Monthly Archives: August 2021

As I sit here, coffee in hand, staring at the screen, all I can think is how absolutely spoiled I am. And I don’t mean that in a #spoiled, trendy kind of way. I mean that in a humbling, on my knees, eyes wide opened, tears streaming down my face kind of way.

We have brothers and sisters in Afghanistan fighting for their lives while I just heated up my 4 hour old coffee in a microwave. What have I ever had the right to complain about? 4 hour old coffee? My internet being down? Having to eat leftovers? My lack of fashionable wardrobe? Hole in my sock? Didn’t make the MercyMe concert? Oh, fall isn’t hear yet and craving pumpkin spice? This is not it. We have not arrived.

Convicted. Humbled. Broken. We are so disconnected from what God has called us to and I am just as guilty as the next person. I am so spoiled by at-your-fingertips technology, my cushy life, and instant gratification that I can’t see past the end of my nose. I’m so-called #livingmybestlife while others may or may not know Christ and are facing a death that may or may not be eternal. This is not what we have been called to do. Our best life is in Christ. Our best life is truth. Our best life is walking by others. Our best life is giving sacrificially for the sake of another to truly know God.

I want you to close your eyes and think about John 15:13 – Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. Picture a soldier, nurse, doctor, humanitarian, missionary, or even someone like you and me. Someone who volunteered to head to Afghanistan to aid in the ongoing efforts to fight terrorism, or lets label it what it really is, evil. And then I want you to picture a parent, desperate to free a child from that evil even if it means giving their life, passing their child over razor wire because they have a better chance to live in the hands of a stranger.

They aren’t worried about pumpkin spice anything. They aren’t worried about mask or no mask. They aren’t worried about vaccinated or unvaccinated. They aren’t worried about republican or democrat. They are worried about survival. Now let me take this one step further, and continue with this non-trendy, unpopular opinion. Christ didn’t die for one, he died for all. We tend to forget who that includes: the people who have a differing view as you, the lost souls serving in the Taliban, our government officials being persuaded, those shouting “let them die!”, and every other person that walks the earth. The drug addicts, the sex offenders, the homeless, the fatherless. All of them. There is not one God wouldn’t leave the 99 for.

You know what I think? The greatest deceit from the enemy is disconnectedness. Its aloofness. Its complacency. Its shouting amongst one another in our cushy lives so we don’t see the enemy sewing hate, anger, and discord. It is time to call it what it really is. It is time to call out the evil. In BIG ways. Because the evil isn’t hiding anymore. Its like prime time television, for all to see.

The greatest weapon you and I have is prayer. And you better armor up and get to battle. Because the war is coming. How do you battle? On your knees. And it isn’t “just prayer”. Its PRAYER. Fight with it through the Word:

1. 2 Corinthians 10:5 – We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and TAKE EVERY THOUGHT CAPTIVE to obey Christ. What does this mean? It means you examine your opinions, you compare it to what God says is right and ask yourself and the Spirit if it is true to His character. Study God’s word for that is how you know His character. God has loved you where you are at, so you should to others. That’s how you save lives.
2. Ephesians 6:11-18 – Put on the whole armor of God. Every piece. You are about to step into a battle. And you are drawing on the greatest weapon known to man. Fervent prayer.
3. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 – PRAY WITHOUT CEASING. Don’t stop. It speaks for itself. And if you feel tempted to argue, to fall into the trap of right and wrong opinion, circle back to 2 Corinthians 10:5. Take those thoughts captive. The enemy will do what he can to trip you up.

You may not be called to help Afghanistan. You may be called to help the incarcerated, the addicts, the single parents, the homeless, the parentless children or the sex offenders, and the list goes on. There is no one God won’t use and no one God can’t and won’t reach. WE ARE THE ONES WHO CATAGORIZE WHO THE SAVED SHOULD BE. And its past time to get up, armor up, and soldier on.

It is past time to pray for protection for the persecuted and to love the ones we deem “unlovable”.

That’s how you stop the evil and allow God to save the unsaved.

#spoilednomore #PrayForAfghanistan

Happy Saturday morning, friends! As I was sitting here doing some brainstorming I was also attempting to upload a photo to give you a visual of today’s workspace. After 3 failed attempts and a frozen screen I heard, The words are more important than the photo. Put the words on paper child.

Yes, Abba.

I’m not gonna lie, I was getting really frustrated. LIKE REALLY FRUSTRATED. Stupid technology. And honestly, frustration has been my go-to emotion lately. Frustrated that the house isn’t clean, frustrated that I can’t accomplish everything I have set in a week, frustrated that the dogs keep barking, frustrated that the kids won’t listen, and frankly I am frustrated that supper just won’t cook itself. All of this “technology” and I can’t get supper that cooks itself?? Pitiful.

That list of junk is exactly why God has brought me into a season of gratitude. I have been so focused on the to-do’s and have-to’s of life that I am missing out on the joys and blessings of the right now.

About a week ago I was at Barnes and Noble (best smelling store ever, like books, millions of books) because the girls had asked for a new book. Side note: books are not something I say no to, though I do filter the content they read. Anyway, Katie and I are over looking at the devotions because that is what she wanted. As we perused the Christian section, I found a book that read The Weekly Gratitude Project. I picked it up, glanced at the inside, set it back down and continued to help sis. But I could not get that book off my heart. After helping Katie pick out the devotional she wanted, I stood still for a moment and turned to God, “If you are bringing me into a new season, show me where I need to be.”

Gratitude, my love. You need to focus your energy on gratitude.

Again, yes Abba.

As I did some self reflection, God was exactly right (obviously). I worry about the next best thing, the farmhouse style craze, the bathroom updates, the clothes I wear, the way my kids look, and heaven knows what else, all out of fear of judgement from others. When what I need to be doing is offering continuous thanks for what my family and I have been blessed with. I have an amazing and loving family and friends circle, a home that is well lived-in and peaceful, a good career and the opportunity to honor God in it, the ability to provide for my kids, and a Father who loves me unconditionally.

WHY AM I WORRIED ABOUT ANYTHING ELSE??

God revealed Romans 12:2 to me in a new light, a light of gratitude. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind. Be in the world, not of it. We all know this in our minds, but do we know it in our hearts? God showed me 5 areas where an attitude of gratitude needs applied in my life. I want to share them with you.

1. Find gratitude in everything, even the hardships. James 1:2-4. In my frustrations it is hard to be thankful. The gratitude comes in the lessons God reveals to us in our hardships. Count it ALL joy.
2. Seek the servanthood in others. 1 Thessalonians 5:15-18. Seek to do good. Seek to see the good. And give thanks for all of it. Sometimes it’s hard to see the good in others when we focus on physical, or even personality, attributes and faults. We must examine the heart, ours and others. See the servanthood in the people around you and don’t let the humanness get in the way.
3. Stand grateful in the gap. Philippians 4:6-7. We either experience hardships or know someone who is. In those times, it can be so hard to pray and give thanks. Stand in the gap with your sister. Pray for her in and with thanksgiving.
4. Be thankful in opportunity. Romans 12:9-21. We learn the marks of a true Christian through these verses. We are blessed with opportunities DAILY to be able to express love for one another, honor, and joy. ESPECIALLY NOW. We are in unprecedented times, and we are called to love the unlovable, not stand in selfish pride.
5. Rejoice in every moment. Psalm 118:24. If we focus on the to-do’s of tomorrows, we miss the blessings of the right-now’s. God made EVERY DAY, not just the tomorrows. Each one is a gift, a gift to be thankful for.

I don’t know where you’re at on your gratitude journey, or if you are even on one. Your season may be very different. But you know what? That season is still one to be THANKFUL for. I know I am changing in my gratitude walk daily. And it takes a constant reminder from the Holy Spirit not to get lost in frustration.

Feed Yourself, Girl! with joy and gratitude. I hope you can be thankful for the rainbows through the rain, and grateful for the right-now’s.

Love you.