Watching the sunrise, having coffee with Jesus, it’s another beautiful day!

As Joni Eareckson Tada said, “I want to stay in the habit of ‘glancing’ at my problems and ‘gazing’ at the Lord.”

God has work for us to do for the building of HIS Kingdom.

In the church, we celebrate the feast of Saint Joseph, the worker. He is a shining example for all workers.

Today, maybe we could spend less time focusing on our problems and spend more time in gratitude for all those who are able to work.

Let us pray for the farmers, the factory workers, those in the medical profession, those in law enforcement, the emergency first responders, those who prepare food, the clerks, the teachers, and our Government leaders.

But let us also pray that today we do God’s work as well. We must continue to build His kingdom.

Today, let us gaze on the Lord with Joy, Amazement, and Gratitude. It is another beautiful day!

Saint Joseph pray for us!

This morning, as I sit watching the sun come up, having my cup of coffee with Jesus, I was thinking about how Jesus is the GREAT RESTORER.

I saw a documentary the other night where artists were restoring great works of art.

Many works were torn, or faded, and in some you couldn’t really tell what the original even looked like.

It reminded me of how it is in our lives.

Sometimes we feel torn or hurt, sometimes we feel faded, and sometimes we just lose ourselves completely.

But we have nothing to fear, because Jesus does a redemptive work. He is a SALVAGE ARTIST.

If we allow HIM, HE can restore us, and not only restore us, BUT make us NEW again, with vibrant colors.

He can restore us as a child of God. It says in Genesis 1:31, “And God saw everything that He had made, and behold, it was VERY GOOD.”

Today, let the MASTER ARTIST restore and renew you! We are all a work of art.

Have a blessed day!

Session 3: Releasing the Right to Retaliate

In this session, I want to share the definition of forgiveness that changed my life: it is the conscious decision to release resentment and the desire for revenge.

What I’ve Learned:

• Stop the plotting: I used to mentally plot the destruction of people who hurt me, but I don’t waste my energy on that anymore.
• Let go of the “Debt”: I’ve decided to stop holding onto the moral debt I think people owe me; I entrust justice to God alone.
• It isn’t an excuse: Forgiving someone doesn’t mean I think their actions were acceptable or that I’m removing my boundaries.

When I release my right to retaliate, I find a freedom that no longer occupies my thoughts with negativity.

As I sit and have my cup of coffee with Jesus, I was reflecting on the word HARMONY.

I even love the way it sounds, and I am blessed to have a daughter-in-law I love named HARMONY, too!

When I live in” HARMONY” with the Lord, with my family, and with creation, then the love of God flows through me.

When I live in the state of worry, fear, or dizziness, I tend to block that flow of God’s love.

Each new day gives us an opportunity to live in HARMONY.

We can choose whether we are going to have a “bad hair day” where everything is going to go wrong, or we can choose to bring joy and peace and love into the world.

Today, try bringing HARMONY into your life by allowing His divine mercy to flow through you. Romans 12:16.

“Live in HARMONY with one another.”

Have a Harmonious day.

As I sit and have my cup of coffee with Jesus, I was reflecting on the natural RHYTHM of life.

Yesterday, I spent some hours just listening to the waves break and I began to hear the rhythm.

Whether it be the rhythm of our heartbeat or the rhythm of music, it has a calming effect.

In my own life, when I follow the natural RHYTHM of the universe, I find myself more energetic, more focused, and more at peace.

When I go against the RHYTHM (which I also call spirit), I find myself swimming upstream, with never enough time, always in a hurry.

Today, I am going to try and stay in HIS rhythm.

I am going to try to not let the distractions of the day take away the peace, the joy and the love that flows from HIM.

It’s great when we are in sync with God’s SPIRIT.

Have a blessed day!

As I sit and have my cup of coffee with Jesus, I was thinking about the need to RESIST NEGATIVITY.

Do you notice sometimes how some people carry a deep spirit of negativity with them?

The negativity might be pent-up anger, a lack of forgiveness, or painful emotions.

It’s easy to be pulled into that negativity. Sometimes, even as we try to be POSITIVE, that negative energy force throws us off balance.

We have to be careful to not be pulled into the darkness. It does no one any good.

To help someone come to the LIGHT, we do NOT have to step into their darkness.

Be the LIGHT. Allow the light of Christ to shine through you.

Today, I’m going to be aware of the negativity that lies deep in the lives of people I love and, instead trying to fix them, I’m going to be the LIGHT.

I am going to allow the LIGHT of Christ to shine through me.

Have a blessed day!

Session 2: The Work Begins Within

Welcome back! We are continuing our look at the “root” of our wounds. I want to challenge you to look at what—and who—you truly need to forgive.

My Process for Healing:

• Journaling: I personally love to write “one-liners” down to become conscious of my hurts, like when I felt unsupported or a relationship ended.
• No strings attached: I’ve realized forgiveness isn’t conditional on an apology or justice.
• Focusing on transformation: Forgiveness transforms me, the forgiver—it doesn’t necessarily change the offender.

This work is deep, intentional, and very costly, but it leads to a powerful awakening.

As I sit and have my cup of coffee with Jesus, I was thinking about the word PATIENCE.

Philippians 4:6 says, “Do not be anxious about anything but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

Some days I find myself impatient with many things. I might be impatient with my children or my grandchildren, or with people who come to see me, or with the dog, or with my calendar;

the list goes on and on. I’m trying to practice the art of pausing before I act or respond.

During this pause, I take a breath, and try to be conscious of what is actually going on.

So, today I am going to practice the art of being PATIENT, not only with others, but also with myself.

I am going to try to be mindful of the pause that I need to stay present in the moment so I can respond with love and care.

Today, let’s practice the art of being PATIENT and celebrate our Lord, who is very PATIENT with us.

Have a wonderful day!

As I sit and have my cup of coffee with Jesus, I was thinking about the expression “to gaze”.

It’s another beautiful morning. The other day, I attended a wedding.

I loved watching how the bride and groom gazed at each other.

To gaze is to go out of self. Joni Eareckson Tada said, “I want to stay in the habit of ‘glancing’ at my problems and ‘gazing’ at the Lord.”

That is something that I want to do, too. What a wonderful day it can be when we gaze upon the Lord and all of HIS wonderment, instead of being distracted by drama, violence, and fear.

Today, on this beautiful morning, GAZE on the Lord with joy, amazement, and gratitude!

It is a beautiful day when you GAZE upon the love of the FATHER, JESUS CHRIST.

Have a wonderful day!

As I sit and have my cup of coffee with Jesus, I was thinking about the word ENERGY.

From the time my eyes open in the morning to the end of the day, my ENERGY level changes.

Have you ever met someone who drains you of your energy because of all their drama?

On the same note, have you ever met someone whose energy is so contagious, that they lift your spirit?

As Christians, our ENERGY (Spirit) needs to flow from our relationship with Christ.

This is what made the disciples so dynamic. The SPIRIT of Christ was the ENERGY that flowed out of them.

How was your energy today? Are you tired, overwhelmed, angry, or sad?

Then it’s time to reconnect with our Lord and allow HIS ENERGY to lift you up.

Today, be energized by the One who created you and loves you.

And then take that ENERGY and SPIRIT and spread it to our world.

There is only one kind of real ENERGY, and that is ENERGY that comes from the FATHER, through the SON, in the HOLY SPIRIT.

Have a blessed day!