Merry Christmas!
May the conversations be encouraging,
the egg nog be cold,
the cookies be sweet
and the fun never grow old!
Merry Christmas!
Praying that your cup(of joe) will always be filled to overflowing!
Lessons Learned 2025
As we come to the end of the year, I always like to take time to be reflective and think about all that transpired over the last 12 months. I flip my journal entries, look at photos captured and remember the stories that were part of each moment. It always seems that there are quite a few lessons learned as I trekked through the months. Let me share some of the personal ones with you.
1. God establishes what I place in His hands.
Again and again, I saw that when I surrender my plans, my ministry, my emotions, and even my uncertainties, God steadies me. He really does secure, settle, and provide in ways that go far beyond what I can see.
2. I’m stronger than the seasons I walk through.
There were moments that stretched me : loss, transition, loneliness, and shifting environments. Yet every time I thought I might break, I found resilience rising in me. Not because life felt easy, but because God met me right where I was.
3. Small, faithful steps matter more than big, perfect ones.
Community calls, leader connections, prayer sessions, quiet encouragements- these weren’t spectacular moments, but they added up. Fruit grew in hidden places because I showed up with consistency.
4. Grief and gratitude can coexist.
This year reminded me that it’s ok to feel the ache of what’s changed while still thanking God for what remains. Letting grief move through me, without rushing it, became a form of healing all its own.
5. My calling hasn’t changed : only the scenery has.
Even as teams shifted and roles evolved, the core of who God created me to be stayed steady. Shepherding, encouraging, equipping, caring - these things are woven into me no matter what’s happening around me.
6. Rest is holy, not optional.
From fasting to long walks to quiet devotional times, I rediscovered the power of slowing down. Rest didn’t make me less productive - it made me whole.
7. I am never without purpose, even in uncertain places.
There were days I wondered if I still fit, still mattered, or still had anything valuable to offer. Yet God kept placing people in my path who needed what I carry. Purpose showed up in conversations, prayers, guidance, and unexpected “only God” moments.
8. Change is not proof of loss : sometimes it is preparation.
As people came and went, as departments shifted, and as old chapters closed, I learned not to fear transition. God was pruning, realigning, and preparing me for something deeper and stronger.
9. Love still leads me.
Whether it was compassion for hurting friends, joy in family moments, or simple acts of kindness, love threaded through every month. It reminded me that ministry is not a task. It is a heart posture.
10. Hope is my steady companion.
Even when emotions dipped, hope kept whispering that God wasn’t done. And He wasn’t. He kept opening doors, creating connections, and building something inside me that isn’t easily shaken.
Joy is On It’s Way to You!
Every day, no matter where I am, I love to lace up my shoes and take a walk. It clears my head, opens my heart, and gives God a little extra room to speak. Usually at this time of year, I am in beautiful South Florida, and let me tell you, the Christmas Eve weather is perfect for a good power-walk. Somewhere along the way, I decided to get a little adventurous. Let’s add a few more blocks, I thought. But after those extra steps, I looked around and realized—well—I was a bit lost. The only way to get back was to retrace the path that got me there in the first place. It made the walk longer, but honestly, I enjoyed every moment.
As I finally approached the condo, something unexpected happened. A woman in an SUV pulled right in front of me, rolled down her window, and said, “Somebody told me to give this to somebody, and you are it!” She handed me a card with CHRISTMAS JOY on the front… and inside was a fifty-dollar bill.
Talk about JOY showing up unannounced.
And right there on the sidewalk, the Lord whispered a few lessons that I think you might need today:
1. Even when you feel lost, your detour may be divine.
If I hadn’t added those extra blocks, I may never have crossed paths with that blessing. Your “off course” moment might be the very route God uses to reach you.
2. You can always find your way home by remembering what got you to where you are.
Sometimes the path back is simply retracing God’s faithfulness in your life.
3. When you feel out of touch or unsure, just keep walking.
You never know—this might be the very day you run into your blessing.
So lift your head, fill your heart with hope, and keep putting one foot in front of the other.
JOY is on its way to YOU!