How many of us have spent much of our lives leaning or going out of the way we knew we were meant to go in our lives... to please or “go along with” what others told us we should; or, to be the consolation for others? If we do it for too long, we forget how to stand on our own; or to become all we were perhaps meant to be. All too soon, we realize the things that anchored our souls in our youth have been so uprooted, we risk toppling over if we don’t reconnect with the soul’s anchors to refuel. 

Are you ready to exclaim ”Not Today” by: Hillsong United? 

In nature, it often looks amazingly beautiful when some plant species latch onto others, covering them with their innate beauty, especially, after one plant dies. 

When humans latch onto one another to the point of covering them, it can smother them to the point of killing their inner Light. 

Never be so willing to please another, you lose the Light within yourself.  God created each of us to “BE a Light unto the world.”  Don’t hide it “under a bushel.” 

When are you going to Rise Up, as in the song ”Still Rolling Stones,” by:  Lauren Daigle? 

When we are born, we have all the freedoms and possibilities of God’s amazing imagination and planning for our lives. 

How many times do we need to get to a point of feeling like we’ve been dragged down, weighed down, pushed, pulled, twisted, or entwined with the “weight of the world” or others within our inner circles, before we realize we’ve done it for so long we no longer remember where we knew our lives were meant to go; and we’ve lost the essential BEauty God planted within us? 

Let’s have the courage to cut the vines and branches weighing down, burdening, and preventing our inner Light to shine from the depths of our souls, as God intended. 

Let's all begin singing ”The Breakup Song,” by:  Francesca Battistelli! 

Sometimes things we do or places we go can make us feel like we are trapped. 

But, are we actually surrounded by bars preventing us from changing our locations or situations, or are they merely an illusion we choose to see; because, we are afraid of embracing our fears of changing and the uncertainty of the unknown? 

Guess what?  ”God Only Knows, ” according to For King and Country... but, WE have the power to share who we are with others!  Open up, let your Light shine! 

The smallest bush may not be the mightiest; but, it does not refuse to shine and shimmer with all it has within it to BE. 

Mercy Me sings about the ”Best News Ever.” 

For me, it's a message, “we are loved by God unconditionally, no matter the package in which we exist.” We are equally created in the image of God and are all God’s children. 

We all blossom uniquely, as God meant it to BE! 

Seasons come and seasons go.  The leaves and flowers may change; but, the trunks of perennials remain. 

As humans, we were made in God’s image to withstand many seasons of challenge and change. 

Some of us weather few storms, while others endure many. 

Unlike trees and shrubs, we are not dependent on others to know if we are not receiving the nutrients we need and we aren’t necessarily dependent on others to help us relocate. 

When God gives us a nudge, it’s up to us to embrace our fears and move onto the path or location we’re being guided towards in order to not only have enough light; but, in BEing a Light or beneficial for those around us. 

There’s no better time to follow the suggestion of the Newsboys’ song... “Live With Abandon.” 

How will you take this unprecedented opportunity to strengthen and live, more into your faith? 

For me, it’s embracing “a call to serve” through the music God began bringing to me, as a child. I had always been too afraid to share it... until God brought me the support I have needed, in God’s infinitely perfect timing. 

How is calling you to step into your Divine Love and Service towards others?

Are our lives resembling the outstretched hands, always needy and empty... waiting for God and others to fill them, our hearts, and our souls, without doing the same for others? 

Or, do we provide, as we are called? 

Do we wait until the people around us are totally depleted of food, water, or shelter in The Word of God to nourish and strengthen their spirits; and, wonder why they feel forgotten and alone... or do we engage when given, or better yet, try to create opportunities to feed and fuel those who are too depleted to bother asking for help, anymore? 

How many of us will do for wildlife; but, not for the humans we see “singing sad songs” or perched around us, each day? 

Why is that? 

