Living For What Lasts

Scripture to Ponder:

Psalm 103

I have a love for Oreos. I go all in and get the Mega stuffed. The saying ‘less is more' does not apply to dessert. If I'm going to splurge, go ahead and give me all the calories stuffed in the center of that chocolate cookie. Throw in a glass of milk and you have a recipe for pure bliss. Excuse me while I take a break to wipe the crumbs from my keyboard.

My family knows the Mega stuffed oreos are moms. They all complain that the mega stuffed are too much, yet they still devour them in record time, and the worst part is they leave the empty container setting on the shelf. Let me tell you about dissapointment. I experience it deeply every time I lift that too light container and realize my kids are animals. Three weeks in a row a pack of oreos was purchased at the grocery store and three weeks in a row when I went to get an oreo the container was empty before I even got ONE! Teenage boys are bottomless pits with endless hunger. Don't judge - the next grocery run included 2 packs of Oreos and, yes, I hid one. No more Oreos dissappearing for this mom. I need them to last at least through a week of sporadic cravings.

Just as my Oreos dissappear so quickly (even when I'm eating them), our lives pass quickly. Nothing can change the reality that at some point our time on this earth comes to an end, but while we're here we have the opportunity to decide what we will live for. Will our lives leave an impact for eternity? How do we live for something that lasts?

Quiet your heart before you begin:

“Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:

Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;

Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;

Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.

The Lord executeth righteousness and judgement for all that are oppressed.

He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel.

The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.

He will not always chide: neither will be keep his anger for ever.

He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.

For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.

As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him.

For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.

As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.

For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.

But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children;

To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.

The Lord hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.

Bless the Lord, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.

Bless ye the Lord, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure.

Bless the Lord, all his works in all places of his dominion: bless the Lord, O my soul.

Take time to read through this passage a few times. Let your heart ponder and meditate on the living word and what the Father wants to speak to your heart.

How do we live for something that last? Worship. When we worship we focus on Christ himself and recognize the benefits of abiding in him. David beautifully reminds his own heart to worship Christ and remember his benefits. When we are not worshipping, we have forgotten the good thing. We are prone to forget. Our human nature quickly forgets the good, yet easily remembers the bad. Verse 14 reminds us that he knows our frame; he knows we are dust. Even David, a man after God's own heart, needed to remind his own soul to worship and remember his benefits. We must be intentional and deliberate in our remembering. Sister, let this be a reminder to worship. Let this scripture remind our very soul who Christ is.

Scroll back up and read the Psalm once more. Pondering on who Christ is.

He is the one who forgives your sins, heals your diseases, redeems your life from destruction, crowns you with love and mercy, and satisfies you with good things. O my soul, Bless the Lord! He alone is worthy of our highest praise and deepest devotion. His love for you, high as the heaven is above the earth. Your sin infinitely separated. No matter how far you run to the east or the west you will never reach the other. His grace extends that far; farther than your sin. When we worship him our focus is taken off the temporary and fixed towards the only thing that lasts: Jesus.

Our lives will pass but God's mercy is from everlasting to everlasting. May we live for what lasts. May we live a life of worship and continually remind ourselves of his benefits. May we live in such a way that what we leave behind is a reflection of God's love; a reflection of what lasts. May we live intentionally; sharing the love that sustains us.

Questions to Ponder:

1) What does this passage reveal to me about the heart of God?

2) Am I living daily towards what is eternal?

3) When my focus is on the things of this life, do I remind my soul to worship?

Chasing Happy

Scripture to Ponder:

Matthew 6:19-21

Summers full of laughter, swimming, and days in the sun with the people we love is what I hope my kids remember when they're grown. I want them to have fond memories that last a lifetime. I want them to prioritize what truly matters. The things that last.

Our family dinners during the warm months always ended with competitive games in the backyard. From wiffle-ball to tag, we played with our kids and nieces and nephews until it was too dark to see. I loved those days and miss them terribly now that the kids are getting older and starting their own lives.

One game in particular left a rather lasting impression. It was already dark but we continued to play hide and seek tag. The cover of darkness made the game even more fun and my nephew was having a harder time chasing down the adults. Then those famous last words were spoken, “watch this". I quietly inched past my nephew and started to sprint for base. The next thing I knew my feet were in the air and I landed with a noticeable thud on the grass now damp with dew. I wiped out hard enough that the kids still remember the incident. It's funny to look back on now but then it was terribly painful.

Our lives consist of chasing. We may be chasing different things, but we're all still striving towards something. Most are chasing after happiness and our world says that money, possessions, and power bring just that. If that were true, every wealthy celebrity should be happy, but that's certainly not the case and it's heartbreaking to watch people strive to those ends. Our earthly lives can easily be filled with obtaining more, but more doesn't bring happiness that lasts. It may fill a temporary void, but soon that will fade and we will be striving towards the next thing.

Jesus lovingly reminds us that where our treasure is, there our heart will be. What's in our heart is what we will chase after and what we chase after will be a reflection of what's in our heart. If we chase after temporary things those rewards will soon fade, but when we chase after Christ our reward is eternal. It all comes down to our heart. What is in our hearts? Am I focused on Christ and keeping an eternal perspective, or am I becoming distracted by the temporary things that will fade away? The things that truly matter impact eternity.

May we not chase after earthly happiness that fades but after Christ. May we chase after the one who sustains us, sisters!

Questions to Ponder:

1) If we take inventory of our lives, what is in our hearts? Where am I storing treasures?

2) Does my life reflect my answer to question 1?

3) Do I search my heart often to ensure my focus remains steadfast on eternity?

Running with Grace

Scripture to Ponder:

1 Corinthians 12:12-31

Ephesians 2:4-10

2 Timothy 4:7

Some of us sisters have a competitive spirit. We may not admit it openly, but put us against each other for a fun-filled game or sport and it quickly becomes evident who possesses that fierce instinct. It can also shine a light on those of us who win and lose with grace or the lack thereof. We like to win. We strive to be victorious. It's not in our nature to cheer for the competition or to be exuberant when our competitor takes the lead. We lose and search for the injustice we can lay blame to or the person that cost us a victory. Shew, our nature sure is unpleasant at times!

Our society thrives on competition and winning at all cost. Getting ahead no matter who you step on to get there has become the norm. It's a harsh society that claims ‘all is fair in love and war’. Simply put - as long as you get to your end goal, it doesn't matter how you get there. You can double check, but I can't find that principle anywhere in scripture. Thank goodness! If that were the case, we would extend very little effort in helping others experience Christ.

Sisters, our walk is not a competition. Our lives are not a competition. Our relationships are not a competition. You see, the devil wants to come between us and cause division. He wants us to be judgemental and jealous of one another, but that comes at a great cost to us. Remove those things and what do you have? I imagine a long table filled with women. A seat for each, where she is welcomed on all sides. She feels wanted and included. She is greeted with smiles and encouraging words. She is prayed over and lifted to her Father by her sisters. She leaves the table feeling a weight lifted and a boldness to endure in her faith, knowing her seat is always waiting for her return. If that doesn't make your heart swell and your eyes water, I'm not sure what would! Sisters, that's grace. We should start, endure, and end with grace.

I, so undeserving of grace, am filled with gratitude when I think of the grace Christ extended to me. Yet, our nature is not to extend grace to others. How sad that we being extended such grace are not often freely giving of such grace. May we as sisters lead and love with grace. When we want to lead with harsh words, judgement, and frustration, may we pause and remember the grace we have been given and start there. This race is not one where we strive to be first. It is an endurance race where the goal is completion. Where we put our arms around our struggling sisters and help them to the finish line. Where we cheer on one another in our walk towards Christ and help shoulder one another's burdens until completion. This is grace, sisters. His grace sustains us. We each need grace and because of that may we each extend grace.

The course is set before us. The goal in sight. Will we run with grace?

Questions to Consider:

1) Do the women in my life feel like they set at the table described when they're in my presence?

2) Do I lead with grace? (Even with those who may be difficult to get along with?)

3) Do I remind myself of the grace given to me so that I more freely give grace?

The Most Important Thing

Scripture to Ponder:

Luke 10:38-42

My son has always asked me random and quite unique questions on road trips to help pass the time. If a bear and an alligator fought, who would win? If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be? If you were stranded on a deserted island and could only take one thing, what would it be? Some of these questions lead to great conversations and some leave me truly pondering what I would do in each scenario, such as a deserted island. Insert thinking cloud above my head… deserted island…silence except for the sound of the waves gently meeting the shore, the sun warming my skin, the soft feeling of sand under my feet, not a cloud to be seen in the sky…I am not seeing this as a problem, son! Then he disturbs the daydream with adding in harsh elements, starvation, dehydration, and insects and I begin to see why the island appears to be an issue. If I must, we trudge through a discussion of his deserted island versus mine; although, I preferred mine immensely. While I may enjoy watching television shows of people trying to survive in the wilderness alone, I would not choose to be in that situation. I mean, I would give it my best effort for as long as I could if my life depended on it, but let's be honest, there are very few people that have the knowledge, skills, and desire.

I had a difficult time choosing just one item I would take on the deserted island. Each item presented itself necessary but left another problem close at hand. You would need shelter, food, clean drinking water, and so on. As each family member voiced their opinions another was quick to point out the problems that would be left from lacking other necessary items. There didn't seem to be just one item that would ensure your survival.

That one thing.

The one you cannot survive this life without.

The most important thing you can choose.

It's Jesus.

Sis, I don't mean the thing you need to make life more comfortable or bearable. I truly mean survival. He is that one thing we need to truly live. We need to be in his presence and set at his feet. We were created for that. The story of Martha and Mary is probably familiar, but if not let's catch you up. Jesus came to the sister's house and Mary sat at Jesus feet listening to him while Martha worried about serving them. She was worried about things that held no eternal purpose and complained to Jesus. We're like that sometimes. Caught up in daily life and routines and we neglect the thing that we need to survive. We focus on things that have no eternal purpose. We get distracted. Busy. Exhausted. Depleted. All the while the one thing we need and have unlimited access to is the one thing we neglect.

Just like physically being stranded on a deserted island where we would become dehydrated and starved if there are no resources, so to is our spiritual life if we neglect time with Christ. Sis, we need to set at his feet to survive. We need to pour ourselves out at his feet so that we are drinking from his living water and being filled. Otherwise, we become spiritually starved and cannot fight the spiritual battles ahead. Sis, He is the answer. He is always the answer. Time in his presence is the one thing that cannot be taken from us. It is the one thing in this life we need more than any other. Come set at his feet. He will sustain you.

Questions to Ponder:

1) Do I, at times, try to survive this life all on my own and neglect the one thing I need?

2) Is my relationship with Christ the most important thing? Have I become distracted or too busy?

3) Have I made time at his feet a daily priority in my life?

Hang on… Let Me Overthink This

Scripture to Ponder:

Matthew 6:25-34

I was packing for a last-minute, unexpected trip and trying to prepare what I would need. As I was verbally running through a list that was forming in my head, my husband asks, “do you always think that much?” Sir, you have no idea!!! It was then I realized his brain doesn't function the same as mine. Just kidding…that's NOT the first time I've had that realization! He is not an overthinker. He grabs his essentials, normally the morning of said trip, and rolls on. No worries!

Not me, Sis! I overthink everything! Insert my apparent need to be in control of my life and my quick realization that in my walk with Christ that has to go! So we dig a little deeper to uncover what's really behind all this overthinking. Any guesses? (Cue the Jeopardy Game Show music)

Uncertainty.

Plain and simple. When we don't know what's ahead or what's going to happen and then we let our mind take flight with the ‘what if's'. We get in a mindset of negative thoughts and if we're not careful they spin out of control. Isn't it ironic that our need to control gives way to our mind spinning out of control?!

Let's take back control, Sis!

I can hear your wheels already spinning… how?

What I've learned is that nothing takes away uncertainty better than assurance. In this life here on earth there's an abundant supply of uncertainty, but when we place our eyes on Christ we can have complete assurance. Life is hard. Look at the life of Christ which is filled with suffering and rejection. But he didn't leave us to do it alone. He left us the Holy Spirit, our assurance!

That's a promise. He's got you, Sis! (Eph.1:13)

May we listen to the gentle nudge of the Holy Spirit instead of the negative thoughts that threaten to take hold. Christ tells us that he cares for even the lillies of the field. Sis, you are more. You are so much more! Consider the lillies, Sis…YOU ARE MORE!

May we trust him more because we are more! We have blessed assurance through Christ which trumps all uncertainty!

Rest in the assurance that Christ is in control. He sees you. He holds you. He loves you and he will continue to sustain you!

Questions to Consider:

1) When you start to overthink or let negative thoughts take hold, do you take those thoughts to Christ?

2) How do you feel that Christ feels about you? Do you need reminded that you are more?

3) Does the assurance you have in Christ help you face the uncertainties of this life or do they tend to weigh you down?

Looking for Faith

Scripture to Ponder:

Luke 8: 22-25

I would predict this is an issue in the majority of households, but things are always getting misplaced. Now, I'm not saying which person is largely responsible in our home, but said person still ask where things are even though they've been in the same location for the past 15 years. If this isn't a concern in your home, sis, consider yourself blessed and highly favored!

Now, when things are misplaced there's a name that is said over and over until it's found. MOM!!!! Where's my…. What did you do with…. Have you seen my…. on and on until the lost item is finally recovered! The question is loud and clear…where is it? Some times the recovery mission is quick and simple and othertimes it is a long grueling task. (Add in the emotions that can be present.) When you lose your wallet, cell phone, or car keys, the panic sets in or the dreaded feeling starts to make it's way to the pit of your stomach, but, oh, the relief when it is found!

I think we get this way in life more that we are consciously aware of, but Jesus knew. He asked it of his disciples in Luke chapter 8 when they were in the midst of storm. Where is your faith? The question that needs asked more than we care to admit. Where is it? In this passage the disciples already had all they needed. I mean Jesus was literally in the boat, yet they still needed reminded. Oh, sweet sister, I need reminded too.

How would that simple question change how we think, feel, and act? When circumstances are out of our control. Where is your faith? When we are relying on self instead of God. Where is your faith? When life has been hard and we are feeling discouraged. Where is your faith?

Sis, I can only speak for myself, but no matter how hard I try I need that fresh reminder that He is still in the boat with me. All I need, I already have. Faith is already present, but where is it placed? Is it placed in self? In others? In security? In relationships? In success? Or is it fully placed in Christ? My kids may constantly holler MOM when something is lost but there's only one name we need to say, sis, JESUS!!!!

May our faith not be misplaced in self but found in Christ! He's all we need and sis, let me remind your heart today, he's in the boat with you! Place your faith in him! He will sustain you!

Questions to Ponder:

1) Am I daily reminding my heart he is present and always close?

2) In whom is my faith placed? Are there times it is misplaced in self?

3) Is there a sister that may need an encouraging reminder that Christ is with her? Take time to pray over that sister and encourage her heart that Jesus is still in the boat with her!

Pulling Weeds

Scripture to ponder:

Ephesians 3:16-19

Rooted in Christ. That's what we are supposed to be as followers of Christ, but what other things have taken hold in the ground of the garden of our hearts?

Just like in those warm months of sowing and harvesting there is also a time to pull weeds. I used to stay with my grandparents while my parents worked, so I was blessed to be an observer of their precious lives and in turn they held a large role in shaping mine. Always together, they would work in quiet unison down the rows of their garden, preparing the soil, planting, tending, and the most dreaded time, for me anyways, was the weeding. I wanted to be chasing butterflies instead of pulling weeds but that was the necessary part that couldn't be ignored. If that step were to be skipped those pesky weeds would take over the whole garden and all their hard work would be quickly overtaken. Sis, our hearts are that way too. Those weeds creep up quickly without notice and soon they've taken root in our hearts without us even being aware of their presence.

Summer days were spent setting across from my papaw on an overturned bucket quietly pulling weeds. He was gentle and soft-spoken with a hidden sense of humor that was often unexpected. He'd set on that bucket in his blue plaid button-up and khakis working till his job was finished. He'd instruct me on what was next and together we'd work. I'm sure at that age I wasn't doing an adequate job but he never let on that I wasn't doing it to his satisfaction.

As the days passed the work continued. Caring for a garden is a continuous job and there's always something that needs done. If you desire the reward at completion, you take extra care and put forth your best effort. In our heart gardens, sis, there's always something that needs tended to.

Their garden grew and soon it was time to get our buckets back out and pick the green beans. That was always my favorite time; there's something satisfying about stringing and breaking beans. Maybe it was the meal I knew my Nanny would soon be fixing, or the beans that would pop out when broken that would get tossed at each other. We'd carefully work down the rows pulling each bean that was ready to be picked. Then my grandparents would set around the table and we would all string and break them together. It may have felt like a chore at the time but it is a memory I cherish now. Without the work of pulling weeds, there would be no reward.

Sis, our hearts are the same. We have to do the work of pulling up weeds that threaten to separate us from our reward that is Christ. Roots take hold quickly without us being aware, so we have to be constantly seeking the Lord to reveal what's not of him. That negative thought that keeps slipping in and soon we're complaining. That hurt that's grown root's and we've become bitter. That sense of feeling things are unfair and we've gossipped until we felt validated. Those little roots take hold and begin to consume us if we are not actively caring for the garden of our hearts.

May we ask him to search our hearts and reveal to us what weeds need to be pulled so that we can produce only what is of him.

Questions to Consider:

1) What weeds are in my heart that I haven't taken notice of?

2) Am I actively pulling weeds so that bitterness and resentment aren't taking hold?

3) Am I aware of my complaining and negative thoughts that if left unchecked will soon grow deeper roots?

U-Turn Ahead

Scripture to ponder:

Luke 9

I should probably start this out with the currently trending saying…"we listen and we don't judge.” Now, while I think I am a pretty decent driver, others may have varying opinions. I'm not much on listening to the opinions of others though, so I'd like to stand behind my first statement of being decent. Notice, I didn't say perfect or superb, I simply said decent. I can get where I need to go and isn't that the point anyways? Besides, the curbs at Chick-fil-a have it out for me - convince me otherwise, and who can line up their wheels perfectly every time at the automatic car wash? Who hasn't let their mind wander and found themselves 45 minutes past where they were supposed to turn while on their way to work? Anyone? No?Hmmm….me neither!

Okay. Okay. I did this just once, but I was really into my playlist that morning!

After I saw the flashing blue lights in the rear-view mirror that morning, I quickly came back to reality and realized my attention deficit had gotten the best of my morning commute. One generous warning from the officer and a u-turn later, I was heading in the opposite direction towards my intended destination. That u-turn was necessary to get where I needed to go.

Following Christ requires a u-turn in our walk. It requires a complete turn from the way we were going, so that we can follow the way Christ is leading. It takes a turn from our way to his, our will to his. A complete and daily denial of self so that we can follow him. If left to ourselves, we would miss our turns and be heading the completely opposite direction of the way we need to be going. We can't completely follow after Christ if we don't turn from self. Christ tells us that what we give up here on earth will not compare to what is waiting for us through him. In him we will find life, but if we aren't willing to give up our lives here we will lose what's ahead.

That's some powerful truth, sweet sisters! When we turn from self what we gain is so much better! I give myself and gain Christ! I give my will, my desires, my control and I gain the eternal presence of my precious Savior. I don't know about you but that makes me want to stop and do a u-turn. I don't want to miss what is in store when we follow closely after Christ. He is worth it all!

