We may fall down, but God can pick us back up.

We may make a huge mess, but God can wipe it all clean.
We may be lost, but God can find us.
We may be hurting, but God can heal us.
We may see a huge mistake, but God sees a testimony.
We may feel shame, but God extends forgiveness.

There are two definitions for the word REDEEMED, and they both describe what Jesus has done for us perfectly:

1. compensate for the faults or bad aspects of (something).
2. gain or regain possession of (something) in exchange for payment.

The interesting thing about an anchor is that it steadies and secures something that is unmoored – something that is adrift. It can take an object that is aimlessly floating through a vast expanse of water and control the distance that it is able to stray. An anchor is strong, sturdy, and unwavering. An anchor will hold fast to an object no matter what storms are thrown its way. You can’t see the anchor, but the anchor is there.

I am thankful for the strong and secure hand of Jesus present in our lives.

I am thankful that Jesus is unwavering.

I am thankful that Jesus holds us steady when life’s storms try to tear us apart.

I am thankful that God controls our future.

I am thankful that God holds us close.

I am thankful that we do not have to float aimlessly any longer.

I am thankful that God is my anchor. My ever-present hope.

“This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary.” Hebrews 6:19

Today there is someone out there that is carrying a burden of unforgiveness so heavy that they can barely put one foot in front of the other. It is growing day by day into a malignant force within you that will soon strangle all of the happiness within your soul. It will make you stop shining. Don’t let it. Don’t stop shining! In the book of Philippians Paul and Silas were stripped of their clothes and beaten with rods all whilst the townspeople taunted them relentlessly. When an earthquake hit in the middle of the night these two disciples could have made an easy break for it. They could have escaped. But they stayed. They stayed and forgave the man that stripped them. The man that beat them and publicly humiliated them. The man that relentlessly taunted them. They stayed because God’s work was more important. They were that Kingdom focused. Their act of forgiveness painted a beautiful portrait of God’s love to a man in need of hearing the gospel, which in turn led him and his entire family to Christ. Whatever has hold of your thoughts and emotions today – let it go. Don’t let it win. Forgiveness will release the pain that has festered inside of you for so long. Forgiveness will allow Christ to work within you in ways that you could have never imagined. It may be your opportunity to share an amazing testimony that leads someone to Christ. God wants you to shine for him. He wants you to shine BIG. 

I was saved in 4th grade when a terrible train crash rocked our small community. It scared me. A lot. I remember not being able to sleep and just praying for hours. Praying that if
something happened to me that I would go to Heaven. Luckily, a teacher at my school kept a bible on her desk, and she helped me pray that Jesus would enter my heart. That was that. I was saved. I always made it a priority to be in church when the doors were open. Yes, I sinned; however, I said my prayers every single night. I talked about Christ often, and I truly believed for years {decades} that doing those things were enough. It wasn’t until my husband attended a bible study at our church (kind of against his will) that my eyes started opening up to the truth. Before this bible study I was the reason Frank went to church. If he didn’t go I would be cranky, and he knew it. He went to make me happy. If I was sick and couldn’t attend, or if I was out of town, then he didn’t go. That bible study changed him, which inexplicably changed me.

Before that bible study I had a schedule. My kids had to get into bed; therefore, Wednesday night church was totally out of the question. It would mess everything up. Plus, I went to church on Sunday, and I am a really nice person. Surely that was enough. Also, serving or doing anything was kind of out of the question because I was a busy, working mom in a fast-paced society. I had a lot to do, and my kids were number one on my list. I needed to cater to them. I needed to make sure that they had the best of the best, plenty of rest, and all of my attention. The process of what began to happen to me next is what I call “Unbecoming a Professional Christian”. That’s what I was. A professional Christian. You see us all the time. We are in the church on Sunday mornings. We are out to eat with friends bowing our heads in prayer. We post bible verses all over Facebook proclaiming God’s goodness. But are we Christlike? Are we in church on Sunday mornings expecting to be served by our pastors- or are we there to gain more information in learning  how to serve others?  Are we there with a passion so strong, as Tammy Whitehurst stated, “ To Make Heaven Bigger,” that we can’t sit still any longer. Are we expecting our pastor to do all the work, or are we willing to roll our sleeves up, get tired, get dirty, and truly put others’ needs before our own? Because that is what Christ did. That is what being a Christian is.

