Women's Ministry

“The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you, nor forsake you. Do not be afraid, do not be discouraged.” Deut. 31:8

It is 2:30 in the morning, and once again I am awakened with pain and burning from the sores on my leg. This is one remaining issue from five-and-a-half months of healing. I sit here in my recliner, drinking herbal tea, crying out ‘How much longer, Lord,” as David did in the Psalms. I am reminded that most of the Psalms were written in the midst of a storm! Storms that brought with them pain, anguish, and deep sorrow. David knew he had been anointed by God to be king of Israel. But all he experienced and saw was one battle right after the other, rejection and hatred from loved ones, fighting and running for his life. He knew God‘s future for him, and that’s what he kept his heart and mind focused on (1 Samuel 16:12; 2 Samuel 5:1-3). Through each battle and each storm, God was sharpening and strengthening the tools David would need to lead Israel. David also grew in his relationship to the Lord. He was learning to praise and give honor to the Lord in the midst of the storm and his pain.

Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that in all things, God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” I never fully understood this Scripture until I realized how much our Heavenly Father loves us. When we give our lives to Christ, everything that He allows to come into our lives is through His eyes of love. He will take our storms and pain and make something good come from them! Only when we allow him to do so; He will not interfere where He is not wanted. Most often I tried to do it myself, and that only made it worse! Looking back at the times in my life that were painful, and I was struggling, I see Jesus there with me, waiting for me to give it all to Him. Taking the fear, doubt, and pain from me, and giving me His peace and comfort, He also took care of the situation better than I ever could. Teaching me godly principles that I could not have learned any other way. Strengthening and sharpening my spiritual gifts. Growing my relationship with Him.

Psalm 23 tells us, “The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul; he leads me in the ways of righteousness, for His name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for you are with me, your rod and your staff they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil, my cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” 

As I have reached my golden years, I have learned to turn my troubles and sorrows over to my Good Shepherd sooner rather than waiting, knowing he will take care of me and give me everything needed! He walks beside me, giving me comfort and peace, giving me wisdom in what to do and say. He puts me in the right place at the right time. He has a plan for my life here on Earth, and in the life to come! He has given me His righteousness and taken all my sins, diseases, and unrighteousness, nailed them to the cross, buried them in the tomb, and He rose from the grave (proclaiming victory, redeeming all that was lost in the garden)! I live each day walking in His grace and mercy, knowing that when I leave this earth, I will be with Him forever!

Do I still have fears, doubts, and times when I feel like I can’t go on anymore? Yes! And yes! I still have times wondering and asking the Lord how much longer. Some prayers have been answered very quickly, some take a little longer, and there are some that take years before seeing the answer. Then there are those prayers that seem to not be answered at all. These are the hard ones to understand and to see God’s love. This is when our trust and faith in our Lord is really stretched and tested. Do we really believe God’s Word is truth, that He is a good Father who loves His children? (John 3:16).

Years ago, I was asked this question by a friend, “If you had a picture of God, what would it look like?” My answer when she asked, and still today, is very different from what it was when I was a young believer. I have seen God’s goodness and love, even at my lowest moments. When I have walked through the valley of the shadow of death, seen loved ones suffer from health issues, lost loved ones or other tragedies, I have learned, like David, to rejoice and sing praises to my Lord, in the midst of my storm! The Lord has the last word in all things! Amen!!! You may be wondering what my picture of God looks like? I see Him holding me in His arms, hugging and looking at me with pure love! This is how I find peace through the pain! 

“You keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you” Isaiah 26:3.

We would like to thank Elaine Norell for writing this blog.

I recently saw an ad for shoes that said, “the foundation for every great walk.”  Hmmm… I’m sure most of us have different shoes for our activities: walking, running (not me!) dressing up, going casual, or working in the yard.  They look good on our feet, some are more comfortable than others, and they protect our feet.  But, what about the “foundation” part of that statement?  It got me thinking about my “foundation,” that is, the foundation of my life, what I stand on.  Lots of songs come to mind that I’ve heard and have sung in church through the years.  Remember “the wise man built his house upon the rock…the foolish man built his house upon the sand…and the rains came down and the floods came up. So, build your life on the Lord Jesus Christ, and the blessings will come down.”  Can you really read those words and not sing the song we learned in children’s Sunday School classes?

Where would I be without Jesus? When I sit and think about the ways He has blessed me my whole life, I am in awe! Why would I ever fret or be anxious? The Bible is full of God’s promises to bless us, to go before us, to fight our battles, to never leave us. One of my favorite promises is in Lamentations 3:22-23, “Because of the Lord’s great love, we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning: great is Your faithfulness.” The shorter paraphrased version I remind myself of is, His mercies are new every morning! He has provided for our needs and continues to provide day after day. And yet, sometimes I’m surprised! I think when I actually started understanding this and believing it, my spiritual life began to change. Not just knowing what it says, but really believing it applies to me. I spent too many years listening to the deceiver who told me I wasn’t good enough. When I could look in the mirror and say, “I am the daughter of the King of Kings, the Lord God Almighty,” I experienced freedom to actually believe His promises are meant for me.  And they are meant for each of you! I’m so thankful that Jesus loved me even when I didn’t really love myself, even when I thought I had to achieve a certain level before He could love me.

