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
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!
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
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
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
