Gather Round

Don’t you just love a good campfire? The sound of the wood crackling. The amazing smell (as long as it doesn’t get in your hair) and the peace that comes with quietly sitting and gazing into the flames.

Over the past three years I have traveled across the country with my family. During that time we have watched as words like “relationships,” “community,” and “gathering” have changed. While much of the country has been shut down, if I’m being honest, not much has changed in our lives. We were already homeschooling our three boys and working from home, but we were also already in the habit of working to create community around us.

And that’s part of the reason we love a good campfire. There is something about circling up your chairs that opens people up and helps them to drop their guards. We’ve seen it time after time. The fire gives people a little mental barrier, like that wall of fire is helping keep them safe. And because they aren’t gazing at a screen their mind is free to wander. So it does. The warm glow almost always leads to conversations that go deeper than the weather. It allows everyone that sits inside its influence to begin to dig into their wants and desires, their hurts and hangups.

You probably remember the command we are given in Hebrews 10:25:

“…not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near…”

But do you remember the verse before it?

“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,”

The gathering is a precursor to the love and good works. The two are tied together.

So today, let me encourage you to press in to your community. Let me encourage you to set up some chairs, gather some wood, stack up some rocks around them, invite some friends (or people you would like to become your friends) and light a fire in a real and a figurative sense. Be intentional about how you can build community where you are, and by so doing, how you can encourage others toward love and good deeds.

Love It

People are always going to talk.

If what they are saying doesn’t align with what God has already said – don’t you dare listen. I would say in one ear and out the other, but the fact of the matter is you don’t need to let it in at all.

God within you needs to be bigger than human words.

God within you needs to be bigger than human opinions.

God within you needs to be bigger.

God’s truth is the only truth you need. Get in His word and soak it in.

Memorize it.

Quote it.

Write it.

Live it.

And if someone says something about you that just doesn’t sit right with your soul – you’re gonna have to pull an Elsa and just let that mess go.

People are always going to pass judgement on you; however, there’s only one true Judge – one true King. And the judgement that He passes is the only judgement that counts.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17

Choose Christ

Life is full of choices. Take a moment and think of all the many choices you make daily.

Now that you have thought for a moment, I hope one of your choices each day is to walk with our Lord and Savior. I don’t say that lightly. You choose to do something with the relationship you have with Christ.

As a youth director, I have many students wonder what their purpose may be in this world. What will they do after they graduate, will they get to continue playing the game they love, who will they marry, what type of family they will raise, & yes it goes on and on. How I respond and encourage them is simply reminding them the Lord reveals our purpose to us. That’s simply to live out the great commission we find in Matthew; “Therefore go, making disciples of all nations”. Although that’s demanded, he leaves it up to us to act upon. Does that make sense? You choose to love others as yourself, you choose to be positive, you choose to put on your armor of Christ daily, you choose to share, & to put your full trust in him as your personal Savior.

Your choices matter. It’s time to be reminded of your purpose, and your mission.

Josh Wilson said it best, “I refuse to sit around and wait for someone else to do what God has called me to do myself.”

It’s deep, but we will all stand one day & either be told, “Well done, my good & faithful servant.” (Matthew 25) or “Depart from me, I never knew you.” (Matthew 7) That is why I do not take this lightly, and I hope you don’t either. Choose to be known by your fruit. Choose obedience. It’s not easy, and you definitely will not be perfect. That’s okay. Once you begin to choose his way, his path, you have a new peace and strength to face

this world daily. You realize the importance of choosing the Heavenly Father. You can’t make it without him.

He’s counting on you to go and make disciples. Today, begin doing what you were made to do, and that’s choose Christ.

Just Imagine

Today we are going to cross paths with different people doing different things.

Different hurts.

Different hopes.

Whether we are on a conference call or in the grocery store let’s stay in this frame of mind:

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. Colossians 3:17

Imagine how different our world would be if we did just that.

Turn to God

Have you ever had a bouquet of your favorite flowers? I did- from my mom and dad on my birthday. Once the flowers got shriveled and dead looking, I had to throw them away so they wouldn’t stink up my room.

We can think of our hearts as the beautiful bouquet that God has created for us. Sometimes we can have happy moments or events in our lives that build us up inside and make us feel good about ourselves. Other times we can have sad moments that can tear us down inside that make us cry and make us feel bad about ourselves.

God takes us through hard events in our lives like the death of someone we loved, breakups , or stress and anxiety from Covid-19. (You know- getting your assignments for school turned in on time or your work’s projects/papers you have to get done and turned in on your boss’s desk by a certain time.)

The devil can use times where you are sad to get in your head and break you down even more. The devil can rob your flowers (your heart) of water and that can cause your flowers to shrivel up. If you don’t take control of the devil trying to sneak in your mind during these times, your flowers can start to stink and ruin your relationship with God. When we go through heartache, you need to turn to something to help you through the hard times. I encourage you to turn to God in prayer and to Christian music.

Psalm 119:28 says, “My soul melts away for sorrow; strengthen me according to Your Word!”

When I’m sad and I need to remind myself that God is always here for me and that he will never leave me, I listen to the song, Famous For by Tauren Wells. This song reminds me that God is great and that he is always working in my life.

God is still rolling stones in your life (just like Lauren Daigle sings in Still Rolling Stones) . When God gives you moments where He takes you from your best to your worst, just know and trust that God did that for a reason. He will be with you every step of your journey and it will make your relationship with God stronger than ever.

Keeping your heart fresh like that bouquet of flowers is a choice we can make. “And he who was seated on the throne said, ‘Behold, I am making all things new.’ Revelation 21:5

Good Eye

Matthew 6:22-23 The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness.