Is it because in nature or with wildlife, we might have a better chance of the ones we’ve helped... return to “flutter” or “climb about,” or “make a show,” of public appreciation we can capture to show the world... with no verbal commitment for further engagement? 

Is it because we fear, “once we begin, it’ll never end...” when helping our fellow man? 

Yet, we expect God to always be there to answer our every need, no matter how frequent or how large, the asking. 

The song “First,” by Lauren Daigle reminds us to seek God first; then perhaps, we can relinquish the Gifts we’ve been given so freely. 

What are we willing to give... of ourselves, our time, our talents, our treasures... in order to foster those or similar Gifts in those who would like an opportunity to BE that kind of Gift... for someone else, too? It might be someone a little too spiritually “tattered or torn” to ask; but, who makes an effort to show up.

Is it better to always keep things trimmed nice, tidy, short, and precisely... or is it better, sometimes, to permit a little bit of slacking, loosening or lessening of our need to control the perception of things being so tidy? 

We might find letting a little slack, provides a perfect bit of camouflage for an eyesore or two, while providing the perfect opportunity for other creatures to perhaps find a happy home, nestled in what we initially viewed as “such untidiness, or disarray.” 

Perhaps when we contemplate a song like “Healed,” by Nichole Nordeman... we can remember we have nothing to prove or fix. We have “sinned;” but, Christ died and we are forgiven. It’s time to embrace we are “healed,” whenever we are ready to accept and claim it. And, it is so. 

What can you let go of controlling, so tightly, today, it might help another to breathe a little freer, or into whom can you help breathe “new life?”

Upon first glance, some may view these as weeds. But, alter our perception by looking a little further or deeper... and we can see this is a patch of vital “first foods,” for bees during the spring. 

How many of us just go barreling through life... indiscriminately, tearing things out of our lives or tossing things aside or “out with the day’s trash,” before taking a closer look at perhaps multiple alternate uses, for objects in our lives or even people in our lives and how we could instead... guide them to the ones they need or who might need them or help them feel “of value?” 

What if we treated everyone we meet as a learning child, Child of God? 

What if we imagine them asking us to “Slow Down,” in the opposite scenario of Nichole Nordeman’s song is asking a growing child to slow down, for us? 

Stop and consider one way you can embrace... “slowing down.” 

Just because a large portion of a bush or tree in nature, no longer serves or flourishes at its primary purpose, doesn’t mean it’s no longer valuable. It can serve to nourish so many other BEautiful life forms... if we continue to nourish the parts that remain strong. 

The same is true as we age or lose functioning, within our human bodies. We can choose to maintain and strengthen the things we can, adjusting to new norms... and embrace the opportunities to thrive in new, exciting ways... and/or return to simpler pleasures we’d since long forgotten we enjoyed, “once upon a time.” 

No matter where our lives go or how our bodies age, may we always remember God asks us to go “All In,” just like the lyrics Matthew West sings about in his inspiring song. 

Do you know someone who is struggling to find self-worth? 

Imagine how that life might change, if you took a few moments some morning, or afternoon, to chat over tea or coffee... in earnest conversation and you helped them rekindle a long forgotten passion that gave them new purpose. 

What if you do more than “imagine it,” and you embrace doing it! 

Who will you inspire, today? 

Sometimes, we are afraid to pull back the curtain and look at our past, perhaps because we’re afraid we’ll get stuck there. 

But, what if we need to go back to our deepest “Cut,” as Plumb so hauntingly sings, to experience or feel through something we stuffed or shoved aside, in order to more completely discern, identify, and more thoroughly process past trauma stored within ourselves, our body cells? For it is only when we begin to truly process everything held within us we can begin to see the lessons taught by those we’ve loved and lost. 

Then, we can let go of what was holding us back; and, “Be the things you loved about those who are gone.” And, it does not exclusively mean those who have passed. It can also refer to those who have qualities that profoundly touched or moved our soul in ways we never imagined... ways we are grateful to have experienced; and will never forget. 

Just because we may come upon relationships exposing our roots or the pain of our past causing us to lose our footing... occasionally or temporarily, it doesn’t mean we cannot flourish and continue to find new ways to thrive. 

Zach Williams sings about the “Chain Breaker” power, we can receive from our pain and any sense of feeling lost... by laying them down in God’s hands and submitting ourselves into the loving arms of Christ. 

Just because we don’t like a plant in one location, doesn’t mean we may not appreciate it elsewhere. 

We can choose to treat each plant as a gift, as God treats us. Tenth Avenue North sings gloriously about “Control (Somehow You Want Me.)” 

It doesn’t matter how or where we are seeded. With the right soil, location (relocation if necessary,) and care... we will find where we are wanted and needed. It’s all about God’s infinite wisdom and Divine timing. 

Sometimes events happen within or beyond our control... floods, fires, storms, etc. that lead us to feel like limbs are torn from us, whether figuratively or literally, just as they are torn in nature. 

It’s up to us to let it be a catastrophic death; or, be like the tree stub shown here that had a few sprigs that decided they would persevere and not be afraid to stay to rebuild into a greater version... of what once had existed. Sometimes, things are sent our way to “knock us down,” in order to show us we can “not be afraid,” if we trust in our Divine faith... in God, ourselves, and one another. 

Tenth Avenue North sings about it and God beautifully in “I Have This Hope,” where the true measure of faith is knowing... “in the flood or the fire, you are with me and you won’t let go.” 

Peering inwardly, some would choose to focus on the dying or dead portions, perhaps viewing them as ugliness. 

What if, rather than viewing the dead or dying portions surrounding us or more importantly, within us, as ugliness we should try to just eliminate immediately... we realize how permitting them to decay away in their own space and time; but, with helpful, healthful, support along the way... we focus on the beauty in what will BEcome when the environment reaches full transformation? 

Kutless has a beautiful song, “What Faith Can Do,” sharing such a mindset change in seeing what is possible. Things may die or fall away; but, things and people can also rise again, more BEautifully❣️🙏🏼🙏🏼❣️ 

Even within individual plants, changes occur... some BEautiful, while other parts decay and fall away. In perennials, we have faith the changes occur to restore beauty to the plant for the following season... to bring beauty and nourishment to those around it. 

Plants have faith in the knowledge they will return, bigger and more BEautiful... each season. 

Kari Jobe sings about her faith in the song, “I Am Not Alone.” No matter what our personal or world situations are, we can have faith... we are never alone during our changing or growing seasons. Are we looking to others around us for strength, comfort, help, and peace... or relying on those gifts within us… given to us by God’s Grace, Love, and Faith in us... showing us, perhaps... it’s always been within us... IF we see ourselves... through God’s eyes? 

Perhaps it takes these isolated times for us to discover how much we have “put onto others,” versus reaching inward to use the gifts Creator had given us, long along, at our inception. God’s Wisdom & Vision, not ours. 

Sometimes plants we tend have prolific harvests, sometimes... not, or parts can become diseased or blighted... with only a few fruits or veggies able to be beneficial. 

It doesn’t necessarily matter how much work we pour into nurturing, supporting, and caring for a plant or a person... if they are unable to absorb the nutrients being provided, the nutrients may merely get washed away with the next storm. We can hope, pray, and do our due diligence; but, only the individual and God control the outcome. 

No matter how desperate we are for something or someone to thrive, rather than merely survive and exist... it is the plant or individual who needs to “Breathe” the air and nutrients and draw them inwardly... I know I am lost without them, something Rebecca St. James sings about in her song. 

Our vast life experiences can alter the way we see things. This tree for example, if you came under it while on a nature walk, would it give you the impression it wanted to scare you, or hug you... surrounding you with love? 

