We don’t always know the whole story. In fact, that’s usually the case.

Can you imagine the whispers? The stares? The judgmental eyes that followed young Mary around?

Can you imagine the pressure Mary felt? Can you imagine the guilt and shame that enveloped her day in and day out even though she knew the truth?

If people knew the whole story maybe they would have offered her a place to rest her weary bones. Maybe they would have prepared her a meal. Or two. Or three.

If people would have known the whole story maybe they would have been a friend. An ear to listen to. Someone to tell her that it was in fact gonna be ok.

But maybe someone should have done that anyway- without knowing the story behind the girl.

Just because.

Because she was a human being facing an insurmountable obstacle.

Maybe instead of judging we could just be there.

We could pray.

We could listen

We could offer hope.

We could love.

“33 The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

Luke 2:33-35

I don’t know who needs to hear this but:

Stop. Circling. That. Stinkin. Mountain.

It’s time to let go and for real give it to God. This time can be different. This time will be different.

Don’t turn around. Don’t turn back. Don’t give up.

“You have been traveling around this mountain country long enough. Turn northward.” Deuteronomy 2:3

This past week, y’all.

I literally just felt like I couldn’t get my life together, and to be honest I’m about to bungee jump into this next week the exact same way.

So much to do. So little time – truer words have never been spoken.

Ladies, I urge you to start everyday in the word. It will make a huge difference in your sanity. Those are words you can bank on.

Prioritize & Strategize

Maximize Jesus & Minimize self

I don’t know what your to-do list looks like this week. I don’t know how many youth sporting events you’re driving to. I don’t know the deadlines at work and at home you’re trying to juggle.

And although I can imagine, I don’t know how many lunches you’re gonna make or how many dinners you’ll prepare.

But I do know this – you’re making a difference. Someone is looking at you, and they see Jesus. Someone needs what you’re bringing to the table. Someone’s counting on you.

So I’m gonna need you [and me] to keep on keeping on.

Ladies, God’s got us.

“3 You keep him in perfect peace

    whose mind is stayed on you,

    because he trusts in you.

4 Trust in the Lord forever,

    for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.”

Isaiah 26:3-4

I wrote this Thursday evening after we were settled in at my sister’s house. We found out Friday our house was in fact spared. Water only came in the garage – not much at all.

———————————————————————–

It came out of nowhere, y’all.

It wasn’t predicted to even be “that” bad.

But it was.

And it is.

When my husband told me to go ahead and pack a bag a wave of fear swept over me like nothing I’ve ever felt. I mean what do you pack when you are about to potentially lose everything?

Medicine

Toothbrushes

Underwear

Protein bars

Random, I know. But that’s seriously what I put in the bag. I was in a fog. The bag was little and we were going to have to walk about 1/2 a mile through thigh-high flood water, so I knew I wasn’t bringing much.

And then we walked out, and we walked away.

From our home.

Our forever home.

My husband kept a strong grip on our ten- year old. My son and brother in law carried our English Bulldog, and I carried the bag.

Snakes.

Ants.

Trash.

It’s unexplainable. Unimaginable. And even though that moment was scary and seemed so awful – so many people are way worse off than us. Way worse off.

It makes me sick to think about.

Tomorrow my husband, my sister, and my dad are going to try and make it back to my house. I don’t know if they will be able to get there. I certainly don’t know what they’ll find when they walk in our front door.

But I do know this without a doubt:

I may not have an earthly home tomorrow, but I have a forever home in Heaven.

My house may not be standing, but I will be – on the solid rock of My Lord and Savior.

My emotions may be shaken, but my faith will never be.

God is good.

All the time.

And all the time –

God is good.

“8 Who is like you, LORD God Almighty? You, LORD, are mighty, and your faithfulness surrounds you. 9 You rule over the surging sea; when its waves mount up, you still them.”

-Psalm 89:8-9

I’m still trying to process yesterday’s events. I’ve been writing like crazy because that’s what I do – pray & write. Write & pray.

This picture is the one piece of yesterday that I know I needed to share this morning.

We teach our children to have faith. We teach them to trust God. We say all these things and pray they register.

