Staying Focused

On my writing/speaking journey, I've had the pleasure of meeting and being under the teaching of some wonderful mentors. One such mentor, Carolyn, recently opened my eyes to the Purpose Board. What began as a solid black board eventually became a visual tool to keep me on track to what I feel is my purpose at this moment.

I began by thinking of the things that are important to me or that I enjoy . . .

• Living Life (my marriage, my family, my friends, my writing, my speaking ministry)
• My faith and God's Word
• Health
• Fitness
• Gardening . . .

My desire is to use writing (articles, stories, books, greeting cards), speaking, blogging, teaching, and mentoring to encourage others.

The words I placed on my Purpose Board keep me focused as I weave in and out of each day -- words I want to remember as I try to always be an encouragement to others.

• It's Never too late
• Reaching Your Potential
• Friendships
• You Can Do It!
• Feeling God's Love
• Direction
• Grow
• Branch Out
• Encouragement
• Cultivating
• Count it all Joy
• Hope
• Healing
• Connect
• Significance
• Doing Life Together

What's your purpose as you weave through each day? Would you like something visual to help you stay focused? Try making your own Purpose Board. Take those magazines you have around the house, purchase a board or poster, and start cutting out pictures and words that have meaning to you. Before you know it, you will have your own board. And . . . what began as a visual tool to keep you on track will actually end up being . . . a snapshot of the desires of your heart.

Runaway Bunny

One of my favorite books that I read to my daughter when she was young was “Runaway Bunny” by Margaret Wise Brown. As we read together, the story unfolded as the little bunny kept threatening his mother that he was going to escape and run away. But, the mother spends time explaining to him the LENGTHS she will go to find her baby. One line in the book is “If you run away, I will run after you.” The baby bunny imagines all kinds of ways to escape, but realizes (with much comfort) he will never be able to leave his home or his mother. What unconditional love! What comfort!

We as adults have our very own “story” that can be read to us about our loving Heavenly Father who loves us unconditionally. Our “story” is found in Psalms 139.

     Is there any place I can go to avoid your Spirit 
          To be out of your sight?
     If I climb to the sky, you’re there! 
          If I go underground, you’re there! 
     If I flew on morning’s wings 
          To the far western horizon, 
     You’d find me in a minute –
          You’re already there waiting! 
     Then I said to myself, “Oh, he even sees me in the dark! 
          At night I’m immersed in the light!” 
     It’s a fact: darkness isn’t dark to you; 
          Night and day, darkness and light, they’re all 
          the same to you.

                                         Psalms 139:7-12 (The Message)

As adults, we do not have to fear being alone either. No matter what we are going through, trying to escape from, or run away from, we cannot go anywhere that the Spirit of God can’t find us. Actually, as the Psalmist writes . . . He is ALREADY there!!!