We can let things “tear us apart,” inside, or we can let them strengthen our resolve to not let them shatter us beyond repair; but, give us the fortitude to stand firmly in our Truth, Faith, and Love... as Martina McBride sings in “Concrete Angel.” 

A “bird” cloud, reminded me of a study I was doing, earlier today. I’ve been doing a study, combining a word search of Women of The Bible; then, reading the corresponding scriptures. I typically challenge myself by looking for a grouping of three words, at once. At one point, I was searching for the grouping of “forgiveness, freedom, and guilt.” I found guilt first, forgiveness second; then, freedom. 

I began to meditate about how the aforementioned “ordering” truly resonates to a lot of our everyday lives. Often... It isn't until we bear the guilt of our pasts, whether individually or collectively, forgive ourselves and one another (for doing the best we could with what we knew at the time... as we do better when we learn more... per Maya Angelou,) that we can truly seek and receive forgiveness... deeply within. 

Sometimes, the “sins of the soul” may create within us a sense of self-righteousness, rather than seeking repentance. 

Perhaps if we return to the place of our “initial wounds,” we can live into sharing  more “Motions Of Mercy,” as Francesca Battistelli sings so BEautifully... with ourselves and one another. 

Sitting and watching birds can help us understand the nature of preening feathers… essentially the “weeding out” of the ones that don’t feel “just right” or as effective, anymore. Perhaps areas that receive little twinges that let them know new growth is awaiting the area… if only someone made room, by removing the current “thing” blocking its potential placement or growth spot. 

Each new year, we look in pondering of the proverbial New Year’s Resolutions. Some still do them; but, many have given up on a notably failed, antiquated notion or tradition of “days gone by.” Some folks do actually have success at making permanent changes in their lives, when beginning new years with this “time honored tradition.”  

A few years ago, I began to compare a bird preening and a skin injury on a human or another mammal. How preening is intentional “ripping out of the old,” so to speak. Most skin injuries are unintentional, and they might bleed or ooze serous fluid until they stop. Often, there’s a need to apply pressure to make them stop. Some mammals will lick them, dogs and cats for example, that have active enzymes within their saliva to aid in wound cleansing and the swiftness in healing. Some folks like to rip off their old scabs, professing it will create a new one or quicker healing for them. Others will let the first scab alone; and, simply watch as it shrinks over time, on its own. “To each, his own…” as the adage goes. 

When it comes to internal, non-physical wounds, they don’t often get the same attention in being as readily identified as our physical or superficial wounds. Yet, they are often the ones needing the greatest amount of tenderness and gentle, loving care to ensure new growth is not only taking place; but, it’s healthy, as well. If we don’t pay as much attention to the things wounding us on the inside and properly align our behaviors, routines, boundaries, nutrients, and self-care to honor how we’d like it to be healthy, rather than quick, easy, and painless… the unhealthiness we choose will resurface. The unhealthy habits will resurface until we give them the same attention I pray we strive to give children… towards raising productive, healthy members of society with a good moral compass, full of compassion; and, love for humanity. Maybe instead of concerning ourselves with fitting into man’s idea of what constitutes “a beautiful set of feathers” on another, we can focus inwardly. Maybe if we “heal” the wounds we are afraid to admit often guide us into feeling fear, guilt, shame, or inadequacy… we can let go of trying to pretend we can grow the feathers, the skin, the Gifts, skills, or talents of others… and live more into embracing and owning our own Divine path and Gifts.       

With the innovative expansiveness of social media, it might be a bit “too easy” for many to “fall prey” to being ridiculed about anything and everything, these days. Bullying comes in many forms, often not seen as such under this latest phase or craze or “hipster verbiage” of the seemingly innocuous, “Be Kind” movement… which is itself a subversive effort to silence people and keep folks from truly connecting with one another on a deeper level. “BEing kind” is what folks did when they remained quiet about the many ways and types of abuses we endured and “closeted” for decades. “BEing kind” is what folks did when they walked away from those in power who were abusing said power or position. “BEing kind” is what kids have been told about not mentioning things like abuse; because, they’re only children and no one would believe them, over any adult. “BEing kind” landed us with generations of abused, abandoned, addicted, or dead people in the most massive numbers we’ve ever seen. “BEing kind,” clearly… did not work. 

