When you are driving through the middle of grief the fog is thick and the lights are dim. You can’t see, so you can’t move. You can’t move, so you just sit still.

And that’s ok. It’s ok to sit still.

Because eventually the fog is going to dissipate, and your pathway will be unobscured.

As the sun slowly rises and warms the crisp morning air, fragments of a new dawn peak through what was once a foggy dusk.

And you are able to find your way again. You’re able to see.

The sun always rises.

And the Son always lights the way.

“18 The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34:18through what was once a foggy dusk.

Today you’re going to cross paths with someone that needs you. You can count on that.

We serve an intentional God that seamlessly orchestrates our day to day journey. God didn’t place us on this earth for our own self.

No.

He placed us here to help others. To serve others. To disciple others.

▪️We need to be ready.

▪️We need to be willing.

▪️We need to be able.

It may just be a smile or a kind word, but those small gestures can change the trajectory of someone else’s path.

There’s power in kindness, and God has placed that power within each and everyone of us. We just have to hone in on that power and use it.

Be aware.

Dig deep.

Be intentional.

“12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” Colossians 3:12

The journey.

It’s full of winding roads, potholes, and kids [or wives] begging to take a restroom break.

You can plan what you perceive to be the perfect road trip, but if you don’t factor in a few bumps along the way you will wind up sorely disappointed.

You have a choice – you can let these nagging nuances ruin your trip, or you can find joy in the journey.

After all, sometimes detours can lead you to the best destinations.

So gas up, turn up the praise and worship music, and let God be your GPS.

13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. John 16:13

To serve someone is to assist someone.

To assist someone is to minister to someone.

To minister to someone is to love someone.

It’s just that simple.

Serve like Jesus.

Assist like Jesus.

Minister like Jesus.

Love like Jesus.

37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’[c] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. Matthew 22:37-39

When it comes to God’s calling on your life are you more:

▪️safe & secure

▪️run the risk

Maybe the second one sounds too – well, risky – but did you know that run the risk simply means take the chance?

That’s not so scary. Especially when you have the God of the universe right by your side.

Remember when I wrote about cheerleaders the other day? Y’all, He is cheering for you. He is your biggest fan. Your biggest supporter.

He wants you to take that risk because He is going to be running right beside you – and He will be carrying a bottle of water and a sweatband.

I have a hard, hard question for all of us this morning: If we decide to play it safe, if we don’t move forward on the calling God has placed on our life – whose life will be at risk?

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” – Proverbs 3:5-6”

I was a cheer sponsor for about ten years of my career, and I’ll be totally honest – I loved it.

Like seriously loved it.

I learned so much in those ten years about, well, everything.

I’ve had the opportunity to watch young girls grow into beautiful, fierce, capable, and courageous young women.

College

Marriage

Motherhood

Careers

It’s been pretty awesome to watch them “grow up” via Facebook and Instagram, and that’s one of the good things about social media – a topic my girls and I often spoke about. 😆

One thing I always told my girls when they graduated was this: Once a cheerleader, always a cheerleader.

These young ladies may not be under those Texas Friday Night Lights anymore, but they are still in some form and fashion watching and cheering for someone in their life from the sidelines – and so are you.

Their spouse

Their children

Their friends

Their co-workers

And hopefully their self.

Y’all, somebody needs you rooting for them. Somebody needs you to cheer for them in their winning seasons and their losing seasons – cause that’s part of life, too. Somebody needs that extra boost, that confidence, that validation.

So as we trek forward into 2020 I challenge you to the following:

▪️make a list of people to encourage

▪️pray for them

▪️text them

▪️send a real card

▪️meet with them face to face

And don’t forget to root for yourself either. She’s pretty awesome. 💛

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” 1 Thessalonians

Oftentimes the new year is associated with stress due to unobtainable goals that aren’t even set yet.

It doesn’t have to be that way.

If there is in fact an unsettling in our soul, is it due to the fact that past, present, and future goals were set aimlessly?

▪️Did we truly pray about them?

▪️ Did we truly plan for them?

▪️ Are we searching and seeking?

▪️ Are we continuously reaching?

A new year should be exciting. It’s a time to step out and step up. It’s a time to watch God do what He does – and that’s shake things up by moving mountains and parting seas.

New goals shouldn’t be associated with disdain. Instead there should be an air of excitement encompassing them.

Why?

▪️ Because we know that we serve a big God

▪️ Because He wants us to succeed

▪️ Because He wants to use us

▪️ Because He wants us to be confident

Get excited, y’all.

2020 is here, and it’s going to be amazing.

“But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.” 2 Corinthians 4:7

Hey, you.

Yes, you.

You can make a difference. You were born to make a difference. God placed you here for a specific purpose – a specific reason – at this specific time.

And maybe you feel insignificant.

▪️Too small.

▪️Too dumb.

▪️Too poor.

▪️Too [fill in the blank]

But all of those feelings are merely emotions – lies – created and stirred up by a devil that would like nothing more than for you to fail.

But you won’t.

If God has called you, then God will equip you.

You don’t have to believe in yourself [yet] to take that first step. You just have to believe that God is stepping with you.

Ladies, it’s time to step.

“For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” Esther 4:14

How far will we go?

How far will we seek?

What would we sacrifice?

To praise Him.

To serve Him.

To love Him.

To give Him our all.

The cards, the characters, the commercials – they all depict the wise men’s journey as a short trip across a desert, but that’s not really how it played out.

These men left their families. They left their jobs and their friends and everything they knew. They sacrificed it all to follow their King – their calling.

This journey wasn’t short. It wasn’t a day trip. They didn’t have GPS, heat and air, or the convenience of Subway to stop at when it was time to eat.

All they had was faith. And hope. And the belief in a God who would deliver them. They were holding on to the promises spoken by their ancestors.

And the hope that He promised them, He promised us, too.

So this year as we celebrate His birth I challenge you to remember. I challenge you to look up and follow Him.

No matter how far.

No matter how long.

No matter the cost.

Happy birthday, Jesus.

Mary’s Boy.

God’s Son.

My King.

“And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.” Matthew 2:11

My friend Jana McEachern posted this the other day, and I love it.

The last two weeks I have been lucky enough to witness the overflowing of true Christmas spirit.

🎄Families buying for other families.

🎄People making sure children in their community have Christmas.

🎄Lunch bills for students paid off

🎄Monetary donations to help others

🎄Meals paid for

People are good, y’all.

Sometimes we forget that. Sometimes we get so caught up in all the negative around us that there’s no room to see the good. And sometimes God will put everything on pause to remind us of how blessed we really are.

This Christmas week I hope you see the good. I hope you are the good. I hope the spirit of Christmas infiltrates your soul like it never has before.

“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14