Road trips and Randomness from Shellie

Hey friend, it’s an absolutely gorgeous day from where I sit on the back porch. Grabbing a photo here for illustration. Granted, it’s taken through the screen, but I feel like you’ll still be able to enjoy the beauty of God’s creation with me.

Hank, who also goes by Hankster the Prankster, Hanky Panky, and a host of other ridiculous monikers I’ve tagged him with and he begrudgingly endures, is engaged in his version of working hard at my feet. I give you Illustration B:

Frankly, it feels slap dab wonderful to be sitting here. As you may know, this is one of my busiest speaking seasons, which means I’ve been on the road more than off the road since late August. This is a rare weekend at home until mid-November and I am HERE FOR IT. LOL!

I love, love, love what I do, but the truth is I needed a recharge in the worst way. I told a group of women recently that I often tell the Lord I want to go to heaven fully spent in His service, and He seems bent on answering that prayer before any of the others I’ve been taking to Him. I’m joking! Kinda…

Let me talk honestly…It feels like I’ve counseled with, ministered to, and prayed with more hurting, broken, devasted, and anxious people during this season than all the travel seasons that have come before it– combined. There is so much pain out there. So much. On one hand, my heart feels unbearably heavy with it, while at the same time, I’m relentlessly joyful because…Jesus! He lives! I know because He walks with me and He talks with me and He tells me I am His own. (Lyric credit to Luther Presley). I consider myself an informed optimist. I see the ugly out there. I know the enemy of our souls is doubling down and ramping up his evil ways but I know his time is limited and I know peace and joy because I know Jesus! And THAT reminds me of some other good news I have to share with you. And I will, but first…

JOY BREAK!

Flying has been a bear this season! Delays, terminal changes, and cancellations have tried to get me down, but I had something up my sleeve for ’em. Certain people in my tribe said I couldn’t find anyone to line dance with me at a terminal, and would you believe, they had the nerve to double-dog me to prove it when I said I could?! Well, we all know how I feel about a double dog dare! So, here you go….

 

That’s what I call making some good trouble. And might I add that we got a standing ovation from onlookers, and comments from some people that they were tempted to join us, but didn’t. Of course, I told them we could have a do-over, but they laughed and passed.

That’s okay, too. It made them smile, if but for a moment. I hope that little clip did the same for you. I don’t know where today’s newsletter finds you, but don’t give up on looking for joy, dear friend. It’s the birthright for every believer. In the words of Nehemiah 8:10, “The joy of the Lord is our strength!”

And now, for that news I mentioned. I’m going to put it HERE so it’ll have it’s own little spot on the website for a while. Follow me.

Hugs,
Shellie