What if we stopped “abiding by” and regurgitating the fifteen minute soundbites or slogans of the day, month, or year? 

What if we… stopped being concerned with how expansive our “friend” social media presences are; and, instead began to shrink them to include only folks with whom we’ve spent some quality time in conversations; or, those with whom we’ve connected through reading their posts, direct messages, emails; shared phone calls and/or live video chats, etc. in order to have gained insights to determine with whom our souls truly align. Aligned souls we can spend quality time and not feel a part of the unity between our heart, mind, soul, and body feels the need to retreat into some deep, dark abyss? Souls that encourage us to learn and grow from one another,  mutually. 

What if we… shrink or totally reshape the expansive tables into round tables and replace the table with dinner and/or discussions around a “campfire,” as tribal ancestors, long ago, would have done, in an effort to show no one was any less or more important in position; but, we honor everyone has the right to equal time holding “the talking stick,” when passed around? 

What if we… viewed societal changes, fads, and slogans as “the follies they have been” to the interconnectedness of our own tribes? I find it uncanny… how we often used to hear about “the grass being greener on the other side of the fence.” Yet, it seems not many of us have been willing to take a deeper look at how that’s applied to the many things we’ve “fallen in line” into performing on “the stages of our thinking,” pursuing/chasing, and believing. We don’t even stop to breathe and recognize we are like dogs following the bouncing balls someone else has thrown in the total opposite direction of where we always knew we wanted to go. Some of us don’t even like playing with balls and would rather spend our recreational time another way; but, don’t want to “offend the masters” or risk having them “take the balls away” we don’t even like!  

What if we… stopped chasing the balls we never appreciated… and “the masters” began trying to please us, for a change? What if “the masters” were forced to be the ones trying to figure out what WE truly appreciate and were the ones who had to do the “fetching…” to get US to engage with them, to receive OUR attention, OUR love… to reach and finally appreciate OUR longing for interconnectedness… without sacrificing all of whom we are? 

What if we work to create that power shift? What if?

Instead of only “taking stock” of our lives annually, with regard to the people, places, and things we are grateful for, (we can see, hear, smell, feel/touch, and taste…,) perhaps we can become more mindful and appreciative of them on a daily basis.  

Can we want less, expect less, and waste less… in order to value one another, ourselves, Mother/Father Earth… more? How can we approach each new day, honoring the healthy boundaries of our own... while doing the same for others? 

For me, it’s about BEing true to that which I am called to BE. Serving; but, not serving until my well is so depleted I cannot honor a spiritual call. It is not giving of oneself to the point of the destruction of everything you know your soul to BE. That is not serving any Divine call; but, man’s. Don’t be disillusioned, we can have various “calls,” throughout our lifetimes… none of them have to mean ministering, preaching, teaching, or counseling. There are an entire array of ways to serve a “calling.”

How often do we receive pleas on the heart for giving to organizations, for folks that we and said organizations would pass by in our daily living… were it not for the recognition or additional funds to maintain programs, buildings, etc. If we do not have compassion for those with whom we interact daily, can we truly expect the organizational offerings to magically turn lives around? Or, do we offer a hand up, (not a hand out,) teaching (skills) in giving moments or opportunity… which includes calling for accountability of those abusing individuals or groups of people, organizations, and systems. This includes calling out and standing up in opposition to elitists systems, embracing opportunities to build better foundations for equitable living wages within every home, without the need for one or all adults, or in some homes... even the children, needing to forego self-care in order to work 3 - 4 jobs to provide for the bare necessities, let alone be able to continue their or their children’s learning and growth opportunities, with any measure of success.  

