Focus Friday

Erin asked each of us to start drafting our thoughts for our “ultimate well-being” vision on Wednesday. Continue developing that statement(s) today and this week until you have a clear and exciting picture of that woman you desire to become. Erin has agreed to offer 15 minutes via phone or email to willing participants to help clarify those visions and help draw out additional insights at no charge. Develop those statements, and put them in your Bible or other devotional place that you might review, reflect, and pray for the well-being God has intended you to be to do His work.

Think On It Thursday

Lullaby for the Weary

I felt terribly weak today.  Physically, I was recovering from an illness that had bombarded our entire family and rendered me feeble and nearly unable to eat for 36 hours.  Still depleted of energy, I was useless as a mom and couldn’t pull together enough strength to venture to the store for the groceries or, what’s more, an anniversary card for my sweet husband tomorrow—our 9th.  Mentally, I was in a fog as thick as the mornings of my childhood in San Francisco.  Emotionally, I was all over the map, coping with a tender wound that found its sting again, and confronting my worst fears on the phone with a relative, asking her to be the godparent to our children as we draw up a revised will.  All this, and it’s the dead of winter.  Bleak and bleary.


I needed a hot bath to think and pray.  And as I soaked in the bubbles, one word surfaced in my mind to perfectly encapsulate the crux of how I felt: fragile.  On the brink of shattering to bits.  And as I cried into the bubbles and asked God for restorative strength, my Ipod switched to a song from across the bathroom that I suspected He’d meant just for me, in that very moment:


When I am down and, oh my soul, so weary;
When troubles come and my heart burdened be;
Then I am still and wait here in the silence,
Until you come and sit awhile with me.


You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up... To more than I can be.
(You Raise Me Up; Josh Groban)


But that’s not all.  I soon found out that this song was meant for someone else tonight, too.


Just as I was typing this up from my cozy bed, pondering the irony of being on deadline to write this devotion, dedicated to strength, on one of my weakest days, a little girl came peeking into my room.  Fragile.  My five-year-old had been having trouble sleeping in her new bed, the one we gave her days ago, for Christmas.  She said she’d had a nightmare.  There was a monster in it. 


How God orchestrates these beautiful moments, I’ll never know.  But Holy Spirit told me I would be sitting awhile with my precious Lorelei, singing her to sleep tonight with Spirit’s sweet lullaby to us both.


When troubles come and my heart burdened be;
Then I am still and wait here in the silence,
Until you come and sit awhile with me…
You raise me up... To more than I can be.


Now she sleeps.  And somehow, I am strong again.


2 Corinthians 12:9 And he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness.”


Daniel 10:19 "Do not be afraid, O man highly esteemed," he said. "Peace! Be strong now; be strong." When he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, "Speak, my lord, since you have given me strength."


Ephesians 3:14-21 For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen.


~Wendy Connelly

Wisdom Wednesday

"Wooing Wellness"
by Erin Henry

Click HERE to print today's handout.

Discussion Questions:

How do you feel about the notion that you could be missing out on God’s calling for you by not having the physical, emotional, and spiritual stamina that God intends for you?

In what ways do we play the “grand martyr” in sacrificing our own well-being in order to serve others? Give examples of times when it might be appropriate to do less in order to become more?

What other kinds of excuses do we make regarding our lack of wellness?

Based on the responses above, what are some strategies that might overcome these excuses or obstacles?

Whose Day Tuesday

Name: Genesa C.

Family Stats: Husband Aaron, 5 girls: Aryn 14; Bailee 12; Bella 10; Harper 2; Lila 1

Spiritual Gifts: Musical Arts, Leadership, Administration

Spiritual Pathway: Worship, Intellectual, Serving, Creation

Passions: Music, reading, school, volunteer work, especially with Junior League

Pet Peeves: Dishonesty, competitive materialism, self-centeredness

Secret Shames: McDonalds

Books That You Love: Crazy Love, The Shack, Nineteen Minutes, Tenth Circle, Twilight Series (could go under “Secret Shames”)

Can’t Live Without: My kids, my phone…

Favorite Room In Your House: The baby’s room—it’s generally the quietest room in the house

Favorite Tradition: Spending Christmas with my entire family (35+ people) at Disney World every other year

Memorize-It Monday

For we are all God’s masterpiece.

~Ephesians 2:10

Guest Speaker-Erin Henry

Erin is an independent wellness professional who practices in domains of exercise, nutrition, and behavioral change as a dietitian, personal trainer, and wellness coach. She provides one-on-one consultation and group education on these topics as well as free-lance writing services.

Erin earned a dual degree in dietetics and hotel/restaurant management from Kansas State University and completed her dietetic internship at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida. She has counseled hundreds of patients throughout the Topeka and greater Kansas City area on the areas of nutrition, exercise, and behavior management. Erin has also been featured in news and radio spots offering expertise on the subjects of health and nutrition.

Erin is a certified personal trainer through the National Strength and Conditioning Association and a Certified Fitness Professional through the Titleist Golf Institute. She has experience with a vast variety of clients having worked in gym, medical clinic, and personal home settings. She is also a Certified Wellness Coach through the American College of Sports Medicine’s WellCoaches program. From this area of her practice, Erin concentrates on the entire “well-being” of her clients, assisting them through the transformation of change in any and all areas of their health and lifestyle.

Guest Speaker: Erin Henry

Family Stats: Husband Perry, married 10 years. Son, Hade, 5. Daughter, Elle, 3.

Spiritual Pathways: I enjoy my own church Bible study and hearing and sharing with others how they are developing their relationship with Christ.

Pet Peeves: People who are unkind, and people who talk too long and off-topic at meetings… Was that unkind?!

Secret Shames: My favorite TV show is Modern Family

Book that I love: The Slight Edge by Jeff Olson

Favorite Things: naps on Sundays, Dove dark chocolate, and a girls’ night out

Favorite Room in My House: My kids’ rooms because they’re young enough that these rooms tend to be the cleanest in the house!

I’m not in there often during the day, but when I am, at bedtime, it’s a peaceful, magical place. They are sweet and lovely. We cuddle and share positives, stories, and loves,.. If only the rest of the day could go so smoothly!

Favorite Tradition: Most every night, when we sit down for dinner my husband puts on music – playlists of the songs that the kids really enjoy. After the kids get done eating, they give us a little dance show, complete with my 3-year old in petticoat skirt, tiara, and high heels. The music will always be a tradition, but I’ll be sad when the plastic high heels no longer fit