. if you let Him

. the same God who created life in you can be trusted with the details of your life..
matthew 6:25

have a beautiful day,
xo michelle

. hope

"Hope begins in the dark, the stubborn hope that if you just show up and try to do the right thing, the dawn will come. You wait and watch and work: you don't give up."
~Anne Lamott
Best-selling Author of Bird by Bird, Operating Instructions, and Traveling Mercies

have a beautiful day,
xo michelle

. never say never

. i wish things would work out, but they won't...
. my situation is impossible...
. he'll never understand God...
. i could never forgive her...

ever heard, or made statements like those?
if so..take this hint! never say never. many of the hard-to-believe things we declare "impossible!" eventually do come to pass...right before our embarrassed eyes.

consider the munich elementary school teacher who told ten-year old albert einstein, "you will never amount to very much."
or the misguided executive with the decca recording company in the early '60's who decided not to offer a contract to an obscure musical group called the beatles.
and you can be sure simon newcomb is red faced in his grave. he's the guy who asserted in the 1800's that "flight by machine heavier than air is...utterly impossible."

never say never...
don't end that friendship or relationship just because you've been wronged.
don't give up on that friend who claims to be an atheist.
don't throw in the towel on your dream.
don't write off your future just because you've made some bad choices in the past.

never say never...
the gospel of matthew states that same principal
("with god all things are possible, " matthew 19:26)
and the book of philemon illustrates a story of betrayal and forgiveness and of how faith breaks down all barriers.
so before you say, "that's impossible!" or "that could never happen!" take five minutes to read paul's letter to philemon.

have a beautiful day,
xo michelle

. my birthday gratitude

thanksgiving is good, but thanksliving is even better..
~ matthew henry

make gratitude a way of life. pay attention to the simple, small wonderful gifts God brings into your life everyday-gifts like hot showers, reliable transportation, work to do, friends and colleagues to see, and food to eat. see each person as a divine appointment and be grateful that God sent each one your way(this includes anyone you wish God has sent to someone else).
accept each day as a gift.
cultivate a thankful spirit. you find what you look for, so focus on reasons to be grateful. your gratitude will color your attitude and make you more inspiring to be around.

.make a list of all the things and people who make you smile. post the list on the refrigerator door as a reminder of what you're grateful for.

thanks to those that were a part of my b-day. it was one of my best by far!

have a beautiful day,
xo michelle

. 1 corinthians 13:7

love bears all things
believes all things
hopes all things
endures all things

remember that on your journey to discovering your faith...
have a beautiful day,
xo michelle

. just showed up for my own life

Spending my time sleep walking
Moving my mouth but not saying a thing
Hoping the changes would take by working their way from the outside in
I was in love with an idea
Preoccupied with how a life should appear
Spending my time at the surface repairing the holes in the shiny veneer
There are so many ways to hide
There are so many ways not to feel
There are so many ways to deny what is real
And I just showed up for my own life
And I'm standing here taking it in and it sure looks bright
I'm going to live my life inspired
Look for the holy in the common place
Open the windows and feel all that's honest and real until I'm truly amazed
I'm going to feel all my emotions
I'm going to look you in the eyes
I'm going to listen and hear until it's finally clear and it changes our lives
There are so many ways to hide
There are so many ways not to feel
There are so many ways to deny what is real
And I just showed up for my own life
And I'm standing here taking it in and it sure looks bright
Oh the glory of God is man fully alive
Oh the glory of God is man fully alive
There are so many ways to hide
There are so many ways not to feel
There are so many ways to deny what is real
And I just showed up for my own life
And I'm standing here taking it in and it sure looks bright
~ sara groves

have a beautiful day,
xo michelle

. dancing

When I meditated on the word Guidance, I kept noticing the word "dance" at the end of the longer word. I remember reading somewhere that doing God's will is a lot like dancing. When two people try to lead, nothing feels right. The movement doesn't flow with the music, and everything is quite uncomfortable and jerky. When one person realizes that, and lets the other lead, both bodies begin to flow with the music.

One gives gentle cues, perhaps with a nudge to the back or by pressing lightly in one direction or another. It's as if two become one body, moving beautifully. The dance takes surrender, willingness, and attentiveness from one person and gentle guidance and skill from the other.

My eyes drew back to the word Guidance. When I saw "G", I thought of God, followed by "u" and "i". "God, 'u' and 'i' dance." God, you, and I dance. As I lowered my head, I became willing to trust that I would get guidance about my life.

Once again, I became willing to let God lead. May you abide in God as God abides in you. Dance together with God, trust God to lead and to guide you through each season of your life.

Always remember to dance. . .
~Sharon Walker

have a beautiful day,
xo michelle