Peace Hope Love Project

01/02/2022

It's been quite a year...

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!! Or is it??? In traditional fashion, the new year has arrived with fireworks and fanfare, toasts and celebration. And more than any other week of the year it is the promise of a f…

04/01/2021

Another post on my heart today

I’ve become more and more appreciative of tastes and smells this last year, especially as I’ve worked on my health habits, embracing meditation and relaxation for better mental health, and of…

03/17/2021

Sharing from my heart. For all those that want to be "liked", I hope this encourages you ❤️

I might ruffle your feathers a little today. I’ve just spent the last couple days sitting on a porch by myself in the country and I invite you to pull up a chair on the porch with me. I would…

03/04/2021

I'm sharing a late post this week on grief/loss. I didn't stress over the timing of posting it because I am "fasting" from unrealistic expectations. I hope this is as much a blessing to you as it was to me to study this passage of scripture.

https://shelleyharrington.com/2021/03/03/who-are-you-looking-for/?fbclid=IwAR2sYvTTflrics9B_hisYToPr7HFOgbL9DRZ0pVKfP39mOucO9AIXm0epaU

On left: With my mom at the Garden Tomb, Jerusalem, 1970 In 1970, my parents traveled with me as a baby for 4 months through Asia and Europe. They were young and energetic and wanted to see the wor…

02/24/2021

My current goal is to post each Wednesday on my new blog/website with my same name, Shelley Harrington. If you subscribe you won't miss a post and more subscriptions help me reach more people that need the encouragement of the "church without walls". I will share this reminder a few more times, and then be closing down this page.

This week I write about grief, loss and when it feels like your hard feelings are "not allowed" or dismissed. Many are struggling and it is my hope to encourage. I appreciate your comments and feedback as well. What topics are you struggling with? How can I pray for you?

FeaturedGetting Over “Get Over It” As I wrote in my last post, this Lenten season I am FASTING from Unrealistic pressures and expectations Worry, doubt and fear about things out of my controlMaking decisions solely on making others “happy” and self denial at the expense of being “needed.....

02/18/2021

Hi friends! I hope you are well and your family is staying warm. We're freezing and falling apart down here in Texas (my family is surviving OK) but time off from school has allowed me to finally launch my new website and blog.

I'm starting over fresh and I hope you will join me over at shelleyharrington.com

Please subscribe and join my email list which helps me reach more people as the "church without walls". I will not be posting as Peace Hope Love Project moving forward so encourage you to make the move and follow me there. I appreciate it and would love to have you on this journey!

I would also like to create a new private group on Facebook in the near future for deeper conversation and a place to go Live on a regular basis with biblical teaching, encouragement, tips for Total Wellness and opportunities to serve in your community. It will be evolving and WELCOME your feedback on what would serve you well. What are your needs? If you would like to be a part of that, please message me or comment below 😊

FYI, I'm still working out the kinks of the website layout to make it more user friendly so just be aware that there is a home page AND a blog page that may not be as easy to figure out for now. I'm learning and will be improving it over time. Thanks for your patience and your support!

Hey there! I'm Shelley. Join me on my virtual "bench of no judgment"! You are safe here. Pour yourself a beverage and get comfortable. What's on your mind? As a former "drama queen" and lover of musical theater, I play many roles in life including wife, mom, friend, music teacher, photographer, and....

02/17/2021

Friends, I'm praying for you and us in this winter storm.

Psalm 102: 1-2
Hear my prayer O Lord
Let my cry for help come to you
Do not hide your face from me
When I am in distress
Turn your ear to me
When I call answer me quickly

How can I pray for you specifically?

Photo credit: Emily Beynon

01/03/2021

Tomorrow is the first Monday of the first full week of the new year. So many set new goals and new resolutions and plan to start new diets or new workout programs or quit bad habits and resolve to pray more or worry less. Because that's what you always do and NEED a fresh start now more than ever. I'm totally with you on needing a fresh start!

But also, so many still feel like this tree, in the dead of winter, bare and cold, wondering what the future holds, afraid to have hopes and dreams, not knowing when the hibernation will get to be over. Wondering when the loneliness and struggle and loss will not be ever present and heavy like new fallen snow that keeps falling on top of you and you have to constantly shovel.

Can I encourage you with some hope my friend?
You can be in both places and it's going to be ok.

Jeremiah 17:7-8 promises that if we will plant our tree by the stream, the Living Water that comes from God, our roots will grow deep and we will "never fail to bear fruit".

And it says in verses 5-6 before, that those who put their trust in men will be like a bush in the desert, that dries up and is blown about by the wind.

Whether you are ready and excited for a new year, making plans, or feel like there is too much unknown to have hope, put your TRUST in the Lord to bring you through on this journey we are calling 2021. Plant your tree by the stream of Living Water in Jesus and you will bear fruit, even in drought and even in winter.

It's another year and we don't know what the future holds. Personally, I'm not making resolutions this year because for one thing I lost a lot of weight this year working on my mindset and processing past pain, and I'm planning to never diet again! But also I'm focused on simply being PLANTED in Jesus and each day I will continue my daily practice of growing where He leads. I will abide in Him, crawl in His arms to remember I am loved, and practice an obedient heart to go where He sends me. Each day I am focused on one day at a time.

That may sound like "church lady" mumbo jumbo and honestly I'll agree with you in that it's taken A LOT of mindset practice to be able to really BELIEVE those words that I've been taught my whole life. The TRUST AND BELIEF has come with much vulnerability and digging deep roots intentionally in 2020 that has helped me arrive here. I still have work to do and I will not be perfect at it, but my trust is in the Lord and not in anything of "man".

We might still have a pandemic and lots of challenges ahead, and we can plan and set goals, and have hope and joy because we CHOOSE to plant our roots by the stream of LIVING water. You won't feel happy every day, that's not genuine joy. That's OK. We also need not believe that God wants us to celebrate death and loss and heartbreak to fake "joy". Nope. You can be a tree hibernating and alone in the winter and still have joy, because the joy is IN Him. Abide in HIM. Joy comes from being WITH Him and Him in you. It takes practice and time. Those are the roots that need to grow. That is the love.

We have each other and we have Jesus. You are not alone. ❤️ Shelley

Photo credit: Pamela Henkleman

12/26/2020

Merry Christmas!
So is today the day that you pack up all the decorations now that Christmas is over? I hope not. I leave my tree and nativity up until Jan. 6th for Epiphany. Epiphany is a Greek word that means "appearing". For me, it's a reminder that the wonder of Jesus' birth "appeared" to the wise men, who were not Jewish or religious but had followed an astrological sign to find the newborn King named Jesus. And His "appearing" continues long after He was born over 2000 years ago.

It's easy to think we need to look for signs of hope in going to church, or changing bad habits, and making new resolutions. Or maybe we have been depending on the people in our lives to light the way. But perhaps we need to shift our focus to something deeper.

This year has been a year like no other and most of us feel like this tree without it's leaves in the winter. We feel we've been stripped of our foliage and exposed to the cold wind. We long to feel the warmth of the sun!

Take courage. Look up. The "son" has shone on you AGAIN and actually has never left you, even if it is hidden by clouds, or trees, or the darkness in the rotation of the earth. Can you see it? He is doing a new thing.

"Forget the former things;
do not dwell on the past.
See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness
and streams in the wasteland." - Isaiah 43:18-19

Hope springs up each Christmas but it doesn't have to get packed away just because Christmas is over. Jesus was born to be God WITH us. EVERY day. His light shines, APPEARING even in the darkness. Even when our trees are bare, and our wallets empty. Even in sickness, and health, and broken relationships. He is making a way in our "wasteland" as He shines His light on us to sprout a sprig of new LIFE.

We might feel like we are buried in the darkness, like a seed buried in the soil, but hold on. This season is temporary because He is making a way. I continually remind myself that IN the dark, I can reach out for God's hand who gives just enough light sometimes for me to see HIM. And that's all I need for one step at a time.

I love this thought also...sometimes when we are looking up for the "son" to shine on us it is easy to be blinded because it is so bright, but we can close our eyes and feel the warmth.

So don't pack Jesus away in a box with all the decorations and the remnants of Christmas. He will never leave you if you have invited Him into your heart and into your home. Ask Him to show Himself "appearing" in a real way this year. Look for Him shining in the darkness, behind the trees, hidden by the clouds, He's there. The earth rotates and the sun will shine again. Look up friends and allow yourself to be warmed by the "Son".

"When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” - John 8:12

12/19/2020

My friend moved from Texas to the Pacific NW this year and recently posted a picture of this tree. It has really stirred up so many thoughts I had to share. I got her permission so thank you Amy Lepien for sharing the photo and for the inspiration.

What Amy posted was "This tree decided it didn't like where it was planted so it changed it's path. Don't be afraid to change yours. It may lead to a more beautiful life."

This last year Amy and her husband, newly empty nesters, moved across country, so this is what is literally happening in her life. She changed her path and it has led to a more beautiful life. I mean, the Pacific NW IS in fact more beautiful than Houston. I'm just sayin'.

