by | Life Application
THE WORD IS OUT!!! So thankful that our song “Good as Old” was picked as second place winner in the American Songwriter lyric contest.
Thanks to my cowriters, Paul Ivy and Elizabeth Eckert for being a part of this special one.
Here are the full lyrics:
Good as Old – ©2023, Eagle When She Flies Music – Writers: Paul Ivy, Elizabeth Eckert, Sundi Jo Graham
Verse One:
He saw that gold ring on my finger
Asked how many years so far
I said 2 he grabbed a bottle
From the top shelf of his bar
I said, “What’s all this about ol’ whiskey
Is it really worth the price?”
He smiled at me and whispered
Can I give you some advice?
Chorus:
Love won’t stay new forever
That ring will lose its shine
But some things just get better
Like guitars and vintage wine
One thing I’ve learned that’s true
time’s worth it’s weight in gold
If you think love’s good as new
wait til it’s
Good as old
Verse Two:
He said a couple years aint nothin
The next ten will just fly by
But when you see her hold your first born
Then you’ll start to know why
Everyday’s another reason
To hold on to what you’re given
I’m not saying that it’s easy
But it’s what makes life worth living
Repeat Chorus
Bridge:
He winked at me and I said man you made my day
When I got home I knew just what to say
Repeat Chorus
If you think love’s good as new
wait til it’s
Good as old
by | Life Application
It’s the end of January, and perhaps you’ve already given up on your New Year’s Resolutions. Don’t feel bad.
Research conducted by the University of Scranton suggests that approximately 200 million Americans make New Year’s resolutions at least sometimes. However, the same research indicates that most of us are unsuccessful in achieving them. Several of us only manage to stick to our resolutions for a short time. One-quarter of individuals fail within the first week, while a third don’t make it past the first month. Less than half of us are still making an effort six months later. Merely 8 percent of us are actually able to accomplish them.
Fitness centers often sell year-long contracts, counting on the fact that most people won’t go regularly. They rely on the fact that many members will get distracted, overwhelmed, or simply lose interest after a few visits.
Our New Year’s resolutions are not just about numbers. They are about the most important aspects of our lives, such as health, wealth, relationships, and personal growth.
It’s happened to all of us. We start out strong, but then we get busy, fall behind, or eventually lose motivation. That’s why we have to break away from the faulty system.
Our dreams are way too valuable to entrust to a flawed system.
It’s okay to start fresh today, but it’s time to go beyond just dreaming. It’s time to turn those resolutions into achievable goals.
As you process through your dreams and resolutions, remember not to let yourself get caught in these traps:
Trap 1: Allowing Shame to Dictate Your Path
It’s tempting to let shame shape the narrative of the past year. Reflecting on your eating habits, work productivity, or family time might lead to resolutions like eating healthier, using your phone less, or working fewer hours. While these are admirable goals born from learning experiences, striving to avoid shame or regret falls short of pursuing a truly fulfilling life.
Regret and shame rise up when our actions deviate from our aspirations, revealing our desires and the kind of person we aim to become. Recognize the deeper motivations behind resolutions like eating healthy, using your phone less, or working fewer hours. Fear, regret, and shame might initiate change but won’t sustain the effort and transformation needed for lasting success.
Learn from the past, but let your desires shape your goals for the coming year.
Trap 2: Dreaming Without a Strategy
Noticing what you want is the beginning, but dreaming without action can hinder progress and lead to the belief that change is impossible. Dreams should propel you to act, and the bridge between dreaming and acting is turning your dreams into SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Time-Bound). Reasonable goals drive action, build confidence, and foster belief in your ability to achieve change.
Set goals that empower you and your achievements.
Trap 3: Overcommitting
The allure of reinvention with a “New year, new me” mentality is strong in the last week of December and the first few weeks of January. While change is possible, it requires effort, time, and sometimes limited resources.
Guard against overcommitting and living with unrealistic expectations. Set a limited number of goals for the year, focusing on two to three per quarter. Constraints can help create lasting changes.
As you embark on a new year full of new adventures, acknowledge your desires, set purposeful goals, and prioritize sustainable growth over radical reinvention.
The possibilities are exciting! What will you make of them?
