Category Archives: Encouragement

You Can Blame Me, I’m Fine With It

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Recently I spent my post space and time begrudging our horribly oppressive gray winter days here in Kentucky. As of this past Monday, not so much gray as white has shown up. Snow!!! Close to a foot of snow fell blanketing our brown icky dead yards and wrapping the dead leaves on the trees in a beautiful shawl of white, cold, fluffy stuff.snow day

I know that for those who have to get out in it, this weather event is a hassle. For those who work outside the home and need to find snow day childcare, this snow event adds to the ‘to do list.

For me, this brutally cold spurt has provided a welcome break in the weather. I invite you to look outside and notice the textured snow drifts or the crystal frozen sparkles in the sunshine. It’s beautiful!

What now hides beneath the snow are the buds, the hope for spring — 28 days and counting…

All the best,

KK

 

One of Those Winters

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dreary dayWe haven’t had any significant snow since November. The winter grey that Kentucky usually experiences in January and February moved in early this year — December. It has out-stayed its welcome. The good news that in my fight to keep my mood from falling into a putty-colored state, I’ve exercised more. Just to keep moving, there have been a couple of home projects marked off the list.

The bad news is that my electric bill has increased in my attempt to turn on enough lights to keep the dreariness out of the house. About every three days the sun comes out. It makes me want to shove the dog out of the single beam to soak up enough to carry me through the next several days of dullness.

Our friends in the Northeast have been hammered with snow and ice. Many of them are probably wishing they could see the dead grass in their yards. Know that my heart goes out to them. I wish Mother Nature could have just split the difference this year so we could share in some of the snow fun. While I may be guilty of doing the “snow day” dance for the schools to close with my high school, for the most part I’ve graduated from snow days and look forward to enjoying a beautiful snow that can break up the winter.

spring flowersAs of this post there are 39 days until spring. Anything is possible with our Kentucky/Ohio valley weather. There still may be a good snow in our future. In the meantime, what are you doing to ward off the winter blah?

All the best,

KK

The Obstacle in Our Path

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I found this passage and thought I’d share it with you…The author is unknown

In ancient times, a king had a boulder placed on a roadway. Then he hid himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock. Some of the king’s wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and simply walked around it. Many loudly blamed the king for not keeping the roads clear, but none did anything about getting the big stone out of the way.

Then a peasant came along carrying a load of vegetables. On approaching the boulder, the peasant laid down his burden and tried to move the stone to the side of the road. After much pushing and straining, he finally succeeded. As the peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed a purse lying in the road where the boulder had been. The purse contained many gold coins and a note from the king indicating that the gold was for the person who removed the boulder from the roadway. The peasant learned what many others never understand. Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve one’s condition.

– Unknown

God doesn’t want us to be happy

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ichthusI often struggle with believers (Christians) who walk around saying that God just wants us to be happy. I don’t think so. The Bible tells us that he wants us to be obedient. The result of our obedience [being doers of the Word, James 1:22], can be joy.  The fruit (result) of the spirit in Galatians 5:22 includes peace and joy. Yes, God delights in his children and our joy is complete when walking in the light of Christ.

Think about it. If God wanted His children to just be happy with no consideration for God’s ways of living, why did those closest to Christ have such hard lives and die very cruel deaths including Christ himself? James died by the sword. Other disciples we know were either exiled, murdered or martyred for their faith.

We live in fallen world; as such both believers and non-believers will have trials. Living without our eyes on Christ makes sadness sadder and loneliness lonelier.  Navigating trials is part of our journey. Going through trials in a faithful, obedient, God-seeking manner ensures that we don’t get stuck in the storm. We keep moving toward Christ who leads us to a greater peace and joy in the end.

Just a thought,

KK

The Tuesday Before

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I went to the grocery Tuesday (yes, two days before Thanksgiving). My primary purpose was to pick up the fresh turkey gobblewe had ordered. Admittedly, there were a few other items, but nothing major. As I walked in there were people exiting with heaping cart loads of groceries. The store was abuzz with shoppers. There was a hustling energy much like gift shopping on Christmas Eve. It made me wonder if Thanksgiving was a surprise to these shoppers much like Christmas is to those who shop the day before. Or instead of shopping early, they chose to just wait and risk the possibility that the cranberry sauce in a can might be sold out or the pumpkin spice might be gone. Just wondering.

Truly friends we have much to be thankful for in this life. We are rich in friends, family and opportunity. There probably will not be any shortage in the grocery you find yourself in tonight at 10 p.m. (there is always that one key ingredient that was forgotten).

