The Olympics ended, and self-discipline was definitely at the forefront of my mind! The dedication, willpower, hard work, and perseverance were a must for these athletes! Is self-discipline achieved through sheer effort, or is it the result of passionate patterns? Self-discipline? Hard work? Faith?
This question lingered as I reflected on the rhythms of my own life. A friend and I discussed our faith walks through the patterns we choose. Years ago, I started to lose momentum, but recognizing these patterns, both good and bad, helps me realign my life. Through the lens of faith, I’ve come to see how habits patterns and spiritual practices interact, shaping my journey and life IN Christ.
What’s faith got to do with it?
“How do you stay HOPEFUL?” I’m asked this often. My hope comes from Christ! He understands my messy human nature and has seen me break bad habits. I’m thankful that God knows my limitations. With Christ in me, I find strength! What patterns bring peace and harness His power?
My PASSION for Christ is what creates more consistent patterns-faith is the fuel! K.L. Hale
What defines your passions? Hobbies? Health? Career? Productivity? Finances? Emotions? Do your patterns promote peace and intimacy in Christ? Or CHAOS?
Prepared for battle? Prepared for pattern!
KL.’s Positive & Passionate Patterns
Do you feel resilient in this topsy turvy ever-changing world of circumstances & situations? How do you practice perseverance? Are you resilent? I am currently reading books by Pioneers of faith that walked YEARS ago who inspire me (thank you, Tim, for these amazing true stories). Have you ever heard of Darlene Diebler Rose or John and Betty Stam? You will soon learn from future articles! Are you familiar with Corrie Ten Boom and/or Elisabeth Elliot? “God, give me faith like that!”
“Complete surrender and “death to self” creates space for peaceful and positive patterns. Through faith, these patterns become natural, allowing us to use the power God instilled in us.” K.L. Hale
Pattern Disruptions~ what happens when we’re disrupted?
Life has a way of disrupting PATTERNS. Some of us PRACTICE THE WRONG PATTERNS (remember a few years ago when I wrote about Ruminating over the Ruins?). How can we delete, deter, or dissolve these distractions?
***Note—detachment doesn’t mean to hide away or wish the “rest of the world” to go away! I understand how this feels, though! How can we reach a world if we detach ourselves completely from PEOPLE? However, there MUST be a balance. Even Jesus needed time alone with his Father!***
Distractions will dismantle faith! The natural pattern of pausing, praying, praising, and persevering provides POWER to detach from the world. K.L. Hale
Friends, I am a “work in progress“! My personal growth and intimacy with my Creator will grow MORE if my patterns match my only pursuit—living IN and FOR Christ. Do you REALLY know how loved you are? I’ll never stop sharing!
Dear family/friends/readers–I began this article two days ago. This morning, as I began preparing to post and read, I learned of a tragedy that occured in the Ozarks. When the alert went out last night, I didn’t realize the severity of the situation unfolding. Deputy Gabriel Rameriz was shot and killed before 4 pm last night after a traffic stop. The suspect escaped and a 9 hour manhunt ended with Deputy Michael Hislope being shot and killed while trying to help rescue two other officers who had been wounded by gunfire. The suspect was shot and killed in the wooded area where he began this travesty. My heart and prayers sincerely go out to the families of these men who proudly served our country (both served in the U.S. Army before joining the Sheriff’s office❤️🤍💙).To the men who are injured and still serving, we are surrounding you and your loved ones, department, and communities in love and prayers. I can’t even begin to understand their loss. I could pray 24/7 and still not include all that needs to be shared with our Creator. When I go quiet on WP you know it’s because I’m prepared for patterns as those around me have to go to battle. I’ll stand for good and the promises that only our Creator can keep. May He be with us all. God bless you, my friends. ❣️🙏🏻
Don’t lose hope! Find faith!❣️
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And God bless you kind lady, for being that light in the dark to draw those unsure emotions, help many a heart, and dare to stand in a love so powerfully promised from Jesus.
