I can

"Imagine the person

you want your child to become,

and be that person".

I read this quote in an article I found in the magazine, Hello Darling.  Whether it's becoming the person we want to live out for our children, our spouse, our friends or the community, we can all relate to this on some level.

One thing's for sure, none of us are perfect, but we can try our best to be the person that God has created us to be.  Certainly not by our own strength, but by relying on the Lord to empower our actions and our thoughts.

I can do all things through Christ

who gives me strength.

Philippians 4:13

Photo by Savannah Blevins

Be That Mother 

written by Megan O'Leary.

I want to be a mother {a person} who...

PAUSES.    who puts down the dishes, and listens and watches.

GIVES.    whether it be attention, time or words of encouragement.

TAKES RESPONSIBILITY FOR MISTAKES.    quick to apologize and make amends.

PLAYS.    "yes! we should totally go outside and dig for worms."

LAUGHS.    a portion of every day should be filled with laughter. find the humor or create it.

ENJOYS LIFE.    what gives me joy? how can I create more room for that in my life?

RESPECTS.     treats everyone with value, whether they're a stranger, a friend or a partner.

IS FILLED WITH WONDER.    start to question the world--let's find answers together.

CREATES.    art and music are soul healing, so is making something together.

SETS A GOOD EXAMPLE.   learn to stand up for yourself and others...


Imagine the person God wants you to become and be that person.  Others will in turn notice and benefit from the example lived out.

Overwhelmed

For we do not wrestle

against flesh and blood,

but against the rulers,

against the authorities,

against the cosmic powers

over this present darkness,

against the spiritual forces

of evil in heavenly places.

Ephesians 6:12

There is an unseen battle going on behind the scenes of this world.  A battle for control of the hearts and minds of those the Lord created. Yours and mine.  The world paints a pretty picture as it tries to capture our attention. But as I look closer, I can see the ugliness, the hurt, the brokenness, the suffering. And as I allow my mind to wrestle with all of the "what ifs",  my heart quickly becomes anxious.  I am overwhelmed. 

Why do we allow ourselves to become overwhelmed with things we simply have zero control over?  Maybe we think we have control.  But isn't this a waste of precious energy?  It's time to fight back.  It's time to adjust the lens of our mind's eyes and use that energy to stop the enemy from distracting our focus.  It's time that we become overwhelmed with Christ.  The Creator and Lover of our souls.

When my heart is overwhelmed, 

lead me to the Rock

that is higher than I.

Psalm 61:2

On my knees. That is how I fight back.  Not necessarily in a physical sense, but in my heart.  That may seem like a weak stance, but there is actually nothing stronger than being constantly aware of the Lord's presence in my life.  Knowing that he is always there... knowing that is is always faithful.  He is my Rock and will forever be the Sovereign King of my life.  As I worship the Lord God Almighty with everything that I am, my heart quickly becomes aware of his presence and his great love for me.  I am overwhelmed... with a peace I cannot explain. 

Great is the Lord!

He is most worthy of praise!

Psalm 145:3

For the Lord is good

and his love endures forever.

His faithfulness continues

through all generations.
Psalm 100:5 

Take a moment to reflect and worship him:  Yahweh, led by Kari Jobe

Hurl it.

Cast your burden to the Lord

and he will sustain you.

He will never let

the righteous be shaken.

Psalm 55:22

I am to "cast" my burden to the Lord. To cast means to toss in a sudden motion. This is not just a casual toss... I must throw it to him, chuck it, hurl it.   

The force in which I throw determines how desperately I want him to have it.  Think about it, if you toss with little effort, the burden will most likely land within arms reach... easily accessible to be picked back up again.   How many times have we done this? 

When we truly cast our cares to him we are trusting and resting in his promise. The choice is ours.  As for me, I'm going to throw it like I mean it. No matter how heavy the burden may be. I may throw like a girl, but my arm will be empowered! I believe the results will not disappoint.  He promises to sustain me.  He promises to take care of me.  I will not be shaken.  But what happens when life gets hard?  When the burdens and anxieties prove to be more than I can handle?

I will simply remember that they were never intended for me to hold.  So I hurl it to the One who promises to catch it. My burden is in his hands. 

Jesus, calm my anxious heart. Hold my heart today and always.  I trust you.

Listen:  Steady My Heart, Kari Jobe

Good Friday?

Today is Good Friday.  And to be completely honest, I am not so "good" today.  While this blog has been a huge outlet for me and God has revealed himself to me in extraordinary ways, I do not have it all together.  I am in the midst of extremely difficult circumstances.  I am in a place of brokenness.  I feel dead inside, defeated, and weary of doing what is right.  I am sure many of you have experienced this on some level.  Or maybe you are perfect and don't relate at all.  Either way... today, I am far from "good".

It's in times like these that I remember the cross. Good Friday is the day that Jesus died.  What is so good about that??  Everything. 

He was pierced for our transgression;

he was crushed for our iniquities;

the punishment that brought us peace

was on him,

and by his wounds we are healed.

Isaiah 53:5

But God shows his love for us

in that while we were still sinners,

Christ died for us.

 Romans 5:8

I hold on to this hope.  He hung on that cross with me on his mind.  He loves me and he knows my pain. He choose to die for me, not because I had it all together, but because he knew this was the only way to put me back together.  His blood washes away all the ugliness in my life and makes it beautiful. The punishment he endured allows me to have peace.  His wounds, they heal me.  

And it doesn't stop there.  After he died, they laid him in a tomb and 3 days later, the tomb was empty.  Jesus is ALIVE.  

And because of that, I am alive. Both now and forevermore.  My brokenness can be healed.  I am more than a conqueror. He gives me strength to keep going.  Even in the midst of tough times.

The result of his death is good. Even better than good... it is amazingly wonderful.

Watch:  Cardboard Testimonies: How He Loves Us

Forever changed

And as they led him away,

they seized one Simon of Cyrene,

who was coming in from the country,

and laid on him the cross,

to carry it behind Jesus.

Luke 23:26

The voice of the mobs prevailed.  "Crucify him!" Pilate went against what he felt in his heart.  He knew, deep down in his heart, that Jesus was not guilty.  He could find no wrong.  But he let the fear of losing control of the crowd triumph.  He lacked the courage to stand against them. Justice stood at a distance.  Jesus was to die a cruel and humiliating death... one he did not deserve. He could have stood up for himself... he is God, after all.  But he didn't.  He didn't have to prove himself to anyone.  He knew this was the only way.  He was the lamb led to be slaughtered. The ultimate sacrifice.

They led him away... after being beaten and bruised beyond recognition... to carry his own cross.  He was at his weakest.  Barely able to breathe, let alone bear the weight of the cross. Then there was a divine pause.... They made someone else do it.  Simon.

Who is this Simon?  To me, he is a beautiful glimpse of Mark 8:34.  "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves, take up their cross and follow me".  Simon literally portrayed this selfless act. He was on his way into the city and most likely had other things planned, but he took up the cross and followed behind Jesus on the path to Calvary. And I believe after this encounter with Jesus, his life was forever changed.

Being a Christian is not about religion.  It's a road we follow... a journey... a life changed by encountering and experiencing a relationship with Jesus... the only One to ever give up his life so that the world could live.

And although the road has proven to have it's share of both joy and heartache, we come to accept the path that has been set before us... because it leads us to him and his overwhelming love for us.  

I am forever changed.

Listen: Lead Me To The Cross, by Hillsong United

Broken beautiful

He heals the brokenhearted and

binds up their wounds.

Psalm 147:3

God heals broken hearts. 
God heals broken situations... broken dreams.
He restores what's broken.
That's what he does. 
Psalm 34:18 says that the Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

He's close.  Even during the times when I can't feel him.  Maybe because the brokenness is at it's darkest.  Maybe because there's just too many broken pieces that I have tried so hard to put back together in my own strength.  But as I whisper his name, I remember, he's there... he has never left my side. And he promises to bind up my wounds. 

I know he can because he walked out of the grave.

He suffered, too. He died... for me, for you. He took our place so that he could heal our hearts and heal our brokenness.  He understands our sorrow. He understands our grief. He understands our brokenness. 

The tomb is empty...his promises are full. 

My God is not dead. Neither are my hopes and my dreams. He will take all the broken pieces and put them back together....the way he intended.  Empowered. Strong. Beautiful.

And after you have suffered

a little while, the God of all grace,

who has called you to eternal glory in Christ,

will himself

restore,

confirm,

strengthen

and establish you.

1 Peter 5:10

Listen: Broken Beautiful, Ellie Holcomb

Shout it out

Praise the Lord, all nations!

Extol him, all peoples!

For great is his steadfast love toward us,

and the faithfulness of

the Lord endures forever.

Praise the Lord!

Psalm 117:1-2

I love it when scripture has exclamation points.  I like that the authors reflect strong feeling and high volume.  So yes, I will too.  Praise the Lord!  Thank you, Jesus!  Seriously, thank you.

Thank you for the way you love me!

Thank you for your faithfulness toward me!

Thank you for the grace you extend to me!