Jesus washed people’s feet. Are we too good? Jesus spoke and ministered to the lady at the well. What would people think about us? Jesus was bold. Strong faith. He was happy. Jesus is the King of all Kings, yet He is the epitome of what a true servant should be. I hope that through studying what it means to truly serve others with an open and loving heart that I can somehow be a little more like Jesus. That is my mission. To be like Jesus, and Jesus served.

Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:31-32

When I think of Jesus serving us there are two acts that immediately come to my mind. The first act of Jesus’ servanthood would absolutely be his ultimate sacrifice of dying on the cross to save us. The second act that I am reminded of would be His constant forgiveness of our endless sins. Every. Single. Day. He forgives us even though He knows we are going to mess up again. He forgives us even though we promise we “won’t do that again”. He forgives us. So we should forgive, too. Revenge. Justice. An eye for an eye. These are very real emotions that take over our mind and heart when we feel we have been wronged. People hurt us. They cut us deep. Life throws curve balls that we never even see coming. Showing God’s love and compassion to someone that has done something so incomprehensible to you lifts a burden off your shoulders, as well as theirs. It is a testament to the person that hurt you that portrays God’s love in the most powerful way. It is a true reflection of God’s character shining through your heart. Forgiveness. It is an act of surrender that shows God that you trust Him and know that He can heal all of your wounds. Living in a state of unforgiveness stifles our walk with God because we are not moving away from the hurt of the past. We are dwelling in a pool of lost dreams and pointed fingers that will eventually rise up and strangle us. Unforgiveness cultivates bitterness. Jesus could have easily been bitter, but He knew that bitterness was not going to help expand God’s Kingdom. Why would any sane person want to serve a God whose people are bitter, unhappy, and just downright sad? As humans, forgiveness seems unattainable, unmanageable, and often times insurmountable. As Christians, forgiveness will still not be a natural emotion that swells within us; however, with God we know, and can stand on the truth, that all things are possible. By praying and seeking to truly forgive the person that has hurt us, then God will provide us with the tools we need to start healing.

God, thank you for forgiving me. Every single day. Please give me the strength that I need to forgive others and move beyond any past hurts. Amen.

It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. – John 13:1

He loved to the very end. One meaning of “the end” (telos in Greek) means aim or fulfillment. In John Chapter 13, Jesus exhibits the importance of loving our brethren, regardless of what they have done, unceasingly. If Jesus were not Jesus I have to believe that He would be in a complete state of panic. Jesus knew He was about to sit down and eat with his closest friends for the last time. He knew that time was short and that He would soon be betrayed by a man that was supposed to be his confidant; however, what did He do? He washed feet. He kept serving, and He kept loving. This act of selflessness paints a beautiful picture portraying that no matter how bad we think our life is currently going- we keep serving. Jesus didn’t let this act of sheer betrayal define Him. He didn’t let it take over His mind and heart and transform him into something that He wasn’t. Jesus didn’t let fear or a major time constraint stop him from completing His father’s will. He had a calling to execute and nothing was going to stop him. His whole life was based on ministering to others, and that is how He was going to complete it. He didn’t need a bucket list of fun activities that He had to achieve before passing from this world – He just needed to serve. This is yet another instance that authenticates that being Christlike means serving others in the most selfless possible way. It means to push all of our selfish tendencies to the side. It means that when we finish serving in one area that we are not finished. The race isn’t over. We have to keep pressing forward and looking for opportunities to show Jesus to people that are struggling and hurting. Hebrew 12:1 states, “Therefore since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” We can’t stop. We have to keep going until the very end. If it is God’s will for me to live eighty or ninety years, I hope that I am still serving and loving with my entire heart.

