Do you feel like the trials and tribulations of this life are more than you can handle? Maybe you even feel like God has removed His mercy and grace from your life or better yet from this world.

We live in such a fallen world full of sickness, sorrow, evil, and death that it can be so overwhelming at times. If we are not careful we can easily get lost in the despair of it all! We want to question God and ask why?

“Why am I so discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise Him again- my savior and my God.” Psalm 42:11

Well, I think it’s time we take a praise break!!!

Praise you Jesus that this fallen world is not our home! Thank you God that You sent your only son, Jesus Christ, to save us from our sins! All glory to You Father because You are sovereign, aware of everything going on right now, and You remain in full control!

You know our past, present, and future! Praise you Lord for the peace, mercy, and grace you so freely give us! You are our Healer, Protector, Provider, Jehovah-jireh, Yahweh, our Savior!!! Hallelujah that no weapon formed against me shall prosper! You reign!! You are the God of the universe! Praise you Lord that You are the same yesterday and today and forever! Thank you Jesus that when I am fearful I can put my trust in you. You are my rescuer, my deliverer, my shield of protection! You are the everlasting God, our creator!! Hallelujah!!

“Praise the Lord; praise God our savior! For each day He carries us in His arms.” Psalm 68:19

Wow!! Just that little bit of a praise break makes all the difference to me. There is so much power in praising our Savior! Even in the hard times when fear and doubt creep in, praise renews our spirit and in turn will fill us with joy and peace. Praise turns our attention away from the despair in this world and gets the focus off of ourselves and back to God.

It reminds us that He is sovereign and in full control. Nothing can touch us unless He allows it and if He allows it, He will supply us with everything we need to endure whatever comes our way. Not only does our praise bless God, it is giving Him our best. He actually commands us to offer praise to Him. Praise causes God’s favor and love to shine on us and in turn we then can pass that love and blessings onto others.

“Therefore , let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to His name. And don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God.” Psalm 13: 15-16

Hard times will come and go, but our praise should stay the same. When we are in a state of constant praise we won’t have time to doubt and fear because we are giving our everything to God, believing with our faith, that He is in control of it all!!

Since this is a no judgement zone let me give y’all a shameful admission of who I used to be and who I am now.

In college one of my side hustles was teaching aerobics. I loved to exercise, and it’s literally all I did. Fast forward twenty years, and it’s the last thing I want to do. The last thing I’m gonna do. Shameful, I know.

Back then I loved to see how I could transform the different parts of my body. Which muscles I could bring more definition to by doing different workouts.

My how life has changed. Now I just want to watch HGTV and read.

I digress.

I was verse-mapping Philippians 2:12 the other day. My a-ha moment was when I looked up “work out” in the Greek. Work out your on salvation literally means to activate or to fashion your own salvation.

How can we work out or fashion our own salvation:

▪️praise and worship

▪️reading the Bible

▪️praying

▪️fellowship

▪️attending church

Guys, put in the work. If you truly want to live your best life this is how you do it. You work out what matters – and that my friends is your salvation. It will be hard, but it will also be worth it.

“Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,” Philippians 2:12

So, this is how I picture an interview with Eve could have gone.
Me: Hello, Eve. I’d like to ask you a few questions. Can you tell me about the recent events leading up to yours and Adam’s relocation from The Garden District?
Eve: Well, one day I was just minding my own business, tending to the garden (my absolute favorite thing to do). You know, the soil there was so rich and perfect for growing anything. Our current location has rocky, hard ground. Talk about back- breaking work to get stuff to grow! So, like I said, I was just doing my usual stuff, like planting and weeding, when this serpent struck up a conversation. He seemed so genuine when he inquired about how I was doing and what I thought about my life within The Garden District. I shared how blessed and happy we were to be living in such a perfect place. To know we were chosen to oversee such beautiful surroundings of lush, green vegetation, trees, flowers, and all kinds of creatures great and small. You know, Adam was chosen to name all the creatures. Pretty cool, right? Well, I had never thought there was anything missing in our lives or even questioned God. You see, Adam and I were allowed access to all things, except the fruit from this one tree in the garden. By the way he spoke, the serpent obviously knew this as well. The more he talked about what this one tree could possibly offer, the more I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I began to ponder things like “What if I stay within the boundaries that were created for Adam and I?” “What if we are missing out?” “Could we have more?” “Could we have a different life?” Question after question came. Scenario after scenario played out until I made the choice to eat of that tree.
Me: So, what I hear you saying is that this one thing the serpent highlighted caused you to question your trust in God and His plans? And, because you doubted God, you took matters into your own hands believing your way was better?
Eve: Yes, looking back now, I see that while I knew how to plant seeds to grow vegetables and herbs, that serpent knew how to plant seeds in my mind. Seeds that would distract me from my purpose. Thoughts grew into feelings of dissatisfaction and doubt. The results had consequences, which is why Adam and I now find ourselves removed from the place that was created for us. All of sudden, what was good didn’t appear that way.
The interview will continue, but let’s fast forward to today.
This is what I could currently and honestly tell Eve… Girl, the struggle is real! Although I’m not standing in a garden conversing with a serpent, I am bombarded daily with messages, pictures, posts, and tweets. All of these things constantly have