Do you remember that country song about the tree in the backyard that never had been broken by the wind? What’s the reason it’s still standing? It’s strong enough to bend. Those lyrics are like our lives. What is my foundation? How deep are my roots? When the winds of life blow against me, when trials have come, am I strong enough to bend and not be broken? I am. And I have been able to stand against those winds because my hope and my faith are in Jesus. Praise God! Even when I strayed, even when my focus was not on Him, even when I wanted to be in control, He was right there with me waiting for me to turn to Him. I am blessed beyond measure. His Word says He holds me in the palm of His hand, and no one can snatch me out. And He holds you, too. If you don’t have that assurance, seek Him. There is room for you, too.  

What is your foundation? How deep are your roots? I pray you know you are loved.

We would like to thank Carolyn Curry for writing this blog.

There are seasons when faith feels easy.

When prayers are answered, rain is falling, our children are doing well, and doors are opening, it’s easy to say, “God is good.”

But what about when they aren’t?

What about when you’ve prayed the same prayer for years? When you watch the sky, desperately hoping for rain? When you’re raising young children in a world that feels heavier by the day? When you truly believed God called you to something, poured your heart into it, and then watched door after door close?

That’s where I’ve found myself learning what it really means to stand firm in my faith. Not when everything makes sense, but even when it doesn’t.

I’m going to give a few personal examples that may resonate with you too. 

Fertility struggles taught me a kind of surrender I never wanted to learn. There is a unique heartbreak in desperately wanting a child and realizing you have absolutely no control over whether that prayer will be answered. You can do everything you’re supposed to do. You can make the appointments, take the medicine, pray until you don’t know what else to say, and still wait. There were times I didn’t understand God. But I learned something in that waiting that I still carry with me: Faith isn’t trusting God only when His answer is yes. Faith is trusting His heart when I don’t understand His answer at all. We can grieve and still trust. We can question and still believe. We can desperately want a different answer and still know that God is good.

Being a farm family also has a way of reminding us just how little control you actually have. You can prepare the ground, plant the seed, work from sunup to sundown, and make every decision you know to make. But you cannot make it rain.

During a drought, you watch storms build and disappear. You see rain falling miles away while your own ground stays dry. And when your family’s livelihood depends on something completely outside of your control, fear can creep in quickly. Farming continues to teach me the difference between doing our part and believing we control the outcome. We plant. We work. We pray. And then we trust God with what we cannot control. Sometimes His provision looks like rain. Sometimes it looks like enough strength and grace to keep going while we wait for it.

Motherhood has made me more aware than ever of how heavy this world can feel. Sometimes I look at my children and wish I could protect their innocence forever. I think about what they will face as they grow, and if I let myself look too far ahead, fear can take over. Then I remind myself: God did not accidentally place my children in this generation. He knew what the world would look like when they were born. He knew what they would face. And He chose me to be their mom right here, right now. I can’t protect them from every hard thing, but I can give them a foundation. I want them to see a mom who prays when she’s scared, who turns to Jesus when she doesn’t have the answers, and who trusts Him even when life doesn’t make sense. I don’t need my children to think their mom always had everything figured out. I want them to remember, “When Mom didn’t know what to do, she trusted Jesus.”

And then there’s the business I truly felt God called me to. I prayed about it. I poured my heart into it. I sacrificed for it. I believed there was purpose behind it. So when door after door continues to close, it’s hard not to ask: “God, did I misunderstand You? If You called me here, why does it feel like I’m fighting so hard to stay here?” I’m still living this one, so I don’t have a perfect answer. But I’m learning that a closed door doesn’t necessarily mean I heard God wrong. Sometimes a calling is for a season. Sometimes obedience produces something completely different than the outcome we imagined. And sometimes God uses the thing we thought we were building to build something inside of us instead. Maybe standing firm doesn’t always mean fighting harder to keep the door open. Maybe sometimes standing firm means having enough faith to loosen our grip on the handle. To say, “God, I believe You called me here. I’ve given it everything I know to give. But I want Your will more than I want my way. If this door is supposed to open, I trust You to open it. And if You’re closing it, give me the faith to follow You wherever You lead next.”

I used to think strong faith meant never questioning, worrying, or feeling discouraged. Now I think sometimes the strongest faith simply says: “God, I don’t understand this, but I’m still here.” I’m still praying. We are still planting. We are still raising our children to know Jesus. I’m still trusting Him with the dreams He placed in my heart. I’m still believing that a closed door doesn’t mean my obedience was wasted. Because my hope was never supposed to rest in answered prayers, rainfall totals, the safety of this world, the success of a business, or my ability to hold everything together.

