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.”

“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.

I’ve never shared my faith in writing or so publicly until a few months ago. That is a story for another post. When I agreed to write my first post for @raysofsunshineinc, I wasn’t sure what I was going to write about exactly. But a few days ago, I read Mrs. Ashley Pinner’s post on obedience and how “that silent obedience often has the loudest echo” and I knew then that this was the post I needed to write. 

That day I received confirmation through the Lectio 365 app and the verse, “Blessed… are those who hear the word of God and obey it.” – Luke 11:28

Obedience is a tricky thing. Sometimes we don’t want to be obedient… perhaps someone hurt us. Perhaps we feel we are too busy. Perhaps we feel what he is asking us is too hard or inconvenient. But I think we all know that God has a good and perfect will for our lives, that God is the God of forgiveness, and that God never fails.

At my church, we have been learning about the prophetic word. 1 Corinthians 14:1-3 says, “But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging, and comfort.”

There have been several times over the past few months where God has asked me to do something or say something and obedience has always been the key to freedom.

The first was when I was reading the bible, and praying, I felt God say I needed to apologize to my dad. I balked a bit as I felt like I shouldn’t be the one apologizing. I should mention that my dad and I have been estranged for the past thirty years or so. He has been in my life, but we have had a great distance between us. This post is not the place to discuss what estranged us, but if there was ever going to be reconciliation, if we were ever going to recover what the locusts had stolen over the past thirty years, I had to make the first step in obedience. I called him and apologized for my anger, withdrawal, and frustration during that time and just like that, “Lisa, I forgive you.” I balled. I did. And there was such a sense of relief and freedom. 

The second moment of obedience came when I very clearly heard a word for my father at church. The word was that he would write a book to help people, it would give him greater purpose, and that he has a gift of intercession and healing. That weekend I invited both my parents over for a feast at my house. When I invited my dad over to my house (which he has been many times) this time, it didn’t feel like a burden, but a gift. And there was joy where there were ashes, despair, and devastation. Rather than praying exactly what God had told me, I prayed a simple prayer of encouragement and comfort over him before he left… something like, “God I know you are not done with him. He has a greater purpose on this earth.” Confirmation came quickly…the next day, he called me and told me he wanted to write a book.

I wish I could say that the third moment of obedience was the easiest… I wish I could tell you that it was instantaneous. But I am human and sometimes I don’t always do as I am told.

In reality it took over a month for me to say yes. I had no idea what it would be. But I knew that it was clearly God’s will for me to use my gifts and talents to help him. But honestly, you and I know it was more than that. It was a second chance. It was a gift. And it was God renewing places in my life long devastated and mending generational wounds.

Many times God is asking you to do something hard and “declaring (his) will and powerfully communicating his heart” (Pete Greig, How to Hear God, (London: Hodder & Stoughton, 2022), p. 115 via Lectio 365 app. 

After I shared my faith publicly (again a story for another post), I heard God say, “they will be drawn to you not because of your reputation but because of your obedience, your devotion, and your vulnerability.” I felt him say “don’t shy away from those that need you most. Don’t be afraid to share my Love and my Word with them.”

So I will leave you with this, if God is asking you (or has been asking you to do something), lean into it. Ask for wisdom. Ask for confirmation. Ask for discernment. Ask for the “peace that passes all understanding.” And be obedient to what God is asking you to do. We are to use God’s words for others to edify, encourage, and comfort. Be obedient to those “God nudges” because there is beauty and freedom in the next step.

Life is a rollercoaster of highs and lows, it’s ups and downs at every turn. As christians we will have wonderful mountaintop experiences, but we will also have moments in the valley. Whether you are experiencing a mountaintop moment or you feel like you’re in the valley, God’s love and presence remains the same. It is His promise to us that He will never leave us nor forsake us.

“For the mountains may move and the hills disappear, but even then my faithful love for you will remain. My covenant of blessing will never be broken,” says the Lord, who has mercy on you. Isaiah 54:10

Through the highs and lows of life He is always there, but I think sometimes we tend to view God’s love and sovereignty depending on our present circumstances. With that being said, I think we feel that we are closer to God on the mountaintop. Our praise is elevated and our faith is stronger than ever before, usually because we have just come out of the valley. He may have just answered a prayer that we have been praying for a while, and we can recognize His grace and mercy on us better. It is the moment when we feel God truly reveals Himself and His Sovereignty to us. God uses the highs of life to renew our strength for when we face the valleys. Wouldn’t it be awesome if we could just stay there in the peace that we feel when we are fully in the presence of God? Unfortunately until we are with Jesus for eternity this mountaintop experience is temporary.

I actually think because we live in such a fallen world we spend more time in the valleys of life. This sometimes brings with it a feeling of loss, like we don’t feel God’s presence or love as strongly as before. We think that God isn’t listening or we question if he truly cares for us. The Valley can bring with it feelings of fear, grief, worry, frustration, and etc. We may tend to question God’s plan and why He would let us experience these moments and feelings. Well, believe it or not the time we spend in the valley is a treasure from God. It is a time God uses to refine us and strengthen our faith. As christians we know we can’t make it without Him. We may be down for a moment, but we remember the mountaintop and how we felt His mercy and grace. God wants to draw us closer to Him, our Great Shepherd, who leads us. We learn to lean on Him and trust Him and ultimately that is what God wants. He wants our faith and love. He wants us to surrender fully to Him while we wait for that mountaintop!!

The Lord is my shepherd;

I shall not want.

He makes me to lie down in green pastures;

He leads me beside the still waters.

He restores my soul;

He leads me in the paths of righteousness

For His name’s sake.

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.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;

You anoint my head with oil;

My cup runs over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me

All the days of my life;

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord

FOREVER!!!!

Psalm 23:1-6