Vulnerability. Exposure. Being laid bare before others. It’s something no one enjoys, because since the fall of man, we don’t like being “naked” in front of others. It often brings a sense of shame, but that’s not at all what our Father’s heart intended for us when He created in us the need to be connected to people, to one another. His intention for the exposure was never to bring shame but to bring healing.
We were never meant to walk the path of life alone or to “figure it out ourselves.” He created us with the purpose of fellowship and connection. He literally said, “It is not good for man to be alone.” And from the very beginning the enemy has conned us into shame and hiding. Man partnered with shame and hid from the very thing, the very One, who had the answer. They assumed that God would reject them for their nakedness, and they hid. Their hiding kept them from the One who would actually cover their nakedness and find a way to repair what had once been and what was lost.
It’s no different today. The moment we feel exposure coming or an opportunity to be vulnerable with our brothers or sisters we hide, afraid of being naked or laid in front of them. We have partnered with the lie that shame and condemnation is what we will be handed in return. The truth is that we are in a process of refining, and part of that process is for dross to come to the surface. It’s not the negative thing the enemy has trained us to believe but rather it means that our value is about to increase. In order for the value of a metal to increase, it has be put to flame and the impurities rise to the surface…exposed. The metal worker doesn’t condemn the metal for it’s impurities, they simply put it to the fire so that the worth the metal worker knows is already there can be revealed.
The Father wants you to know that exposure and vulnerability with others wasn’t designed by Him to embarrass you. It was designed by Him to increase your value. Stop hiding in the bushes of shame. Come out, be healed and made whole.
Psalm 91:2 I will say to the Lord, my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust.
Those are big words. I hold them dear and He has proven them true so many times in my life. He. Is. Faithful.
I want to be faithful, but when the really big storms blow in it’s tough to stand firm. Fear creeps in, panic starts to rise and it’s hard to just walk into that fortress and be still.
For sometime now the Lord has been showing me it’s all about choices and actions. I can’t say He is my refuge and fortress if I keep running out to see if I can “help” Him in some way. I have to be still and let Him fight for me. When I say that I trust Him it has to be with everything. I have to surrender my health, my finances, my children, my grandkids, my security…….my everything.
We are living in crazy times. Chaos seems to rule the day. Are you ready? Are you willing to personalize this verse and put your name in that top line. Lay down those burdens and run to Jesus. He will not disappoint.
It seems like everywhere you go today you get to make choices. We can get our burgers, “My way, right away,” we can get 1,063,953 fountain drink combinations at Sonic, and I hear there is even a secret menu of choices at Starbucks. America is a great country and choosing things for yourself is a great thing.
I love having choices. If I want a triple, grande, half caf, sugar-free, mocha, iced coffee with extra ice, then so be it! For $5.50, I can have my coffee however I want. I am in charge. I am in control. I am drinking a ridiculous, but tasty coffee. Life is good, right?
Now I don’t care how you take your coffee unless I’m fixing it for you. I think you should order it the way you like it. When it is a simple thing of personal preference like coffee, you go ahead and order however you like it best. But I wonder sometimes if our human desire to make choices has gotten a little out of control? I feel like it has seeped into our culture to an unhealthy level. It isn’t just about coffee anymore y’all, and that is scary. As humans, we like to be in control and have independence, I am no different, but I think we need to remember that we are not the ultimate authority. That power rests solely with God. As Christians, we can make any choice we want but it is our responsibility to vet each choice using a supernatural lens. Is my personal choice glorifying to God? Is my choice going to be a stumbling block to my brothers and sisters? Will my choice showcase Jesus to lost people or will it damage my witness before them?
These sound like easy questions, but they represent a hard way of life. Choosing to put away selfish desires is the opposite of our human nature. In fact, we can’t do it…not apart from the power of the Holy Spirit. But God is so gracious to us. He sent His son, Jesus, to die for our sins, so that all who love Him and ask Jesus to forgive their sins and to be Lord of their life can be save. When you ask Jesus to be Lord of your life, the Holy Spirit comes to live inside of you. Now you have the living God helping you when you make choices. Now listen, making choices God’s way will not become a natural thing overnight, but if we spend time reading the Bible, praying, and learning to listen to the Holy Spirit within us, we can align our choices with what God wants for us.