The circumstances will change. Seasons will change. Doors will open and close. There will be years of abundance and years when everything feels painfully dry. But God doesn’t change. So when I don’t understand what He’s doing, I’ll stand on what I know about who He is. “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.” — 1 Corinthians 16:13

I don’t want a faith that only works when life works out. I want a faith that can look at an uncertain future and still say: “Whatever comes next, God, I’m still Yours.” And I will stand firm.

We would like to thank Beckah Hunt for writing this blog.

“Be alert, stand firm in faith, be courageous, be strong.” 1Cor 16:13 (CSB)

When you are independent, a problem solver, and a slight control freak, and you are going through something that you don’t know how to fix, can’t control, can’t see a solution, or there isn’t a solution, it can be tough and frustrating. I am that person. So, when I suddenly lost my husband, and it was a situation I couldn’t fix for myself or my family and was completely out of my control, it was hard. But I knew I had to remain strong for my girls and firm in my faith as we walked through this.

That meant me relinquishing my need to control a situation that I couldn’t control or fix to begin with and truly leaning into God and my belief that he would see us through. I spent a lot of time praying for strength and answers to all my questions while hanging on to the belief that God was there with me, walking with me and sometimes carrying me on this journey. I knew in my heart that God would use this for good and to his glory, but it’s hard for us as humans to have faith in something we can’t see, much less understand. But faith is all we have to help us through those valleys; without it we would be lost. Even the smallest bit of faith, if we hold on to it and lean into God, can help us through.

It has been a little over five years now, and it hasn’t always been easy to stand firm in my faith, but through all of it, I have seen God use me and what I went through to help others who find themselves in similar situations. Not just by my words spoken to them, but by the way that my faith has helped me walk down this road of loss, grief, and uncertainty for a future that now didn’t look anything like I had always thought it would. I am living proof that God can take those shattered pieces, those that can’t just be mended or repaired, and make something new and beautiful from them.

My future doesn’t look anything like I always thought it would, but it does look exactly like God had planned long before I was even born. We just have to stand firm in our faith and “Let go and Let God” because his plans are so much better than our plans, and his love for us is relentless.

“For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So, we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.” 2 Cor 4:17-18 (NLT)

We would like to thank Torrie Gilleland for writing this post.

When I was asked to write a blog on Standing Firm in Faith, I instantly thought of all the ways my LORD has been so very faithful to His Word. He has increased my faith with every life event I have been through. How can I not give testimony of how God brought me through it all?

There are so very many instances in my life that I felt God’s presence and protection in my life. Even as a small child, before I understood what accepting Jesus as my Savior meant, God was with me. I learned then that relying on him and leaning on him got me through very hard times. I believe that each time, I learned more to stand firm on the LORD.  

It’s like learning to walk. First, you fall a lot. Then, you gain strength in your legs, and you become steadier. You learn not to be afraid because you fall less and less. Then, you run. It doesn’t mean you won’t fall and scrape your knees, but most of the time you don’t. Each time you don’t fall, you have more faith that your legs will hold you up. God is like our legs. He is our strength! Each time he gets us through trials, our faith gets stronger. Only in his strength and support can we walk and run. Only then, can we learn to soar.

Isaiah 40:31: “But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint.”

In 2018 I found out I had breast cancer.  At first I thought something was wrong with me because I wasn’t afraid.  Actually, when I look back, there were short instances of fear.  But, fear didn’t take hold. I had many prayer warriors lifting me up to the LORD. I knew God was holding me in his arms. When you feel that, fear can’t take hold. I had two surgeries to remove the cancer and had radiation treatments. Through it all, I felt the prayers of the saints and the presence of God.

There was a new praise song we were singing at church that became my theme song during that season of life.

God is Always Good by Covenant Worship
You are constant and true
All my hope, found in You
Always faithful to do
What You promise

Through the dark, through the night
Flows a river of light
Through the storm, through the fight
Shines the promise

God is always good
Yes, God is always good
What I sing on the mountain, I’ll sing in the valley
That God is always good

When I rise, when I fall
You remain Lord of all
You run to me when I call
What a Savior

You alone freely give
So that all can truly live
Every good and perfect gift
Comes from Heaven

God is always good
Yes, God is always good
What I sing on the mountain, I’ll sing in the valley
That God is always good

Oh-ooh, mm
He’s always good

This one thing my heart holds on to
You are God and You are good
You are God and You are good
Through it all my soul will praise You
You are God and You are good
You are God and You are good

This one thing my heart holds on to
You are God and You are good
You are God and You are good
Through it all my soul will praise You
You are God and You are good
You are God and You are good

God is always good
Yes, God is always good
What I sing on the mountain, I’ll sing in the valley
That God is always good, oh

God is always good
Yes, God is always good
What I sing on the mountain, I’ll sing in the valley
That God is always good

What I sing on the mountain, I’ll sing in the valley
That God is always good

Singing this song reminded me that whatever happened it would be fine. God has always been faithful, and he would decide my future. If the outcome was good, I would praise him. If the outcome wasn’t what I wanted, I would praise him. Regardless, I would stand firm on God.