Need help taking your goals to the next level? I recommend the Full Focus Goal-Setting Course. It’s like Google Maps for your goals. Learn more here…
by | Faith Lived Out, Life Application
I haven’t watched The Voice in years, but when Reba announced she was joining the team, I knew I wasn’t missing it. Then, add a 16-year-old Missouri gal like Ruby, who can sing your socks off. I was hooked!
Reba and Ruby teamed up on the finale to sing “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.” Right out of the gate, Reba forgot the words.
A musical legend…
A woman who’s been on more stages than most people will be on in a lifetime…
25 #1 songs…
3 Grammys…
…And a partridge in a pear tree
And she messed up on live television!
And I loved every minute of it! You mean, I’m celebrating because Reba screwed up? Absolutely not.
I loved it because it was real. No B.S. No starting over. No pretending like she had it all together. And what I loved even more was that she didn’t let it stop her. She didn’t skip a beat. She kept going. She kept singing. She kept smiling. She kept entertaining.
And she showed that extremely talented, sweet 16-year-old girl who people will try to devour in this business and the other amazingly talented contestants how to be a true performer.
She didn’t quit.
She didn’t run away.
She kept moving forward and kicked butt and took names.
Not only did she show them, but she showed me and the rest of us who are chasing this dream called music how to keep holding our heads up high and keep moving forward when we have a setback.
And she showed us authenticity. Something the world is starving for right now.
When I saw her in concert last year, she couldn’t hit a high note in a specific song because she started having a coughing fit. She’d been fighting off something for a few days.
She kept moving forward, got a tissue, blew her nose, and kept on singing. She barely missed a beat.
But what I loved even more is that she could’ve just thrown that used tissue down on the ginormous stage and had someone pick it up. Nope… she kept it in her hand, kept singing, kept doing her thing, and got rid of it as she and her band transitioned from one song to another.
Such professionalism and humility.
The world needs more Reba’s. And Ruby’s, too!
Photo Credit: Taste of Country
by | Goal Setting, Life Application
You know how life has this sneaky way of throwing habits into our routines without us even realizing it? We end up centering our lives around these daily rituals, but sometimes, they’re not the ones we really want. So, here’s a thought: why not step back and intentionally build habits that matter?
I’m throwing down a challenge for you—take control of your day, mindset, and goals. Let’s create some intentional, kick-butt habits that pave the way for your dream of success. I’ve noticed that the super successful folks I admire have all done this cool thing where they pause, analyze their lives, and intentionally build habits that bring them to life.
Pause for a sec and think about what you do every single day. Are those things you actually intended to be a big part of your daily grind?
In Michael Hyatt’s book, “No Fail Habits,” he breaks down the art of developing habits that make you a productivity ninja and keep your priorities front and center.
Today, let’s dive into a habit that’s close to my heart—gratitude. It’s not just a warm and fuzzy feeling; it’s a key to success in your personal life and business goals.
Here’s the deal: you set yourself up for success by carving out a little time in your morning and evening routine to reflect on what and who you’re thankful for.
Starting your day by focusing on your blessings helps you focus on what truly matters to you. Whether journaling, meditating, or soaking in some inspirational literature, the goal is to ensure you hit work feeling like a champ.
And don’t forget the evening ritual—and make it intentional, too. Take a moment to express gratitude, maybe share your wins with your spouse, or heck, even your cat. By intentionally weaving gratitude into your routine, you’re setting yourself up to be a positive force at work and in your personal life.
Here are three simple steps to make gratitude a daily habit:
- Morning Reflection: Jot down your morning routine and tweak it to include a few minutes of gratitude reflection. Kickstart your day feeling centered and ready to rock.
- Evening Wind Down: Wrap up your day by acknowledging your wins and what you were thankful for. Even on the most challenging days, focusing on the positive stuff reinforces that gratitude habit, making you a more positive and successful person in the long run.
- Share the Love: Spread the gratitude by sharing what you’re thankful for with someone close to you. A little appreciation can go a long way, not just for you but for them, too.
Strong and successful leaders make gratitude a part of their daily routine. It’s their secret sauce, keeping them focused on their goals and why they matter. Give it a shot; who knows, you might unlock your success story.
Need some help making gratitude a daily habit? My favorite tool is the Full Focus Planner, which I call my second brain. Seriously, it’ll change your life. Check it out here.
by | Faith Lived Out, Life Application
Yesterday was a sad day for America. It was a sad day for the Church. Yesterday was a sad day for unbelievers when they saw the hearts of many in the Church.
