SO MUCH LOVE

Adored

Psalm 8:34 (NLT) – “When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers—the moon and the stars you set in place—what are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them?”

I actually have these thoughts a lot, particularly when I am blessed to experience the true beauty of this world…or even the universe…that God has created. Somehow, both the vastness of the night sky and the delicate and intricate detail of a butterfly’s wings…the expansive and the tiny things… inspire me to marvel at the fact that God thoughtfully and lovingly created ME, and that I too am fearfully and wonderfully made.

I am humbled by the simple notion that He knows my name, my heart, my soul…has numbered every slowly graying hair on my head…and that He deigns to concern Himself with what’s going on in MY life. The Master and Creator of the universe cares when I’m sad, rejoices in my joy, and desires my worship, my praise, and most of all, my time and relationship. He is my Provider, my Healer, my Protector, and He will move mountains and dispatch angel armies to come to my rescue—most times without my ever knowing or perceiving that He has even lifted a metaphorical finger.

Isn’t it wonderfully overwhelming and mind-blowing to know that you are loved so incredibly much? Even though we’re so small, and He is so BIG? And to know that NOTHING can ever separate us from that love—not death or life, angels or demons, the present or the future, heights or depths, or anything else in creation (Romans 8:38-39)…Nothing…not our mistakes or mishaps, our bad behavior or bad decisions, our anger or our tears, our insecurities or our imperfections….Nothing can stop our God from loving us fully and completely.

Hold that in your heart and let it carry you through the day today. Let it keep you afloat as you ride the waves of the highs and lows of this life. YOU have a God who ADORES you, and He will keep loving you until the end of time.

Shine Your Light.

Fixing Our Focus

Philippians 4:8 (NIV) – “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”

My mind is always busy. Whether I’m just opening my eyes to face a new day or in the midst of tackling my long list of to-dos for the week, my brain is constantly working, thinking, assessing, solving the problems of the world (or so I like to think).

And that’s on a good day. We won’t even talk about the way my mind hones in on and attaches itself to the mistakes of the moment, the slights, the hurts, and the disappointments…the things that stir up feelings of anxiety, fear, or even hopelessness and helplessness. In those moments, my mind becomes like an endless loop that won’t stop until I make a conscious decision to look away from those things and look up to the One who calms all of my fears and gives me such sweet peace.

Far too often, though, once I’ve regained my center…my calm…I look away, quickly refocusing on getting back to the next thing on my list of to-dos.

Rarely…so rarely…does my mind take a moment to just…. rest—no pondering, no creating or developing, no trying to whittle away at everything that needs fixing in my work, my life…in my family’s lives… my friends’….or the world beyond my little piece of the planet—I’m talking about just pausing to consider the beauty and the wonder and the joys of this life and this amazing world that God has created and gifted to us.

Philippians 4:8 instructs us to take care about what we spend our time focusing on each day. In this verse, Paul calls us to place our focus on what is pure, lovely, admirable, noble, right, excellent, and praiseworthy.  

It’s so easy—with our busy lives and our constant striving to achieve the goals we’ve set for ourselves—for our minds to develop a singular focus on accomplishing all that our hearts desire, leaving little room to consider the joy, peace, and beauty of this life. It’s so easy—with the constant influx of images and messages and news and opinions that bombard us every day on our phones, on TV, and in the news—to feel overwhelmed with frustration, fear, anxiety, and disappointment about everything that’s going on in the world, and lose sight of all that is noble, right, and true.

But the Word calls us to take the time to look away from these things, look up, and let the Spirit guide our focus to the things of God that will lift our hearts and our spirits, give us peace, and remind us of our path, our purpose, and the unwavering truth that despite the chaos that we see and feel around us, God is sovereign, He is in control, and His purpose will prevail.

And when the fear and anxiety seem too much to bear, He reminds us that if we come to Him with our prayers and petitions, possessing a spirit of gratitude, His perfect peace, that transcends all understanding, will guard our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6-7).

