Beth K. Vogt's Blog, page 73

In Others’ Words: Conquering the “Can’ts”

I admire people who take the word “can’t” and turn it into a great big “Oh yes, I can!”

Like Helen Keller.

Or Erik Weihenmayer.

You probably recognize Helen Keller’s name and know she’s the first deaf-blind woman to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree, who then went on to become an international speaker and author.

Erik Weihenmayer? He’s the first blind man to summit Mount Everest (on May 21, 2001).

Helen was born deaf and blind. Erik was born with a disease that led to total blindness when he was 13 years old. And yet, in spite of their physical inability to see, these two people had a-ma-zing vision.

Vision that helped them see far beyond all the “can’ts” they were told.

The photo used for today’s quote? That brings a smile to my face too. My son, Josh, is in that photo. Yeah, he’s covered in mud — running his second Spartan race this past May — and helping his friend, Tony, over the obstacle. His first race in 2o12? He ran it solo. The second time he ran it with a team — and it was all about conquering the course together!

In Your Words: Tell me about a “No, you can’t” that you turned it into a beautiful, liberating, a-ma-zing, “Oh yes, I can!” I’d love to hear your story.

The Fun of Conquering the Can’ts Click to Tweet

Turning a Can’t into an “Oh, Yes, I Can!” Click to Tweet

What “Can’t” Have You Conquered? Click To Tweet

I’m ready to celebrate 2014 — but I need your help creating a downloadable calendar of quotes. My newsletter subscribers will receive a PDF version of the calendar  – and 5 subscribers will receive a customized calendar and a copy of one of my books. Go here for more information. 

In Others’ Words: Veterans

Today we honor our veterans — the men and women who have served our country in the military: 

Air Force
Army
Navy
Marines
Coast Guard

My husband is one of those veterans, and so are many of our friends. Some of our friends lost their lives while serving in the military — paying the ultimate sacrifice changed their families forever. The military community is just that — a community that cares for one another. I met a lot of heroes during the years we were a military family — service members, as well as the families supporting them. 

Thank you, veterans. Your sacrifices do not go unnoticed. America is a better country — a stronger country — because of your commitment. 

In Your Words: Who do you wish to thank on this Veteran’s Day? 

“Without heroes, we are all plain people, and don’t know how far we can go.” Click to Tweet

Who are you remembering on Veteran’s Day? Click to Tweet 

I’m ready to celebrate 2014 — but I need your help creating a downloadable calendar of quotes. My newsletter subscribers will receive a PDF version of the calendar  – and 5 subscribers will receive a customized calendar and a copy of one of my books. Go here for more information. 

In Others’ Words: Peace Like a River

I read this verse yesterday – Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life. – and knew it would be the focus of today’s post.

The Old Testament perspective of the heart encompassed a person’s physical, mental and spiritual life. So guarding the heart was significant because an unprotected heart put so much in danger: your actions, your thoughts, your faith journey.

And here’s an interesting observation on the word “diligence”: In the original Hebrew, diligence means to watch over your heart like a guard watches over a prison. 

It would be easy for me to have read that verse and heard a rebuke — an “I’m so disappointed in how you’re not protecting your heart” message whispered to me by God.

But that’s not what happened.

Reading those words were more of a gentle reminder to keep my guard up from the Father-God who loves me with an everlasting, unshakeable love.

I just wanted to share that reminder with you today.

In Your Words: How’s your heart? Are you keeping your guard up? 

Watch Over Your Heart Click to tweet

The Dangers of an Unprotected Heart Click to Tweet

Subscribe to Beth Vogt’s author newsletter & receive downloadable 2014 calendar Click to Tweet 

I’m ready to celebrate 2014 — but I need your help creating a downloadable calendar of quotes. My newsletter subscribers will receive a PDF version of the calendar  – and 5 subscribers will receive a customized calendar and a copy of one of my books. Go here for more information. 

In Others’ Words: One Word

I am a one-word woman.

It’s been years since I made a New Year’s resolution — much less kept one. I mean, how can I keep a resolution when I can’t find my nice, new list that I wrote up oh-so-carefully?

