God, Love & Chaos

It’s been months, I know. There are so many things that I have wanted to say and many more thoughts that have been written down and tucked away for when the time is right. Even the Saturday morning devotional that was sent out for a few years came to a screeching halt. Was it because I was lost or that I lost faith? Absolutely not. God is always a driving force in my life. The driving force in my life. So when I felt that he was telling me to pull back and focus my efforts elsewhere, that’s what I did.

Truth be told, I am still trying to find my grounding on those next steps. But, I felt like I needed to reach out. Maybe for you, maybe for me… I am not too sure. Just know that God and I are working on a few things and when it is time to share, you will know. Your inbox will alert you – and we will be back in regular contact once again. Until then, here’s something that has been on my mind for a while.

I love Thai food and there is a place near my house that has an incredible veggie bento lunch special that I would honestly live off of if I could. So as I went to get takeout a couple of weeks ago, I encountered something that has just stuck with me. See, this small family-run restaurant is in a pretty nice neighborhood that offers both indoor and outdoor dining. I walked past a young couple sitting at a table outside and headed into the restaurant to get my order. As I did, I noticed the woman had a phone in her hand and she was scrolling as music played and just assumed perhaps she was trying to look up something they were talking about. Not paying much mind to it, I went inside.

When I opened the door to walk outside, my ears were slapped with some loud music. Not from a nearby car. Not from the green area across the street where families hang out and let their kids and dogs run. No, no. The music was coming from the couple’s table. The phone was now sitting down between them, untouched, and blaring music.

I guess I should preface this by saying that I am not a fan of people listening to anything on their phones without headphones while in public. I find it quite disrespectful to those around them. So, naturally, my first reaction was whoa… are you serious? What about everyone else trying to enjoy their meal? I totally get that they are outside, but they are still at a restaurant. I thought about this as I walked down the street to my car.

Then it hit me.

I have some young people in my daily life of all different ages, from two to twenty-three. And every single one of them needs constant sound, stimulation, or something. Whether it is listening to a podcast, music, a TV show on Netflix, YouTube, TikTok, or something else, it is a constant. Sometimes, thanks to earbuds, you may not even realize that you are talking to someone who is carrying on a conversation with you while also listening to Episode 195 of their favorite podcast. Are they truly hearing you? Are they really able to be 100% present in the conversation? Not sure, but I doubt it.

So, are we creating multi-tasking geniuses? Perhaps. But are we also creating people who don’t know what to do in silence? Are they so unsure of how to act that they blare music during a quiet meal at a restaurant because the sound of no sound at all is too deafening?

I recently stumbled upon a study that was done several years ago. In a nutshell, participants were given the option to sit in solitude for 15 or so minutes or administer an electric shock to themselves. You’d be surprised at how many would prefer the shock over simply sitting in the quiet with their thoughts – 67% of men and 25% of women would rather receive the pain.

Here’s the question I came to. If we know that we need to be still so that we can hear God, how are the future generations ever going to hear his quiet whisper? Or any of us, for that matter.

I wonder sometimes if I have too much going on or too much chaos around me to be able to sit and hear God’s voice. I, too, can easily get caught up in TV shows, movies, and, of course, TikTok. While I try to be intentional about having those moments of solitude – even if just to breathe – I find it isn’t always easy. What is going to happen to us if we keep heading down this same path?

Something tells me that this bit of self-awareness I encountered means it is a good time to take note of my down time. And, I really felt compelled to share it with you, too.

Want to unplug together?

Until next time… ❤❤

My life has been very busy lately. You can probably tell just due to the lapse in posted blogs. My intentions have been good all along, but finding the time to blog has been tough. I have notes and thoughts jotted down on post-its. I have more detailed thoughts written out in Evernote. And, I have even more floating in my head. There is so much to say, but it feels like there is so little time.

My family has been going through some changes, some more challenging than others, but nothing that I am comfortable getting into just yet. The problem is, I find myself really busy. Work keeps me very busy lately. The amount of writing I do for others vs. what I do for myself is greatly skewed – and not in my favor. Though every day as I am writing for someone else, I write down thoughts or ideas I have for my own writings. And I also write down reminders of things I want to do, like water my plants, give the dogs a bath, read a certain book, and so on.

I spend so much time in this cycle that I find my time with God getting smaller and smaller or even pushed aside. Do you feel me? I still spend time in prayer and I still spend time just talking to God because that’s something I will always do regardless of what is going on around me. But, I am talking about that time in the Word. Reading the Bible and studying.