In Matthew 6 Jesus is teaching His famous Sermon on the Mount. He gives very practical advice on how to give, pray, fast, and how to deal with anxiety. It is all very easy to understand and apply. But found in the middle of this portion of text are these two obscurely worded verses.

The phrases “good eye” and “bad eye” were a common figure of speech used in 1st century culture. It communicated how a person saw the world. If a person saw the world as a good place and trusted God was on the move and in control, they were said to have a good eye. Likewise, if a person saw and only lived for their own desires or only acknowledged the negativity in the world they were considered to have a bad eye. It is similar to our modern day figure of speech that someone sees the world through a glass half empty or half full.

God’s desire is for us to have a good eye. He wants us to be looking for His goodness in the world and to consider ways to join Him in His plan to bring the Kingdom of God to earth.

The beginning of this teaching warns us not to collect treasures on earth where they can get broken, stolen or deteriorate, but rather give while on earth! The greek word that is used for the word good in the above passage is the same word we use for generous. If you believe that God is good and want to partner with Him then you would naturally be generous. Being kingdom minded means we use the things God has blessed us with to serve others. It will cost us. We should freely give time, resources, and forgiveness.

Let us pray for a good eye and set our focus on kingdom advancement.

No Easy Feat

My heart has been so burdened for people going through storms lately, but I feel the clouds lifting. I believe the storms are subsiding.

It’s so important to stand in the gap and pray for your friends. I know first hand how true this is. When I had covid I was literally so sick I couldn’t pray – but my friends prayed.

There are so many easier things to do besides interceding for others. Carrying a burden for someone else is no easy feat.

Playing on social media is mindless.

Netflixxing is entertaining.

Reading for pleasure is fun.

All of those things are fine, but not if God has placed a burden on your heart to pray for someone else. We’ve got to make some sacrifices – after all that’s exactly what Jesus did every single day He was here on this earth.

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 1 Timothy 2:1

Don’t Quit.

“If you want to heal your hearts wounds, start healing your thoughts.” – Alexandra Vasiliu

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I have had so many people say to me, “I just need to get away, yanno? Just get out of here for a bit. I just need a break!” This is the actual Truth of that statement: wherever you go, you take your mind with you.

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Say I finally get the break Im so craving. I’m finally on a beach, soaking up the sun, and the only noise I hear is that of the waves crashing against the sand. That’s the secret to all my stresses and worries just melting away, right? Wrong! The reason that’s not the answer is because 9 times out of 10, I’m going to be sitting on that beach still dwelling on everything I “left at home”. The idea of escaping our reality for a bit is honestly detrimental because if our reality is in need of escaping from, then we aren’t truly living the way God intended for us to be living.

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This is what Jesus said on the matter: ““Are you weary, carrying a heavy burden? Come to me. I will refresh your life, for I am your oasis.” (Matthew 11:28 TPT) JESUS IS YOUR OASIS.

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Is it really that simple, though? Just turn it all off, hand it over to God and enjoy our lives? Absolutely. But as one minister said, “It’s our stinkin thinkin that limits us most.” It’s hard carrying a backpack full of life’s worries around and trying to run a marathon while we do it.

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So, as challenging as it is, think positive today. Meditate on God’s Goodness and Promises. Don’t magnify the negative and the bad, but magnify God and His Word to be greater.

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The best is yet to come, friends. Don’t quit.

Because He Lives.

Spring time, my favorite time of the year. A time of new beginnings & blossoms, sunshine, and remembrance. As the little girl I once was I loved Easter – more so than any other holiday. I loved the big dresses with bright colors I wore on that Sunday morning to church. I loved gathering with family, and loved seeing the signs “He is Risen” throughout the neighborhood. For myself, it was a time of celebration and remembrance. Remembering the one who brought us from death to life. Only Jesus can do such a thing as that.

“I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after death. Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die.” John 11:25-26

Before Easter was beautiful, it was once a dark time. It was once a tragedy. It was once heartbreak, cruelty, and difficulty – only until three days later. Many of us to this day experience dark, difficult, tragic moments and wonder when we will see the sunshine. When will we see easier times and hope. I feel Jesus wants to remind myself and others we already have our hope we are looking for. We have hope because He lives. We can face the fears we have because He lives. We can face the test results, anxiety, conversations, viruses, disorganization, busy schedules because He lives. Might I add that since He lives, so can you. Simply believe. Stop bearing your cross when He already took it up for you.

As we step forward into this Easter season, I hope you choose to truly live. I hope you are fixed in the reminder that He conquered death. Because He lives there is nothing you cannot do with His love, grace, and mercy. We find our life when we find the one who gives us life. What an honor it is to believe in his living power. With it, we get to truly live. Happy Easter. Always remember, He is risen.

Flawed.

Hey.

Stop staring in the mirror picking yourself apart.

Seriously. Stop it.

God did not make you to dislike yourself. Those self-deprecating thoughts are not from Him.

God made you in His image.

Soak that in. Really think on it.

The devil is a liar, and he would love nothing more than to rip your self-esteem apart ounce by ounce. He would love for you to be so down on yourself, so focused on your flaws, and so deprived of confidence that you can’t step out and step up for God.

Girl, you are not flawed. You are flaw-some. Every little thing that you think is wrong with yourself is actually right, and that’s the truth.

Flip the script. Take the things that you perceive to be holding you back and use them to propel yourself forward for God’s Kingdom.

You are made in His image, girl.

And don’t you ever forget it.

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 5:10

Rays of Sunshine inc

Educator, Mother, & Jesus Lover

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