Don’t forget your tambourine!

“For when the horses of Pharaoh with his chariots and his horsemen went into the sea, the Lord brought back the waters of the sea upon them, but the people of Israel walked on dry ground in the midst of the sea. Then Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women went out after her with tambourines and dancing. And Miriam sang to them: “Sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea.””
‭‭Exodus‬ ‭15‬:‭19‬-‭21‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Miriam was born into slavery. She watched her mother send baby Moses down the Nile in a basket with a prayer that God would spare him- and Miriam saw God answer that prayer. But she was a grown woman who lived through the harsh hand of slavery before God sent Moses back to Egypt to free His people. 
We don’t know what she was thinking when they finally walked out of Egypt. We don’t know if she crossed the Red Sea in terror or in confidence, but we do know that she packed her tambourine. 
It says something about her faith that as she left Egypt she chose to keep her tambourine at the ready. She expected to need it. She expected to sing in praise.

Sisters, we have that great expectation EVERY DAY. Jesus has delivered us from our sins. Our father loves us and He has prepared goodness before us. He guides our steps. He provides for our needs. As you prepare for the new day He has given you, thank Him for His sovereignty, for His kindness, for the Red Seas He will part for you and even the pain He may carry you through. As you walk out the door today don’t forget your tambourine. 

“Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice. Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you. Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness. O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭51‬:‭7‬-‭15‬ ‭ESV‬‬

A few weeks ago in June, I got the privilege of going on my second mission trip to Alaska with my church youth group. My experience and time spent there was life-altering, humbling, inspiring, and very very rewarding.

We set off to Alaska on July 9, taking a 7 hour flight across the US. The first sign of being in Alaska was the beautiful mountains that surrounded you, and of course, the AMAZING weather. Let’s just say, coming back to Texas was a serious let down because nothing can beat the no humidity felt in Alaska. After landing we got set at a local church in Anchorage, and the whole week we were hosted by an organization called Grace Works. They cooked every meal for us, and don’t think this food was church camp food. We were eating delicious home cooked meals, and even got to try cool things like reindeer sausage. Grace Works also provided us with volunteers to assist us as we set out to our assigned trailer parks. This is where we got to interact with kids, and where all the fun happened.

A day in Alaska consisted of waking up around 8 and eating breakfast, then either going to explore in the mountains and down trails, or helping local churches with projects they needed done. After that we would come back to the church around 11 and begin chapel. I’m currently a part of my youth worship group, and one day I got the privilege of leading worship for the group staying at our church. That was a huge blessing. After chapel, we would eat lunch, then around 1, we would load our vans up with supplies to go teach kids about Jesus, and we set off to assigned trailer parks. Since our church brought such a big group of kids, we had to split into two groups. My group went to a very low income trailer park, and it was huge. The kids there know about Grace Works, because some have been attending for years. They knew exactly what time of day we were coming to their trailer park, and when we got there, there was nothing but pure joy on their faces. We average around 30-50 kids every day, and we met in a little field of the trailer park. We played games, sang and danced to songs, did crafts to go along with the Bible story every day, fed them snacks, and drank lots of tang. The sad thing is that some of these kids didn’t have great home lives, so the meals we provided them with may have been the only thing they could eat. They were so grateful for everything they got, and that was sweet to see because it reminded me how fortunate I am to have all the things I’ve been provided. God has been abundant in everything in my life, and I worship him and praise him for that.

The last day at the trailer park, I got to teach the Bible story. I taught the children about Jesus being our good shepherd. We discussed Jesus being the shepherd, and we are his sheep. They began to understand the concept that if Jesus had 100 sheep, and 1 went astray, he would leave the 99 just to retrieve and find the 1. I had some deep conversations with some kids about feeling like they were the 1. The 1 sheep that loses their way and strays away from Jesus, and maybe it’s because they didn’t feel loved, they were scared to be open about their faith in their home, or they didn’t want to be judged by their friends. As best as I could, I assured them that Jesus will never abandon us. He’s always willing to get down to whatever level we are at, and bring us back up to where we need to be. Still now, I miss the kids I got to spend the week with. They were special, and left a big mark on my life. They knew I was there teaching them, but they still don’t realize how much they did for me. I pray I get to go back to Alaska and see them again, and I encourage everyone to pray that God continues to work on those children. God is evident in so many things, and my week in Alaska was filled with his presence.

Hope is the word the Lord has been speaking to me this season. 

