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
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.”
Rays of Sunshine inc 