Of course, I still struggle with this concept, and I know I fail as much as I get it right, but I want to live within the will of God. I want to make choices that please our Heavenly Father, don’t you? Choosing to live life God’s way won’t always be popular, easy, or even allow us to make the choices that we ourselves want in the moment, but I promise that if you make earthly choices by obeying Godly wisdom, your choices will be good, and pleasing to your Heavenly Father. Philippians 2:13 says “For it is God who is working in you, enabling you to both desire and to work out His good purpose.” Isn’t that what we all desire? So today, instead of “My way, right away,” let’s live life “God’s way, right away.”
You know the one. When the reality of summer sets in and you can finally – after a year full of events and challenges and to do lists a mile long – you can breath.
Man, it feels good. For more than one reason.
Accomplishment. Rest. The sweet relief of stress rolling off of your shoulders. After all, vacay mode is an awesome mode.
I’m not sure what’s on your summer bucket list, but I hope that being intentional in your relationship with God is.
▪️I pray that this summer truly brings you God’s peace and presence.
▪️I pray that you find time to spend in God’s word.
▪️I pray that your relationship with God is rekindled if need be.
▪️I pray that you see God’s beauty all around you.
I pray that you breath.
“Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.” Joshua 1:8
Friends, we’ve done it: we’ve survived another school year and are heading into summer break! And, you know, I’m so relieved. I mean, the last few weeks have been touch and go, right?
True confession, while I am no longer teaching full time, and have no kids at home anymore, somehow, we are still very busy. Like, much busier than I’d like to be. So, while over the past 6 weeks you might have found yourself in finishing up baseball mode, dance recital mode, piano recital mode, end-of-the-school year lunacy mode or any number of other “modes,” or, all-of-the-above, I have been in my yearly “I quit” season.
Yes, every year, somewhere around Easter, I enter my “I quit” season, and I want to quit everything. And, I do mean EVERYTHING – teaching, writing, speaking, small groups, Bible study (sorry, God), cleaning house, cooking, laundry, friends, family, shopping, smiling, showering and quite nearly, breathing. (Which pretty much only leaves eating and sleeping-two things I vow to never quit.)
By this point you might be a little concerned, like, “Sherra, are you serious? Why in the world would you want to quit everything?” Oh, it’s so simple, friends: I’m tired.
Actually, I’m exhausted. And, look, three-quarters of the year, I love and adore all of the before mentioned things, but there comes a point in the year when I’m just done – physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. I mean, we just go and go and go until we just can’t go anymore! Can I get a witness?
And, truly, the vast majority of our activities are impactful and have eternal importance; but, that doesn’t mean they don’t wear me out. Yep, it’s time for a break, people, and that’s the best thing about summer!
I hope you all take some wonderful trips-to the beach, to the lake, camping, to Walt Disney World, or any other wonderful place you might have a hankering to go to, but more than anything, I hope you get some REST this summer.
Ah, rest; just the word makes my blood pressure drop a few points. In addition to taking one fabulous trip and spending time with family and friends this summer, I fully intend on doing a lot of sleeping in, laying around reading and watching movies, and just generally relaxing.Resting, resting, resting! And, friends, that will do my tired mind, body, and will so much good!
But how do we rest spiritually? How do we make sure, while we’re making time to rest our bodies and minds, our spirits get some attention, too? Well, I intend to REST, and here’s my plan:
• R-ekindle my relationship with God. If you’re like me, when things get crazy busy, some of our very best routines go by the wayside. Unfortunately, this can include the time we spend with God. So, why not take time this summer to rekindle your relationship with your God? Talk with God about all that’s happened over the past 9 months, study a new book of the Bible, start a new devotional; spend time at the place you feel closest to God-the beach, the lake, the mountains or even just your back porch with a cup of coffee. Whatever works best for you to really reconnect with God, do it!
• E-xamine my activities and commitments.This is a big one for me, personally. Busyness is something that can very easily get us off track with our relationships with God and our families-even being busy doinggood things. Some questions I intend on asking myself this summer are:
o “What are the things that I know God has called me to do?”
o “What are some things/activities/ministries I need to give up?”
o “What am I doing that has the most eternal value?”
