perspective

June 16, 2024

Reflections on Crabgrass


• Life’s achievements are like flower clusters growing from tough situations
• Thrive where you are planted, where you find yourself
• A worthy goal is to grow and produce good seed
• Nourish a noble and good heart to make positive results
• Keeping a low profile can help avoid pain and conflict
• Lean on one another, persevere, be tough when needed
• Stars shine out best when surrounded by darkness
• Learn to bend and be flexible when we get stepped on
• Spread out and enjoy the small moments
• Don’t reject something simply because others perceive it as worthless
• May you be encouraged on those days when you feel worn
• When we cling to God we won’t be ground down in defeat
• Take time to be refreshed, especially when in high-traffic areas
• Peace grows from learning yourself and releasing all to God who planted you

From “Reflection from the Everyday”
Charlotte-Anne Allen 6/15/2024

March 31, 2024

YET


A word has recently been popping into my mind and so I have returned to it to see what it is saying to me. 🙂 That word is “yet” …Have you thought about this small but powerful little word before? It’s one of those words that we use a lot. Some ways we might use this small word are:

Are you finished yet?
I don’t know yet.
I have yet to see that happen.
He was yet a child.
Is she here yet?
Yet they were still able to come.
Are we there yet?

Are those any you find yourself saying? …“Yet” means that we have expectations. When we haven’t finished something, called someone, or done something we’ve been asked to do … adding “yet” can make a difference! There are still plans or hopes for the future. “Yet” can spark both anticipation and concern.

Now, the hard part for me, and for most of us, is staying motivated and encouraged. Keeping a positive attitude and persevering can be challenging, can’t it? I still well-remember and appreciate my mom reminding me to take one thing at a time. I’ve also learned to work on my perspective, to trust God for direction, and to focus on the small and “do-able” steps needed. And then there are times to give up our own “yet” and re-examine expectations and life’s journey.

Look how God leads us to adjust our own “yet” as he modeled his own:

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners,
Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 NASB

God didn’t wait for us to be perfect examples (That’s impossible anyway, isn’t it?!). His help with waiting, reminding me of the need for patience, and adjusting expectations knowing that He with us through the long haul… that’s what keeps me going. God has gone before us and is waiting and preparing for us as we travel to the “yet.”

My prayers for myself and for us all, is that God will surround us with people, and will create us to be people, who help during all our “yets”. I am so thankful that he came to us first, during our greatest “yet”. Be encouraged.

Charlotte-Anne Allen

December 23, 2023

In Fullness


“In fullness,” now what does that mean,
When busy or stressed and a way is not seen?

Of God, of time, on earth to show
He comes to us so that we can know

Filled through Christ, God’s Son
In awe and humility before Mighty One

Wholeness, abundance in what really counts
Overflowing through grace in generous amounts

Tired souls can then begin to sing
Fullness in all and everything

Completeness satisfies our yearning
Filled to capacity, overflowing… we’re learning

This is life, breathing that goodness
Living daily in His fullness

Ephesians 3:19; 1:22
Charlotte-Anne Allen

October 8, 2023

Let’s Take a Walk


“I need a break. Come on. Let’s take a walk!”

Growing up in a small town, it was very common to see our neighbors strolling down the sidewalks in front of our house. As we greeted each other they would occasionally stop to chat for a few minutes. It was a place and time of closer communities and greater security. We kids were always racing up and down, our shoes pounding the ground as we played and talked with friends in nearby yards.

Walking. Wearing shoes… Even with our occasional disagreements or upsets, we valued those friendships. That makes me think of another kind of “walk” and “shoes.”

What do we do when we see real or perceived differences in others, whether big or small, that we disagree with? I know that, for myself, these are especially important times for me to step back and try to see and understand things from their perspective. We have probably heard or said, “Put yourself into their shoes” or “You haven’t walked in their shoes.” For some things it’s just a simple and easy adjustment or a matter of miscommunication. Other things may be big challenges.

A neat word for being aware of and responding to something or someone is “sensibility.” It makes me think of “the ability to sense things” about situations or others. Considering things from the perspectives of others is key to empathy and compassion… or just plain dealing with the stressors of life. It reminds me of Jesus’ words to “Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Mark 12:28-34)

So, let’s take a walk, in community, and nurture our sensibility. My prayer for us all is that we continue to grow in wisdom and understanding. May we learn to love better and to see others through God’s eyes, uplifting each other in prayer and grace.

Charlotte-Anne Allen

July 15, 2023

Winsome


I love to encourage people and to see their happy faces… and there is something special about a child’s open face, full of delight and joy!

The word “winsome” came to mind this week and just thinking about it made me smile. It carries a sense of brightness and cheerfulness. A person who is winsome draws smiles from others.