Fast forward a few years to January 2026. During a routine colonoscopy, my doctor discovered I had colon cancer in two places. When she told me about it after the procedure, I felt so calm. I knew instantly that this peace was from God. I’ve been through so much with my LORD that there was no fear. I had half my colon removed and no follow up treatments. I felt the peace of God through the whole ordeal. This was NOT coming from me. This was totally God!

1 Corinthians 16:13: “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.”

God is always faithful, but you have a responsibility too. You have to learn to be courageous. Courage means giving action even though you might be afraid. You have to turn your fear over to God. It may start out as baby steps, but the more often you do this, the easier it becomes the next time. Eventually, it becomes your first thought instead of an afterthought. Call out to God; he is faithful and true.

Psalm 28:7: “The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.”
John 14:27: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
Ephesians 6:11: “Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.”

If we keep our eyes on the Lord and not the circumstances that unfold in life, we will realize that everything that seems like a misfortune can be turned around to your good and His glory.

We would like to thank Naomi Jones for writing this blog.

I had a hard time writing this blog.

I’m not really sure why, but I got to the point where I wasn’t turning anything in because I honestly couldn’t think of what to write—and I didn’t want to write something just to write something. I didn’t want to be disingenuous.

Belief has not always been my strength. If you’re looking for an expert on faith and believing big, it isn’t me. But God has brought me a long way in building my faith, and I am so thankful for His faithfulness in that.

Recently—after this blog was already due—we hiked Pikes Peak with some of our friends and their families from church. And somewhere on that mountain, I think my faith grew a little more.

Day one started with the “easier” six-mile hike to Barr Camp. We packed in all of our camping supplies and hiked six beautiful miles up the mountain.

Hiking has always been special to me because I feel so close to God in nature. There is something about being surrounded by mountains, trees, and everything He created that quiets everything else.

We made it to camp, set up our tents, and watched the kids play in the creek and build forts out of limbs and string.

I felt accomplished. Proud. Tired. And incredibly thankful to be surrounded by God’s beauty.

Then came day two.

Another six miles, but this time with around 4,000 feet of elevation gain. We left around 6 a.m. hoping to beat the afternoon storms.

I woke up tired, but excited to hike.

Our team did so well. We pushed. We dug deeper. We encouraged each other.

But we didn’t beat the afternoon storms.

At that point, all of us knew we just needed to get up the mountain.

We helped each other. We encouraged each other. We carried each other’s loads—literally. Lucas and Cole were so steady through all of it. They showed their strength not just by carrying extra weight when others needed help, but by quietly stepping in and helping wherever they could. They carried loads, kept moving, and helped keep the rest of us moving too.

And when it felt like we had used everything we had, God sent some angels on that mountain to help us the rest of the way.

There was no going back down.

We had to go up.

And God gave us the strength.

The experience was deeply spiritual for me, and looking back, I think it gave me a glimpse of how much my belief has grown.

Even in the urgency of trying to get off that mountain and out of the storm, I had peace.

I knew I couldn’t make it up in my own strength.

I could see the support God was providing around us. I knew my worry couldn’t get us up the mountain any faster. My anxiety couldn’t make the storm go away.

So, I just kept going.

And somewhere inside, I knew we were going to make it.

Fast forward to getting home.

I was planning our homeschool year, looking at my work schedule between two jobs, looking at everything we had committed to—and I started to worry.

I was talking to my husband about how I wasn’t sure we could do it all.

He reminded me, we just hiked Pikes Peak.

I could, in fact, do hard things.

But more importantly, he reminded me that God can provide what we need for what He has called us to do. It doesn’t have to come from my own strength.

A few days later, I went on a run—because Pikes Peak also showed me just how much I need to work on my fitness, haha—and I felt God impress something on my heart:

“Quit looking for escape routes. Believe that I will get you through what I have called you to.”

That hit me.

Because I think, sometimes, I ask God to show me what He wants me to do, but then when it gets hard, I immediately start looking for the way out.

Maybe believing bigger isn’t believing that everything will be easy.

Maybe it’s believing that if God has called us to something, He will be faithful to meet us there.

It reminds me of 1 Thessalonians 5:24:

“The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.”

Not you are strong enough, and you will do it.

He is faithful.

Philippians 1:6 says something similar:

“He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

God calls us to things. Sometimes He calls us through things. And He doesn’t promise that we will accomplish them in our own strength.

He promises to be faithful.

Ephesians 3:20:

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.”

Pikes Peak reminded me that sometimes there isn’t an escape route. Sometimes the only option is to keep climbing, one step at a time, trusting that God will provide the strength, the people, the peace, and even the “angels on the mountain” we need along the way.

So, whatever you’re walking through, or whatever God has called you to, my prayer is that you can stop looking for the escape route.

Believe bigger.

Not in yourself, but in the God who called you.

We would like to thank Lori Johnson for writing this blog.

I like to be in control of things. I like a clean, organized house. I like our finances to be in order. I like the yard to look nice and to know what is coming up on our schedule. I don’t like to be surprised. I like to be in control, and I like order!

