Courage, Dear Heart❤

Courage-my word for 2017!

God always does that for me-He shows me a new word or theme by speaking it into my heart numerous times. Over the past several weeks “courage” has been repeated in sermons, studies, and even music. It’s my word.

I spent some coffee time with my sister this morning. I always cherish our heart-to-hearts ❤ because we are truth tellers. We can speak honestly and openly about all of it-even the bad.

As we walked a road back over our lives, we gave thanks for all God has done.
We both have so very much to be thankful for-especially these past few years.

We both love and serve an awesome God, we have beautiful families and friends, and we have each other. We are loved!

Life isn’t always easy, but it is in the hardest spaces and places that we must make a choice. We can allow the struggles to grow us better or bitter.
“In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

Struggles remind us to depend on our Jesus. To take His hand and gain COURAGE.

Courage is a heart word. The root of the word courage is cor – the Latin word for heart. In one of its earliest forms, the word courage meant “To speak one’s mind by telling all one’s heart.” Over time, this definition has changed, and today, we typically associate courage with heroic and brave deeds. But in my opinion, this definition fails to recognize the inner strength and level of commitment required for us to actually speak honestly and openly about who we are and about our experiences — good and bad. Speaking from our hearts is what I think of as “ordinary” courage.  -Brenè Brown

Through our struggles, we have gained the courage only He can give.
We have given Him our hearts and chosen to be better because we are loved completely and wholly by His perfect LOVE.

Courage comes from a heart that is CONVINCED it is loved.-Beth Moore

Blessings for a 2017 lived with courage, knowing you are loved!

-❤S
❤❤photos courtesy of Lacey Dale Photography and Ashiley Lang

❤Courage, Dear Heart -C.S. Lewis

Heart of Hope

I’ve cared for countless cardiac patients over the years. It was where my heart was-quite literally.

I first knew this when I found myself in nursing school, newly married, and sick with an upper respiratory infection. I awoke from a nap in an abnormal heart rhythm. We’d just learned about these, but in spite of my best efforts-I was unable to convert myself out of it.

I quickly became a first-time patient in the hospital with a new diagnosis of a prolapsed (leaky) heart valve. I was terrified. I spent the next several weeks bracing myself for the abnormal rhythm to return. 

It was life-changing.

I knew in that instant that I’d have to trust Him for each beat of my heart and let go of the fear-or I would be paralyzed by it. He promised that He could work it for my good, but first I had to let Him. Romans 8:28

I held to His promises and looked to the future.

His promises held true. My love for cardiac patients was born out of that experience. Over the next several years I learned about hearts both in a literal and figurative sense. I was honored to care for many in their weakest moments and in turn they taught me valuable lessons about life. Lessons they had learned from their own personal experiences.
Life is beautiful when you see it from that perspective. They’d learned something many took for granted-each beat was not guaranteed. Life could change in an instant.

This past week my trust was tested on a whole new level. I was sitting in the choir concert when it hit. Suddenly-out of nowhere-incredible chest pressure, arm, neck, and face numbness. I tried to talk it away. I sat there in shock, unable to move at first. I was in total disbelief that this could be happening to me.
Long story short, I ended up in the emergency room in the midst of the cardiac protocol. They kept me in the hospital overnight to rule out my heart and after a night of questions and little sleep, the answers pointed to something much less serious.  

Today, as I sat in church and watched baptism Sunday, my heart thanked Him for His goodness and faithfulness. 

When I began this personal journey with Him 20 years ago, He promised I could trust Him.

He never promised an easy road or a problem-free life, but He promised He would never leave me, nor forsake me.

I know His promises are true and I’m thankful He isn’t finished with me yet. He and I have more work to do.

My heart can hardly wait!❤

–❤S

Take a minute to listen to this testimony and song.  
I Have This Hope