God, please help me to keep going. Help me see the opportunities that you place around me to serve others. I never want to think I am “finished” until you say I am. Amen.

Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward them for what they have done. -Proverbs 19:17

It seems like a lifetime ago. Frank and I were fresh out of college, starting new careers, but still waiting tables to make ends meet. We had a toddler, childcare, and a month wait before we started getting paid from our new jobs. Money was clearly tight, and we were exhausted from working at our new careers during the day and waiting tables every evening. Then out of the blue, a sweet lady from our church showed up with a car full of groceries. I mean every item you could imagine: soap, detergent, milk, bread, meat, treats, even diapers. It was so unexpected, but exactly what we needed. It was a moment that someone listened to God, and in turn blessed a struggling, young family. She was on a fixed income, yet she wasn’t afraid to extend her hand to help someone else in need. She knew God had her back.

When I was a senior in high school my dad was diagnosed with cancer and was unable to work for an extended period of time. My mother worked in the high school cafeteria on the days she wasn’t taking care of my dad. I remember times throughout those months when different families throughout our small town would show up at our front door with groceries. These acts of servanthood kept us going, and I will never forget them.

God takes care of his people. God always gives us what we need. Through the acts of other people serving, we are able to speak a testimony that could change lives for many years to come. May these memories and struggles stay fresh on our mind so that when the right time comes we are able to share our story with others. May we always step out in faith when God nudges us to serve others. Even when we are broke. Even when we are tired.

God, I am so thankful for the people in my past that have reached out and blessed my family. I am thankful that they felt your nudge and acted upon it. Please help me always listen to your directions. I don’t want to be afraid to do what you need me to do. Let me be bold. Amen.

And He said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest a while.” (For there were many people coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.) -Mark 6:31

God wants us to serve. That is our sole purpose here on Earth – serve others and lead them to Christ. God also wants us to rest. If we don’t take the time to recharge, we will end up in a crash and burn situation. I know how it is. We are a go, go, go society. Sometimes we leave home at seven in the morning and do not return until after eight in the evening. We are in a constant state of hustle and bustle. That is just the way it is when you have children in various activities. We are full-time wives, mothers, homemakers, activity jugglers, entrepreneurs, and Christ worshippers. We are the heartbeat of our homes. We are strong in Christ, and He will absolutely give us the strength to keep going. Nonetheless, He wants us to set aside time to replenish our souls. We need to set aside days where we don’t venture out. We need days where we stay in our pajamas and nap. Sometimes we need to turn off all the devices and let them recharge so that we can, too. And we don’t need to feel guilty about resting. If you do not take care of yourself, then you will not be fully able to serve others. If you continue pouring all of your strength into different activities without taking a day off, you will end up tired and bitter. Resting gives us strength to keep going. Resting reenergizes our brain and lifts the fog we’ve been walking around in. Resting refreshes our hearts and invites peace to take over. We don’t have anywhere to go, no makeup to put on, and we can just focus on praising God for our many, many blessings. If you are like me, thoughts of growing laundry piles, meal prep, and being superwoman for your family tries to consume your mind. The to-do list taunts you. They tell you that you have to, that you can’t stop, that you are lazy if you rest. That is a lie from the devil. Don’t listen to it. He wants you run down and wore out. Take your day of rest knowing that God wants you to. Rest in peace and the hope that God is fueling your soul for amazing things to come. Rest now so you can serve tomorrow.

God, please help me to actually rest. To keep the blinds shut, to nap, to read, to pray, to just be. Take away the guilt that tells me that I need to go, go, go. Let me rest in your peace and hope, and let that rest refresh me. Thank you for your strength to keep going, and thank you for your rest that replenishes my soul. Amen.