This one’s gonna sting a little. I’m gonna be stepping on toes, but don’t worry – they’re mine.
I don’t want to forget March.
Or April.
Or May.
The slow down, however inconvenient, was much needed. We were given time to get outside, to cook at home, but most importantly, we were given time to spend in the Word.
With our fast-paced world starting back up it will be easy to forget what we learned in those three months. I don’t want to forget. I don’t want to stop getting outside, spending time with my family, or digging deep into the Word.
Daisy, don’t let your busyness overshadow what truly needs to be done – and that’s spending time with God.
Your best friend.
Your maker.
Your creator.
Don’t push Him to the back burner.
“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Matthew 6:33
Whatever task is before you today – He is with you. Whatever seems too daunting – He is bigger.
God’s got you. He always has, and He always will.
“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.” … You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. 1 Peter 2:9
Life gets hard, y’all. But we don’t have to go at it alone.
In Matthew 11 Jesus tells us to take His yoke upon us and we will find rest.
Did you know that the word yoke – in literal terms – means a bar of wood? Farmers place this bar of wood on the shoulders of animals to unite them together while working in hopes to ease their load.
Two are better than one, right? Jesus wants to help us carry our load. He wants to take some of the weight of the world off of our shoulders. He wants us to find rest in Him.
Give it to God, y’all. That doesn’t mean you won’t have any troubles, but it does mean that God will help you carry them.
“Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:29
Let’s be so passionate about Jesus that there isn’t room in our hearts for anything else. The world doesn’t need any more opinions. They just need the truth – and that truth is Jesus.
If you’re looking for change open up your Bible. That’s where it starts. Change your heart, then go change the world.
And if you think for one second that one single person can’t make a difference – think again.
Paul, Ananias, Rahab, Mary, Esther, and YOU.
You can. You just have to believe.
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6
I found myself in a real bad place Friday night. Grief hit me out of nowhere – like a ton of bricks.
How do you have Mother’s Day without a mother?
I stayed there – in that place – well into Saturday. The tears wouldn’t stop. I wanted to cancel the whole holiday. Tell my husband and kids not to do anything. Tell my sisters not to come over. Just pretend it wasn’t a thing.
Grief is real. These dark places – they’re real. Full of regrets and what-ifs. Full of taunts and stolen memories. And if you think for one second that Christians don’t slip down into deep, dark places you better think again.
In the midst of me spiraling deeper and deeper into that pit of sorrow, I whispered these words, “Help me, Jesus.”
And it took me back.
It took me back to the last time Frank and I went to Colorado. We love the rapids, and this particular trip we chose the most dangerous level we could find – the 5’s.
About halfway through the ride our raft flipped upside down, and I found myself pinned to the bottom of the river by a Minnesota man that was desperately trying to save himself.
Pinned down, white-water currents madly swirling around me, and no air left in my lungs – I cried out, “Help me, Jesus.” In that moment He lifted me up out of the raging waters and placed me safely on the river’s edge. I don’t know how long I was under – long enough to need saving. Long enough to need a miracle.
He did the same thing for me Saturday afternoon. When I cried out, God dove in. He dove in, and He lifted me up.
At some point in life every single human being will need saving. They’ll spiral or fall or be pinned down. The difference between a believer and a non-believer being down in that pit of despair is that the Believer knows who to call on to pull them out. The Christian believes without a doubt that they will be saved. The Christian has hope.
Cry out to Jesus, y’all. Let Him save you.
“He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along.” Psalm 40:2
Today’s my best friend’s birthday! I wish I could wrap my arms around her in the biggest hug ever – but social distancing.
Proverbs says that a friend loves at all times. I’m so thankful for that.
Ladies, I hope you have some friendships with sticking power. I hope you have some Jesus girls that have your back. Ladies that would walk to the ends of the earth for you. Ladies that pray for you and cry with you. Ladies that celebrate you big but that will also call you out on your stuff.
I hope you have some Jesus girls that you can’t imagine doing life without. Ladies that have seen you at your worst and ladies that are true cheerleaders when you’re at your best.
I’m thankful for my Jesus girls that get excited when I’m excited. The ladies that love my kids like their own. The ladies that love me in spite of all my quirks and flaws.
Life gets hard, y’all. We need each other. We need best friends turned sisters. Best friends turned family.
Pray for your Jesus girls.
And then pray some more.
Love the heck out of them.
Let them know they are awesome.
Be their safe place.
And tell them thank you.
“17 As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” Proverbs 27:17
God created us all different for a reason. We all bring something different to the table. It’s important to realize that we need what other people are bringing. Likewise, they need what we are bringing to the table. I mean who would want to sit down at a meal in which everyone brought mashed potatoes and nothing else?
The devil would love for you to sit in a pool of comparison, wallow around there for awhile, and eventually drown.
Don’t do it. Don’t let him win.
Instead, ask yourself what you are bringing to the table. Nurture that. Grow that. Use that to help other ladies in whatever way possible.
I can’t sing, but I would love to.
I can’t draw, but I would love to.
I can’t memorize scripture that great.
But I can write. So I’m gonna focus on that. I’m gonna nurture that.
We can’t all do everything. God created us all different for a reason. Embrace the differences.
“10 (A)As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, (B)as good stewards of God’s varied grace: 11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks (C)oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves (D)by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything (E)God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. (F)To him belong glory and (G)dominion forever and ever. Amen.” 1 Peter 4:10-11
One thing I’ve learned through this pandemic is that I personally have been fueled and ruled by things.
Not “bad” things – more like busy things. Things of this world that sneak in inconspicuously and become idols nonetheless.
The question I keep asking myself is how do I fix this? What next? When this pandemic is over and life resumes to what we deemed as normal, what will I do?
Do I revert back to my pre-pandemic behaviors like the Israelites? Will I pick up my all encompassing modern day idols all whilst forgetting what God just brought me to and through?
It’s scary to me, but it’s really real.
It’s easy to read the Old Testament and silently judge the Israelites. It’s easy to say that they need to be grabbed by their shoulders and shaken.
It’s easy to say that I would never do that.
But I’m human. I’m human, and I know that I’m going to have to be intentional in this race that I’m running. I’m going to have to keep my eyes on the prize and not be distracted by things that don’t really matter.
I don’t want to be fueled by busyness or the things of this world anymore. Instead, I want to be filled with God’s Holy Spirit – every single day.
“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer.” – Psalm 19:14
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