So there’s all kinds of speculation as to whether this shot is actually real or an allusion of special effects.

What fascinates me about it is that it COULD be real.

If I were the one trying to knock a bottle off someone’s head with my tennis serve, I might actually get the job done but only because I took out the person, not just the bottle.

But when Roger Federer, possibly the greatest tennis player who has ever lived, takes a shot like this there is room to believe it could be real.

That’s the power of excellence.

Excellence fascinates me because it’s the product of hard-work, dedication, discipline, devotion… the list could go on.

Excellence isn’t given. It’s earned.

Excellence isn’t a bonus.  It’s a reward.

Excellence is something we all aspire to, but rarely are we patient enough and committed enough to realize it.

What do you hope to be excellent at someday?

My life feels very frantic right now.  I can’t really catch my breath and I’m constantly feeling edgy.

Ever been in one of those seasons?

I don’t like the feeling and I don’t like myself.

So, today while I was walking I found myself praying, “God, what’s the deal?  Why am I so restless, stressed, frantic and irritated?  What do I need to do?”

And just as that word “do” came out of my mouth, I felt God kind of stop me in my tracks and say:

“You don’t need to do, you need to be.”

“Be?  Be what?  How do I be?”

I don’t know how to be.

Be still.

Be calm.

Be quiet.

Be prayerful.

Be listening.

Be thoughtful.

To be means simply to “exist or live”.

In all my frantic-ness, I’ve forgotten how to simply live.

Psalm 46:10

Be still, and know that I am God.

John Ortberg says in The Me I Want to Be

My main job is to remain connected to God.  When my primary focus is being present with him, everything else has a way of falling into place.

That’s what I want to be.

I just can’t figure out how to do it.

How about you?

I’m kind of a geek for self-discovery.  I love uncovering the layers of who God has created me to be.  I love deciphering what is authentically me and what has been shaped by my life experiences.

I love personality profiles, self-help quizzes, spiritual gifts tests and just about anything that helps me “make a careful exploration of who I am” (from my favorite verse Galatians 6:4-5).

So that’s why I’m thoroughly enjoying my newest treasure:

Unwritten Travels is a fun little book co-written by my friend Jenny Black and her friend Jenny Watson.

“The Jennys” take you on a whimsical journey of self-discovery that is fun, insightful, thought-provoking and inspiring.  I know you’ll enjoy it too.  You can check out their website Unwritten Travels and/or order Unwritten Travels here.

What’s your favorite self-discovery resource?

I tend to keep a stupid pace.

I commit myself to too many additional projects.  I try to squeeze in just one more call, email or blog post.

You know what I mean.  Most of you do this too.

Every once and awhile, I find myself dreading even the things that I would otherwise enjoy.  You know that “why in the world did I commit myself to this?” question that runs through your mind as you’re frantically trying to prepare?

But there are two unique events that I’m privileged to be a part of that no matter how frazzled or unprepared I feel going into them, I always leave completely energized with that euphoria that I’m doing exactly what I was made to do.

As a leader in ministry, I find myself in a lot of environments where I get to talk leadership, but lately the opportunity to speak into the lives of other women in leadership has become a passion that I just can’t shake.

My friend Lori Wilhite started an amazing community for pastors wives and women in ministry.  I’ve had the privilege of hosting the leadership virtual roundtable discussion a couple of times now and I absolutely love it!  Sitting in front of a computer screen chatting about leadership with 8-10 other women leaders is a true gift.

Our next Leadership Virtual Roundtable is June 10th.  If you are interested in joining us, you can sign up HERE.

Cultivate Her is quite possibly the scariest adventure I’ve ever embarked on.  Birthed from my dream to create a place to inspire, encourage and empower women in leadership, Cultivate Her has already been a wild ride.  And when I say wild, I mean pee-your-pants scary, exciting and overwhelming all at the same time.

Currently we host monthly breakfasts in Nashville, but are working on plans for on-line broadcast, regional events and more.

If you live in Nashville, be sure to join us for our next event June 23rd.  More details HERE.

