Annually I choose a word for the year. In late December, I began to ponder which word might help me focus on a main idea for 2025. Although a word usually “finds” me, I was struggling to claim one for 2025. Normally, I see a word in a variety of places or I sense the Lord nudging me in a certain direction. But so far, it had been crickets. Nothing. Nada.

I had made a list of “good” words, but nothing seemed right. I was looking for something that reflected my feelings about the coming year. I have been sensing God calling me to a certain lifestyle where my hands are loosely open so I can more readily participate in the spontaneous rather than the planned. Truthfully, this makes me uncomfortable. The idea of not having a concrete plan in the coming months is disconcerting.

Then on January 1st, I received a monthly newsletter from my cousin Cindy who happens to be a prolific author. Like me, she chooses a word each year. As she shared her thoughts, I knew her word was also for me. Finally as in years past, my word found me, this time via my sweet cousin.

This quote confirmed it: “I’m sure many would agree that American culture places a high value on accomplishment. Many would also agree that constant “doing” comes at a price, most often, relational erosion. We can lose an awareness of God, of others, and even of ourselves.” Pastor Stephen Van Dop

Therefore, my word for 2025 is PAUSE (often translated in the Bible as Selah). Selah is best described as the opportunity to pause, contemplate, and praise.

My prayer and desire this year is to use PAUSE as an invitation to become more aware of the presence of God so that giving Him praise becomes be my highest calling. And as I practice pausing, I pray it will also help me notice opportunities to nurture relationships with others.

I suspect a lot of days this year might look like a big bunch of nothing.

But regardless, I plan to praise God for the pause.

Friend, what is your word for the year? I would love to hear about the 2025 journey you are about to embark on.

“All the earth worships you and sings praises to you; they sing praises to your name.” Selah Psalm 66:4

P.S. Click here for my cousin Cindy’s website.

They were shepherds doing what shepherds do.

“That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep” (Luke 2:8).

Up to this point it had been an ordinary day for them, doing ordinary things. But in a moment, everything changed and their ordinary day became extraordinary.

“Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people” (Luke 2:9-10).

They were told heavenly news and it was going to bring joy to all the people on earth.

“The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!” (Luke 2:11).

So, they did something unimaginable. The shepherds left their sheep and rushed to see. Think about it, leaving your sheep was unheard of.

“Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about… They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger (Luke 15b, 16).

They could not contain their excitement. They wanted everyone to hear the good news.

“After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened” (Luke 2:17a).

They went back to their shepherding jobs,  but they were forever changed.

The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen” (Luke 2:20a).

My Prayer for you this Christmas:

May your ordinary turn into extraordinary

May you experience the unimaginable that forever changes you

May the great news of joy overflow to you and others

Above all, may you glorify God and praise Him for His indescribable gift

Merry Christmas!

I just spent four glorious days in Charleston with my five Soul Sisters. They still live in Kansas City where I enjoyed eighteen years of “doing life” with them before moving to Alabama five years ago. Being with them reminded  me of how much I still miss the times we had while I lived there.

As I drove home through the Georgia/Alabama countryside, the trees were changing colors. They were pretty, but nothing compares to the brilliant colors Kansas City showcases in the fall. Traveling back to Alabama, not only was I missing my girlfriends, I found myself wishing I could see the beautiful shades of  Kansas City’s October foliage.

Fall is a bit different here than what we experienced in Kansas City. On this particular late-October day, the sun was offering warmth as the temperatures neared 80 degrees. But in Alabama, the weather can rapidly change. Realizing a freeze could be around the corner, I decided to enjoy the warm conditions while they last and I conducted a yard tour. Here’s what I discovered:

My impatiens have grown into giants — something I never saw in my garden in KC.

The re-blooming tea olives were still producing a sweet aroma  — even our college student who helps out on the ranch commented on the fragrance.

The red Coleus have grown so big and vibrant they look like  bushes — certainly nothing like the potted version I had in KC.

The beauty of my yard tour overwhelmed me and reminded me that God shares his splendor in different ways, no matter where I live.  It made me grateful for what I have right now.

It also helped me realize that enjoying my forever girlfriends — even if only for a few days — is also a gift to cherish and appreciate.

