Today's Inspiration: Living Out Loud

I try not to live in the black and white of conventional wisdom, judgements, or in the security of my own fixed opinions - although a certain comfort they do bring... Instead, I try to find a way to live in every color that’s available on the palette of life... with a vitality  as green as summer grass, a  purpose  as red as the blood in my veins, a  passion  as purple as a cluster of grapes, and with a  joy  as GENEROUS and yellow as the shining sun. I really make a conscious effort to live from the heart   and enjoy every moment of every hue and color that’s available. Live in color. -Chana

A thousand forms of loveliness elude us every day, and there are moments of God's grace, sweet epiphanies and great insights that sometimes get lost or overlooked because we are too busy or in too much of a rush to notice....  But we have to take care to notice... There is something about the great outdoors that always centers me... And being able to intimately hear its wisdom and express some of its most beautiful sceneries through my senses and language is truly an all time favorite and privilege. Although a typical eight hour day of professional work is necessary and worth its "grain of salt" (for many things...), it is not my provider or what truly sustains me... For I like to consider the lilies and how the wildflowers grow... As they do not labor or spin and yet, not even Solomon, in all of his royal splendor was dressed like one of these.  And if God (our Father) clothes the grass which is here today and gone tomorrow, then how much mor...

Whenever the waves raise within the ocean of your life, try not to fear, argue or waste any time resisting it... Instead, find yourself a "Boogie Board" and ride  that thing like it's nobody's business! Loving the waves... -Chana

Remembering to say "thank you" is a daily practice in my life, and having finally found the creative space and renewed strength that I often need to breathe and write, I’d like to use a piece of it to give a heartfelt "thank you" to all of you for your love and support and for stopping by often to visit my page. One of my favorite stories in the Bible is "The Ten Lepers" (Luke 17), and in remembering it today, I want to encourage you to practice being " one of the ten " who expresses gratitude and joy to God and to others. If you've never read the story, it talks about how Jesus walked through this small village and saw a group of ten lepers.  Naturally, the lepers stood at a distance, as people with this disease in those times were thought to be unclean... But they knew who Jesus was... and that he had the power to heal them, so they wasted no time in calling out to him for help. They said: "Jesus! Master! Have pity on us!"...

May we wake up hungry  for what we have not yet tasted and FEAST on that which has already been given... And may we recognize (sooner than later) that the only place that success will ever come before work  is in the dictionary.. . Rise and GRIND and stay hungry for your dreams and visions that have yet to be fulfilled. -Chana

While many of us are waiting for specific things to change within our inner and outer lives, let us not forget that there is always a "greater" purpose carefully tucked inside these times...   Surrender.. . For many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails... And to everything there is a time and a season... Embrace the wait. ~Chana

We each are born into this world distinctively different and yet, the core of what makes us different is as universal and as common as mud... We "intentionally" have these unique mixtures of unrepeatable facial and body features - as well as a unique mix of environmental upbringings and experiences ( for a reason )... and yet, some people want to be (and expect you to be) like everyone else - or at least, just like them... But I can't help but wonder how being the same would erase our very purposeful parts in the whole... For we each have unique songs to sing, notes to play, things to create and words to speak and write about life, important lessons, paths taken, and experiences of love, losses, loyalties, dreams, disappointments, and many more... that absolutely no one else can say or do like you...  And this is just a part  of God's purpose for the entire universe... and it's pretty important... So please...

I often balance the delicate tension between longing and belonging, discovering and entering, cultivating and igniting many people's hearts and souls - and I like it .  But I also recognize my path as a pilgrim of just passing through ... I trust in my inner compass of hope, courage and imagination while never forgetting to bring my whole heart to the journey...  As I've learned that it is only when I bring my "whole heart" to the journey that I get to complete the journey and then make an "impact"... My hope is always for people to live more deeply and honestly ... and to accept and honor each other's differences , embrace the unknown , celebrate their gifts, be purposeful and passionate, to practice gratitude, grow through their adversities whenever possible, and to simply be true to themselves... It is a tall order, I know... but it is also my path - or some variation of it.... And it brings me great joy to be able to share it...

There is a lion and a lamb inside of all of us, and it is a beautiful thing for me to be able to experience and see them both laying down together.  As we all can relate to being both aggressive and passive, hard and gentle, confident and fearful, and defensive and vulnerable.. But whenever I see more of  one than the other inside of another, I never forget that they both "still exist"... What a beauty...  ~Chana

If you want to be successful and go to the next level in your life, you really have to invest in improving yourself ... Improve your behaviors, your thinking, what you value, and what you do with your time. If you're doing what you've always done and hoping that things will (miraculously) turn out differently - at home, at work, in your health, and your emotions - you are wrong... Improve on the design and build something great. ~Chana

When I step onto the court (or the field) at home, at work and in life, you better believe, I show up to win! Be a winner in everything you do. ~ Chana

One of the greatest gifts in the world to me is time ... and whenever I realize I'm wasting it - either in a relationship or some place (like a job...), I stop and get out . I know that making the decision to leave something is extremely hard and also only the beginning ... And diving into strong currents that will ultimately carry me someplace else is usually how it ends... A wise man once said that "some things must end in order for new things to begin"... So this is me diving in - into new beginnings. Keep pursuing your dreams... ~Chana

If you've ever climbed a mountain, you know that reaching the summit requires perseverance... And in comparison to a mountain, my spiritual journey with Christ requires much of the same thing... as he will often push me to a new and (sometimes) uncomfortable place in my life that requires great persistence in times of discomfort, struggle, fear and even pain. But the pain always has a purpose...  and whenever I reach the destination that he's leading me to, the view (too) is always worth it. ~Chana

In all of the things that we hope for and pursue, I 1st Cor 9:25 reminds me to be sure that I am running my race to win.  For athletes go into strict training and go through a lot of trouble for a crown... ribbon... or a silver cup that will not last ... But us "born again" folks do it for a heavenly reward that never  disappears.. Let us keep on loving and serving one another in the places we are called to be - in our homes, jobs and everything else outside of that... and be "purposeful" in every step while doing it as we head towards the finish line. Run To Win. ~ Chana 

Today I was refreshed by the closer view that I had of you...  And I know it's not because of anything I've  done, but simply because of who you   are.  ~Chana

Whenever a door closes that I thought would be open to me, I've learned to see it as guidance instead of a sign of defeat ...  Whenever a door closes that I thought would be open to me, I now see it as God's direction instead of his  rejection of me... And whenever a door closes that I thought would be open to me, I now know that it as a blessing to be able to avoid what "appears to be good" but is ultimately not the best  for me. Rejection is really direction.  Pay attention to your signs. Chana

The potential, talent and abilities hidden inside of each of us is such an awesome treasure...But most importantly, these things are given to us to enrich the lives of others... Do not be afraid to reveal, unleash, and operate in God's brilliance resting inside of you.  Unleash the beast . :) ~ Chana

I'll never forget the day that I realized that our "one" and only "big job" in life is to live our lives "fully" as ourselves and no one else...  For nothing in life is as stressful and exhausting as trying to be someone different than who you really are.  ~Chana

When you discover and connect with what you are most gifted and talented to do... pay less attention to everything else. "FOCUS"...  It's the hidden ingredient... ~Chana

When opportunities come your way, you have to take the shot and SLAM it in! :)  For everything else in comparison is just practice and preparation for this moment.... Look at that " facial "...     ~Chana