Questions to consider:

1) Am I denying self and surrendering completely to Christ?

2) Am I daily turning from self so that I can fully follow my Jesus?

3) What things in my life hinder me from completely and wholly following after him?

Bigger than the Boogie Man

Scripture to ponder:

Deuteronomy 8:1-6

James 4

Jeremiah 9:23-24

1 John 2:15-17

My daughter used to have a hard time sleeping and frequently had bad dreams. I would lay in bed and hear the pitter-patter of little feet coming down the hallway. She would crawl into my bed, where we would sing a song together, until her little mind and heart were at ease. It was her favorite Veggie Tales song, ‘God is Bigger than the Boogie Man’. When she would remember that God was bigger than what she was facing, she would settle in and drift to sleep. What about our hearts, sisters? Do we remember God is bigger?

-

I'm not focusing on fear here but, perspectively the opposite, confidence in self or pride. It has a way of edging itself in, leaving us unaware, until we take an introspective look at our heart or we react in a way that puts our pride on center stage. Two VIP tickets to that Broadway show? No, thank you, and I'd appreciate you not attending my premier either. If we ask him to, Christ will search our hearts and show us where pride has entangled itself into our heart (Psalms 139: 23-24), and hopefully we ask before our debut performance takes place! Our human nature is to be defensive. We tend to build walls to protect from being hurt, to gain control, or to attempt to keep things from changing. Yet, to address pride, we have to allow Christ to break through those walls we've built so that he can transform us from the inside out. We don't want to just swallow our pride, we want to eradicate it completely. We want to deny self as Christ instructs. Everything we do should be for the glory of God, sweet sister, so pride has no place. We have to continually ask ourselves, who is getting the glory for what I am doing or how I am reacting? Shew, I need that as a constant reminder to keep my heart in check. How do I respond to those my personality clashes with, or those who have hurt my heart with words, those who have different opinions, or those difficult people God has placed in my life? Maybe those people are in our path so we can grow. I imagine we all, as sisters in Christ, could come together for God's purpose in unity if we all searched our hearts and were honest with ourselves about what he reveals. What about how we interact with our sisters in Christ? Is our pride a barrier? If we are honest, I am sure a face comes to mind when asked if there is a sister we struggle to get along with. STOP!!! Don't say it aloud. Shew, that was a close one!!! Keep it between you and God, girlfriend! Now, ask yourself some tough questions: Do I treat this person as Christ would? Does my pride hinder this relationship? Do I become defensive around them? If Christ sat by my side physically, would I act differently when I encounter this person? I need some steel toed boots for these truths! It's stepping on all my toes!!!

I'm grateful God sees our hearts and knows our intentions. I'm sure I'm the only one ( can you sense the sarcasm?), but I mess up all the time. I say things I shouldn't. I get wrapped up in self. I let my emotions lead my words and actions too often. Well, I'll stop my list there so this doesn't become a lengthy novel. My point is, even when we mess up, he knows our heart and extends us grace. Sweet sisters, why do we not offer those in our lives this same grace? Why do we not put self aside and try to see their heart and intentions before we become offended? We mess up and so do our sisters. When we don't extend grace and forgiveness a barrier begins to develop and continues to grow, bringing division. I don't want a barrier with any human to impact my relationship with God or how I serve him. Pride separates, love grows. Pride divides, love strengthens.

Is God not bigger than what divides us as sisters? Barriers and division do not bring God glory. Are we part of that division through our actions, words, or lack of action, or are we seeking God to search our hearts and help us to lead with love? We have a purpose as sisters: to bring glory to God, to share his love, and to build each other up. May we help sustain our sisters in Christ, even the difficult ones. That's what he wants of us. We love others because He loves us and, friends, we most certainly weren’t deserving either! I challenge you to ask him to search your heart, listen to what he reveals, and then lead with love in obedience. We are daughters of the King building a sisterhood where everyone is loved and welcome. Let's build one another up because God is bigger than what separates!

Questions to Consider:

1) Do I truly love others as Christ does? Even the difficult ones?

2) Do my words and actions reflect my response to question 1?

3) If you have asked Christ to search your heart, what has he revealed?

4) What steps of obedience can you take in response to what he has revealed?

I Need a Shepherd

Scripture to Ponder:

Psalms 23

John 10

Picture it… a large green meadow flowing with hills and valleys as far as the eye can see. In the distance, a shepherd stands under a shade tree watching over his flock. He is their defender, their safe place, their provider, their rest. They are soley dependant upon him. He ensures their safety as they travel the terrain for food and water. They listen for his voice to guide them. They trust him. As the sheep travel, they are focused on one primary factor - food. Nose to the ground, focused on filling their stomachs, chewing away. Now if I am going to draw a parallel of myself and a sheep, I have already picked mine out of the flock. Look a little to the left. On over. A little farther. There she is. Alone. Oblivious. Enjoying the sun shining on her fur and eating to her little hearts content. We will call her Meryl Sheep. Meryl isn't paying attention to where she is wandering because she is so focused on eating. Yep, I identify with ol' Meryl. I too, at times, obliviously wander off course and need my shepherd to come carry me back to safety.

Meryl has no ability to see the danger that's lurking over the next hillside, so she keeps nose to the ground, until it's present. Luckily, her shepherd can see what's ahead. He can protect her from dangers she's not even aware of, if she'll just listens to his voice. You see, she knows his voice because of the time spent together. The shepherd knows the importance of protecting his sheep and the sheep come to fully trust him. What beautiful imagery! Our Good Shepherd sees what we cannot see. He knows what we need, he knows what's ahead, and he gives fully of himself for our benefit. I don't know about you, but I am immensely grateful for my shepherd. When the ol’ Meryl in me becomes so distracted by my current circumstances and wanders too far, I hear my shepherd's voice calling, pursuing me. Just as the shepherd values his sheep, our shepherd so values us!

The shepherd daily anoints his sheep with oil to bring them peace from insects and pest that threaten to bother them. He uses it to calm them or to help them heal from injury. Ol’ Meryl gets her head annointed so she can eat and rest in peace, yet she still wanders. How much more do we need that sweet daily annointing from our Father? His love overwhelms me when I think of how he loves and cares for us. If we learn to daily come to our Good Shepherd, we will learn that he cares for us to the greatest extent. He provides, protects, heals, calms, and guides us out of his love for us! His plan for us is far greater than our own!

Our Good Shepherd knows what is ahead, knows the dangers that threaten to overtake, and knows what we have need of. A shepherd protects and provides so that his sheep will become calm enough to lay down to rest. When we think of who Christ is and all he has done, how can we not take comfort and find our rest in him? When our minds keep us awake at night, picture the shepherd setting at the gate protecting them so they are able to lay down to rest, and know your Shepherd does the same for you. He knows rough waters bring danger for his sheep, so he lovingly guides them to calm waters for restoration. Everything they have need of is known and taken care of by the shepherd. Oh sisters, it’s no different for us, in him we find all that we need.

No matter where we find ourselves in the field of life, the mountain or the valley, we can rest in the truth that we have a Good Shepherd that will guide us. Our circumstances don't have to distract us. Just like ol' Meryl, we can keep our nose to the ground in peace because we know our shepherd's voice. We know we are safe in his care! Just like Meryl, I need a shepherd. Poor Meryl would be lost without her shepherd and so would I! Lord, bind my wandering heart to thee. You are my shepherd and I know your voice.

Questions to Ponder:

1. Do I know my Shepherd’s voice?

2. Have I become distracted by circumstances, and forgotten that my Shepherd is in control?

3. Do I trust my shepherd, the one who sees what's ahead?

Advertising Gimmicks

Scripture to Ponder:
Galatians 1:10, 6:1-5
Matthew 6:1-4
Mark 7:6
James 1:19-27


As a little girl I used to spend many summer days at my grandparent's house. It's funny how certain things stand out and are committed to memory for a lifetime. I recall that my Nanny sure loved to shop and QVC was by far her favorite television channel. I'm pretty sure she had them on speed dial. She would be watching the advertisement, tell me she needed that item, and I would hear the dial tone as she placed the phone to her ear. They greeted her by name and in one or two words she was finished. That let me know she was certainly a frequent flyer. Days would pass and at last the eagerly awaited box would arrive on her porch. As she opened the box and unveiled it's contents, she would again say how she had needed said item. In reality, nope, she didn't need it, but the advertising of the item had pulled her in yet again and if the item was on sale...well, maybe she needed two!

There are all kinds of advertising gimmicks ranging from get rich quick schemes to the inflatable dancing man flailing back and forth on the car lot, the infamous Clydesdale horses to Tony the Tiger, or infomercial commercials that offer amazing deals and if you order in 5 minutes you get 2 for 39.99.  We've seen them all and at times may get deceived, but we often wonder if it's really what it seems. Right? In reality, we want the honest truth, not just gimmicks that make us think something is what it truly isn't.

What about ourselves? Do we have any gimmicks we use to get people to assume we are something we're truly not? We go to church, we are involved in our community, and volunteer our time, but are our hearts where they need to be? On the outside appearances can say we're a good Christian, but God knows the status of our heart. That's the most important thing and appearances don't always show what's in someone's heart. At times, we may even become deceived by our own pretending, when in reality we're not truly where we need to be in our relationship with Christ. When's the last time we've asked Christ to search our heart and truly listened for his response?