And my heart and love go out to the families, and those that lost their lives to keep us safe. Seemingly that strength in our hearts is being tested so much more in these days, so much is happening.
A beautiful post Karla, that ability to believe and trust as only love can do. To sing from where your heart has found is a blessing gratefully received. Big hugs to you and Finn, much love and light from across the blue…to the lady who showed me the meaning of trust truly, as she showed its light on here. Thank you 🤗🥰🤣🛵🥾🐾🦓🎶🕊️🌊🐬🦭🐳❤️🙏
Mark, thank you, my friend for such kind and generous words—always! I know no other love like this! I can’t help it! lol!
Thank you for joining me in prayers and love for these families—just tragic! A friend used these words today, “Things seem heavy.” It’s true, Mark. Many I know are facing such loss and/or dooming loss.
At a store today, owned by a man in his 80’s, his topic of conversation was “things are just so different today!”
It’s easy to dismiss that and say, “yeah, they’ve said that every decade since the beginning of time.” Which I’m sure is true. But we’re living it in NOW so it’s what we know. We are filled with such distraction and the decline in mental health in adolescence, that began in 2010 or thereafter, was also a decline in mine? I’d like to say I have grit and determination—we all have things in our lives that have brought us to our “knees” (it’s a matter of when for many, not IF). With all the ways we can stay connected how is it that we are so detached from matters most? I don’t get it, Mark. But I trust God! I give it ALL TO HIM and carry on with what matters to HIM.
I pray that you’re doing as well as possible in your country! As John Malone says, ‘You were the first cab off the rank” today, Mark!
Finn and I send our love and prayers across the big blue to YOU too! Thank you for your support and friendship! 🙏🩵💖🦓🌊🐬🙏🌈
Yes, I was first cab off the rank today. Very unusual 🤣 And going well even if the heat is still firing the days up at the moment 😂❤️
And it is a ‘crazy’ time, I can feel the energy. What is so unusual is it has been building for some time (that I have felt), and over three years at that. And I was given a ‘nudge’ from Spirit yesterday. It was a gift I think, to see and understand my journey further with the depth of that ‘trust’ that you showed me. Thank you again for that, the timing, as usual, was spot on so I could see His love truly 🤗🥰
Big hugs, lots of that love coming over to you and Finn. And Ginger said belly rubs for Finn too, I didn’t think of that 😂 Support and friendship always on those waves coming over kind lady. I hope you are going well, and His love is holding you beautifully too my friend. Hang in there 🤗🥰🤣🐾🦓🌊🐬🦭🐳❤️🙏
So, you have the heat firing up over there too? It’s definitley a “humanity” issue–world-wide! Is the heat also a summer thing for you in the Down Under right now?
Oh, Finley loves the Ginger belly rubs (and the 1352058025202 I give her a day!!! I MIGHT be exagerrating the number, tee hee).
All is going the best it can, Mark. I’m having some pain at night which is strange. Possibly because I’m so patterned during the day that when it’s there, I can pray it away, or do other things that help. At night, it can be the way I’m sleeping? Or digestion? But oddly, in the same place it started years ago. But I’m not concerned overall. It’s cancer. I expect there to be pain at times. It’s just typically with my bones, but I’ve been working hard to increase muscle to protect them. I’ll have my next BIG scan March 26th. I’ll be curious to see if dropping the mgs of my treatment has been effective–or the cause of the new pain? Treatment not strong enough? I don’t know. But I DO KNOW who DOES and I trust Christ COMPLETELY! All is well in my soul. I’m happy for that!
Big hugs and love to you. Keep being a light and helping us all giggle and also, use love, kindness, and gratitude to spread to others like you do. I know that you face challenges and I’m proud of you!