What are you focusing on today? Through what lens are you choosing to see the world? Is it one of busyness, anxiety, frustration, or fear, or one that helps you to see all that is right, lovely, and praiseworthy in this life? Make your choice. Some days, you may have to make that choice over and over again. But don’t worry, when your strength fails and your perspective falters, God is always there, waiting to give you a faith infusion to get you back on track and your world back in focus.

Shine your light.

Additional Scriptures:

Philippians 4:6-7: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Photo Credit: https://www.thenivbible.com/blog/how-to-stay-focused-on-god-and-not-the-obstacles-of-life/

Never Alone

GOD’S PRESENCE

Isaiah 41:13 (NIV) – “For I am the Lord your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, ‘Do not fear; I will help you.”

This verse always speaks deeply to me and conjures this meaningful image of a doting Father reaching down to take the hand of a small child to guide and direct her and keep her from stumbling as she tests her legs and finds her footing. In my heart, I believe that’s how God walks beside us, ready and waiting, hand outstretched, for the moments that we stumble as we try to get the hang of this thing called life.

It truly warms my heart and gives me peace to know that God is right beside me, whether I am wandering through a valley or reaching a mountain’s peak. Understanding that the sovereign, all-powerful, all-knowing God, who created the universe, actually knows my name and is aware of my existence…and not only that… He actually deigns to involve himself in my life…guiding, protecting, strengthening…it so often leaves me in such complete and total awe!

The other day, after a pretty rough week filled with stress and anxiety, I was leaving for one of my “worship walks” in this greenway close to my house. These walks are an opportunity to exercise my body while feeding my soul. As I walk, I listen to praise and worship music, marveling at the beauty of nature…. of God’s creations. I always feel closer to God in these spaces.

As I started walking toward the greenway, I said a quick prayer, “Let me see You today, God.” In that request, I meant that I wanted to feel the peace of His presence as I took in the beauty around me and be reminded that despite the challenges of the week, He was with me.

It was a wonderful walk, and on my way back, I saw this beautiful blue butterfly. I see butterflies often in this area, but I’d not seen one like this one outside of a museum or a butterfly garden. I marveled at it for a moment, wishing I had my camera, then went on my way; but it started to move in the same direction, parallel to me. I thought, “That’s cool!” and turned my attention back to the path ahead to resume walking.

The butterfly then darted in front of me, circled me, then flew to the trees on my right. It was so close that I had to stop so that I didn’t collide with it. I took a moment to laugh in delight, then turned back to the path and again continued walking. Over the course of about a quarter mile, that butterfly flew beside me and crossed my path, circling me, two more times. Each time it flew close then darted back to the trees.

By the third time that this happened, I began to wonder, “Is that You, God? Is this You answering my prayer? Showing me Your Presence?”

The Word says, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13 NIV). Was this one of those moments? The possibility both filled me with awe and humility, considering the possibility that God might be revealing His presence to me in that moment…responding to my plea.

It’s so amazing to know that God is always present; that He hears our prayers, and that when we need Him, when we’re in danger of stumbling, or when are hearts and spirits are heavy, He will make His presence known, gently take our hand and guiding us through moments of anxiety, frustration, confusion, and pain.

He is our loving Father, and while it’s not always in His plan to remove the challenges and difficult situations from our lives, He will always make sure that, if we look for Him with all our hearts, we will see some sign that He is with us, walking right by our side.

Image Credits

Photo 1: https://www.learnreligions.com/butterflies-in-the-bible-meaning-and-symbolism-4846560

Photo 2: https://spiritualdesk.com/white-butterfly-christian-spiritual-meaning/

Photo 3: https://answeredfaith.com/butterfly-bible-lesson/

Remembering What Matters

PRIORITIES

Luke 10:38-40 – “Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, ‘Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.’”

