Lately, it seems I have found myself all caught up in my thoughts. I confess that those thoughts bring about anger, worry, confusion, and other feelings that are not godly. It has been brought about by hearing or seeing someone say or do something and then allowing my mind to dwell on what I heard or saw so much that it affects my actions and feelings in negative ways. It has been quite the struggle for me recently.
The enemy is cunning and will attack us in the mind. He knows our thoughts can lead us to our Savior or lead us to defeat. His goal is defeat. As believers, we must take our thoughts captive so that we can be obedient to Christ. We must allow Christ to renew our minds and transform us daily. That is how we battle the enemy victoriosly.
“We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,”
2 Corinthians 10:5
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
Romans 12:2
Daily renewing and transforming means we have to relinquish power and give our thoughts and feelings over to God. We have to let Him control them and change them. If we desire to live above our negative thoughts and feelings, we must dwell on the words and actions of Jesus, which are all out of great love for us. When we focus on our loving Savior, we are able to take our thoughts captive, renew our minds, and experience joy in life and victory over the enemy.
I saw a post recently circulating on my feed about the busyness and burdens of life. The never-ending to-dos, the endless demands, and the insane hours of work, school, practices, chores, etc. I, too, feel overwhelmed by all of our obligations at times.
It made me sad to see how many women felt seen, validated, and understood by that post. Many commented, shared, and added in their own struggle of being stretched too thin.
Can I share a statement that steps on my own toes?
Burnout is not inevitable, it is preventable… We don’t HAVE to live this way, we allow ourselves to live this way.
I had to sit with this statement for a while. I ran through my own seasons of struggle. I reflected on the way I spend my days. I tallied the time it took me to do various things.
I recognized I played a large role in allowing myself to run dry, live burdened, and ignore the abundant life He offers in John 10. I remembered that it’s not supposed to be this way. I realized a few truths that shaped the changes I needed to make:
1. We were NOT called to do it all, but simply to do our all for Him. Even Jesus didn’t do it all. What are you currently doing out of obligation or the need to keep up? Do you really HAVE to do it or are you choosing to do it?
2. We can say no…without explanation. No to filling our schedules. No to rushing for no reason. Just no. Just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should. A well-used no can often lead to your best…and good rest.
3. We are commanded to rest. Real rest, not couch rotting. Rest that allows us to give our best. Rest that includes and honors God. Rest that energizes and empowers.
4. We do have some control. While God is in control of life, we make daily decisions that dictate how we care for that life. We get to choose how we care for that life. He orders our steps, but we choose to obey each day. He made a way, but we have to choose that narrow, counter-cultural, abundant way.
I recognize that some seasons are busier and feel burdensome due to life’s circumstances, but I also realize that we serve a God of abundance and grace. A God who came and made a way. A God who has new mercies for every day. A God who calls us to make the most of our beautiful, abundant lives.
Here’s to slowing down, saying no, and living His way every day, my friend 🫶🏼
Our words are important. Whether you realize it or not, someone is always listening. As Christians, we are called to be disciples and act as a lighthouse to those around us. We have an amazing opportunity to be a witness through our words!
If you are a parent, you have the responsibility of being the head disciple to your children. The words we speak to our children will help shape how they see themselves and God. Let them know they are loved greatly and can be made new through a relationship with Jesus. As parents and disciples, planting seeds for God to cultivate is the ultimate kingdom work.
Having discernment before speaking is not easy all the time. There are days when emotions and hardships will get the best of us. In those moments, take a step back and think, “am I glorifying God with what I’m saying?” God commands us to keep ourselves in check, because words matter and they can be used to further the spread of the gospel.
It’s no secret that words can be hurtful. Maybe, you have been hurt by someone who claims to be a Christian. Remember that everyone has done wrong and we all fall short because of sin. It’s a great thing we don’t rely on people and their own words for salvation. We rely on a perfect God who has a whole book full of truths we can utilize to guide our lives here on earth. The Holy Word should be a guide for the things we say to others.
Now, let’s use the power of words to build up, encourage, and point others to know Jesus!
“Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.” Proverbs 16:19
Let’s be totally transparent and talk about mental health today.
We all struggle with some form of it. Whether it be anxiety, depression, OCD, ADHD, or fill in the blank, we all have something we are battling.
Me, Myself, and I – I entertain anxiousness. Or as I like to say, “I am strung-high.”
Besides the fact that I have some autoimmune diseases that are intertwined with anxiety, I am also a doer. A go-getter. I like a plan, and I want my plan to have a plan. I like a to-do list, and nothing gives me more of a dopamine high than checking something off of said list.
My mind is constantly racing. When I am almost finished with one task, my brain has already moved onto the next – swirling and whirling.
It’s good to be task-oriented, but for me, it’s a blessing and a curse. I can easily drive myself and everyone around me crazy. At least I know my faults, right?
Therefore.
Therefore, I am working on myself.
For the past four weeks, I have been taking intentional steps to help my mental health.
-more time in the word
-more praise and worship
-less scrolling
-way less scrolling
-spending time in the sun
-exercise
-more water intake
-more vitamins
-more writing
-sipping chamomile tea at night
-speaking I cans to myself instead of I can’ts
And last but certainly not least…
Drum roll please….
I’ve decreased my coffee intake.
[Gasp]
Now, don’t be crazy. I’m still drinking my precious coffee – I’ve just significantly decreased the amount of caffeine that my already wound up soul takes in.
I said all of that to say this: It’s ok to struggle. It’s real to struggle. Just make sure you take that struggle to God and be intentional about working on it.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7
(I am not a healthcare professional. If you are experiencing severe mental health issues or need support, please reach out to a licensed healthcare provider.)
The darkness and gloom of winter will be gone and will be replaced by sunny days, blooming flowers,budding trees, and new life. It makes me think of how seasons not only change in nature but also in our lives.
God designed it that way. He allows us to have seasons of joy, happiness, pain, and sorrow which lead to renewal and growth and also times for rest. Each season has a purpose whether in nature or in our lives. It is all according to His plans for us. The one thing we can be sure of is that in each season God is faithful! He never changes, He will never fail us, and His mercies are new every morning.
“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23
I think there are days when we all can admit we wake up and feel discouraged and beat down before we even get out of bed. We grumble and complain because we are tired of doing the same mundane things day in and day out. We may also have days when we doubt God’s faithfulness. It is no different than when the Israelites grumbled and complained against God in the desert. God supplied them with food and water and ultimately delivered them from Egypt and they still lacked gratitude and faith in God.
They were focused on their circumstances not being perfect instead of how faithful God had been to them. God had a purpose for this season in their lives. He wanted to humble them and to reveal their dependance on Him. He wanted to see if they would keep His commandments and accept His faithfulness to them.
“Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands.” Deuteronomy 8:2
I believe God allows wilderness seasons in our lives just as He did the Israelites. He wants to humble us and test our hearts in our everyday lives. He wants us to come out of the wilderness knowing that He is faithful and constant. He wants us to trust Him no matter the circumstances because He provides our every need. Even when we grumble and complain like the Israelites, He is faithful and just. What a privilege that we can wake up every morning and know that God has allowed us another day. He has given us a chance for new opportunities to live for Him. To choose better than the day before. Mostly to give him the glory and honor for everything under the sun!!!
“I will sing of the Lord’s great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations.” Psalm 89:1
As I pondered on what the Lord would have me write about I heard him speak in that still small voice, and I said Nope! Not that Lord! I struggle with that … these ladies are smart, these other Sunshine writers are so talented, give me something profound!!!!
He said nope!
So ladies, as we end out the last days of February, the glorious month of love and hearts and chocolate … let’s take a moment to discuss the most difficult of loves… the one I struggle with most.
Self love.
We are mothers, wives, house keepers, full time job holders, aunts, daughters, and sisters. The list goes on and on, and we still feel unworthy. We will pick ourselves apart over a muffin top after birthing children. We will try on 15 different outfits and mumble things like I am so fat or I look disgusting .
