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Eternal Life

đź’› Guest post by Mrs. Christle Jenkins

“Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saint.” Psalm 116:15

When we lose a loved one, we experience grief, sorrow, and pain. It is tough. It is gut wrenching! But what if we could view our loss through God’s eyes?

Death, to God, is not a tragedy when it is one of His children. It is life – eternal life. The moment we take our very first breath in eternity excites our Lord. He rejoices! To Him, it is His child returning home. My Sunday School teacher once said that it is like a parent who has been anxiously waiting for their child to return home from a long trip. When that child is finally home the parent rejoices. Their child is safe at home where they belong.

We are the Lord’s children. He desires for us to be home with Him in Heaven. He rejoices when we are safe in His loving arms. So, when we view the death of a faith believing loved one the way God does we will surely experience the peace that surpasses all understanding.

This is His promise that comes to us through our faith in Him. It does not mean we do not grieve our loss, but with His peace we will not let it overtake us. We can rejoice and be assured that they are with the Father, safe in His loving arms, forever healed, forever whole, and forever happy!

As children of God we know that one day we will step into eternity, free from our sorrow, pain, and grief. Most of our lives will be touched by a loss, but to God His child is home. Knowing that we can find peace.

“He will redeem their life from oppression and violence and precious shall be their blood in His sight.” Psalm 72:14

Get Up

You set the tone for you morning, momma. In fact, you set the tone for your whole family’s morning.

I didn’t always get this right. Some days I still don’t; however, the past five years I’ve been very intentional about how my family’s day starts.

Growing up I was the worst morning person – just ask my dad. I coined the phrase five more minutes. Just joking. Sort of.

The fact of the matter is, if I start my day rushed and running behind it turns me into a raging mommy monster, and that’s not good for anyone.

So here’s my routine – a routine I had to pray hard to make happen.

▪️Get up earlier than everyone else.

▪️Turn on praise and worship music.

▪️Get in the word.

▪️Talk to God.

Y’all, me becoming a morning person is nothing short of a miracle. In fact, it’s my favorite part of the day now.

I challenge you to get up and get ready for your day with Jesus. If this is something you struggle with, shoot me a message and I’ll pray with you about it.

I can honestly say it’s the best thing I’ve ever done for myself and for my family.

“But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble.” Psalms 59:16

You Can

Guest Post by Mrs. Traci Turner

I’ve seen a quote floating around the internet that states, “I wish I could raise my children in the world in which I grew up.” When this sentiment is posted, it always seems to get a lot of likes and comments. I always scratch my head as I do not quite agree with this statement. I want to say, “You can!”

The power is ours. The world can rage on outside of our homes, but we hold the power to raise our children how we see fit. No matter which political party is in the White House or what the media portrays as normal, we have the control. We create the world in which our children are raised.

It’s our choice to teach our children to serve others, to love Jesus, to obey God’s word, to worship, and to give selflessly. It’s our choice to love their other parent and show them a healthy relationship. It’s our choice to show them to respect their elders as we honor our parents. And in so doing, they will take those things into adulthood and pass that on to their children. Eph 6:1-4

We tend to look at the past with rose-colored glasses, as if in the 1950s -1990s the world was perfect and only in the past generation has it become godless. The reason we believe that is because our parents usually did a pretty good job of creating a world in which we felt safe and taught us those things we hold dear. The world was not perfect then, it was filled with sin. We just see it more now because of the constant media coverage and access to it at our fingertips. “What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.” – Ecclesiastes 1:9

Not everyone has had the privilege of growing up in a Christian home. If you fall into that category, you now have the opportunity to create it for your children. How? We have the perfect recipe laid out in God’s word and we have a generation of women to look to for advice. “Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children,” – Titus 2:4.

Use your power!

Hustle & Bustle

I’m not finished with this verse, but man it’s got me fired up this morning. I had to share now.

I don’t know how many times this year that I’ve said or written that the world is spinning out of control – cause it is. However, look at this beautiful promise straight from God – “He will quiet you by His love.”

In this verse the word quiet means to still, absence of bustle, to calm. I don’t know about y’all but an absence of bustle seems glorious considering 2020 and all that it entails. Can I get an Amen?

Hebrews 7:25, a cross reference for this verse, says that He will save those who draw near to Him.

Guys, we play a big part in the craziness swirling all around us. We can keep spinning with it, or we can draw near to Him – stand firmly on His promises – and Let God create an absence of worldly bustle within our hearts and minds.

Love y’all. 💛

Eagerness

đź’›Guest Post by Miss Kylie King đź’›

Eagerness.

We’re all looking forward to something. I believe eagerness is a part of our human nature. It’s healthy to be excited about life – eager to read the end of a book, attend an event you’ve waited a long time for, or catch up with an old friend. Anticipation makes life exciting. Who’s with me?