To those generations who bought into the DOing to HAVE… be mindful of exactly what it is you now have. I’ve met so many who have the mindset those who are no longer willing to be a party to the elistists’ “DO what we want you to do, to buy what we dictate you should want…” so many of you don’t even have the clarity to see the ways you belittle those, while bailing out your own children and family members to avoid familial scandals, humiliation of family names getting into the “news,” etc. In all of the doing to have, the creation of a boom in addictions of all kinds took place, even within you and I; yet, we fail to even be cognizant of it. Maybe some struggle with family get togethers; because, we fail to be thankful for the struggles we see others going through; because it reminds us of ways we fail, each day. To “heal the world,” we need to first face and admit our own failures… within our families and our friend circles. Instead of blaming or continuing with the empty promises of changing to be more helpful, we actually, truly, whole-heartedly BEcome the change… by first, dropping to our own knees.

Sometimes, we can hold onto so much that it can feel like we are twisting apart inside or like “just one more thing” may “break us.” But, we are humans. We can surrender the mindset we’ve been brainwashed into thinking... we are breakable or “broken.” True, our bones can become brittle or broken; our communication lines can become broken… between ourselves and with others; and fear can break our healthful mindset and lower our vibrations. But, these are not things that cannot be overcome or at least greatly improved, with effort and a more “healthy diet” of realizing and embracing… everything we surround ourselves with daily… is, in fact, our diet. Therefore, the best way for us to not feel we are already or on the edge of BEing twisted all out of proportion or “broken” is to surrender and acknowledge things we’ve held onto that may in essence be holding us back from the full realization from living the life we envisioned, in our youth. What is something you have been holding onto that prevents you from BEing all you are called to BE… something you are willing to surrender?  

You will find a song by the same name, Surrender, on our music page. We hope you use it and the recommended essential oil pairings to help you embrace moving through anything you’ve been holding onto, twisting yourself all up in knots sometimes… rather than surrendering to what you have been called, all of your life, reaffirmed by your life experiences. If you don’t have the essential oil blends, you may simply close your eyes and meditate on what you want to surrender, before listening to the song. You may find it very helpful to begin a journal to log your spiritual and self-enlightenment journey, with us. I always end any journal entry, by sharing something I am truly grateful for receiving… whether it be a message, a song, a visit from animals, or even being able to breathe or think some days. We all have difficult days; but, centering our hearts, surroundings; and surrendering that which we cannot control or alter, can have such a profound effect on our daily lives.    

So many creatives become obsessed with becoming famous, popular, rich, or “like (fill in the blank of your favorite artist.”)  But, what if we stopped to think about why we appreciate an artist we think we want to emulate? Do we like them because they are simply like many other artists... who, like stones, could fill the back of a dump truck; yet, once dumped out… not a single one is discernible as more precious than another? Probably not. More than likely, we choose one we feel resonates with us, more like a boulder, or sculpted centerpiece… with sharp contrasts or eccentricities that write, speak, sing, play, draw, paint, etc., in a way we feel we are truly understood. 

As we each pursue whatever art we create, let’s not BE afraid to be the artist who is more like the boulder creating sharp contrasts to the status quo… or better yet, why not go for BEing the fountain centerpiece in a landscape? Are we willing to create the place for people to come... to receive a cool mist of refreshment, the place where people can just rest and enjoy gazing at the BEautiful display of the droplets of water… embracing it as a graceful dance of love for our eyes, ears, and fingertips to ground one another? 

(Instead of recommending a song on a streaming service, this week, where the actual song creators do not receive adequate pay, while the owners and CEOs of those services become more wealthy on the backs of those who literally receive pennies, we are recommending you buy a downloadable version of a song/album from your local artists’ or our website to show you support paying the folks responsible for creating the music you love, equitable shares versus the 250 streams for $1.00, if that much. We thank you, always, for your love and support.)