Women's Ministry

I’m not a gift-giver by nature. Not that I don’t love to bless someone with a gift if I think about it, but it’s honestly not my love language. I would rather spend time with someone or tell them how much they are loved than give an actual gift. Even during Christmas, I much prefer gifting experiences to my children rather than a wrapped present. Thankfully, my husband loves to give gifts, so we have a good mix of both during the holidays.  

Being generous can come in many different forms. When you hear the word “generosity”, what comes to mind? I used to only think being a generous giver had to do with giving money. However, the more biblical definition is a selfless, sacrificial giving of one’s resources-including time, talent, emotional support, hospitality, and treasure-out of a heart of gratitude for God’s own generosity. It isn’t so much about how much money you have to give. It’s more about having a heart that is willing to give in whatever way the Lord has blessed you with and then responding in obedience when the Holy Spirit asks you to do so.

When we show others gracious generosity, we are modeling the ultimate gift giver: Jesus Christ. During Jesus’ ministry on the earth, he continuously gave beyond what anyone ever asked him to. One example is in Mark 2:1-12 (also in Matthew 9:1-8 and Luke 5:17-26) when Jesus not only healed a paralyzed man but also told him his sins were forgiven! He gave more than was asked or expected. There are many other occasions throughout the gospels where Jesus gave healing when it wasn’t even asked for. He saw the true needs of the people He encountered and met them without hesitation.  

Generosity is a huge part of God’s character. God is so generous that He gave us Jesus, His only son. Jesus then gave His life for us on the cross so we could have eternal life with Him in heaven. He hasn’t stopped giving even today! The Lord’s blessings are continually being poured out over us, and it is not dependent upon what we do. We didn’t earn any of it; He does it out of love. The least we can do is show the same love and generosity to those around us. It’s not always easy, and it often requires some form of sacrifice on our part. When God calls us to give generously (whether with our time, money, skills, etc.) we must be willing to die to “self” to serve others and show them the love of Jesus. 

My introverted self likes to be in my own bubble. For a long time, it was way outside of my comfort zone to go pray or visit with someone when I felt the Spirit tugging on my heart to do so. I can remember several years ago when I was struggling with this (but didn’t have the monetary means to generously give either). Did I get a free pass on giving because I was shy and didn’t have the money? Not at all, but I guarantee I tried to make that excuse. Praise God for spiritual growth and maturity! Even in our lack, God provides ways for us to bless others. If you feel called to do so, go pray for a friend, pay for a stranger’s meal, or give your time to help someone with a project today. We don’t have to “have it all together” or make a certain amount of money to be gracious, generous givers. It’s all about showing others the love of Jesus. 

We want to thank Courtney Harper for sharing this post.

There was a season in my life where I felt more dead than alive. I was depressed from decisions I had made, and continued to make, and effectively choosing to walk away from grace. I dragged dread with me everywhere I went. I look back now and see the chains that were holding me down, but at the time, I couldn’t seem to break free. 

I had plenty of people in my life who cared and loved me fiercely. They tried to help, to understand, but there was an invisible wall they couldn’t break down to get to the hurt. They would try to speak wisdom into my life and fix the issue that was making me miserable, but I held back from accepting it. I had no idea of my worth or my identity. 

I had always been told that God our Father was a gentleman and would never push any decision on his children. I see the graciousness in that now, but at the time, it made me angry. I wanted out of my situation, but I wasn’t willing to surrender my fear. The fear and anxiety had become a comfort. It was a presence I was used to and familiar with. Letting go of that and moving into freedom scared me. 

I had a breaking point one Sunday evening when my godmother, Jenny, came up to me after a service. I felt so dejected, ashamed, and alone with my situation. She had been a constant presence in my life, praying and waiting patiently for the Lord’s timing to make her move. That evening, she came and reminded me of my worth, my identity as a daughter of the King. It seems so simple, but it was a transforming moment. Holy Spirit began to show me that after all I had done, and not done, that He was good and gracious and he had not given up on me! From there, Jenny and others in my life began moving at the Holy Spirit’s calling to show me how events in my life had led to strongholds that needed to be broken off me. They pointed me toward my savior, His grace and mercy, and were his hands and feet. They had been filled with his gracious generosity, and they shared that with me. It was life changing. 

“The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.” Proverbs 11:25

“The Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He will not constantly accuse us, nor remain angry forever. He does not punish us for all our sins; he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve. For his unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth. He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west. The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him.” Psalms 103:8-13

May we, as women of God, remember to listen to His calling and share his gracious generosity with those He has called us to minister to.

We want to thank Christian Greer for sharing this post.

Generosity is more than just giving; it is the overflow of a heart transformed by God’s love. Gracious generosity reflects not only the act of giving but also the spirit behind it. When we give with grace, we mirror the very character of Christ, who gave Himself for us.

Gracious generosity is giving freely and joyfully, without expecting anything in return. It’s about cultivating a lifestyle of kindness, compassion, and selflessness. This kind of generosity flows from gratitude for what God has done in our lives.

The Apostle Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians 9:7: “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

There have been so many times when my family and I have been on the receiving end of gracious generosity. Before I married, I needed a place to live, and a kind, gracious family opened their home to me. They poured into my life and gave me the spiritual foundation I still live by today.

Many times, while we were  in full-time evangelism, our family was taken care of by people who provided meals, shared fellowship, and welcomed us like their own. Friends spent time with us, gave us a place to rest, and never asked for payment. They even gave us medicine when we needed it—at no charge. This reminded me of the truth in Proverbs 11:25: “A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.”

There were also times when others helped us in practical ways. We were given automotive parts when our truck broke down while traveling with our trailer. Again, this generosity came at no cost to us. These experiences showed me the blessing of Acts 20:35: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

Through it all, God always provided—often through the graciousness of others. These moments have taught me to live by Romans 5:8, which declares: “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Because God has been so generous with us, we can best honor Him by doing the same for others.

Gracious generosity is not measured by the size of the gift, but by the heart that gives. Jesus reminds us in Luke 6:38: “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

When we give with open hearts—our time, our resources, our care—we are living as reflections of Christ. Let us choose to live each day from a heart of graciousness and generosity, trusting that God will use our giving to bless others and glorify Him.

We want to thank Janie Keller for sharing this post.

Give your thoughts and your time to God. This is something I have really been working on the past couple of years. I felt myself in the busyness of life growing distant in my relationship with God. I was attending church and serving, but I found myself not reading my Bible as much and not praying like I knew I could. I wanted to find ways to get more connected to God, so I joined a Bible study, to really dive in and deeply understand God’s word better. I changed the music I was listening to and started to begin my day with worship music and positivity. I began praying more and talking to God. I began to share a daily Bible verse on social media in hopes it would help or reach anyone who needed to see it and feel God’s love. I felt a change when I began to give my time and effort to the Lord again. In my study of the book of John, I learned how simple it is. God just wants us to give Him our time. He gives us so many opportunities and chances and wants everyone to come to Him; what an awesome God!!

“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! His faithful love endures forever.” -Psalms 107:1

As parents, giving our time to God is not only beneficial for us, but it flows down to our children. Nothing makes you prouder as a mom than seeing your son stop and pray for someone without being prompted or asked to. My daughter recently told me I was her third best friend. After being slightly offended for a few seconds, I swelled with thankfulness when she told me her first two best friends were God and Jesus.

Thanks is defined as an expression of gratitude. Recently, as I was in the midst of a very difficult couple of weeks, I found myself stressed out and exhausted to my core. I finally laid in bed one night and broke down in tears. I could not even find the words to pray, but I found myself just telling God thank you!! I had so many reasons to be mad or discouraged, but I found thanks in all God’s glory and what He was doing, even through the most difficult times. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says “Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” After my prayer, I could feel God tell me that it’s going to be ok, and I felt such a weight lifted off of me, because I knew He had heard my prayers and was already going ahead of me and taking care of it all. No matter where you find yourself today, find something to be thankful for. I promise God is thankful for you.

“Enter His gates with thanksgiving; go into His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him and praise His name.” – Psalms 100:4

We want to thank Jamie Austin for sharing this post.

Thanks and giving are two concepts that should be easy for any Christian to understand, right? We give thanks to God our Father for all the wonderful blessings in our lives, but how do we react when things are not going as well? Are we still thankful? Are we still willing to give to others so they can see the love of Jesus?

When l was asked to write this blog, l was all ready to put what I had to say on the page and talk about the holiday season and why everyone should give from their hearts and blah blah blah, and God said, “No, that is not what I want you to say. I want to speak to the women who feel broken and lost, who are having a hard time in this season being grateful and giving from their hearts, just like you used to be.”

A couple of years ago, Chris and I were really struggling financially, and we were in a place where being thankful for what we had was the last thing on our minds. We had a two-year-old, and we wanted to do all the fun things with him, but unfortunately, our bank account said, “Think again.” We decided to get creative with our “dates” out with Connor. We would have a backyard cookout, picnics in the park, anything that would make a memory and didn’t cost a dime. One Saturday, we decided it was a beautiful day to go to the park and have a picnic and let Connor feed the ducks. As we were discussing what to eat and how the price of how much everything had gone up, we found our way to Popeye’s, again, having a picky two-year-old that would only eat chicken and mac and cheese. The chicken was great, but the price was ridiculous. Chris and I continued to complain after we paid for our meal and headed to the park. Did God not provide? Should we have been thankful that we had the money to get ourselves something good to eat? Yes, but we were not.

At the park, we enjoyed our lunch, and we had enough biscuits left to feed the gophers and ducks. It was a beautiful afternoon. As we walked down the sidewalk, I noticed an older gentleman digging in the trash for our leftover food. Up until this point in my life I had been very sheltered and had never seen a homeless person, let alone someone digging in the trash for food. My heart was broken and instantly I heard a soft, still voice say, “Have I not provided for you and for him?” As a family, we walked over to the gentleman, gave him the box containing our extra food and some cash, and let him know that God loved him and was watching over him.

As we were walking back to the car, I was so upset with myself for not being thankful for the simple things that we take for granted in our lives. We had the money to pay our bills, go out to eat, take our kid to do something fun. We were not the Joneses, but we were comfortable, and yet, we were still complaining that it was not enough.

How do we remember to give thanks to God and give from our hearts when we are in a season of lack or sorrow? We pray to our Father, who knows our hearts and our situations, with humility and grace and have faith that He works all things out for good. Reflect on the Father and His amazing love for you and the many times He has walked with you through the valleys and climbed to the top of the mountain with you.

“Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His steadfast love endures forever!” 1 Chronicles 6:34

Give Him thanks every day! Not just for all the good things in your life, but for the trials and tribulations as well, because that is how we become closer to HIM! Seek Him, trust Him, for He loves you. Jesus is the ultimate proof of how much He loves us. So, remember, even when we are broken and bruised, we always have a reason to be thankful and give thanks from the bottom of our hearts.

We want to thank Randi Cason for sharing this post.

⁶ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4:6-7

For most of my life I have been anxious! Queen of the “what-ifs”, but I have learned to give thanks to the Lord in all things. Before, I would always ASK the Lord for everything, and if I had time, I would thank Him for what He did for me. A godly man spoke over my husband and I a few years ago that in our later years of life, we don’t really need much of anything, so why not spend most of our prayer time thanking God for all our blessings. This was a revelation for me, and I have changed my prayer life by thanking Him first, and if I have time, I ask Him for things. The good thing about this is I don’t seem to need much by the end of my prayers.

 ⁷ Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:7

This was a hard-fought battle for me. I know a lot of you know that I came from a very poor family, broken home, and a spirit of poverty hung very heavily over my home as a child. We didn’t have much, so MY money was very precious to me.  When I became a Christian and was told I needed to give 10 percent of MY money to God…really?! I had been living paycheck to paycheck for many years, so let me tell you the way I learned the lesson of giving to the Lord cheerfully.

During our building campaign at Harvest when we were planning to buy and restore the old Kmart building, we were given the opportunity to give over and above our tithe for a 3-year commitment. I was giving, but somewhat begrudgingly in my heart. That spirit of poverty had become a spirit of selfishness. But I was learning that ALL that I have belongs to God, not just the tithe. 

We were asked to pledge what we felt we could to our building campaign.  Of course, our expectations were pretty low. After all, they said “what we felt we could give.” When we filled out the form and wrote the amount we had agreed on, I felt okay but felt that it was going to be difficult for us. We did pray about it. Later, we got a letter in the mail from the church thanking us for pledging. When we read the amount that was on the letter it was considerably more than we had agreed on. I knew that we didn’t write that amount. Maybe it was a typo?

But what do you do? We didn’t feel we could call the church and say there was an error. So, we earnestly prayed and told God that if that amount was what we were supposed to give, He would have to help us. We really had to surrender everything to Him and repent for our selfishness. 

Let me tell you the best part of this story. We continued to surrender to God daily. We had 3 years to pay this pledge off, and can I tell you that we paid it ALL in about 2 years as we continued to give our tithe faithfully? But there is more. We kept asking God to guide us in our finances to become debt-free. We sold the house we were in at the time, bought a new house (to us), and in a couple more years we paid off our house, car, and all other debts we owed. We were debt-free, all praise and glory be to God. We did not do anything but surrender and obey. God did the rest. Looking back, I believe with all my heart God put that amount there on our pledge. 

At times when that spirit of poverty creeps back in, I remember what God did for us to teach us about giving with a cheerful heart. I repent and give thanks to Him.

Now that we are in another building campaign, we are still trusting God to help us give as much as He wants us to, and we know He will bless our giving.

Rejoice always.  Pray continually.  1 Thessalonians 5:16-17

Thank You Jesus for loving us so much!  

We want to thank Debbie Crosby for sharing this post.

November is normally the kickoff month for the holidays. Many people look forward to gathering with friends and family for Thanksgiving dinners, watching football, and starting their holiday shopping. It’s a time when people like to count their blessings and be more intentional about giving thanks. However, for others, it’s not a time of joy but rather a time of sadness, loneliness, or financial struggle. It’s easy for many of us to give thanks when things are going good in our lives, but what about when things aren’t going so great? We are quick to feel defeated and giving thanks may be the last thing we feel like doing. Paul states in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus”. You may be wondering, “Well, how can I be happy, pray, and give thanks to the Lord when I’m going through the storm”? Although this may seem like a daunting or even impossible task, God wants us to do it. He wants us to see a beneficial purpose to every trial and have an inward sense of joy and peace that only comes from him. 

About 12 years ago, before I had given my life to God, I was a complete and total mess. I had no purpose in life and no sense of direction. I was just living to have a good time. Well, my lifestyle finally caught up with me. I went to court and just knew in my heart things were not going to go in my favor, and I had to suffer the consequences of my selfish and senseless actions. I had to endure the hardest trial I ever faced in my life: incarceration while pregnant. Yes, you heard me right. By the time I was sentenced, I was 6 months pregnant and had to serve a 9-month sentence, which meant I would have to have my baby in prison. It was a hard pill to swallow. I felt every emotion possible rolled into one. I had no idea how I was going to survive this. How was I going to leave my 2 older sons behind, but also bring my baby into this world alone? It was at this point in my life that I had reached rock bottom, and the only place I could look was up. It was during this storm that I surrendered my life to God and said, “God, I don’t know what’s going to come of this, but I trust you”. What should’ve been the scariest time of my life turned into a season of peace and trust. It was during this trial that I developed an intimate relationship with the Lord and grew closer to Him than I ever had before. Right after I had my son, I was accepted into a program where I got to keep my baby while incarcerated and learn life, parenting, and recovery skills. This was literally a blessing in disguise. What the enemy meant for evil, God turned it for good. When I was released from the program six months later, I came back home, reunited with my family, started attending church, got baptized, married my husband, finished my degree, and began my newfound life in Christ. God gave me a purpose, a sense of direction in life, and most of all, gave me beauty for ashes. It was in this trial that I learned to rejoice always, pray continually, and give thanks in ALL circumstances. I want to encourage you ladies to do the same because in the midst of the storm, we may not always see the bigger picture, but we must trust that God is working it all out for our good and for his glory. 

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything”. James 1:2-4

“Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation“. Psalm 100:4-5

We want to thank Angelina Alvarado for sharing this post.

As many of you know, I opened Betty Faye Beauty Bar in the Fall of 2021, and in our business our mission has always been more than skin-deep. Yes, we love the artistry of beauty: the lashes, the brows, the fresh glow of a good facial. But my heart for women goes beyond the mirror. I wanted women to believe Song of Solomon 4:7. “You are altogether beautiful my darling; there is no flaw in you.” And still, I want every woman who walks through our doors to feel seen, valued, and reminded of the beauty God has already placed within her.

That same heart flows into so many other aspects of our lives that reflect our beauty as women. Because true beauty isn’t found in our features. It’s found in our friendships, our families, our faith, and how we show up in the ordinary and the hard.

Real beauty is shown in how we love each other in friendship. It’s in the quiet texts checking in, the coffee dates after a hard week, and the laughter that fills a room when women come together without comparison. It’s being a safe space for each other and offering grace when needed most. True beauty isn’t always loud. Sometimes it shows up in silence, just being with someone when they don’t have the words. That’s friendship, and that’s beautiful.

I see true beauty in mothers. Whether you’re a mother to little ones, grown children, or spiritual sons and daughters, the love of a mother reflects the nurturing heart of God. It’s messy. It’s sacrificial. It’s sleepless nights and prayers whispered over cribs and car rides. And yet, it’s also where beauty shines the brightest. There’s something breathtaking about a woman who gives of herself for the sake of someone else. Even when no one sees it, God does. He calls it beautiful.

The way we handle ourselves in our marriages is truly beautiful. In a world that often celebrates self, true beauty in marriage is found in humility, forgiveness, and choosing love. It’s in the quiet acts of service, the shared laughter, and even the tears that draw us closer together. Wives, your beauty isn’t measured by perfection. It’s reflected in your commitment, your strength, and your willingness to love like Jesus loves His Church.

One of the most powerful forms of beauty is kindness to others—especially when it’s unexpected. A smile to a cashier, a warm greeting to someone visiting church for the first time, holding the door, or offering a word of encouragement. These things may seem small, but in a hurting world, they shine.

We were never called to be beautiful for ourselves. We were made to reflect the One who is Beauty Himself: Jesus. 

Whether you’re in a salon chair or a church pew, my heart is for you to know this:

You are already beautiful. Not because of what you wear, how flawless your skin is, or what others think. You are beautiful because you were created in the image of God. You carry His spirit. His strength. His grace. And when you walk in that truth, you bring a beauty into the world that can’t be bought, bottled, or faked. Let’s be women who radiate true beauty. In our words, our relationships, our faith, and our everyday lives.

Let’s be women who reflect Jesus.

We want to thank Beckah Hunt for sharing this post.

I spend a lot of time on social media because I create content for different jobs. Lately, I’ve noticed a growing trend of women sharing about being supportive and submissive Christian wives. Maybe it’s just the algorithm feeding me more of that content but either way, I’m thankful for it. For so long, the message women received was that our value came from our outward appearance, not from our inward service to our husbands, families, and ultimately, to the Lord.

Now don’t get me wrong, I love doing my hair, putting on makeup, and finding the perfect outfit. But over time, I’ve learned that true beauty shines brightest in how I love and serve my family, my husband, and others.

I have two little girls, and I’ll never forget the day we found out our second child was a girl. I was so nervous! I often say that being a girl is hard, and I still stand by that. Growing up, I remember I desperately wanted highlights in my hair. My mom eventually gave in but understandably didn’t want to spend money on a full head of highlights (now as an adult, I get it, highlights are expensive!). So, she let me get two chunky highlights. I thought they looked amazing… until I got to school and some girls told me how terrible they were.

I laugh about it now especially because just last year I got the same chunky highlights again, and this time they were completely in style! But when I was younger, it didn’t feel funny at all. I remember how embarrassed and insecure I felt when the other girls at school told me how bad my highlights looked. At that age, so much of my worth felt tied to what others thought of me, and something as simple as a hairstyle could make or break my confidence.

Looking back, I realize how exhausting that cycle was chasing after trends, trying to fit in, always wanting to be “enough” in someone else’s eyes. Now, as I’ve grown in my faith, I’ve found such freedom in knowing that my worth isn’t defined by a hairstyle, a size, or anyone else’s opinion. It’s defined by God alone. Resting in His definition of beauty has lifted a huge weight off my shoulders. Instead of striving, I can simply walk in the identity He’s already given me.

As a mom now, I’m so grateful to know what God’s Word says about beauty. I love that more women are speaking up and reminding others that true beauty isn’t found in trends, but in how we live, love, and serve.

1 Peter 3:1–6 says:
 1Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, 2 when they see your respectful and pure conduct. 3 Do not let your adorning be external the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear 4 but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious. 5 For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands, 6 as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening.

That paints such a beautiful picture of the power and influence a wife has, not through outward beauty, but through Godly conduct. Her actions reflect not only on her husband, but on God Himself.

As a mother of two girls, I take seriously the call in Titus 2:3–5 (ESV):
 “Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.”

For the past two years, God has given me the opportunity to live this out more fully by being at home with my family. We started homeschooling, and I’ve found myself cooking more meals and spending more time in the daily rhythms of home life. I’ll be honest, it hasn’t always been easy. I still work from home, so I’ve had to find creative ways to balance work, homeschooling, and family responsibilities. But in the middle of that juggling act, God keeps reminding me that each day is an opportunity to model service for my children.

We are slowly increasing their chores, beginning each morning with prayer, and taking time to talk through how to handle tough situations with grace and patience. These aren’t big, flashy things—they’re small, consistent choices that I pray will show all my children what it looks like to love and serve others. To me, that is true beauty lived out day by day.

And here’s the thing: even if you aren’t a wife or a mother, there are still younger girls and women in your life who are watching you. God calls each of us to teach, guide, and encourage the next generation. We all have the opportunity and responsibility to model true beauty, the kind that flows from a heart devoted to Him.

We want to thank Chelsea Criswell for sharing this post.

When I was a little girl, my grandmother often said, “Pretty is as pretty does.” I must admit, growing up through the sort of chubby, awkward stages of junior high, this saying did little to comfort me. It seemed like outward beauty was much more desirable because it was, well, outward! People could look at you and know right away that you were beautiful!

Having long since aged out of my teen years, I have learned over time that many women do not see their own beauty, even those the rest of us would say are simply gorgeous. In our society, women are tempted to compare themselves to every other woman who ever lived. If you were to interview every woman you know, or any woman on the street, and you were to ask them to tell you one area where they are lacking in physical beauty, most of them would easily answer. For example, my nose is too wide, my hair is too curly (or too straight), and my skin is not perfect. 

People can find the right make-up or even have plastic surgery to create just the look they desire. One woman I heard of had multiple procedures to try to look just like Barbie! The thing about all things outward, though, is that beauty fades.  The writer of Proverbs 31 says this: “Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.” (Proverbs 31:30 NASB) No matter what I do today to become outwardly beautiful, in a few years’ time, I will have to repeat it, or it will fade away.

However, that inner beauty – here’s how Google defines it: “Inner beauty refers to a person’s positive character traits, personality, and qualities that radiate from within, such as kindness, compassion, empathy, and integrity, rather than physical appearance. It encompasses a beautiful heart and soul, reflecting a genuine and lasting essence that goes beyond superficial qualities like physical features and is experienced through a person’s actions, character, and how they treat others.”

Where outer beauty fades over time, inner beauty deepens. 2 Corinthians says, “Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.” (2 Corinthians 4:16). Outer beauty has little to no effect on the people around it, but inner beauty ministers to the spirits of the people around it, by releasing the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control. This is why Peter tells women: “Your adornment must not be merely external – braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses; but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.” (1 Peter 3:3-4).  Notice there is nothing wrong with looking nice on the outside, but the inner self is at least as important to work on, and it will become more beautiful over time. 

People were attracted to Jesus, not because of His outward appearance, but because of His heart.  “He has no stately form or majesty that we should look upon Him, nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him.” (Isaiah 53:2) Our inner man (or inner woman) is being made to look like the inner man of Jesus!  Paul says, “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.” (2 Corinthians 3:18) Oh, to reflect His beautiful heart! My grandmother was right!

We want to thank Sheri Warren for sharing this post.

“Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.” Proverbs 31:30

Have you ever noticed that the most coveted, precious, and beautiful things in this world are the hardest to find?  Like diamonds and pearls, they come out of an environment of high pressure, heat, irritation, and sometimes pain. Gold and silver are hidden from the naked eye and must be searched for, dug out, or panned.

Before Jesus redeemed us, and the Holy Spirit came into our hearts, we were like that uncut diamond, the pearl still in the oyster or the gold and silver still in the earth, our beauty was hidden not only from the world, but also from us. The more we surrender and yield our hearts and minds to the Lord, the more He is able to cut away the things that are blocking His light shining through us, open the shell that has kept us hidden, and wash away the dirt and mud that has kept us under condemnation. 

I am still drawn back to that old nature of seeing that which is on the outside, not within. Genesis 3:6 says, “Eve saw the tree was good and pleasing to the eye.” Have you ever wondered why Eve was not afraid of the snake or repulsed by how it looked? In Ezekiel 28:12-19 it describes Satan as the signet of perfection, full of wisdom and beauty, every precious stone were his covering. It must’ve been a beautiful sight to see, and it drew Eve right into his trap. Satan sets the same trap for us today when we set our eyes and heart on the beautiful things of this world instead of using our spiritual eyes for discernment and wisdom.

Proverbs 27:19 emphasizes that true beauty is a reflection of the heart, God’s nature within us. The genuine qualities of a person’s character: love, kindness, wisdom, morality, faithfulness, being dependable. 

We have seen people with true beauty in action, in the floods, fires, and tornadoes. People risking their lives to save others, comforting those who have been affected by or have lost loved ones, taking food, helping in whatever way they can. 

Our family has been blessed to witness firsthand how God uses one of his own beautiful children to bring about His love and miracles. Our granddaughter, Kenzie, was diagnosed with lupus in her late teens. She had her first kidney transplant right after she graduated from college. After going through cancer and many emergency trips to the hospital, surgeries, and almost dying several times, she again was faced with kidney failure and two years of waiting to find a kidney donor. Through all this Kenzie never gave up her faith and hope. She lives her life with joy and purpose. Marrying the boy next door that she grew up with and is her brother’s best friend. She worked every day that she could and traveled all over the world. She never complained or felt sorry for herself, always had a smile, put others first, and truly has a servant’s heart. Kenzie knows who she is, and who she belongs to.

Our Heavenly Father heard our prayers and saw Kenzie’s tears and pain and sent her best friend Andrea from sixth grade to be tested for a donor. (This was not just a decision, but a sacrifice. It’s major surgery, which leaves you with only one kidney, pain, and time away from your life to heal.) Andrea did not consider it a sacrifice, because of her love for the Lord and Kenzie. She knew the testing would reveal she was a perfect match, and this would be the last kidney that Kenzie would ever need. This was also our declaration and prayer!

On July 7, 2025, Kenzie received not only her new kidney, but a new life where she and Brett can dream and make plans for the future!

THIS IS TRUE BEAUTY! It’s not just about the outward appearance, but about the reflection of God’s nature in us. “Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.” Psalm 34:5

Looking to God with love, faith and trust, we become radiant, reflecting His glory and goodness. 1 John 4:11 “Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment, because as He is, so, are we in this world.”

JESUS IN US

Author unknown (rewritten by Elaine Norrell)

I saw Jesus last week,

He was wearing blue jeans, digging through the mud and debris.

He was standing in a once raging and flooding river, praying, and crying as he worked.

For just a minute, he looked a little like one of the many other volunteer rescue workers

But it was Jesus! I could tell by his compassion, courage, and determination.

I saw Jesus last Sunday

He was teaching a Bible class.

He didn’t talk loudly or use long words, but you could tell he believed what he said.

For just a minute, he looked like a leader in the church

But it was Jesus! I could tell by the truth in his loving voice.

I saw Jesus yesterday,

He was at the hospital, being a kidney donor to my granddaughter.

They talked, laughed, and prayed together quietly.

For just a minute, he looked like our granddaughter’s friend Andrea

But it was Jesus, I could tell by the tears in his eyes, and the smile on his face.

I saw Jesus today.

He was praying on his knees all alone.

He then began to cry for those he prayed for.

For just a minute, he looked like a lady from our church.

But it was Jesus! I could see the love and compassion poured out in his prayer.

I see Jesus everywhere, 

Taking food to the sick, welcoming others into his home, being friendly to a newcomer, and for just a minute, I think he’s someone I know.

But it’s always Jesus! I can tell by the way he serves.

May someone see Jesus in you today.

We want to thank Elaine Norrell for sharing this post.

What makes a person truly beautiful? The answer is easily lost in a world saturated with superficial standards and fleeting trends. While culture intentionally points to outward appearance, physical features and material presentation, as believers, we are called to look beyond mirrors and media and turn instead to hear what God says about true beauty. Scripture tells us exactly the opposite of what the world says.

“Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” Proverbs 31:30

Last summer, I traveled to visit my parents, who had recently moved back to my hometown, Xi’an. It had been many years since I last set foot there, and the city had transformed in countless ways. One afternoon, as my parents and I were out for a stroll, we were approached by an elderly woman with a warm, familiar presence.

My mom smiled and said, “Mrs. Tang, do you remember my daughter? She was just a little girl when we were neighbors.”

In that moment, it struck me—this gentle woman was the kind-hearted grandmother who used to live next door, always greeting us with a smile. Amazingly, she hadn’t changed at all.

A vivid memory came rushing back: I had been walking past her front yard one day when she called me over and asked if I could read her a book. But this book was unlike any I’d seen before—it had no cover, and the pages were filled with handwritten words. She gently opened it to a page titled “The Gospel of John.”

I began reading, a bit awkwardly: “In the beginning was the Word…”
The phrase made little sense to me at the time. I paused and glanced up at her, puzzled—and then I saw it. Her face. It seemed to glow with a quiet radiance, almost otherworldly. I never forgot that moment. And many years later, when I encountered Jesus for myself, I finally understood what I had witnessed that day.

True beauty is not about what one looks like, but about who one is in relationship with God. It is spiritual, not superficial. It is found in a heart that reflects God’s love, a mind that is renewed by His truth, and a life that seeks to glorify Him. The world may overlook such beauty, but in God’s eyes, it is precious. This “unfading beauty” does not age or diminish, but grows stronger and more radiant with a life lived in alignment with God’s will.

“I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” Psalm 139:14

Truly beautiful people are ones who recognize their divine origin. They understand the profound truth that each person is a unique masterpiece, purposefully and intricately crafted by the hand of God. When we embrace the reality that we are created by a perfect Creator, we can embrace our worth without the need to conform to the world’s ever- changing standards. This is the beauty that endures, the beauty that God cherishes, and the beauty we are called to pursue.

We want to thank Yanna Elliot for sharing this post.

“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” 1 Peter 2:9 NKJ

One afternoon, many years ago, I was flipping through the TV channels, when suddenly, I stopped on a program that captured my attention. What I saw was Rebecca St. James leading hundreds of people in worship. Hands and voices were lifted high as the rain gently fell. It was as if the presence of Jesus was visibly pouring down upon them. Something came alive inside of me that day. I thought, “I want to sing and lead people in worship like that!” …. and to my heart came the reply from the Lord that I will never forget. “Count the cost.” What did the Lord mean? What was the Lord asking of me that day? I really wanted to find out, whatever it was….

I have always known that worship is not just about getting behind a microphone and sounding pretty. Worship is not about lip service or that dreaded word: “performance.”  It is not an activity reserved for Sunday mornings or Wednesday evenings. It most definitely is not something you check off a box and get over with. It is certainly not the “warm-up act” to the sermon. So, then what is worship, really? The answer is found where worship is first mentioned in the Bible.

At Harvest we often use the phrase “The law of first mention.” With worship, we see it in, Genesis 22:5. “He said to his servants, “Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there, we will worship and then we will come back to you.”

Abraham was going up the mountain with the intention, as per direction of the Lord, to sacrifice that which was his most loved and most treasured possession, his only son. Even though God provided the ram for the sacrifice, we can see an incredible picture of a heart willing to sacrifice it’s most loved and treasured possession. We also see that worship is connected to sacrifice and will cost you something. Count the cost…

The word most translated “worship” is the Hebrew word Shacah, and it means “to prostrate, bow (self) down, crouch, fall down (flat), humbly beseech, do (make) obeisance, do reverence, make to stoop, worship. This is the word used in Genesis 22. The second most common word used for worship is the Greek word Latreuo. Latreuo means “to minister to God”. I love this translation as it describes our role as a “royal priesthood,” called to minister to God, as well as to others. Isn’t that where our hearts should be in worship? To seek to minister to God more than to please others?