However, there have been times in my life where I have had to surrender my control and order to the One who has it all under control! And if I’m being honest, He knows a lot more about that than I ever will!!!

Thinking back to our very first year of farming, God showed me that I didn’t have to have everything under control, and He would take care of us. One afternoon in late June, we were crushed by a hailstorm, and it left our 5-foot corn laying on the ground. We were devastated! I vividly remember watching my 20-year-old husband on his knees in the field looking at his ruined corn crop. I sat at the kitchen table wondering why God allowed this to happen. What were we going to do? We already owed money to the bank, so how were we going to pay them off if we didn’t have a crop? I had no idea how this was going to work out, and it was totally out of my control!

My husband immediately went to work to replant, and at the end of the year, we paid off the bank almost to the dollar that we owed them. There wasn’t anything left over, but at least we were able to pay off our debt. 

It was at that time that God showed a young married couple that He is faithful, and we can trust Him! God showed up in such a way that we knew it was only from Him! There was no other explanation of how we paid out at the bank. It was GOD!!!

I wish I could say that was the last time we had a hailstorm or lost a crop, but after 42 years of farming, we have had several storms over the years. Each time we have a disaster on the farm, I think back to that first year and remember God’s faithfulness to us. There was a song that was popular back then, and I still sing it in my spirit when I want to be reminded of God’s promises to us during hard times:

            He’ll do it again. He’ll do it again.

            Just take a look at where you are now and where you’ve been.

            Hasn’t He always come through for you, well He’s the same now as then.

            You may not know how, you may not know when, but He’ll do it again!

God is bigger than my control! Often, I try to put God in a box and think that I have to solve the world’s problems or keep everything in a certain order. But when I surrender to God’s plan in my life, things turn out MUCH better! Ephesians 3:20 says that “Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us,” 

Why do I think I can do it better than God? Why do I think I have to have everything in control, when I can just trust God? I know I can trust God completely, because He has proven time and time again that He is trustworthy! He can do things BIGGER and BETTER when I surrender! He’ll do it again!!!

We would like to thank Vickie Young for writing this blog.

I’ve been working my way through The Bible Recap, and in true form, I started it in the middle of the year.

It’s so easy to read through the Old Testament and think, Why do they keep making the same mistakes over and over? Look, the golden calf didn’t do anything for you the first time. What do you think it’s going to do this time?

My daughter even asked me, “Are we done reading about the Israelites? They just keep doing the same thing over and over.”

But then I remind myself that while my actions may not be the same, I still sin over and over again, making many of the same mistakes. I limit what God can do because I can’t wrap my mind around how He does it or why He would do it for me.

When King Hezekiah came to power, “he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, according to all that David his father had done. He removed the high places and broke the pillars and cut down the Asherah. He trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel, so that there was none like him among all the kings of Judah after him, nor among those who were before him. For he held fast to the Lord. He did not depart from following him, but kept the commandments that the Lord commanded Moses.” 2 Kings 18:2–3, 5–6

Because of Hezekiah’s faith and trust in God, the Bible tells us that he prospered. Then, when Hezekiah became sick and was near death, he asked God for healing, and God granted it.

What did Hezekiah do next?

He boasted about himself and became prideful. He stopped seeking God’s wisdom and made foolish decisions.

I want to focus on the moment when Hezekiah asked God to extend his life and God granted his request. Sometimes, I don’t even allow myself to ask for things because I limit what God can do or rather, what I believe He is willing to do for me.

I’m not the ruler of a country, so why would God do something big for me?

Thankfully, He is God, and He isn’t limited by those thoughts.

In times of doubt, I remind myself of examples from my own life when God showed up in big ways simply because I had the faith to ask.

When my youngest daughter was still in the womb, one of her kidneys was retaining too much fluid. We had to schedule an additional ultrasound, and the condition remained the same. The doctor told me that if things didn’t improve, she would need a procedure after birth to drain the fluid.

So, what did I do?

I stressed about it. Then I tried to rationalize it by thinking, Well, it’s not that bad. It could definitely be worse. It’s not a chronic illness. Maybe it’ll just work itself out.

Of course, even when my child has a cold, I worry, so those thoughts weren’t especially helpful.

Then one day, while I was sitting in church, I felt a strong urge to go to the front after the service and ask for prayer for God to heal her. Honestly, it was going to be the first time I had ever gone forward for prayer. I was uncomfortable and, once again, trying to talk myself out of it but I didn’t.

I told Ty, “We’re going to the front to get prayer for Audrey’s kidney.”

So, we did.

We walked to the front, which felt like a mile because we both usually sit toward the back and were feeling uncomfortable. We received prayer, and I felt such relief afterward.

At the next ultrasound, they measured her kidney, and it was within the normal range. They checked again before she was born, and everything looked great.

I’m not the ruler of a country, and I wasn’t asking God to extend my life, but none of that matters to Him.

He wants us to come to Him and bring Him the desires of our hearts.

