I wake up way earlier than anyone else in my house. I like to start my day off with the Word [and with coffee]. A while back my husband surprised me by programming Alexa to start playing praise and worship music at the exact time I walk into the living room each morning.

This morning – this Good, Good Friday – I woke up to “He’s still Rolling Stones” by Lauren Daigle.

Can I get an Amen?

He is.

He will.

He won’t stop.

This is His redemption story.

And it’s ours too.

I know it’s only Friday, but Sunday’s coming. And that stone in your life – the one holding you down – He’ll move it.

Just hold on.

🎼All at once I came alive

This beating heart, these open eyes

The grave let go

The darkness should have known

(You’re still rolling rolling, you’re still rolling rolling oh)

You’re still rolling stones

(You’re still rolling rolling oh)

You’re still rolling stones 🎼

“and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?” Mark 16:3

Opened my book and this is the page I landed on. I thought it very fitting for our current situation.

Yesterday my family studied Deuteronomy 31:6. This verse tells us that there are going to be battles – fierce battles. But our God is bigger and stronger than any of the battles we will face in this world.

That was a promise He made to Israel – and now it’s a promise that holds true to all believers.

Being able to withstand the great pressures of this world won’t be easy, but we have a God that loves each and every one of us so much that He is forging ahead of us – paving the path to His eternal glory.

“6 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Eagles.

They are courageous, strong, and they even become more youthful – or vigorous – as they age.

Isaiah said that if we trust in God we too can be like the eagle. We can rise above storms. We can be brave. We can be strong and full of vigor as we mature in Christ.

The key word is trust. Trust is formed through a deep, ever-growing relationship with our Father. The deeper the relationship the deeper the trust.

This is the fountain of youth that I want to dive into. When life’s storms are raging all around me, I don’t want to cower down. I want to rise up.

I want to rise up with Jesus.

“31 

but those who hope in the Lord

    will renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like eagles;

    they will run and not grow weary,

they will walk and not be faint.” Isaiah 40:31

Fear creeps in.

That does not mean you are not a Christian. It just means you’re human.

But God.

God is God, and when we are weak, He is strong. When we are fearful, He is faithful.

So whether fear is creeping in or storming in – God’s bigger. God’s stronger. God’s here. God’s real.

This is how I fight my battles.

“Don’t fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine.” Isaiah 43:1

Let me be honest, I can’t chill. I’m trying to learn how. I’m trying to just be. I’m trying.

But there’s a constant list of things to do running – more like sprinting – through my mind.

I actually feel like I’m just making stuff up to do. It bothers me that I am this way, and I’m trying to work on it.

I hope during this time of social distancing (I’m so over that word) that I can really dig in and try to work on this. It will be a struggle for me.

What are your working on during this pandemic? What has God placed on your heart? From our prayer life to Bible study, now is the time to dig in deep.

I love y’all. Pray for my chill. I’m serious.

14 The LORD replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” Exodus 33:14

COVID-19 equals chaos.

No doubt about it.

But Christ.

Christ equals calm.

Lean on Him today.

Anytime the storm within you starts swirling out of control, lean on Him.

He can, and He will.

“39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.” Mark 4:39

Its Monday morning, and I’m heading into school. Instead of the hustle and bustle of kids whizzing to and from their lockers this is what I’ll see instead.

It’s a modern day ghost-town.

It’s guilt.

And grief.

And guts.

And grace.

And suddenly I feel like I’m penning a country music song from the 90’s.

It’s the unknown.

But the thing is God does know. God knows the future, so every time fear rises up within me I have a choice to make.

Fight back with scripture or let fear win.

I’m gonna fight back. I’m gonna pick up the sword and shield that God provided me with, and I’m gonna go straight up ninja.

“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.“ Ephesians 6:10-11

Teachers. Servants. Heroes.

Small office.

Huge conversations.

Their faces say it all:

Concern.

Care.

Confusion – because we’ve never been here.

The only way to describe this:

Catastrophic.

Without students a teacher is stripped of his/her identity – his/her purpose. It’s unsettling. It’s just not right.

I don’t know the implications that this life-altering pandemic will deliver in the long run, but let me tell you what I do know because I’ve seen and heard it firsthand from the amazing teachers in my building.

Love.

Hope.

Teamwork.

Passion.

Determination.

These teachers have a relentless drive to do their best – to be the best – because their students deserve the best.

Teachers deserve a raise. Hallelujah.

Teachers deserve a hug. [When this is all over]

Teachers deserve the world.

Thank a teacher, y’all. They deserve it. They need it.

“Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love,” Psalm 33:18

Uncharted Waters.

That’s scary. As a society we are use to GPS navigating everything for us.

We are accustomed to “The Google” spelling everything out for us – all answers at our fingertips at all times.

Yet, here we are on the brink of something bigger than any of us – something bigger than anything we’ve ever seen. Something bigger than Google and Apple and Fox and Facebook.

But here’s an answer that I do have – an answer that never changes – God’s bigger.

God’s bigger than Google. God’s bigger than the news. And all of God’s promises are at our fingertips – right there in His word.

There are no uncharted waters when He is on the boat. Let Him navigate this for you because honestly – there’s no other way.

Let your faith be bigger than your Facebook Feed.

37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”

39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

40 He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

41 They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!” Mark 4:37-41

Fear is a liar.

But God – God is the truth.

Fear diminishes hope.

But God – God develops it.

Trust God.

Lean in.

Let Him speak.

Let Him ease your fears.

“Don’t fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine.” Isaiah 43:1