Don't Give Up

"We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again." 2 Cor 1:8-10

When I read this letter Paul wrote, it reminds me that in the midst of all the stress I am facing, God is my strength! Sometimes the pressures of life seem too much, and I find myself thinking, "I can't do all of this!" But the fact is, I can do everything through the Lord..and when I fully rely on God, I recognize which things are most important and which things I need to take off of my plate. Just by laying it all down at His feet, I find peace, discernment, wisdom, and strength to move forward. Life doesn't feel so overwhelming when I rely on God instead of my own power. What can you lay at His feet today? 

Journey on!

The Peace of Grace

The Lord loves you so very much! He wants you to rest in Him. It breaks my heart to see people wrestling with guilt and fear about their salvation. They worry and wonder, "Am I doing enough? Am I good enough? I've messed up too much this week, how can God forgive me?" If you find yourself questioning your worth, remember that is deception from Satan himself. Your God loves you dearly and sent His son to die for your sins! Through Him, you are truly forgiven! Yes, we should all strive to live like Christ and honor God, but we should do that because He is our father and knows what is best for our lives...not to prove we are "good enough" to go to heaven. The Lord has saved you if you have committed to loving Him. Don't let worry and doubt cloud the peace that comes with receiving grace from God! Rest in God's promises and know that you are worthy because He is in your heart! 

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast." Eph 2:8-9

Journey on!

Remember Kindness

In our daily rush to accomplish our to-do lists, we may not realize the way we come across to others. Sometimes our own stresses lead us to snap at others in the office. We may not take the time to really stop what we are doing to listen to our children tell us about their day. Maybe you've found yourself yelling at someone simply because you are under pressure. We need to take time in our day to pause and reflect on the things that are most important. While many worldly things seem pressing, there is always time to be kind. We won't get our assignments completed any faster by attacking those around us. We won't keep our friendships if we continue to neglect them because we are too busy. In the midst of your busy week, be conscious of others. Have self-control to respond kindly even when you are stressed. Be intentional to really listen to those you love. Remember kindness! 

Hebrews 13:1-2 (ESV) / Let brotherly love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.  

Journey on!

New Beginnings

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland” (Isaiah 43:18-19).  

Spring always brings this bible verse to my mind. It is time when the earth, which has been cold and dead all winter, brings forth new life. Beautiful plants and flowers shoot up from the ground. Baby animals are born. It is a time of joy, sunshine, and new beginnings. It always reminds me of the beautiful transformation we have in Christ Jesus. Though we have sinned and made a lot of mistakes in our lives, Jesus has washed all of them away and tells us that we are made completely new in Him! If you feel like you have been in a spiritual slump, go to to the Lord. Let Him renew and refresh your spirit. Let Him plant new and beautiful things in your life and watch as they grow in you. Spend time in His presence this week and let His light shine in your life. 

Journey on!

Go Forward

In life there are seasons of waiting and watching for what God is going to do next. Sometimes we have to be still to find direction. But other times, when God places something on our hearts, we have to take action and move forward. If you have been praying about something that God has put on your heart, don’t let fear get in the way! We always need to seek confirmation that what we are running after is of the Lord, but through reading scripture, praying, and consulting wise counsel we can have confidence in what we need to do going forward. And if we run after something and God closes the door, we have our answer that way, too. Don’t stay in your own comfort zone if there are big things God wants to do in your life. Be bold in faith and chase after God wherever He is leading you. Big things happen when we allow God to lead us into places we never expected to be. Don’t let your perceptions of how your life should go get in the way of seeing God’s bigger plan. What is God speaking to heart right now?

“And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.” Isaiah 30:21

Journey on!

New Life

"Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come." 1 Corinthians 

Regret is a difficult thing, and we've all done things in our past we wish we could erase. While we can't go back and do it over, God offers us grace and mercy. He offers us a chance to be forgiven, to move forward, to let go of guilt and shame and become new creations in Him. If you are holding onto shame or regret in your life, lay it at His feet. Ask for His forgiveness and ask for His healing so that you can learn to let it go. The past is useful for learning, but not meant to punish us. We are God's children, and we can live in the peace and joy of His salvation through Jesus Christ. Accept freedom in Him!

Journey on!  

Keep Only the Best

Every year when I start spring cleaning, I am surprised (and slightly horrified) with how much stuff we have managed to accumulate in our house. It piles up and doesn't get thrown away, so the closets and drawers become sinkholes for random junk. When I take the time to throw out all the extra, all the broken, old things, it is amazing how refreshed I feel. We donate things that might still be useful and toss all the rest, leaving behind what is good, clean, useful...the things that bring us joy and give us life. Our souls require the same level of care- sometimes we need to clean out things in our lives that are destructive, people who are toxic, habits that we need to quit. God says He will renew and restore us when we come to Him! Take some time this week to do a little spring cleaning in your spiritual life. Clean all the negativity out so that you can make more room for what is good, noble, beautiful, and pure. 

"You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness." Ephesians 4:22-24

Journey on! 