2014 will be the ninth year that I focus on one word for twelve months. And yes, I know what my word is. But before I share my word for 2014, let me walk down the one-word memory lane:

2006: gratitude - I kept a gratitude journal and found my “glass-half-empty” attitude revolutionized.
2007: simplify - A severe illness turned this word into survival. I embraced simpler things in ways I never imagined.
2008: content - as in “be content with such things as you have” (Hebrews 13:5) I bought a lot less that year!
2009 & 2010: forgiveness - I had a lot to learn and unlearn about forgiveness.
2011: hope - A word I clung to when life hurt or when my heart ached for others who were hurting. There were times I could have asked “Why?” Instead, I asked myself, “Are you going to abandon hope?” My answer: No.
2012: trust - During a year of change, I faced doubting versus trusting — and chose to trust. I also began posting trust quotes on my Facebook page to encourage myself and others.
2013: confidence – I feel so much stronger emotionally after keeping my heart and mind set on “not throwing away my confidence.” (Hebrews 10:35-36) And yes, I continued the tradition of posting confidence quotes on my FB page.

Last year I read the book My One Word for the first time and loved the principles set out in this book.  This quote from the My One Word  blog on November 7th sums up the power of one word:

“Rather than making a list of all our faults, bad habits and regrets, then trying overhaul every aspect of our lives each January, what if we focused on God and just one thing at a time – trusting Him to do the work He’s initiated and promised to complete?”

CHANGE IS POSSIBLE, BUT FOCUS IS REQUIRED.

So what’s my word for 2014? Think. It’s based on Romans 12:2-3 (NAS):

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

 For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.

I’m still looking for my visual — that’s how it works for me: scripture, word, and then a visual of some sort. I’ll keep you posted.

In Your Words: So what do you think about New Year’s resolutions versus choosing one word? Which one works for you? And if you chose a word for 2013 — or know what your word is for 2014– I’d love for you to share it.

Changing – One Word at a Time Click to Tweet

The Power of One Word + One Year Click to Tweet

What’s Your One Word for 2014? Click to Tweet

I’m ready to celebrate 2014 — but I need your help creating a downloadable calendar of quotes. My newsletter subscribers will receive a PDF version of the calendar  – and 5 subscribers will receive a customized calendar and a copy of one of my books. Go here for more information. 

In Others’ Words: Be Happy

This past weekend, I listened to a radio broadcaster chat with a middle-schooler — asking the typical “What do you want to be when you grow up?” questions.

Where do you want to go to college?

What do you want to study?

What kind of engineer do you want to be? (This, after the kid finally said he thought — maybe — he’d study engineering.)

I don’t know how the kid being grilled felt, but I was frustrated. I wanted to tell Mr. Broadcaster to leave the still-discovering-who-he-was-kid alone. To let him be with not having all the answers.

Yes, in time, this young man will grow up. Pursue his dreams. Become who he is meant to be. That’s what life is about. But right now he’s still wondering. Still dreaming.

Sometimes it is okay to not know who you are.

And then there comes the season in life — brought on by a crisis or a celebration — when you stand up and embrace who you are. Strengths. Weaknesses. Dreams. Disappointments. All of it.

All of you.

And there’s an unquenchable  joy in recognizing who you are for the first time.

In Your Words: When are you most you ? And when did you first look in the mirror and recognize the “you” that God meant you to be? 

 

Happiness: Being Willing to Be Who You Are Click to Tweet 

Embracing Who You Are Click to Tweet 

Are We Happy Yet?  You, Me & Identity Click to Tweet 

In Others’ Word: Circumstance

 

I love the rhythm of the words in today’s quote.

God can change …

He can orchestrate …

He can alter …

He can and does … 

The words becomes are anthem of hope. Not that I’m surprised — they are penned by my writing-friend, Cynthia Herron. From the first time I met her, I recognized the heart of a valiant encourager in this woman. Someone who challenges others to believe not by sugarcoating reality — oh no. Cynthia speaks truth, but she chooses to face the light, not dwell in the darkness.

And while the quote was framed within a blog post for writers, her words ring true for all of us, no matter what dreams we are pursuing.

In Your Words: God can and does. How has God changed a detour in your life into a divine appointment? Or orchestrated happenstance into the here and now? 

The Miraculous Orchestration of God Click to Tweet

“God can change circumstance in a heartbeat.” Click to Tweet

God can … and does Click to Tweet 

In Others’ Words: Truthful

Discouragement has stalked my heels of late.

And even as I write those words, I want to back up, hit the “delete” key until that sentence disappears. Start again.

But I am determined to be honest . . . not to garner sympathy, although you all — yes, you, if you are reading this blog — are amazing encouragers.

I could go into the why of the discouragement. I am, after all, familiar with the circumstances of my life. And some of you are too. And some of you aren’t. But here’s the thing: For a kid who was nicknamed “Me too” (among other things) I’m not one for talking about myself.

