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When We Rise

A Series of Sacred Belonging

Scripture for Today:

You are no longer strangers and foreigners – Ephesians 2:19

Reflection:

Have you ever felt you were a stranger in a foreign land? And, I don’t mean traveling to another country, state, or down the block.

It’s that feeling that you wake up one day and feel that you don’t belong. You feel rejected. Abandoned. Like a failure.

It could be due to a job loss.
A home.
A friend.
A pet.
A partner.
A child.

Most of us have felt this way at some point.
Some many times over the years. And some just once or twice.

But once the feelings of loss begin to settle, we begin to get our footing.
We rise.
We overcome.

When we rise, it’s not always noticeable.
Sometimes it’s quiet.
Sometimes it’s radiant.
Sometimes it’s slow.
Sometimes it comes out of nowhere.

The strength.
The courage.
The grace.
The depth.

But it’s real.
It’s sacred.

When we rise, we gain clarity.
We begin to see differently.
We listen to the gentle nudge-
The Spirit within-
so we can move forward.

It is when we accept the circumstances for what they are,
and not what they aren’t,
that we can envision the purpose of it…
Which is to bring us into a new light of understanding.

One that is of Sacred Belonging.

Image Source: Unknown

#SacredBelonging #Faith #SpiritualJourney #Grace #Thanksgiving #ThankfulHeart #Spirituality

When We Give Grace

A Series of Sacred Belongings

Scripture for Today:

From His fullness we have all received,
grace upon grace.

— John 1:16

Questions to Ponder:

How often do you need a bit of grace?
And more importantly,
how often do you give grace to others and yourself?

Reflection:

Some might say that only God can give grace. Yet, I don’t think that.

When we receive God into our hearts and daily lives, we are given grace. And it is that grace, the grace from God, that we can choose to offer others.

Grace is a beautiful gift.
We give grace to those whose hearts may feel sad.
Those who feel empty inside.
Those who pour themselves into caring for others.
Those who grieve.
Those who are struggling.

When we give grace, we must follow God’s lead.
To give it freely.
Without expectation.

When we do that, we start to see the light.
It flickers from the soul.
A kind word.
A soft smile.
A quiet nod.

Grace fills us up.
It makes us whole.
It makes us seen.
Affirmed.
Valued.

Grace is abundant if we want it to be.

God wants us to receive his grace—
So we can pour it out to others.
For us to shine the light…
On the path where we were always meant to be.

One that is of Sacred Belonging.

Image Source: Unknown

#Grace #Faith #SpiritualJourney #ThankfulHeart #Thanksgiving #Spirituality

The Season of Tuning: Til Death Do Us Tune (12)

A Final Reflection for the Soul

What tuning still awaits me in the days to come?

We’ve tuned in.
Listened.
Made space.

We’ve named what’s tender, reframed what’s true, and begun to live with intention.

This series was about attuning—again and again.
To our soul.
To our rhythm.
To the grace that meets us in the everyday.

We’ve walked through silence, restoration, implementation, and clarity. Not in a straight line, but in a sacred spiral. Each reflection – a gentle turning. Each post – a quiet invitation.
-To notice the clarity
-To name it
-To bless it
-To let it guide us forward

The Tuning continues—Til Death Do Us Part

Image Credit: Creative Commons Public Domain: At the centre of the tuning fork by Hubble Space Telescope / ESA is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

May your soul find its rhythm.
May grace meet where you are.
And may this tuning season become a lifelong song—
one only you can sing.

Sure hope you liked this series, where shall we go next?

#SeasonOfTuning #TuningTheSoul #IandThouReflections #Recalibrate #EmotionalRegulation #Balance #Harmony #Attunement #Restoration #Implementation #Intention

The Season of Tuning: Introduction

A Series of Reflections for the Soul

September is the season of tuning.
Tuning in to where we are.
A check and balance.
A check-in to the soul.

Silver light
casts across the fields
as the moon begins her slow ascent
toward fullness.

There is a call to balance.
A whisper to unveil.

This series is a gentle recalibration.
Each post will offer
a question to ponder,
a reflection to sit with,
and a blessing to carry.

We won’t rush the rhythm.
We’ll listen for what’s shifting—within and around us.
We’ll honor the sacred tilt, the quiet unveiling, the slow return to center.

Let this be a month of tuning.
Not to perfection, but to presence.

Let’s tune together!

Image Credit: Creative Commons Public Domain: At the centre of the tuning fork by Hubble Space Telescope / ESA is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Please comment and “like” this post.
Are you excited to join us in this series?

