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.

The past month I’ve been roaming around the Old Testament – just wondering around from place to place ya know.

Along my journey I got stuck in Deuteronomy. I got stuck right where the Israelites got stuck.

Man, it’s easy for me to judge them – to cast shame on them for not totally trusting God. It’s easy to say that I would never. That I would never ever.

But y’all let’s be real – we are just as human as they were, and we fail just as much – if not more.

Their lack of trust landed them hoofing through the wilderness for way too long.

Their lack of trust boils down to disobedience y’all. When God tells you to turn left, but you turn right that’s disobedience. When God tells you to take a step but you stand still. Disobedience.

So we have a choice guys – we can do what God is telling us to do. No matter how scary. No matter how daunting it seems. Or we can choose to wonder around aimlessly in the wilderness.

You will feel unsettled.

You will feel unfulfilled.

You will feel unsatisfied.

So like the Bible says you can make your plans all you want to, but until you follow God’s path for your life you will be in a constant GPS reroute.

That annoying little GPS voice isn’t going to stop until you’re back on the right track.

How do you want to live today? Unsettled or certain.

It’s your choice.

In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps. Proverbs 16:9

Well, it’s February and there is certainly no shortage of things to celebrate this month: Black History Month, Presidents’ Day, and last, but not least, Valentine’s Day.

Ah, Valentine’s Day. The day where we set aside special time for our forever Valentine – maybe a new outfit, maybe a romantic dinner, or maybe just some peace and quiet at home with your beloved.

Or, maybe you’re waiting for your forever Valentine, and so you’ve joined the ranks of the ever popular GALentine’s Day! Maybe a spa day, a shopping day and a loud, rambunctious dinner at your favorite, local spot – some much needed and appreciated gal time.

Yes, it’s Valentine’s Day and love is in the air, friends.

And, listen I want you to know right up front that I am here for ALL of it! I love it when my hubs and I can steal a few hours away together – I don’t care what we’re doing! We can be at Lowe’s shopping for shelving, at a movie sharing popcorn, or at dinner, reconnecting and discussing our lives. And, Valentine’s Day is one of those times for us. We’ve sort of nixed the idea of gifts for Valentine’s Day, and are just thankful for time. Time to remember our first Valentine’s Day, that Valentine’s Day where the cake fell on the floor (true, sad story) and all the others in between. We love to think back over our life together, to discuss how much we’ve grown as individuals and as a couple, and to do a little dreaming for our future. Yep, I love Valentine’s Day with my man.

And, don’t get me started about my gals! Listen, no kidding, I am so thankful for my friends! They are my support system, my sanity and my favorite sitcom, all at the same time! My closest friends have been with me through thick and thin, the good, the bad and the ugly, and are still brave enough to answer the phone when I call. I honestly don’t know where I would be in life without the friends God has placed in my life and, thankfully, I won’t have to find out for a long time.

So, these Valentine’s Day celebrations are all great, but lately, God has been stirring my heart with a different kind of love: love for others. Now, before you nod and zone out, let me be clear: I’m not talking about loving your husband, your kids, your parents, your best friends, or your crazy Aunt Jo, who always brings Orange Fluff to family gatherings. I mean, even people who don’t know God at all love their friends and family. No ma’am, I’m talking about loving the others – you know the ones. The hard ones to love, the ones who get on your proverbial last nerve, the ones who you find strange, the ones you don’t understand.

I don’t know who these people are for you; maybe it’s that crazy neighbor that you see in the grocery store and immediately turn and go the other way. Maybe it’s that coworker that’s on the other side of the political aisle from you, maybe it’s that acquaintance that goes to THAT church, or, God forbid, doesn’t go to church at all. Yep, those people.

God has brought me over the last few weeks to a crowd favorite, I Corinthians 13. Now, here’s a fun fact about I Corinthians 13: even though most of us probably had at least a portion of this chapter read at our weddings, where we were so in love with our soon-to-be spouse that we couldn’t even see straight, this chapter is not about romantic love at all. Nope. The context in which Paul wrote this “love chapter” had nothing to do with the love between a husband and wife, nor was it about loving your family or friends. Believe it or not, Paul wrote I Corinthians 13 to some Christians in Corinth who weren’t loving each other and/or their communities well. Kinda changes the meaning, doesn’t it?

Paul was trying to remind the Corinthians that, for the Believer, love shouldn’t be given or expressed only when others meet your standard of behavior, agree with you on everything or you feel they are worthy of your love – Believers’ love should be given unconditionally. Just like God’s love.

Wait, what? Yeah, I know. It’s tough. But the truth is, love is messy. It doesn’t always make sense and it certainly isn’t at all easy. What Paul was trying to say is this: loving others means dying to yourself – your needs, your wants, your preferences.

Here’s I Corinthians 13:4-8a from my favorite translation:

Love is large and incredibly patient.

Love is gentle and consistently kind to all.

It refuses to be jealous when blessing comes to someone else.

Love does not brag about one achievements nor inflate its own importance.

Love does not traffic in shame and disrespect, nor selfishly seek its own honor.

Love is not easily irritated or quick to take offense.

Love joyfully celebrates honesty and finds no delight in what is wrong.

Love is a safe place of shelter, for it never stops believing the best for others.

Love never takes failure as defeat, for it never gives up.

Love never stops loving.

Um, ouch. I don’t know about you, but I don’t even love my husband that well sometimes! I mean, that is a crazy kind of love!

Love is a tall order, for sure. So, why is this kind of love important, you ask? Because this is the kind of love that God loves us with. As Paul explained to the Corinthians, it’s our responsibility and sacred honor to represent God well to everyone, but especially to those who don’t know Him yet. God’s love is what changes things – hearts, minds, lives. If we are going to win the world – the lost, the broken, the hurting, the abandoned, the deceived, the confused – we must allow this crazy kind of love – God’s love – to shine like a beacon from our heart to theirs. We have to, there is no other option.

So, how about you? Are you loving the difficult people in your life well? If you’re like me, sometimes yes, other times no. But I Corinthians 13 and Valentine’s Day is always a good reminder. As you celebrate and enjoy each other today, ask God to help you love like He loves. Then, sit back and watch God’s love spread like crazy!