Thank you for the price you paid for my life!

Thank you for the cross!

Thank you for not staying dead!

Thank you for conquering death, hell and the grave!

No one else has ever gone that far. That's a pretty big deal, right?!  So, I'm going to go ahead and just say it.... better yet,  I'm going to shout it out...
Hallelujah!!! Praise the Lord!!!

Shout to the Lord, all the earth;

break out in praise and sing for joy!

Psalm 98:4

Listen: Rooftops, by Jesus Culture

Dare not compare

Not that we dare to classify or

compare ourselves with

some of those who

are commending themselves. 

But when they measure themselves by

one another and compare themselves

with one another,

they are without understanding.

2 Corinthians 10:12 

The lives of others may inspire me; however, their successes or lack thereof, is not what determines or defines my self-worth or value. Nothing steals my joy and contentment quicker than the pitfall of comparing myself with others.  It leaves me feeling inadequate, insecure and discontent. Jealous. Envious. Bitter. And sometimes it's even the other way around.  Feeling superior. Thinking of myself better than others. Judgmental.  Either way, it's a dangerous and destructive path.  Neither one of which God has chosen for me.

God has paved a road for each one of us to follow that is completely different than anyone else's.  We do not know all of the curves, the ups, the downs, the twists and turns that the other person has had to walk to get them to where they are today. Nor do we know where God will call them to... and what gifts, talents and abilities will be given to them in order to help them along the way.  Knowing that helps me understand how useless it is to compare myself with others.

So what is at the root of comparing?  Possibly the need for approval and acceptance from others?  If that is the case, then it is time to stop comparing and start looking for approval from the only One who is worthy to give it.

Whatever you do,

work at it with all your heart

as working for the Lord, not for men.

Since you know that you

will receive an inheritance

from the Lord as a reward.

It is the Lord you are serving.
Colossians 3:23-24

And as we live our lives pleasing Him and Him alone, I believe we will be too preoccupied to compare. It's in him that I find true joy and satisfaction. He's enough.

Listen: Christ is Enough, by Hillsong Live

Convinced

God was pursuing me long before I ever began to pursue him...even after I asked Jesus into my heart.  And he has never stopped pursuing me. He has placed things on my path that have made me realize my need for him. Not a need for religion.  Not a need for spirituality.  But a need for a relationship... a forever friendship with my creator.

It's more than just a list of rules to follow. For I know they are there to protect me and guide me.  But it's more than that.  It's got to be.  There is a God who is jealous for me. For me. For you. He wants to be involved in every aspect of our lives. He wants us to know him.  To trust him. 

Oh taste and see that the Lord is good;

Blessed is the man who trusts in him!

Psalm 34:8

How sweet the Lord is! I cannot begin to explain it. For it must be experienced.  

He is my Father.

He is my Provider.

He is my Healer.

He is my Defender.

He is my Counselor.

He is my Deliverer.

He is my Protector.

He is my Shepherd.

He is my Redeemer.

He is my Helper.

He is my Rock.

He is my Comfort.

He is my Peace.

He is my Hope.

He is my Friend.

He is... my Everything.

He never leaves me.  He empowers me.  He sustains me.  He loves me!  I am convinced. 

I am convinced of this goodness because I have experienced his goodness.  

I trust him. I am blessed. 

In Your Presence, by Elevation Worship 

Moments

There are moments of sweetness. Moments of clarity.  Moments of pure bliss.  For those I am thankful. And then there are those moments that are downright exhausting... discouraging... debilitating.  Moments when it seems easier to just give up. Throw in the towel. Call it a day. 

Yet, I am thankful for those not-so-sweet moments.  Not necessarily while I am going through them. When I have the courage to take a step back and look at the bigger picture, I can see how God is using these times to draw me closer to himself in a way that I would not have otherwise.

My heart and soul are strengthened the moment I realize my need for him to hold me up.  It's in those moments that I finally surrender.

But they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength;

they shall mount up with wings like eagles;

they shall run and not be weary;

they shall walk and not faint.

Isaiah 40:31

I refuse to let difficulties overwhelm me. I will learn from them. I will see them as opportunities for God's sovereignty and strength to be displayed. Knowing that they had to pass through his fingertips first.  He could have prevented it, but chose not to because he knew I would come out stronger in the end.  

[So] let us not grow weary of doing good, 

for in due season we will reap,

if we do not give up.

Galatians 6:9

And when my prayers for the struggles to end are not answered, I will trust him.  I will trust him with all my heart, as tired as it may be. I will not give up... even in the weary moments.

Listen: Need You Now, by Plumb