Boldness in Faith

"You must never be fearful about what you are doing if it is right." Rosa Parks

When my children and I study black history month every year, I am reminded and in awe of the strength, boldness, and bravery of the black men and women who have worked and fought so hard for equal rights in America. Our nation is one that stands for freedom, and yet it doesn't always give that freedom as equally as it should. While I have not experienced these prejudices myself and could never speak from that experience, I can deeply appreciate and admire these leaders who have taken a stand even when it meant a threat to their lives.

As a Christian, I want to try to live by that same conviction- that I am going to stand up for what I believe is right, help others in need, take a stand when I see injustice, and teach my children the value of honor and respect. Let us learn from great civil rights leaders to be bold in our faith and proactive in making a difference in this world for the glory of God.

"Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow's cause." Isaiah 1:7

Journey on!

Peace in Sorrow

"Why, my soul, are you downcast?
    Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
    for I will yet praise him,
    my Savior and my God." Psalm 43:5

When we go through times of great loss, it can be difficult to see God through the pain. If you are in this place of sorrow right now, think back to all the many times God has blessed your life. Think about times past when you faced hard situations and the Lord brought you through. As in those days, the Lord is still ever and always by your side. He cares deeply for you and His heart hurts with yours. Even if you can't feel it right now, pray to God in your sorrow. Pour out your heart and ask Him to surround you with His love. He loves you dearly and will walk with you through your grief no matter how long it takes. 

"The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." Psalm 34:18

Journey on! 

Finding Direction

One of the most difficult things about faith to me is knowing how to hear from God when I am at a crossroads in my life. The Bible tells us to seek the Lord and He will give us the desires of our hearts. It also says that when we knock, the door shall be opened to us. So why is it so difficult to trust in God when we can't clearly see which path to take? I suspect it has to do with my need to control things. I want God to tell me what to do in order to get what I want, how and when I want it. And that is NOT the same thing as trusting in Him! Trusting in Him means praying, seeking, listening, and being still. It means having peace when things don't go how I want them to because I completely trust that God knows what is best for my life. It's turning everything over to Him and saying, God, THY will be done. Are you struggling to find direction today? Seek Him with all your heart and be prepared to submit to His will for your life, knowing that He has so much more planned for you than you could ever dream or imagine!

Psalm 25:4-5 - "Show me your ways, LORD, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long."  

Journey on!

Beauty From Ashes

Beauty from Ashes

Difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations. -Unknown

When you are faced with a difficult situation, remember that you are not alone. God is not only with you, holding you and comforting you, but He is also transforming you. He is finding ways to make beautiful things out of ugly circumstances. While He does not want us to suffer, in this world we know we will face hard times, but the Lord can take even the hardest days and offer us beautiful, indescribable hope. Read the following passage and be encouraged to look for hope in God today:

"...but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us."
Romans 5:3-5

Journey on! 

Seek Him in the New Year

"In the morning, LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly." Psalm 5:3

A new year brings about yearnings for change. It is a time of starting over, of seeking the spring: waiting expectantly for our souls to bloom into life. As we make our plans, let us not forget that our days, right down to the second, are in the Lord's hands. He goes before us and longs to bless us in this new year. Take time to pray over all your hopes, dreams, plans and expectations. Ask God to guide you, to open the right doors for you, and close any doors that are not of His will. Ask Him for hope and joy and peace as you follow Him this year. Seek His will in all that you do this year, and you will be blessed. 

Journey on! 

Be Other-Focused

It's human nature for us to be focused on ourselves, but not always as easy to pay attention to other people. This is particularly true in those times when we are distracted by our phones. I have seen people walk into walls looking down at their screens! One of the biggest things I am trying to teach my children is to be "other-focused." It's not something that we are always good at, but it's something we need to remember daily. How many times have we walked through a store and didn't notice an older woman trying to reach something on a high shelf, or gone to work and didn't pay attention to our co-worker drying her eyes. There are so many times we unintentionally ignore the needs of those around us. I tell my kids when we go to the playground to keep their eyes out for the kids who look lonely, and reach out to them. As we go into this week, pay attention to how you can be Jesus' hands and feet for others around you. 

"When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you." John 13:12-16

Journey on!

Lavished Love

It breaks my heart to see people hurting, especially those who believe they are not loved by anyone. This is a lie that Satan likes to tell to pull us away from other people and away from God. But the TRUTH is that you, the one reading this article right now, YOU are loved. Loved deeply. Loved unconditionally. You are worthy of love because you are a child of God. He created you, and He redeemed you! This world may not always love you the way it should, but no one can ever take away God’s love for you. Believe me…or better yet, go read your Bible. It is filled with verses about how God has loved you and how He continues to love you. Don’t let negative thoughts and lies take over your mental space. Replace those thoughts with specific truths so that you can combat them easily when they threaten to attack you. I find it helpful to memorize scriptures that contradict the lies we hear the most so that I can stop those lies quickly and remember that God’s love for me is truly amazing. Speak truth to your heart and let God’s love bring you joy.

“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” 1 John 3:1

Journey on!