As much as involvement in these events stretches me, I’m amazed at how full I feel and how confident I am in where God is leading me.

What fills you up?  What drains you and yet completes you at the same time?

I believe that if a woman’s heart belongs entirely to God and she doesn’t long for children, she is probably called to childlessness in order to pursue other purposes for God. Beth Moore

A friend sent this quote to me the other day and I have not been able to get it out of my mind since.  I’ve shared before how I don’t feel called to have kids, however I haven’t shared the tremendous amount of disapproval I’ve gotten and/or felt from others because of this choice.

I’ve been told things like:

“You can not really know and experience God’s love until you’re a parent.”

“Parenting is the highest calling.”

Really?

While I don’t think people’s intentions when they said those things were malicious, they left me feeling inferior and incomplete.

Can others really make that judgment call about my life and what God has called me to?

What if that’s not God’s plan for me?

I think that we find ourselves so bound by societal norms that we can’t imagine different being ok.

We do the same thing (sometimes worse) to those that are single.  Our culture suggests that you haven’t arrived until you’ve walked down the aisle.  Somehow you’re incomplete.

Whether by choice or by circumstances beyond our control, singleness and childlessness are not wrong.  Different, but not wrong.

Be careful what you impose on others.  You never know what God has called them to.

** To my family – this post is not directed to you.  You have all graciously supported our decision and we are so grateful.

I’m a closet dreamer.

If you meet me you’ll encounter a very practical, problem solving, get-it-done, A-type, responsible individual.  But underneath that composed exterior are some dreams that have been brewing for years.  Dreams that excite me and yet scare me to death.  Dreams that if I shared with someone over a cup of tea I’m afraid they would laugh out loud with tea spraying from nose, mouth, ears and eyes or even worse, give me that blank stare complete with a placating “oh, that’s a nice idea honey.”

You know the kind of fear I’m talking about.

Continue reading at the Cultivate Her blog…

If there is something wrong, those who have the ability to do something have a responsibility to do something.

I heard this quote a few weeks ago and immediately scribbled it down.  I can’t remember who said it, where they said it or what context it was in, but WHAT they said hit a nerve for me.

Isn’t it true that we have a tendency to always point out what’s wrong?  I’m such a critic!  I suppose that I get some satisfaction from noting imperfections because it makes me feel better about my ill attempts at being perfect.

And isn’t it so much more our nature to talk about what’s wrong rather than do something about what’s wrong?  As a culture, we have talk shows, media, water-cooler discussions, blogs, etc that give us an avenue to complain about the injustices we see, but what if we quit talking and just did something?

“If you have the ability to do something, you have the responsibility to do something.”

What do you see that’s “wrong”?

Maybe it’s poverty, clean water, politics, poor leadership, education, homelessness, an unruly child, you-fill-in-the-blank.

Each of us is drawn to seeing the “wrong” more strongly in one area or another.  That’s usually a good hint of what your God-given passion is.  Bill Hybels calls this your “Holy Discontent”.

What is it for you?

What is wrong that you have the ability to make right?  Take responsibility and do something!

My Prayer for You by Pete Wilson

Matthew 6:25-30

Three things that I am praying for you this year:

1) That you’ll have a great faith

I’m praying that there is one area of your life that you’ll step out and trust God in a big way.  That you’ll face something that completely terrifies you.

Our fears establish the limits of our life.  (If you fear failure, you just won’t try.  If you fear people, you’ll stay alone… etc.)

We have to combat our fears with faith.

Proverbs 3:5

Your problem isn’t fear, it’s a lack of faith.

Trust God for more this year.  Trust Him in a way you’ve never trusted him before.

2) That you’ll have greater purpose

We spend a majority of our time on things that just don’t matter.

If you don’t live like you believe your life is meant to change the world,  you’re missing the point of your salvation.

Acts 1:8

There is a big disconnect in the church between the hope of God and his purpose.

Missions is not a calling or program.  It’s the whole purpose of the church.

We want to learn more without applying anything.

If you want to see God, take his light to some dark places and see the hope of God at work.

