THE BIRDS-- BUT NOT THE ALFRED HITCHCOCK KIND!

Man, I love spring and summer!  I am truly a southern girl who loves the heat and hates the cold.  Sunshine just makes me smile.  Spring is also the perfect patio sitting weather, so when a sweet friend invited me to lunch at Gloria's (on the patio) I quickly jumped at the chance.  It was so good to catch up.   We circled around approximately 58 conversations while we were there.  Listen - if you have a problem, we probably solved it, so let me know! :) 

Because I am easily distracted (squirrel), I watched a bird dive onto the patio, grab a large corner of a chip in his yellow beak,  and fly back to his friends.  "These birds must be so happy for spring and patio weather.  It means a lot of food for them!" I said to my friend.  Without missing a beat, she reminded me of the scripture that says the birds do not worry about their food and yet our heavenly Father still feeds them, and how much more important are we to Him?  I just sat on that for a minute.  It's so true!  I went home and reread Matthew 6:25-34 which is the text from where our conversation referenced.  For the remainder of that week I promise you that every podcast I listened to and almost everything I read referred back to this passage.   I have held to this promise knowing that whatever personal struggle I may be facing or will face that God sees me and promises to provide.  Worrying changes and/or fixes nothing, yet it is the absolute hardest thing NOT to do. 

This conversation and constant reminder of this has changed my my outlook when I'm out driving or even looking out my kitchen window into my backyard with huge trees, I look at the birds a little differently.  They serve as a reminder to live my life not worrying about the future because in verse 34 of Matthew 6, the Bible says each day has enough trouble of its own.  Can I get an AMEN, here? While this has been on the forefront of my mind, I have had the privilege of sharing this with some of my closest friends as they have held me accountable for keeping my mind set on this scripture.   I say that to say this was delivered to my house yesterday for my sweet front porch. 

The sign on the table says "A place to look at the birds" and a lily to remind me to "consider the lilies of the field".   My people are so stinking amazing, y'all! We sat outside last night and just chatted.  It was breezy and perfect.  We may or may not have had wine... :)   This morning as I walked out of the house, I looked over, and it made me smile.  

Friends, whatever you may be facing, God has a plan and will provide just as he provides for the lilies of the fields and the birds in the sky.  I encourage you to think about how important you are to God when you see a bird or a lily in the field.  You won't be able to not smile.   

His eye is on the sparrow, and I know he watches me.

Have a great week, friends!  Be BRAVE, be BLESSED and know you are EQUIPPED!

XOXO, Stacey

Lessons From the Monkey Bars

Today, I picked up the Let's All Be Brave by Annie Downs.  Have I mentioned that I love her?  Seriously if she ever reads my blog, I totally want to have coffee and talk about all the things!

It's no surprise that I read something that I totally needed today.  She talked about "the monkey bar option".  You're willing to to let go of one bar because you can see the next one you want to grab.

Immediately I thought about a picture from the newspaper of me circa 1978-79 on the monkey bars.  I found it - because my mother keeps EVERYTHING!  Ok - so just this once I won't be mad at you, Mother! :)

Listen - I had skills.  I could even skip a bar crossing to the other side.  I am sure I was so proud when I got this down.  I don't vividly remember,  but I'm sure this great accomplishment didn't come without slipping and falling.  I think if you look closely you'll see a skinned knee! :)   Can I just sidebar here?  I did remember the skills I had when I was 9, so for some reason I thought they would carry over to my 49 year old self--- let's just say that didn't work out very well when I tried this on the playground recently.

Life is hard.  I don't know anyone who would disagree.  I wish life were like the monkey bars where we always knew how to get across and could see the next bar you needed to grab, where we always knew where the next bar was going to lead.  That would be awesome, however, that requires no trust or faith.   I want to grab on to what I know- where I am comfortable.  It's hard to let go of the known when you realize you are being pushed into the unknown.  In her book Annie writes, "The deeper call for courage comes when you let go with nothing ahead to grab.  She goes on to write, "But only in letting go are your hands free to grab on to the next thing."  Bob Goff writes in Love Does about palms up.  This is the same idea of when your palms are up and open, you then can receive something else to hold.   As a believer, I know this.  I know God's provision first hand, and I have seen him reveal his plan over and over again.  It's difficult for me to see these things in the midst of everything - maybe for you too.  However, I have chosen to be brave this year.  That doesn't come with stipulations like - I'll be brave as long as things are status quo.  This is where I am reminding myself to be careful for what I ask! :)   My word for this year is discipline.  In my mind I was thinking more of eating, exercise, budgeting --- all that.  However, I know God gave me that word to begin preparing me for the spiritual discipline I was going to need because unlike us - He knows the next bar we are going to need to grab.

This little girl on the monkey bars is not a person I really even remember.  I mean it has been like a minute ago.  However,  I wish I could tell her to hang on baby girl even when the struggle seems completely overwhelming--- life is hard.  Life is messy!  There will be nights you wish your eyes wouldn't open the next day, but they do so grab on to the promises of the day.  There will be times you are brought to your lowest.  Be humble and be kind always.  There will be times when you are the happiest you have ever been.  Relish in those moments, but don't hold them so tight you fear to let go when you need to in order to receive something else.  Be brave, little girl, God has a plan.  He will equip and provide.

Friends, be brave today to let go of whatever you may be gripping so tightly.  "Courage doesn't tell you to let go when you know what to grab next.  Brave people let go when it's time to let go.... Be brave enough to empty your hand without seeing the next monkey bar."

Have an amazing week, friends!  Go... BE BRAVE, BE BLESSED, and know YOU ARE EQUIPPED.

XOXO Stacey