My Bible is on my desk next to me every day as I work — I may glance at a verse or two. Maybe even an entire chapter. But, I am just not dedicating enough time.

Time.

Let’s think about that for a moment. By the time you are done reading this blog, your heart would have beaten an average of 195 beats. You may have taken roughly 54 breaths. Your eyes may have blinked about 36 times.

You could have made a cup of coffee. You could have hugged your mom. You could have taken 300 steps. You could have listened to your favorite song one more time. You could have told someone you loved them.

You could have lost someone you loved dearly.

Time passes so quickly. And once it does, we can never get it back. We all know this. We may not think about it often, but if we did, we may spend more time doing things that matter rather than wasting precious moments.

Yet, every day I find myself digging my way out of thousands of words written for someone else while spending very little time reading the words that were written to change my life.

When is there time for God? Where can I squeeze in time to have quiet time and just sit with Him? How can I do that when I am so busy? It seems impossible. And overwhelming.

And then it hit me. Nothing is impossible for God. So, why not go to Him first thing in the morning, right? Why not ask God to help me find a way to have some quiet time? Why not ask God to guide me in making it happen?

“Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.” – Matthew 19:26

For you, it may not be writing. For you, it could be time spent commuting, working, or time spent caring for an ailing parent or spouse. Maybe it is just the daily demands of maintaining a home with kids. Regardless, we all have the same amount of time. And we all have the free will to decide what we want to do with it.

Although it may seem like you are reading something written in one sitting, the reality is that nearly two months have gone by since I wrote this. And during that time, my life has still stayed busier than ever. But I have been intentional in my time with God – making that time more meaningful. And I have a lot to write for God so expect to be hearing more from me these days.

Until next time…❤❤

My dad. If you ever met him, then you know that he was a quiet, good seed. He was a gentleman with a heart full of love – and the very best dad jokes ever. In my eyes, he was the best example of a dad out there. This week, it has been 7 years since I lost him. And while life moves on and things change, the grief, the pain, and the missing piece are all still there.

Over the last few months, I have been thinking a lot about all of the lessons he taught me. You know, the things that I still think about today in certain situations. Sometimes, I can even hear him saying the words. I thought Father’s Day would be an appropriate day to share them.

Lesson One: Love through Faults

We all have faults. Lord knows I have my fair share. We all make mistakes, we all make poor choices. That doesn’t mean we stop loving. My dad? Depending on the situation, he may have given a look or even voiced his disappointment. But, mostly, he would shrug his shoulders and move on. I let him down more times than I can count, but he would never let me know it. He just kept on loving me.

This is my reminder to let the small things go. The little quirks and things that drive us crazy about those we love — we have to love through them.

Lesson Two: Respect Privacy

I remember my dad telling me that he heard a great piece of advice once. He said – Never go snooping through someone else’s stuff. If you find something that you shouldn’t have seen, you can’t take it back. If you bring it up to the person, you have violated their trust (which is hard to get back). And, if you don’t, it will eat at you. So, it is best to just respect privacy and leave it alone. I have thought about this a lot in my adult years.

Lesson Three: Never Drive Upset

This should be a given. Driving requires you to pay attention and be focused on the road. When you are upset, well… you can’t do that. Whether it was after an argument or when I was upset about something that happened at school, etc. I can hear him saying to me, “Now Shelly, just sit tight until you calm down.”

Lesson Four: Take Care of the Things You Have

Maybe it was his age or his upbringing, but my dad taught me to take care of the things you have – you don’t just dispose of it and buy a new one. He took such care of his home. He’d wash his cars every weekend, inside and out. He would even wind up the extension cords just right so they were ready to be used next time. My dad didn’t dispose of anything — he cared for it. Things in life are not meant to be disposable. I don’t know how many times those words have come out of my mouth.

Lesson Five: Be Proud of Your Accomplishments

My dad never forgot to tell me he was proud of me. Whenever I did something new or even something I thought was cheesy or not my best, he acted as though it was the greatest thing ever. And I was the greatest because it was my accomplishment. It always felt so good to hear those words from him. This is really good, Shelly. Or, I’m proud of you, girl. We have to share these things. We have to tell others that we are proud of them so they can feel good about what they are doing, whether they think it is worthy of praise or not.