And they do. Maggie wasn’t shaken yesterday. Maggie walked away from her home in extremely high, nasty water and knew that God had her. She knew her daddy wasn’t letting go of her hand. She knew Uncle Jeff would come save us. She knew everything would be ok.

No matter what. She knew without a doubt.

Keep teaching your kids about Jesus.

Keep reading them the word of God.

Turn that Christian station on the radio.

Take them babies to church.

Build a strong foundation.

The world is going to throw storms at them for the rest of their lives. The foundation that we lay down and build up for them as parents is what they will have to stand on forever – long after we’re gone.

Build a strong foundation. Build it on top of Jesus. I urge you.

“So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” Romans 10:17

Rays of Sunshine: A world where all students’ physiological needs are met first.

Rays of Sunshine Inc has officially launched! We are so excited to help meet the physiological needs of students in hopes of increasing their academic success.

How can you help?

💛 Pray

🖤Share our mission

💛Become a SUNBEAM

☀️Sunbeams are individuals that will commit to donating $10 a month to Rays of Sunshine Inc.

☀️Your donation will help purchase shoes, clothes, jackets, supplies, food, and toiletries for students in need.

☀️Sunbeams will receive a monthly newsletter with information pertaining to the number of students we were able to help.

▪️John 1:5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

▪️Hebrews 13:16 And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

Donate:

Venmo- @RaysOfSunshine

PayPal- raysofsunshine2019@gmail.com

Checks: message me 😁

Perspective. It’s still on my mind

Y’all, life has a funny way of putting things into focus for you. In fact, sometimes perspective jumps up and slaps you right in the face.

This may sound a little crass, but just know I’m preaching specifically to myself.

Someone makes you mad – big deal.

Ding your new car – it’s gonna be alright.

Crazy to do list – take a deep breath.

People are hurting.

People are broke.

People are dying.

People don’t know Jesus.

Daisy Marino, get your mind on God’s Kingdom and off of your own flesh.

Shift your focus. Get some perspective.

“Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” Colossians 3:2

Perspective y’all. It’s what’s been on my mind for weeks.

For example, when I’m sitting on my back porch and look straight ahead the view is beautiful – horse stables, an old wooden fence, and tall Texas grass. There’s just nothing better.

When I look to the left, the view consists of fields full of hay – bales upon bales. This Texas girl loves that, too.

But.

But when I look to the right, in the distance, I see a gas station sign. It’s big. It’s ugly. It drives me crazy. It makes me sad.

It’s all I can think about when I’m on my back porch. Talk about focusing on the negative.

I’ve got to shift my view, y’all.

I’ve got to shift my focus.

I’ve got to shift my perspective.

Because I’m focusing on the one thorn I’m missing out on a whole field of roses. Y’all, I have a beautiful view – I just need to turn my head a little.

I really am glad that gas station is there. I mean first of all – gas! Secondly, my kids drink milk like there’s gonna be a shortage next week. In fact, if there is a shortage it’s gonna be those Marino babies fault.

Where is your focus today? What are you looking at? Can you shift your focus just a little?

“You will keep the mind that is dependent on You in perfect peace, for it is trusting in You.”

Isaiah 26:3

Educators take their work home with them.

Yes, papers to grade.

Yes, lessons to plan.

Yes, Pinterest Boards out the wazoo.

But that’s not what I’m talking about.

Educators take their students’ hearts home with them.

Their struggles.

Academically.

Mentally.

Physically.

Their pain.

Their limitations.

Their burdens.

Their fears.

Their worries.

Educators take it all.

They carry it with them.

And it’s heavy.

They lose sleep.

Many a night.

They cry out to God.

Educators take their work home with them.

Every single day.

“Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.”

Philippians 2:3-4

Change hurts.

Growing pains – they’re brutal, y’all.

They stretch you. They pull you. They make you cry out in agony – and they last. They last for awhile.

Change isn’t easy.

It’s scary. It’s so – for lack of a better word – weird. Cause it’s different. It’s not what you’re used to.

Change happens.

Let it. God doesn’t want us stagnant. He wants us moving and grooving. He needs us on our toes – our tippy toes. Stretching. Reaching. Grasping.

I may not know what the future holds but I do know this – complacency is not a fruit of the spirit.

Change. It’s good. Let it be.

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:” Ecclesiastes 3:1