The Bible instructs us to love our neighbor as ourselves, but how can we love our neighbor if we don’t love our self? I do not mean the massages, spa treatments, pedicures and nails done (although these are important too). I mean that deep in your gut belief system about who you are! How special you are! How worthy you are! You are a daughter of the KING!
I am still learning this lesson as I watch my teenage daughters pick themselves apart in ways they have heard their mama do when I didn’t realize they were listening to my self talk. Your self talk today is important. I encourage you to say 1 Godly affirmation in the mirror each day this week.
I am loved.
I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Thank you God for this body that gave life.
You ladies are a powerhouse. Energizer bunnies that keep going and going! Remember to rest in him. The Father and creator of life created you. He has a purpose and a plans.
But His path is filled with miraculous, jaw-dropping stops.
Now – I want you to visualize the miracle that happened the day God parted the Red Sea.
The water slowly begins to part and forms two strong walls.
Tall.
The ground – dry.
Firm.
Can you imagine?
And if they would have taken the much easier [11 day path] they would have missed it all. They would have missed being a part of one of the most miraculous events that has ever taken place in all of history. They would have been attacked. Taken back into slavery. Maybe killed.
I mean what did the fish do? Were they as shocked as the humans? I digress.
I just want to remind you today that when the journey gets long and hard and down right miserable – keep going. You’ll never know the miracle that God has waiting for you if you take a different route.
“Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground.” Exodus 14:16
Although I’m now closer to fifty than I am to fourty-five (that’s so weird), I’m still a kid at heart. I love youth games at summer camp like capture the flag or a battle of tug-of-war during field day activities!
I’m not as strong as I used to be, but I still relish the challenge that accompanies a healthy competion. The problem? I absolutely LOATHE failure. I mean, I’m undone if I can’t “beat” the estimated Google Maps arrival time I’m given for a journey from point A to point B. It’s unbearable every time I lose a “Game Pigeon” contest on my phone.
Yes, I have issues. Clearly, I should seek help.
My real issue, however, is that I DO seek help from the Lord regarding all major issues in my life–marriage, children, extended family, friendships, career–you name it, I pray about it. I seek God’s guidance for everything in my life, fully admitting to Him that He is in control of my life, and that I want His will to be done above my own in every aspect of my life. And then…I start pulling on the rope.
I play tug-of-war over control of the details of my life with the God of the entire universe. As I’m sure you can imagine, this does not go well for me. I pray on Sunday evening that God be in control of my life, and by Monday morning, I’m in full-control mode over all the challenges ahead, plowing through my day in my own strength (which is never enough), tyring to be victorious in my own right over all that I face. I want to be the best devoted wife who cares for my husband’s every need. I want to be the best mom who shows patience and provides attentive nurturing. I want to be the best teacher and coach who always shows compassion and emparts wisdom. I want to be the best friend who is thoughtful and actively supports those who lift me up. And how is that going?
The reality is that I fail to be the best at anything, and I beat myself up for failing. So, is it just not God’s will for my life to be the best wife? Does God not want me to be best mom, or teacher, or friend? I mean, I pray about it. I tell God that He’s in control. But with every detail of my day, guilt and fear overwhelm my heart and I pull on that rope that I metaphorically tossed up to the Lord in prayer and try to take control of my life…again! I neglect work to try and be a better wife and mother, or become a work-a-holic and forsake my husband and kids. My friends don’t remember what I look like anymore, and I’m exhausted and just want to go to bed.
But God.
He is so full of mercy and grace. He loves me just where I am, just for who I am. He meets me where I am and knows my troubled, control-freak heart. When I spend time with Him and open His Word, He says to me in Hebrews 4:16, “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” For every tug I take on that rope of control, He returns it by drawing me nearer to Him through His Word. He pulls me closer to Him when He says, “Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established” (Proverbs 16:3), and even closer when He tells me, “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). And, finally, Galatians 5:1 states, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.”