#SeasonOfTuning #TuningTheSoul #IandThouReflections #Recalibrate #EmotionalRegulation #Balance

Self-Discovery in Napa, CA

A Series on It’s All in The Reflection

It’s in Your Reflection, Isn’t It?

 Image Credit: © Tomas Castelazo, www.tomascastelazo.com / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0

You’ve wandered, tasted, sketched… and now, the wine glass is half full. What’s rising to the surface?

The Looking Glass

Think back to the Main Street Dock or China Point Overlook. Imagine the river flowing through your soul. Let it mirror your thoughts.

Let questions come — not with urgency, but with patience.

What might they be?

What needs aging in your life before it’s ready to pour?

Some things aren’t meant to be rushed.
Like trust.
Or wisdom.
Sometimes you need to walk the long road twice.

What parts of your story are still in the barrel? Quietly aging and gaining a deeper, richer meaning?

Where has love been quietly maturing beneath the surface?

Love doesn’t always announce itself with fireworks.
Sometimes it waits.
Steady, soaking in moments of faithfulness, tenderness, and care.

Where has love shown up in your life like an old vine you forgot was growing? What might bloom if you take the time to tend to it?

If healing were a vintage, what year would it begin?

Think back.
Not just to the moment of pain, but to when you first chose to begin again.
To move forward?
Maybe the vintage was the year you forgave.
Or the season when grief softened.

Healing doesn’t come with a label, but it has a flavor — one that deepens with every passing year. Can you taste the grace in it now?

Is your heart craving boldness — or balance?

Life will ask you to leap…
and to linger.
There are seasons where the spirit thirsts for risk,
and others where it seeks harmony.

What’s your soul aching for in this moment? Are you pouring too fast, or holding back? Listen closely — the answer might be a blend of both.

And when was the last time you let silence speak first?

Before the conversation.
Before the solution.
Before the next chapter.

When did you last let quiet be your guide?

Silence doesn’t mean absence — it often means presence. Maybe the pause is where the real pour begins. What do you think?

Ready To Reflect?

Your journey isn’t over. It’s unfolding. Like flavor. Like grace. Like memories swirling at the bottom of the glass. You feel them. Yet, sometimes don’t remember the details. And that is okay.

Why?

Because what matters isn’t just what you see around you —

It’s in Your Reflection, Isn’t It?

Are we still good? Ready to forge ahead?
Fort Bragg will be our next stop.

So pull up a chair. Pour a beverage. Something bold or bubbly. Your choice. We’ll meet in Fort Bragg. See you there!

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this quiet time for reflection.
What is your nugget of wisdom that you might want to share?

Don’t forget to press the “thumbs up” button.

#Napa #NapaValley #CaliforniaTrip #WineandFaith #SelfReflection #Wisdom #IandThouReflections

Sweet Dreams in Napa, CA

A Series on It’s All in The Reflection

Soulful Stays

Welcome back, adventurer!

You’ve sipped, strolled, and maybe even paddled through some of Napa’s beauty. Now it’s time to find rest for the weary.

Archer Hotel

This boutique hotel is perfect for soul-searchers. This downtown gem has it all. Chic rooms, The Sky & Vine rooftop bar, and a steakhouse make this a great choice.

Napa Valley Lodge

If you like Mediterranean charm, check out this family-owned boutique hotel in Yountville. You’ll receive a warm welcome, and soon you will feel like a cherished part of their family.

Silverado Resort

If golf courses, pickleball, or swim options sound like your place, swing by this resort in Napa. It’s perfect for family fun or romantic getaways. Try the Baby Greens & Berry Salad with garden rose petals. You’ll feel like royalty. Trust me.

Time To Unwind

Image Source: http://www.silveradoresort.com

Because sometimes it’s not just the food or the view — it’s the feeling you take with you.

The quiet moment.
The shared smile.
The memory gently tucked away.

Because…

It’s All in The Reflection

Next are questions to ask yourself in Napa — the kind that rise to the surface when the glass is half full and the heart is wide open.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on Napa.
Where is your favorite place to stay?

Don’t forget to press the “thumbs up” button.

#Napa #NapaValley #CaliforniaTrip #WineandFaith #SelfReflection #IandThouReflections

Finding Calm in a Chaotic World – Part 7: Wind

Wind Calms the Soul

The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.

John 3:8

Trust the Wind

But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.

James 1:6

Let Worries Blow Away

Image Source: Wallpaper (Unknown details)

Close your eyes and imagine the wind. Cool. Mild. Breezy.

Let it take shape in your mind. Hold it. What do you see?

