Hey.

I just wanted to post a sweet reminder that God chose you.

For every role that you are playing; He specifically cast you.

Daughter

Sister

Wife

Mom

Friend

He has faith in you. He is proud of you. He is your Father, and He knows what you are capable of (through Him).

Step out confidently this week. You are so, so loved.

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” – Ephesians 2:10

If you’re like me then you’ve probably overextended yourself at some point in the last week. Probably multiple days in a row.

You’re probably currently running on fumes, and you’re probably thinking how in the world am I going to get all of this “stuff” done – and done well?

Woah.

Catch your breath.

Now repeat after me: I may not be Superwoman, but I serve a Super God — and He is holding me in the palm of His hands.

“But my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4:19

With a new year and new habits comes a new battle. When satan sees you making all these positive changes in your life – it makes him cranky. Because let’s be honest, he does not want us happy, healthy, and thriving.

He begins to magnify all the little things that he knows will upset us. He begins to nit pick. He wants to wear you down. He wants you to believe that you can’t be successful.

Get ready for battle, guys. Just remember – God provides us with a sword and a shield. Don’t be afraid to use them.

“10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.” – Ephesians 6:10-13

January’s cold, dismal weather can oftentimes lead to a cold, dismal attitude. It just makes you feel blah, which then makes you feel even more blah. It’s so easy to sink into a slump of the “I don’t want to’s”.

If you find yourself sinking deeper and deeper into a pit of solitude that no one else is allowed inside of, let me challenge you. Step out and start serving. Seriously. Grab your dry shampoo, throw on a hoodie, and get going.

If you are serving God somewhere, no matter how big or small, then your mind doesn’t have time to be down in the dumps. All of your focus, all of your thoughts, will be on doing what God needs you to do – and that’s a good, good place to be.

Don’t let satan get your goat. Step up, step out, and start serving.

“27 Idle hands are the devil’s workshop; idle lips are his mouthpiece.[a]” – Proverbs 16:27

“26 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.” – John 12:26

PSA: It’s Monday. It’s time to hit the floor running (and probably vacuum it, too). We all have chores, dinners to cook, and kids to shuttle. I’m not sure what your monumental to-do list looks like this week, but I know if you’re a woman in 2018 that it’s HUGE.

Another thing that I know without a doubt is the fact that God is holding us, hugging us, and helping us through each minute of each day. In the midst of the madness don’t forget about Him.

Not only does He want to help you get through the hustle of the week, He wants it to be a good one. By Friday He wants you happy, healthy, and high-fiving your co-workers on the way out the door.

“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 15:14

I’m still in the new year/new habits mode, and I’m excited. I’m excited because this year God has given me new perspective on what success really looks like.

Success doesn’t mean that you are 100% perfect at reaching your goals. Success means that when you fall face first in the mud you make the decision to get right back up, wipe off as much dirt as you can, and then keep running like when you were a small girl on the playground. Uninhibited. Unashamed. Unfazed.

This year do not let satan win. One bowl of ice cream doesn’t constitute failure. Neither does two. We are human, and we certainly are not perfect. This year when you “fail” at whatever new habit you are trying to form just remember that God never fails. He wants you to be successful, and He will hold your hand and walk you through this entire journey. You just have to grab ahold of Him. Grab ahold of Him, and don’t ever let go.

“But you, Lord, are a shield around me,

my glory, the One who lifts my head high.” – Psalm 3:3

Big prayers should not equal big scares; however, for the majority of my life that’s how I have lived – in fear of trusting my future to anyone else besides me. Let’s be honest, a lot of people have control issues. Yes, I am one of them. We like things our way, and oftentimes we will manipulate the heck out of whatever situation we are currently in to get it “just right”.

So for years I have been praying “blanket” prayers:

*God, keep me safe.

*God, let today be a good day.

*God, help me be a good mom.

The closer I draw to God the more I realize that I’m just touching the brink of what He wants to hand me, and in order to hold on – I’m gonna have to let go.

I have to let go of fear.

I have to let go of MY perspective.

I have to let go of MY wants.

I have to let go of MY control issues.

I have to let go of the unknown.

I have to let go of the “what if’s”

I have to be brave enough to pray those really big prayers. The bold ones. The prayers that say:

*God, where do you need me to go?

*God, what is YOUR will?

*God, help me to do whatever it takes.

It’s time to trust God’s will, God’s way, and God’s timing. It’s time to get bold with our prayers, ladies. It is time to let go of the fear of the unknown, trust our amazing Father, and look forward to the future that He holds for us.

It’s time.

“For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.” – Isaiah 41:13

“For God did not give us a Spirit of fear but of power and love and self-control.” – 2 Timothy 1:7

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” – Jeremiah 29:11

I’m sitting here thinking about 2018, and I’m excited. A brand new year. A clean slate. A chance to make a difference. Of course I started making a list of the different ways to make it a successful year.

The first thing that came to my mind was my #PrayerTribe. My #JesusGirls. The ladies in my life that carry my heart and my passions and my kids and my hurts right along with theirs. They don’t judge. They don’t make me feel less than. When I’m doubting myself they pick me up, dust me off, and sometimes give me a swift kick.

These ladies are fighters. They are mighty in the word and faithful in prayer. And if I ever ended up in a dark, scary situation they would come out swinging. Without a doubt they love me and all my shenanigans. Without a doubt they love God. And when I ask them to pray – they pray. They really pray.

Y’all, find you some #JesusGirls. Find your #PrayerTribe, and when you do – treasure them. Lift them up. Pray for them faithfully. Keep their secrets. Carry their burdens. Hold their hopes in your heart.

“Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.” Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

Just because God has called other people to be missionaries in a foreign country doesn’t mean He has called you to be that. He may want you to be a missionary right where you are -in your very own hometown.

Just because God has called other people to write doesn’t mean He has called you to write.

Just because He’s called other people to speak doesn’t mean He has called you to speak.

Just because He has called other people to adopt, to teach, to be behind the scenes, or to rock babies in the nursery – that doesn’t mean He has called you to do that.

Dig deep, guys. What is God calling you to do this year? How is He calling you to step out in faith? Join me in prayer as I pray for God to reveal to us what He would have us to do for Him in 2018.

I pray for God to give us the guidance that we need. I pray that God will give us the courage and the strength and the perseverance to complete the race that He has placed on our path for this new year.

Find your mission, guys. Find your niche. Step out, grab God by the hand, and hit the pavement running. Just remember – whatever mission He has chosen for you – it’s probably going to be uncomfortable. It’s going to stretch you. It’s probably going to push you to what you think are your limits, but that’s when we see God move in the most amazing ways. We are for a purpose.

“1Therefore, 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, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” – Hebrew 12:1-3

My 2017 Prayer Journal is about to be tucked away on a shelf along with other journals from years past.

My journals are full. Almost every single page is covered in messy penmanship that oftentimes I can’t even decipher. Every once in awhile I open it and find messages or prayers that Maggie has written – which I love. Some pages I just verse-map on. (Something cool I plan on sharing with y’all this year.)

At first glance, it may seem that my journal is full of hurt, pain, sickness, fear, anguish, but that’s only if you stop turning the pages.

You have to keep reading. Because if you do you will see stories of relationships on the verge of breaking put back together in the best possible way. You will see families that were bombarded with the unimaginable standing stronger than ever. If you keep reading you will see people that were once sick – healed. You will see dreams that seemed unreachable brought to fruition.

If you keep reading you will see where a havoc-wrecking hurricane brought together an entire state with love and unity. You will see where things once taken for granted are now cherished.

And then you will read about the day God brought snow – to Southeast Texas. Pure. Clean. Refreshing. Snow. An unexpected reminder of hope.

Keep reading, guys. No matter how hard life gets, no matter what comes, keep turning the pages. 2017 may have been rough, but we are on the brink of something new – a brand new year full of endless possibilities.

“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” – Isaiah 43:19