Before I go any further, let me say this… I do not support the Biden Administration’s release and negotiation tactics they so eagerly announced to the world yesterday. As a matter of fact, I’m yet to find one decision they’ve made that I can stand behind.
Is that because they’re Democrats? No. It’s because they are men and women who claim to know God and yet make decisions that spit in His face. Don’t worry; the Republicans are doing it too. I’ll get to that in a minute. Back to yesterday being a sad day.
My Facebook and Twitter feeds were filled with diverse people from all walks of life joining in on the conversation regarding “The Swap.” Have I mentioned it was sad?
I saw Christians, who’d only 24 hours prior shared Scriptures about love, followed by “Let’s save the WNBA druggie!” I saw disgraceful tweets from preachers who, only four days earlier, were inviting “those looking for a place to belong” to come to church. For time’s sake, you get the point.
I have to wonder how many of us were actually willing to get on our knees and cry out to God about what had just taken place. I wonder if it crossed our minds to repent for the sins of our leadership and ask God for mercy. What would’ve happened if we had started praying for that marine to get set free instead of cussing out Biden on Facebook?
Yesterday was a sad day.
Are you ready to take back your identity, tell the devil to go fly a kite, and learn who you really are in Christ? Download my free Who I Am in Christ pdf today and start speaking the truth over yourself. Reclaim your true identity and start living the life God designed for you!
But it gets even sadder. Because while Facebook was blowing up with hate, the “Respect for Marriage Act” was being voted on by Congress. Voted for by both Democrats and Republicans. Of course, they dressed it up to look pretty, but it was a devastating blow for Christians in the natural and spiritual worlds.
This nation stopped being led by Republicans vs. Democrats a long time ago. We still manage to divide it by those titles, but it means nothing. Both sides have thrown their moral compasses aside. It’s not about standing for one thing or another anymore (for the majority). No, it’s about figuring out what party you get on to make sure you win.
To make sure they win because it’s not about representing the people anymore. It’s about winning. It’s about power. It has been for a long time, but now it’s just in plain sight.
The bill’s title is a slap in the face to God because America has lost respect for a merciful God who has blessed a nation with the ability and resources to go out and love the world well.
Instead, we hate our neighbors and use our Facebook feeds as a platform to rant. And instead of interceding and repenting for the destruction we’ve caused by being passive when the Constitution is lit on fire right in front of us, the Church grabs a can of gasoline and a match and says, “I’m here for the party!”
What would happen if unbelievers actually read the things we posted on Facebook and said, “Wow, that makes me want to know more about Jesus?”
What would happen if we prayed together? What would happen if we fasted together? What would happen if we truly got on our knees as the body of Christ and repented for the destruction we’ve caused?
Miracles. Outpourings of Holy Spirit that make the day of Pentecost look like a snoozefest. People fall in love with Jesus because the Church looks like what it’s supposed to look like.
We can be angry about the decisions taking place. But let’s do something productive with that anger, my friends.
Lord, forgive me for not doing better. Clean out the dark corners of my condemning heart. Let my prayers be enough to turn the hearts of a nation. Give me a repentant heart like Daniel. Sharpen my spiritual sword to take down the giants like David. Give me the boldness of Esther. Give me a heart of humility like Jesus.
by | Faith Lived Out, Life Application
If I could go back and talk to the 17-year-old girl in this picture, there’s so much I would say.
I’d tell her that she didn’t have to pretend to be so tough.
I’d tell her that all the secrets of her past didn’t define her.
I’d tell her that sweater vests were cool, despite what others said.
I’d tell her that the shame she was carrying could be gone if she’d only let it go.
Are you ready to take back your identity, tell the devil to go fly a kite, and learn who you really are in Christ? Download my free Who I Am in Christ pdf today and start speaking the truth over yourself. Reclaim your true identity and start living the life God designed for you!
I’d tell her how much Jesus loved her, and how much He longed to set her free.
I’d tell her that she mattered and that her life was worth living.
Those are just a few of the things I’d tell her. And I want to tell you those things today, too. You matter. God has plans for your life, despite what the enemy is telling you.
Lean into Papa. He has so much love for you. He has such BIG plans for your future.
You. Are. Valuable.