Lesson Six: Work Hard Everyday

My dad set the example for working hard. He never had to tell me because I saw it. Throughout the week he left early to go to his shop and he would work until he came home in time for dinner. Saturdays were meant for playing catch up at the shop or for doing yard work, taking care of cars, and so on. He was always working hard. I can hardly ever remember a time when he was not putting in the work. Even when he retired, he was still quick to take care of things. My dad worked hard and he had a good life. A modest life. A life of love that mattered.

Lesson Seven: Be Patient

I get worked up easily and I will be the first one to admit that I run really low on patience. My dad took the brunt of my lack of patience quite a bit over the years. In fact, it is something I wish I could take back. Little did I know he was always trying to get me to practice my patience. ha If you have ever had a conversation with my dad, then you probably know it would go something like this near the end:

Me: “Ok, Dad, well I will talk to you later. I love you.”

Dad: “Alright, well…………………………………………………huh…………………………………………………. I had something I was going to tell you………………………………………………………. hmm……………………………………….. I can’t think of what it was………………………………………… alright, well, I love you……. Oh, I know what it was………”

I remember taking a trip out of the country years and years ago. I told him I would call him to let him know I arrived safely, but that it would be a very quick and brief call because that was when it was super expensive to make international calls. So, I called him and the conversation went just like that one above. It still makes me chuckle when I think about it. But, truth be told, I used to get so aggravated sometimes when I was in the middle of something or when I needed to get back to work, etc. Now I wish I could have a conversation with him and I’d sit there forever listening. I’d show him just how patient I have become.

Lesson Eight: Always Say I Love You

Whether it is a momentary text, when you are hanging up the phone, or parting ways – never miss that opportunity. He always told me he loved me — and I never ever once doubted that. Every phone call, every time I left their house, or a random message in the middle of the day. I knew he loved me. He showed me and he told me. Sometimes it takes both to get the point across.

I always make a point to say, I love you. Cherishing relationships and friendships are so important because – in a moment – life can be so, so different. And will they know? Will the people in my life know how I felt about them when I am gone? I hope so. And if they do, it’s because my dad (and my mom) taught me.

Well, I could keep going, but I will stop there. My dad was an incredible man. I only hope that by living his example I make him proud. Happy Father’s Day, Dad. I love you and miss you more than words can describe.

Until next time… ❤❤

I recently heard Joyce Meyer say the following, paraphrased of course: Those you encounter should know you are a Christian within the first 15 minutes of meeting you. Not because you tell them. Not because you wear a cross around your neck. Not because you are wearing a shirt with something Godly on it or are carrying a Bible.

How then, right? How can someone know you believe in something if you don’t tell them?

Imagine if Jesus walked all around Jerusalem simply saying, “Hey! I’m a Christian. Follow me because that’s what I am. Yep, I am a Christian. So stop what you are doing and come.” Do you think he would have received the same response?

Not likely.

Jesus set himself apart. He carried himself differently. He talked to people that others didn’t (the Samaritan woman). He didn’t fret over menial things. He spent a lot of time in prayer (Luke 11). He fasted. He loved unconditionally. He spoke the truth always.

Our actions speak so much louder than our words. For instance, I could tell anyone that I am giving up sugar. But the moment I fill my plate with a huge piece of birthday cake at Aunt Margaret’s 105th birthday bash my secret is out — I wanted people to think I was someone who could give up sugar. I wanted people to think I had that willpower and get all the praise for being strong, like hearing, Ooh I could never give up sugar. I love my desserts way too much!

Ok, so that is totally a fake scenario, but I think you get where I was going, right? We can all say that we are Christians, but we shouldn’t have to. Everyone should just know by the way we present ourselves. Take a look at John 12:3-6:

Then Mary took a twelve-ounce jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet with it, wiping his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance. But Judas Iscariot, the disciple who would soon betray him, said, “That perfume was worth a year’s wages. It should have been sold and the money given to the poor.” Not that he cared for the poor – he was a thief, and since he was in charge of the disciples’ money, he often stole some for himself.

Mary was using her best, most expensive perfume to wash the feet of Jesus — and even dried them with her own hair. Then, you have Judas. He tries to sway Mary from doing so and even makes a statement that appears very Christian (the line about selling the perfume and giving the money to the poor), but… I mean, really, Jesus knows our heart and whether or not it is pure so Judas wasn’t fooling anybody. These are two very different people – both Christians. See the difference?

So, how does a Christian act? What traits do Christians have that would set them apart from the rest? What could show someone in a matter of minutes that you have Christ in your heart? I’m going to share with you.