There was a period, about a month ago, where I found myself praying and journaling about feeling overwhelmed by the weight of my responsibilities and my “to do” list. My brain constantly goes a mile a minute, mentally juggling all of the balls that I have in the air, trying to ensure that not even one of them drops. I put a lot of pressure on myself. I always have. It’s definitely an area of growth for me—acknowledging that the world WILL NOT END if I take a breath, take a break, and take care of myself for a moment. I’m trying hard these days to be intentional about finding balance; about shutting off my phone and laptop and spending time with the people and things that matter most to me.

I was reading the Word one morning, when I stumbled upon a nice little divine reminder of the importance of remembering what really matters. The story? Mary and Martha! I’m sure you know it well. Jesus drops by Mary and Martha’s house with a big crowd, and the two women are technically responsible for providing a meal for the group. While Martha gets right to work, fretting about all that needs to be done and worrying about getting everything just right (or so I imagine); Mary, her sister, leaves her to it and simply sits at Jesus’ feet to soak in as much peace and love and wisdom as she can. When Martha realizes that Mary has left her to do everything alone, she is furious and complains to Jesus that Mary needs to get up and get to work!

Jesus responds to her (and it felt at the time I read it, to me) by saying, “Martha, Martha…you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:41-42)

I’ve read this story so many times, but on that day, I was truly convicted. How often do we run around, frantic, because we have so much to do and so little time to do it. We believe that if we don’t carry the weight of it all ourselves, or take responsibility for the lion’s share of work, it won’t get done, and…well…the world will basically end (or at least that’s what we tell ourselves). We work ourselves to death sometimes trying to do it all…have it all…but in the end, we wind up neglecting what really matters—our relationships, our spirit, ourselves…

This scripture is a great reminder that although we may have a tendency to worry about the countless tasks, situations, responsibilities, and challenges in our lives, few of those things really matter in the grand scheme of things. Most of the time, the world really won’t end if we stop and take a moment to rest our minds and bodies, renew ourselves, revive our relationships, and reconnect with our Lord and Savior, who promises to give us peace, rest, and relief from our heavy burdens. (Matthew 11:28)

Shine Your Light!

Additional Scriptures

Matthew 11:28 – “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

Photo Credits

Photo 1: https://online.jwu.edu/blog/how-make-your-priorities-priority

Photo 2: http://www.lifechurchbuffalo.com/podcast/2018/1/3/first-things-first

Photo 3: https://lutonmuslimjournal.com/heart/which-acts/attachment/priorities/

Photo 4: https://www.davidirvine.com/tyranny-urgency-many-priorities-means-nothing-priority/

Speak Life

THE POWER OF THE TONGUE

Proverbs 18:21 – “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”

A couple of months ago, I found myself having a bit of a rough time, and I didn’t felt like myself for weeks. At the same time, my professional life ramped up to the point where I would feel overwhelmed even had I been in a normal state of mind. Needless to say, I spent a lot of time filling my husband’s ears with all of my woes, bemoaning the challenges that this series of events was presenting to my relative sanity.

Eventually, though, God reminded me during my daily study about the key role that the words that we speak can have on our reality. I can assure you that my rants included very little positivity, and I realized that I was contributing to my own challenges simply by focusing on (and reinforcing through my words) the negative.

The Word says that death and LIFE are in the power of the tongue (Proverbs 18:21), and what we say matters; the things that we speak over our lives affect our attitudes and our energy, and have the potential to reinforce both the good and the bad in our lives.

Even when the trials come, and the outlook seems bleak; it is still incumbent upon us to speak life over our situations…even the ones that seem dead and without hope of revival. Romans 4:17b states that God “gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did.” No situation is truly dead when our God is involved, and your word of faith—which can set off a chain reaction in your spirit and that of those around you—may be just what God was waiting for to move in a mighty and miraculous way in your life.

The next time you find yourself in a situation that seems hopeless or insurmountable, make a conscious decision to speak life over your circumstance. You’ll create an atmosphere for God to breathe life into a seemingly dead situation.

Speak Life!

