I saw God today.

I heard Him.

I felt Him.

I watched Him move through His kids. He whispered to them, and they listened.

And when they listened mountains were moved. Miracles happened. Love was poured out in abundance.

I saw God today.

He’s still right here with us, y’all.

Speaking.

Moving.

Loving.

“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Luke 6:38

God transforms.

Reforms.

Restores.

God will shake you to the core.

Let Him.

God redeems.

Esteems.

Gleams.

God will lead you to His stream.

Let Him.

Let Him today.

“But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” John 14:26

Dear Mommas & Teachers,

You’ve almost made it. Yes, you’ll breathe a sigh of relief that first day off. No lunches to be packed. No clothes to be pressed. No papers to bring home to grade.

But man you’ll be sad, too.

Another year.

Another milestone.

Another group of your kiddos moving on.

It happens fast.

Too fast.

So hang on tight mommas and teachers. They’ll be moving on before you know it. And when they go they will take a little piece of your heart with them.

I hope the year was good. I hope you gave it your all. I hope you did everything that you could do to pour love and life into those babies.

And I hope you never forget this.

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13

Words.

Man, they are powerful.

There’s a reason God warns us to guard our tongue. Guarding our tongue helps keep us out of pickles and predicaments we could never even fathom. Guarding our tongue protects us and the people around us.

Our spouse & our children.

Our family & our friends.

Our co-workers & clients.

Our waiter & waitress.

Our checkout person at Walmart that cannot help that the coupons are just not working.

Flippant words tumbling out of our mouth like clowns in a circus car essentially do more damage than we could ever possibly imagine. We may forget the words we said spoken out of anger, exhaustion, or boredom – but those very same words may haunt someone for the rest of their life.

It’s true. Words are that powerful.

We get the choice and the chance to use our words for God’s Kingdom. We get the choice to hold our tongue when something or someone ticks us off. We get the chance to shower people with uplifting words full of hope and love.

The truth is our words could potentially send someone that’s already on the verge of a breakdown over the edge – without us ever even knowing.

But.

But our words could save someone’s life, and that person is God’s child. He knows them. He sent His son to die for them.

Y’all, choose life. Choose love. Choose wisely.

“Evil words destroy one’s friends; wise discernment rescues the godly.” – Proverbs 11:9

God’s voice should be the loudest voice that you hear.

When the world whispers lies – God whispers the truth. Don’t miss it. Don’t miss out on peace. On joy. On hope. On love.

Guys, if you want to hear God’s voice immerse yourself in His word. Immerse yourself in praise and worship. Immerse yourself in Him.

Don’t just dip your toe in the water – run with all your might and do a stinkin’ cannonball.

“The voice of the LORD is upon the waters; The God of glory thunders, The LORD is over many waters. The voice of the LORD is powerful, The voice of the LORD is majestic. The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars; Yes, the LORD breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.read more. He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, And Sirion like a young wild ox. The voice of the LORD hews out flames of fire. The voice of the LORD shakes the wilderness; The LORD shakes the wilderness of Kadesh. The voice of the LORD makes the deer to calve And strips the forests bare; And in His temple everything says, “Glory!” – Psalm 29:3-9

Today is a big day for our Texas kiddos. They’ve worked hard all year long. They’ve listened and learned. They’ve practiced and prayed. And even though one test doesn’t define them we want them to feel confident and capable – because they are.

These kids are capable of huge things. They are going to be doctors and lawyers and teachers and preachers. They are going to be electricians and plumbers and makers and bakers. They are our future.

They are. They can. They will.

Today let’s pray Joshua 1:9 over all of our kiddos.

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Mommas, we can’t go in that testing room with them, but God can – and that’s so much better.

We don’t always know the whole story. In fact, that’s usually the case.

Can you imagine the whispers – the judgmental eyes that followed young Mary around?

Can you imagine the pressure she felt – the undeserving guilt and shame?

If people knew the whole story – the real story – maybe they would have offered her a place to stay. Maybe they would have prepared her a meal or two. Maybe they would have been a friend. An ear that would intently listen to this young, scared mom-to-be.

But maybe they should have done that anyway. Maybe they should have done that without knowing the whole story.

Just because.

Because she was a human being facing an insurmountable obstacle.

Maybe instead of judging they could have just “been there”.

They could have prayed.

They could have listened.

They could have loved.

They could have offered hope.

And that’s exactly what we can do today. Somebody needs that.

33 And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed 35 (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.” Luke 2:33-35

You ever spell something so wrong that spell check can’t even fix it?

Yeah.

Then you sit there and stare at it thinking, “How did that even happen?”

Sometimes we mess up big time. Sometimes we mess up because we aren’t fully paying attention, because our minds are on other things, or because we really just don’t know.

The thing with God is – He can fix it. No matter how bad you messed up, no matter how jumbled you’ve made a situation, God can straighten that mess out for ya.

We just have to let Him be the one to type this thing called life out. Stop trying to grab the keypad out of His hands.

He’s got this.

“In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind.” Job 12:10

Rejection.

It’s the worst, y’all.

And although Jesus is God – He still understands this hurricane of a human emotion full well. He was rejected every single day. He is still rejected every single day.

He was rejected by His enemies, and He was rejected by His very best friends. He was.

He understand the pain.

He understands the sorrow.

And He will never, ever reject you.

The question is: How will you respond to rejection? Will you let the world’s rejection dictate and define who you are – or like Christ, will you rise up and roll that stone to the side? It’s your choice.

“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.” John 15:18

“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” 1 Peter 5:8

It’s all fun and games until it’s not.

Just like Ananias, we are so eager to answer the call of Christ – until answering that call is more like becoming a tribute in the Hunger Games.

I’m being serious.

We say yes to VBS.

We say yes to bringing a casserole.

We say yes to Bible Study.

We say yes to Sunday morning church.

But.

But what about witnessing?

What about forgiveness?

What about that big monetary donation?

What about the things that hurt?

What about when it’s awkward?

What about the things that make us dig deep?

The things that stab at our pride – our fear?

We have a choice to make, guys – all in or all out. When it’s scary, when it hurts, when it doesn’t make sense – Follow God.

Here I am, Lord.

Ananias Baptizes Saul

10 Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, “Ananias.”

And he said, “Here I am, Lord.”

11 So the Lord said to him, “Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying. 12 And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight.”

13 Then Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much [a]harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.”

15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children[b] of Israel. 16 For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.”

17 And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord [c]Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized.