Looking at the Sky

    As I grew in my faith, there were times I would look at the sky during worship. Most people I knew would bow down during worship because they did not feel worthy of the grace they received from God, or some other reason. I began to wonder why I would look up. Then I thought about my spiritual journey. 

   One of my biggest struggles has been being authentic with others. I used to wear a mask and pretend like everything was okay when it wasn’t. In looking to the sky, at God, I was saying, "I trust you. I know you see me. I know you love me for who I am because you made me."

   During these times it's like rain is washing over me. I feel his presence and acceptance. His acceptance of all of me. He loves me just the way I am. Now, he doesn't like my sinful nature. But he does love me enough to wash those sins away. And he does that for you too. It’s amazing to think about how the creator of the universe loves us so much and wants to have a relationship with us. He gave us the gift of worship and we should praise him for all he has done for us.

   So, do you have a specific way you like worshiping God? How can you make a point to praise God each day?

Take a Hike They Said

    Have you ever been hiking? It can be a fun experience depending on the difficulty and distance. Well one year my husband decided he wanted to hike to flat rock at Camp YoliJwa. I told him I'd do it if we did it in the morning so we could see the sunrise and so it was cooler. He agreed and we got my siblings and some of their friends to agree to do it as well. 

   We started out strong. Then we began to go up steep hills. I had done the hike before, but it had been a while. And this time I wasn't in the greatest shape, my allergies were acting up, my knee was in pain, and I had asthma. I had a lot going against me, but I wanted to try to make it. 

   I started to feel my breath becoming ragged, so I stopped. I continued after a bit. Then after a few more minutes I could feel it happening again. I stopped and took off the warmer layer I needed because it was cold. I let someone else take the lead at that point so I could go at a slower pace. It happened one more time after a bit. I sat on a rock this time.

   At that point I could feel a panic attack coming on. We were over 1 mile into a 5-mile hike. I felt like giving up and going back. I felt like I was a burden to the others and especially to my husband who stayed back with me. Then my husband asked how I was feeling. I said I felt like a burden. He said not to worry about the others but worry about myself. He said I was fighting a lot more than he was because he was just fighting being tired. He also said not to let it steal my joy. 

   Those were all the things I needed to hear. I had major fear in my heart of letting others down, of letting myself down. I was so focused on others and what they thought that I wasn't focused on me and my needs. I got back up. I kept walking even if it was slower than I wanted to. Eventually, I became the leader again for a time. Then we made it to flat rock. It was a nice view. 

   The trek back down the mountain was a lot easier. And we had some good conversations along the way. Had I decided to turn back, I would have missed out on the sights of God's creation and some bonding time with other Christians. I would have missed a lot if I would've listened to the fear and doubt. And that's how it is in most instances in life. If we listen to the fear and doubt Satan sends our way we miss out on good things. On the things God has planned for us.

   So what challenges are you facing now? How can you trust God in those challenges? How can you trust God when you are afraid and doubt?

When You Do Everything Right But...

    My husband and I enjoy the sport of archery. One day, after about twelve classes, I was shooting with a different bow. When you are shooting archery, you would think the goal would be to hit the bullseye every time. It is, but it takes a lot of steps to do that. If you have a sight, a tool that helps you aim, then your goal is to get a good grouping. That means you do everything consistently aiming at the middle of the target with your sight. If your sight is off, then you may not hit the bullseye. You shoot a round of three arrows then, if they group well, you move the sight based on where the grouping is.

   I moved my sight this day until I couldn't move it any farther to the right. But my arrows were still going to the right of the target. Different instructors kept coming over to try to help me figure out why they kept going to the right. They adjusted my technique in different ways, but the arrows kept going right. 

Finally, one of the lead instructors came over. She watched what I did. Then she said, "your technique looks good. Let me look at your bow." She looked at the bow and realized that it was the bow that was the problem. It was not meant to be shot that far for one thing. For another, it was a bow that wasn't really meant to have a sight so that made it harder. The instructor went to get me a different bow.

   I was thinking about how that event related to life. Sometimes it can feel like you are doing everything right, but things don't work out. You can show love to others, serve, grow in God by reading the Bible and praying, etc. but sometimes bad things still happen. Your friend still leaves, your job is still a stressor, you are having financial troubles, or whatever the problem is. 

   Now, obviously, no one is perfect but there are times where you just feel like you are doing everything you can to make the situation better but it's still not being fixed. Sometimes it's not you. Sometimes it is a test or a trial. Other times maybe Satan is attacking you. Whatever the reason, take heart. Just because things don't seem to be working out doesn't mean what you are doing isn't good. Keep pressing on and into God. Trust in his perfect plan. Then, one day, you will hit that bullseye.

   So, are you in a test or trial right now? Are you still doing your best to do what's right? If not, what can you do to grow in God and do what is right?

Spiritual Dryness

    Have you ever had a time where you felt like you were just spiritually dry? I mean you know what you believe. You know God is with you. You know he's helped you through hard times. You trust him. But you just don't feel the spirit in your life the way you used to?

   That happened to me after I got married. I'm not blaming my marriage but that's just the time period where I felt it most recently. I began to wonder why I felt that way. I knew Paul had talked about how people who are married focus more on the needs of their spouse and family, but it felt like there was something more there.

   I knew how I felt, and if you've been there, you know how you felt, but what do you do when you feel that way? The first step I took was I prayed. I asked God why I was feeling this way. I was still going to church, doing devotionals, listening to the word, listening to Christian songs, and doing all the things to get fed spiritually but it wasn't working so I didn't understand. That's when I realized I had been going through a season of going through the motions.

   You know when you just stick to the same routine but don't let it change you? When you lose focus of what should have number one priority. That's what happened. I was still doing all the things, but it was becoming a checklist instead of something that was truly digging deep into me, making me a tad uncomfortable, changing, and challenging me. That's a problem. 

   We should always be growing. It just depends on where we get our nutrients from as to if we are growing toward the Son or toward Satan. Instead of going through the motions I began to stop and meditate on each thing I was doing. If I read a verse, I would pause and think about how those words impacted me. If I listened to a song, I tried to let the words penetrate my heart and connect me to the Spirit. I paused, and that's something we all need to do from time to time to ensure we are not just going through the motions. 

   So, have you gone through a season of spiritual dryness? How can you grow in God each day?

A Milkshake Story

   One day we were out and about shopping as a family. It was around the time that we were becoming peckish, so we went to Chick-fil-A to get sustenance. We ordered our food, and my siblings went to find us a place to sit. Unfortunately, there was no place to be found.

   After waiting a bit, my mother found a place to sit so she sat quick. Much to my dismay, she had sat on the booth side. After reminding her that father and her usually sit on the chair side she went to get up. As she did, her milkshake fell to the floor with a crash! 

   We all sat down a bit more subdued than we were before. The food came and our peckishness (hangriness) went away. But we did not converse with one another due to how tense the situation was. 

   As the meal was ending, my sister pulled out her phone and said, "mother, would you like another milkshake?" My brother looked at my sister, pulled out his wallet, and said "I was going to get her one." Mom half smiled but said, as any mother who was a tad perturbed would say, "I don't need one, it is fine." My sister rolled her eyes, "that's not the point. You may not need one, but do you want one?" My brother did not wait for an answer. He got up and ordered her a peppermint milkshake.

   When it arrived, mother smiled. She didn't say it, but we could all tell that that one act of giving her a milkshake made her feel loved.

   It's funny to me when I ask people, "how have you felt loved lately?" People say things like, "someone brought me a snack when I was hungry," "someone wrote me a note," or "someone listened to me." People say little things make them feel loved. Yet, when we do those things for someone, we don't think they are a big deal. But to the person receiving that thing, it is.

   Many times, we think we need to do big things to show others how much we love them. That's not the case. Little things can make a big difference. John 15:12 says, "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you." God is a good father who loves us. He gives us what we need. We are commanded to love as he loves. That means doing little things to show others love each day.

   So, are you showing love to others each day? If so, how? If not, how can you get better at showing others love?

 

Assuming

 This story is told with permission. Also, this is not a political post though it may seem like it at first.

   Once a friend told me a story of a time when they were having a party around the time of an election. For the party they would all have to wear crazy hats that everyone brought; but you didn't get to pick the hat you wore. It was chosen randomly, and you had to wear it all day. Then they went around the city to different places to eat and party. The friend was given a "make America great again" hat randomly. He was told he didn't actually have to wear it, but he thought he wanted to participate and that it would be fun. 

   They went out to different restaurants. People would come up to him and either welcome him and say good things about him and Trump or they would come up to him and yell at him and accuse him. At first when people randomly came up to my friend, he laughed and thought it was funny. But eventually, the angry people began to outweigh the welcoming people. And what hit my friend the most is that people wouldn't even come up to have a civilized conversation with him. They would just assume he was a Trump supporter and yell at him. 

   About halfway through the day, he began to feel disheartened. His friends could see it was impacting him. So, when people would come up to him, his friends would get in between him and them. Then they would explain that it was part of a party and for fun. Sometimes people would listen; other times they would continue to be upset. 

   These people didn't know anything about my friend. They didn't know who he was, what he believed, or where he came from. All they knew was he wore a Trump hat, so they assumed he believed in Trump and supported him. 

   Now, I'm sure this could have happened had someone worn a different political slogan hat. But the point that hurt my friend the most was that there was not even an effort for a conversation with him. No one came up to ask him what he believed, they just assumed. And all the negativities got to my friend. If he wasn't a believer and didn't have a joyful deposition, he told me he may have gone home and thought about committing suicide. 

   What has happened to us as a culture? When did what someone wears become more important than the fact that this person is a human being? Why do we choose to berate people because of who they are, what they look like, and what they believe? Whatever happened to having a conversation with someone to get to know them instead of judging them based on surface level things? Do you do these things or are you showing God's love to all no matter who they are, what they wear, and what they believe?

The Pull

    Have you ever felt like the world was pulling at you? Like your flesh wanted something or was focused on something that wasn’t in the Spirit? I know I have. That happens especially when I see some chocolate or yummy looking dessert that I know would be something I shouldn’t have. 

   What about the other way around though? Have you ever felt the spirit pulling at you to do something? I’ve talked about how as we mature in our faith; we end up committing sins of omission rather than commission. In other words, we sin when we don’t do something God is calling us to do rather than choosing to do something that is a blatant sin. Those are the ones that get me now.

   I’ll give you an example. Imagine you are at church one day and your leader says, “now we are going to have a time where we share testimonies of what God has done in your life this week.” Then the microphone is opened for people to go up and share. Suddenly, you feel this tug in your gut. That’s what I call the pull. You may begin to get butterflies. Your heart may beat faster. Your head may feel a bit dizzy. That’s how I feel the Spirit pulling me to do something.

   Now, I’ve felt the pull before, and I have not done anything about it. Usually, when that happens, I feel guilty or like I’ve missed out on doing something. Who knows? If I had done what the pull was calling me to do someone may have had a life-changing moment. But I don’t know that because I didn’t do anything about it. 

   James 4:17 talks about the sin of omission, or not doing what the pull is telling you to do. It says, “So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.” Knowing the right thing could be not doing one of those blatant sins. But it could also be feeling that calling to do something. It could be God leading you to grow and make a difference in someone else’s walk with Christ. But you won’t know that until you surrender to the pull.

   So, have you ever felt the pull? What happened when you surrendered to the pull? How can you grow in your relationship with God so that the next time you feel the pull you surrender to its leading?

https://youtu.be/rpNRACyUh9E

Wherever I Go

    One day I was at work and one of my coworkers came to give us a break. She also wanted to know when we were all getting together for dinner. Now, this was no easy feat to plan as some of the people had vastly different schedules.

   I, jokingly, said I was insulted because she didn’t mention inviting me earlier. She said she was planning on it, with one caveat. She said the games we were playing there wouldn’t be ones that were "clean." I said I like playing games but I'm sure we can make the fun and clean. She said, "girl you got to leave that bible stuff at home." I replied, "the bible is with me wherever I go."

   I reflected on that conversation. I've been a Christian pretty much my whole life. But there used to be a time where I didn’t necessarily have the Bible hidden in my heart. I didn’t always act like Christ.

   Now I've grown and I've learned how important the Bible is. It is the word of God. He gave it to us for encouragement, for guidance, and because he loves us. I can choose to sit idly by as someone sins or makes choices that could be dangerous. Or, I can choose to say, "I don’t agree with that, but I love you anyway." I don’t have to harp on them. I don’t have to get into an argument. And I definitely don’t have to judge who they are, where they come from, or what they are doing. I can show God's love just by choosing not to engage in the sin and still loving that person.

   But, in order to know what is right, we must know the word of God. That's why we need to get into the word, so it seeps into us. We need to let the words penetrate us, change us, and seep out of us.

   So, is the bible with you wherever you go? How can you know the word and grow in God?

https://youtu.be/SydRzqHUilk

IDK What's Going to Happen

    Lately I've been thinking a lot about the future. I try not to get too far ahead of God but this time it was bordering on worry. No matter how many times I tried to stop, something else would come up. Someone would say something about the future or ask about my future plans. I don’t have any. That made me spiral and worry about if I need to be worrying about the future.

   All that worrying is futile. It's not helping the situation. There's a saying that goes, "never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God." I believe God has a plan for my life. I just don’t know what it is yet.

   There is one thing I do know; I know God is with me. He is for me. He loves me. As long as I seek him, I can never be out of his will for my life. He’s got this. He believes in me, when I doubt myself. I guess that was more than one thing, but you get my drift.

   Life isn’t easy and we are promised it wouldn’t be because if we follow Christ, the world will not like us. But there is purpose in the pain. And the pain will only last a little bit. Then we will be with our creator in heaven. That's the future I'm looking forward to. How about you?

https://youtu.be/ZtsOR-5iOPY

Give the Fight to God

    Have you ever had a time when you were going through something difficult? Just something bad happened. Like something that could change the course of your life. That's what happened to me one summer right before I went on vacation.

   This was my first vacation where I wasn't volunteering in years. I was going to South Carolina with my boyfriend to stay at his parents’ house. Honestly, I wasn't that nervous about that fact. But it could have also been due to the fact that I was preoccupied with this problem. We went there and I enjoyed my free time, but the problem was still in the back of my mind. I knew I'd have to face it when I went home.

   Sunday rolled around and we went to church. The pastor said he felt the spirit telling him that someone was there who needed to let something go in order to continue in their purpose for God. Now, I don't like going forward in front of people. Yes, I've preached before but that's different. This is going up and asking for help. I don't like bothering people or being perceived as weak. 

   I felt led to go forward but my brain was fighting my spirit. Eventually my spirit won, and I went up. I bowed at the alter and just poured out my spirit to God. A lady, who was one of their prayer partners, laid her hand on me and asked me what was going on. I filled her in on some of the problem. She prayed over me. She prayed that I would give the fight over to God. I hadn't even told her all the story and she prayed specifics about what was going on. After, I felt peace. The problem was still there but by letting someone in on it when God called me to, I had peace for the first time in a while. 

   So, when problems come up do you follow the leading of the spirit? Are you giving the fights in your life to God?

https://youtu.be/_6R-RqxkYMU

Power at Easter

    What do you think of when you hear the word power? Maybe you think of having something charge like a phone. You may think of someone or something strong like a lion. You may think of politics or money. But is that true power?

   God is the most powerful being ever. He showed his power through miracles. He showed his power through events like creation and plagues. But when it came to how God saved us at first it didn't seem that powerful.

   Looking at the Old Testament we see wonders like parting the red sea, the sun staying still, and walls falling. Jesus came as a baby. That doesn't seem to show that much power, does it? Sure, it was a virgin birth but that isn't that much of a show of power. It is more of a miracle. Amazing yes, but how many people knew that Mary was a virgin? 

   Then Jesus lived a normal life till he was 30. That's when he started performing miracles and teaching but again that didn't seem like much of a show of power. Then he died. 3 days later he rose again. That's powerful.

   But here's the thing, sometimes I think what we think of as powerful is something big, amazing, awe-inspiring, etc. What if power can be in little things? What if power is shown in little moments? Think about Jesus. He is the most powerful person ever alive. He showed his power through miracles both big and small. He touched people with small actions. He showed his love in small things too.

Power can be shown in sacrifice and surrender. We have true power when we give up things. Sounds counterintuitive, doesn't it? Jesus was able to do the greatest thing ever because he surrendered to the Father's will. He chose to sacrifice himself to show true power. 

   How do we get and show power then? You may or may not be able to perform miracles. You may not be able to use a lot of money to do great acts for others. But you can show power by giving yourself to God. You can show power by choosing to sacrifice for others each day, by showing love to others. Power can be shown in the small everyday acts we do.

   So, do you realize that power can be shown in little acts? How can you show power and love to others today?

https://youtu.be/cDYowE8B_q8

You Never Let Go

    One day I was at worship and a song was playing. It was a song I hadn't heard before, but the tune sounded familiar. For some reason the lyrics kept changing in my mind. I didn't know why my brain kept trying to find different lyrics for the song. I tried to focus on the actual song lyrics, but it wouldn't let me be. The problem was I couldn't find the actual words to the song in my brain. It was just a tune.

   I sat down and cleared my mind. It took a bit for the spirit to rest and clear my mind. When it did, I was able to find the words. The song lyrics were "through the calm and through the storm." I knew they were to a different song, but I couldn't figure out the rest of the lyrics for some reason. Finally, after sitting and listening to the spirit for a while I heard, "oh no you never let go."

   It was like a lightbulb went off. I had found the title to the song. The funny thing was I had just gone through an illness, and it took a lot out of me physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. And I was about to go into a work week where I knew I would face some new challenges. It felt like God was telling me that I needed to just stop and listen. You never know what you will hear when you do that. He was reminding me that I need to remember that he is always with me. Even when I'm at my lowest, he is still with me. He never lets go.

   So, have you been listening to the spirit? What do you feel when you do listen to the spirit? How can you grow in God today?

https://youtu.be/ca_oXqNoa0g

We Are Stewards

    In the movie trilogy The Lord of the Rings there is one character who seems to be not very good at his job and a little crazy. Denethor the 2 was the steward of Gondor. His job was to look after the kingdom of Gondor because there was no king. Now, if you've seen the movies, you know that Aragorn, a character in the fellowship, is the rightful king of Gondor. He just isn’t quite ready to take the throne.

   Denethor the 2 had two sons. He favored the one over the other. He ate food while the people in his charge were under siege. He sent his second son, whom he treaded like a slave in some ways, out to face an impossible task. He refused to call for aid for someone to come help his kingdom. When his son came back injured, he didn’t have a doctor help him. He just assumed he was dead. Then, as the orcs entered his kingdom, he attempted to burn himself and his son alive.

   Denethor the 2 was a very selfish man. He wasn’t using the resources he was given to help his people. Perhaps it was because he knew his reign as steward was coming to an end. Whatever the reason, he wasn’t doing his job.

   Now that I've told you all about Denethor's shortcomings you may be tempted to judge him. Before you do that, check yourself. You are a steward as well. Maybe not to a kingdom, but you are a steward, nonetheless. 1 Peter 4:10 says, "Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms."

   God gives us gifts. In fact, he’s given us everything we own. Because he gave it to us, we don’t own it. We are borrowing it. God gave it to us to steward for the time we are here on earth. We can’t take it with us when we die. We only have it while we are here. Thus, we must treat what we have been given with respect. We must treat it as a gift.

   So, how are you doing with stewarding what God has given you? How can you view everything you own as Gods and remember that daily?

https://youtu.be/UxkivkftpCQ

Penetrating

   One day I was at church during worship. In the past, I had not opened myself up to the Spirit's leading. It could have been because I was worried about how others perceived me or because I was concerned about the things of this world. That day I left all the distractions behind. I opened to the worship.

   Now, I know we are all different and worship in different ways. That's good because that's how God created us, different. Some people dance, others cry out, others just meditate on the words, and much more. But there's one thing we should all have in common during worship. We should allow the word to penetrate us.

   I don't know how you worship or if you've felt the spirit during that time. I hope you have. When I let myself go during worship I feel the words. I feel his words in my heart and my mind. He speaks to us when we listen.

   The Bible doesn't say that the word is dead. It says it is alive and active. It penetrates us. It doesn't just bash into us like a shield. It has a point. And we need to open ourselves to that point. That can be scary.

If you are like me, you like word pictures. Basically, I picture myself on a battlefield blocking things. But here comes something that you need to stop blocking. Oh yes, some things you need to block, namely sin. But this is something God sends to you. And you need to choose to stop blocking. You need to let it hit your chest and go to your heart. But when it hits you, it doesn't hurt. It feels good. You feel peace.

   So, are you allowing God's word to penetrate you? If not, how can you allow it to penetrate you each day?

https://youtu.be/k9NWBwqTQI4

Check Where You are Looking for Happiness

    Have you ever been hoping for someone to be something or do something for you? Maybe you are going through a hard time, and you are hoping someone will see that and help you out or encourage you. Or maybe you are expecting your significant other to show you affection, but they don't do it in the way you were expecting or wanted them to.

   In these times there is something we must do. We must check ourselves. What I mean is check our expectations, motivations, feelings, and thoughts. What are you expecting out of others? Are you expecting too much out of them or expecting them to be something they shouldn't be? What are your motivates for thinking these things? How are these thoughts making you feel? Are these thoughts true and beneficial or do you need to take them captive.

   You also need to check where you are looking for happiness. You may have heard it said that everyone has a God shaped hole in their heart. The problem is people look everywhere except God for things to fill that hole. We expect riches, people, or other things will fill that hole. We expect good things to happen to us. We expect others to do good things for us. But the problem is when we put these expectations on these things or people, we are creating a burden that that person or thing cannot carry or be.

   Your significant other cannot love you completely because they are imperfect. Your boss will not manage every situation in the correct way, or the way you think they should, because they are imperfect. Money will not satisfy your desires. Pleasures will leave you feeling empty. Nothing can satisfy you except one person. 

   God is the only one who can satisfy you. He is the only person who can fill that hole in your heart. If you don't know that or don't believe me, check out the book of Ecclesiastes. It was written by the wisest person, other than Jesus, King Solomon. He searched the world for what would bring him meaning. He found that money, pleasures, work, power, etc. were all meaningless. It didn't satisfy him. It won't satisfy you either. Only God can satisfy.

   So, are you looking for satisfaction in all the wrong places? How can you remember to seek after God every day?

https://youtu.be/rgT9uL_x-tE

Powerless Except For

    Have you ever had a time where you couldn't help someone because you just couldn't. It may have been an instance where they didn't need something physically, you couldn't cheer them up, or you just didn't know what to do for them because maybe they didn't even know what they needed. I've experienced that. It has happened many times but one time it happened within two days there were two instances where I was powerless to help someone I loved.

    The first time was when he didn't feel well. All I could do was give him meds and offer to get him something if he felt he needed it. Then I just sat there and watched as he was in pain. The next day he said he didn't have the greatest day because he was with a childhood friend who was struggling. I didn't know what was said in the conversation, but it was weighing on him. I tried distracting him, but I don't think I was that successful.

  In both situations I was powerless. I wanted to have something I could do, something I could fix. Something I could fight for him. But I couldn't. So, what I did in both situations is I prayed silently. I prayed for healing. I prayed for strength. I prayed for God to move in his life.

   Prayer is powerful. It is always powerful. But it is especially powerful when there's nothing, we can do ourselves. It's the first step we should take instead of the last. It's what we should do in every instance and not just use it as a cop out. You are not powerless because you have the God who created everything on your side. He loves you and created prayer so he could have a relationship with you. Are you conversing with him and asking him to move in your life?

https://youtu.be/DcqWc7QvSs4

A Dangerous, Good Walk

    One of the things I enjoy doing is watching movies. And, yes, I even enjoy romantic comedies. One day I was watching the movie called Bride Wars and I noticed something I hadn’t heard before. In the beginning of the movie Emma and Liv, the main characters, are going for a run/walk in the park. Liv complains that she wants to run with an I Pod. Emma replies with something along the lines of I Pods are for people who are afraid of their own thoughts.

   Later, Liv and Emma’s friendship takes a turn for the worse. Through a course of events, we can see how these characters change. Then one day Emma is running in the park, and we see that she had an I Pod. It seems that Emma was now afraid of her own thoughts, or at least that was the way she put it.

   One day I decided to do something dangerous. I decided to follow Emma’s first advice. I went on a walk without an I Pod, music, or anyone to talk to. Now this was especially dangerous at that time because I had a lot going on. I was a bit nervous to try it, because as an overthinker, it can be very scary to be alone with your thoughts. 

   I went on this walk and tried to clear my head. As I did that, I felt the spirit lead me. I began to recall words from the podcast I had heard earlier that week. I began to have questions pop in my head that were good questions. Those thoughts led me to peace. Because I chose to let the spirit lead me, I didn’t have any dangerous thoughts. I didn’t spiral. I didn’t overthink. And that happened because I trusted God.

   So, when was the last time you chose to spend some time talking with God? How can you follow God’s leading each day?

https://youtu.be/QHoahiRrDMI

Supposed To's

 What's with all the supposed to's?

It feels like it's nothing new.

We are supposed to have money to live comfortably,

But is that what we always see?

We are supposed to be always perfect and on,

But that wears us down to the point where we sing a sad song.

We are supposed to be happy all the time every day,

But that just makes us unreal I need to say.

What's with all the supposed to's?

It seems like there's so much to do.

We are supposed to obey the law,

But how can we do that for the long hall?

We are supposed to love others,

But what if someone doesn't act like a brother?

We are supposed to serve,

But what if you are overworked and on your last nerve?

What's with all the supposed to's?

God loves us no matter what we do.

We should lower our expectations and just be,

That's what God wants from you and me.

He wants us to grow,

And to reap the fruit we sow.

Faith in our work is what will show,

When we just learn to let God and let go.

So, are you focused too much on the supposed to's in life? How can you learn to lean on God and grow in him?

https://youtu.be/cGUaZPbW-s4

Know Your Objective

    One day my brother and I were playing a video game called Star Wars Battlefront 2. In it there is a campaign mode where you have certain objectives you need to complete. We were blazing through the levels till we hit one. And the reason we failed was for a very silly reason.

   We were about midway through the level and doing well. Then we were told to go to the library. We went and when we got there, we didn't know what to do. We just assumed we should destroy the bookcases. That's what we did. No sooner did we do that than we saw the word "defeat" come across the screen. Okay, not wanting to feel any more defeated than we already did, we tried again, and the same thing happened. The third time we actually went into the objective menu and found out we were supposed to defend the bookshelves. We were losing because we didn't know what we were to do.

   It is the same in life. We were all created for a purpose. We all have an objective. We are to reflect God's glory and tell others about him. If we didn't have an objective after being saved, why wouldn't God just take us to heaven after being born again? It's because we are here for a reason. We have a purpose.  Do you know that? Do you know what your objective in this life is?

https://youtu.be/hR8KLWWQLVQ

The Next Chapter

    I am a person who thrives in one-on-one meetings. I can thrive in groups if I'm comfortable and I can thrive on my own and need that to recharge at times but one on ones is where I feel most comfortable. That's how I usually meet with my friends. And that's how I was meeting with a friend from high school and college one day.

   Near the end of this meeting, I asked the question I usually ask my friends: is there anything I can be praying about for you? It was funny because even though it had been a year since we met my friend knew I would ask that question. She replied and then asked me the same question. I asked for prayer because I was falling into the trap of thinking my life was mundane. 

   Now this friend isn't one that just lets things like that rest. She wants to dig deeper, to search for the meaning behind the words we say. She said that I sounded like her sister who asked her the other day if her life has meaning. To this I immediately replied that I know my life has meaning. Then why are you feeling this way? She countered.

   This caused me to pause because I knew that I was feeling this way, but I didn't know why. I dug deep to try to figure out the reason. I spoke the words as the thought came to me, I was impatient for my next chapter of life. I was bored with my life in general. It was the same every day. Get up, get dressed, read my devotional, eat, work, eat, work, home, eat, relax, sleep, and do it all over.

   And there's nothing wrong with that schedule or your schedule you have. But I'm sure you've faced this problem too. You feel bored or like there's something more for you out there and you want it now. It's okay to want things. It's just that we shouldn't let the desire for those things or new chapters take away from the here and now. In looking at my life as mundane or boring I was missing out on little miracles right in front of me. I was missing out on a chapter God was writing in my book.

   Psalm 139:16 says, "Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them." God is writing our stories. He has a plan for each of us. We just need to surrender to his will. We need to be willing to enjoy each chapter of life no matter if we perceive it as hard or mundane because God put it there for a reason.

   So, what chapter are you going through in life right now? How do you feel about that chapter? How can you trust God with each chapter of your life?

https://youtu.be/geR0UBzDpdY

Footprints in the Snow

     As a kid, I enjoyed many activities in the snow. One of them was making footprints in the snow. Now, I was organized even as a child. I tried to make footprints only in one area. Also, I kept a specific area in the yard clear of footprints because I liked seeing snow without them in it, but that’s beside the point.

  Why did I enjoy making footprints? Well, other than enjoying acting like a giant, I liked making an impact on something. Once you put your foot in the snow and took two more steps you could look back and see what your shoe looked like. It was interesting looking at the details that the bottom of my boot made. Then I would race off to make a snowman or go sledding and not think about it much more after that.

   My footprint wouldn’t stay there long though. Inevitably more snow would come, someone else would step there, or the snow would melt. But that took time. 

It’s incredible to think about how temporary things are. One minute I made my impact on the world (literally if there was mud) and the next it was gone. That’s how our lives are too. One minute we are here and the next we are gone. Wow, morbid turn I know right. But it’s the truth. Our legacy will inevitably end and what then?

   What will matter in the long run? Will the house you have, the car you drove, how much money you have matter when you die? No, none of that will matter. What will matter? How can you have a legacy that lasts? Paul talks about this in Colossians 3:1-17. He says we are to put away the things of this world. We are to focus on Godly things such as compassion and love. Those are the things that will matter in heaven. That’s what will make a legacy, not for us but for God. And that’s what we should be focused on.

   So, are you focused on your legacy or on God’s and how you can make a difference for him on earth? How can you make an impact for the kingdom each day?

https://youtu.be/PYPJv0pfI3w

It's Good

To all my readers, I apologize for not posting for a while. For some reason, blogger would not allow me to post anything for some time and I do not know why. I am hoping the problem is fixed. Thank you for continuing to read my blog! 

My car is beginning to rust.

It costs so much to fix that my wallet may bust.

But it’s good.

I’m struggling at my job.

And the stress is so much it’s making my back throb.