Here’s to us winning! And let’s throw in some dark chocolate! 🤗💚❤️🙏🏻💙🤍❣️😂😂
The heat is definitely with us even though this month is the last month of summer. The temps aren’t too bad hovering around 32C but this half of summer is the humid bit making life a bit sticky 😊
Finn will still say it is not enough Karla, love needs to be touched, constantly 🤣
I’ll send many healing prayers for that cancer kind lady, give it the love that it needs to go to sleep too. We tend to busy ourselves and keep distracted by day, the nights our bodies go into a natural healing mode so feeling things take on a whole new way. Maybe Finn can give you a belly rub as well, check out the healing powers of a loving puppy 😂 In fact I’ve heard they can smell cancer and will lick it or lay on it like a protective soul 🤗 And many blessings for next months scan, after Finn’s healing they will have nothing to find 😀❤️🙏
I had a visitor last night and shown something so beautiful and profound. I just need to contemplate it a little there was so much in it. A post is coming on Karla, but as you said, hold your faith in something so incredible, I can barely put it into words now after ‘seeing’ the beauty we have been given from a whole new direction. Your ‘trust’ has spoken and opened something wonderful so I could see. Again, thank you 🤗❤️🙏
Big hugs to you and Finn, much love too for that gift of understanding kind lady. And oh yes, loving understanding, winning with faith and dark chocolate, what more do we need 🤣🐾💜🦓🤗🌊💛🐬💕🦭😂💗🐳❤️🙏
Exactly, Mark!
You shared an interesting fact about dogs ~ Finn does sense it. She will lay exactly by the area I hurt. I don’t know if she can give belly rubs though! lol!
I’m excited to hear about the special visitor and upcoming article! I give all glory to God for allowing my journey of faith and trust to help yours! You have done that for me also!
It won’t be long until our seasons shift across the globe~ but our faith and love will remain in the constant of God~ who never changes! Yay! Here’s to His love, friendship, and chocolate! 🥰🤗🙏🎶 🐬 🦓 ✨✨❤️🩹❤️🩹
I love these strategies Karla! it’s so easy to throw up your arms and let it all go but the path of purpose and intentionality requires the energy to keep going and focus.
thank you for being an inspiration! Mike
Thank you, Mike! “…the path of purpose and intentionality requires the energy to keep going and focus!” Such truth and wisdom! It would be easy to fold wouldn’t it? But for the power and patterns to keep persevering! It’s in us! You’re so kind, my friend. I appreciate you! Many blessings!
Thank you for sharing your meditations on faith and prayer Karla. Incidentally I added quotes on faith in my commonplace book yesterday from two people you quote as well! Elizabeth Elliot: “faith does not eliminate questions. But faith knows where to take them.” Corrie Ten Boom: ” Faith sees the invisible, believes the unbelievable, and receives the impossible. ”
I will pray for the victims of that awful situation. May our Father God guide and bless you and your family each day sister 🙏
Alan, thank you for sharing your kind, wise, and faithful words! I will read your post—how wonderful! Such amazing testimonies of faith! It’s my blessing to share these—I would believe yours to be similar too! It was helpful for me to reflect on the patterns that I found to be my “way of life”—which I WANT and DESIRE to walk in THE WAY. And in the last decade journeys I’m finding this pattern is remaining and growing even more steady. I’m a “work in progress”, Alan. I look back and can’t help but praise God for all He’s brought me through and for the gift of this very HOUR and typing you. God bless you and your family brother! Thank you again for praying for the victims and being HERE! 🙏
FROM: Murphy’s Law
Karla, this is a powerful post and beautifully done. Bravo! You are the poster girl for passion and compassion. We all, I think, have our own set of patterns, habits, rituals, routines. The trick is to know which ones and when to break away from any of them and when to work harder to enhance them.
I join you in hoping the loved ones of the slain and injured deputies can be comforted after such a senseless tragedy. I can’t even begin to imagine the sheer tragedy Nancy Guthrie and her loved ones are experiencing. And how many times, all over the world, are these scenarios playing out?
My love and prayers to you and sweet Miss Finley. Sending gentle hugs to you and belly rubs for Finley. Stay focused….you will reach your goal dear friend.
Love, ginger 💙🙏🏻❤️🦓
Ginger, you’re such a gift to me, dear friend. Do you know how much I appreciate your wisdom, thoughtfulness, and friendship? You’ve experienced loss, yet, you continue to always lift everyone around you.