Christ gave warning to this type of behavior in Scripture. He called them hypocrites. No sugarcoating there. I wish I could have seen their faces as he taught. I imagine pride was rearing it's ugly head about that time. But let's not deceive ourselves; we can all examine ourselves and find room for improvements. If you can't, let me follow in the footsteps of Scripture - yep, I'm calling you a Hypocrite! In all seriousness, this is an important warning. He's telling us to be careful. Don't get caught up in what other's think, what their opinions are, or the praise and affirmation you get from other people. He's saying, I know your heart and I can see what others can't. Who do we think we're fooling? We set in church with a smile, yet pride and bitterness has taken root in our heart, or we're angry, or we're worrying... the list goes on and on. Others may be fooled by appearances, sweet sister, but God is not and truly we're only hurting ourselves. He knows the very depths of our hearts, more so than we know ourselves, and that's why he's the one we go to, asking for him to search our hearts, so that we're not deceiving ourselves.

It's easy to point out areas of improvement for others. We're pretty good at that, because it keeps the focus off of our flaws and sin nature, but let's get past the gimmicks and appearances so that we can keep moving forward in this journey to be more like Christ. Let's be sisters who are honest and transparent with Christ so that our relationship grows, because there are no gimmicks with Christ. He knows our hearts and isn't fooled by our outward appearances or words. Let's be sisters who encourage one another to dig deeper than we ever have before in our relationship with Christ!

Questions to Ponder:

1. Are there areas of my life where I seek affirmation from others instead of from God?

2. Have I asked Christ to search my heart and reveal anything that is displeasing to him?

Green Thumb

Scripture to Ponder:

Psalms 1

John 15

Flowers and plants are incredibly beautiful. I love to watch them grow and bloom and bring color to the world around us. What a spectacular opportunity to see God's beauty in every detail. If nurtured correctly, some have quite long lifespans.

Insert me...

When I am left responsible, they last a week. Maybe I'm exaggerating or being dramatic, so I'll give them 2 weeks of survival to be generous. I begin with the best of intentions, but then I get busy and distracted. My mind is running in a hundred other directions, and before it can circle back around to watering, it's far too late for resuscitation. The leaves have wilted and the blooms lay scattered on the ground, along with my hopes and dreams of their survival. I clean the mess up and think to myself, maybe next year.

Hmmm, do we have any areas of our lives where this pattern seems familiar: the great intentions and a start, but soon the intentions are forgotten and it dwindles out? Just as plants require nutrients to flourish and remain rooted, so does our spiritual growth. It requires that it be tended to for it to become fruitful.

Sweet sister, there's a reason his word is referred to as daily bread. We have to be connected daily for our relationship to grow deep roots. Now, these aren't like the grey roots starting to appear at my hairline, nope, these are deep roots in our relationship with Christ that strengthen and sustain it. They keep us grounded in Christ, regardless of circumstances we may be facing. He is the firm foundation we become deeply rooted in. When the roots take hold, the plant can bloom and begin to bear fruit. Storms will come but deep roots stay grounded. What beautiful imagery!

Let me give a glimmer of hope here friend, it's attainable!!! That deeply rooted, connected relationship with Christ is within your reach. You see, I became determined that I was going to be diligent with plants. I researched, I readied their soil, I placed the planters in adequate sunlight, I planted them at the right time, I watered them daily, I fed them weekly, and they not only survived but flourished. I had mounds of bell peppers and cucumbers and my flowers vined from the ceiling to the floor. I was exuberant! All I had to do was slow down and dedicate my time and attention.

Our spiritual growth can begin to grow too, if we tend to it. If we slow down and make our relationship with Christ a priority, those deep roots will begin to take hold. We will begin to grow as he reveals new truths to our hearts through his word and the Holy Spirit. How amazing is our God that he can take us from the soil of the ground and change us to become beautiful and fruitful for his glory! May we encourage our sisters in Christ to grow in their personal relationship with him and lift each other up as we all are growing together!

Questions to Ponder:

1) Is my relationship with Christ grounded or do I need to put in the work to begin growing deep roots?

2) Is there evidence of my relationship bearing fruit?

3) How am I encouraging my sisters in Christ in their personal walk with Christ?

A Fountain of Cheese and Endless Chips Kinda Love

Scripture to Ponder:

John 15

Psalms 73:23-28

1 Chronicles 16

When we drive through the local donut shop, I'm not sure about you, but I don't normally ask for half of one glazed donut and a half-full cup of coffee. If you do, next time I will gladly ride along to have your extra half along with my whole - ya know, just to balance things out! We don't request our employer to only deposit half our paycheck, nor do we only want them to serve us a half-full order of cheese dip at our local favorite Mexican restaurant. No way, José, we want the whole thing. Preferably a fountain of cheese dip and endless chips. Maybe I shouldn't be writing while hungry, but hopefuly you're starting to understand the direction we're going here. When we love something, we want as much as we can get.

What about our relationships? What would happen if we gave an excuse each time we were supposed to spend time with a friend? We had intentions to spend time, but instead gave our time and attention to something else. I predict that the relationship would eventually fizzle out. We all have a deep desire to be liked, loved, and wanted. We were designed for relationships. We enjoy time with others and begin to miss our loved ones when we haven't been able to see them in some time. Now, I'm not saying you have to be a social butterfly. Goodness knows I'm not. I like to think of myself as more of a social dragonfly, per se. While I can socialize, I am certainly not proficient in this area and after a while I am ready to curl up on the couch with a good book - in solitude. Don't judge me, even Jesus needed some alone time and after all, I am just trying to be more like him.