But what is hope really?
If you are anything like me, the meaning has been lost because it’s become and been used more as “wishful thinking”. Hope in the Bible however is confident expectation. It’s a trust that God is who He says He is, that He will do what He said He will do, and does not disappoint.

Last month I had read in Romans 8 and there’s a verse that says “hope that is seen is not hope at all” and at the time I had taken it as: that even though I don’t have many experiences to go off of regarding certain hopes in my life, I can still expect. But I’m me and I like to know things and I’m wanting the next 10 steps lined out for me. (Anyone else like that because if so, hi hello you have found your people haha.) Obviously God doesn’t always work like that — in fact, I’d say He rarely does. When I found myself just a few weeks after back in the same hopeless place, the Lord brought this to my mind again and it ministered differently. This time I took it as: hope that is constantly reassured and spoken into is not hope at all. Sounds harsh when writing it out I’m not going to lie but it actually gave me so much peace. If I am going to confidently expect God, to take Him at His word, to believe He will do what He has already said He would especially since He’s not man and cannot lie and no word will return to Him void, then I do not need to hear it a million times or see how He is moving. Granted, that’s not to say He won’t ever reassure or remind us of promises He’s given us but if we find ourselves no closer, can we still hope?
If we find ourselves in a season of uncertainty, can we still be confident?
Can we still be in expectation when nothing has changed or it’s even worse?
Can we still stand on what we have heard and do know?
Can we remain firm when no other words are spoken and God feels distant?
Can we hope without seeing, hearing, or understanding anything at all?

Speaking for myself, I fail at this. But when I put my eyes and confidence on Jesus, in His character of faithful and true, a fresh wind for hope just comes. And it spurs me on. Renewed to wait again and believe and expect – HOPE – again.
So may I encourage you not to give up hope even when it seems hopeless in the natural or disappointments have come because your “confident expectation” in Jesus will not be put to shame, you will not be left disappointed…He is the God of hope after all.

Hope again.
Expect again.
Dare to believe again.

“Such hope [in God’s promises] never disappoints us, because God’s love has been abundantly poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭5‬:‭5‬ ‭AMP‬‬

“For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭24‬-‭25‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭15‬:‭13‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Moms of toddlers. It’s hard right now.

I know.

I was there.

Fast forward twenty-plus years and they are preparing to move out on their own for the first time.

You’re about to do their last load of laundry. You’re about to clean their room for the last time. You’re about to pick up their stinky shoes – one last time.

And it’s hard.

And you start to doubt.

You doubt everything you’ve ever done and ever said.

Did you parent well?

Did you love them well?

Did you model well?

Moms of toddlers let me give you this one piece of advice:

Go to God.

Go to God for it all.

For the good.

For the bad.

For the hard.

For the in-between.

Go to God.

Go to God in prayer. It’s the only way to get this thing called parenthood right. It’s the only way to model. It’s the only way to love. And it’s the only way to make sure that you did in fact “parent well.”

Moms, go to God. Go go God and thank Him for the blessing that he entrusted you with. You don’t want to mess this up.

So, go to God.

“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6

Tomorrow we will be celebrating the Fourth of July and all the freedoms that come with it. This is a very important day in American history. We celebrate and honor those who gave their lives to secure our freedoms!!! We didn’t do anything to earn it. It was granted to us by the people who fought and died for it. For christians it is also a day that we can remember and celebrate our freedom to express our faith and share it with other people.Our spiritual freedom is a blessing from God!

As we celebrate we need to remember to thank our Lord and Savior for the free gift He has given us. Jesus willingly gave His life so you and I could have freedom from the bondage, penalty and guilt of sin. We definitely haven’t earned it. It is a free gift that brings with it eternal life! When we truly accept Jesus in our hearts we have freedom in Christ!! Praise God!! Christ created us and gave us the gift of grace so that we can fellowship with Him.

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” Galatians 5:12

As Christians I wonder, do we always live in this freedom? Do we fully believe and accept the saving grace of God? Do we let go of our past failures and the guilt and shame that come with them? Do we allow things to hinder our freedom to fellowship with God by holding on to certain sins like bitterness, anger, having a critical spirit, addiction,feeling insecure in who we are, idolatry, being greedy or selfish ambition etc.?

I personally have times where I forget my freedom in Christ. I lose sight of the fact that He doesn’t expect me to be perfect. He just wants my fellowship. He wants to know our struggles and doubts. Yes, He already knows, but that is the beauty of it, He wants to hear from us. In turn, He brings to light what may be hindering our freedom and fellowship with Him and then He reminds us of who we are in Him.