Once we find our rhythms, the songs can change can’t they? I know that through “letting go” of what I can’t control and allowing my childlike faith to accept and embrace, I’ve witnessed miracles and seen things that skepticism and fear never would’ve experienced! That’s why children are so dear to me. They just embrace the moments and don’t have to know the “why’s” or “What if’s?” In this Internet world, we know TOO much? It’s handy, but golly, I wasn’t made to know THIS much.
The Nancy Guthrie case is so sad. So many of these scenarios…I’m not on my TV much, but I watch on YouTube and have been, as of lately, getting bits and pieces of information. When I read comments, I’m saddened. Even people commenting start arguing? There’s so much TENSION in the world. The best thing I can do is continue to love God and others the best possible and let go of the things that are not life-giving. With my grands, my aging parents, health…life will continue to have different phases, as you have lived and know well. It’s important that I keep priorities straight!
I love WP because of its authenticity and friendship like you, Ginger. I’m so happy we can all encourage one another through our journeys.
You are such an encouragement to Finley and I. She appreciates the belly rubs (I just gave them to her and she’s fluffy after a brushing—and in desperate need of more grooming, but still lovable!). We love you! Please take care. We’re sending love and prayers to you! ❤️🙏🐾
Karla this is an uplifting post – it requires awareness to listen and pray. God hears us and knows our hearts and minds… The tragic deaths of the police officers demands prayers and so I’m praying…
Thank you, Val! You’re so precious to stop by—-I miss you and Mochi and pray you are both well (and Sparky, all the men and family, and the prayer warriors). God knows our hearts and hears us. Amen. Thank you for being such a prayer warrior and cherished friend. Love to you and Mochi from Finn and I.
A very encouraging post, Karla. I love your spirit in the midst of adversity! Your faith carries you through! Sad to hear of the officers who were killed. It is such a tragedy when these things happen.
Here in Charlotte, teens are shooting other teens on a daily basis! It is so sad to think that they feel this is the only option when settling a dispute! Even more sad is when children get caught in the crossfire!
Keep up the good work my friend. Good to see your posts coming through!
Thank you, Dwight, for your encouragement and support! You always cheer me on, my friend.
It’s so tragic that teens are dying on the streets and other bystanders are in the crossfire, too. SO SAD!!!
On a positive note for our area, gun violence has been trending down (hit its lowest level in nearly a decade in 2024, according to the Springfield Daily Citizen), even with staffing challenges. I pray it stays this way. I will pray for your city and citizens, too, Dwight. We’re all in this together.
You are welcome, Karla. It is very sad and I hope we can find a way to rechannel these teens into a more postitive why of life.
Karla, this is beautiful and real.
I love how you connect passion, patterns, and faith. You’re right. What we practice shapes who we become. When Christ is the focus, the patterns start to change.
My heart also aches reading about those deputies. Praying for their families and everyone affected.
God Continue to Bless You and Kepp you in His Loving Embrace… And thank you for always pointing us back to Hope in Him. You are such a Light, Inspiration, Joy and Blessing…
How precious, Willie. Thank you, brother.
You are one of those whose practices have become who you are in Christ! It shines and shows!
God bless you and your wonderful family. You’re a light and blessing!
May the families feel the love and prayers going up for them 😢🙏♥️♥️ take care, brother
God Bless You my Dear Friend and Sister 🤗🙏 You Are Loved
a great post, Karla : yes, I must work more on distractions ; yes, I noticed throughout the gospels that Jesus often withdrew by himself to pray —
What a dangerous job that is, being a cop. I think you’d have to establish some strong patterns of courage and discipline to take the risks that our men and women in uniform take.
Thanks for taking a break from your patterns to inspire us with your words.
I couldn’t be a cop, Tippy. I don’t have that kind of courage and discipline.
It’s my blessing to be here. Tippy, when I see your name, I smile! I’m happy to know you’re doing well and keeping your sense of humor, too. My patterns are keeping me on Earth, my friend.
