What a lot of people don’t understand is that you need to keep things simple.
For example, my coach in basketball always starts out with the basics such as dribbling, passing, and shooting. He creates a foundation. With this foundation, he teaches us different positions, plays, and roles that each one of us need to do.
Also, by doing this he sees each of our strengths and weaknesses. He keeps it simple and then builds on it. He understands that to get out a message, you have to keep it simple so everyone understands.
He gets that not everyone starts at the same level and that the best way to coach, is to keep it simple.
This concept applies to most situations in life, especially when it involves beginners, and makes living a whole lot easier.
“And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.” Philippians 1:6
Don’t you just love how God can flip the script on you – often when you don’t even realize it! This year we have all experienced so much, both collectively and personally. In the midst of all the chaos and even loss, God has shown himself faithful in so many ways.
I couldn’t see it at the time, but the Lord literally began leading me on a journey, step by step, to become healthier and stronger in my body, mind, and spirit.
It all began in November when my husband and I started trying to eat healthy and lose weight. He recently turned 50 , and I was about to turn 50 in March, so we wanted to get it together to stick around for our grandkids. Once the pandemic hit full swing in April, the Lord began waking me up for prayer every morning at 3 am for 30 days. In those wee hours I would pray, worship, read my Bible, and seek the Lord until it was time to get ready for work. I had always been a night owl prior to this, so it was a major change!
After that I kept getting up early, between 5-6 am to pray, worship, and read my Bible. When July came around, the Lord put it on my heart to add exercise to my routine. On July 11th, I started getting up at 5 am to pray, read my Bible, and spend time with the Lord. Then I began to run at the track at 6 am and come back home to get ready for work.
Health is one of those things that we often take for granted or neglect until we face a major crisis. The truth is we can’t do anything for the Lord or fulfill His purpose for us if we fail to take care of our body which is the temple of the Holy Spirit.
I want to challenge and encourage you today to examine your heart and ask the Lord what simple, positive changes you can make to become healthier and stronger in your body, mind, and spirit. I promise you won’t be sorry that you did. He will show you the way – just like He did with me. This has definitely been a life changing experience for me, and I’m so grateful! Will you let Him flip the script for you?
Dear friend, I hope all is well with you and that you are as healthy in body as you are strong in spirit. ~ 3 John 1:2 NLT
Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body. ~ 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NLT
I remember the first time I read these words penned by author and IF:Gathering Founder, Jennie Allen. She’s probably not the first time to question this idea, but it was through her that I first pondered these words.
These six words cause me to sit in silence, humbled and convicted on a frequent basis. It’s these words that gives me discipline and life-giving correction.
A few days ago, my mom and I were debating over evacuating from Hurricane Laura. Neither of us wanted to make the decision (for me, it meant leaving my husband behind). We joked as I wanted HER to make a decision for the both of us and she wanted ME to make the decision. The truth behind the indecisiveness was summed up in one sentence from my mom, “I’m just weary from the last 2 years and I don’t want to have to do this.”
May I introduce you to my mom? She’s the most grace filled woman you just might ever meet. She has a heart as big as Texas. That same heart also has wounds the same size as our beloved Lone Star State. In the last 33 years, my mom has buried a husband killed in the line of duty as a police officer, buried a son who died from drug overdose, a brother who died from suicide, and a mother who died from cancer. This doesn’t include the sufferings from random everyday life- like the natural disasters that living on the Texas coast can bring (they had to clean up 3 homes from flooding during Imelda).
I share these things not to be heavy, although there might not be a way around it. Just a few days ago, our area of Texas had immense suffering predicted from the fate of wherever Hurricane Laura landed. We prepped and prepared, said goodbyes, traveled, and did not sleep until it was over. I’ve heard so many praise God with reflections like “God heard our prayers!” and “God is so good!” Both are true. But, were there not praying people in the areas of Laura’s landfall? Do we not say “God is good!” for all? Either God is real or He’s not. He’s either good or He’s not.
As the recipient of the same sufferings as my mom (albeit by different relations), I can say this about suffering:
IF God is real, then suffering is…
Inevitable. “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” James 1:2-4
Necessary. “But we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” Romans 5:3-5
A grace. “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” Romans 8:18
Think about it this way: read 2 Peter 2 about eternity. If what I read about heaven and hell is real (and if God is real, then eternity is), then it can only be an act of love of God to do whatever He deems necessary to reach me. Even if it means suffering on THIS side of heaven. As a matter of thought, if heaven/hell/God is all real, then I would only HOPE that God would do everything possible to reach me in this vapor called life. If heaven/hell/God is real, then the suffering that brought me to Him is not JUST pain, it is grace. It is a gift. I’m currently watching not one, but two friends grieve the losses of their husbands due to car accidents. They would not see their suffering currently as a gift. We can not confuse the grace of God with pleasantries. See, we are so quick to shout from the rooftops “GOD IS GOOD!” when good stuff happens that we have no idea what to do when life is painful. We have to decide what we believe about God because it’s that belief that will give us hope and joy in the midst of sorrow. For the Christ follower, grief and joy can co-exist. Note I didn’t say happiness.