The more we seek Him and His will, the easier it becomes to live in freedom. We have to protect our freedom by having a steadfast faith in God and His promises. Remember we cannot add one single thing to His grace. We just have to accept it and persevere in our faith.

“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” 2 Corinthians 3:17

Sea Glass

“These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.””

John 16:33

Tribulation. 😳. I read it as not fun.

The Greek word is thlipsis which means a pressing, pressing together, pressure. The same word is used in the Bible as persecution, affliction, trouble, anguish…. You get the picture. We will be pressed, but ultimately because of who we serve it will be for our good.

It makes me think of sea glass. Sharks teeth and sea glass are top priorities when I go to the beach. I search for the clear and light green glass. Sometimes I get excited when I see one, but when I pick it up I know it’s not ready. I can tell because it’s too shiny and the edges are still a little rough. It’s the right color, but needs more time in the water. It needs time for the waves to do their work, washing the glass against the sand to make it beautiful. So I toss it back in.

Tribulation can be like that. I just want out. O. U. T. out, but in reality the Lord is doing a work. He’s there in the waves with me rubbing off those sharp edges. He’s teaching me contentment, perseverance and patience. He’s increasing my faith and putting His faithfulness on display.

So the next time you feel like you have been tossed back in the waves keep your eyes on the One who is in control. Allow your faith/confidence to build to the point that you know that you know He has overcome whatever tribulation you are facing and is perfecting you in the process.

Preaching to self per usual.

“For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 1:6

After I read Ezekiel 37 last week, the images were on auto replay in the following days. I could almost see Ezekiel looking out over a valley FULL of dry, dead bones that belonged to the unburied dead, left as food for scavenging birds. (Awful image, I know.) When God asked Ezekiel if the bones could live, Ezekiel had no reason to think that they could live. However, Ezekiel had hope in God and said (v.3), “Lord God, You Yourself know.” Next, God tells Ezekiel to “prophesy over the bones” and to tell them to “hear the word of God” (v.4). Ezekiel prophesied over them, and dry bones began to rattle and come together. I can almost hear the rattling, can’t you? Then God gave the bones tendons, flesh, and skin. God was doing a new thing, but the bodies did not yet live. God then told Ezekiel (v.9): “Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, ‘The Lord God says this: “Come from the four winds, breath, and breathe on these slain, so that they come to life.’” Ezekiel prophesied and breath entered the bodies and “they stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army.” (v.10)

Commentaries tell us that the bones represented the house of Israel who had forsaken the Lord their God and chased after idols of other nations. God allowed them to be exiled (several times), and many died in captivity. Perhaps, Ezekiel even saw some of them fallen along the way. Their disobedience had led them to the valley of dry bones. The spiritual truth here is that God will one day redeem His chosen people. In verse 14, God says: “And I will put My Spirit within you, and you will come to life, and I will place you on your own land. Then you will know that I, the Lord, have spoken and done it,” declares the Lord.’” As believers, let us give thanks that we have been adopted into the family of God’s chosen people, bought with the price of our Savior’s blood.

I think there are personal applications because each of us has dry bones in our valleys. Sometimes, our bones have names: failure, broken relationships, unforgiveness, anger, hurts, unmet needs, inadequacies, prodigal children, death, illness, addictions, sinful tendencies… But God wants to do a new thing in our lives, too. He invites us to look at our dry bones through His eyes. We can trust that our God knows the way ahead for each of us and that He is the God of impossible things. We may only see dry bones, but the Lord over all things and all people sees life. Jeremiah 29:11-13 reminds us: “‘For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. ‘Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. ‘You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.’” 

Lord, help us to trust You and to speak Your Word over the dry bones in our lives. Holy Spirit, come and breathe life into them. Help us to be ever listening for the rattling of dry bones. Charles Spurgeon said it this way: “Since, apart from the Spirit, we are powerless, we must value greatly every movement of his power. Notice, in this account of the vision in the valley, how the prophet draws attention to the fact of the shaking and the noises, and the coming of the sinews and the flesh, even before there was any sign of life. I think that, if we want the Spirit of God to bless us, we must be on the watch to notice everything he does.”

We are SEATED.

Not striving to be with Him.

Not rushing to keep up with Him.

Not pushed to perform for Him.

Ephesians 2:6 says, “For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus.”

Because of Jesus, we are seated.

