Y’all know wnat measuring up is?

Exhausting. It’s absolutely exhausting.

First of all whose standards are you trying to measure up to?

Yours? Unobtainable.

Hers? Unreasonable.

His? Impracticable.

The worlds? Impossible.

I fall short.

And I’m not being mean – because you know that’s not who I am – but you fall short, too.

[We] will never be:

Smart enough

Savvy enough

Pretty enough

Strong enough

Skinny enough

Rich enough

Talented enough

Good enough.

And the list goes on and on and on.

And on.

But.

Thank goodness we don’t have to gauge ourselves against anyone’s standards but God’s. Open His word and let Him speak to you. Let His words be the only truth that resonates in your soul from here on out.

▪️Psalm 139:14 tells me that I am wonderfully made.

▪️Proverbs 31:10 says that I am more precious than rubies.

▪️1 John 3:1 says that I am His child.

▪️John 3:16 tells me that my God loves me so much that He sent His son to die for me.

Somebody testify.

The truth of the matter is that when it comes to God’s measuring stick you will always be top-notch. And that, my sweet sisters in Christ, is all the measuring you’ll ever need.

I think every day we wear shields or armor to hide the daily battles we deal with in our head and heart. The shields hide our anxieties, hurts, mental battles…..the list could go on. The past couple of years have shown all of us that going at it alone does not fair well for those who try.

Growing up my Mom use to say m, “God does not give us more than we can handle.” I’m sure many of you reading this have heard this saying or you said it out loud or in your head as you are reading this. One thing I think my Mom forgot to stress is that through my struggles I’ve always had a partner helping carry the weight, so it wouldn’t crush me. Faith!

Joshua 1:9 Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord, your God is with you wherever you go.

There were times where my faith faltered and I wasn’t sure that treading in deep water was ever going to end. I wore a smile and moved through the motions that life was okay – it was normal. I know you are thinking when is my positive point going to shine through. Well, it is when the skies aren’t showing a ray of sunshine that you remember you have the brightest light ready to lead the way! Turn to your faith and cast your fear, doubt, and anxiety to him.

His light will fill you with hope, encouragement, and strength. Above all, He will clear your mind from the doubt and replace it with a renewed spirit of hope. We all need hope and faith every day so that we may face whatever unfolds. Hold tight to your faith if you are struggling, and if you are not be the flashlight for others and help light up their hope and faith.

Psalm 18:28 For You light my lamp; The Lord my God illumines my darkness.

John 8:12 -I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

My faith is my flashlight! Have you charged your battery?

“If His grace is an ocean we’re all sinking” (How He Loves, Crowder)

“You nailed my debt to that old rugged cross, an empty slate, at the empty grave” (Homecoming, Bethel)

“Be my peace when I’m surrounded

For my fears will never scare

You Shatter the shame that I’ve been bound in

From insecure to brand new” (No Other

Love, Red Rocks Worship)

We often can’t grasp how much patience God has with us. He never says, “this is the last time I’ll put you back together.”

He is always there waiting with open arms. Having someone in our corner that will never leave us is the best comfort we could ask for. People fail us, and we have unrealistic expectations that cause us to get mad or lose trust in others and sometimes God. But He hears our cries, He waits to put us back together, He’s the father waiting for your return home meeting you halfway.

Reminding ourselves of how much we are loved is so important in our relationship with Christ because that’s what it is, a relationship, between 2 people who have fallen in love. One so much He gave His life for you. To know his love and know his peace allows us to love people the way He loves. It allows us to move through the troubles of life with certainty that we will get through it.

Proverbs 3:5-6 & 8

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths… It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.”

I found these verses as I was praying over a friend for healing and that they would know God’s peace and love, and I pray this same thing for you.

On The Other Side

Like so many, the past year has been rough for our family. Especially in the area of mental health. There were days when all we could do was cling to Jesus. Many days all I could do was cry out and be thankful for Romans 8:26-27

“Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.”

Romans 8:26 ESV

We are mostly on the other side of those issues. Cue Gloria Estefan’s “Coming Out Of the Dark”. I thank God for the care of some awesome school and professional counselors.