And Shine Your Light…

Additional Scriptures

Ephesians 4:29 – “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” (NIV)

Matthew 12:36 – “I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak.” (ESV)

Matthew 12:37 – “For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” (ESV)

James 3:3-6 – “The tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches. But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. And among all the parts of the body, the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself.” (NLT)

Photo Credits

Photo 1: https://dashthebook.wordpress.com/2017/03/05/speak-life-in-the-parcc/

Photo 2: https://churchgraphicsinc.com/product/speak-life-sermon-graphic/

Photo 3: https://lorettachandler.com/speak-with-faith/

Waiting for Rain

PERSISTENCE AND FAITH

1 Kings 18:43-44 – “Go and look toward the sea, [Elijah] told his servant. And he went up and looked. ‘There is nothing there,’ he said. Seven times, Elijah said, ‘Go back.’ The seventh time, the servant reported, ‘A cloud as small as a man’s hand is rising from the sea.’ So Elijah said, ‘Go and tell Ahab, ‘Hitch up your chariot and go down before the rain stops you.’” (NIV)

I love biblical stories about Elijah and Elisha. To me, they’re like biblical superheroes. With their mighty faith, they were able to achieve such miraculous wonders, second only to Jesus. But I’ll explore them more fully on another day.

In today’s passage, the land of Israel experienced a great drought because they had turned away from the Lord. After three years, God sent Elijah to King Ahab to tell him that the drought was over and the rain they so desperately needed was on the way. After delivering the message, Elijah went up to Mount Carmel to pray. At first, he saw no response to his prayers, but he persisted. He sent his servant seven times to look for any evidence of a rain cloud, and on the seventh time, a small rain cloud had begun to swell…

It didn’t matter the report, what eyes saw, or ears heard, Elijah trusted the Word of God, believing, persisting, until he saw its manifestation.

It’s often challenging to have that level of faith today. There are so many things to distract us from the deep, singular relationship with God that such faith requires. But Elijah stands through the ages as a model of what real faith looks like, and what it can manifest in this earthly realm, particularly when we are seeking God’s will above our own.

Are you in a posture of waiting? Hoping for a response from God? Stand firm and persist in your faith. God will ALWAYS answer in time.

I mentioned before that my husband and I are in a posture of waiting in faith. We have received several reports that things were not looking good for us, but we have persisted in prayer and have continued to stand firm in our faith that God has the final say. A few weeks ago, during Sunday service, I sought God for confirmation that our waiting would not be in vain, and I received it! Our blessing, our miracle, is on the way! I see the tiny rain cloud and will continue to pray in faith as I “wait for rain!”

Shine Your Light!

Additional Scripture

1 John 5: 14-15 – “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.” (NIV)

Songs

There Is a Cloud (Live) – Elevation Worship

Rain on Us – Earnest Pugh

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Photo Credits

Photo 1: https://www.theoakleafnews.com/variety/2019/10/08/waiting-for-rain/

Photo 2: https://www.campsitephotos.com/blog/campground-reviews-adventures/roll-with-the-changes/

Photo 3: https://time.com/4521057/megadrought-california-climate-change/

Photo 4: https://www.thriftyfun.com/Storm-Cloud-Photos.html

Photo 5: https://fadingmeta.wordpress.com/2012/08/05/waiting-for-that-rain/

God’s Plan

SURRENDER

Jeremiah 29:11-12 – “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.’”

This scripture is a great companion to the one that I noted in my previous post (This Little Light of Mine):

Proverbs 3:5-6 – “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”

My husband and I recently celebrated our one year anniversary (we’re marriage veterans now! 🙂 ). I know I’m still technically in the newlywed/honeymoon phase, but I have to say that I really do love being married. I highly recommend it (with the right person 😉 )! Despite the joy that my husband brings to my life, our journey this past 1.25 years has had its challenges, and life has definitely thrown us a few curve balls; but with God’s strength, we have made it through each and every trial.

Since we first married, my husband and I have been praying and hoping for a specific move of God; and as yet, the move we seek has not manifested. We have experienced disappointment and frustration because of this delay, but we remain steadfast in our hope, because we know that God’s plan is to prosper us and give us hope and a future. This faith has given us certainty that, at the right time, God will move in a miraculous, undeniable way!

Now, while we would prefer that this move happen sooner than later, we have to remind ourselves (often) that God’s perfect timing, His perfect plan, is always better than anything that we could imagine. Ultimately, we have to trust Him, leaning not on our own understanding, or on our own vision of how and when things should be. We have to maintain that trust…that faith…when (even in the temporary) the miracle doesn’t manifest.

God is sovereign. He is in control. And if we say that we surrender our lives to Him, we must do it completely, even if it means a delay, or even an outright denial, of our most ardent prayers. God knows best, and as always, we must remember that ultimately, everything will work for our good and His glory.

Shine Your Light!

SONGS

I Surrender – Hillsong United

I Surrender All – Israel Houghton

This Little Light of Mine

FAITH

Proverbs 3:5-6 – “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”

I love this scripture. It is definitely one of my favorites. It’s a poignant reminder that God’s work and move in our lives is not always going to make sense to us…and that’s okay. “His ways are not our ways, and His thoughts are not our thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9)

What we do know, and can always cling to, is that our God is all-powerful, all-knowing…He stands outside of time. He sees and knows things that we cannot, and He can see an infinite number of moves ahead to perceive how everything comes together to work for our good and His glory. Knowing this makes it easier to trust Him, even in the trials of life, because we understand that He is guiding our path and leading us through the test.

I was watching a TV show the other day, about a woman who was waiting on a miracle that never came. She waited and prayed in faith. She remained steadfast throughout it all. During a conversation with a nonbeliever, after all was said and done, she shared that she was okay, at peace, even though she did not receive her miracle. She explained to him that faith was about continuing to trust and believe, even when the miracle doesn’t come. Touched by her faith, the nonbeliever declared that even though it wasn’t something he did, he would pray for her. She smiled softly and replied, “Wow, that’s a miracle right there.”

I loved that scene, and must admit that I was touched, as well. It was a great depiction of how our decision to trust God, with all our heart, in the midst of our struggle, when we don’t see Him move, when the miracle doesn’t come…can be just the thing that someone observing our walk may need to come to Christ. Your faith shines bright and draws other to God.

Shine Your Light!

ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURE

Matthew 5:14-16 – ¹⁴ “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.¹⁵ Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. ¹⁶ In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

SONGS

This Little Light of Mine – Addison Road

Beauty from Ashes

Isaiah 61:3

To all who mourn in Israel,^[a]
    he will give a crown of beauty for ashes,
a joyous blessing instead of mourning,
    festive praise instead of despair.
In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks
    that the Lord has planted for his own glory.

Peace in the Storm

Mark 4:39 – “Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, ‘Peace, be still!’ And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.”

Psalm 46:10a – “He says, ‘Be still, and know that I am God'”

Isaiah 26:3 – “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.”

Mountain Movers (Pt. 2)

Choose Faith

See Also: Mountain Movers (Pt. 1)

Pondering the Plank

Self-Awareness

John 3:20-21 – “Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.”

So, I was reading this scripture during my quiet time, and it immediately brought to mind an individual in my life about whom I have been quite concerned. Some questionable things have recently come to light, and I wrote an entire little journal entry all about her and her transgressions. However, when I turned from my writings to continue reading, Matthew 7:3-5—the scripture about the plank in one’s own eye—came to mind. So, I gave the scripture above a second read and looked inward this time, reminding myself that there are still some dark and dusty corners in my own life that I have not been quick to shed light on. In doing so, God revealed to me some areas of growth that needed my attention more than did the shortcomings of any other individual.

