Can I tell you a secret? I think we have that sort of rapport, don't we? Here's my secret: sometimes I feel lost and scared. In the last few weeks I have felt those things acutely. 

And yet I hear the whispers of Jesus saying to me, "Do not be afraid, for I am with you." I want so much to trust in Jesus' promise that he is with me, and that fear does not have a hold on me. So I am trying to hold onto Jesus. I am trying to receive his presence with me in my lostness. And I am trying to let him guide me.

Here are the three things I am doing to hold to Jesus:

1. Love God and love people

These are the anchors of the faith life with Jesus. Love God and love people. When I am exhausted or confused, the simplicity of these commands help me to stay the course with Jesus. In loving God and loving people, we can be sure that we are staying yoked to him.

2. Ask God for help

I find it necessary to be asking for God's help on a daily basis these days. So I ask him questions, like, "How do you want me to spend my day today?" and "What do you want me to know right now?" The questions are simple and immediate. When I am lost, I am more desperate for a live, real-time conversation with God. Creating Listening Space is so important as we lean into God.

3. Self-care
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When we get caught up in stress, good antidotes are slowing down and paying attention to the basic needs of our body, soul, and mind. Without the practice of good self-care, we may find ourselves on the verge of burnout. So I am practicing self-care. Here's a simple list of 20 Self-Care Activities For Your Health and Well-Being.

Jesus is with us. He is mighty. He calms the storms and will not forsake us. Let us hold to those truths today.

What do you do when you feel a little lost? Please share in the comments. 

If you enjoyed this post, check out these related posts:

10 Practical Ideas For Your Spiritual Growth
How to Create Space to Listen to the Voice of God
6 Simple Questions For Self-Reflection

​Hey there, 2017! I welcome this new year with a lot of joy and anticipation. 

Have you spent time dreaming and planning for your year? I took a few weeks off from my regular work schedule, and enjoyed space to reflect on this past and coming year. As I think about this year, here are some of my goals and dreams:

• Be present to God and people through listening.
• Buy a home on Oahu.
• Plant a thriving faith community.
• Build a community for artists, writers, entrepreneurs, and anyone with a calling to create.
• Continue guiding people into their God-given calling through spiritual direction, writing, and discipling.

In my reflections, I used a few questions to help me process and explore my goals and dreams. My guess is that those questions might be helpful to you. Feel free to use them as you reflect, journal, and pray.

1. What is your big goal or dream for this year?

What big thing do you want to accomplish or achieve this year? What dream fuels passion and hope in you? Is there a project or transformation you want to bring to fruition this year?

2. If you had no limits or fears, what do you want to give yourself permission to do, explore, or make space for this year?

There may be things you deeply want, but haven't yet given yourself permission to do. Honor yourself by giving yourself permission to live the life you want to live! Imagine a life without limits. What do you most deeply want to do this year?

3. What is God's invitation to you this year?

Make space to listen to God as you think about this year. What are his hopes and intentions for you? Is there an invitation or promise he is giving you? Allow yourself the space to pay attention to the Spirit's voice and guidance. 

4. How do you want to show up this year?

What attitude and heart-qualities do you want as you enter into this year? Do you want to be compassionate, loving, brave, peace-filled, intentional, focused? You alone get to choose how you will enter today, this week, and this year. Decide how you want to show up.

5. What do you want more of this year? What do you want less of this year?

​What is life-giving to you? What activities, people, and things fuel your joy? What is life-draining? What things do you want to let go of and say goodbye to?

6. How do you want to live out your God-given purpose this year?

You have a unique, God-given purpose. How do you want to live that out this year? What daily, weekly, and monthly habits will make the space you need to live out your purpose?

I hope this exercise helps you pursue and live out your dreams and purpose for the new year. Let's focus on the most essential things, intentionally show up, and give make space for whatever God has for you this year. 

I pray that you would receive all that God has for you, and that you would live out your God-given calling in 2017.

If you enjoyed this post, check out these related posts:
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10 Spiritual Growth Resources to Launch Into the New Year
10 Practical Ideas For Your Spiritual Growth
How to Create Space to Listen to the Voice of God

As we near the end of 2016, many of us are looking ahead to the new year. You may be planning, setting goals, or considering your New Year's Resolutions. As you think about the upcoming year, I encourage you to welcome God into that process. Consider what he is inviting you into for this upcoming year. How are you making space for your spiritual growth? What resources or rhythms do you need in order thrive with God? Take some time to listen to God and your soul as you look ahead to 2017. 

Here are 10 resources that can help you launch into a great new year and thrive with God.

1. The Wheel of Life.

The Wheel of Life is a tool that helps you reflect on your current life, and identify changes you want to make in order to thrive. Click here for a tutorial and free Wheel of Life worksheet packet.

2. Read a book that will ignite your spiritual growth.

A great book has the power to influence our spiritual trajectory, and lead us into new insights and encounters with God. Here is a list of 10 Great Books to Ignite Your Spiritual Growth - I highly recommend every one of these books.

3. Go on a spiritual retreat.

Taking an extended time of silence and solitude with God can be an incredible place of spiritual nourishment and renewal. Here is a simple step-by-step Guide to Taking a Spiritual Retreat. Spiritual retreats take a bit of planning, but they are totally worth the investment of time and energy. I try to take 1 or 2 spiritual retreats every year, and they have become foundational in my relationship with God.

4. Join the Spiritual Journeyers Facebook Group. 

I host and lead this group, and it is a great place to receive guidance and connection for your faith journey. People can freely participate in the group discussions, and we often share our struggles, breakthroughs, and prayer requests with each other. Click here to join the Spiritual Journeyers FB group.

5. Meet with a spiritual director.

My monthly conversations with a spiritual director are a vital place for my own spiritual growth. She and I pray together, talk about what God is doing in my life, and discern together how to respond to God. If you are looking for a spiritual director, I'd love to meet with you. You can read about the spiritual direction services I offer here. I currently have the availablity for a handful of new clients. 

6. Create a new Rhythm For Life. 

A rhythm for life is a simple statement of personal habits that you choose to practice to intentionally make space for God's presence and voice. The new year is a great time to reassess your current spiritual rhythms. Ask God to give you a few practices and habits to make space for him.

7. Join the Journeyers Collective.

The Collective is my monthly membership program that invites you into regular spiritual direction with me in a group setting, a private Facebook group, and a members-only library of resources for your spiritual growth. Membership costs $18/mo or $118/yr. You can find out more about the Journeyers Collective here.

8. Put the essential things first.

You alone have the power to choose how you spend your life. Make sure you are doing what is essential to who God has called you to be. As you think about your typical day or week, how can you block out the time and space for what is most important? For more on this, read Why You Need to Master the Art of Saying No to the Nonessentials.

9. Intentionally make time to do life-giving things.

What activities fuel your joy, creativity, and life? Make a list of those things. We often don't give ourselves permission to do these things. For the sake of your soul, create time and space this year to do the things that give you life. Some life-giving things for me are writing, date nights with my husband, weekly exercise, and reading good books. What's on your list? 

10. Subscribe to my Notes email newsletter.

I send out a email with practical tools and guidance for your spiritual journey. Think of it as your spiritual director popping into your inbox to say hi and give you permission for your soul to breathe. Want to receive these emails from me? Sign up here.

What action steps are you taking as you plan and vision for 2017? What do you need to help you thrive with God this coming year? Please share in the comments.