And, as is so often the case, I can look back and see God’s tender mercies. His constant protection. And His provision working through the generosity of others. So many people came along side us and I can never say thank you enough. So many things I had to say and ask for that were always met with love. Only God can create hearts like that.

On this side, I am throughly enjoying the growth the darkness brought. I see so much maturity, empathy, care and clarity. I see thriving. I see confidence and no compromise. I see understand of self and others. I see choices that protect mental health and shuts down negativity. I see laughter and fun and friendship. Loneliness is gone. Only God can do that.

In Job 1, everything has been taken from Job. His children were dead. His animals, the source of his wealth were gone. Let’s see how Job reacted

“At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.” In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.”

Job 1:20-22 NIV

Job mourned. Then he praised God. He trusted the Lord. Throughout most of Job, we hear Job’s friends giving him advice they think is from God. They urge him to repent of whatever sin has caused God’s wrath. Finally in chapter 38 God speaks. And I love it because I like to read it as God being kinda sassy.

““What is the way to the abode of light? And where does darkness reside? Can you take them to their places? Do you know the paths to their dwellings? Surely you know, for you were already born! You have lived so many years!”

Job 38:19-21 NIV

For 2 chapters God goes on asking questions that establish His supremacy. There are things only He can do for reasons only He knows. And that’s His prerogative. He’s the creator, we are the creator. He’s the refiner, we are the refined.

When you’re going through a hard time, people like to say “everything happens for a reason”. Usually it doesn’t make you feel better. Sometimes it makes us downright mad. But I do believe it. I’ve gotten to the other side of so many terrible situations, and I can see God’s hand.

In the middle of the hard times, you have to preach the Gospel to yourself. You remind yourself of what God has done in the past. And trust that He’s loving and faithful.

God knows you and loves you. He sees your hurts and is working. He collects your tears. Cry out to him. Ask for help. Find a good counselor.

“You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book?”

Psalm 56:8 ESV

If you are struggling with mental health or suicidal feelings, you are not alone. https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/

Anyone else ever feel a little confused and uneasy? Have you asked God for guidance, direction, and understanding, but you just can’t hear His answer? Telling the Lord, “I need you to help me, show me, give me a sign, anything”, to the point of frustration? Well, you are not alone. I have been guilty of feeling frustrated at our Almighty Sovereign God. I know, I am ashamed, but thankfully God still loves me! I have learned in these moments that confusion and frustration are not from God.

So lately what I keep hearing in my spirit, in sermons, and even in songs is that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life! He is the key to it all, the way to salvation. “Jesus answered, I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6. Well, I also believe in all our confusion and frustration, He is the way, the truth, and the life.

Everyone is searching for direction (the way) in life. We always like to know where we are going and how we are going to get there before we even begin. Wouldn’t it be so much easier if God literally gave us GPS commands that we could hear? Turn right here, take a left there, turn around, and when we lose our way, recalculating route? He does give us these directions and He recalculates our route when we don’t follow his path. It is just not as easy to hear Him. If it was, we would never take the time to seek Him, pray, and wait for His direction in faith. God doesn’t want us to lose our way or feel confused in what path to take. He just desires for His children to come to Him just like parents desire to hear from their own children. He will always prove to know what is best and help us to understand His way.

We all want the truth until it reveals something in us we may not like, or we don’t get the truth we think we desire. Jesus Himself is (the truth), in Him there is nothing false, He is one with God. When we doubt God or we feel panic and confusion in our situations, we really are not holding on to the truth, but our own flesh. We forget how God has always been with us in the past. All the times he showed us the truth that He is in control and knows what is best. He can calm the storms of life just like He did when the disciples panicked in the boat during the storm. Jesus instantly stopped the wind and waves, all the while the disciples thought they were going to die. They had lost their faith. When Jesus spoke, they were aware that the truth, Jesus, is all knowing and all powerful. When we face any situation, confused or not, we will not have the truth until we have heard from Him.