In Matthew 28:19 states, “Therefore go, making disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”

How exciting! When I read that I’m reminded of

the many things so much greater than ourselves to be truly eager for. These words describe the eagerness our Father wants us to have. To be driven. To go into the world. To recognize the crucial fact he has given us a job.

I challenge you to be eager.

Eager to change.

Eager to grow in your relationship with Christ.

Eager to forgive.

Eager to learn more.

Eager to dig deeper.

Eager to teach.

Eager to love greater.

Eager to be an example of the greatest love.

Eager to impact.

Lastly, I challenge you to be EAGER TO GO. Wherever you are, you have the strength to help make disciples of all nations. He needs you to be the change. He needs you to be eager.

All the Time

I’m not sure what situation you’re stepping into today, but I do know this – God’s stepping with you. I know this because He promised.

Lately, I’ve been clinging to the promises that Lamentations 3:22-24 whispers to us.

God is good.

He loves us.

He is our portion.

He is our hope.

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end;

they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness, “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.” Lamentations 3:22-24

Tuck your Toes In

It’s “Tuck your Toes in Tuesday” cause I’m stepping – on my own that is.

A few weeks ago I was out and about running errands. I was wearing a Rays of Sunshine Inc t-shirt and my Created Woman hat. Needless to say, my reppin game was strong.

Unfortunately, I found myself in an aggravating situation with a very sweet girl at the pharmacy. It wasn’t her fault. It wasn’t my fault. It was just life.

As I felt my irritation rising I had to tell myself, “Simmer down that sass, sister.” Remember who you’re representing.”

But honestly, who am I really representing? I’m representing Christ – all day err day. It shouldn’t matter if it’s written like a blazing banner on every article of clothing that I’m wearing or not. It shouldn’t matter if I’m in person or on the phone – or the keyboard.

I said what I said.

His fruit should be evident in my life regardless if I’m wearing my WWJD bracelet or not. And His fruit isn’t rotten – like the attitude I was fighting that day.

Y’all (points to self) today when you start stepping, remember whose you are. Remember who you’re representing. And remember that you just might be the only glimpse of Jesus that someone sees today.

Step boldly, but step with grace.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23

Ordinary

Guest Post by Mrs. Aimee Bartis

Do you feel ever ordinary? I often feel ordinary. My hair is medium brown, as are my eyes. In high school drill team I wasn’t the best nor the worst (I don’t think), the tallest nor the shortest. As an adult, I’m rarely the smartest in the room and, hopefully, not the most ignorant. My family is pretty firmly middle class. I love to speak to groups but I don’t require the spotlight at all times. I’m even politically moderate. Middle. Medium. Moderate. Ordinary,

Know who doesn’t think I’m ordinary? GOD!

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, GOD’S special possession, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light.”
1 Peter 2:9

I am chosen. I am part of a royal priesthood and a holy nation. I am GOD’s special possession. I have a specific purpose. I’m made to declare GOD’s praise and live in His wonderful light. And GOD feels the same way about you! He sent His son, Jesus, to die on the cross for your sins. It’s a free gift from Him to you. He has a place in His glorious light for you! You are never ordinary to GOD!

Get It Together

As far as momming goes, preparation for this new school year has got me like woah. I mean, essentially, I’ve had since March to get my ducks in a row. Yet, here I sit in the midst of school supply lists and mounting to-do’s that honestly may not get to-done.

At this point the only thing I’ve got going for me are the two boxes of Ticonderoga pencils that I randomly threw in my Walmart buggy last Sunday.

Normally all supplies and clothes are bought and neatly tucked away by mid July, but honestly – what does normal even mean in 2020?

Y’all, I do not have it together.

Let me repeat that. I do not have it together.

But you know what, God does. And He knew about Corona before Corona was a thing. He readies us, and He steadies us.

Take a deep breath, momma. It will all come together. This school year will start – with or without the perfect color pocket folders for your child.

And God – my God – will hold our hand each step of the way.

“Because You have been my help, therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice.” Psalms 63:7

Christ Alone

Sometimes a song gets stuck in my head and plays on repeat for hours. Y’all know what I mean? Last night it was this one:

🎶Christ alone, Cornerstone.

Weak made strong in the Savior’s love

Through the storm, He is Lord

Lord of all🎶

A cornerstone forms the base of a building. It is the foundation for the foundation if that makes any sense. All of the other stones conform to the cornerstone. In fact, if the cornerstone is removed, the entire structure could collapse to the ground.

I’m so thankful that Christ is my cornerstone. As of late, the world is literally crumbling all around us, but with Christ as our cornerstone we can stand firm – without wavering.

We don’t have to be scared.

We don’t have to be worried.

We don’t have to lose hope.

And we don’t have to fall apart.

God’s foundation is stable.

It’s sure.

And nothing can make it crumble.

“Therefore this says the Lord God: ‘Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation.’” Isaiah 28:16