This has been a month of celebrating here at GHC. I have been rejoicing that 5 years ago I was able to break through some of my stuck places by writing a book called EnVision YOU UNstuck. IDuring the month of September, t was privileged to walk with 10 women as we talked about how God has wired us for GLADNESS. When we live out of the very design he gave us, the service we give to our world not only brings honor to the Lord but also gladness to our hearts. It could be hard work, messy work, work no one else wants to do. But when it is aligned to God's heart - and his design for us - it brings much joy! I'm learning to look for things to celebrate differently.
I'm not always so good at celebrating. In fact, since our daughter died, I've become quite good at 'cele-dreading'. That's my word for those times when we do have something to celebrate but it is tainted with a loss or sadness that makes us dread instead.
This month I am aware of the 'cele-dread' mindset that creeps up on me. It's October. Two years ago this month, Mom received her diagnosis of advanced stages of cancer in her body. Seven weeks later she was home with her Lord - and my Dad! I don't plan to be impacted by grief, but sometimes it creeps up on me and leaks out through my eyes rather intensely. During 2023, my whole being rather fell apart. My body, heart, mind, and spirit needed space and time to 'recalibrate' everything I had experienced in 2022. There were some pretty dark days and I could not 'manage' all of it at once. Here I am two years later still feeling the effects of all the ups and downs.
But one thing I can do - I S.N.A.P! This simple 4-step process became a prayer of sorts, even on the hardest of days.
I have found it so helpful that we are going to SNAP together at our next
GREEN HOPE GATHERING
THIS Sunday, October 6 at 7:30pm Eastern.
Via ZOOM.
Pour up a cup of your favorite blend, curl up in your favorite chair and join us.
This is a free event to allow us to just share freely together.
PLEASE DO register though so I can send you the info you need to join in on the call.
Feel free to Invite a friend, but please have them register individually so they can get their login info as well.
Whether you are able to join us on the call or not, here is a bit of the scoop on how to S.N.A.P.
Stop
Anytime life gets the better of us, or something impacts us in a significant way -good or bad, big or little, it's an invitation to Stop and ..Notice
We live our day and then someone asks us at the end of the day "how was your day?". We reply 'good' or 'not so good', 'fine" or "hard". But then we can't remember what made it good or bad, happy or sad. We only remember a feeling we had. But when we take time to pay attention to those things that got our attention, and reflect on what caused our response, often we learn a great deal about ourselves, our circumstances, even about God. Which leads us to...Ask
There are many great questions you could ask yourself, but one of the first things is to take a thought audit and see what you notice.
1. What am I believing right now?
2. How does it make me feel?
3. Is it true?
4. Who would I be if I let go of that belief?
My favorite question is What is God inviting me to because of this experience?
This usually leads to a...Pivot
Am I sensing to BE something (internally aligning my thoughts and attitudes)
- or DO something (externally changing my actions and behaviors)?
What action steps do I see to take? Write those down and add them to the calendar.S.N.A.P! It sounds simple, but no, it is not always easy.
Yet in those moments when I am 'cele-dreading', these 4 steps help move me from the dread to the celebrate.
Join us, won't you, as we take a look at what we might be 'cele-dreading" this month. It may be the current events and the upcoming elections. It may be an special birthday or anniversary that you are anticipating. It may just be how you are feeling today - even though you can't explain it.
REGISTER RIGHT NOW (Click on this link)
GREEN HOPE GATHERING
THIS Sunday, October 6th at 7:30pm (Eastern)
Let's S,N.A.P. together!
See you Sunday
Kathy