Month: November 2025

Gaze up


I am thankful for God’s TIMING!!!


I want to encourage everyone, to take some time either before or after reading this, to listen to “Always On Time” by Elevation Worship. The lyrics are so powerful. 
The first verse says “I remember, how you provided, how you held me, through the night. I remember, how you sustained me, when you stepped in, to save my life. If I knew then, what I know now, I would be still, and let you work it out.” This brings me back to the scripture that has gotten me through so so much. It’s short and sweet, but some days, it was the reminder I needed to just breathe in His Grace, so I could get through the day.


Psalm 46:10 “Be STILL and KNOW that I am God.”


Even when we’re standing in the middle of a storm with the wind howling and the world feeling unbearably loud, rest assured, that He hears us. He never misses a single cry from His children. In those moments, it’s easy to feel unseen… like our prayers are getting lost somewhere in the chaos all around us.


Sometimes the weight we’re carrying makes it feel like there may never be a light at the end of the tunnel. But the Lord promises us that there always is, 100% of the time. God has never failed, and He will not start with you. He asks only for a heart turned toward Him and a faith—EVEN IF it’s tiny, trembling, and mustard-seed small.


I’ve learned that storms look different in every life. Some people face one massive, category-five storm that knocks the breath out of them. Others battle a collection of smaller storms that pile up until they feel just as heavy. But no matter the size or the number of the storms we walk through, one thing is certain: every one of us WILL face something. And none of us are meant to face it alone.


In these storms, we have to choose where our eyes rest. This is crucial, and it determines our next steps. If we look around (to the world), we’ll see the waves and destruction. If we look within, we can feel fear, and hopelessness. But if we look UP, we’ll see the One who commands the wind and the waves with just one word. 


Keep your gaze lifted!!!


And EVEN IF every step feels painful, and unbearable, keep moving with Him. Do not stop. Do not give up!!!


His Word WILL strengthen you. His presence WILL carry you. His timing WILL prove perfect. And you WILL make it through—not because you’re strong enough, but because He is.💛


“God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea”
Psalm 46:1-2


Reflection Question:
Where in your life do you need to look up instead of out, and trust that God is working EVEN IF you can’t see it? 


Today, I encourage you to turn your “what if” into “even if” and watch God work!!! 
If anyone reading this needs someone to talk to, please reach out to me. I believe the Lord allows us to go through storms so that we can help others. I would love to pray with you, talk, or just listen. You are not alone! ❤️


Lord, You see every storm we face, even the ones we don’t have the words to explain. Lift our eyes toward You when fear tries to pull us down. Strengthen our faith, even if it feels small. Remind us that You are our refuge, our peace, and our steady place. Please help us walk through every season with Your Word in our hearts and Your presence beside us. Thank You for being on time, every time. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.


https://youtu.be/H1L6zv_ilzY?si=0UvMW67sX354i7Ta

True thankfulness

In our moments of reflection, particularly during times of gathering, we often feel the quiet ache of absence, remembering those who are no longer with us. Yet, even in this bittersweet space, there is profound cause for thanksgiving. The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians, encourages us to give thanks always for all things (Ephesians 5:20). Our thankfulness is not diminished by sorrow; rather, it is enriched by the gift of having loved and been loved. We can give thanks for the laughter that still echoes in our hearts and the memories that time can never erase. These shared moments are lasting treasures, evidence of a love that transcends physical presence and continues to shape our lives.

The life of Jesus provides a powerful example of giving thanks in all circumstances, demonstrating a heart aligned with the Father’s will even amid challenge. Before performing the miracle of raising Lazarus from the dead, Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me” (John 11:41). He gave thanks before the visible manifestation of the miracle, trusting in God’s power and timing. He also gave thanks before the feeding of the five thousand (John 6:11), acknowledging God’s provision even when the resources seemed meager. In these acts, Jesus showed us that gratitude is a posture of faith, an acknowledgment that God is present and active in every situation, providing both for our physical needs and the deep needs of our souls.

This perspective becomes profoundly personal for those of us who carry significant dates on our calendars. Fourteen years ago, our father/ PaPa left this world on Thanksgiving Day. While such a date could easily become a day of somber remembrance, choosing to view it as a moment of profound gratitude reshapes the narrative. We give thanks for the love he shared, the lessons he taught, and the legacy of his presence in our lives. This conscious choice to infuse a potentially painful memory with thankfulness transforms the day into a beautiful tribute, ensuring his spirit lives on not in sorrow, but in the vibrant, enduring power of gratitude.