Speak kindness

Show love

Don’t gossip

Be willing to serve

Be honest

Give without receiving

Listen

Be faithful

When you’ve got a God that is as awesome as mine, you can’t help but feel blessed. Choose to walk through life as though you are and your faith will shine.

Until next time… ❤❤

The legal stuff required by the FCC: I was sent the Verse Mapping Bible to review by FrontGate Media. This is not a paid review and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

I have my favorite bible. You know, the one that just moves something in you the moment your fingers touch the pages. I am sure you feel the same way. So, when it comes to new bibles, I am usually just not very interested because, well, I have my bible. However, every now and then, a bible comes along that offers something different than ever before — something that helps you dig a bit deeper in your relationship with God and understanding His Word.

That is exactly what I found with Kristy Cambron’s study system included in this NIV Verse Mapping Bible.

 

 

Because I cannot explain it as well as the professionals have, below is a description of what verse mapping is and how it works.

Go beyond just reading the Bible.
Verse mapping means getting real about studying the Bible. More than simply reading a verse or Scripture passage, verse mapping means using Bible study tools to research what you’ve just read in the Bible—to learn more about what God is saying to you and how you can apply his Word to your life today.
In the NIV Verse Mapping Bible, author Kristy Cambron expands her verse mapping curriculum series to include verses from the entire Bible, showing you how to compare Bible translations, pick out meaningful words, and delve into the true meaning of each verse using starter verse maps and prompts. Verse mapping will help you study the historical context, transliteration, translation, connotation, and theological framework of a verse. This unique study technique includes exploring Hebrew and Greek word studies, finding connections in Scripture, comparing Bible translations, and learning as much as you can from your time in God’s Word.
Verse mapping involves five steps:

1. Choose: Select a verse and write it out.

2. Compare: Record this verse in two or three other Bible translations and underline key words that are the same or different between translations.

3. Research: Look up the Hebrew or Greek meaning for the underlined words and record it.

4. Consider: Ask questions of the verse. Imagine what it would be like to have experienced what’s happening. Read the verses surrounding this verse and use other study tools to dig even deeper, if you prefer.

5. Apply: What is God saying to you? How does this verse relate to your life today?

This bible is laid out beautifully. I encourage you to try new things as often as you can to keep your relationship with God strong and growing. Maybe this is for you!

Below are a few pictures of the inside. Let me know if you are interested in learning more! And, if you are feeling lucky, then check out this link for your chance to win a free verse mapping bible of your own 👉 Free Giveaway!

Until next time… ❤❤

The legal stuff required by the FCC: I was sent the book Goliath Must Fall by Louie Giglio to review by FrontGate Media. This is not a paid review and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

• Fear

• Anger

• Stress

• Jealousy

• Anxiety

• Loneliness

Sounds like a recipe for a depressing life, doesn’t it? Well, believe it or not, these are things that kids and teens face in their lives today. And they are very real feelings. With 2020 and the global pandemic thrown into the mix, it exacerbates the problem.

As adults, we see life a bit differently. We have been there, done that. Over it. Our kids are very much in the mix of it. What may seem insignificant to us adults can appear like a scary, angry giant to kids. If you have watched any news lately, kids are even taking their own lives over what seems so small.

Do not discount how your kids feel. Instead, help them learn how to handle their feelings.

If you don’t know where to start, how about focusing on the story of David and Goliath? Remember that one? Well, Louie Giglio has written a book adapted for middle grade readers, ages 8 to 12, from the national bestseller Goliath Must Fall, which has sold over 200,000 copies. This one is called –

Goliath Must Fall: Winning the Battle Against Your Giants

And it is all about those giants from our youth. You know, rejection, anger, fear, etc. Things kids still face today just like we used to. It even talks about stress and technology addiction!

This hardcover book:

•            Is adapted for middle grade readers, ages 8 to 12, from the national bestseller Goliath Must Fall, which has sold over 200,000 copies

•            Has practical tools and thought-provoking activities to help kids learn strategies to surrender their fears, overcome bad habits, and let go of the comforts this world tells them they have to have

•            Is a great purchase for kids who are struggling with stress, anxiety, technology addiction, or other troubles and for fans of Louie’s other children’s books, Indescribable and How Great Is Our God

If you have kids in your life – this book is a good tool for teaching them how to win those battles by drawing on God’s strength.

If you want a chance to win a copy for free, click here 👉 https://bit.ly/2MWRuEi

Or, if you aren’t feeling too lucky and want to just buy it, here’s where you can find it
👉 https://amzn.to/36PgkNs

 Until next time… ❤❤

Anger.

Hatred.

Violence.

Fear.

Bigotry.

There is so much of this going around . It is the subject of many conversations, news channels are taking over household televisions, and social media has become a breeding ground for unhealthy and disturbing banter.

I have witnessed its power and ability to tear friends and family apart. And, it has to stop.

All those years ago in political science, I remember learning about political ideologies. An ideology – your ideas or beliefs that either add you to a group or remove you and put you in another – was just an ideology. It didn’t define you. The ideology you associate with may tell others about who you are or what you stand for, but it is not all that you are. It surely doesn’t tell your whole picture.

Yet, people everywhere are letting their ideas become everything. They are letting a political figure (on either side) or economic idea become the only deciding factor in their lives.

When is it going to stop?

We cannot expect everyone to stop the anger or halt the hate. What we can expect, though, is to make a change for ourselves – each one of us. We, on our own, can start being the difference. Start watching the words that come out of your mouth or from your fingers on that keyboard. Spreading mean messages from “your side” makes you just as small as “their side.”

 

 

Like most moms, mine always reminded me, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.” Let’s put this into practice. Sometimes just being quiet speaks louder anyways. Proverbs 29:22 says, “An angry person starts fights; a hot-tempered person commits all kinds of sin.” Is that really who you are? Is that who you want to be?

It’s ok to be different. It’s ok to step aside for a minute. It’s ok to not speak out or lash out at others – regardless of how much you disagree with them or think they deserve it. Look, I get it. I really do. I find myself getting angry and scared with all that is going on in our world. I worry about caring and protecting my family. I get so frustrated at times about the things I hear people saying and for not being able to understand the ideas others hold. I hurt when I see those I care about become consumed by hatred or fear.

I don’t want to live my life like that. I’m choosing to trust in God. If not him, then who?

Remember, it is not our duty to hate or judge others for what they have yet to see. We are to love them, forgive them, and show them the way.

Until next time… ❤❤

 

In light of everything that is going on in our country, we are not powerless. Sure, we may not be able to fix everything and make the world a bit more copasetic. And, we probably shouldn’t all head to Washington, D.C. to try to stop those with ill intentions. But we do have two very powerful tools right at our disposal. Tools that can change the world around us.

1. Prayer

Praying to God is perhaps that most powerful tool we have because, well, HE is the most powerful. Talk to him, ask him for peace and understanding. Ask him to show you things that you can do to help out those around you. And pray that our government officials make wise choices with the best interests in mind. Or, simply sit in silence.

The Bible tells us to, “Never stop praying.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:17 (NLT) and David tells us, “Morning, noon, and night I cry out in my distress, and the LORD hears my voice.” – Psalm 55:17 In other words, PRAY! God doesn’t have office hours – which means you can pray any time you want. Like, now. Stop reading for a moment and pray. When you are in your car driving to and from work, pray. When you wake up, pray. When you go to bed, pray. When you walk your dog, pray. Never stop. Especially now.

2. Your Words.

The second tool you have readily available to you is the power of your words, both verbal and written. You can be intentional and choose to use them for good. There are a lot of emotions running high right now, a lot of anger, a lot of hate. Let’s choose to not get caught up in it. We can still strongly hold our beliefs and feelings about the entire situation, but we don’t have to put others down while doing so. Besides, there are so many people out there who are having a tough time like we are. Getting an unexpected kind word can be life-changing.

 

Buy a book of stamps and send out little notes to those you are thinking about. Send a text. Make a quick call (or a long one). Leave a note on a random persons car. Say a kind word to someone you pass while running your errands today. Give a compliment to the person in the drive thru or the cashier at your grocery store.

“Kind words are like honey – sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.” – Proverbs 16:24 There are so many things we can do with our words. And, it only takes a moment. Be that person. Be that one that can take a dark day and make it shine bright.

I challenge you to use these tools. I challenge you to be the difference.

Until next time… ❤❤

Back in the 90s, I used to love Smashing Pumpkins. Remember them? I would listen to the Mellon Collie & the Infinite Sadness cd on my Walkman over and over and over. I thought it was cool. And, I felt cool listening to it.

This particular year, my family spent Thanksgiving in Atlanta with our extended family. Feeling like I didn’t fit in, I spent a chunk of that time in the guest room with my headphones on and Smashing Pumpkins blaring in my ears. Minding myself in my own moment of escape, I was interrupted by my niece who was probably around 7-ish years old at the time. Being the wonderful aunt I am, I allowed her to put the headphones on just in time for her to hear the very beginning of the song Bullet with Butterfly Wings. Now, if you have never heard the song, it starts out solely with the words, “The world is a vampire…” before the music kicks in. While there is a deeper meaning behind the lyrics, let’s just say that is all my niece had to hear before she ripped the headphones off her ears and went running to tell everyone about the terrible song I let her listen to.

 

Smashing Pumpkins, 1995

I don’t know why I always remember this. Maybe it is because I already felt uncomfortable or maybe it was because my parents had to question my musical selections to make sure I wasn’t listening to something inappropriate. Or, maybe it was just one of those memorable eye-rolling moments caused by my little niece running to tell on me for something I had done that the family wouldn’t be so proud of. (Side note – this is the same niece I now comfortably share deep conversations with. She’s a super good seed.)

So, why am I telling you all of this? Well, as I was getting ready to start my day, out of the blue this song popped into my head. There are many lyrics, of course, but as I sang through this line: “Despite all my rage I am still just a rat in a cage…” I was oddly like yes! We are! WE are all just stuck in a cage that we can’t break out of. We get stuck in this human fight – fighting a battle we can never win. We are all held captive by the chains of a poor choices, our struggles, our life. We can get angry. We can get mad. We can try with all our might to break out, but we can’t. Not alone, anyways.

Not without God’s help.

Feeling Trapped

Many of us find ourselves stuck in a rut. We get up, go to work, collect our paycheck, pay bills… and the cycle continues. Life becomes all about surviving rather than living. And truthfully, I don’t think that is how life is intended to be.

It doesn’t feel so good to feel trapped, does it? Even now, with COVID-19 running rampant in our communities, we are trapped in our homes more than we’d like to be. We feel it. Our mind, our body, and our spirit. We want to break out. We want things to be back to normal. We want to be free.

Instead, we feel doomed and helpless. Maybe even a little hopeless. We feel like no matter what we do, we can’t change things. We don’t have the ability to control the situation. We don’t have the key to break out of the cage.

Feeling trapped does not feel good. Period.

God Can Help

When you hear the word freedom what do you think of? Is it slavery? The civil rights movement? Soldiers? Marriage equality? The falling of the Berlin Wall? The freeing of the Israelites? Democracy?

What does freedom look like?

Does it look like losing the binds, opening the cage door, and running free? Free to do whatever you want?

God will open the door of that cage and let you run free. He gives you that freedom. He breaks the chains that weigh you down.

When he sent Jesus to us – to die on the cross – he did so for our sins. We don’t have to pay for and suffer due to the way we live our life. Jesus paid that price – so that we could be free.

“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him” – John 3:16-17

Think about this for a moment: How did you handle freedom as a teenager? Did you always do the right thing? Did you try to test the boundaries? As an adult, do you always do the right thing? Do you try to take that extra bite of chocolate cake when no one is looking? Do you leave your grocery cart in the parking spot because you are short on time? Do you tell your spouse you are putting your money in savings while secretly order something online?

Ok, granted, these are simple things, but the point is this: When we have the freedom to make choices and do what is right, we don’t always do so, do we?

It’s part of being human.

That’s why Jesus dying for our sins is something we should always be so grateful for. By nature, we are sinful. We always will be. But, no matter how many times we falter, the price has already been paid.

With the freedom God brings, your life can feel:

• Satisfying

• Joyful

• Fulfilling

• Brightly lit

• Complete

If you invite God into your heart and keep him in the forefront of your life, you will truly feel free once and for all.

 

Know God and still feel trapped?

We can invite God into our life and amazing things will happen. Unfortunately, the feeling only lasts as long as we keep God first. Once we start to get wrapped up in the day-to-day life or get sidetracked by some new toy, we begin to feel a disconnect with God. And the heavy weights start resting on our shoulders again, little by little.

If you know God and you are still feeling a trapped, then it is time you re-adjust your focus. Spend some time with Him. Read your bible. Journal. Pray. Listen to worship music. Reach out in fellowship. Do what you need to do to get back in line with God.

If you need a guide, perhaps this printable will help get you started. Dust off your bible and start by spending at least the first 15-minutes of your day with God.

Ready to find freedom?

If you want to know God, ask him into your life, or simply have questions about what he can do for you, then reach out to me. You can send me a message and I will help you take that first step.

Alright, well – 2020 was sure a year for the memory books. Let’s pray that 2021 brings comfort, healing, and peace to the world around us. And, as always, freedom for those who are seeking.

Until next time… ❤❤