faith, I stood in praise that this battle is already overcome.

There is a battle going on in our minds. Our thoughts dictate our actions. We don’t always experience the abundant life God created us for because we allow the enemy to poison our thoughts with defeat, self pity, doubt and shame.

Often when I’m running, I close my eyes to envision the destination. My mind refocuses from the pain in my legs to the desire to finish because victory is now in sight.

Whatever trials you are trudging through today, close your eyes and see yourself standing at the end, victorious! Your identity is secure in Jesus. Whatever you touch will prosper and succeed. That’s how the Creator designed you. Find your strength in the mighty power of Jesus. Remind your heart and mind, I make it. I make it. It will be okay. I make it.

Speak to your storm and let that burden know, I am more than a conqueror! Then give your heart over to praise that Jesus is still on the throne.

Through the tough stuff, be confident that God will never leave you (Deuteronomy 31:6). With Jesus by your side, and the Spirit living inside, you are already more than a conqueror standing above the battles that come your way.

And the great, great news is that we win in the end!

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The Oasis

It’s a place few like to visit, but the medical center has become a haven for my heart in the last few weeks, allowing me to walk out my faith in an area most steer clear of.

For 8 months now, I’ve been visiting this place quite often. When it’s time to leave, I lean over the balcony rails and take in a deep breath over the towering palm trees as I close my eyes and listen to the cascading waters in the background pretending this is vacation. The beauty is worth marveling over.

A few weeks ago, the Spirit prompted me to venture from the usual exit after my appointment and curiously wander through the indoor landscaping. There was a patient registration desk, medical imaging, nooks of cafe tables and benches spread out through the gardens. The aroma of fresh coffee brewing lured me to a small setup sharing the corner in this jungle.

The menu was complete with pastries and drinks. “They call this place ‘The Oasis’,” said a IMG_20140806_093919man behind the counter. “You must be the owner,” I replied. “Yes, I’ve been here 13 years in May and I know more people in this building I think than anyone else employed,” he chuckled from around his espresso machine. “Well, I’m Trisha. I think I’ll be hanging out here quite a bit,” I noted with a grin. “I’m Dave. Nice to meet you. Now what can I get you pretty little lady,” he said with a smile. I ordered a cup from my new friend and sat down to take in the scene. Thoughts were running through my mind concluding this must be where a lot of hurting people escape for some serenity or a meal during visits. Some may be alone, many could probably use a listening ear.

A man walked nearby. He was trimming the leaves so I extended a hello. We began to chat about Glen’s landscaping work and eventually his life that brought him to Nashville, from Florida and originally New York. At one point, I asked permission to pray for Glen’s family and some of his worries; it was obvious he wasn’t a believer. He allowed me to anyway and dished out names to mention in my prayers. Then his phone rang. It was Taylor Swift’s ‘people’. Glen is in charge of landscaping inside the superstar’s condo.

Vowing to God that I’d be back on my lunch breaks, this journey has been fascinating. It’s been a privilege listening to stories from all walks of life. Leslie is surrounded by cancer. Her husband died 5 years ago to the disease, her son died of it, her new boyfriend now had it, and her best friend has been struggling with it. Leslie herself has multiple sclerosis and shingles.

IMG_20140806_093926Today, Hank, 92, had some tests done on his health. He’s a World War II vet, Prisoner of War, wounded in the Battle of the Bulls, and sat on a bench behind me with his son. Upon seeing the palm trees surrounding us, Hank asked his son if he’d ever heard Joel Osteen talk about why a palm tree is suited for the south. In a snippy tone, his son replied, “No.” Hank tried to share more but couldn’t remember the story.

That message had stuck with me too when Joel first shared it, so I waited for the silence to become unbearable and closed my book. “I remember what Joel Osteen said. It’s because palms have many short roots and heavier top soil so they can bend. Oaks have a fewer roots that go deeper, so an oak would snap.”

Hank’s eyes lit up. Over the next 30 minutes, Hank told me about his incredible journey through the war; his capture, burying 51 of his friends in the camp, his escape from a compound and the best tasting vegetable soup he’s never forgotten. Hank’s appointment buzzer lit up. It was his turn to see the doctor. As the two men were walking away, Hank’s son turned to me and said, “Thank you for listening to all that. It’s more than he usually gets.”

Hank is a Christian, and at the very least, I think his son may have received an encounter with the Spirit today.

The harvest is plentiful my friends! All you need is a willing spirit. The return will be much greater than the effort you put in.

“The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.” Matthew 9:37

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People Over Plans

It’s only a few days now, and no, I’m still not ready for the ever-important appointments that have been set with some of the largest publishers around the country. My perfectionist, people pleasing personality is not happy about it one bit.

It’s saying, ‘try harder. You still have time. Don’t you dare go there un-prepared. Don’t let these people down by wasting time at the table with one sheet. Your future is hinging upon this.’

I stressed over the content. I strained my eyes at the screen. Then I got on my knees in surrender. ‘I can’t do it, Lord. I don’t know what to write and I can’t create something out of nothing. I give up. I’m not staring at the keys and a blank screen any longer until you tell me what to write.’

My body collapsed from the physical exertion and pressure I put on myself. I let out groans and sobs only the Spirit could understand. And then I began to praise.

Some minutes later, in state of mental exhaustion, I found myself staring at the ceiling in awe of a wonderful God, who created the heavens and earth and all things in it, and then stitched me.

Your plans have become your priority, but what about my people?

My ears perked up, ‘Oh God. I pushed people out and prioritized my plan for these appointments because I thought you opened this door for me?’

I did. And I can close it too. Desire me, seek me, pursue me and I will give you the desires of your heart. I will open doors no man can open. Trust me.

‘I understand. I’m sorry God for making this about me and my wisdom. So now what?’ I asked.

Make the chapters about (Beeeeeeeep. I can’t tell you this or it will ruin the element of surprise when the book is released ;-)). But let’s just say it is brilliant! What else would you expect from the greatest Author ever?

So I wrote down what He said and I let out a sigh of relief from pressure to perform.

There will be no book proposal to hand publishers. And to be honest, I’m not scared. I have seen God create pathways in my life where man has said there is no way. I am confident His work will be done here.

What I did do though is spend the next few days sharing moments over meals, movies and music with friends from all walks in my life.IMG_20140723_062608

I made people my priority over plans.

Ps. Last night, I fired up the oven and whipped up a batch of muffins for a friend in celebration of this new-found freedom.

If the stale, all-purpose baking mix was any indication of the last time I had stepped behind a stove in the name of service, good Lord! I suppose I made up for this shameful admittance by the number of ingredients I included in those gluten free, raspberry, lemon, poppy seed muffins. I only required my friend to try one, so IMG_20140723_063437she could taste the intent of my heart that had been resurrected in the name of love for people over my plans.

Just in case you’re wondering… I whipped up a batch of flourless oatmeal chocolate chunk cookies for her family instead. I couldn’t leave our story on stale muffins. 😉