Hey Mama,

She’s watching you.

How you talk.

How you walk.

How you treat the waitress.

How you treat the cashier.

Everyone.

Hey Mama,

She’s listening to you.

How you speak to her.

How you speak to her daddy.

How you talk to your friends on the phone.

The words you say in the car.

Everyday.

Hey Mama,

She’s modeling her life after you.

Be careful.

It’s serious.

Hey Mama,

You have the most important job in the world.

God trusted you with her.

He knew you would rock this gig.

You’re His girl.

And she’s yours.

He’s counting on you.

To raise up a generation.

Of hard workers.

Of kind spirits.

Of women who show compassion and love.

Women of faith.

Hey Mama,

You’ve got this.

Cause God’s got you.

“3 Children are a heritage from the LORD, offspring a reward from him. 4 Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth. 5 Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their opponents in court.” Psalm 127:3-5

When my human eyes look into the mirror I see a crooked smile, age spots, and a stomach that sticks out a tad bit too much.

I bet you think I’m crazy. I bet you don’t see that when you look at me. You know how I know? Because the outward imperfections that you see when you look at yourself in the mirror – I don’t see those either.

We’re too hard on ourselves, ladies. The imperfections, the flaws, the crooked smiles – no one else sees that. That’s in your head. It’s an illusion created by satan himself to make you feel less than.

When I look at you I see beauty. I see kindness. I see a bad to the bone woman that is killin’ it for her family every single day. I see one of God’s girls.

The next time you look in the mirror don’t focus on what you think you see – focus on what you know God sees.

He made you beautiful, girl.

“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

Here’s to the lifter-uppers.

The dream-pushers.

The girls that cheer you on.

Here’s to the complimenters.

The builder-uppers.

The girls that love each other’s success.

Here’s to the late-night talkers.

The dreamers.

The girls that would never steer you wrong.

Here’s to the truth-speakers.

The listeners.

The girls that have each other’s backs.

Here’s to the prayer warriors.

The cryers.

The girls that call out to God for their sisters.

Here’s to God’s girls.

May we be women of integrity, trustworthy friends, and the examples of true love that He has called us to be.

“Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:11

God keeps bringing me back to this same passage of scripture.

“37 A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. 38 As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.” Luke 7:37-38

Apparently that lady was bad, y’all. I don’t know exactly what she did, but she was shunned. She was side-eyed stared at. She was turn your head and look the other way-ed at. She was whisper to your friend as she walked by at.

That was the opinion of humans though.

Not Jesus. Jesus thought she was brave. He thought she was humble. He thought she was worth it. Worth His time & worth His cross.

He thinks you are, too.

I don’t know what makes you hang your head in shame – what you don’t want your parents or your kids to find out about. I don’t know that, but I do know this – you can throw your tired, worn out self at the feet of Jesus today.

Cry your eyes out.

Sob like a fool.

He doesn’t care what you look like or sound like. He just loves you. He forgives you.

You really are worth His cross, and with everything within me I hope you see that truth today.

Because it is the truth.

“48 Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” Luke 7:48

Don’t judge her.

She struggles differently. She wins differently. Her pains, her gains – they are hers.

She was raised differently.

She has different values.

Her heart, her soul – they are hers.

She hustles differently.

She loves differently.

Her life, her strife – they are hers.

She’s God’s daughter. So are you. So am I. All created uniquely and beautifully in His image. He love us all.

“Yet you, LORD, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.” Isaiah 64:8

Anybody else arguing with God today?

Yep. I’m not proud of it; I just want you to know that you’re not alone.

I know God will win this argument. I know eventually I will look up and say, “I see what you did there.” I know my faith shouldn’t be so shaky.

I’m just being real with ya.

He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. – Matthew 8:26

Doing something out of your comfort zone is scary – even when God is telling you to.

You know what’s scarier? Not doing it.

I often have to remind myself that God didn’t call me to be comfortable. He called me to be compassionate, and He called me to be capable.

Sweet friends, if you’re struggling with decisions today – you’re not alone. If you’re struggling with being brave today – same. If you would like me to pray for you just click that little thumbs up.

Refining.

It’s happening every single day, and you best believe that it’s going to burn.

Sometimes God has to hold us in the middle of the fire to purge the impurities from within us. And sometimes when we are stubborn, when we are refusing to let go of the dross within our heart and soul, He has to hold us there a little bit longer.

Just remember, when He is holding us in the fire – He is doing just that – He is holding us. And He isn’t going to let us go.

Guys, the fire has a purpose. The fire is making us pure. When the impurities within us have melted away and we’ve been purified and cleansed of the world, God will look into the fire, stare straight into our eyes, and see His reflection.

What an incredibly beautiful process.

I want to look like Jesus – even if it means sitting in the fire.

“For you, God, tested us; you refined us like silver.” Psalm 66:10 (NIV)

Fear is a combination of insecurities and lies stuck in a constant circular motion similar to a hamster feverishly running on a wheel.

Spinning.

Spinning

Spinning.

That wheel of fear and insecurity is a sentence of solitary confinement that’s going nowhere fast.

We have two options: jump off the wheel or break the axel all together. Until we do one of those two things the wheel will keep spinning, and we will be stuck. Stuck in a cycle of exhaustion. Stuck in a cycle of failure. Just stuck.

Are you brave enough?

Is your faith big enough?

You have two options:

▪️cannonball off that bad boy

▪️break the cycle all together

Either way God is with you. Either way God’s got your back.

But you have got to make a move.

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27

Let me tell y’all about a woman’s mind – or at least mine. A woman’s mind can go from happy-go-lucky to the worst possible scenario in 2.5 seconds flat.

Amen?

Seriously. One minute you’re reflecting on all the blessings God has lavished upon you and the next thing you know a plane crash, a house fire, a divorce, and the death of your dog have all played out in your very animated human mind like a horror movie highlight reel.

First let me say this – you’re not crazy, but you are human. You are a human being that the devil is constantly trying to attack, and that jerk knows that your mind is the key to his success.

If he can get you scared, if he can get you upset, if he can get you discouraged – then he has you right where he wants you.

Y’all, when the devil starts trying to play out these very intentional and fear-filled scenarios in your mind I want you to do the following:

▪️Get mad [Ephesians 4:26]

▪️Rebuke him in the name of Jesus [James 4:7]

▪️Fight back with scripture [Ephesians 6:11]

▪️Praise God in the midst of your emotions [Proverbs 18:10]

God wins, guys. Those vivid situations the devil is painting pictures of in your mind aren’t real. God wants good for His girls – not chaos, contempt, and confusion.

Believe it.

“The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run into it and are safe.” Proverbs 18:10

God listens.

He can hear the cry of your heart from the depths of your soul even when you can’t physically speak.

He knows your pain.

He knows your hurt.

He knows your shame.

He knows your desires.

Draw close to Him. Invite Him into your heart.

God sees you.

He hears you.

He loves you.

He is for you.

“The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34:18