But it’s good.

I may not be able to coach soccer.

That’s causing my heart to stir.

But it’s good.

I may not get married when I want.

And that’s making me sad if I’m being blunt.

But it’s good.

Things aren’t going the way I planned.

And I may not understand.

But it’s still good.

You may ask why?

Don’t get me wrong, I still cry.

But even through that, it’s still good.

It’s a really simple reason.

I may not enjoy every season. 

But it’s still good.

God is with me through it all.

He will never let me fall.

That’s why it’s still good.

So, through it all do you know it is still good? How can you trust God more each day?

https://youtu.be/_2G6PlSZxZ4

Let Go and Go Into the Unknown

    For much of my life I have gone to a small church. Then I went to a Bible college and learned a lot about God and theology. Now, because my church is so small, it wasn't always easy to find someone to fill in for preaching. One day someone, somewhat jokingly, asked me if I would preach for two weeks. I said yes and that's how I began being a fill in preacher for that church.

   Usually, when I am asked to preach, I wait a bit to see if I get inspired by God. If I'm meant to preach, something comes to me fairly quickly. Many times, it is something that either I can tell then applies to my life or I see it eventually apply to my life.

   One time I was asked to preach during a time of turmoil in my life. A lot was happening, and it wasn't really good things. Changes were coming and I didn't like change. Then I felt led to preach about someone who had to go into the unknown.

   Abraham and Sarah were asked to leave everything they knew. They were asked to leave their family and inheritance and just go where God showed them. That would make me so scared. I am someone who doesn't like change or comfort. And that's the season I was in as well.

   Then, when I was at church one day, there was a time of prophecy. Someone said their prophecy that God showed them was to let it go. Let go of some things. Let go of comfort. That made me realize that I needed to let go and trust God. I needed to go into the unknown God was asking me to.

   So, are you listening to God? Is God asking you to go into the unknown?

https://youtu.be/mh6NO0pWpYU

Serving Like Christ: A New Year's Blog

    Some of you may know that each year I have a spiritual focus that I try to concentrate on. Usually, I pick something that is an area I feel I need to work on. This year was the first year I focused on something that I consider to be more of a strength of mine. I chose servanthood.

   I’m not at all trying to toot my own horn here. That’s never my intention when it comes to my spiritual resolution. I just know I’ve been told by others that I have a servant’s heart. And I went through what I usually go through at the end of the year. In the last days of 2023, I prayed and asked God to give me a focus for the new year. I was surprised when I felt led to servanthood. 

   Then I sat and thought about it. I knew that in 2024 changes would be happening. I was hoping to get engaged and married. I was continuing to work in my new job of being the lead preschool teacher. And I was planning on getting more involved at church. Having the spiritual resolution of servanthood made sense. I just didn’t realize at the time how important it would become.

   At the beginning of 2024, I felt God calling me to leave my job that I had worked at for at least five years. I had just been promoted to lead teacher, so it didn’t really make sense logically to leave. But, through stirring and circumstances, I knew it was time. I began to look for other jobs, but it isn’t easy to find teaching jobs in February. I looked for those jobs, but I kept feeling like I should change careers. I investigated being a Behavioral Health Technician. A BHT is someone who works one on one with a student who has special needs. 

   Now, some of you may recall that in 2023 I focused on patience and prayer. I never in a million years thought I would be contemplating becoming a BHT. I just didn’t have the patience for it, or so I thought. But then I kept hearing God say, “make a difference to the one.” I had been a teacher for years and touched so many lives, but I felt God calling me to impact just one kid. That was strange to me, but I followed his lead. I became a BHT. Let me tell you, being a BHT is not easy, but it is rewarding. And you need a lot of patience and servanthood to do it. 

   I also ended up getting married this year. People said that the first year of marriage is hard. That it is hard to live with someone who may not have the same habits as you. It is not easy at times, but, because I had servanthood as my focus for the year, whenever I began to feel annoyed by little things I remembered to humble myself. I remembered to stop and speak in kindness. I didn’t bury things down, but I did choose to either handle the problem myself or communicate how I felt. That may not have happened if I hadn’t remembered to be a servant. 

   While being a servant isn’t easy all the time, it is so important. Even Jesus humbled himself and became a servant. That’s pretty much what his whole life on earth was. He was a servant. Whether he was healing, listening, teaching, or showing love in action he served. That’s what we are called to do as well. 

   So, have you been a servant this year? What is God calling you to focus on spiritually now?

https://youtu.be/IbcpuoJFRkw