Fight and push-back against the ego-driven, self-centered desires that control your life.

3) That you’ll have greater wisdom

Ecclesiastes 2:10-11

********************

I’ll be praying for faith, purpose and wisdom for you too.

Is there something specific I can pray for you?

What’s your brand?

In my former job I spent the majority of my time developing brand identities for artists.  I worked hard to determine the unique characteristics of the individual musician/band/singer and then figured out how to market that to set them apart from the rest of their competitors.  It was a fascinating, sometimes frustrating and yet, a very rewarding experience… especially when I felt like I captured the heart of the individual and got to share that with the world.

As much as the word “branding” sounds all-business, cold and impersonal, I really believe in the power of a brand.  More importantly I believe in the power of understanding your unique brand.

My personal definition of branding is: authentically being who you are and portraying that consistently.

Each one of us has been uniquely gifted by God with certain strengths, talents, gifts, passions, etc.  And this unique combination makes up your personal brand.

I believe there is great power in understanding who you are and who God has uniquely made you to be.  Some of us have learned this well.  Others of us have allowed life/people/circumstances to shadow our innate interests and desires… sometimes to such a degree that it takes years for us to dig up what’s been buried so deep.

So, who are you?

What makes you uniquely you?

How would others describe you?

Better yet, how would you describe the real you?

What’s your brand and are you living it with passion?

If these questions stump you, frustrate you or paralyze you, I would challenge you to go on a journey to understand who God has created you to be.  Here are a few things I would recommend to get you started:

1. Take a spiritual gifts assessment. This is a great tool to begin to help you unpack spiritual gifts as they are outlined in 1 Corinthians 12, Romans 12, Ephesians 4.  Here are a couple of free online tests: Church Growth.org and First Baptist Huntsville
2. Understand your strengths. Read Now, Discover Your Strengths or Strengths Finder 2.0 and take the Strengths Finder assessment.
3. Develop a relationship with a mentor who can provide candid feedback, offer encouragement and coach you in your growth.
4. Journal your thoughts and feelings… especially the moments where you feel alive and thriving.
5. Pray for God to give you clarity, insight and passion for the purpose He has for your life.

One of my favorite passages of scripture is in Galatians 6 from The Message:

Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that.  Don’t be impressed with yourself.  Don’t compare yourself with others.  Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life.

Be uniquely you!!

Are you ready to get started?

My notes from:

“Eternally Focused” by Blake Bergstrom

“Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” Proverbs 4:23

The tragedy of life is not that it ends so soon, but that we wait so long to begin it.  W.M. Lewis

The situation is grave – we are going to die.  So I think we need to lighten up and live.

Really living is something that we decide to do.  Living is a choice.

God wants us to choose him above all else.

Mark 12:28

The heart is the center of our life.  It’s our nucleus, our identity.

Luke 16:14-15

God knows all of our desires.  He knows them and wants them.

Guard your heart – the enemy is a crafty deceiver.

Have you forgotten how to live?  Is a part of you crumbling because of some circumstance you’re facing?

Proverbs 14:12

“Create in me a clean heart, O God: and renew a right spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10

Your heart can not and will not be a wellspring of life if you are not guarding it.

“For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.” Luke 6:45

Decide to have joy in the midst of all your circumstances.  Joy is a choice.

The best way for your heart to be the wellspring of life is for you to live with the end in mind.

Psalm 39:4-5

Are you living?  What are you living for?

2 Corinthians 4:18

Why isn’t there a sense of urgency in the way we live?

Put your focus back on Jesus.

When your heart is centered and your desires are as they should be, your heart will be a wellspring of life.

Count your moments.  Live fully present, fully alive.

Your heart should be a wellspring of life… but not for you.  It’s for everyone around you.

Maybe, for you, guarding your heart is:

• putting a block on your computer
• having a conversation with the person you can’t get along with
• to stop comparing yourself to everyone around you
• to stop going for seconds and thirds – your binge eating is literally killing you
• to quit obsessing over your stuff

How do you need to guard your heart today?

What can you do to live more fully alive?