But it has me thinking about how much change has happened in MY life this year, and in the last 6 years. A lot of it was NOT by choice. A lot of it has been forced change and painful. And YET, because of the change happening around me, I was forced to look at my life more deeply, I saw that I didn't like "where I was planted" and I changed my path.

The second picture she shared was the same tree from a different angle, which makes this story even MORE interesting to me. She said "notice how far the trunk went to get away from the other trees." She is referring to how much social distancing and other accommodations we have all had to endure this year. Oh how this has been such a HUGE challenge for everyone. But God says "let's go deeper".

For me, this invokes thoughts of my dedication to being vulnerable with God and going ALL IN on letting Him do some DEEP spiritual work on my soul this year. He's been leading me to grow on a new path "away from the other trees".

I knew I needed to get healthy so I found a coach that would hold me accountable, committed to a health plan, and lost 60 pounds in 8 months. But God said "let's go deeper".

I found a therapist with BetterHelp dot com and began the process of dissecting my past pain, codependency, and the mindset that keeps me from experiencing "total wellness" and freedom in Christ and a fully abundant life. But God said "let's go deeper".

A pandemic showed up and political and racial division raised it's ugly head this year, not just in America as a whole, but in my community, in my church family, on my social media, and in my extended family. I know a LOT of other trees but God has been leading me to find space and healing in doing deep spiritual work alone, with Him. I have been learning to brave the wilderness. God has been leading me to grow on a new path by following Him, not the world that I have for years tried to please, and says "let's go even deeper."

I haven't been to a physical church service in over 8 months and yet I am closer to God than I have EVER been in my 51 years of living because I have been willing to "grow away from the trees". I still don't know totally where my path is leading, but I know who I'm following, and it is leading to a more beautiful life.

Does this speak to you? How far are you willing to grow "away from the other trees" to follow Jesus? Often we try to run away from what God is doing by staying where we are because leaving what we know is unknown, and scary, and feels like too much change, but what I've learned is you CANNOT outrun God when He is in pursuit, and following Him ends up being true FREEDOM and a more beautiful life.

This Christmas may you KNOW the Living Christ who has come for YOU. He is in pursuit and His light will shine in your darkness if you are willing to let Him in.

"Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.
If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,”
even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.
- Psalm 139: 7-12

Shelley ❤️

12/06/2020

Meet "Applesauce Bear", one of the most fragile ornaments on my tree.

Why is it fragile?
It's made of cinnamon and applesauce and was baked in the oven in 1993 for a "Charlie Brown" Christmas tree we created for a family gathering in a small cabin in the mountains of New Mexico. We wrap it in tissue paper every year and place it in a special box. When we pull it out each year to place on the tree, we marvel at how it continues to survive year after year.

But that's not why it's special.
That year was the year that my husband's mom battled breast cancer and she had recently had a full mastectomy. During her recovery she wanted to spend Christmas in the peaceful woods of the mountains in Ruidoso, NM where they had a cabin.

So we went. We couldn't take a lot with us in the car so we cut down a small tree in the forest, made hand-made ornaments, and basically had a very simple Christmas together. It is still one of my favorite Christmases ever. It wasn't about preparations and getting and giving. It wasn't about going and doing. It was about BEING. It was about God WITH us.

My mother-in-law survived cancer for 5 years after that. And then it came back with a vengeance in her bones. I prayed for more time but we only had a few more years. We think of her and miss her often.

What's significant about Applesauce Bear is the reminder to truly embrace the gift of life and look beyond just "survival". Each year is precious. We don't know how long we will have with our loved ones. Many of us are missing loved ones during the holidays. This doesn't mean we ignore our heartache. Quite the opposite actually. Are we simply surviving when we could be thriving? Are we handing our hearts over to Jesus fully and completely?

May you know truly during the advent season that no matter how you may be feeling this year, know that you are not alone. Each day you have is a GIFT. Don't waste it sitting in sorrow OR not dealing with sorrow if you have been ignoring your need to feel it. Either way, what do you need? It's time to thrive and take care of yourself.

I have learned these last 8 months of many challenges we've all faced that I no longer want to just survive through hard things, I want to THRIVE. And that means I actually have to accept what I can't change, change what I personally have control over, and seek the wisdom from the Lord to know the difference. I have to do this by taking things ONE moment at a time, and living for TODAY.

I actually used to think of myself as a little fragile inside but I would never show it and I wasn't really putting myself first. So now when I see Applesauce Bear at the top of my tree I remind myself that I am not just a survivor, I am a THRIVER. I'm seeking God in my BEING. I'm seeking God WITH me in Jesus.

How about you? What do you need to do to take care of yourself and thrive during this holiday season? I would love to hear from you ❤️
-Shelley

"May the God of all hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." - Romans 15:13