So much change. So much grief. So much uncertainty.
But with grief comes growth, and I’m thankful for that.
And with change comes new life, and I’m grateful for that.
And with uncertainty comes a promise of hope. I’ll keep clinging to that.
38 was hard, but 38 was still good. Even in the midst of the most difficult times, God lavishes His amazing love and unending grace down on His children.
Here’s to 39!
“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” Numbers 6:24-26
It’s going to be hard. So hard. But it won’t last forever. This is not our new normal. This is merely a glitch – more like a total power outage – in this game we call life.
I’m not sure why God chose us to be the ones that muddle through this mess, but I do know without a doubt that He chose us for a reason. He knew we had the grit to dig deep and to do whatever it takes. He knew we wouldn’t give up.
Just like Esther, He placed us here at this time – for this time – for a purpose. That doesn’t make what we are about to do any easier, but it does give me hope.
Hope for our educators.
Hope for our students.
Hope for our future.
Although this “Back to School” is going to be hard, weird, unprecedented, and whatever other adjective you want to throw in there – two things remain the same – God is going to be with us, and God chose us to teach these kiddos.
It’s going to be hard, y’all.
But God.
“Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13-14
Perfect. • This word has given me major anxiety most of my life. I would look at the perfectly cut crustless peanut butter and jelly sandwich lunches, to the ooey-gooey homemade chocolate chip cookie posts by other wives and moms and think, “When will my day come? I can’t even remember to switch the laundry out before it sours.” • This is the thing about perfection though: it’s person specific. What would be the “perfect” outcome to one, may just cause pure irritation to another. So, that tells us this: Perfection isn’t the enemy. LET ME REPEAT: Perfection isn’t the enemy. It’s trying to achieve some level of perfection without Jesus that makes the task so daunting. It’s less about comparing our lives among others, and more about comparing it to the truest judge of perfection of all: The Word of God. • Listen to what 2 Corinthians 10:12 says in the Message translation: 👇🏻 “We’re not, understand, putting ourselves in a league with those who boast that they’re our superiors. We wouldn’t dare do that. But in all this comparing and grading and competing, they quite miss the point.” • When we compare our “less successful” season to another’s “more successful season”, we’ve missed the point. SUCCESS AND PERFECTION ARE PERSON SPECIFIC. God has not called us all to the same tasks in life, so there is no way our lives are going to look alike. A young, stay at home mom’s season of life is going to look quite different from that of an older, empty nester. So, quit comparing, love! Comparison is just a joy and peace robber. • Listen to this: 👇🏻 “Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love.” – 1 John 4:18 (NLT) • Do you get it yet? If we despise perfection and expect failure, it’s because we have not given proper recognition to the Love of God. You see, what you see as imperfection, God sees as untapped potential. He wants us to look TO Him, FULLY trust Him, and stop expecting perfection outside of relationship with Him. Cause at the end of the day, God wants availability more than He wants your acts of perfection. He wants availability to speak to your heart when you are troubled to give you words of rest. He wants the availability to laugh with you on those “Mondayest” Monday’s ever. Most importantly, though, He wants you to know He made you special, like no one else, and He cares deeply to just live life with you. • So, my dear, JUST BREATHE. I promise, this season will pass and another will be sure to come. It will get better. It will get easier. And in the meantime, ENJOY LIFE. Continue looking to the Perfect One who is made strong in our weaknesses. • “But he answered me, “My grace is always more than enough for you, and my power finds its full expression through your weakness.” So I will celebrate my weaknesses, for when I’m weak I sense more deeply the mighty power of Christ living in me.” - 2 Corinthians 12:9 TPT
We are not called to figure it all out. We are not called to wake up in the mornings and have it all together or go to bed at night beating ourselves up for not being perfect during the day. I have found comfort over the years in the fact that my job is not to wake up and meet the qualifications of my own expectations of perfection.
As I grow into who I need to become, I often find myself at an intersection. Not a highway intersection – although my “life intersection” has many of the same qualities. My life intersection is full of red lights, yield signs, and lines of what seem to always be a slow wait. I share this with the knowledge I’m not the only “recovering perfectionist” crying for a way out. Don’t get me wrong, I love working at every task 100%. I try to put every ounce of energy into what I’m doing to make it perfect.
But what happens when the struggle of perfection makes us yield from what we are called to be? Simply to be obedient.
2 Corinthians 16 is my sweet reminder; “This is why we never give up, though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day.”
Wow!
Thank you for the green light at my constant intersection, Lord. Thank you for refreshing my soul – it needs it. Thank you for the reminder that you already sent me with the knowledge that I was never going to be perfect & that’s okay.
That’s why Jesus did what he did – for our imperfect, human nature. It was never my job to be perfect. My job is to wake up daily and give it my best shot. I need to give it my all for Christ by being an example of obedience. That’s my job.
So why do so many of us feel as if it is our job? Our bodies are dying, but our soul is refreshed daily. He needs us to do our job. The job of trusting and resting in the fact that He has every ounce of this crazy highway of life under control. It’s all carefully sculpted in his hands. He tends to take all the broken pieces and transform them into masterpieces.