Is it the wind blowing through tall trees? Or the breeze that grazes your skin on a warm day? Or a wind-chilled face skiing down a mountain slope? Or the wind that calms the ripples of the sea?

A Love Song

Shhh.
Take a listen.
Hear the wind, whistle, blow, or sway?
It seems to sing, doesn’t it?

A love song just for you.

Wind

Branches sway.
Hair blows, and we feel the coolness brush across our skin.
Sometimes, the wind is mighty and fierce.
Other times, it’s gentle and still.

It’s quiet.
It’s playful.
It soothes.
It is unseen, like a Spirit guide.

As the song soothes your soul, cast your worries into the wind, where the Spirit will carry them away.

Next time, we will dig deeper into how wind can calm a chaotic world.

#April #StressAwarenessMonth #Calm #GodsPeace #Nature #Water #Trees #Mountains #Wind #Gardens #Sunlight #Stillness

Finding Calm in a Chaotic World – Part 5 : Mountains

Image Credit: Creative Commons: “Color Landscape – Grand Tetons” by fortherock (see below for details)

I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.

Psalm 121:1-2

The Struggle of the Climb

Life can feel overwhelming at times. Sometimes, it is like climbing a mountain. Days feel overwhelming. We feel exhausted. And we ask ourselves if we will ever reach the top.

Decades ago, I had the opportunity to hike The Tetons. It was a three-day hike. Thirteen miles each day with a heavy backpack. It was overwhelming, for sure! At times, I thought I would die.
I couldn’t take another step.
I was exhausted, and my muscles ached.

At that moment, when I felt I couldn’t take another step, I surrendered to God.
Right there.
Right then.
God placed a song in my heart. And for the rest of the hike, I “sang” Oil in My Lamp (author unknown) in my head.

A Higher Perspective

It was at that moment that my perspective changed. It wasn’t about the struggle. It was the peace that I found in the struggle.

It was the peace in the chaos.

For me, The Tetons was my place of perspective.

Where is your place of perspective?
A place where you can rise above the noise?
Where the chaos fades?
Where do you find a stillness that speaks to you?

Next time, we will lift our eyes to the heavens as we calm the chaos of the mountains in our lives.

Image details: “Color Landscape – Grand Tetons” by fortherock is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/ by-sa/2.0/?ref=openverse.

#April #StressAwarenessMonth #Calm #GodsPeace #Nature #Water #Trees #Mountains #Wind #Gardens #Sunlight #Stillness

Finding Calm in a Chaotic World – Part 4: Trees Singing

A Love Song

Shhh.
Take a listen.

Hear the trees sway?
They seem to sing, don’t they?
A love song only to you.

Trees

Tall and mighty.
Straight or crooked.
Leaves green and bright.
Opening their branches, following the light.
Roots, steady and strong.

Our trees are magnificent –
to hear, to see, to feel.
Listen to what they sing.

The wind.
Moving through their branches.
Whisper a melody.
A song of joy.
A hymn of praise.

Image Source: See Below

Cast Away Fears

A reminder that even in stillness, there is movement.
Even in rootedness, there is growth.
And as we rest beneath its shade, we are held by its mighty arms.

There, we can cast our fears upon its trunk as we lie in its comfort, embraced by its strength.

Thanks be to God.

Action

Stand near or lean against a tree. Close your eyes. Breathe deeply. Imagine yourself firmly rooted in God’s strength, drawing up peace like water through your roots.

Listen—what song does the tree sing to you?

Reflective Question

What part of my life needs deeper roots in faith, trust, or love?

Image Source: “Epping Forest High Beach Essex England – spring trees and moss mounds” by Acabashi is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/?ref=openverse.

#April #StressAwarenessMonth #Calm #GodsPeace #Nature #Water #Trees #Mountains #Wind #Gardens #Sunlight #Stillness

14 Days of Love: Love Deeply – Day 14

Valentine’s Day is a great reminder of how much God loves us. Call someone you love who you haven’t chatted with in a while. Tell them how much you love them.

Love makes my world go round. How about you?

    Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

    1 Peter 4:8
    Image Source: Generated with AI (Bing)

    Prayer

    God,

    I love you, God! I love how you speak to me when I’m alone with my thoughts. Thank you.

    Let me love and forgive with the grace that You have shown me, each and every day for the rest of my days.

    Amen

    Reflective Question

    What steps can I take to cultivate a more profound sense of love and forgiveness for those around me?

    HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY

    #ValentinesDay #14DaysofLove #TheBible #Meditation #Spirituality #Love #Forgiveness