I’m ok with it now, but that hasn’t always been the case. The thing is the more God becomes my center – my focus – the more I realize it doesn’t matter if I’m awkward. After all, He made me this way for a reason. For a purpose.
I said that to say this – don’t let who you think you are hold you back. I spent a long time too scared to post, too scared to speak, basically too scared to be me.
My list of awkwardness is a mile long, and in the past when I would walk into a room that list would play on repeat. Not anymore.
I don’t know what hang-ups are holding you back from doing what God needs you to do – but I’m gonna say this in my best momma voice, “You stop it right now!”
Get to steppin’ girl.
Be brave.
Go for it.
Someone needs you to be you.
God made me awkward, but everything He makes is awesome. I guess that makes me awesomely awkward.
“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10
Like ugly crying, sniffling and snotting all over the place, mascara all down my face. I’m now considering fake eyelashes because then I wouldn’t have to worry about raccoon tracks going down my face every single church service.
This Sunday’s sermon: grief and regret.
It’s something I’ve battled every single day since November 13th. The sermon was written for me – no doubt. The grief is real, and the regrets – the regrets continuously haunt me and taunt me. The last few months I’ve stepped inside of a self-made prison – one that I won’t let myself out of.
The question Pastor Trey left us with was this: Will those mistakes continue to hold you down, or will they bring you to a place that you can finally be free?
I want to be free. God wants me to be free. God wants you to be free. He doesn’t want us bound up by self-made shackles. God has the key, and that key is His grace.
Regrets are real. But God’s grace is bigger than any self-made shackles we’ve locked ourselves into.
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34:18
“Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment and the second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” Matthew 22: 37-39
Love God.
When you love someone they are continually in your thoughts and you do things to please them. Think about the light in your child’s eyes when you surprise them with a new toy or how they snuggle into your arms. Think about the loving embrace of your spouse. The loving relationships we have with our family and friends are beautiful examples of the loving relationship that God wants to have with us, but they don’t really even compare to the amazing love that God has given us and the pure delight that awaits us when we love Him.
God’s love is limitless. His power is untameable. He is the almighty – our creator – and we were made to worship HIM. There is a longing in my heart that is not filled by any other occupation than pouring out my love for Him.
I ignore it regularly and find myself miserable. I am easily frustrated by the pressures of daily life, the behavior of my children. I am exhausted by the physical, mental and emotional demands thrown onto me hour by hour. And then I compound my frustration by scrolling social media & being outraged by the conflicts in our society. I listen to the lie that a bath, a quiet walk, a funny tv show, a good drink will grant me some reprieve. But my heart is only recharged doing what it was made to do- worshiping my savior.
Only when I spend each day, hour by hour, breath by breath, in His presence do I fully possess the strength I need to manage my household, job, children, and relationships. On my own I fail miserably and wallow in it.
But when I set my mind on Jesus. When I serve my family because in doing so I serve my God He gives me joy in the dishes and laundry… When His praises are on my lips I have HOPE.
Trust me, I’ve read the headlines. 2020 is getting worse by the minute. Yes, I see the two hurricanes in the gulf and the political conflicts getting hotter by the minute. I have sat frozen-overwhelmed in this “new normal” that demands more of me than I can even pretend to be able to do… But in that moment when I cry out to Jesus – He is there. When I give him my whole heart there is no room for worry, frustration, selfishness, anger, or discontentment. When my whole heart is set on Him fears evaporate. His presence is too much for them. My daddy God, my savior, my LOVE is in control. He is with me and will not leave me or forsake me.
He is not surprised by the difficulties we have seen this year. I have no authority to say that God is chastising us or that the end times are near. I will not even pretend to understand why He allows disasters, and I am mourning along with most of you. But I know that God’s desire is for us to seek Him with our whole heart. “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me. Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” Psalm 23:4
Nothing I have to share with you today is new or profound. But It is the pressing reminder I desperately needed today, and you might too.
Ladies, put down your phone and get on your knees. Turn off the TV and start singing praises. Stop focusing on the challenges and open your eyes to the blessings and provisions God has surrounded you with. You will not have the JOY and PEACE He has promised you ‘till you do. Don’t fall for the lies that we will find rest in selfishness. You will find invigorating joy in serving your saviour. He will give you the strength you need when you are fully relying on HIM.
“But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40: 31
My sisters, I hope you experience His presence today. “Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you , says the Lord, and I will bring you back from your captivity;” Jeremiah 29:12-14a
We are not captives in Babylon, but we allow our hearts to be captives to sin along with mental & emotional darkness. Seek the Lord with all your heart. He is faithful. His word is true, and my sister, you will find Him. “You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Psalm 16:11
I listened in to my son’s remote kindergarten class this week. I took his headphones off so that maybe he wouldn’t yell so loudly at the i-pad (it didn’t work). But I did get to hear the “bucket book.” read aloud. It is a sweet story about how when we do kind things for others it fills their buckets… But ladies, we can’t rely on others to fill our buckets. Even the people we love the most will flip our buckets upside down, empty them out and kick them!
Our world desperately needs the love of God and we are commissioned to pour it out. Our buckets are only filled in God’s presence through the miraculous work of the Holy Spirit. As we praise God for who He is and all He has done- He fills us up. We can face the day with confidence knowing that our Father – the Creator has made this day – and we can rejoice! That is the kind of joy that will change the world. That is what our spouses and children need, what our co-workers will marvel at; that is how we shine a bright light into this dark world even in 2020.
“Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saint.” Psalm 116:15
When we lose a loved one, we experience grief, sorrow, and pain. It is tough. It is gut wrenching! But what if we could view our loss through God’s eyes?
Death, to God, is not a tragedy when it is one of His children. It is life – eternal life. The moment we take our very first breath in eternity excites our Lord. He rejoices! To Him, it is His child returning home. My Sunday School teacher once said that it is like a parent who has been anxiously waiting for their child to return home from a long trip. When that child is finally home the parent rejoices. Their child is safe at home where they belong.
We are the Lord’s children. He desires for us to be home with Him in Heaven. He rejoices when we are safe in His loving arms. So, when we view the death of a faith believing loved one the way God does we will surely experience the peace that surpasses all understanding.
This is His promise that comes to us through our faith in Him. It does not mean we do not grieve our loss, but with His peace we will not let it overtake us. We can rejoice and be assured that they are with the Father, safe in His loving arms, forever healed, forever whole, and forever happy!
As children of God we know that one day we will step into eternity, free from our sorrow, pain, and grief. Most of our lives will be touched by a loss, but to God His child is home. Knowing that we can find peace.
“He will redeem their life from oppression and violence and precious shall be their blood in His sight.” Psalm 72:14
We’re all looking forward to something. I believe eagerness is a part of our human nature. It’s healthy to be excited about life – eager to read the end of a book, attend an event you’ve waited a long time for, or catch up with an old friend. Anticipation makes life exciting. Who’s with me?
In Matthew 28:19 states, “Therefore go, making disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
How exciting! When I read that I’m reminded of
the many things so much greater than ourselves to be truly eager for. These words describe the eagerness our Father wants us to have. To be driven. To go into the world. To recognize the crucial fact he has given us a job.
I challenge you to be eager.
Eager to change.
Eager to grow in your relationship with Christ.
Eager to forgive.
Eager to learn more.
Eager to dig deeper.
Eager to teach.
Eager to love greater.
Eager to be an example of the greatest love.
Eager to impact.
Lastly, I challenge you to be EAGER TO GO. Wherever you are, you have the strength to help make disciples of all nations. He needs you to be the change. He needs you to be eager.
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!
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
We all have those thoughts from time to time. Even those of us who know who we are in Christ. Thoughts of rejection.
Feelings of not being good enough or worthy enough is something many people deal with. We live in a fallen world and many of our negative experiences leave a person with a feeling of brokenness.
We wonder why this may or may not have happened to us, why this person did or didn’t do something, and we think is it because I’m not worth it? Sometimes it’s just an attack of the enemy in an area of vulnerability for us. One of the things you have to realize is that sometimes no matter how hard you try or what you do, there will be people who don’t value you.
You have to come to terms with the fact that God values you and nothing anyone says or does changes that. You have to learn to set healthy boundaries in your heart, your mind, and in your life. Don’t allow others to speak negativity into your life. Reject immediately those thoughts and lies the enemy may try to whisper in your ear.
You are deeply loved and highly valued by the Creator of the universe who designed you in His image! He sent his Son, Jesus, to be crucified for the sole purpose of reconciling you to Himself. Jesus loved you enough to be the willing sacrifice so that you could live forever with Him.
And nothing can separate you from the extravagant love of God found in Christ Jesus. Focus your mind on His promises and make up your mind to believe that you are who He says you are today!
I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness. ~ Jeremiah 31:3 NIV
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. ~ Romans 5:8 NIV
So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. ~ Genesis 1:27 NIV
No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. ~ Romans 8:39 NLT
I feel ya. I’ve been there and done that. In my 38 years on this earth I’ve been too small, too big, and every size in between.
Measuring up to the world’s standards of how a female should look is exhausting. In fact, it’s impossible. It’s an awful cycle of desperation and not feeling worthy enough. I lived in that cycle for way too long.
What changed? My relationship with God. My focus shifted from me to Him. With a shift in heart and mind, the chains of insecurity began to fall off and so did all the pressure that came with it. Freedom in Christ is good, y’all.
Am I mindful of the food I put into my body? Yup.
Do I still try and do some type of exercise. Yup.
Our bodies are temples. If I’m not taking care of my body then it’s going to break down. If it breaks down, I won’t be able to do what God needs me to do for His Kingdom.
Ladies, I pray that you will be freed from those chains, too. I pray that when you look in the mirror you don’t see someone that’s too small or too big – but someone that God made in His own image. Someone that God made for a purpose.
I refuse to let the world’s standards dictate how I feel about myself.
I’m fine just the way I am. I’m God’s girl, and so are you.
“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful,
It’s almost been one year since we began our non-profit Rays of Sunshine Inc. Many of y’all don’t know but I seriously told God no for three straight weeks. I wrestled and argued. Cried and pouted.
It’s shameful I know.
But God wins. God knows our dreams before we even know our dreams.
I’m glad I reluctantly said yes.
Reluctant because it was scary. Reluctant because I knew nothing about running a business. Reluctant because people would think I’m crazy. Reluctant because what if I failed.
This morning I pulled out my 2019 journal. The picture of what Frank said in Sunday School was in March. The picture of my prayers was in June. I love to remember what God has spoken and what God has brought me through.
I said all that to say this – if God is telling you to do something, just say yes. Don’t waste time arguing. Don’t waste time wrestling. Don’t waste time doubting.
Have faith.
God is enough. He is smart enough. He is business savvy. He has all the resources in the world.
He’s all you need.
“Delight thyself in the Lord; and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” Psalms 37:4
Rays of Sunshine inc 