True thankfulness allows us to embrace the fullness of our human experience—the joy of presence and the pain of absence—and still recognize the hand of God at work. Let us cherish the gift of time we have together, viewing each shared memory as a blessing for which to be truly grateful. As we navigate the seasons of life, may our hearts be filled with gratitude for the enduring power of love and the promise of hope, continually giving thanks for the past that shaped us and the future that awaits, secure in the knowledge that God is good and His mercy endures forever.

Come before Him


November is a month that reminds us to be thankful, but what exactly does it mean to be thankful? Flippantly we laundry list items we are ‘thankful’ for; our family, our children, our spouse, our friends, our jobs, our salvation…the list could go on and on. 


Cambridge Dictionary says that “we use the word thankful when someone is kind to us or does us a favor.” Saying “Thank you,” is also a sign of good manners, like ‘bless you.” When those words are said, it’s often out of habit and not a true heart of thankfulness.


Growing up, the people in my life who were ‘expected’ to be there for me or take care of me weren’t always there. Additionally, I was often overlooked when it came to peers and friendships. When someone showed kindness or time to me, it was and still is monumental to me, because they are in no way obligated to be kind or spend their time with me. The same is true of our salvation. God was not obligated to send Jesus, He chose to, for no other reason than His love for us. Christ didn’t have to die death on a cross to satisfy the penalty of our sins, but He chose to, for no other reason than His love for us. 


Being thankful isn’t just about manners, it’s about heart posture. MANY times in scripture God says to come before Him with thanksgiving. Philippians 4:6 says “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. Phil 4:6 is a command followed by a promise.
 
In a time where we have a laundry list of prayer requests and worries, God encourages us to come before him not only with these requests and worries, but with a heart of Thanksgiving. This posture of thanksgiving reminds our heart and mind that: He’s already been faithful, He’s already made a way, He will always love us, He will never forsake us. Approaching God with thanksgiving tells Him that even if He doesn’t…, we will choose him every moment of every day. Approaching him with thanksgiving puts faith into perspective, it says God I know you can and I know you will even if it doesn’t feel like it, even if I can’t see it, and even if I end up like Moses and miss entering the promised land – I will still choose to have a heart full of thanksgiving.

Gratitude


Let me share when I talk about my upmost gratitude. It’s longer than usual, but worth the read.


I talk about the gratitude pretty frequently now. But just know, I use to hide it. 


Hold on… I didn’t “hide” my gratitude. 


I just didn’t talk about my desert journey. Maybe it hurts less when we don’t bring it to the surface? Or maybe us as humans rather just roll on with life and act like everything is fine. I guess it’s easier to talk about “God moving moments” on the back side. I really want to do better about talking about it in the mist of the desert. He was a faithful Father when the Israelites spent 40 years in the wilderness, and He is still faithful in your life today. 


I have recently realized the true beauty of bragging on Jesus. I’ve realized how we really should make it known that He completely brought us out of the desert. 


I still go back to that day. The day of bringing our first daughter home. It was November and cold with the sun out. Having children didn’t go any way how we had pictured, but that’s a chapter of our testimony for another time. 


Here is my point for today:


I remember on the drive home telling my husband I prayed and prayed, and it didn’t go the way I prayed for. That confused me, & truly shook me. Why would I ever say that? We prayed fervently for 3 years to even be in this very moment, so know this was not a shout of complaining or disappointment. This was human nature shocked in a moment. I will always remember my husband’s response, he said; “It went exactly how we prayed. We prayed for 3 years to have a healthy baby, and God did that exactly.” 


Then the gratitude hit me. Of course it didn’t go the way I had planned. His hands knitted all of it. He’s the author, not me. 


“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose”. Romans 8:28


I love sitting back and reflecting on every single thing Christ has done in my life. I’m so heavy on the idea of He works all things together for the good. I’m a planner. I have leadership running through my blood. Although I have learned, my life will forever have better plans and guidance when Christ is holding the pen.


Flash forward to today. Oh the thankfulness I rejoice in. We have not one, but TWO healthy baby girls. I could tell you 10 + stories on ways and how the world thought otherwise through both of their stories. I won’t waste your time though, just know God was and always will be sovereign. 


Because of the truth we have in scripture, the way He has shown up in my own life and those around me, I will forever have the upmost gratitude. He’s a good Father.

When I am weak


2 Corinthians 12:9-10 “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”


This verse reminds me that God isn’t waiting for me to have it all together—He reveals His power right in the middle of my weakness. It’s in our dependence on Him that His power becomes most visible. 


In the moments I feel worn out, unsure, or not enough, God gently reminds me: “you don’t have to be”. When I lose my patience, He offers grace. When I feel unseen, He reminds me He sees. When I’m running on empty, He fills me again. His strength fills the gaps where my own strength runs out. 