There is a story in all four gospels that I believe accurately depict these two words for worship. Dr Luke recounts it like this…

“ ³⁷ And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil, ³⁸ and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil.” Luke 7:36-38. John’s gospel says that the oil’s fragrance filled the room.

This “sinful woman,” believed to be Mary of Bethany, came to meet Jesus for that very purpose: to minister or latreuo Him, to bless him and love on Him. She poured out what would have been the equivalent of one year’s wages to anoint her Jesus. She gave to Him what was most valuable and most precious and most costly. She then bowed low or “shacah” at His feet when no one else in the room did. Mary remained behind Him, avoiding the attention. Her humility and reverence inspire me.

As her tears and oil flowed, insults came as well. Jesus rebukes them, as only He could see the depths from where her worship came. The insults did not deter Mary from her humble, sacrificial worship at His feet. Not even the insults nor the opinions of man could keep Mary from her worship. That was a sacred and holy place for Mary, at His beautiful feet.

The feet where she sat and hung on every word (Luke 10:39)

The feet at which she fell when she learned He was calling for her after her brother’s passing (John 11:32).

The feet that she was now anointing (Luke 7:38)

This was the place her love and her worship began and it’s where it begins for us as well. “You must sit at His feet, or you will never anoint them; He must pour His divine teaching into you, or you will never pour out a precious ointment upon Him” -Charles Spurgeon.

“Count the cost” was an invitation for me to dive deeper into what it truly means to worship. At the time, I was only looking at worship from the outside in, and the Lord wanted me to see it and live it from the inside out. I was being called to look beyond what I was seeing and discover what it would cost to live a life, not only just a moment, that was createdto worship.

The cost of giving my best to the Lord regardless of circumstances or feelings.

 The cost of choosing to obey even when it’s hard or not convenient.

The cost of humbly bowing my wishes, desires, pride, and ambitions at the feet of the Jesus and saying, “He must increase, and I must decrease.” John3:30

The cost of offering myself as a “living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God,” which Paul saysis our “true and proper worship” Romans 12:1 

“The greatest worshippers in the Bible were all people who were willing to humble themselves before God- to submit to His way instead of their way.” – Zach Neese “Howto Worship a King.”

If we are to live a life of worship, fueled with a passion for our King, then how we worship should show Him and the world how much we value him. 1 Peter 2:9 says that we are a chosen generation to worship and praise our true God. This tells the world who He is and how He has called us out of darkness and into His light. And isn’t that light marvelous?! What a privilege that has been given to us by the Lord!

We want to thank Julie Posey for sharing this post.

Three years ago, I decided to homeschool my children, and I pulled my oldest out of school during his first-grade year. I expected it to be a challenge, because I did not feel fully equipped to do it. Well, I did it anyway, and to my surprise, my son breezed through the curriculum I found online. It was so easy that we finished his first-grade curriculum by the first week of May. That is not to say that we did not face challenges, but little did I know that the one who would struggle would be me! Teaching the kids was fun, and so fulfilling, but I had a strong feeling of restlessness.

Before homeschooling, every day after I dropped them off at school, I would create a to-do list of things I needed to get done. I would run around town and set an alarm for pick-up. Being home with the kids, at first, was fun, and then the first week went by, and I realized I had not found the time to go grocery shopping, clean the house properly, or even pick up the mail. I was overwhelmed at that point, because I was certain that all the other things that I needed to get done were important. I must admit that I tried to do it all, but it didn’t last long. I could not homeschool, continue my online business, and run errands all in one day, because being home with the kids was taking up all my time.

It was at that point that God revealed to me the things I was prioritizing over my family. So, I slowly learned to do less and enjoy more. I had a simple prayer for God. I asked him, “God align my desires with yours.” I had no idea what that simple prayer would do for me. Whenever I felt restless, I said that prayer, and peace would come over me. Slowly, God filled my heart with the desire to sit and enjoy school with my kids. I started to see that God’s desires for me were simple and brought me peace and contentment.

I was no longer finding worth in productivity, but, instead, in God’s presence. I started to prioritize reading my Bible every day. The more I prayed for God’s desires in my life, the more I longed for His presence. My desires kept me empty, but He filled my cup and opened my eyes to what true worship is. Homeschooling was a challenge, because I had to be selfless, but I could only do it with God’s help. In 1 Chronicles 16:26-29, David is singing a hymn of worship to the Lord that sums up what I experienced, “For all the gods of the people are worthless idols, but the Lord made the heavens. Splendor and majesty are before Him; strength and joy are in His place. Ascribe to the Lord the glory of his name; bring an offering and come before him. Worship the Lord in the splendor of His holiness.”

Seeking His desires and not mine gave me freedom, and it helped me get through the day. I said that prayer many times, and I still do to this day, because I needed to let go of the idols I was worshiping. I desired to serve my children and husband. Everything else had to wait for another day, and sometimes I would simply forget about it altogether. My desires were often shaped by the things of the world and not His Word. Romans 12:1-2 says, “Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship. Do not be confined to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.”

Paul urged the people to do this, because God’s will for our lives surpasses ours. Our bodies are temples, and therefore, our lives can be presented to God as living sacrifices. My time spent in His word revealed to me more of who God is and what His desires are like. I was able to point out what desires came from my flesh, and which ones were of Him. He renewed my mind and gave me discernment of what His good and pleasing will for my life is. He did not give me a five-year plan for my life, or even a one-year plan to follow. However, He helped me get rid of my idols and bring true worship to my home. I had discovered what it was to worship at His temple.

I pray that this encourages you to seek God’s will for your life and experience true worship in His presence. For me, that was serving my family through homeschooling. It might be different for you, but one thing remains: we were all made to worship. 1 Peter 2:4-6 says, “As you come to Him, a living stone – rejected by people but chosen and honored by God – you yourselves, as living stones, a spiritual house, are being built to be a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ, For it stands in Scripture: See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and honored cornerstone, and the one who believes in Him will never be put to shame.” When I said the simple prayer, “God, align my desires with yours,” I did not think of how much that would change my life. My desires conform to the world, but God’s desires do not, and that is good. He reminds us that the more we look and act like Christ, the more we will be rejected by the world. The best part is that we are chosen by God. Trust in him and lay down your life as a sacrifice as you seek to worship him with your life, because he declares that those who believe in him will not be put to shame.

We want to thank Mayra Ramirez for sharing this post.

“I love you, Lord, for your mercy never fails me. All my days, I’ve been held in your hands… All my life you have been faithful. All my life you have been so, so good.”

This has been a hard season for me. The pain and agony of watching my mom go through cancer. The grief and loss of secondary infertility. It’s all heavy, and it’s all hard.

Still, I sing these words, “I love you, Lord,” because God is no less good.

I told the Lord last fall when my mom was diagnosed with cancer, and we suffered our second infertility loss of 2024: “Whatever happens, I will not be angry with You, and I will not doubt Your goodness.” I needed Him to know, but maybe I needed my soul to hear it too.

Back then, Mom was Stage II with a 90% survival rate after treatment and surgery. Today, she’s Stage IV with a very negative prognosis.

Back then, we knew we’d do another round of fertility procedures in 2025. Today, we have faced even more loss, and we know our fourteen-year season with infertility has ended.

Still, my declaration is the same, because God is no less good.

I’ve been through hard trials before. I’ve faced loss and grief over infertility, and I’ve watched a dear friend die from cancer when I was convinced she would be healed. I’ve been mad at God, and I’ve doubted His goodness.

But today, I can declare whatever happens, God is still good. We’ve walked together longer. I know Him more intimately than I did five years ago, ten years ago, twenty years ago.

And so I say, like Peter says to Jesus in John 6: To whom would I turn? Where else would I go? He is the Christ, the Messiah, the only One who can save me.

“Who else is worthy?” This is what I hum on the hard days because the answer is: “There is no one. Only you Jesus. Who else is worthy?”

Believe me, I have plenty of days where I say, “Why does life have to be so hard right now?” I have plenty of days where I don’t feel like singing. But then I remember God’s faithfulness throughout my life. I remember His goodness. And I choose to worship my Creator, my Savior.

If you’re in the valley today, worship through it. I promise you’ll find life and peace when you choose to fix your eyes on Jesus. We were made to worship Him. In every season. Through every trial.

If you don’t know what to sing, find the Harvest worship 2025 playlist on Spotify. If you don’t know what to pray, read the Psalms. (Psalm 119 is a favorite of mine!)

“My soul melts away for sorrow; strengthen me according to your word.” – Psalm 119:28

“Let your steadfast love come to me, O Lord, your salvation according to your promise.” – Psalm 119:41

“This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life.” – Psalm 119:50

“You are good and do good.” Psalm 119:68

“My soul longs for your salvation. I hope in your word.” – Psalm 119:81

We want to thank Laura Brandenburg for sharing this post.

I am married to a musician. He plays the keyboard, and he sings.  He can lead worship with his music. I wish I could do that. I, on the other hand, can play the radio, and I fall into the “make a joyful noise” category. I love to sing, but I also know my limits. But, nothing takes me to the throne of God like praise and worship music.  

Praise and worship were created to do just that – take us to the throne of God. But, what happens when we make it all about the music and not about Who it is intended to be about? Where do our hearts go? Our thoughts? Our true worship?

A song was written by Matt Redman that really speaks volumes to me about this. We recently sang it on a Sunday morning, and it really made me stop and think about my acts of worship. The title of the song is: “The Heart of Worship.”

When the music fades,

All is stripped away,

And I simply come

Longin’ just to bring

Something that’s of worth

That will bless Your heart

I’ll bring You more than a song

For a song in itself

Is not what You have required

You search much deeper within

Through the ways things appear

You’re looking into my heart.

These words really hit home when you stop to think about who and what we worship. Worship is defined as the feeling or expression of reverence and adoration for a deity. It encompasses both the internal attitude of the heart and the external actions that express reverence, adoration, and submission to God. In simpler terms, it is recognizing God’s worthiness and expressing admiration, love, and praise. Psalms 100:1-2 says, “Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.” We come to His throne with our songs of praise and our acts of worship. But, like the lyrics of the song above say, our praise and worship is more than a song. It’s about our hearts and our relationship with our Savior.

In this world, so many things are worshiped: beauty, money, status, etc.  But as followers of Jesus, our worship needs to be God-centered. It should come straight from our hearts.  

King of endless worth,

No one could express 

How much You deserve?

Though I’m weak and poor

All I have is Yours

Every single breath

Romans 12:1 tells us “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God – this is your true and proper worship.” Worship is more than words; it’s offering our lives to God as a sacrifice, dedicated to His purpose. So, although I can’t sing or play an instrument, I can offer Him my heart and my praise.  

I’m coming back to the heart of worship

And it’s all about You,

It’s all about You, Jesus

I’m sorry, Lord, for the thing I’ve made it

When it’s all about You,

It’s all about You, Jesus.

We want to thank Hope Warren for sharing this post.

I’m sitting here, thinking and praying about what God wants me to write, and I quickly get an answer!

Darkness could be black, sad, scary, lonely. It could be depression, grief, loss, or emptiness! I’ve been in the dark a lot this last year in my life. Not because of doubt or anger with God, but because I felt left behind when my best friend of forty-five years went to Heaven. 

The light in this message is the Lord gave me almost six years to get ready for this. From the day of Michael’s surgery when we were told he had six months (darkness)and then we were given six years (light). Blessed!

Through this experience I’ve been given a new life that has great light in it. I’ve never been alone, just lonely. 

In this light I’m seeing and knowing my God more. I’m Heavenly blessed with a fantastic family! I now have the friends my daughter had been praying for. She knew I would need them because I had spent the last forty-five years being with Michael and taking care of our children, my parents, Mike’s Aunt Esther, and a few other family members. 

As I was searching for examples of God in relation to light in the darkness, I read Psalm 139:12 – “Even darkness is not dark to you. The night shines like the day; darkness and light are alike to you.”

God’s right hand will hold on to you regardless of your circumstances. You can call on the Lord God in your day of distress. He is always right by your side.

Always remember there are treasures in the darkness that bring us back to the light.

In 2 Corinthians 4:8 it says, “We are afflicted in every way but not crushed, we are perplexed but not in despair.” After all, it is in the darkness of life that God prepares us for His best. The best of God sometimes involves the little things. For example, turn your frown to a smile, radiating that God-given glow that someone can see in your face, a hug, or a handshake. Just a little touch can bring some light into someone’s darkness.

John 1:5- “The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” There’s always light available to overtake the dark. Your light should shine no matter how much brokenness is in that light. Even a dim light can be brightened by a friendly glance.

My light is starting to shine brighter even though days seem dark at times. However, knowing that you have God on your side, in your heart, and that He loves you, are all the components of having the best life! When those dark days appear, they will turn to light with God!

Faith, family, and friends are what leads us out of the darkness!

We want to thank Jo Beth Dietrich for sharing this post.

When I was four my mother left my father and subsequently her children. My dad, consumed by grief, by all accounts forgot he had children. At the time I was the youngest of five. My brother who was eight stood in that caregiver gap for me. He bathed me, fed me, and got me ready for school. He cared for me. Even now at 33 I can look back and see how much he did. In a world without our parents, where the ache for both of us was so incredibly devastating. There was an eight-year-old being mother and father to a four-year-old. My brother was the light in the dark for me. He gave of himself. He loved. I can’t imagine what it cost him, but he chose to pay it. In all that time I can see God’s hand over us, and I see God’s heart in my brother. My parents worked it out and God called them back together. But for the better part of a year, it was him. I’m forever thankful and grateful for his choice.

When I was first asked to write this blog I initially wanted to talk about the many times (and there have been many) that God has moved mountains. However, I kept going back to His people.

Jesus says “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16 ESV

God is the light in the darkness but sometimes we forget that He calls us to carry that light into the world. What a big responsibility that is. In all my dark times, in all the hurting and the hard, I can look back and see where God used people: a meal, a kind or encouraging word, the space to vent, prayer, a hug, time spent together. Each one like a balm to a wound. Like a cold breeze on a hot day. I will always be thankful to those who used their light for my darkness. How we show His love matters. It stays with people. In a world that can feel heavy with grief, division, and fear, God chooses to shine through us—His people. That means our kindness, our forgiveness, our patience, and our faith all become tiny reflections of His great light. But it also raises an honest question: Are we being that light? Are we showing up in the dark places—with gentleness, with grace? 

This week, I’m asking myself those questions. Maybe we all can. Whether it’s in a conversation, a helping hand, or a quiet prayer—we each carry light that someone else might be desperate to see. Don’t underestimate what your presence, your kindness, or your love might mean to someone else walking through the darkness.

We want to thank Lauran Lancaster for sharing this post.

While writing about my experiences from darkness to light, the words “But God” came to mind and totally changed my first draft of this blog into what this is now. I have seen the saying “But God” on shirts, hats, sweatshirts, there is even a Christian song out that is called “But God”, but I had never really done much studying on specific verses that say, “But God”. So, I decided I was going to do some studying about the words “But God” in the Bible. I looked up around 20 verses with the words “But God” and it was so powerful to see how a person or a group of people could be overcome with so much darkness, BUT GOD stepped in and did what only He can do, turn it to light.

Before I started digging, I wanted to first look up the meaning of the word “but” and this is what I found.

It is used to introduce a phrase or clause contrasting what has already been mentioned.

As I was reading, if I saw the words, “But God”, I knew the situation I was reading about was about to change and for the better. The situation was dark, But God was about to turn it into light. Below are some of the verses that were the most impactful to me while looking up verses with the words, “But God”.

Side note: These are just single verses taken out of whole chapters in the Bible. If one of these verses is stirring inside you, I encourage you to look it up and read the whole chapter and even the chapter before and after for more context of the entirety of the darkness that God has turned to light

1 Samuel 23:14 – “David then stayed in the wilderness strongholds and in the hill country of the Wilderness of Ziph. Saul searched for him every day, but God did not hand David over to him.”

David was on the run from Saul and I’m sure he was dismayed, BUT GOD did not forsake him.

Psalm 73:26 – “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”

Oh, how our heart can be so deceitful and put us in total darkness sometimes, BUT GOD is where we should get our strength and value, not in the world.

Romans 5:8 – “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Do you ever have the thoughts of, “Why would God love me? I’m a sinner”, BUT GOD loved you while you were still sinning, while you were at your lowest. He loved you even then.

1 Corinthians 3:6 – “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow.”

Paul and Apollos had taught people about Jesus, BUT GOD is where the real growth happens.

Do you rely on something or someone to pull you out of the darkness? I know I have. I have found myself indulging on the world’s idea of happiness instead of God, but there was no growth in that, no true light. Spending time with God is the only way to turn your darkness into light. We are all going to have a dark day, dark week, or even a dark season, BUT GOD says “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life”. John 8:12

Follow him ladies, keep spending time with Him because eventually the light in this world will turn off, but the light of God never will.

We want to thank Bethany Williams for sharing this post.

Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and God separated light from the darkness.

I have been in dark places at different times in my life and could fill up pages and hours of stories. I will tell of some of them but will not elaborate much for reasons of time and space. 

Some of you know my story of darkness in my childhood. A bad home life and an alcoholic father. I was afraid of…well I am not sure what, but the unstable life was hard. But where there is darkness there always seems to be some light. My brother was part of that light; he took care of me when I was afraid. 

 In 1 John 1:5 we read: “This is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you; God is light, and there is absolutely no darkness in Him.” I didn’t know the Lord at this time, but I believe that He put my brother there to show me the light that I would eventually learn about later in life.

Many of you know of the dark time in my life when I wanted so much to have children and couldn’t. This was probably the darkest time in my life. I had found the Lord by this time, but not being able to have children made me a little crazy, so crazy that I left my husband and church and went out in search of some ease from the pain of it. But that hole in my heart that was there all the time could not be filled. It was only the Lord that could fill it, but I couldn’t see it for the darkness that was pulling me away from Him. John 9:5 tells us: “As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” I may have turned my back on God, but He was always there protecting me and waiting for me to come back to Him so He could fill that hole in my heart.  

There was a time when I was on wheat harvest, and we had two young men with us. We were in Wyoming, a long way from home. One morning they were waiting on us to get to the field and decided to take a swim in the irrigation canal. While swimming, they hit some concrete pile-ons at the bottom of a spillway and it killed both of them. Here I was wanting children and 2 boys, 16 and 17 years old, in my charge were killed. It was very difficult to tell their parents and the journey from 1,000+ miles away to get them home was hard. At the time, I had a good church family, and they were the light that God used in this time of darkness. 

“For you are all children of light and children of light of the day.  We do not belong to the night or the darkness.” 1 Thessalonians 5:5

There are many times that I have struggled with the darkness trying to pull me in. When my mom died. When I was called to my dad’s side, who I had only seen a few times in 40 years. He was beaten up badly and some drug addicts were taking advantage of him. He was 86 years old, and we had to step in and take care of him.  The enemy tried to pull me down into the darkness, reminding me of the bad home life I had as a child. But my wonderful Christian friends and church family held me and Dewitt up. Sometimes I would sit in the car and cry while Dewitt took care of my dad. My brother and sister asked me why I was doing it, and I told them that my Bible said to honor my Mom and Dad, and that’s what Dewitt and I did. (From the sermon on the 5th commandment a few months ago)

Recently, when we were caught off guard by Dewitt’s heart issues, I could feel the enemy pull at me. But my church family was lifting us up, praying for us, and visiting us during our 17 days at the hospital and even when we came home. God always sends us light whenever we need it. And now I am going through some health issues. I rarely have health issues; I have been so healthy all my life. The enemy sure tries to use this against me, but when I feel him tugging at me, I tell him that my Jesus is bigger, and he might as well get away from me. I have been pleading the blood of Jesus a lot lately and I know He has me and Dewitt in His hands and that darkness must flee. 

When you feel the darkness pulling you in, always remember you have a Savior that is shining a light very brightly in your path.

The night is nearly over, and day is near; so let us discard the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.  Romans 13:12  

We want to thank Debbie Crosby for sharing this post.

“So where do we go from here?” I looked at my best friend through tears, sitting across from me on my dorm bed. “Do we stop being friends?” I am not sure if you have ever had this type of conversation. A crossroads of relationship where you must decide between continuing to grow closer or go your separate ways. No relationship is exempt from this decision. Friendship, dating, marriage, all relationships have this defining moment where we decide whether to push through the hard into something beautiful, or if we gather ourselves up and go our own ways. But sometimes, this moment isn’t a beautiful one. Sometimes it is born from an earth-​shattering breaking of trust that leaves us shaken and reeling.

​Trust is a beautiful thing when handled with care, but when it’s betrayed, it leaves us bruised and deeply wounded. Like any wound, if not properly and promptly tended to, it can turn into a scar—or worse, an infection. I have heard women proudly proclaim, “I don’t trust anyone,” and “Oh I just have trust issues,” as if it is a badge of protection around their hearts. What we are really doing when we say that is, “don’t get too close, because I will not be hurt again.” Relationship is impossible without trust. Our trust issues don’t end with human relationships, either. Like I said, they can cause an infection of the heart that leads us to a deep mistrust of God. 

​Mistrust of God causes us to run away from Him and everything He says is good, when we are hurt. It could be a coping mechanism, like scrolling on your phone, gossiping with friends, shopping beyond your means, drinking to numb yourself, or watching/reading porn. It could be allowing your feelings and ruminating thoughts to keep you in anger, sadness, or anxiety. I know I am mistrusting God when I feel a reluctance to approach Him in prayer or to read my Bible, but an easiness to doing any of the above activities. The answer isn’t a coping mechanism, but a wholehearted surrender. 

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make straight your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6

​Surrender is a beautiful letting go of your pain by placing it in the hands of the One who not only created you but sustains your very being. God doesn’t want us to fear the pain of broken relationships; He wants to be trusted with it. When we surrender, what we are really doing is drawing closer to the One who will hold us, heal us, and eventually send us out to help heal the hurts of others. Surrender begins with prayer. Your prayer might be reluctant but as Anna said in Frozen 2 “just do the next right thing.”

This was my prayer that has helped me through a very recent time of mistrusting God. Maybe it will help you too. Take some time to be with God and pray it, as you surrender your everything to Him. 

“God, my feelings do not want to forgive the person that has hurt me. I don’t want to let them off the hook. I am so angry and crushed, but I know that You have a plan to change this pain into a glorious purpose that brings honor to You. So, Lord, what my feelings won’t allow for yet, let the blood of Jesus cover. Give me strength to forgive and heal my heart. I love You, Lord. Forgive me for running to convenience and sin instead of You. Give me Your steadfast love and remind me of Your faithfulness. Amen”

We want to thank Savanna Rodriguez for sharing this post.

I’ve always been a sports fanatic.  The comradery of team, the growth through practice, the thrill of competition…I love it all! The Apostle Paul shows us he relates to sports fandom by telling us in I Corinthians 9:24 to “…run in such a way to win the prize.” And what is more American than self-reliance and hard work in accomplishing a goal, right? 

My competitive spirit showed up in school and the workplace and my ability to “make things happen” and “take charge” served me well…until I got married. The very traits that had brought me success seemed to cause trouble in our marriage. I knew God’s order for marriage set the husband as the head of our home, but my husband’s ideas didn’t always line up with mine. Surely God didn’t expect me to submit to him when he was obviously wrong! I remember a very wise older woman saying at my bridal shower, “it is better to be reconciled than to be right.” I could have avoided much strife in my life had I taken these words to heart earlier.

Through prayer and Holy Spirit’s leading, I began to understand this was not just a lack of trust in my husband, but rather a lack of trust in God. I was afraid of surrendering to God because I viewed “surrender” in a negative connotation. My competitive spirit saw it as giving up or waving the white flag at my opponent. But God is NOT my opponent, He is my Father and my Friend! He loves me and has proven Himself trustworthy.  

Time and soul-searching revealed that I was afraid to surrender to God because I didn’t know what craziness He had in mind for me. Then one night I read in a Beth Moore Bible study that “the goodness of God and the glory of God are inextricably linked.” That gave me such perspective! I could surrender to God without fear because He is GOOD! I had forgotten that God is my loving Father, not a control freak or a bully. He wants me to trust Him because He can do “exceedingly abundantly above all that I ask or think,” (Ephesians 3:20). By surrendering control of my life, I free God to use His unlimited wisdom and resources to accomplish things I could never imagine.

Don’t get me wrong, following God is not always sunshine and roses. There have been seasons where following Him was hard, sometimes even painful. But He is so faithful and kind, and I know if I surrender to Him, not one of my tears is shed in vain. He uses every difficulty for my good and for His glory!

Although surrendering to God remains a daily struggle, He has provided the following tools to help me:

• He gives me His Word which is full of reminders to “…humble yourselves under the mighty power of God…” (I Peter 5:6) and “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding,” Proverbs 3:5. I simply search “surrender” or “trust” in my YouVersion Bible app, and I can find so much wisdom!  
• He’s provided the ultimate role model in Jesus. Philippians 2:8 tells me Jesus “…humbled himself by becoming obedient to death – even death on a cross.” The more I read and study about Jesus, the stronger my understanding of true surrender becomes. 
• Finally, He’s given me the Holy Spirit who is faithful to show me areas I need to surrender further. Through His tender leading, I’ve seen growth and peace in my life. I’ve also reaped the immeasurable reward of deeper intimacy with Him.

This journey of surrender is not a one-time decision, but a lifestyle. I’m learning to seek and obey God’s direction in all areas of my life because He is loving and trustworthy. What seemed like a scary road has become a path of joy!

I Peter 5:7 Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about you.

We want to thank Lea Stukey for sharing this post.

Surrender – to willingly yield to God’s authority and relinquish personal control in favor of His will. 

To most of us women, the idea of giving up control and trusting someone other than ourselves to ensure a successful outcome is difficult. We like to fix things, but sometimes God reminds us it is not our job to fix it or make it better. That’s HIS job and that’s where trust and surrender are keys to our Christian walk. 

“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” Romans 12:12 

Trusting in our Father God should be the easiest thing we ever have to do – wake up and trust HIM! However, by the time the alarms are ringing and the kids are screaming, we are not thinking that trusting God is the easiest task of the day and giving up control of how the day will go is not on the agenda either. 

But, I stop, take a breath, and pause. God wants the very best for me today, so why should I be so arrogant to think that my plans for me and my family are better than HIS?

The most recent case in point is when my husband and I decided it was time to buy a new home. We had been praying for this since our daughter was born and we experienced the need for more space. I wrote our prayers down and placed them in our prayer pumpkin to look back on later. We had every hope and faith that God would put us in the right house for our family. While driving to work one day, a for sale sign caught my eye. Instantly, I was in love with this house, thinking about all the renovations we could do to make it our own, all the space the kids would have, the fireplace, etc. After my husband and I looked at the house, we went full speed to race to get into this house we wanted, and we ignored red flag after red flag. We clearly heard God say to us, “Be patient. I am not saying no, I am saying not right now,” but we refused to listen and trust and surrender to the plan God had for us, and it cost us. After three weeks, we had spent almost all the money we had saved up to spend on fun things for our new home, and instead had to use the money to fix and repair a house that would never become our home. 

Fast forward to the end of the closing process, and it was time for the house to be inspected. Even after all the money and repairs, the inspection failed, and our mortgage company could not provide us a loan for this property due to an unsafe foundation. So, we were out a lot of money and a house, all while living out of boxes in our old house, because we were in such a rush to move to a bigger space. We were devastated that our plan fell through and that we didn’t listen. It reminded me of the story of a mom and her young son in the car. She is driving and being silly, and he just wants to “go faster, Mom!” However, his tiny head cannot see out the window, the semi-truck heading for their car. We don’t see over the mountains in our lives, but God has an amazing 360° view! 

Jeremiah 29:11 tells us God knows the plans for our lives. He wants nothing but good things, blessed things, to come our way. He just asks that we surrender to Him and trust in Him completely.

As upset as I was about all the time and money spent on a house that would never become our home, I am so thankful we have a loving Father who was looking out for us. Our children could have been hurt, our floor could have collapsed, and things would have been horrific. Our lives, like our homes, must be planted on a firm foundation, and that is Jesus Christ, a foundation that is unshakeable. So as difficult as it is to give up the control, choose to trust and surrender to the Father who loves you so much. He wants you to have a home with a strong foundation, filled with trust, hope, and lots and lots of love!

We want to thank Randi Cason for sharing this post.

When my friend, Kathy, contacted me and asked me if I would write a blog,

I said, “Sure.” Then, she texted me what the topic was. I had to laugh; God is so funny. Anytime I have ever had to write a blog, or a Bible study, or something of that nature, it’s always on something I am having a problem with. Well, maybe not a problem, but something I could use a bunch more practice with. So, join me for a little more practice in trusting and surrendering to the Lord. 

God is good, God is faithful, God is all-knowing. God makes our paths straight, God is with us and in us, He will strengthen us, God works for our good. God gives us peace and joy and has infinite mercy. He is our refuge and fortress. God never changes his plans, God is dependable, He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

We can go to God for all our needs. We never have to worry about the well drying up. He is a never-ending well of goodness, peace, joy, mercy, and grace.  So, what exactly is the problem? Why can’t we just release our burdens to him? Why can’t we just lay it down and surrender?

Daily surrender involves committing each day and each moment to God’s leading, letting go of control, and trusting His plan. There is no limit to the number of times one can rededicate or re-surrender, as the journey of faith involves ongoing growth and reliance on God.

We must come into surrender. If only we understood what surrender holds. Oh, how God waits on us. You have been searching, longing, yearning for something more. You have searched for peace, joy. You have done all that you know how to do, but something is missing.

If you would yield to Him today, if you would choose to surrender everything: your doubts, your fears, your failures. You would find; His desire is to be known by you. If only you could grasp this truth. I’m still trying to grasp it myself. The very life of God Himself is within reach for those who will yield to Him.

The very presence of God Himself is waiting to take control. He longs for you! He is not distant. He is not reserved for a select few. He is available to all who will open their hearts to Him, to all who will surrender.

Surrender changes everything. It is no longer about struggling to be holy, to be righteous, to be pleasing to God. It’s His power working within you, transforming you from the inside out. It’s the supernatural work of God in the life of a surrendered believer. There are those who resist Him, who hold back, who are afraid of fully yielding. They fear losing control, fear what others might think, fear the unknown, but my friends, let me tell you, there is no safer place to be than in the hands of the Holy Spirit. There is no greater joy, no greater peace, no greater power than in surrendering completely to Him. He will never lead you where you should not go. If only you trust Him, if only you let go and allow Him to have His way in your life.

Surrender. Oh, what a word. If we truly understood what it means to surrender, how different our lives would be, how different our churches would be, how different our world would be. So many of us hold back, me included. I resisted, afraid of losing control, afraid of what others might think, and yet, it is in surrender that I found the greatest power.  It is in surrender that we step into the fullness of all that God has for us. 

The Holy Spirit waits for us. He waits for the time we finally come to the end of ourselves, when we finally stop striving, stop struggling, stop trying to do the things in our own strength. He waits for the moment we lift our hands in surrender and say: Lord, I can’t do it on my own, I need You.

2 Corinthians 12:9  Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.

We want to thank Julie Duke for sharing this post.

I was at Youth Camp one summer, and we were in small group time talking about faith and trust and our relationship with Jesus.  To bring practical application to what we were discussing, we were asked to participate in a “Trust Fall” exercise.

One by one, we each took a turn standing on the porch of the mess hall, which was about 3 feet off the ground, turning around with our backs to the others standing below, folding our arms, and then free-falling backwards, trusting those below to catch us and not let us hit the ground! I remember I was scared. I didn’t know these people, and I was being asked to trust that they cared enough not to let me fall and hit the ground. Even though I was full of fear, I surrendered and fell into their arms. Had I not gone through that exercise, I never would’ve learned to surrender and trust. Trust and Surrender means to leave everything to the control of another. Trust and Surrender for a Christian means we leave everything in His hands and under His control. Much like the “Trust Fall,” we need to trust and surrender to a relationship with Jesus.

Trust is a firm, confident belief in the reliability and strength in someone or something. Surrender is to cease resistance to and submit to authority. Give up and resign oneself to circumstances out of one’s control. So, recently, Murlyn and I walked and are still walking through a significant life change that required a new level of trust and surrender on both our parts.

Murlyn had been dealing with short bouts of spasms in his neck that would travel to the back of his head, causing headaches and sweating. He didn’t say anything to anyone, because he thought it was stress-related and would eventually go away. Little by little, the spasms were coming more frequently and lasting longer each time. This started back in October. Fast forward to New Year’s Day, he had one spasm worse than the others before. He stayed in his recliner most of the day, because he felt like his heart was racing, his blood pressure was high, and his head was pounding. Eventually, everything subsided, but it left us both feeling uneasy, and fear began to creep in. I didn’t sleep well at all that night. I had all kinds of thoughts running through my head. I was trying to take the thoughts captive but losing the battle! The next morning wasn’t any better. He was still having spasms but went on to work. Mid-morning, he had two intense spasms and went to the emergency room.

His heart was in AFIB. Fast-forward again, and we’re on our way to the BSA Hospital in Amarillo. At that moment, I felt helpless and alone! Fear took over, and I began to think the worst. I can’t help him. All I can do is stand by and let all of this happen to him. I felt angry, and tears flowed down my face as I followed in my truck behind the ambulance. We arrived, and they took Murlyn through the emergency room, but I wasn’t allowed to follow. I had to go to the front of the hospital and wait for them to get him into a room. By the time I was allowed to see him, they already had him hooked up to all kinds of monitors, were drawing blood for tests, were giving him meds to slow his heart rate and bring his blood pressure down. As I sat there watching all this take place, I heard Holy Spirit say, “Let go, and let Me handle this.”

Control is the power to direct people’s behavior or the course of events, to have authority over someone or something. I felt the Holy Spirit speaking to me. I felt a peace and released everything to His control. I had to surrender; I had to trust Him; I had to put my faith in Him and be confident in what He said, no matter what the outcome. I knew He was taking care of us. So, we spent the next five days in the hospital, running test after test, trying to find an answer to what was going on. Everyone knows that trying to rest and sleep in the hospital is almost impossible. So, during the times when I just couldn’t sleep, I would read Scripture or talk with Abba. I told Him I was scared. I told Him I was struggling to take my thoughts captive. I told Him how much I love Murlyn, and that I wasn’t ready to live without him. I told Him that, whatever the outcome, I trusted His plan, that I loved Him and knew He would take care of us, of me. But, no matter what, I am surrendered to His will!  During one of those sleepless nights and conversation with Abba, I heard Him gently whisper, “It’s not his time. I have more for him to do.” I felt His peace wash over me. (Phil. 4:7) “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts in Christ Jesus.” I was able to sleep without the intrusive thoughts I had been having. Through trust and surrender, we turn control over to God, and our faith releases His Power. (Luke 17:6)

Though our tomorrows are not promised, Jeremiah 29:11 is a promise from Abba that gives us the reassurance that He is in control. He knows the plans He has for us; He gives us the peace we need! He tells us in John 14:27 not to let our hearts be troubled. He knew we were going to go through this. I just needed to trust Him. During those five days in the hospital and several days after we came home, there was one scripture that kept coming up at different times, when I needed it most:

Joshua 1:9: “Haven’t I commanded you, be strong and courageous! Don’t be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you.”

I stood on and am standing on that Scripture, but not just for what we’ve been walking through. From here on out in everything we’re faced with, Abba can be trusted!

Before we went back for the follow-up visit with the cardiologist in Amarillo, Murlyn’s heart was back in rhythm. The cool thing was, he got to tell Dr. Ali, and he held nothing back in letting the doctor know that it was God! I have been blessed to see what God spoke to me as Murlyn and I walk out each day together! We are full of the joy of the Lord. We have a renewed feeling of knowing the gladness that comes from having a relationship with God and from being filled with the Holy Spirit and abiding in Christ.

Trust and Surrender deepens our relationship with Jesus and grows our faith, as we learn to walk in step with Him. Living in trust and surrender opens our hearts to hear Him speak. It strengthens us and matures us as we learn His promises are true, and He is faithful.

This journey taught me to take my eyes off the circumstances and focus on the Word, fill my mind, direct my steps, and transform my thinking to be obedient to whatever it is that He is doing in my life. Trust and surrender positions us for God to speak through us to bear witness to those we encounter. Murlyn was able to share Jesus with his nurses and doctors and a few others who would listen.

I leave you with one of my other favorite Scriptures.  Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and don’t lean on your own understanding. In everything acknowledge Him, and He will direct your path!”

Let go, and fall into His arms fully trusting, fully surrendered! Just jump!

I hesitate to write this blog post today, because I’m still trying to understand and process this situation with the Lord. Last week at Freedom in Christ, the Lord revealed to me that I’m not fully trusting in Him because of this part of our family’s story. So, here is me and all my rawness. 

We adopted 3 of our kids from foster care and then the Lord gave us 1 biological kid. From the oldest to the youngest, there is only 25 months in age difference, so basically, all 4 of our kids are the same age – like Irish quadruplets! Our oldest son, John, has 2 biological siblings. In foster care, especially when the kids are still in care prior to adoption, when a sibling comes into the world, the foster parents are typically the ones who get “the call”. At the time of both kids making their entrance into the world, we were fully and completely unable to handle any more babies in our house, so both of those siblings got placed in other foster homes. The youngest of his siblings was born in November of 2020. Her name is Bella. 

We got “the call” for Bella but were unable to welcome her into our home, but our best friends at the time were also fostering, so we told CPS to please consider our friends, the Russells, for placement. They did! John and Bella were going to be able to grow up like cousins, still living life together, just in separate homes, and with our very best friends as her parents. This was the best outcome for our families, but most importantly, for John and Bella. 

In July 2021, Bella got sick with RSV. They took her to the hospital; she was acting lethargic and not breathing normally. The hospital gave her medicine and breathing treatments and that little girl perked right up! The next morning though, all her vitals started plummeting. We got the call from Mike, her dad, that they were going to air-flight her to another hospital. The medical staff tried and tried to get her stable enough to get in the helicopter, but they were not able. Bella died that day in the hospital in the arms of our best friends. She was a few days shy of 8 months old. 

The next few weeks were a blur. No one should ever have to bury their child. It’s not fair. It’s not right. I was mad that the Lord did not answer my desperate prayers to save her. How can I trust the Lord’s plan when that plan involved this innocent child’s death? 

“We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.”

Romans 8:28-29 CSB

If you have been through a hard thing and you grew up in church, you have heard those verses many times. In the depths of grief, you probably have been really mad about that verse being sent your way. GOOD? How can anything about Bella’s death be good? But that’s not what the Lord means in this verse. He’s not calling her death good, or the circumstances of her death good. He is saying that through your circumstances, God will make goodness. What is this goodness? Verse 29 says that we will be conformed to the image of his Son! He works everything in our lives to transform us to looking more and more like Jesus. If we love God, we are constantly looking to the Lord, even in the hardest most grief-stricken times in our lives. 

So how do we trust the Lord after tragedy? We look to His Word and see all that He did throughout history. We look back on our life and see all that He has done in our lives, in the lives of our friends and family. Was Bella’s death fair? Absolutely not. But here, 4 years later, I can see a glimpse of how the Lord has used her story to bring healing to strangers. The Lord used Bella’s death to bring her biological dad to Jesus. Only the Lord can turn complete tragedy into a beautiful story of redemption. 

Do I wish the Lord would have answered my most desperate prayers that day? Yes. And that answer will never change. But am I learning to trust that the Lord already knows about all the tragedy I will face in my life? Also, yes. Like I said at the beginning of this blog, this fully learning to trust in the Lord thing is still a work in progress. I wish I could tell you that with all my heart I trust in Him without any hesitation. I am praying that the Lord continues to mold me and shape me into looking more and more like Jesus. I pray that wholehearted trust continues to grow and establish a place in my heart and mind. But most importantly, dear sister, I pray for you. I pray that the Lord will show you his overwhelming, trustworthy love to you. If you are currently walking through grief, I pray that you cling to Jesus. HE IS OUR HOPE. Without Him, what is the purpose of tragedy and grief? But WITH Him, we have hope. Cling to Jesus. 

We want to thank Megan Hollis for sharing this post.

Do you like to be the person that’s always right? I used to be that way, but GOD. 

When I was a young woman, all the bridal and baby showers in my family always fell on me to host. I don’t know how this got started, but it was always understood that it was my responsibility. I have a very large family, and my siblings would call me and ask when the shower would be. If you’ve never been the one that was in charge of a shower, you probably don’t understand the amount of work that goes into it. Even after you plan the date, time, and place you still have to get together with the other hostesses and decide on a hostess gift and the refreshments that will be served. Of course, it’s up to you to go buy the gift and sometimes the refreshments. The other hostesses all agree to pay you their part, but that doesn’t always happen. That causes you to pay double or even triple what the other hostesses are paying, depending on how many don’t pay you back. Don’t get me wrong, it is fun but a lot of work at the same time and not always appreciated.

At one time, I had to organize so many showers that we decided that we would only give a baby shower for the first child in each family. That is where the trouble began.  

One family member had already had a baby shower for her first son. She expected another shower when she got pregnant again. I reminded her that we were only giving one, so her mother talked her into going to church in hopes that the church would give her a shower. She claimed to be an atheist, so I was thrilled that she was going to church. One week she missed church, and I called her to see if she was okay. She told me not to check on her because she missed church, because after the shower she wouldn’t be coming back. She was only coming to get a shower [her words].  Needless to say, I was not happy with her. I was always a hostess at church showers, so I still would have been involved. I turned down the offer to be a hostess at her shower and that branch of the family stopped talking to me. I didn’t see any reason they should be mad at me. They knew the rule we had about second showers. I WAS RIGHT!!! They didn’t have a right to be mad at me. I stewed about it for a while, getting angrier and angrier each time I thought of it. Then, one day Holy Spirit spoke to me. Not audibly, but my spirit understood. He asked me if it was better to be right, or was it better to be a representative of His love. This really hit me where it hurts! It took me a few days to let go of the anger I had allowed Satan to build in my heart.  

When I finally let go of the anger, I called that family member. I apologized and let her know that I was in the wrong. I didn’t get the response I expected from her. She told me that yes, I was wrong, and I should have given her a shower without complaint. I had to bite my tongue, and I prayed for God to take over the conversation because if I spoke what I wanted to, it would not represent God’s love. I wanted peace in the family, and I had to pursue it through Holy Spirit.  

This family member eventually came to know Christ as her personal Savior. Did this experience with her have anything to do with it? I will never know this side of heaven, but what if I had not surrendered to the will of Holy Spirit that day. I would truly hate to find out that my attitude could have caused a different outcome in her life.

Colossians 3:17

“And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

Romans 12:18 says “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone”. This verse encourages striving for peace with others to the best of one’s ability. I never want to be the tool Satan uses to bring dishonor to the Lord.

We want to thank Naomi Jones for sharing this post.

Peace is the most underrated gift we have as Christians. There should not be any one thing we value more than His peace.

Philippians 4:7 says, “The peace of God which surpasses all understanding, guards our hearts and minds.” Peace gives us an inner sense of calm, wholeness, and confidence. “Jesus is the Prince of Peace.”  Isaiah 9:6. “He himself is our peace.” Ephesians 2:14. If you are a believer, you always HAVE peace, because you always HAVE Jesus. Peace isn’t dependent on our circumstances. Peace isn’t a feeling to catch, is a person to know. A Savior to know.

If we don’t identify the places that are robbing us of our peace, we won’t be able to ever truly be at peace. If we are always chasing the feeling of peace, we will always be at the mercy of our circumstances.

In a world driven by fear, noise, success, busyness, peace often gets overlooked. We sacrifice peace for counterfeits. We believe that by attaining that one thing, we will have arrived at peace. Or by buying that one thing or our children doing that one thing, it will bring peace. This is false. This is where we strive instead of just receive. This is where we try to prove ourselves instead of just being ourselves. Here are some counterfeits I have found in my own life that I try to substitute for peace: control, constant activity, approval, bitterness, perfection. I could go on…

Control isn’t peace. Surrender is peace.
Constant activity isn’t peace. Rest is peace.
Approval isn’t peace. Identity is peace.
Fame isn’t peace. Fruitfulness is peace.
Bitterness isn’t peace. Forgiveness is peace.
Perfection isn’t peace. Grace is peace.

Learn how to guard your inner peace at all costs. The more you make space for God’s presence, the more you’ll recognize when He’s speaking through peace. Don’t chase chaos. Every day, choose to listen for peace instead of noise. That quiet clarity? That could be God’s voice. If we are anchored to the Person of peace, our souls can rest.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways submit to him and he will make your path straight. Proverbs 3:5-6

Peace was promised to us and given to us by God. He said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives…” John 14:27

I’ve had many times where I’ve wrestled with God about answering me. I wasn’t focused on how he was speaking to me, but instead I was focused on how I THOUGHT he was supposed to be speaking to me and therefore I missed Him.

We often expect God’s voice to thunder—clear, direct, undeniable. But more often, His answer is not loud at all. It’s peace. That quiet assurance that settles in your spirit, even when nothing around you has changed.

Think of Elijah in 1 Kings 19. After a powerful showdown on Mount Carmel, he ran for his life and cried out in despair. God didn’t meet him in the wind, earthquake, or fire. He came in a gentle whisper. That whisper was enough to renew Elijah’s strength. Peace is like that. Soft, subtle, but deeply powerful. When we pray and don’t hear a booming response, we can think God is silent. But the stillness of peace can be His clearest reply. It’s His way of saying, “I’ve got this. Trust Me.”

If your situation isn’t perfect but you feel a calm confidence, lean into that. God’s peace doesn’t always mean the circumstances are easy—it just means He’s with you in them.

Don’t overlook peace. Trust it. Hold onto it. Treasure it. Protect it. Let it rule in your heart (Colossians 3:15).

Sometimes God’s Answer Isn’t Loud, It’s Just Peace.

We want to thank Julea Bouma for sharing this post.

As I write this blog, peace is not how I feel on the inside. I have learned from experience that when the Lord uses my circle to reach out to me, it is normally something he is teaching me a lesson on.

I have spent my whole life pleasing people. I love my circle well and plan to until Jesus hugs me in Heaven. I am not saying that it is always a peaceful road. You should see my picture of my path to my goal…it is a straight line to the goal! Then there is God’s path, and it is all over the place to make it to the goal. That is reality! We want easy. Our brains look for the path of least resistance. But did Jesus choose the easy path?

I like to look at Jesus teaching others and how he would leave them and pray. He took time for himself to regroup and fill his cup with God’s Wisdom before he poured it all out on others. How many of you pour out to people constantly and rarely get a thank you or I appreciate you? Often, we seek affirmation from the people around us when we should be taking the time to pray and listen to what the Lord has or needs next from us.

I will never forget coming to Harvest as a young mom. My house was not peaceful. I was a yeller and would get so frustrated with myself if everything wasn’t done when I went to bed. I was a stay-at-home mom so why was it so difficult to get all the dishes and laundry done? My husband had a stressful job. He was driving over an hour one way every day and farming an hour the other direction. Peace was hard to find. One day a dear friend said “Janeé if you want peace in your home you have to seek peace.”

I just looked at her. I didn’t even know where to start. She smiled and said, “Take the pressure off. Look at your husband through Jesus’s eyes. Look at your two beautiful girls through Jesus’s eyes. Look at your beautiful home through Jesus’s eyes. It is okay to have dishes in the sink and dirty clothes. That means you are living a full life. It is okay to have toys everywhere. Soon, they will be gone. When you stop yelling everyone else will.” Thank you, Erin Cruz! We know heaven is amazing! We miss you and love you!

As I type this, I hear the vacuum going in my youngest teen’s room. She is asking us not to sit on her bed because we’ll wrinkle the covers. We jumped on that bed and started laughing because we all thought this day would never come. It does young moms. So please seek Jesus in your crazy to find the peace to see your people through his lens and not just look at your to-do list.

You cannot control PEOPLE!

Through the years I have worked with so many parents and adults. It is not an easy job to be a teacher and a coach, but it is a rewarding one! I am coming off a hard year. My health tanked last June and I had to have emergency surgery. It is true that it takes a year for your cells to turn over. I am just now feeling like myself. My busy world stopped in June, and I had to sit down and process the last few years that have been some of the hardest. The panic attacks came back. You see, I am strong for others and encourage them but for myself I am my worst critic. I also keep going to avoid dealing with the pain of losing loved ones, the pain of my body that hurts daily, the pain of having hard conversations with people choosing a hard path. And even the hard conversations I chose not to have and now
that relationship is not what I wish it was because I didn’t let the Lord lead. We are all facing something and going through something so choose kindness!

The Lord spoke to me one day when I was teaching elementary kids and I will never forget it. When it snows, I always take the kids out to play in the snow with magnifying glasses. We talk about how all the flakes are different. We talk about how many millions, billions, trillions, of flakes it takes to cover the playground. How do so many flakes make the playground so beautiful? We talk about how each one is not the same but together they create beauty. Then I tell them to look at the person beside them. Are you different? Are your stories different? When we work together what do we create? They look at me and say something beautiful. Yes! Littles get it so much faster than we do!

We are all snowflakes, we fall through life, and we are put through different storms at different times creating something beautiful. All our stories are different and yet, we tend to want to control the people around us. WE CAN’T! They must fall and choose for themselves. Loving people where they are at is a hard job. God’s timing is not always our timing. Too often we want to rescue our kids or loved ones and make life easier for them and we stop that beautiful crystal arm from growing. You see without walking through the hard and letting the Lord guide them we sometimes become the melting point. What does this have to do with peaceful pursuit? We must pray and seek his wisdom and encourage the ones around us to do the same. To find peace in all situations we must SEEK the Lord for all things, even the little things we think we have on our own, so we don’t melt what he is trying to form.

Peace comes when we let him in for all parts of our lives. What are you not letting him in on? Relationships, work, finances, parenting, bible study, dishes, laundry, yard work, car issues, health, etc. What do you hold control of that he can bring peace to if you just ask?

Philippians 4:6-7:
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

We want to thank Janee Harrison for sharing this post.

To conclude our “Faith in Action” theme for the month of May, we’d like to share this incredible blog by Phylicia Masonheimer about prayer. Prayer isn’t passive – it’s faith in action. When we kneel in prayer, we stand in spiritual battle, believing that God’s power is greater than anything we face.

https://phyliciamasonheimer.com/prayer-is-war/

There’s something sacred about putting your faith into action, especially when life doesn’t make sense. I’ve come to learn that faith isn’t just a feeling—it’s a decision. A choice we make every day to trust God in the seen and unseen, in the calm and the chaos, in the known and the unknown. And if you’re anything like me, you know just how hard that choice can be when your world feels like it’s teetering on the edge.

I’ve walked through seasons—both in my family and in my business—where nothing seemed certain. Dreams felt fragile. Plans unraveled. And faith? Well, faith was tested in ways I never imagined.

Family is often where we place our deepest hopes and experience our deepest heartbreaks. It’s where love grows, but also where tension can run high when life doesn’t go as planned. I’ve watched loved ones struggle. I’ve prayed through sleepless nights, asking God to intervene, to heal, to restore. There were moments when I questioned if He was even listening. But over and over again, God reminded me that He was not only present—He was working.

Even when I couldn’t see the outcome, God was cultivating growth beneath the surface. The strained conversations, the misunderstandings, the waiting—it was all preparing us for something greater. And now, looking back, I see His fingerprints in every detail. What once felt like a breaking point became a turning point. He brought healing where there was hurt and unity where there was division. His plan, though mysterious at the time, was always greater than my own.

If family is the heart, business is often the hands—building, creating, pushing forward. And just like with family, there have been times when I questioned if I was walking in the right direction. Contracts fell through. Doors slammed shut. Plans I was so sure about dissolved before my eyes. In those moments, fear would creep in, whispering lies that maybe I wasn’t cut out for this, maybe I misheard God, maybe I should just give up.

But again, faith required action.

I learned that faith isn’t about having a backup plan—it’s about trusting God’s plan, even when it doesn’t look like what you expected. Every time I leaned in instead of giving up, God showed up. He sent the right people at the right time. He opened new doors I hadn’t even seen before. He reminded me that obedience always produces fruit, even if the harvest takes time.

I used to think faith was fragile—that it could break under the weight of struggle. But now I see that struggle forms faith. It’s in the tension of the unknown that we’re invited to deeper trust. It’s where God stretches us, shapes us, and strengthens our resolve.

Yes, I’ve cried. Yes, I’ve doubted. But every time I return to the truth that God is for me and not against me, that He works all things together for good, that His timing is perfect and His ways are higher—I find peace. Not because I have all the answers, but because I trust the One who does.

If you’re walking through a season where faith feels hard—whether in your home, your work, or your heart—let me encourage you: God sees you. He hasn’t forgotten you. You may not understand the “why” right now, but one day, you’ll look back and see how it all wove together for your good and His glory.

Don’t stop showing up. Don’t stop believing. Don’t stop praying. Faith in action looks like waking up and trusting God again, even when yesterday didn’t turn out the way you hoped. It’s in the small, daily yeses that the big miracles often unfold.

Remember, His plan always prevails.

And you? You’re not just walking through the unknown—you’re walking it out with HIM. 

We want to thank Beckah Hunt for sharing this post.

Sitting quietly in my front room one morning, before the rest of my family began to stir for the day, I reflected on just how stuck and frustrated I felt. Several things in life weren’t going the way I wanted them to. I was worried, angry, tired – I couldn’t even see how I could push through that day – much less whatever was going to be required of me to push through these less than desirable circumstances. It’s a place we have all been.

I knew I needed faith. I knew I had promises to stand on. I knew I just needed to keep moving forward. And yet, the mountains in front of me seemed insurmountable.

Then I heard it, the voice of my savior. Still and quiet, but undeniable.

“Look at me.”

Right then I knew – I had my focus in the wrong place.

To have faith in action, it does at times require action, but all the time, faith in action comes from a clear focus. A right focus. Faith in action requires us to have our eyes on Jesus.

Hebrews 12:1-2 states “Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, ² keeping our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy that lay before Him, he endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

The author of Hebrews is calling for action. This chapter comes right after what I have heard called “The Faith Chapter,” or “The Hall of Faith,” in Hebrews 11. So now, after reminding us of the great cloud of witnesses that surround us, the author calls us to action. He calls us to do two things – Lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us, and to run with endurance the race that lies before us.

Chapter 11 calls us to faith, and now in 12, we are called to action – but the instruction doesn’t end there.

In the beginning of verse 2, the author tells us exactly how to run this race of endurance – by keeping our eyes on Jesus.

Faith in action requires us to have our eyes on Jesus. Jesus is the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. Other translations call Him the author, or the founder of our faith. Not only did Jesus pioneer or author our faith – He is the perfecter of it. Perfection takes time, work, repetition. And how is He going to perfect our faith? By reminding us to keep our eyes on Him.

I love where the author of Hebrews goes next. Because the passage doesn’t jump to the victory, or the joy. Instead, there is more remembrance.

Remembrance that our High Priest and King is no stranger to hardship and endurance Himself.

Hebrews 12:2 continues, “who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”

For Christ to endure the cross – to complete the action He was sent here to complete – He had the proper focus. For Him, it was the joy of restoration and relationship with us. For us, our focus must be on Him.

As I sat in my front room that morning, I shifted my focus. I remembered all the times I had seen the Lord fight for me before. All the times I had seen His promises come to pass. All the ways in which He has loved and provided for me – over and over again. And as I did, the mountain shrank. And then I praised Him for who He is – Father, protector, defender, savior – and the mountain shrank. And I thanked Him – for how he would provide again. For how He would fulfill these promises too – and the mountain shrank.

Faith welled up in me, and my fear, my frustration, my exhaustion – fell away. I knew I had what I needed to take my next steps. It was all clear – because I had a clear, right, focus. Because my focus was on Him.

Faith in action comes from a clear focus – a right focus – our eyes on Jesus.

We want to thank Brooke Kellum for sharing this post.

Walking into HCF every Sunday, I see FAITH IN ACTION! I look around and see people making coffee, praying for people and the service, security guys and policemen keeping us safe, greeters with smiles and hugs, golf cart drivers in all kinds of weather, Kid City workers smiling and welcoming kids, connection center willing to help anyone, AV workers setting up, and the worship team practicing and worshiping. Plus, lots of people visiting, smiling, hugging, and sharing God’s love!

Our actions truly do speak louder than words, especially when it comes to sharing our faith! There are many ways to put your faith in action, but here are a few ways we can show our faith in a more profound and authentic way than words ever could.

1. Live with Integrity and Honor – Sometimes it’s easy to say one thing and do another. Living with honor and integrity can powerfully demonstrate your faith.
2. Be Kind – “In a world where you can be anything… be kind.” When we choose to show kindness to everyone, it can be life changing for everyone. And our faith shines through our actions of kindness!
3. Volunteer – When you put your needs aside and volunteer your time, money, and energy it’s a way to show others your faith. So instead of telling people about your faith, you’re living out your faith by serving others. ***BTW – HCF has many opportunities to serve! Please reach out to the church office and they can find a perfect fit for you!
4. Forgiveness – It can be tough to forgive if you are wronged or hurt, but faith allows us to put aside our hurt and choose to forgive and live out our faith through action.
5. Be generous – Generosity speaks volumes about your faith. It’s not just about your money, but it’s about your time, energy, and prayers.
6. Be compassionate – Being compassionate takes your faith and puts it into action through empathy and love.
7. Have Patience – It’s a fruit of the Spirit, and it requires us to take our faith and practice patience in our daily lives.
8. Walk in Humility – When we walk in humility and in God’s word and truth, it shows our faith. We can be respectful, understanding, and open to others’ opinions as we live out our faith daily.
9. Love – Love is key to living out our faith. It’s not just about feelings, but it’s about our actions. It’s a way to show others how much God loves them by loving them through your faith.
10. Share God’s Word – when our faith is put into action, it should lead others to the cross and God’s love, forgiveness, truth, and saving grace!

With all this said, I’m going to challenge you to check your FAITH IN ACTION!

Can people see Jesus in your everyday life? Can they see Jesus in your words and actions? Can they feel love from you that will lead them to an everlasting relationship with Jesus and secure their place with Jesus in eternity?

As we all put these practices into action in our daily lives, we’re not just talking about faith, we are living it out! Remember, it’s not just a destination, but a journey to be more like Jesus in all we do!  Faith is living out what you believe – walking the walk, not just talking the talk.

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

We want to thank Bambi Lutrick for sharing this post.

“So don’t worry about tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes” – Matthew 6:34 (MSG)

Life is full of uncertainties. In my life, it was moving across the state following my husband’s job. We face seasons of joy and abundance, but we also endure trials that shake our faith. In those difficult moments, it’s easy for me to fall into fear, worry, and to give in to loneliness. Yet, Jesus reminds us that our Heavenly Father knows our needs and will provide for us each day.

The world tells us to have a plan for everything; each move brought us to a new city with the promise of stability for him, but uncertainty for me. We have left friends, support, and family to begin in a town where, for the first few weeks, we must have directions to our own house.  In these times of need for literal directions to know how to navigate our surroundings, we can feel the most alone. However, faith teaches us to trust, even when we don’t have all the answers. Proverbs 3:5-6 (MSG) says, “Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track.”

While this did mean I needed to be responsible for the items within my control, such as household, job, and church attendance, I was reminded that my ultimate security is in God, not in our circumstances or location. When we release our worries to Him, we make room for His peace to take over. He never fails to provide opportunities, people, or provisions when we lean into his understanding, rather than relying on our own.

Matthew 17:20 (MSG), “The simple truth is that if you had a mere kernel of faith, a poppy seed, say, you would tell this mountain, ‘Move!’ and it would move. There is nothing you wouldn’t be able to tackle.”

For our family, faith is not merely about having every detail and aspect of life neatly arranged; instead, it is about placing our trust in the One who possesses all understanding and wisdom. When all else has failed, showing up and being present in moments with others from school to church has brought clarity when the path is foggy. Embracing the beauty of taking small, deliberate steps of obedience has strengthened each nugget of faith.

The deliberate steps for us have always started with unified prayer. Whether it’s just the two of us or groups of friends or colleagues, there is power in seeking Him. We have also found answers in the Bible, without knowing the next steps on our journey. Right before we were stationed in Odessa, we had been reading about provisions in the desert during the Israelites’ journey. We were both immediately blessed with jobs, found a church, and joined a marriage ministry that filled holes in our marriage we never knew existed. We still credit many of our current marriage practices to that time and the need to lean heavily on God, because He saw us through that season of literal and figurative deserts.

 As I dare to step out in faith, I discover that God meets me with His boundless power and unwavering provision, guiding me through unknown terrain. This was a great comfort when we arrived, since Odessa was a far cry from the lush trees and lakes we left in Austin and the piney woods of Houston. While the number of times you start over and step out may never come naturally (or at least it hasn’t for me), understanding God’s purposeful plan offers comfort.

Even when the turpitude of life remains obscured, trust that God is illuminating the way forward, revealing the next step for you to take. Each act of surrender to Him becomes a thread woven into the larger narrative that He has in store for us. No matter what season you are in, remember that God is faithful. He sees you, He loves you, and “He is working all things together for your good” (Romans 8:28, MSG).

Choose today to walk in faith, not fear, and watch how God moves in your life above and beyond your wildest expectation.

We want to thank Kate McCandless for sharing this post.

“Joy in the journey” sounds like a glorious adventure. The heroes in all the action films make it out okay; even still, they escape with scars, often losing friends along the way. A journey through the mountains displays spectacular views along the way; yet the breathtaking views come at the cost of a pack laden with necessities for survival and often blisters on feet, sunburns on face, perils near the path. A lifestyle in sin seems quite fun in the moment; however, sin goes down smoothly but bites like a poisonous snake (Proverbs 23:31-32).

Real life journeys include wounds so deep, you question if they will ever heal enough to form scars much less allow you to function again. A quest for a spouse can involve waiting longer than desired. A hunt for a career may end in lackluster disappointment. A desire for children may tarry or taunt through infertility or miscarriages. A battle with cancer or other terminal illnesses-no words adequately portray this torment unless you’ve witnessed it first-hand.

And yet! And yet even in these daunting journeys, as believers in Christ, we not only obtain, but also exude joy. You see, joy is so much more than a warm, fuzzy feeling. It’s an outcry of hope, a cheerful, calm gladness that wells up from within.

Joy is so much more than circumstantial happiness. Joy breaks forth from a wasteland (Isaiah 52:9). Joy is oil in place of mourning (Isaiah 61:3). The joy of the Lord is our strength (Nehemiah 8:10 , Psalm 21:1). Joy is a guttural victory shout erupting after battle. (2 Chronicles 20:27)

Joy is not conditional upon circumstances. In the midst of trials, joy wells up. (2 Corinthians 8:2). In the midst of trials, we are called to joy (James 1:2).

Every journey has brilliant highlights but also daunting shadows. What makes the difference in our journeys is the faith and hope and joy and love that we have in Christ. The questions are: Where are we going to place our faith and hope? What will be our source of joy and love?

Like an aquifer bursting forth to form a freshwater spring, joy emerges from faith and hope in Christ. Like Old Faithful spouting in time, joy marks a person as full of faith and Christ.

I would like to challenge you to read Hebrews 11 and 12 straight through. As I did this, I was reminded of what joy is, and Who the source of joy is. You see, Jesus became human. He became relatable to us in every way. This includes endurance through persecution and hardship. Jesus chose not to focus on the pain and the rending and the scarring that comes with human life. He chose to focus on the joy set before him – the joy that is our salvation.

Here is my walk-through Hebrews 12:1-3 and an application of a deep, resounding joy that supersedes and supplants trials and grief and the temptation to succumb to despondency:

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses,”
Therefore-as a result of the hall of faith in Hebrews 11. I am also reminded of the testimonies of countless Christian brothers and sisters in Christ who encourage me with their witness, with their testimonies of God’s faithfulness in their lives, of their perseverance in the face of trials. Further still, I recall God’s hand and protection and joy in my own life-His faithfulness to fulfill His promises even when I cannot see a way. As stones of remembrance, His faithful provision fuels my joy and peace and hope.

“Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.”
May I continue to walk in the light as He is in the light. May I shun willful sin and seek to expose any hidden sin. Not only slip off sin casually, but cast it away, so that it wouldn’t become a stumbling block to myself or to others.

“And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,”
My path is marked – not promised as easy; easy doesn’t take perseverance – marked and beautiful and not to be compared with anyone else’s.

“ fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.”
Locked in! Not to be distracted by sin. So focused on Truth that any counterfeit exposes itself as false. Like Peter when he sees Jesus and not the storm, may my faith, perfected by Him, call me out of the boat of complacency into the journey that God has called me.

“For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” For the joy! Joy kept Jesus on the cross. He rose victorious, persevering, enduring, my salvation, my Lord.

“Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”
Consider Jesus, my relatable savior who endured with joy. When I consider Him, I won’t grow weary. I won’t lose heart.

May you join this joy-filled journey fueled by faith in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. May the Joy of the Lord be your strength no matter what your path looks like. May that strength place your feet running on the path set out for you. Like our Savior, may the joy set before you give you strength to endure, to not grow weary, and to not lose heart. With our eyes fixed on Jesus may our joy be so contagious that others desire salvation as well. There is joy no matter the journey.

We want to thank Mary Coleman for sharing this post.

Sitting down and writing this blog was a little more difficult than I was expecting. The Lord asked me to share my journey, and that’s not always an easy thing to do. Some parts of my journey I’ve preferred to keep to myself, but I know in sharing it, it can help someone else along their journey too. So… here goes! 

Rage. Depression. Anxiety. Identity crisis.

Those were never words that I thought would be in my vocabulary to describe my journey through adulthood. When you’re young, you have this picture, or really an expectation, of what you think being an adult will be like. What being in college will be like. What being a wife will be like. What being a mother will be like. And now that I am approaching my mid-thirties, I can honestly say that none of it turned out the way that I had pictured.

In many ways it is so much more beautiful than I could have ever imagined on my own. But there have also been many, many moments where I have had to honestly deal with some really ugly things. I didn’t even know what post-partum depression was until after I had our first child. I didn’t understand why in one of the most joyous times in my life I didn’t even have the strength to get out of bed. I didn’t know what post-partum rage was until after I had our twin boys. I didn’t understand why I suddenly snapped, yelled, screamed at mere inconveniences. I didn’t know what post-partum anxiety was until after I had our youngest. I didn’t understand why I couldn’t go a single day without imagining some of the most ridiculous things happening, while trying to control and make sure they never did.

Not a single one of those things felt like ME. My husband and I had our 4 kids in under 5 years, and I felt trapped in a person that didn’t feel like me – I didn’t even know who I was anymore. I felt so isolated and so alone. I tried so hard to make things look on the outside how I deeply wished I felt on the inside. Until I was too exhausted to carry it anymore. I thought losing weight would help. Making more money. Career promotions. Fitting in. But it was all just temporary. The Bible tells us that the joy of the Lord is our strength (Nehemiah 8:10), and I had to be reminded of that truth. Cue the identity crisis – I had to walk through a lot of things falling apart so that the only One who could, put them back together.

God. In His tenderness and mercy, no rush or urgency. He reminded me of who He created me to be. That I was His. That I was made by Him for a purpose to do good things – the literal skill and precision of His creation (Ephesians 2:1-10). That I was given a spirit of power, love and self-discipline (2 Timothy 1:7). That He loves me with an everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3).

I had to walk through some difficult things that didn’t seem fair to truly grasp His unfailing love for me. Sure, there were little pockets of joy along the winding way – always because of Him. But because He always works things out for our good, it’s a little easier now to find joy in the journey, because my joy comes from Him and not my circumstances.

We want to thank Paige Keller for sharing this post.

Nehemiah 8:10 (CSB) ¹⁰ Then he said to them, “Go and eat what is rich, drink what is sweet, and send portions to those who have nothing prepared, since today is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, because the joy of the Lord is your strength.” 

Our journey through life has a mixture of elations and challenges and how we perceive our challenges can refine us or become a setback. Nehemiah 8:10 mentions that the joy of the Lord IS our strength. 

Every challenge comes with mighty heavenly opportunities to learn, to grow, to gain wisdom, and to testify of God’s goodness. We are all called to a place in Kingdom work and the enemy is hard at work to kill, steal, and destroy our calling and place in the kingdom.

In the very darkest times of my life, and there were many, God was with me; I was repeatedly reminded of this scripture as my peace and strength often waned. My peace and joy were the target of the enemy in the violent battles for my deliverance and wholeness. This scripture was key when the enemy had me pinned down trying to convince me of ways to take my own life, suffering with the many effects of trauma and PTSD, riddled with addictions, perceived failures, and hope was far from me. If the enemy can steal my peace, then he can steal my joy; if the enemy can steal my joy, then I have no strength for the battle. I was literally fighting for my life and needed strength from the Lord. The Lord would remind me to offer a sacrifice of praise, so he could deliver me from my troubles. (Psalms54:6-7, Jonah 2:9) 

Hebrews 13:15-16 (NIV) says, “¹⁵ Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. ¹⁶ And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” I would stand up, raise my hands up to the Lord and praise Him; I would push through until the sacrifice of praise became heartfelt praise leading to joy, which gave me the strength I needed to continue moving forward.

The Lord’s reminders to me of one day being able to share my struggles to encourage others on their journey gave me hope to stay in the battle and not give up. (2 Corinthians 1: 3-11, Romans 5: 1-5) I find myself at a place where my testimony of the Lord’s goodness, grace, and mercy can and does help many. God is so amazing because after our difficult struggles and we receive the battle scars,He fills the scars with beauty. (Isaiah 61: 3) When God heals and fills our battle scars, this ends up making us seasoned warriors who can then move forward to encourage others in their battles. (Matthew 5: 14-16) 

All of this leads back to the remembrance of where strength for our journey is to be found: the joy of the Lord is our strength. To God be all the glory.

We want to thank Leah Montez for sharing this post.

I often wish for immediate solutions from God. 

Miraculous healing, instant freedom, winning the lottery.. instant fixes!

I’ve asked God multiple times why he won’t “just fix it for me.”

That sounds selfish typing, but it’s the truth. 

What I have noticed is there are blessings that come in the path to freedom or healing that wouldn’t have happened with the instant fix. 

The coffee dates, the prayer and connection with friends or family. 

The feeling of victory to see God’s promise come to fruition. 

The new friendship made over the connection of the struggle. 

The wisdom others speak into our lives when we had a blind spot. 

In Exodus 18:13-27, Moses’s father-in-law Jethro gives advice to Moses who is tasked with leading the Israelites. Jethro sees this will become too much for Moses. Jethro advises Moses to select capable men to help lead and provide counsel so Moses does not become burnt out. 

This story has come to mind frequently lately. When I have a task or issue and I feel like I should be strong enough or have enough faith to handle it on my own or pray for an instant fix. God reminds me to lean in to my husband and community. Every time I do, I am blessed by a prayer, wisdom or insight I wasn’t thinking of or experiencing. 

The Lord is kind, he gives good gifts, and he allows us to experience joy, even in the struggles. 

I hope this can bless you too, especially if you are feeling like you should be able to handle the struggle you are going through on your own. Let people walk with you.

We want to thank Lori Johnson for sharing this post.

I feel that what Papa is saying to me about this subject is best expressed in the words of a song. It is a collaboration between Jeff Pardo, Matthew West, and the artist, Megan Woods. I’m not going to write it in verse, but in narrative form, so we don’t get all bound up with rhyming and such.

How many times can you hear the same lie before you start to believe it? The enemy keeps whispering to me. I swear, these days, it’s all that I’m hearing. I used to know who I was.  Now I look in the mirror and I’m not so sure. Lord, I don’t want to listen to the lies any more.

When I feel like there’s so much noise living rent free in my head, Heaven finds me in a still, small voice, and it sounds like grace instead. You remind me who I am when I look in the mirror and I’m not so sure.  Lord, I don’t want to listen to the lies any more.

I know who I am because I know who You are, and I hold Your truth inside of my heart. I know the lies are always going to try and find me, but I’ve never been so sure.

The truth is, I am my Father’s child. I make Him proud and I make Him smile. I was made in the image of a perfect King. The truth is, I am truly loved by a God who’s good when I’m not good enough. I don’t belong to the lies. I belong to You.

And that’s the truth.

I knew Dan loved me when I asked him if he could change anything about me, what would it be? He said, “Nothing.” It made me love him even more. All Papa God wants from us is to have an intimate relationship with us. If we have that kind of relationship, we will love Him even more. And that’s my eternal perspective.

We want to thank Di Zeigler for sharing this post.

When I hear the phrase eternal perspective, my mind goes to Paul’s words to the Corinthians—that our current affliction is light and momentary and is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory, as we look to the things that are unseen, for these are eternal (2 Corinthians 4:17-18).

So when we get the bad news, when we’re wading through grief, when we’re in a season of overwhelm with work or kids or whatever—that’s when we remind ourselves: this hard thing I’m going through, it’s light and it’s momentary. Of course, it doesn’t feel that way. It feels awful and impossible and hopeless.

But Paul says our current circumstances are temporary. They’re transient. And he invites us to see the bigger picture. This eternal perspective is often what pulls us out of our hopeless feelings and reminds us to stand on God’s truth as we battle through that difficult season.

As I’ve been asking God what to write for this month’s blog, I’ve been thinking about a different take on eternal perspective. He took me to Matthew 25, the Parable of the Ten Virgins. It describes ten virgins, or ten bridesmaids, who went out to meet the bridegroom. Five are considered wise, for they have oil for their lamps, while the other five are called foolish because they have their lamps, but no oil to replace what’s burned up when the light runs out.

I recently learned that in Jewish culture, there were three phases for the bride and bridegroom. In the first phase, the couple was engaged—this means the fathers had arranged the marriage. The second phase was betrothal—this means the couple had exchanged vows of commitment to one another. The final phase was marriage—this was after a period of time, typically a year, when the bridegroom, who had been preparing their home, would return for his bride, at which point there was a huge wedding feast. The bridesmaids were to watch with their lamps ready and usher in the groom at whatever late hour he arrived.

The bride and her bridesmaids waited with anticipation for the unknown return of the bridegroom. But in the parable, five bridesmaids were prepared while five were not, and for the five that were not, they had to go out and buy more oil. The doors to the wedding feast were shut, and they could not enter. Matthew Henry’s commentary on this parable describes the foolish ones as holding lamps “for show,” or as an appearance of profession, but having “no principle within.”

At the end of the parable, Jesus says, “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour” (Matthew 25:13). Here and elsewhere, Jesus reminds us that we do not know the day of his return, but make no mistake: He will return. He is coming for his bride—and that’s us, his Church.

We’re told in Revelation 19 that the marriage of the Lamb has come, and “the bride has made herself ready.” Blessed are those invited to the marriage feast! (Revelation 19:7-9)

To live with an eternal perspective means to live with anticipation for the return of Jesus, the bridegroom of the Church. Every. Single. Day.

Will we be ready?

The question is not about works for salvation, but rather the working out of our salvation—that is, our sanctification (Philippians 2:12-13; 1 Thessalonians 5:23).

Am I laying myself down as a living sacrifice, as we talked about in Romans 12? Is my life surrendered? Do I allow the Holy Spirit to continually fill me with fresh oil so that my light will not burn out? Who am I influencing? Who am I discipling?

These are questions we should ask every day as we eagerly wait for the return of Jesus. Yes, our darkest and hardest seasons should compel us to look for God’s eternal perspective. But in the every day, the mundane, the easy and the hard—we should filter everything through the final words of Jesus. We know not the hour; watch, therefore.

Let us be the bride, bright and pure, prepared to meet our bridegroom (Revelation 19:8).

We want to thank Laura Brandenburg for sharing this post.

Since we are bound by time here on the earth, it’s hard for our human mind to comprehend the word “eternity.” I feel like it is one of those things we won’t fully understand until we are in the midst of it. Even though we have to wait to fully experience what eternity means, we can have an eternal perspective here on earth. This is a way of thinking that focuses on what is lasting and eternal, rather than on what is temporary and earthly. In Colossians 3:2, Paul states we need to “set our mind on things above, not on earthly things.” Easier said than done, right?

I have to admit, I was having a hard time with this topic. Even after a lot of prayer and asking the Lord to speak to my heart about what it means to have an “eternal perspective,” I felt like I had nothing. No nuggets of wisdom, no scripture references, no life stories to share. What I did have was a lot of self-doubt, worry, and frustration about various things in my life. Romans 8:5-6 says that those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh; but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. The mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace. The Lord revealed to me through that scripture that my mind had been so focused on worldly things that my worry/self-doubt/frustration was becoming louder than the peace the Spirit (Jesus) brings. My focus had slowly shifted from an eternal perspective to that of a worldly perspective, and that needed to change.

The Lord also revealed to me, through my children, that having an eternal perspective means we shift our focus from “self and the now” to “others and the future”. I was at home with my kids and it was one of those days where time was limited, but I really needed to get some things done. As those days usually go, there were constant interruptions from my kids (asking for snacks, needing school help, fixing arguments, etc.) The frustration was getting real, but God spoke to my heart and said, “They are what this is all about.” It’s about people, relationships, and sharing Jesus with others. It’s like making an investment for the future, but instead of investing money for worldly gain, we invest love. We love others and share with them the love of Jesus, so that hopefully those seeds that are planted will grow into a relationship with Him. I have heard a quote several times that says the “only thing from this life that we can take with us into eternity is other people”. That thought is so humbling to me! It is only through Jesus that anyone is able to be saved, but he does use us to show His love to other people.

It can be so hard to have an eternal perspective when, every day, this life reminds us that we currently live in a broken world. God is so good to guide us, though, when our focus begins to shift. He gives us opportunity after opportunity to love on others-whether that is a stranger at the grocery store or the children in our home. I happened upon a shirt the other day that says, “May heavenly things constantly interrupt our earthly things.” I loved the way that was worded, and that idea has been on my heart ever since. It is something that I pray will happen in my day to day. I am hoping for many opportunities for eternal investments! “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:18

We want to thank Courtney Harper for sharing this post.

This Christmas, Stewart and I were given a book from one of our granddaughters: “To our grandparents: we want to hear your story.”

It starts by asking about the first time we met, and the last two questions in the book ask about places we still want to go and things we still want to do. And between those questions is our life, our journey, and our story. Reflecting over 60+ years, one thing has become evident: my eternal perspectives have changed drastically!

As a 14-year-old girl, my life revolved around having fun and boys. It was about the next adventure. I wasn’t thinking about Colossians 3:2, “Set your mind on the things above, not on the things of this earth.” Or Matthew 24:44 ,“Be ready! We do not know when our time comes.” My mind was fully set on the things of this earth!

I knew Jesus as my Savior at a very young age. My parents not only taught us God’s truth, but they were living examples of walking out your faith, fighting the good fight (1Tim.6:12-14), having a gentle spirit (Phil.4:5), being steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in faith (1 Cor.15:58), and being holy in conduct and godliness (2 Peter 3:11-12). Despite my upbringing, I still had my mind set on the things of this earth, but I felt something was missing. There was an emptiness that I kept trying to fill, a longing for something more.

It is said, “Our identity in Christ is a gift of God‘s grace, not a standing that we can earn by hard work and good intentions.” That is truth for me! When the Holy Spirit opened my eyes and heart to God‘s great love for me, that was the door through which everything else followed. I believe that living life and knowing who you are in Christ is the only way to have a good eternal perspective. It is going through good and bad times that helps us realize that our life is not in our hands, it is in the Lord‘s plan. 

For me, one of the most drastic changes in my eternal perspective is that our life choices can shape our destiny and have an eternal effect not only on our lives, but others’, either for good or bad. As I look back on my life, there were many times where my choices were not good ones. Thank God for His grace and mercy! He took those things and brought something wonderful and good out of them. My continued prayer is that He would use the good and the bad choices I make and turn them all for good and bring Him glory! We do have a choice; we can do it our way and spend most of our time and energy picking up the pieces and cleaning up our messes, or we can yield to God‘s plan for our lives and have the Holy Spirit give us wisdom and lead us in the right direction.

I will be turning 80 this coming May. My age has never bothered me, it is only a number; it’s not my identity or who I am. But my perspective of my life here on earth and my eternal life in Heaven have become more real, more welcoming (not that I want to rush it, I love my life here on earth.) I have learned to live each day with purpose, to embrace the time with my loved ones, to enjoy and make the most of each moment, even when I am going through a storm, knowing that God still has a purpose for me, and will equip me with everything I need to complete His plan (Phil.1:23).  I have learned that a Christian will never die; we will one day go to sleep in Christ and wake in Our Heavenly Home! Jesus will be there to greet me, along with all my loved ones that have gone before.

“O death where is your sting? O grave where is your victory? But thanks be to God, which gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1Cor.15:55

“AMEN! COME, LORD JESUS!” Rev.22:20b

We want to thank Elaine Norrell for sharing this post.

“The words you speak reveal the content of your heart.” Matthew 12:34. This is something I remind myself often, especially after I say something I fully regret. 

Until this day, I still consider myself an introvert. I tell myself I have social anxiety and that’s why I can only handle small talk and only full-on conversations with the people I’m closest too. I hide away behind my extroverted husband, and I replay every conversation I ever have, over and over in my mind. But God has worked in my heart, He has reminded me even when I forget, that I am designed and made the way I am for a reason, in His image. 