Yeah, yeah. I’m hedging.

I think the months of back pain … and the trying to overcome it … and the trying to heal it … and the trying to be okay with it … and the trying to pray through it … and the trying to ignore it … and the trying to not be helpless and hopeless … all of it creates discouragement that lingers on the outskirts of my mind. And sometimes gets closer … close enough to stalk me.

And to be honest, sometimes I don’t fight back. I lay in the dark and think this is it … the way it’s always going to be … and I let the discouragement win.

But here’s the truth of it all: I am not a woman who wants to live in discouragement. I don’t want discouragement to take me down. I don’t want discouragement to determine my outlook.

So in light of where I am today … what truth changes my outlook? What truth shatters discouragement?

Nothing can separate me from the love of God. Nothing. Nothing. Not. A. Thing.  (Romans 8:31-39)

And for now, that truth is enough.

In Your Words: What truth do you know that is enough in the tough times? 

Do the Truth You Know Click to Tweet

Choosing Truth When Discouragement Stalks You Click to Tweet

Shattering Discouragement with Truth Click to Tweet

In Others’ Words: Home is where . . .

I had a certain definition of home for many years–and it was most definitely tied to a specific address. A certain place.

Then I married my husband, who was in the military.

My idea of home had to change.

Uncle Sam determined where home was – and how long a certain place would be home. The year I decorated a Christmas tree on an air base in Turkey, I realized location wasn’t the determining factor for home.

The people who were with me — even if our address was a military P.O. Box — represented home.

The stuff we lugged with us, as well as the stuff we left behind in storage?

It wasn’t home, either.

Back then, my husband, my son, my three daughters equaled home.

I’ve also discovered when home becomes people, it expands. Years later home expanded to include the unexpected blessing of a fourth child. And through the years, we learned to say, “There’s always room for one more,” whether it was a holiday or just a regular Sunday afternoon of watching football.

Seeing my adult children establish their own homes … ah, bittersweet. I’m cheering them on with tear-filled eyes, opening my arms all the wider to embrace a daughter-in-love, two sons-in-love — and now a granddaughter.

In so many ways, because of so many people God has brought into my life,  my definition of home changed through the years. Defined less and less by location … and more and more by the people God’s woven into my life.

 

In Your Words: How do you define home?

“My home is not a place; it is people.” Click to Tweet

How do you define home? Click to Tweet

When “home” becomes people, it expands. Click to Tweet

In Others’ Words: Truth

Which one of these phrases trips you up? 

Too old
Too young
Too busy
Too scared
Too washed up
Too worn out

And which one of these truths renews your hope, your strength?

God watches over your every step (Psalm 121:5)
God steadies you (Isaiah 33:5-6)
God rescues you (Colossians 1:13)
God carries you (Psalm 68:19)
God knows you (Romans 8:27)
God loves you (Jeremiah 31:3)
God holds you (Psalm 63:8)
God never gives up on you (Deuteronomy 31:6)

 

In Your Words: What helps you remember that you belong in God’s Big Picture? 

God Never Gives Up On You Click to Tweet

Smile! You Belong in God’s “Big Picture” Click to Tweet

God knows you, loves you & holds you close to his heart Click to Tweet 

In Others’ Words: Unexpected Happiness

Today’s photo makes me smile.

Yeah, I look like a bit of a goof … but I’m an extremely happy goof. Those two women wrapping me in a hug? Not only are they tremendous blessings in my life — they are both huge surprises.

It all goes back to my belief that God’s best is often behind the doors marked ‘Never.’  One of the “never” doors he’s walked me through is the one I marked “I will never write fiction.” When I walked through that door, I met Susie May Warren and Rachel Hauck.

At first they were merely best-selling, award-winning authors of books I loved to read.

Then they became writing teachers — mentors — as I realized I had a lot to learn about this thing called “writing craft.”

And then they became friends — real, true friends.

Surprise, surprise, surprise.

I know God walks us through those never-ever-ever doors to change us. To challenge us. To conform us to His image. But I also know that He knows there’s happiness waiting for us behind those doors too.

In Your Words: What unexpected happiness awaited you behind a door you marked “Never”?  

The Unexpectedness of Happiness Click to Tweet

God’s Best is Often Behind the Doors Marked Never Click to Tweet

What Unexpected Happiness Did You Find Behind a Door Marked Never? Click to Tweet