One of the main things we want is to live a life that lasts forever. Jesus is (the Life) and through our belief in Him, we will have an eternal life, but not on this earth. We get confused and think we want to stay here forever, but that’s not the point. We are here for just a moment and while we are here, we are to carry out the work of the Lord. Jesus gave us the example of a perfect life as he faced temptations and the same situations that we do. When we feel confusion and frustration, we need to remember that this life is not about us. God wants us to follow the example of Jesus and spread His gospel to the whole earth. If we truly seek to serve Him our desire will be to do just that.

This past week my oldest had his wisdom teeth removed. If you saw his Snapchat story I don’t know if I should say I’m sorry or you’re welcome.

If you know you know.

I digress. He had his teeth removed on a Wednesday and that Friday the high school that he used to attend had their homecoming – and if you are from the great state of Texas you know what a big deal that is.

Of course he wanted to go, but in good conscience I just couldn’t let him. Not only is it an hour drive away – the kid is totally crazy at ball games. All the yelling and all the cheering. I just knew in my momma’s heart that he couldn’t go. I didn’t want him to overdo it too soon after surgery.

And it killed me for him to have to miss it.

Luckily, he’s a pretty good kid. He trusted my choice and my reasoning. He knew I was trying to protect him from getting sick or hurt after surgery. He didn’t question me or cry or whine.

That’s what God does for His kiddos, too. He looks out for our best interest. He protects us from getting hurt. He puts a stop to situations that could end not so well.

The thing is I need to be more like Maverick. I need to be more trusting of God’s path for me. Shamefully, I am more of the whining, crying, and questioning type. When I want to think my plan is the best I need to remember to open up my Bible. Story after story after story clearly paints a picture of what happens when humans want to do things their way.

We need to trust God.

We need to seek His will.

We need to let Him be the parent.

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.” Psalm 32:8

With high school football, and other sports in full swing, are you cheering and bragging about your favorite team or player? Do you boast with pride about your sports team? What about when they aren’t doing so well? Are you quieter?

What do you boast about? Do  you want everyone to know about your failures and struggles? Do you brag about them?

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 NLT
Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

(2 Corinthians 12:9-10) This is the Mary Staggs Version of that verse: God’s favor, approval, mercy & forgiveness is all I need. God’s power works best when I am weak, stumped, discouraged, hurt, and humbled. So now let me tell everyone with a smile  about my failures, struggles, and fears, so that the mighty power of Christ – the creator of the universe –  the same power that raised Jesus from the dead and amazingly lives in me can work through me! That’s why I can, (but don’t always smile) when I’m weak, mess up, when I’m insulted, when things are hard, or when troubles overtake me. Because in my weakest moment I can be strong! What? In any temptation, trial, sickness, grief, or struggle – not me, not my brain, not my heart, not my friends, my parents or my upbringing, but my Savior is strong in me.

Listen up, HE IS MIGHTY, I (we) just need to get out of the way. God uses my struggles to get me out of the way so HE can work. It’s all about HIM. It’s about making HIS name great. It’s about others seeing God do things we cannot do ourselves. HE does it way better than I can even imagine. “Humble yourself under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up. (1 Peter 5:6) The next verse is my favorite. I’ve taught it to all my preschoolers for the last 40 years: Give all your worries and cares to God, for HE cares about you! GOD CARES FOR YOU!

He is not worried about what you have or don’t have, your size, your age, your education, your hair color, your race, where you work, or  your bank account. HE just wants my heart.

There is nothing that can separate me from God’s love,  I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. (Philippians 4:13) He is strong in my weakness! Now that is something to brag about.

Brag on Jesus today, be glad (the joy of the Lord is your strength) and let others see Jesus through you!

You are not a dupe.

My sisters are probably shaking their heads in shame right now as I openly admit that I went to the Urban Dictionary for the correct and cool meaning of said word.

Dupe.

Duplicate.

Not an original.

You are none of those things. God made you, designed you, created YOU with His own two hands, and you can bet your bottom dollar that He is beyond proud of His work – of YOU.

You’re not an accident.

You’re not an afterthought.

And you’re certainly not [her].

You are you.

You are His.

And you are destined for great things.

Sister, all you’ve got to do is believe it.

“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