He particularly brought to mind some of the challenges that I experienced in my transition into married life. My husband and I have been married for a whopping  six months now 😁, and while we are exceptionally open with each other, I know that there are things that I do that he doesn’t love (if you can believe that! 😳). Initially, when I discovered these little irritants, I would go out of my way to avoid conflict by…you know…relieving him of the burden of…um…knowing about them (Yikes!). I know! I know! That can never end well! It took about a month for me to stop hiding from him the little superfluous purchases here and there, my trips to Wendy’s for unhealthy fare, and my admittedly less than ideal snacking habits. Then, too, I had to remind myself of the notion that if I have to hide what I’m doing from my husband (or anyone close to me for that matter), I probably shouldn’t be doing it.

This is just one of the many areas of growth in my life. I would be here forever if I tried to list them all, because I have my own nice little share of flaws and faults. This passage was a great reminder that it really is easier to focus on others’ shortcomings than it is to acknowledge our own. No one is perfect, and we do ourselves and those around us a disservice when we fail to realize that we all have room to grow. Our job is not to condemn others for their faults (although sometimes, God does call us to aid in His correction), but rather to focus on acknowledging and seeking God’s help in correcting our own areas of weakness so that we are better prepared to serve as a vessel for God’s love, His light, His acceptance, and His forgiveness. (See my previous post on Forgiveness)

Matthew 7:3-4 – ³ “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? ⁴ How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? ⁵ You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

Shine Your Light!

Thoughts, reactions, or testimonies? Leave a comment below! I look forward to hearing from you!

Picture 1: Obtained from http://karenhalliburton.com/3-Ways-Leaders-Become-SelfAware-Helping-Leaders-Grow.html

Picture 2: Obtained from https://humblewalk.wordpress.com/2013/04/16/the-plank-in-my-eye/

Letting Go

FORGIVENESS

Mark 11:25 – “And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive your sins.”

Forgiveness can be hard sometimes. Minor slights we often can easily absolve, but the wounds that cut deeply, particularly those inflicted by the people closest to us—who we thought we could trust with our hearts, our confidence, a portion of our lives—are often the hardest to excuse.

I’ve actually been dealing with this issue for a while now—trying to come to terms with a wound caused by individuals that I considered to be like family. The slight occurred years ago, and it is not something that I think of often (we no longer communicate); however, it surprises me, when the situation does come to mind, that I’m still hurt and offended when I think about it. I want so badly to forgive and forget; but my flesh, and this part of me that places undue importance on “understanding why,” has made that key part of the healing process somewhat elusive. And so, in this respect, I am still very much a work in progress.

The Bible shows us that God takes forgiveness very seriously. Before we pray (Mark 11:25) or even present our offerings (Matthew 5:23-24), we are to come with a clear heart, having resolved all conflicts and absolved all slights against us (both seeking and granting forgiveness when necessary). Oftentimes, as in my case, this process is not something that we can do in our own power, and we must look to God for the guidance and the strength to show grace to someone who has not earned it in any way—much like God shows us such grace each and every day.

Mark 11:25, Luke 6:37, Colossians 3:13 are three of the many scriptures that draw the correlation between God’s forgiveness of our sins and our forgiveness of those who sin against us. While God’s promise of forgiveness should not be the motivating factor for our decisions to dole out absolution, it should serve as a model, an aim to strive for as we seek to be more like Christ and to love our neighbors as Christ loves us—with love, with grace, with patience, and with forgiveness.

Shine Your Light!

Thoughts, reactions, or testimonies? Leave a comment below! I look forward to hearing from you!

Additional Scriptures:

Luke 6:37 – “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven.”

Colossians 3:13 – “bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.”

Speak Life

Self-Love

Proverbs 18:21 – “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”

I was having a rough time. That’s not unusual. It happens to everyone on occasion. What was unusual, though, was that in this moment of weakness, I found myself thinking and speaking things about myself that were not indicative of who I am in Christ.

As I spoke with a close friend, lamenting about my woes, it was like God turned up an internal speaker, and I really HEARD myself. My friend commented that he saw a change in my expression as a steeliness came over me, and (he said) I developed a little glint in my eye. He asked, “What just happened?” I replied, “I just came back to myself. I just remembered who I am and Whose I am.”