opportunities to influence me to question everything about my life. They can easily point out that “one thing”. “Do I have the right ‘what’ or ‘who’ in my life?” “Could I possibly be missing out on something beyond what currently defines my life?” I’m sure you get the point. It can be absolutely exhausting! I can go from distraction to dissatisfaction in about sixty seconds.
In 2013, the Oxford English Dictionary adopted the word “FOMO”. FOMO is the acronym for the “fear of missing out.” This fear of missing out refers to the feeling or perception that others are living a better life, happier, and experiencing better things than you.
It sounds similar to the phrase “keeping up with the Joneses”. The advancements in our digital world and instant access to others’ lives only increases exposure to opportunities for dissatisfaction to begin to grow.
I read research that found that after the events of 9/11 there were increased feelings of fear, anxiety, and depression as people were reminded of the brevity of life. Individuals struggled with the pursuit to live life to the fullest and as well as (if not better than) everyone else.
The enemy hasn’t changed his tactics from what he used that day when he spoke with Eve. He will stop at nothing to lead us away from God’s purpose and to distract us from what really matters– our relationship with our Creator and reaching others for His kingdom. We can reach a point in which we question God’s goodness and our trust for His sovereignty in our lives. Little distractions can easily become big detours.
With recent world events, we are once again reminded that life is short. I pray that I will have a fear that motivates me to live life to the fullest in regards to God’s plan for my life. May I be reminded time is short and those people in my realm of influence need to know the message of the cross.
“The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; Yes, I have a good inheritance.” (Psalm 16:6 NKJV)
“Teach us to use wisely all the time we have.” (Psalm 90:12 CEV)
“Be clear-minded and alert. Your opponent, the devil, is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8 ISV)

Sometimes we ask God to do things, but we don’t want to have to do anything.

I’ve been guilty of this! I ask God for some help, and He gives it to me in a different way than I hoped for.

You might ask God for courage, and He gives you trials to overcome. You might ask for love, and He gives you people to help. You might ask for strength, and He gives you dangerous things to get through. You might ask for Him to help you, and He gives you the Word of God.

See, we forget sometimes that God is the publisher. He is the master author of our lives, and He knows what you need and He knows what you want!

And He knows what is going to happen to make you realize that what you asked for was here all along!!! You have always had courage. You have always had love. And you have always had God.

Don’t be surprised when you ask God for something and He gives you a different answer than you wanted.

He knows the plan for your life because He is the author of your life. He is the one who knows what you want, but He also knows what you need.

And what is it you really need? Well, all we truly need is God.

Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the plans I have for you, declare the Lord. Plans you prosper you, to give you a hope and a future.

We shouldn’t experience hard times at church, right? Church should be a place of comfort and enjoyment, right? That’s what many think about church, and when they are hurt by church people, they call them hypocrites and fail to participate in and belong to a local faith family. Have you been where church hurts? I have! Let me tell you right up front, it’s a horrible place to be!

Let’s refocus though:

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.—2 Corinthians 12:9-10

A few years ago, church was a real struggle for me. We had been hurt deeply by the church we were a part of. I told God I didn’t want to go. I wanted out of ministry. But, that was not God’s plan. In my hurt, I truly saw my brokenness and struggled with my feelings of worthlessness. However, God kept saying to be faithful. While there were times when I was so consumed with hurt that I didn’t want to go to church, God showed me His faithfulness and how He could use my brokenness. I felt so weak, but I prayed to be strong. The song “Broken Things” by Matthew West became my prayer.

🎵Now I’m just a beggar in the presence of a King

I wish I could bring so much more

But if it’s true You use broken things

Then here I am Lord, I’m all Yours🎵

I offered myself to God. I had absolutely nothing else to give. I did NOT want to do what He was calling me to do because it meant reliving the feelings and emotions that hurt so deeply. It meant being open in front of people, even people I didn’t know. It meant getting close to church people again when I wanted to stay home, away from possibly being hurt again. Yet God reminded me that I offered my broken self to Him. As I struggled with going to church, God reminded me that in obedience, is healing. The hurt I experienced from church would not define me. It could, however, develop me.

Why would I write about church hurting? Well, the answer is that, recently, I have heard a lot of people struggling with church. They’ve been hurt. The church is hurting because of things people have done or said. I want to encourage you to not give up if you’re in that situation. If believers stop because church is hard, then we are part of the problem. Yes, it hurts to go sometimes, but God’s word says,

“Let us hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, since he who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to provoke love and good works, not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching.” Hebrews 10:23-25

We will experience tough times, even in church. Church is filled with sinners, including us. It’s filled with hypocrites, including us. Let’s quit making excuses for not being part of what God commands us to do. We may get beat up and hurt, even at church, but will our scars point to His love? I pray that they do.

Y’all, God is mighty to love! Even when church hurts, hang onto His love and faithfulness. Find a Bible believing faith family and join it, serve in it. Will you get hurt? Most likely, because the church is filled with imperfect people. However, when imperfect people serve our perfect God, hurt cannot overcome victory in Christ!

