When you become an adult you have to do all these adulty things. One of those things is working with companies that are providing you a service like electricity, cable, water, or trash.

For the last few months we’ve had a few issues with a service provided – miscommunication per say.

Well, when I came home Monday I had reached my level of aggravation. That takes a lot for me. So I told my husband, “Give me the number. I’m calling.”

I walked outside, and God literally stopped me in my tracks. He reminded me that even though I was aggravated it wasn’t really the person on the receiving end of the phone’s fault.

He also reminded me that this Saturday I’m speaking at a Christian Conference, and what if – what if the person I unleashed my sass on happened to be sitting in that conference.

Guys.

We’ve got to be careful. We’ve got to be mindful of our tongue, our tone, and the way we treat others. Whether it be our spouse, our kids, our coworkers, or the cashier at the store – someone’s watching. And someone needs to see a glimpse of Jesus.

You may be that glimpse. Be careful.

“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.” Ephesians 4:29

Give yourself a break, momma.

You’re doing the thing. You’re making it happen. You’re wrestling laundry, a job, kids, dogs, and so much more.

It’s ok to rest. It’s ok to make a mistake. And it’s ok if you didn’t sweep today.

It’s ok.

The most important thing is that your babies see you praying – they see you slaying. They see you loving, and they see you laughing.

They see you living.

Give yourself a break, momma. God’s got you.

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7 (NIV)

I had something else to post this morning. I even sent it to Deb Navan last night for her to read over; however, I woke up at four this morning on fire and excited to see what God was going to do. I woke up with this urgent question on my heart: What mountain are you still circling?

Greed

Jealousy

Lust

Shame

Guilt

Anxiety

Forgiveness

Hurt

Gluttony

Trust

So many mountains. So little time, y’all. I don’t care how you get past that mountain – climb up, walk around, ride a train – that doesn’t matter. All that matters is that you move past it and get going on the journey that God has placed before you.

It’s time. Stop walking in circles. Stop taking two steps forward and then doubling back because of doubts and what ifs.

God’s bigger than that stinking mountain.

“You have been traveling around this mountain country long enough. Turn northward.” Deuteronomy 2:3

Things don’t always appear as they seem.

Sometimes depression looks like smiles.

Sometimes anxiety sounds like laughs.

Sometimes quiet is not stuck up.

Sometimes a solemn face isn’t rude.

Sometimes lonely is surrounded by friends.

Sometimes a beautiful house isn’t a home.

The truth is we don’t know what masks people are hiding behind. We don’t know what people are going through.

But as Christians we do know what joy is. We do know what kindness is. And we need to spread that stuff around like crazy. No matter the cost.

We have got to stop being selfish. That’s right – I said it, and I’m pointing my finger at myself. We’ve got to get out from underneath what’s going on in our own lives, what our busy schedule is, and how tired we are. We’ve got to step out, seek out, and speak out in love. We’ve got to slow down enough to open our eyes.

We’ve got to help people. We’ve got to love people.

We’ve got to.

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. – John 15:12

Germs.

Small but strong. Unforeseen. A minute but mighty life-form that will wreck shop on our mental and physical daily to-do’s like a hurricane in Texas. I’m not making trying to be funny about that either – I’m being so serious.

Preventative care is our biggest defense. There are steps that we can take to help combat the infiltration of these tiny, microscopic pests on our complex, yet sometimes fragile system. But they are steps that we have to physically take.

Washing our hands

And keeping them to ourselves

Covering our mouth when we cough

Taking vitamins

Eating the right food

Not sharing food or drink

Rest

Y’all already know what I’m about to say – isn’t it the same exact way with sin? It starts off tiny and makes its pesky way into our system. Before we know it there’s a full-fledge attack brewing. Once sin is there, once sin has figured out how to break through our shield of defense, it’s way harder to get rid of. Once it’s welcomed itself into its comfortable new home – that pesky little booger is ready to stay and campout for a good while. Maybe even permanently.