Life can be hard. Jesus told us that it would be in John 16:33, and most of us have experienced it at one point or another. In those moments of struggle, it is so easy to give in and believe the voice of the enemy that whispers to our weakness, “Give up,” “You can’t do it,” “It’s too hard,” “You’re not good enough…strong enough.” And then we may find ourselves thinking, and sometimes even saying these things about ourselves: “I’m not smart enough,” “I’m not attractive enough,” “I don’t deserve love,” “I’m not qualified for that job,” “I’ll never achieve my dream.”

Proverbs 23:7 says that as a man thinketh so he is. Our thoughts and words have power! “Life and death lie in the power of the tongue.” (Proverbs 18:21). If we speak something over ourselves and our lives enough times (even in jest), in time, we begin to internalize those messages. So, why not say something positive? Hey, my mom always taught me, if you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all–even about yourself! (Ephesians 4:29). 😉

Instead of buying into the words of the enemy—of fear and self-doubt—speak LIFE over your situation, your health, your job, your relationships, your finances! Claim your victory and embrace God’s promises! Speak LIFE, and not death, and watch your thoughts and words lift your spirit and create an atmosphere for God to move in a mighty way.

Shine Your Light!

Thoughts, reactions, or testimonies? Leave a comment below! I look forward to hearing from you!

Additional Scriptures:

Ephesians 4:29 – “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”

Matthews 12:37 – “For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”

John 16:33 –  “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Photo 1: Obtained from https://sarasmusings.wordpress.com/2017/10/02/the-power-of-words/

Photo 2: Obtained from https://steemit.com/etymology/@cryptogee/changing-the-mind-with-the-power-of-words

Revisiting Rest

Psalm 55:6 – “I said, ‘Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest.’”

Matthew 11:28-30 – “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My load is light.”

I was reading a devotional this morning by Curtis Zackary titled, “Soul Rest,” and in it, he referenced the notion of “staving off the idol of productivity.” That one blew my mind for a second. The “idol of productivity”?? I had never considered the possibility that productivity could be an idol; and the more that I reflected on the notion, the more convicted I felt.

I admit, I am one of those people who often feels guilty when I’m not being productive. I mean, there’s just SO MUCH TO DO! My list is miles long (I don’t remember the last time I saw the end of it), and I admit that I often feel that time resting and doing absolutely nothing equates to time wasted that could be better used checking off my “to dos.”

My husband is really great about lovingly calling me on that little flaw, taking whatever I’m working on out of my hands, and leading me to a space where I can truly rest, rejuvenate, and remember that God has got this; the world really will not end if I take a break. In fact, I am learning (and often have to remind myself) that when I take these moments of rest, I often return to the task refreshed and better prepared to operate more effectively and efficiently. The alternative, of course, is going until I burn out and getting to a place where I do not accomplish anything with excellence.

Do you ever find yourself in a similar quandary—your mind and body begging for a break while your To Do List “glares” at you accusingly? I promise you that it’s okay, and oftentimes even imperative, to take a moment for yourself. It may be a quick 2-minute reprieve to do a deep breathing exercise, a 15-minute tea break, an hour-long walk in the park, or a 6-month sabbatical or world tour. Your break should take whatever form best suits your life and your needs. Just make sure that you take it. You, your work, your responsibilities, and your loved ones will be better off for it in the long run.

Shine Your Light!

Thoughts, reactions, or testimonies? Leave a comment below! I look forward to hearing from you!

Additional Scriptures:

Mark 6:31 – “Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, [Jesus] said to them, ‘Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.’”

Psalm 127:2 – “In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat— for he grants sleep to those he loves.”

Photo 1: Obtained from https://www.booksie.com/491690-rest

Photo 2: Obtained from http://www.xeeok.com/desk_big_259606_1.html

Photo 3: Obtained from http://openwalls.com/image?id=29753