We can reflect on some important truths here. Christ doesn't want just a small portion of ourselves and our time. In fact, he doesn't even want half. He is our Father and wants us to be all in. Our relationship is stronger when we're all in, fully committed, and wholly devoted. Relationships can't be sustained if they're only one sided. Truth is sisters, He's already done his part to have a relationship with us and the rest depends upon us.

A relationship with Christ, while we're gathering truths by comparing earthly relationships, can't even begin to compare to an earthly relationship. Numbers 23:19 reminds us that God is not man. He is honest and faithful in ALL of his ways. Even with the best of intentions, we will fail, dissappoint, and be dissappointed in our relationships with people, but not with Christ. His very character and being is love itself. He wants to be the ONE relationship that sustains us. He wants to be Lord of our life. He loves us and desires a close relationship. Pause and let that thought sink in. Christ wants a close relationship with YOU! WOW! How it must grieve his heart when we neglect the relationship he desires with us.

Sister, are you all in? Are you fully committed to Christ and to making your relationship with him a priority? No matter where we are in our walk, we can always gather truths and reminders to draw close and continually seek the Father. Growing in our relationship is a lifelong journey. Let's go all in. Let's make him Lord of our lives, where he rightfully belongs. Let's be daughters of the King, and sisters who are fully devoted and wholly committed to our Savior!

Questions to Consider:

1) What relationship consumes the majority of my time and attention?

2) Am I all in with Christ? Is he my whole life, or have I given him less than he deserves?

3) Am I daily investing in my relationship with Christ?

Look-alike Contest

Scripture to dive into: 
Colossians 1
Romans 8
Philippians 2


​    Have you ever seen someone who looks so identical to someone else you look multiple times just to be sure? You squint, put on your glasses, move closer for a second glimpse because the resemblance is uncanny and you're sure your mind must be playing a trick. Some call this having a doppelganger or a twin. They bear the image of someone else. Now, some get lucky with their twin and some of us may start to resemble Gollum from Lord of the Rings but don't worry friend, we're all precious in his sight! Bearing someone's image can have its pros and cons. You may have their kind eyes, giving heart, or maybe your noticing similarities to that one family member that's a little out there and now you're questioning everything you do. Don't worry though, if you're the latter there's still hope.

     Colossians poses a powerful question, who is the image of God? (Colossians 1:15) In this verse its talking about Christ being the image of God and in Romans 8:29 it tells us we are to be conformed to the image of his son! Wow, take a minute to ponder that. Can you imagine if others took a second glance at us just because we bear his image so well? Talk about life goals as a daughter of the king!

     I think that is one of the most powerful questions we can ask ourselves and the most difficult task to undertake. How do we get from point A to point B, from asking ourselves if we bear his image to actually bearing his image? JESUS. Sweet sisters, we could never do it on our own merit. We could try our hardest the rest of our days and we would still fail. In our humaness, we try to measure up, but because of his grace we don't have to. Hallelujah!  I don't know about you but that makes me sigh in relief. The closer we walk with him and the deeper our relationship grows, the more we will bear his image. We don't have to get ourselves together to come to Jesus, we come to Jesus so he can transform us into his image. "Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." (Psalms 139:23-24) We come to him and allow him to lead and change us. When we are in love with our Savior our desire to become like him only grows and through that relationship, if we lean in, he will begin to transform us so we can bear his image. I don't  know your heart sister, but my deepest desire is to walk so closely with the Father that I bear his image. That others can see Christ through me. That's my desire and prayer for you as well sister!

     We're sisters in Christ, but that doesn't mean the walk is easy. Are we bearing his image or is self getting in the way? It's a question we should ask ourselves daily. Im stepping on my own toes here. How would my daily life look different if I regularly asked myself am I bearing his image in this moment? When life doesn't go as planned, when we face hurt, when we experience grief, when we're rejected or left out, when we're dealing with the struggles of daily life, when the bank account has seen better days,  when a diagnosis knocks the breath out of you, when friends walk away, when life simply shatters on the ground around you, who's image do we bear? Sweet sisters, what we cling to on the good days will overflow and carry us through on the hard days. His love for you will sustain you each and every day no matter the circumstances surrounding you.  He's that good!

     We desperately need a sisterhood of his daughters joining together to lift one another up through encouragement and prayer because LIFE IS HARD!  May we be the women of that sisterhood. May we lift and encourage sisters, support them through life, and take them boldly to the throne of grace. May we be sisters who bear his image so that others can know him! 


Questions to consider-
1) Do I desire a deeper walk and am I actively working on my personal relationship?

2) Am I bearing the image of Christ? In what areas can I improve to be more Christlike?

3) Does everyone see Christ in me, even those who have hurt or rejected me?