a spring in my step

last year about this time i was in a dark and twisty place. winter was dragging on {and that's not saying much since i live in the south and "winter dragging on" means it's still not 70 and sunny} and i was going through some major upheaval in the work area. and a bunch of other contributing issues… but i'll spare you the details. {you're welcome}

a year later, things are certainly better. i'm more settled into my role as an empty-nester, my responsibilities with our youth group have settled into a comfortable groove, the work-thing is evening out {therefore the marriage-thing is smoother}, and i'm finding time to be intentional with the humans with whom i'm in community.

all in all i'm in a good place. learning how to listen better. leaning into my Lord more. striving for more connections with people. praying more. taking time to be a noticer. encouraging more.
in short, i've found that focusing less on the dark and twisting me isn't very productive. as i heard last night in our missions conference, when we focus too much on our own circumstances, it turns into vanity and vanity is in direct conflict with our ability to be fruitful. "You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last…" john 15:16

i was challenged last night as i listened to this man share about the opportunities to reach out… and i'll keep it simple. 
Lord… give me your heart. make my life count for You!