Examining our activities can be difficult and takes some soul-searching, but it’s also truly beneficial. Be brave! When school rolls around again and regular life comes with it, our willingness to do this hard work will bring us one step closer to living our best lives.
• S-mile. One of the things I should do when I start to feel stressed and overwhelmed, is to count my blessings! It helps me to review the landmarks in my life-recounting the many, many ways God has come through for me, the ways I have grown in my relationship with Him and how dear He is to me. This activity always brings a smile to my face!
• T-rust. Trust God, friends. Trust Him with the questions you can’t answer, trust Him with an uncertain future, trust Him with your troubled past. Trust that He is leading you, giving you wisdom; that He is always with you, no matter where you go or what you’re up against. But most of all, trust that He is good, always; trust that He has only good planned for you and loves you with a fierce, unfailing love. Just trust Him.
As we usher in summer, and all the crazy fun it brings, I so hope that you will find rest for your weary soul. In Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus tells us,
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 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. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.
He really means it, friends. Bring your tired, weary self to the One who can make you new. There is no rest like God’s rest. So, let’s do it.friends. Let’s rest.
“Love one another.” That’s a basic command. We teach it to our kids in our efforts to teach them to be kind. I, however, have been struggling with this basic command.
God has been really working on me in this area. Do I really love as God loves? That’s the question.
Jesus said, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.” John 13:34 We think we love others by just not being mean, but look at that whole command, “Just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another”. OUCH! That’s hard! It’s definitely more than just not being mean!
You know that busybody that’s always in your business? Yep, we are to love them. That person that likes to tell you what to do because they ALWAYS know EVERYTHING? Yep, we are to love them. That person that just gets on your very last nerve? Yep, we are to love them. That person that smells bad and is dirty? Yep, we are to love them. That person that is living life contrary to biblical standards? Yep, we are to love them. That politician that is lying? Yep, we are to love them. That mean person? Yep, we are to love them. That hyper critical person always picking you apart? Yep, we are to love them. I could go on and on, but the bottom line is that there is no reason for us not to love.
Jesus tells us to love as He loved. That’s huge. “But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8 He loves us so much that He gave everything for us. We are the busybodies, the know it alls, the one getting on the last nerve, the smelly, dirty sinners, the disobedient, the liars, the mean people, the hyper critical, and yet, Christ with His boundless merciful love gave His all so that we could be saved from being what we as humans see as unlovable. When we encounter the “unlovable”, let’s stop and consider that we were once “unlovable”. Let’s not run the other way. Let’s face them head on with words and actions that point to the love of Christ. I don’t have to agree with them to love them. Jesus certainly didn’t agree with my sinful life!
He did not run from me. He ran to me with open arms, even while I was disgusting. In light of such love, what right do we have to withhold love?
The woman walking around the sports store with toilet paper stuck to her shoe. The mom aimlessly wandering the parking lot of the grocery store clicking her key fob because she forgot where she parked. The lady digging like Mary Poppins in her bottomless purse for the wallet at the register only to realize that she accidentally left it in her car. These are my people. I’ve lost an i-pad and two cell phones to the wind that blew them off the top of my vehicle. I got a phone call from a neighbor in Beaumont while I was at a concert…in HOUSTON…”Rachael, your car is still running in your driveway…” in BEAUMONT. Most recently, I physically misplaced my breakfast…and never found it and then showed up for a doctor appointment a week early…all within one morning. Y’all! I’m a mess! And, it’s okay! Even more so, it’s okay to talk about it. I have found that transparency of my hot-mess-ness puts people at ease around me and helps lessen the pressure for others to act like they have it all together around me.
Now, sometimes I’m probably too transparent. For example, all of my students in my classroom know if I sneeze, Mrs. Scoggin just peed a little. My soccer players know that if I suddenly bust into a movement even slightly athletic with no forethought or preparation, Coach Scoggin definitely just wet her pants. It’s a true story. You’re welcome. BUT, with the laughter at such an unfortunate reality comes a light-hearted peace and undeniable familiarity that allows for pure honesty and vulnerability giving these sweet teenagers an opportunity to express their fears and reveal their own imperfections in a safe place. They know that I will love them just for who they are…right where they are with no judgement. Isn’t that what we all want for ourselves–someone who loves us unconditionally, no matter what we’ve been through or what we’ve done in the past?