These verses reminds us that Christ’s sacrifice grants us true freedom—a freedom from the burdens of self-reliance and the constant need to control every detail of our lives. When we release our tight grip on control and trust in God’s plan, we embrace the freedom He offers. The truth is, I will never be the best at everything—or anything, for that matter—because that was never my purpose. My purpose is not to win at life, to prove my worth, or to strive for a perfection I was never designed to achieve. My purpose is to glorify God in all that I do, whether in success or failure, in strength or weakness.
Every time I spend time in His Word, I loosen my grip on the rope. And, when I loosen my grip on the rope and surrender my need to control, I find peace. Not because I’ve mastered balance or figured out all the answers, but because I am held by the One who already has. He doesn’t demand my perfection—only my trust. And the beautiful irony? When I stop striving to be “the best,” I become the person He created me to be: a wife who loves, a mother who nurtures, a teacher who inspires, a friend who cares. Not because I’m winning, but because I’m resting in the One who already has.
My husband and I have had some of the best moments of our lives the past 7 years serving in ministry together. Hanging out with a bunch of teenagers isn’t what a lot of people jump at the first chance of doing, but we do. We’ve been digging into 1 John for several weeks with our “big kids”. God works in great, gracious, mysterious ways. While teaching, we are learning.
If I had to leave you with just a few tips from this book, here is what I would leave you with:
1. God is light. There is absolutely no darkness in Him. ~ 1 John 1:5
Darkness looks different for everyone. Darkness is anything that would lead you away from the path of righteousness. Addiction or temptation. Or perhaps the long list you know the enemy is trying his very hardest to steal, kill, and destroy your life with. With Christ, you are in light. The enemy has no power. God is light!
2. “If we say, “We don’t have any sin,” we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us. ~ 1 John 1:10
My favorite places within scripture are the places that remind me I don’t have to have it all together. The places that remind me it’s actually boldness and reveals faithfulness to state that perfection is not within us. Be the one to know that you sin. Be the one to know that you need Jesus.
3. “…I am writing to you, young men, because you have had victory over the evil one.” ~ 1 John 2:13
VICTORY VICTORY VICTORY
He is speaking to those that have accepted Jesus. He is speaking to disciples. With Christ, WE HAVE VICTORY.
—————
I can go deeper. But for today, maybe you just need the simple reminder that Jesus Christ is the path of righteousness. He gives us hope. He allows us to experience perseverance. 1 John is the great reminder that the evil one is on the path. The evil one would love to throw the darkness in. As a parent, after a long day in the office, or on the most random “good” day. He’s on the path and goodness does he want so badly to make himself known. But he is not the light. He is a lair.
With Jesus we overcome the darkness. With Jesus we know He is the ultimate light. With Jesus we know WE HAVE VICTORY.
In this fast paced world we live in, we are truly governed by time. Everything we do depends on time. We build schedules to try to fit all we have to do into our day and still have enough time for rest at night. Our time is precious, but we are in such a hurry we may not always take the time to make every minute count. Count for what? What does it mean to make our time on earth count? As Christians our time and how we spend our days should be devoted to Christ. This includes our jobs, our home life, our free time, etc. Everything we do here on earth echoes into eternity.
If you were to stand before God today and He asked what you’ve done with your time on earth for His kingdom or even just how many people have you shared the gospel with in the last year, would you have a good answer? This is not to say that good works or anything other than God’s mercy in sending His Son saves us, but we are created for good works.
“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10
We exist because of God. He designed each of us uniquely and with different skills and abilities to carry out His purpose. We are to use our talents and abilities in our everyday lives. God places opportunities in our lives to carry out the good works He has planned for us. That is why every moment counts. Whether you are a stay at home mom or you have a specific career, or you are going to school working towards a career,etc., God has you there for a reason. You may not understand why you are where you are at this time, but you can rest assured that God has you there and has equipped you to carry out His purpose right where you are.
Don’t be discouraged if you feel like you’re not where you should be. God knows what you are capable of, He knows exactly where He wants you. The best thing to do is let everything you do and say be done in love and with carrying out good works for God. This is what pleases our Father!!!!
“Whatever you do, work at it with all of your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” Colossians 3:23-24
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