Everyone has their own spiritual giftings. We function together as the body of Christ because each of us have our own strengths. We have our extroverts, whom I love! They can carry on a conversation; they can be the Mary’s in a room that make everyone feel warm and invited. Then, we have the Martha’s who work behind the scenes to make sure everything is in order. The most important thing we must never forget though, is the number one request from Jesus, and that’s to love His people well. 

How are we to love his people? By being authentically who we were made to be to reach the hearts of all people for Christ. We can’t do that if we are constantly criticizing ourselves, rethinking every conversation we have had or even forcing ourselves to be someone/something we aren’t. 

So, what do we do? Do we just hide from all conversation to avoid saying something we regret or stay in our social anxiety forever? No. We ask God to help us fix our thoughts on things above. We replace all the yucky feelings that we feel about ourselves and others with what He says about us and about others. We allow God’s voice to speak to us and through us. We let go of all the bitter feelings from past conversations we have had and regretted, and we forgive any words spoken to us and about us that were unkind.

We may not be able to take back our words after they are spoken, but God makes all things new, and His mercies are new every day. We can move forward, prepared to love others and be authentic with who God made us to be, knowing he made us the way we are for a reason. 

We want to thank Sarah Perry for sharing this post.

Today I had a conversation with a “friend.” I invited her into my house and started having a very familiar conversation. I told her about a situation that I was dealing with at work. She told me that someone would do a better job at my position than me. Then I started telling her about a new Bible study that I had started, and she reminded me of the many times I had started one only to quit after a few weeks. After talking to her for quite a while, she reminded me that I was just an utter failure…at life, at work, and in my walk with Christ. After all, other women had it all together, not me. I don’t have a perfect house, a perfect family, or a perfect life. Later, I told her about my boys and what they were doing with their lives. She told me that I had made lots of mistakes as a mother and she couldn’t believe that my boys had turned out so great. She also told me that I was fat, wrinkled, and gray headed. How could my husband still be in love with me? I looked her square in the eye and believed every word she was telling me. After all, we have had these conversations many times over the years.

That’s a friend?

You might be asking yourself, “What kind of friend would say that? How dare she say all of that about you? Did you slap her? Why did you stay there and take it?”

The problem is that I invited this friend into my life years ago and continue to invite her over all the time. My friend’s name is ME.

Have you ever had those kinds of conversations with yourself? Has there ever been a time when you look in the mirror and talk down to yourself by saying, “Wow, you’ve added a few pounds lately!” or “Gosh, that meal you cooked for your family could’ve been much better if…” or “Why does ____________ seem to have it all together and I can’t even get to work on time?” I think, as women, we are all guilty of this at one time or another. The words we speak over ourselves matter! We have got to STOP doing this!

Steps to Building Yourself Up:

Instead of talking down to yourself, try these things to build yourself up:

1. Positive self-talk – as a woman, you are always building others up.  Do yourself a favor and build YOU up! You deserve to be loved by yourself! Look in that mirror and say to yourself, “I am enough just the way I am!” or “I am great at what I do”. You might even say, “I believe in myself!” or “I am beautiful!”
2. Be kind to you – tell yourself that you are important, that you matter! You are a beautiful person and work hard at everything you do. Acknowledge that to yourself!
3. List all your strengths – trust me, you have many, many strengths. Be bold and brag a little on yourself!
4. BELIEVE WHAT YOU TOLD YOURSELF in steps 1-3!

What the Bible Says About You:

Maybe there is a reason you continue to talk down to yourself. You might have been criticized by a parent, a spouse or a friend your entire life. Don’t believe those lies anymore. God made you just the way you are for a reason.

The Bible clearly states that…

You are perfect just the way you are:

Psalms 139: 1- “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

v. 16: Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”

God put you in the job you are in and has BIG plans for you:

Jeremiah 29:11 – “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

God says you are precious:

The Bible says in Proverbs 31:10-11 “She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value.”

Proverbs 31: 28 “Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her.”

Be a Better Friend to Yourself!

We have all heard the saying that a friend loves at all times. Women are the greatest friends. We are there for each other. Our friends listen to us when we are sad and build us up when we need encouragement. Why, then, don’t we do that for ourselves? If words truly matter, we need to speak kindness and goodness into our own lives. God would want us to be proud of His creation!

Next time you catch yourself talking down to yourself, kick “your friend” to the curb, do some positive self-talk, meditate on God’s word, and BELIEVE the TRUTH about who God says you are! You, my dear woman, are a blessing and a gift to those around you!

We’d like to thank Vickie Young for sharing this post.

As children we learn the nursery rhyme, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” That is the biggest lie we tell our kids and ourselves. Let me give you one example. A few years ago, Don and I went to Ruidoso to celebrate our anniversary. We were married in the middle of December, so it was cold. We went to dinner and a show at the Spencer Theater. Did I mention it was cold? Well, it was very cold when everyone started scurrying to their warm cars after the show. There was an older couple walking in front of us. The husband was holding his wife’s hand, and he was walking at a faster pace than she was. They got to a curb and as she stepped up, she caught her toe and stumbled and fell. Luckily, she wasn’t hurt. The husband was exasperated with her clumsiness. While others (Don and I included) stopped to help her up, the husband just stood there. Once we made sure she was ok they continued to their car. Don and I were following because we were parked close by. Not realizing we were in earshot the husband glanced at the wife and said, “You’re an idiot.” The wife turned to her husband said, “You’re an idiot.” And that just proved that words can hurt. I’ve often wondered what else was said between that couple. Not just that night but on other occasions in their lives. 

Proverbs 15:4 says, “The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.”

I understand how words can crush a spirit. All my life, I have been guilty of negative self-talk. I have told myself I’m dumb, worthless, unlovable, hopeless. The words I have spoken to myself about myself have done extreme damage to not only my self-esteem but also to my relationship with others and most of all with my Heavenly Father. The words I said to myself led me to believe the lies of the evil one. 

Proverbs 18:21 says, “The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat it’s fruit.” 

The fruit I was eating was rotten. It caused pain to so many people. And in the process of living with those lies in my head I hit rock bottom. But in reality, that was probably one of the best things that could have happened to me. 

Genesis 50:20 says, “What the enemy meant for harm, God meant it for good.” 

I was blessed to find a wonderful Christian counselor who has helped me to learn the truth of the words that I say to myself. Yes, the evil one still attacks and says painful things to me, but I have also learned to listen to the truth spoken over me by my Heavenly Father. In the process of seeking truth over lies I have become bolder in how I not only talk to myself but also to others. I choose and try to speak life and truth into people’s lives. I want to be known as a Proverbs 31 woman. Especially Proverbs 31:26- “She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.” Have I got that self-talk completely under control? No. But it’s a work in progress. Our words must bring life and healing to those around us and for the one we see in the mirror because when you speak a word, you can’t take it back. 

So back to my original statement: “Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words can never hurt me.” It has been proven to me that words can be just as damaging and hurtful as a physical weapon.

Matthew 12:36 tells us, “But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgement for every empty word they have spoken.” 

So, my prayer is: “Lord, make my words good!”

We want to thank Hope Warren for sharing this post.

My eight-year-old grandson has an amazing vocabulary. He is especially well-versed in words that are found in video games, Disney cartoons, and action movies for kids. There is nothing wrong with the words he speaks, but they are worldly words. Most of us learn our manner of speech from family and friends as we grow up. We learn what words are appropriate around what group of people.  

In the Message Bible, Matthew 5:21-22 says, “Carelessly call a brother ‘idiot!’ and you just might find yourself hauled into court. Thoughtlessly yell ‘stupid!’ at a sister and you are on the brink of hellfire.” The simple moral fact is that words kill. So, we also learn that words can hurt, and deeply. We don’t realize what power words have until we meet THE Word. Then we learn to speak with wisdom.

“We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.”  I Corinthians 2:6

“This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words.” I Corinthians 2:13

​One thing I have had to learn over the years, and which I still must practice, is making my words match my beliefs – my faith in Him. 2 Corinthians 4:13 says, “It is written: ‘I believed; therefore, I have spoken.’ Since we have that same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore speak.”  

When I believe the words in the Bible, my own speech should match those words, not contradict them. The Bible teaches us that God CAN NOT lie. Every word in the Bible is true. Speaking these words back to Him, and to ourselves, is the highest and best form of speech. These words are living, active, and powerful.

​Since this is February, the month of Valentine’s Day, I’m thinking about the words I speak to my husband. I must admit, when I was first married, the words I spoke sometimes were used to provoke an argument. I used my words to manipulate or to try to gain attention. It has taken the Holy Spirit some time to align my words with God’s way of speaking. Now, thankfully, MOST of the time, I try to speak words of gratitude, appreciation, and encouragement to my sweet husband. I’m just so thankful that he put up with the growing pains over these years.  

God has given us such a wonderful array of words to use, and these words we speak are meant to be encouraging to others – and to ourselves. God is always calling out the best in us, calling us His children, naming us saints, and encouraging us in every possible way. He wants us to use our words in this same way with others.  

“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”  Ephesians 4:29

Let’s allow Holy Spirit to continue to bring graceful, wonderful words out of our hearts through our mouths, both toward others in our lives and toward ourselves.

We want to thank Sheri Warren for sharing this post.

My memories of Christmas as a child mostly consisted of a very old, white, aluminum Christmas tree that my half-sister was going to throw away. My siblings and I would make homemade decorations to hang on it. I especially remember the paper chains, where we would cut paper strips, color them red and green, and glue them together with homemade paste made of flour and water. One year we had a tumble weed that we decorated when the aluminum tree finally fell apart. On Christmas morning we would wake up to a sock with candy, fruit, and nuts.  No presents.

But there is one Christmas that really stands out in my memory. It had been a particularly bad year for my family. We had moved to Spur, because Daddy found a job there. I was in the second grade.  It was a very cold winter, and we had to walk to school. It seems you had to live at least 2 miles from the school to be able to ride the bus. It was so cold that we couldn’t feel our fingers when we got to school, and the teacher had to pry my lunch sack out of my hands. I think my older sister had it even worse, as she had to stay in the nurse’s office for quite a while trying to warm up. After that, we were told we could ride the bus. 

Then Christmas break came. Daddy had lost his job, and they had turned the electricity off to our house. Mama and all the kids (5 at the time, including a baby) huddled on the bed with all the blankets we had. You could still see everyone’s breath and ice on the inside of the windows and in the cracks in the walls. We were down to only pinto beans and rice to eat. It was a really bad time to not be in school.

One morning Daddy came in and told us to get in the car. We drove to a mercantile store downtown. Daddy said we were all going in. This was very unusual because Daddy never let us go into stores. A man unlocked the door for us and told us we could each pick out anything in the store that we wanted, and it would be our Christmas gift from him. He gave Mama a basket and told her to fill it with everything she needed to cook Christmas lunch, even dessert. We were all so shocked, we didn’t realize that it was Christmas Day. It seemed so magical. My sister picked out a Thumbelina doll and begged me to get a stroller to go with it.  It seemed like we looked around for hours. I chose a red rubber ball and it lasted for years, until there was no red coating left on it and there were chunks out of the rubber from being hit with our makeshift bats made of two by fours. When we got home, the electricity had been turned back on, and the house was so cozy and warm. One of the best things that day was a big Christmas lunch, with no beans or rice. I think this was probably one of the best Christmases we ever had. We had no tree and no stockings, but someone cared about us, and I am still in awe of how God sent this angel to show us His love. God came down that Christmas and joined us for a day I will never forget!

We want to thank Naomi Jones for sharing this post.

Christmas! The most wonderful time of the year. I love Christmas. I love the tree with lots of white lights on it.  I love the packages under it. I love the music. I love the movies (my favorite Christmas movie is Christmas Vacation. LOL). I love the Nativity sets I have, and yes, I have a few. But the thing I love most is the look of excitement on the faces of my grandkids. 

We have a family tradition of attending a Christmas Eve candlelight service. It started many years ago. In the past, I would have a house full of people for dinner, church, and opening packages. Now instead of the family coming to our house, we go to Canyon to spend Christmas with our kids and attend the candlelight service at Harvest Connexion in Amarillo. I have a picture I took a couple of years ago of my grandson, he was 2 years old. Don (PaPa) is holding a candle. Liam is looking at the flame with such a look of wonder on his face. To me, that captures the Wonder of Christmas best.  

Luke 2:1-21 gives us the story of the birth of our Savior. This story is full of wonder. Can you imagine being a young woman and being told you were pregnant, even though you were a virgin? Can you imagine being the man who was engaged to her and being told she was pregnant by the Holy Spirit and would give birth to the Savior of the world? Can you imagine traveling several miles from your home, in labor, and giving birth in a stable with animals all around you? I can’t. My youngest grandchild was born in the middle of August. I was blessed to be there for her birth. My daughter was in a sterile hospital with great nurses and doctors, and best of all, an epidural. It was such a miracle to witness, but nothing compares to the birth of Jesus.  

Can you imagine being the shepherds in the fields with their sheep, and Angels coming to give you the good news of the birth of the Promised Messiah? Luke 2:8-14 tells us the Angels told them they would find the baby wrapped in cloths laying in a manger (Luke 2:12). And THAT is the whole Wonder of Christmas!  A baby wrapped in cloths. A baby who had left heaven. A baby who was born to be both man and God. A baby who had been prophesied many years earlier. Isaiah 9:6 tells us, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the covenant will be on his shoulders, and he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” A baby. Just a little tiny human who needed to be cleaned up, warmed up, and fed. A baby who was like all other babies, but a baby wrapped in wonder. A baby who would grow up and play with His siblings. A baby who learned from his earthly father how to be a carpenter. A baby who went into ministry.  A baby who was crucified, died, and rose again to forgive me and you for our sins. A baby who WILL come again. Luke 2:14 says, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

We want to thank Hope Warren for sharing this post.

The wonder of Christmas….lights, gifts, cookies, candies, gingerbread houses, families, candles, music, church services, baking, decorating, wrapping, rushing….what just happened? We just crossed over from the wonder of Christmas to the chaos of Christmas.

When you look into a child’s eyes during this season, you see wonder and amazement reflected in them. The older we get, we turn the season into work. We feel responsible for making Christmas memorable. If we’re not careful, between the amazement and the work, we can lose the wonder of the season. It’s time to slow down and focus on the wonder of Christmas.

The manger scene is a typical picture we see on Christmas cards and intertwined in our Christmas decor. But…do you see wonder? Do you see the wonder of prophecies fulfilled and the promise of what’s still to come? Have you read His name?

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6

Let’s pause and look at the wonder of the descriptions of the newborn baby named Jesus.

His name is Wonder-ful. “Wonder” translated means something uncommon or out of the ordinary. Jesus wasn’t just any baby. He was the Son of God. He was fully God and yet fully human. When was the last time you were in awe at the love Jesus brought down from Heaven to Earth?

“Though He was God, He did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead He gave up His divine privileges; He took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being.“  Philippians 2:6-7

Counselor…Has Jesus ever been your advisor? Your guidance? The baby that was worshipped in the manger held the knowledge and counsel of God. We can trust Him to listen to us and guide us in the right direction.

“In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:6

The infant in the manger was Mighty God. It means “God hero, warrior or champion”. To this day, He still possesses the divine power of a mighty warrior. We can turn to Him and trust Him to be our defender and protector.

“ The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you: in His love He will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17

Everlasting Father…Jesus desires to draw near to us. He wants to wrap us up in His arms and care for us just as an earthly father does for his own child. The same Everlasting Father who cares for you today will care for you tomorrow and everyday.

“ Draw near to God and He will draw near to you…” James 4:8

That tiny baby in Mary’s arms was also named Prince of the Peace. Through His life and sacrifice, Jesus made a way to have a restored relationship of peace with God. A deep, abiding peace between our hearts and our Creator that cannot be taken away. He also allowed us to have a relationship with the Holy Spirit. Through this manifestation we have the ability to be filled with love, joy and peace.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23

The baby in the manger didn’t remain an infant. He grew into a man who served God and fulfilled His redemption for mankind.

What a gift! The wonder of God, leaving His glory in Heaven to become one of us. Heaven’s love reaching down to save mankind and the world.

As you enjoy the beauty of the season and all it entails, don’t forget to slow down and keep the true wonder of Christmas in your eyes and in your heart.

We want to thank Kathy Jones for sharing this post.