As Anne Wilson says, “Let me tell you about my Jesus.” (Best song EVER, by the way!) Jesus is the One who loves people THROUGH me just for who they are, right where they are. He’s the One who taught me through my own experiences with people that it’s okay to not be what our society says is perfect. All throughout scripture, He is sitting with the sinners, standing up for the women, raising up the poor, and eating with the unclean. He tore down walls of division and instead taught about reconciliation. He goes as far as telling us to love our enemies and pray for them!
Mark 2:15-17 tell us, “And as he reclined at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were reclining with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” Why did the tax collectors and sinners feel comfortable enough to follow the Lord Most High? What made them feel like they could fit in with that crowd? Well, they realized that Jesus loved them right where they were…just for who they were. He knew from the beginning of creation that those people were going to be hot messes. He knew we would be too! And, guess what? He loves us anyway! He wants to eat at OUR table, and wants us to invite other messes to eat with us! He wants to stand up for US, and wants us to stand up for others. He wants to care for US, and wants us to care for others. No expectations of perfection allowed. He loves us right where WE are and just for who WE are. He wants us to do the same. So get out there and start loving on the hot messes in your life! You’ll be blessed by it, and so will they!
From the beginning of time words have had the power to bring light to darkness, order to chaos, and form to emptiness. Day by day God revealed His thoughts through the words He spoke-creating an illuminated universe. His words brought newness and transformation to a space.
Over the course of our lifetimes, we hear words and messages spoken directly or indirectly to us. These words become the building blocks to our thoughts and beliefs about ourselves, others, and the world. Thought by thought, like bricks stacked to erect walls, our beliefs become the building materials we use to create our own inner world within our hearts and minds.
When a person’s beliefs are strong and firmly set, other beliefs cannot easily penetrate the walls. If we are to break down walls that no longer serve us in a healthy way, we need a power tool that can penetrate and that allows words through that can help renovate these spaces. Hebrews 4:12 tells us “For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.”
Scripture uses the word illumination to describe the “turning on the light” in the spiritual sense. When God’s Word enters our hearts, it gives light and understanding that brings truth to us about our beliefs. God’s Word begins to transform and renovate the spaces in our hearts and minds.
Are there words you have longed to hear? Those words are in His word. Write them down, say them out loud again and again. In doing so, new building blocks are formed which become new thoughts and beliefs.
Or maybe you have built faulty beliefs about yourself that now are barriers keeping any positive truths about yourself out. If so, I challenge you to pick up your power tool- God’s Word- and let renovation and transformation begin. As walls are penetrated, truth and the “the light” shine through.
“For God, who said. ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.” 2 Corinthians 4:6.
Everything we will ever need to hear has already been spoken to us through Jesus Christ, The Word made flesh.
May we earnestly look for Him, and in doing so there will be life-giving light.
🎶Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders🎶
Have you ever stopped and thought about that lyric? Cause I was listening to a cover of this song, and I felt that lyric. I can’t explain it but I felt like I needed to write about it.
I thought about the borders part. “where my trust is without borders”
I think we all have doubts. I think we all also put up borders when we get scared, or uncomfortable, or aren’t ready for something.
You start to not trust God anymore.
Maybe you start doubting what God is leading you to, to what He is calling you to?
Maybe you’re like me and you shut people out. You start distancing yourself because you’re afraid?
But think about that lyric. “Spirit lead me”.
Let the Holy Spirit, let God, lead you. Pull those borders down and let God lead you to where you are uncomfortable. To where you’re scared. To what you aren’t ready for yet.
Because He is still with you. He is still leading you.
I think sometimes we get too caught up in what we think is best for ourselves. We forget that God knows our heart better than we do.
He knows what is best.
He knows that you’re scared.
That you aren’t ready. He knows that you are having doubts.
But just take a minute and let Him lead you to where your trust is finally without borders. Let Him show you that you can trust Him; Let Him lead you to where you think you can’t fight for yourself. But remember, He has already fought, and He won your battle for you.
He can lead you so that your trust is without borders.
Rays of Sunshine inc 