Philippians 4:6 says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

God wants our hearts and desires a relationship with us.

When Hezekiah turned away from God, he lost God’s favor and wasted the precious gift of extra life on earth that had been given to him.

We don’t know what big things God has planned for us. God can and will do more than we can imagine.

Sometimes, we just have to ask.

We would like to thank Chelsea Criswell for writing this blog.

 There’s a tension many of us live in but don’t always recognize: God speaks big, but people often think small. 

If we’re honest, one of the greatest obstacles to believing bigger isn’t a lack of faith, it’s the weight of other people’s opinions. It’s the offhand comments, the doubts, the questions, and even well-meaning advice that slowly pulls us back into what feels safe, realistic, and understandable. 

But God rarely calls us to what is safe. 

Isaiah reminds us, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord (Isaiah 55:8). When God places something in your heart, it often stretches beyond logic. It goes beyond your resources, your experience, and definitely beyond what others can immediately see. 

And because of that, the people around you may not affirm it, they may question it. Not because they’re against you, but because they’re limited to what they understand. 

The real question is: whose voice gets the final say? 

Because the voice you agree with will shape the future you step into. 

We see this clearly in Scripture. When David stood before Goliath, he was surrounded by voices telling him to be realistic. Yet David declared, “The battle is the Lord’s” (1 Samuel 17:47). Everyone else saw a giant that couldn’t be defeated. David saw a God who couldn’t be stopped. 

The difference wasn’t the size of the giant; it was the voice he chose to believe. 

If David had listened to the opinions around him, he would have never stepped onto that battlefield. His calling required him to reject what made sense to others in order to embrace what God had already spoken. 

And we face that same decision. 

Too often, we give people’s opinions a level of authority they were never meant to have. Proverbs 29:25 warns us, “Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.” When we prioritize people’s reactions over God’s direction, we trap ourselves in hesitation and doubt. 

Believing bigger requires a shift. 

It means learning to filter voices instead of absorbing all of them. Not every voice deserves equal access to your faith. Not every opinion is qualified to speak into your calling. 

It also means accepting that obedience to God may look unreasonable to others. There will be moments when saying “yes” to God means saying “no” to the comfort of being understood. 

Paul writes in Galatians 1:10, “Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God?” That question still challenges us today. 

We all want confirmation. We all want support. But if you wait for everyone to understand what God is doing in your life before you move forward, you may never move at all. 

Believing bigger requires courage, the kind of courage that is willing to stand alone before it ever stands in victory. 

It’s choosing to trust God’s character over human consensus. It’s deciding that if God said it, that settles it, even if no one else sees it yet. As 2 Corinthians 5:7 reminds us, “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” 

This doesn’t mean we ignore wisdom or isolate ourselves from counsel. God uses people. But there’s a difference between seeking wise counsel and surrendering your conviction. 

At the end of the day, you must settle this: whose voice carries the most weight in your life? 

Before you ask, “What do people think?” ask, “What did God say?” 

Because you can’t step into something greater if you keep shrinking it to fit inside someone else’s understanding. 

Not every opinion deserves access to your faith. 

Believing bigger begins when God’s voice becomes louder than the crowd, and when His “yes” matters more than everyone else’s hesitation. 

We would like to thank Cassie Mogg for writing this post.

There are so many things that the hand of God is able to do. In my life, the two things that have had the most profound impact on me are that the hand of God has created me and covered me.

I have always been in awe of creation and the world around us. The peace and solace of being in nature is unlike any other. As my faith journey has progressed, I have learned that it is not just about being in awe of creation, but more about becoming more intimately connected to my Creator. About twenty years ago, I watched two talks by Louie Giglio titled “Indescribable” and “How Great is Our God”. From the massiveness of the galaxies and universe to the minute intricacies of our fearfully and wonderfully made human bodies, these two talks birthed a reverence and worship in my heart that has grown ever since. Spoiler (but no surprise!) alert: no matter how majestic or miniscule, the cross is at the center of it all.

We are not some random splat. We are the furthest thing from an accident, and there is nothing unplanned in God’s plan. We have been created in the very image of God (Genesis 1:27). We have been measured even to the number of hairs on our head (Matthew 10:30). Our DNA sequence has been calculated unlike any other of the billions of people on our planet. We have been known before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4) and were knit together in our mother’s womb (Psalm 139:13). Knit. Intentionally. Intricately. Intimately. His hand has created me.

The story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (Daniel 3:8-30) is a story of God’s provident protection when we refuse to bow down or worship anything other than Him. In my career as an educator, I have been faced with many situations where I had to choose between my earthly boss and my heavenly Master. It has not always been an easy road, but I have felt the hand of God cover me every single time. 

The most trying of situations came several years ago during our daughter’s junior year of high school. Matt and I both faced tremendous adversity and had several negative actions taken against us. It was no doubt the worst professional storm we had walked through together…the fire seemed seven times hotter than it ever had before. But God. We chose “One Way” as our basketball team’s theme for that season, based on the movie “Woodlawn”. We professed that Jesus would be at the center of everything for our team and season. Our covenant with each other, our team, and our God was that we would do everything “One Way” to bring honor and glory to Him and Him only. 