Winter will soon come (whatever that looks like in Alabama) and my beautiful plants will be gone for this year. But I don’t want to be sad, because as the next season approaches, I anticipate what amazing things God has in store for me to enjoy. I know it will be different, but the smell of tea olives and the gift of friendship reminds me to embrace this season of my life.

We are a society which measures success by size. We love grand. We tend to believe bigger is always better.

But is bigger always better?

Does it seem like you are in a season of small and the grand things are happening only to others?

Do you feel the things you are doing are not making that big of a difference?

Friend, I am convinced God has big plans for you and our world. But, I have also discovered he often does this through small and ordinary things — things that only you can do.

In this latest podcast of Unconditionally Her, host Karen Shayne and I discuss how your small  actions delight God and can also make a huge impact. We also chat about one of my favorite Bible women and her willingness to act upon faith using a scarlet cord.

I hope you will take a few minutes to listen and share your thoughts. Then, please forward this podcast to a friend you think might need to hear this encouragement.

“Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin…”Zechariah 4:10

Click  HERE   to listen to the Podcast

By the world’s standards, she was flourishing. Business was good, allowing her a home of her own. She was known by everyone in town. Yet, life was not as rosy as it appeared because along with all these worldly accolades came a title she would rather not possess: prostitute.

Her name was Rahab. Of the eight times she is mentioned in the Bible, she is specifically called “Rahab the prostitute” five of those times.

I imagine she wished things were different. Perhaps she dreamed about another life. Perhaps sometimes she even pictured herself as a wife and a mother. But to make a change required a complete turnaround in her life and circumstances which seemed impossible. So when there was a knock at her door, she couldn’t help but wonder if this could be her chance at a new beginning.

The Israelites were about to enter and take possession of Canaan, the land God had promised them over 700 years earlier. Their leader, Joshua, sent two spies to scout the area, especially the city of Jericho where Rahab lived.

She knew there were spies on the other side of the door. Should she answer it? What did she have to lose? What did she have to gain?

Everything Rahab had worked for now hung in the balance. But she was worn out from living a life of shame, disgrace and disappointment. She was ready to take the first step in changing her story. She hoped this one small action of opening her door just might be the answer to realizing her dreams for a different future.

So with a deep breath and great resolve…

She opened the door.

There are times when a simple act, like opening a door, can have a huge impact. Sometimes it is the smallest thing — the one thing that begins the journey — which requires the most faith. According to the Bible, this is what brings delight to the Lord.

“Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin…”  Zechariah 4:10

Is it possible that all God is asking of you right now is to do something simple, like opening a door? Although it may seem unimportant, the small thing you do today could possibly have a huge impact on you or someone else tomorrow. In my opinion, this is the beauty of small things.

My friend Heidi and I were enjoying coffee and delicious raspberry pastries at my favorite bakery in Waverly, Alabama. Heidi said, “I love raspberries.”

“Me too!” I replied. “Raspberries are my guilty pleasure. They are expensive and they never last very long, and almost every grocery store trip, I grab a small container of my beloved fruit.”

I explained to her how I justify (in my mind) the expense of my raspberry passion. “I don’t spend a lot of money on hair and makeup, so I feel like it’s okay to buy raspberries even when they are not on sale for 3/$10.”

When I shared my rationale with Heidi, she laughed and said I need to write about raspberries. So, faithful reader, here it is. But, if you have been reading my posts for a while, you know this is not really about raspberries. It’s much more. Pondering about my raspberry passion made me realize we make choices all the time about what we value.

As I thought about what I choose to “splurge” on, it made me wonder: what does Jesus value? What one thing does Jesus choose over another? In other words, what is his raspberry obsession?

It is apparent in watching how he lived that Jesus most valued people. All sorts of people. The lost, the unlovely, children, disciples, the outcast, the rich, the poor… and you.

This is what Jesus says about choosing, “You did not choose me, but I chose you…” (John 15:16).

Of all the things in this world he could choose, Jesus chooses you. What a comforting and secure thought! He is a friend and a savior who would choose you every single time because you are what he values most.

Our crazy world — whose values seem to be turned upside down — can make you doubt your worth. If so, keep this in mind:

“Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes” (Ephesians 1:4).

You were loved and chosen even before the world was created. That’s how valuable you are!

I don’t know if Jesus loved raspberries, but I sure hope he did. I’m thanking him that a  raspberry pastry reminded me that he made a choice about what he values. And that that choice is us.