But we have preventative strategies to stop sin as well, and boy do they work!

Talking to God

Praying

Praising

Worshipping

Staying in the word

Prayer accountability partners

Intentionality and focus

Guys, instead of going about life all willy-nilly with the common, misconstrued mindset of “it can’t happen to me” I think it’s time we put these preventative strategies into place. It’s time to be proactive instead of reactive when it comes to the things entering into our complex but fragile systems.

It’s time.

Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life. Put away from you a deceitful mouth And put devious speech far from you. Let your eyes look directly ahead And let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you. Watch the path of your feet And all your ways will be established. Do not turn to the right nor to the left; Turn your foot from evil.

⁃ Proverbs 4:23-27

Glass half full?

Glass half empty?

I’m just glad I have a glass at all.

I’m just glad I have something for God to pour into.

Perspective, y’all.

It’s a game-changer.

Today, when we step out of our front door, we have a choice to make – how are we going to do life? Are we going to grumble and mumble or are we going choose a more positive pathway.

You can’t do both, but you can always backtrack and start over.

And there’s nothing wrong with that.

“14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing, 15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,” Philippians 2:-4-15 (ESV)

I have so many devotionals stored in my phone this morning that I could post, but none seem quite right.

What I want to say isn’t new.

What I want to say isn’t profound.

It’s not a cute new groundbreaking slogan.

What’s on my mind are the following three words:

Just be nice.

That’s it. That’s all.

Kids, teenagers, grownups – Just be nice. It’s easy, and it could change someone’s life. Including yours.

This is truly the cry of my heart.

When people are rude – be nice.

When people are hurting – be nice.

When you don’t agree – be nice.

When they’ve hurt you – be nice.

When you’re tired – be nice.

When you don’t get your way – be nice.

When you want to pop off like a firecracker on the 4th of July – Just. Be. Nice.

“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.” Colossians 3:12-14

In her book “Unfriended” Lisa-Jo Baker writes that there is power in speaking words of blessings and encouragement over someone else.

Let’s do that today. Let’s lift one another up in love. Let’s pat someone on the back. Let’s encourage. Let someone know that they are in fact rockin this thing called motherhood. That they inspire you. That they make this world a better place.

Let’s do this from a place of love. From a place of truth.

Be an encourager for Christ, and watch the power of His love and grace spread like a wildfire.

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NIV)

My kids are always teaching me something.

There’s just something about the purity of a child’s heart – a heart not tainted by the harshness of the world yet. A heart that truly loves without restrictions.

Sunday morning I looked over and Maggie had big crocodile tears in her eyes. When I asked her what was wrong she said, “I don’t want anyone to go to hell. Anyone.”

Her little heart was broken, which broke this momma’s heart wide open. Instantly the song “Break my Heart for what Breaks Yours” came to my mind. As Christians, that should be our anthem.

Our hearts should be broken for the lost souls in our community – in our world. Instead of being wrapped up in the trivial issues of life that come and go, we should be as mission-minded as Maggie. That’s the honest truth.

Dear God, please break my heart wide open. Please help me keep the main thing the main thing. Open my eyes. Open my heart. I’ve got work to do.

🎼Heal my heart and make it clean
Open up my eyes to the things unseen
Show me how to love like You have loved me
Break my heart for what breaks Yours
Everything I am for Your Kingdom’s cause
As I walk from earth into eternity

🎼

“And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:3 (KJV)

This past summer I have noticed a reoccurring theme surrounding everything I’ve read, listened to, and studied.

That theme is love.

I find it fitting (and exciting) that my church’s verse for this month is John 13:35 which states, “By this all will know you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Something crucial to remember:

Love doesn’t come easy for everyone. Love doesn’t come easy because some people have never experienced it – they’ve never been shown how to love or how to be loved.

It’s up to us, guys. It’s up to us to be the love that they’ve never seen. It’s up to us to seek out people that have never been loved and do just that – simply love them.

No matter what.