So I thank God for every limitation, every shortcoming, every “I can’t.” Because in those moments, I get to see what He can do. My weakness, the very thing I want to hide, is where God shows up strongest. It’s in the quiet moments 
when I finally exhale, in the tears I try to blink away, and in the whispered prayers of “Lord, help me”. He’s right there. 


I’m learning to thank Him for the weakness—because it keeps me close to Him. It reminds me that being strong doesn’t mean having it all together. It means leaning on a God who does.


Thank you God for weakness and giving us the privilege to call upon You to give us strength 

Gratitude


It’s easy to be thankful when prayers are answered, doors open, and blessings are obvious. But true thankfulness is often proven when we’re waiting, wondering, or going through seasons we don’t understand.


1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” Notice it doesn’t say to give thanks for all circumstances, but in them. God never asks us to pretend like the hard things aren’t hard. During these hard seasons, we need to turn our faces towards Him and remind ourselves of how good He is.


Thankfulness shifts our focus. It pulls our attention away from what’s missing and centers it on what remains true: God is still good, still faithful, still working all things together for our good. 


Gratitude is a choice we make daily. Some days it comes as easy as breathing, other days it’s a quiet prayer through tears. But every time we choose gratitude, we remind our hearts that hope is alive and that God’s promises still stand.

God’s will


There are so many times throughout my life when I have questioned God’s will for me. I experience fear of making wrong decisions and I truly just want God to make things a little more clear. What I have learned in these moments is that I am not seeking God like I should. God gives us everything we need for living out His will in His word. So what does His word say? One thing is that when we accept Jesus in our hearts, the Lord commands us to bring Him a sacrifice of thanksgiving and that means in all circumstances.


“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”1 Thessalonians 5:18


I would say that is pretty clear!
 Because of Jesus, being the ultimate sacrifice for our sins, we no longer have to bring animals or any other blood sacrifices to God. A sacrifice of thanksgiving means our lifestyle is going to reflect our thankfulness. Our attitude no matter what comes our way will always praise God, not because of the hardship, but because we have a Father who is with us during the difficult times. A sacrifice is giving up something that is valuable to you in order to help someone else. That means that we let go of our own desires, our time is completely dedicated to serving our heavenly Father in order to bring Him the glory. It isn’t always easy, that is why it is called a sacrifice. We don’t always feel thankful but we can know that when we live in thankfulness we defeat the enemy of worry, anxiety, depression, etc.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your request to God.” Philippians 4:6


When we live a life of thankfulness it opens our hearts to hear from God especially in moments when our hearts are fearful and anxious.  He is never closer than when we are showing our gratitude. It honors God and it is a privilege. He created each and every one of us for His glory. God’s will for our lives is to offer our lives to Him in everything we do, in our service, in our giving, in our praise, in our worship, in our prayers, and in total devotion to bringing Him glory. These things are all a sacrifice of thanksgiving.


“Anyone who sacrifices thank offerings to Me honors Me. He makes it possible for Me to show him that I am the God who saves.” Psalm 50:23

Lean in

When Daisy asked me to write about gratitude, I thought that this would be an easy write. It’s almost Thanksgiving time, and we should have full tanks of thankfulness, right? Well… It’s been a rethink, rewrite, revise kind of writing instead. The Lord uses His Word to refine us, doesn’t He? He is the God who sees us, REALLY sees us, loves us anyway, and knows just what we need. He is the faithful Father who is in the business of conforming us to the image of His beloved Son, Jesus.  James 1:17 reminds us that: “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” Sometimes, the good and perfect gift comes in a different kind of packaging than we expect.

I love scripture and have lots of favorites, but my “tie a knot and hold on” verses are found in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18: “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” Recently, I’ve spent some time meditating on verse 19 as well: “Do not quench the Spirit.” I’ve read this verse many times, but as I reread it this week, it went to work on my heart. Quenching the Holy Spirit sounds like serious business, and it is. As believers, remembering what Jesus did on the cross to set us free from sin should send us to our knees in thankfulness. Our Savior gave His life to redeem ours. Our lives should be saturated with gratitude for who our Lord is, what He has done for us, and knowing that He watches over us with steadfast love.

Our pastor reminded us on Sunday that nothing comes our way unless the Lord sends or allows it. He is sovereign over all things and all people. Nothing takes Him by surprise, absolutely nothing. The Lord is a good, good Father who finds no joy in our pain and suffering. Isaiah 61:2-3 tells us that our Lord came “to comfort all who mourn; to grant to those who mourn in Zion— to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.” Amid heartbreaking circumstances, we often plead for an easy fix. However, when we lean into our Father’s arms and cling to Him in trust, we find His faithful love and tender care. His faithfulness gives us a testimony to share with those who are hurting. Lord, refine us and give us hearts of “contagious” gratitude that we might bring glory to You and reflect Your beautiful light in a very dark world.