I have never felt the covering of God’s hand over my life as much as I did during that year. Even when the storm swelled and the fire raged, His peace was ever present on a daily, sometimes hourly, basis. Our team won the 3A State Championship with an undefeated 37-0 record, and I will forever be grateful to The One who scripted that entire season. Am I grateful for the furnace, fire, and flame? I would not know the 4^th Man in the fire more deeply without them. I would not know how powerful His presence truly is without them. I would not know the deliverance of coming out not even smelling like smoke without them. His hand has covered me.

One of my favorite song lyrics says, “I may not know what the day may bring, but I know Who brings the day”. When the almighty hand of God pushes that glorious sun up every morning, I am reminded of how thoroughly and affectionately I have been created. I am reminded that no matter what storm may come, He will be there in the fire and deliver me from it. My Creator is sovereign and I am safe in the covering of the Lord.

We would like to thank Courtney Garrett for writing this post.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

Let’s talk about the hand of God. When you think about the hand of God, what is the first thing that comes to mind? We may first think about what He gives, how He provides, how He moves obstacles for us. For me, it reminds me of all the things God is willing to receive from us. I grew up with trauma being a regular occurrence, and it was crippling. When I was at the lowest time in my life, I turned to alcohol to numb the pain from the worst trauma I had recently experienced. I wasn’t drinking to party; I was drinking in attempts to just not think, to stop or slow down the anguish, to stop panic attacks. My mind was tormented with fear, suicidal ideations, flashbacks, intrusive thoughts, and wondering how this happened. My life as I knew it was over; I was a shattered shell of a woman and mother. I had been a fighter all my life and made it through so much, but this time I had no fight left in me. I prayed everyday asking the Lord for help to cope with this crisis. The Lord revealed to me that what I was going through was spiritual, and that I needed to deal with it spiritually. I rebuked the suicidal thoughts and told them to leave me in Jesus Name, and they immediately left. I started begging God to take the desire and addiction to alcohol away.  

God had supernaturally taken the desire for other addictions away throughout my life, so I knew He could and would. This time was different, every time I sat on my bed with a bottle of rum in my hand just wanting to numb the ravaging pain away, I would pray. Lord, please take the desire to drink away from me, I don’t want it. The Lord would show me an image of His open hand toward me, palm up, like He was willing to receive it if I was willing to give it to Him. No, Lord, please take it from me, then He would show me his open hand again and impress on me that this time I had to GIVE it to Him. I didn’t think I could put this in His hand on my own; I knew if I was willing to give it to Him that He would help me, but I just couldn’t give it to Him. I was stuck, fearful of how I would be able to manage this pain without alcohol. The alcohol was NOT helping; it rather held me captive in my body while my mind ran every scenario, every fear, everything that I could have done differently, and every way that I failed. I felt like I was stuck in a prison cell with little hope, but the Lord kept showing me that the prison door was open, and I could walk out if I wanted to.  

I didn’t want to have to do the work myself; I wanted the Lord to do the work for me. My daily prayers begging God for help went on for months. I knew what I had to do yet questioned my ability. God was showing His willingness to take it IF I was willing to give it to Him; God obviously knew I had the ability. I wish I could say that the battle was easy once I gave it to Him; it was not. I had a lot of spiritual warfare to battle after that, learning how to make healthy choices in my mind and body, and learning to lean on the Lord for strength and guidance every step of the way.  

Learning how to live life without substances to cope was a great challenge for me as my earliest addiction started at age 9. I learned, grew, and matured my ability to feel the feelings and not run from them. God offered me His open hand, and I took Him up on His offer; God knew that if I expected Him to do the work for me every time that I would not learn and grow the ability to do it for myself.  August 2026 will be 9 years sober for me, because I chose to put it in His hand. May He do the same for you in whatever He is leading you to put in His hand. God bless you.  

We would like to thank Leah Montez for writing this post.

There are many times in my life I can think of when the hand of God has definitely been felt and present. From answered prayers, opened doors, challenges, and provision even in moments of life where we did not recognize it. Seasons of life are inevitable and change has to happen. Some seasons come with excitement and anticipation while some come with uncertainty and letting go. As women, one of our greatest gifts is adjusting to changes as we watch our children grow. 

Over the past nine months, we have been in a season of lasts, watching chapters close in my son’s senior year of high school. In a couple of months my oldest will be moving to attend college. While I am so proud of him and have so much joy about his growth and upcoming experiences, this makes me anxious as well. I have spent eighteen years raising, nurturing, praying for and teaching him, getting to watch him become the amazing young man he is today, all thanks to God’s hand in our lives. 