Many people in Southeast Texas were both spared and share in the devastating effects of Hurricane Laura. It’s a both/and. As followers of Christ, we have two of my favorite words to live out and give to others- grace and peace. These two words, because of Christ in us, go with us wherever we go and whatever we go through. “Grace and peace” sum up what it means to be spared and yet to share the sufferings of life with others.
Whatever circumstances God has allowed for you today, think on those life-changing six words… if God is real, then what?
My thoughts are all over the place today, and I’m sure many in our area feel the same. I’m trying to piece together (while making sense) what it’s like to live in a Hurricane disaster area year after year after year.
First of all an evacuation is not a vacation.
It’s not fun. It’s costly. It’s worrisome. It’s extremely unsettling.
Why do people continue to live in our area when year after year hurricanes devastate our land and homes? Because it is home, and our roots run deep. Because the men and women here keep this country going. The refineries that line the Gulf of Mexico are instrumental to America.
What is it like for everyone living here now? It’s a waiting game. You prep and you pray. You check social media to see where your friends are. You keep news notifications turned on so that you are alerted when the storm trend changes. You are literally glued to some type of device – that’s just the way it is.
If you evacuated you stay up all night long watching the news bracing yourself for the impending destruction. If you decided to hunker down at home you stay up all night praying that your house and yourself survive.
But when the sun rises and the winds die down we will come together just like we’ve done storm after storm. Churches will literally be the hands and feet of Jesus, and the Cajun Navy will run as smoothly as a Chick-fil-A drive through helping as many people as humanly possible.
And we know:
We will rebuild. We will keep going. We will survive.
And come next August we may or may not do this all over again.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. Isaiah 43:2
“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.
I’ve seen a quote floating around the internet that states, “I wish I could raise my children in the world in which I grew up.” When this sentiment is posted, it always seems to get a lot of likes and comments. I always scratch my head as I do not quite agree with this statement. I want to say, “You can!”
The power is ours. The world can rage on outside of our homes, but we hold the power to raise our children how we see fit. No matter which political party is in the White House or what the media portrays as normal, we have the control. We create the world in which our children are raised.
It’s our choice to teach our children to serve others, to love Jesus, to obey God’s word, to worship, and to give selflessly. It’s our choice to love their other parent and show them a healthy relationship. It’s our choice to show them to respect their elders as we honor our parents. And in so doing, they will take those things into adulthood and pass that on to their children. Eph 6:1-4
We tend to look at the past with rose-colored glasses, as if in the 1950s -1990s the world was perfect and only in the past generation has it become godless. The reason we believe that is because our parents usually did a pretty good job of creating a world in which we felt safe and taught us those things we hold dear. The world was not perfect then, it was filled with sin. We just see it more now because of the constant media coverage and access to it at our fingertips. “What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.” – Ecclesiastes 1:9
Not everyone has had the privilege of growing up in a Christian home. If you fall into that category, you now have the opportunity to create it for your children. How? We have the perfect recipe laid out in God’s word and we have a generation of women to look to for advice. “Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children,” – Titus 2:4.
I’m not finished with this verse, but man it’s got me fired up this morning. I had to share now.
I don’t know how many times this year that I’ve said or written that the world is spinning out of control – cause it is. However, look at this beautiful promise straight from God – “He will quiet you by His love.”
In this verse the word quiet means to still, absence of bustle, to calm. I don’t know about y’all but an absence of bustle seems glorious considering 2020 and all that it entails. Can I get an Amen?
Hebrews 7:25, a cross reference for this verse, says that He will save those who draw near to Him.
Guys, we play a big part in the craziness swirling all around us. We can keep spinning with it, or we can draw near to Him – stand firmly on His promises – and Let God create an absence of worldly bustle within our hearts and minds.
As far as momming goes, preparation for this new school year has got me like woah. I mean, essentially, I’ve had since March to get my ducks in a row. Yet, here I sit in the midst of school supply lists and mounting to-do’s that honestly may not get to-done.
At this point the only thing I’ve got going for me are the two boxes of Ticonderoga pencils that I randomly threw in my Walmart buggy last Sunday.
Normally all supplies and clothes are bought and neatly tucked away by mid July, but honestly – what does normal even mean in 2020?
Y’all, I do not have it together.
Let me repeat that. I do not have it together.
But you know what, God does. And He knew about Corona before Corona was a thing. He readies us, and He steadies us.
Take a deep breath, momma. It will all come together. This school year will start – with or without the perfect color pocket folders for your child.
And God – my God – will hold our hand each step of the way.
“Because You have been my help, therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice.” Psalms 63:7
So much change. So much grief. So much uncertainty.
But with grief comes growth, and I’m thankful for that.
And with change comes new life, and I’m grateful for that.
And with uncertainty comes a promise of hope. I’ll keep clinging to that.
38 was hard, but 38 was still good. Even in the midst of the most difficult times, God lavishes His amazing love and unending grace down on His children.
Here’s to 39!
“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” Numbers 6:24-26
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