It is so easy to analyze, talk with our neighbor, and drag on the problems of this world, but we need people who will do something about them. It’s time to rise up, Christian.

⁃ Nehemiah 2: 2-3

“So the King asked me, “Why are you looking so sad? You don’t look sick to me. You must be deeply troubled.” Then I was terrified, but I replied, “Long live the king! How can I not be sad? For the city where my ancestors are buried is in the ruins, and the gates have been destroyed by fire.”

In this scripture Nehemiah was concerned and heart broken of the actions recently accomplished by the world around him. He began praying to the Lord that if it was his will for him to go into the city to help rebuild the wall destroyed by the fire.

I share this today because I know we can relate to Nehemiah. I know we can relate about the gut wrenching events that happen around us daily. Even the things in our work atmosphere or things our children are facing. Do something about it – the Godly way. Be the example. Be the prayer warrior that someone needs. Be the one that presses on in this world to make disciples. Say yes to Christ, and watch how he will use you.

I am so thankful Nehemiah and his followers accomplished rebuilding the wall after realizing what God had called them to do. What a beautiful example of how a messy situation can be turned into something beautiful for the kingdom of God. Although it wasn’t easy for them, they pressed on. You don’t have to rebuild a wall to do the will of God. But It is your job do what the Lord has called you to do. Be willing, and be obedient. Return the wrong of this world with good. Start today.

Rise up for what’s good. Rise up for what’s right, Christian.

Do you ever look at a celebrity and think,

    “They have it all together. They know all the new trends, and they even start some. They look so happy!”

    Well, appearances can be deceiving. They are most likely stuck in a rut. In a constant rat race with other celebrities, trying to be the richest, prettiest, have the most followers, ect. They are never truly happy or content with what they have. They even find it hard to tell who their true friends are. People will pretend to be their friends because they have money or good looks. But they have lots of money, and that’s all that matters in life right?

Wrong! Money and power is not what life is about. Studies show that buying things produces dopamine. How long does that last though? How much better would you feel if you spent that money on someone else instead of yourself? Think about a kid at Christmas. He opens his gift and it’s a new Hot Wheels track! He loves it more than any of his other gifts because it’s new. How much longer after Christmas do you find that same track in the back of his closet though?

Even as children we searched for joy in the wrong places. No one has to teach us to love the things of this world. I promise you, it’s not worth it. After you have lived your glorious life full of “stuff”, you leave this Earth and you can’t take any of it with you. Would you rather have temporary treasures, or permanent treasures? The verse I chose is John 4:13-14,

“Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” 

I’m not going to tell you what to do. Instead, I’m going to leave off with a few questions. Where do you find your joy? Do you want to live a life of fake happiness, temporary joy, and unfulfillment, or do you want to drink from the water that Jesus freely gives, and never thirst again?

Trust……..😟

This is something I’ve struggled with most of my life. Up until 2015, I’ve always had an issue with trust. I didn’t have the healthiest upbringing and hardly any discipline from my parents.

In 2014, after 12 years of drug addiction, I ended up at The House of Destiny in Votaw, Texas. That is where the Lord began to do a work within me. So much deliverance and breakthrough happened within the first 3-4 months, and I began to feel things that I’ve never felt before. I began to sense things that I’ve never sensed before, and I actually began to breathe in a way that was so refreshing and real.

I was experiencing something that’s so tangible and at that point I began to start trusting something that I couldn’t even see~~God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit ❤⚓❤ Slowly but surely He is teaching me how to trust in Him.

The Lord is so gentle and loving. He is the perfect gentleman.. That is what I needed in my life, and this is where my spiritual journey began…TRUSTING🙌

When we can get to our secret place and allow the Holy Spirit to minister to us, Heaven takes over our mind and heart. It’s the most reassuring feeling ever.💥 This was one of my many struggles – getting still before the Lord. When we start to get revelation from God and then start seeing it unfold and revealed right in front of our very eyes, our mind set begins to change of who He really is and that He really does love and care for us❤⚓

I always felt that there was no way I could ever trust someone that I couldn’t even see because the ones that I could see that were in my past brought abuse and neglect. So, how in the world could I ever trust? Believe…… just believe and take baby steps. If you need to and little by little you will experience the tangible presence of God❤

🔑🚀🔑🚀🔑🚀🔑🚀

Proverbs 3:5,6

Trust in The Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take. Amen🙌

When we can learn how to trust in the Lord it makes things easier to step out into the unknown.💥

If you don’t feel smart enough to do Bible Study – you’re not alone.

If the words are too big and intimidating – you’re not alone.

If you can’t retain what you’re reading – you’re not alone.

But sister – wouldn’t the devil love for you give up? Wouldn’t he love for you to stop studying just because you don’t “get it”.

Don’t let him win. You keep going. You keep studying. You keep digging deep into the word.

God will help you wade through the nitty gritty and slowly but surely you will start to “get it”.

Don’t give up, sister. Keep digging.