Through Jesus, we are seated.

By Jesus, we are seated.

I feel that I have forgotten this lately.

Can anyone relate?

I am several weeks into summer “break”, but the brakes aren’t working. I feel like I’m cruising high-speed downhill with no way to stop.

The wheels won’t stop spinning.

My hands won’t stop working

My mind won’t stop racing.

In hopes of finding rest and breaking free,

I did a deeper dive into Ephesians 2.

Here’s what I found.

The Greek word for seated is sugkathizó:

to make to sit together

to place together

to give or take a seat

We see this word used in Luke 22:55

describing Peter sitting down around a fire.

And again in 1 Peter 3:22, “Christ has gone to heaven. He is seated in the place of honor next to God, and all the angels and authorities and powers accept his authority.”

Because of our identity in Jesus and unity

with Jesus, this is our present position.

This is our posture.

This is our power.

While our feet our on earth,

our spirit sits with Him in heaven.

A seat that was given by grace.

A seat that was bought with blood.

A seat that has His authority.

A seat that has victory.

So, here’s my invitation today.

Will you take your seat, please?

Father,

We thank You for making a way for us to abide in You and rest with You. We are sorry for times we forget where we belong, seated with You. Let us return to a posture of rest, purpose, power, and victory, and invite others to join us 🪑🤍

Amen.

Proverbs 27:17 “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another”

Growing up I was always in church but never really paid attention. I knew I woke up early to worship our Lord, but I never took the time to learn his word. Although I knew this, it didn’t stop me from getting baptized on the same day as my older brother. The older I got the more it left a sour taste in my mouth. Whether it was being so young, or thinking that I had time to change, I never put my faith back in the Lord.

My family stopped going after my dad started working out of town. I went through many highs and lows throughout this time, but I still denied our Lord. Of course, if anyone asked me, I’d lie and say that I was a believer in Jesus Christ. It wasn’t until November of 2023, that I started going back.

New people came into my life who were enamored with Jesus Christ. I looked to these people as heroes. I started going to Freedom Fellowship, and a couple of months later I was baptized again. It wasn’t as easy or simple as it sounds. It took A LOT of prayers and time to get to where I am now. After praying one night, God spoke to me immediately after saying amen, and all the doubt, and anger I had went away. I knew at that moment that our Lord was real.

I still struggle with sin like every other person, but truly believing that Jesus Christ died for us, makes me want to worship and spread the word of God. I say all this to prove that the people you put around yourself have an influence. It could be for the worse or the better. Find people who serve the Lord and will build your faith.

Hope. Love. Faithfulness. Solid ground.

These are just a few of the many words that come to mind when I think of our Lord and Savior.

Psalm 62:5-6 tells us, “Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him. Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.”

Today is a day that comes around each year for myself and my family that I am always able to reflect back on the hope and faithfulness God gives us. He wants to give us rest if we can just trust in Him. He is truly our rock and solid ground to stand on when we need Him the most. I am so thankful.

Today, June 14th, marks 8 years that my mom has been cancer free. I give all glory and praise to Him who brought us through that time of worry and grief. When my mom told us she found out she had cancer, I was just 21 years old and my youngest sibling was only 7. The crippling fear and worry as we waited for results of what was to come was something I will never forget. What I also will never forget, is just how faithful our God was that day, today, and everyday. My human nature was to fear and worry, but our Lord stepped in to give us rest and peace in knowing He had it all in His hands.

If you are going through a tough season, here is a reminder to stand firm in your faith that He is in control. He will bring you out of this valley and you will look back someday and realize how much stronger you came out on the other side. I feel so blessed to now rejoice on this day, 8 years later, that my mom is still here to spend time with her family, including the 3 grandchildren she has gained since that day. I also feel so blessed to have a mighty God who never leaves us or forsakes us.

Thank you, Lord, for your hope, love, faithfulness, and solid ground that you provide for us, always. I felt it was no coincidence that I had the privilege to write for Rays of Sunshine today – June 14th. Today is a great reminder that He is so, so good.

I’ll end my writing with this – my favorite hymn that always reminds me of the goodness of God. When I hear this hymn, I think back to my times of worry and fear. I always remember how God is our peace and comfort in times of trouble. When we turn our eyes upon Jesus, our troubles on earth will fade away, and we will see only His glory and grace.

🎶 “Turn your eyes upon Jesus,

Look full in his wonderful face.

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,

In the light of his glory and grace.” 🎶