To write an article takes me much time. They use to “flow” so much easier. My eyes (changing prescription, fuzziness after too much tech, etc…), elbows (burning?), bones…keeping first things first…these things make it harder to publish and be “here”.
Yet, how blessed am I to be HERE to be in this phase with my precious aging parents and all the things that come with this disease, their lives, and the lives of all around us. That’s why I can’t complain, Tippy. I just can’t.
Take care, dear friend.
Thank you, Karla-so very encouraging! I love the word “patterns” replacing “habits.” Timely reminders. ❤️ It made me think of a book I love-Hinds Feet On High Places by Hannah Hurnard. It just might be time to revisit. Much love.
Kelley, it’s my pleasure to “reframe” the word. When I think of habits, I automatically think of my coffee habit! Lol Or other habits so the “pattern” came to me as I was talking to a dear friend. It truly was the Spirit!
I have not heard of that author or book so I’ll go check it out!
I appreciate you, sweet friend. Thank you for your precious “sisterhood”! Much love and hugs to you! 💚🙏🏻💚
Oh my, such tragedy with deputies and poor soul who they confronted & then were chasing. Detaching from life’s ugly, sad messiness is hard. It can be consuming but the answer hits me
I was wondering if you had heard, Sue. It was at the new roundabout at the junction on HWY 160 outside of Reeds Spring. I had no idea the severity of what was unfolding–words can’t describe the tragedy! Like you, the poor soul who lost his life AND took 2 with him while changing two more lives. God help us all!
I know you know the answer, precious friend. I’ve been praying specific prayers for you since we last communicated. I’m sending so much love. ❤️🙏🏻
“Complete surrender and “death to self” creates space for peaceful and positive patterns. Through faith, these patterns become natural, allowing us to use the power God instilled in us.” K.L. Hale
A beautiful post, Karla. I love Elisabeth Elliot’s wisdom from God’s Word and Corrie Ten Boom’s faithfulness. My heart breaks for the families of the two police officers killed!
Praying always for you, my friend 🙏🏻❤️🙏🏻
Pam, you’re so precious to me. Thank you. You KNOW this faithfulness…through it all!
I know your heart, sweet friend. The prayers for these families are heard. I can’t imagine the depth of the loss in this way!
I’m praying for you too, Pam. Happy belated anniversary to you and Butch. I love you, dearly! ❤️🙏🏻🎶
Karla, I am so sorry to hear about this tragedy. I agree with you in prayer for the injured and all family members of those affected by this terrible attack on the police. May they know the God of all comfort. Blessings, dear friend! 🙏💕🐾
Thank you for joining us in prayer and comfort, sweet Cindy. Finley and I send love and prayers to you and Henry, my friend. ❤️🙏🏻🐾🐾🐾
What a beautiful and thought provoking post, Karla. Thank you for this gift as I start my day today. You must have been “reading my mail” to know I needed a little guidance about dealing with distractions. There are SO MANY! Through it all, faithful friends line you help me keep the nose of this ship pointed in the right direction.
Happy Wednesday! I found this thoughtful response in my spam folder. Althought it just states the name, “Someone”, I appreciate your kind words!
The distractions are MANY aren’t they? I’m so happy you have faithful friends and I appreciate you! Many blessings!
‘Detachment’ was the one aspect of faith that really spoke to me (via Buddhism) before I was a believer, Karla. And yet I knew something was missing; it was an incomplete concept. I finally found it in loving and following Christ. And now, detachment (surrender, letting go) is a vital part of my ‘attachment’ to Him.
That’s so profound, Mitch. THANK YOU for sharing this. Spot on!
“it was an incomplete concept.” And with Christ in us it all MAKES SENSE why there’s a New Covenant! He literally nailed it all when HE took the nails (it brings me to tears).
Thank you for sharing your wisdom, my friend. Your support and prayers encourage me!
“With Christ in me, I find strength!” A beautiful thought. Thank you Karla.
Thank you, Brian!!
❤️