I think it has a lot to do with keeping a positive attitude, too. My mom was such a good example of that. Always encouraging, helping us to see things from better perspectives. Showing a good mood or disposition can be challenging! We choose what frame of mind we want to dwell on, whatever is going on, and that can be easier at some times than others… Oh, that we all could be more winsome in our day-to-day encounters!

Cheerful or happy hearts and dispositions need to be cultivated. It’s something that I still struggle with sometimes. When the thoughts and worries won’t quit whirling around and around in my head, I have to keep looking for the good and working on having a better perspective. Lots of prayer, too! Maybe you have similar challenges. The book of Proverbs gives us some wisdom for attitude adjustments and outlook:

“A cheerful disposition is good for your health…”
or in other words, “A cheerful heart is good medicine…” Proverbs 17:22a

I also love this one, “…the cheerful heart has a continual feast” (Proverbs 15:15b). Don’t you just love that thought?! Nurturing a cheerful heart brings a feast for the soul, not just for ourselves but for everyone we extend that welcome cheer to.

How can we nurture a deep-down happy or positive heart? We can do this by keeping ourselves fueled and connected to God. Tending that time with God, prayer, quiet moments, fellowship and sharing with others we value, and intentional focus on positives and thanks are some things that can help. What are some things that work for you?

Be encouraged! Praying that these thoughts will brighten your days and ease your hearts.

Charlotte-Anne Allen 7/15/2023

April 3, 2023

From Dry Bones


When the Hebrew people were in the land of exile, home of the Babylonians, God first spoke to the Jewish priest named Ezekiel. He was only thirty years old! … God had allowed the people to be taken into exile because they had turned from Him, worshiping idols, offering their children as sacrifices, living immorally, violently, and selfishly.

God gave words to his new prophet Ezekiel to call them back to Himself, hard words and difficult messages. There were some really weird visions!

In one vision, there was a valley full of dry bones!
“Ezekiel, can these bones live?!”
“Only You know sovereign God!”
“Prophesy, speak to these bones. I will restore them and put breath back into them.”

And so, Ezekiel obeyed, and God did as He said He would.

Wow! Dry bones. Dead. Without life. Unable to stand. To walk.
God spoke, breathed on those dry bones, and restored life.
Sinews. Flesh. Bones knitting together.

I’ve had times, and perhaps you have too, when I felt like those dry bones. Like the Hebrew people, we can be drawn away from the true source of life, God eternal. Life experiences, disappointments, unfulfilled expectations, tragedy, and pain shape us and can skew our perspective and understanding.

Yet, like those dry bones, the breath of God’s Spirit will fill us. He raises His children to stand in that dark valley of dry bones. God’s breath! Within us! Ezekiel’s story is an amazing one, one of promise and of hope for us all, isn’t it?! The breath of His Spirit moves within us when we follow God. We begin to take on more of His character, not perfect but striving to serve Him and to care for others. Examining the areas we need to grow in or change is a lifelong process.

We are redeemed. We are restored. We are given new life.

Edited and re-posted

March 18, 2023

Bug’s-Eye View

What’s this I see,
So large before me?!
Scurry hurry back-and-forth
Take a pause and draw a breath

In this small mite
Things seem so daunting
Mountain high or wall before me
Perhaps a chasm so deep and dark

And yet with wings
We rise and lift to the sky
With feet we stand and climb
Or cross over on bridges firm and true

Is not our Creator
Ever surrounding uplifting
Bringing us up over and through
Revealing beauty and shining promise?

In our smallness
We know God’s greatness.

Charlotte-Anne Allen

July 2, 2022

Reflections on Pancakes

● The right combination of ingredients brings out our best
● The blending of our experiences shape who we are
● Consider the ways you can improve yourself and then follow through
● Using a fresh perspective opens our eyes and hearts
● Making needed adjustments keeps us out of the rut and enriches life
● Memories are thoughts that bubble up and burst upon us, often at unexpected times
● Be true to your faith and commitment wherever you are
● A calm and even temperament is much to be desired
● Adding some sweetness brings smiles and shares happiness
● Begin all things with a solid base as you look ahead
● Establish positive routines for development and accomplishment
● When we’re feeling the heat, God’s Spirit helps us to rise

Charlotte-Anne Allen

April 30, 2022

Junk Drawer

A treasure trove!
What great delight
To re-discover things long forgotten

To dig and rummage
And sift things about
Some wooden matches and screws and tacks

Where’s the thingamabob?
Oh wow, I forgot I had that!
And this will be handy to hang things up

Yay! Here’s the screwdriver
I’ve found my best scissors!
What in the world! Now what is this?…

I’m just not quite sure
There’s really no clue
Can’t throw that away, until I know!

Indeed, one day soon
Surely, before very long
It will all be sorted as I clear some things out!

… Now, what was I looking for?!