God bless,

KK

 

 

 

 

Five years and counting

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khr 0614 BOk friends, I’ve been posting and you’ve been kind enough to read my writings for five years. As I read back through all the different posts some are more my favorites than others. Below is a list of some that stand out to me (in no particular order). Let me know what you think. Or go through the archives and pick your own favorite. I’d love to hear which one you liked.

And if you haven’t clicked on the follow button yet, please do. You won’t want to miss what’s coming. Besides, in this vast world of the internet, it’s encouraging to know my words aren’t just flying around aimlessly. They have friends to visit. Thanks.

5/31/2009 Things not to miss — be in the moment

11/30/2009 Black Friday Gateway to the Dark Side

3/6/2012 ‘Tis the Season

4/18/2014 It’ Friday, Sunday’s Coming

4/8/2013 Say Please and Thank You

KK

The Thrill of Delivery

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Today is October 30, 2014.

My first email this morning was amazing. It was from the Franklin Covey Company informing me that my 2015 planner had been shipped!! [Please note, I will not be running down the street in Steve Martin new-telephone-book-style when it arrives, but I might just do the Snoopy dance in my foyer.] This along with the fact that I have to go to Staples today for some paper clips, ink and envelopes makes me smile. It’s like back to school day for a forty-something year old!! Of course, knowing my new planner is on its way and that it’s the end of the month moved me to examine the current state of the 2014 planner.

snoopy dance

The fourth quarter pages were inserted with the previous months being removed. Then I ventured to review my 2014 goals pages. Not too shabby. Several items checked off while others will move forward into 2015.

This all may sound juvenile to some, but come on, we are all grown up and completely responsible for our commitments to raising a family and bringing home the funds to care for them. We must have those moments in day, week or month that just let us experience child-like excitement.

What stirs your child-like thrill? Don’t have one? Go find one, they can be located on the playgrounds or neighborhoods when the ice cream truck music wafts through the air. Or when the first snowflakes fall and the snow day announcement comes. This high level thrill can also be found when that ONE gift is opened at Christmas or birthday; the thing they never thought would arrive. Or find yourself outside a school on the last day at the last bell. You’ll see the excitement that drifts from our scheduled behavior somewhere in our mid-twenties.

Give it a listen and let me know if you don’t find yourself a little happier in your heart.

 Linus and Lucy piano Peanuts theme song Vince Guaraldi

All the best,

KK

Do you do great work?

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bzmotivationWork is important. Doing great work separates us from so many who settle for doing just enough to get a pay check. How important is it to love what you do? We spend a lot of our adult life at work so it’s important to like the work and be interested in it.

Too many times our identity is declared by the work that we do. This can happen with or without our permission. All that matters is that we know who we are when the work goes away.

If you met someone new and had to get to know them without knowing what they do for a living, could you? Could you tell someone else who you are without telling them what you do for work?

This challenges us to have something else in our life that is a priority and something we love — play music, on a sports team, a part of a church, have a hobby. Or some other way to demonstrate who we are without work.

Think about it,

KK

 

 

Spiritual Myth #3 – “God Loves You Unconditionally”

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This article will make you think.  From retired minister Bob Russell,

Spiritual Myth #3 – “God Loves You Unconditionally”.

Would love your thoughts.

KK

Fear Not

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There are those who say that fear is a lack of faith.  Maybe.  Sometimes when we get a fearful feeling its an instinctive reaction to our surroundings.  This is good and we should try to follow that instinct with caution.  Living day-to-day with a fear-based mindset can hinder fearproductivity, personal achievement, rob our joy, and even relationships.

Making a decision to face a fear can be a decision of risk and reward.  When a child won’t jump into a pool into his parent’s arms, the fear of the unknown can keep him from the fun of the jump and playing in the water. So, ask the child, what is the worst thing that could happen? Most kids will say their head will go under or “I don’t know”. In that example, the risk is low (as long as the parent is paying attention) and the reward is high.

As we grow up our ability to decide risk/reward is often tainted by immaturity.  Things like going out the night before exams etc.

Adults sometimes fear change because of all they are responsible for.  The risk can be higher and the rewards can be measured on a variety of levels. However, whether facing the fear delivers the success or a failure, there is something to be learned.  There is an opportunity to re-think the direction and even the fearful behavior.

What are you most fearful of? Public speaking? Death? Failure?

Just something to think about?

KK