Today I encourage you to stop allowing the enemy to seep in. You were never meant to live up to this expectation you have set for yourself. God wants to use you to impact this world. He wants to make beauty out of your refreshed soul and imperfections. Simply by realizing that you are called to rely on his love and be obedient will help you find your green light and accelerate through this highway we call life.
If you’re about to do something for God’s Kingdom, then you best get ready for a battle. The devil doesn’t discriminate, and he certainly doesn’t care if you’re a Christian. In fact, he would prefer that.
Let me be totally real with y’all, two days after I announced I was publishing my second book I found myself in a bad place. Depression swept in like an angry river trying to swallow me up.
But God’s bigger than any river. Hallelujah.
And when it’s time for battle He readies us and steadies us. So, when it’s time to go toe-to-toe – and it will happen – here are some things I do to fight back:
▪️pray ▪️open the word ▪️go outside ▪️stream worship music
Get angry. Fight back. God has provided you with the most powerful weapon in the world – Himself.
But whatever you do, do NOT give up. There’s a reason you’re battling, and that reason is worth the fight.
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. Ephesians 6:12
We all have those thoughts from time to time. Even those of us who know who we are in Christ. Thoughts of rejection.
Feelings of not being good enough or worthy enough is something many people deal with. We live in a fallen world and many of our negative experiences leave a person with a feeling of brokenness.
We wonder why this may or may not have happened to us, why this person did or didn’t do something, and we think is it because I’m not worth it? Sometimes it’s just an attack of the enemy in an area of vulnerability for us. One of the things you have to realize is that sometimes no matter how hard you try or what you do, there will be people who don’t value you.
You have to come to terms with the fact that God values you and nothing anyone says or does changes that. You have to learn to set healthy boundaries in your heart, your mind, and in your life. Don’t allow others to speak negativity into your life. Reject immediately those thoughts and lies the enemy may try to whisper in your ear.
You are deeply loved and highly valued by the Creator of the universe who designed you in His image! He sent his Son, Jesus, to be crucified for the sole purpose of reconciling you to Himself. Jesus loved you enough to be the willing sacrifice so that you could live forever with Him.
And nothing can separate you from the extravagant love of God found in Christ Jesus. Focus your mind on His promises and make up your mind to believe that you are who He says you are today!
I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness. ~ Jeremiah 31:3 NIV
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. ~ Romans 5:8 NIV
So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. ~ Genesis 1:27 NIV
No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. ~ Romans 8:39 NLT
I feel ya. I’ve been there and done that. In my 38 years on this earth I’ve been too small, too big, and every size in between.
Measuring up to the world’s standards of how a female should look is exhausting. In fact, it’s impossible. It’s an awful cycle of desperation and not feeling worthy enough. I lived in that cycle for way too long.
What changed? My relationship with God. My focus shifted from me to Him. With a shift in heart and mind, the chains of insecurity began to fall off and so did all the pressure that came with it. Freedom in Christ is good, y’all.
Am I mindful of the food I put into my body? Yup.
Do I still try and do some type of exercise. Yup.
Our bodies are temples. If I’m not taking care of my body then it’s going to break down. If it breaks down, I won’t be able to do what God needs me to do for His Kingdom.
Ladies, I pray that you will be freed from those chains, too. I pray that when you look in the mirror you don’t see someone that’s too small or too big – but someone that God made in His own image. Someone that God made for a purpose.
I refuse to let the world’s standards dictate how I feel about myself.
I’m fine just the way I am. I’m God’s girl, and so are you.
“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful,
It’s almost been one year since we began our non-profit Rays of Sunshine Inc. Many of y’all don’t know but I seriously told God no for three straight weeks. I wrestled and argued. Cried and pouted.
It’s shameful I know.
But God wins. God knows our dreams before we even know our dreams.
I’m glad I reluctantly said yes.
Reluctant because it was scary. Reluctant because I knew nothing about running a business. Reluctant because people would think I’m crazy. Reluctant because what if I failed.
This morning I pulled out my 2019 journal. The picture of what Frank said in Sunday School was in March. The picture of my prayers was in June. I love to remember what God has spoken and what God has brought me through.
I said all that to say this – if God is telling you to do something, just say yes. Don’t waste time arguing. Don’t waste time wrestling. Don’t waste time doubting.
Have faith.
God is enough. He is smart enough. He is business savvy. He has all the resources in the world.
He’s all you need.
“Delight thyself in the Lord; and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” Psalms 37:4
Mission- a strongly felt aim, ambition, or calling.
Mindset- the established set of attitudes held by someone.
When I woke up this morning the following question popped into my mind: What’s God’s mission for you today, Daisy?
Does that happen everyday? Nope. Should it? Yes.
We should be so wrapped up in Jesus that our mission mindset is the only mindset we have, and that’s the truth.
If I’m not living everyday to point myself and others toward Jesus, then what am I really doing?
Missions don’t have to be fancy, expensive, or even adventurous. Your mission is your mission, and everyone’s is different.
Whatever God has called you to do – that’s your mission. You’re a world changer, and that’s the truth.
Don’t forget how important your specific mission is to the Kingdom of God. He created you for that mission. Live it out loud.
“”For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?” Esther 4:14
Rays of Sunshine inc 