As this next chapter draws near, I have to trust that God has him in his hands, as he always has and always will. Isaiah 41:10 says “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will hold on to you with my righteous right hand.” Being in God’s word and trusting in truths like these give me comfort. While I know that this season of change in life is inevitable, it is hard for me to think about him being on his own and not needing me. The realization that life is not only changing for him, but for me and his sister at home can seem overwhelming and scary. While we get impatient and want to know God’s plan for our lives and for our families, scripture reminds us to fully trust in God’s plan, because it is better than anything we can imagine for ourselves. As I watch my son prepare to step into this next chapter I am reminded to trust in God’s plan for every detail of his journey. Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and not rely on your own understanding; in all your ways know him, and he will make your paths straight.” 

Whatever season you find yourself in, remember God is already there. I encourage you as we go through seasons of change, whether they be exciting or scary, that you stay in God’s word. Trusting in His plan can be difficult but there is such a peace in knowing he has it and we do not have to worry about it. As women we take on so many roles and responsibilities, and this is something we can turn over to God and allow him to guide our paths. 

I want to end with one of my son’s favorite scriptures, Isaiah 43:2 “When you pass through deep waters, I will be with you, and the rivers will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, and the flame will not burn you.” He has turned to this verse many times over his high school years, and it is such a good reminder that when you feel that overwhelming stress of the world, that God will not let it overcome you. I have no doubt he will keep this verse in his heart and God’s hand will be in every step of his next chapter.

We would like to thank Jamie Austin for writing this post.

Recently, I’ve been reading through the book of Acts, and I came across the story of Stephen. I’ve always known him as the first Christian martyr, but never really dove deep into his story. The story of Stephen is just a short story, but you can see God’s hand over it.

Stephen was chosen to serve the Hellenistic Jews and care for their spiritual needs. When Stephen was appointed, he started preaching boldly.

“Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people. Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen… who began to argue with Stephen. But they could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke.” (Acts 6:8-10)

Stephen had remarkable wisdom for someone who had only recently begun his ministry. That wisdom came directly from the Holy Spirit. Being full of the Spirit was one of the reasons the disciples chose him in the first place. (Acts 6:5)

Stephen knew the hand of God was upon him because he knew the Holy Spirit dwelled within him. And he wanted the Jewish leaders to have a relationship with the Holy Spirit like he and so many other people had. This is how Stephen responded to the Jewish leaders when they accused him of being a false teacher. 

“You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit!” (Acts 7:51)

The passion and boldness in those words just amaze me of the faith Stephen had. Stephen’s message wasn’t rooted in anger but in his love for God and his desire for others to know the God as he did. Yet this was their response:

“When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him.” (Acts 7:54)

But Stephen knew God and he had a relationship with Him. He knew the hand of God was over him every moment, even as he faced death. And just before he was stoned, God allowed him to see His glory.

“But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. ‘Look,’ he said, ‘I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.'” (Acts 7:55-56)

As I read Stephen’s story, I can’t help but reflect on my own life. Just as the hand of God was over Stephen’s life, I can look back and see the hand of God over mine.

Whenever I hear the lyrics from Goodness of God—

“All my life You have been faithful. All my life You have been so, so good. With every breath that I am able, I will sing of the goodness of God.”

—I always get the same picture in my mind. I see God’s hands resting on my head and my husband’s head and then moving on to resting on our children’s head. But God’s hand keeps moving, resting His hands on generation after generation. 

I know God’s hand is over my life. I know His hand is over my husband’s life. I know His hand is over my children’s lives. And I believe His hand will remain over the generations that come after us.

There are things about my heavenly father I cannot fathom but God gave me an earthly father whose life reflected so much of His character.

My dad was kind and loving, just as my Heavenly Father is kind and loving. My dad also corrected me when I needed it, just as my Heavenly Father disciplines His children.

When I think of my dad, one of the things that brings me the greatest comfort is remembering his hands.

From the age of twenty until he was sixty-four, my dad farmed. I remember him coming home with dirty hands, bruised hands, and sometimes even bloody hands from the hard work he did to provide for his family. His hands were ever-present in my life. Those hands provided and protected me. 

But when cancer forced my dad to stop farming, his hands began to change.

His strong and calloused hands become weak and smooth. Eventually, not only his hands but his entire body wore out, and he passed from this life into eternity.

As grateful as I am for my earthly father whose hands were all over my life, there is an even greater comfort in knowing that the hand of God has never left me.

My earthly father’s hands grew tired, but God’s hands never do.

My earthly father’s hands became weak, but God’s hands will always be strong enough to take on any battle I will face. 

My earthly father’s hands eventually gave out but God’s hands will continue for generations until His return.

Just like the words from Goodness of God, I can look back over my life and see the hand of God all throughout my life. Through every bad choice I made as a teenager, through the hardships my husband and I have faced, through every hill and valley of parenthood, the hand of God has remained steady, and He has been with me every step of the way.

We would like to thank Bethany Williams for writing this post.

 ^“If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.” Psalm 139: 7-10 (NKJV)

How does a former New Yorker end up in West Texas? Unusual? Yes. Impossible? Not at all. The only explanation is the hand of God—the very same hand David describes above. Many of you have probably wondered how a “New York City girl” and “globe-trotter” came to a small Texas town. I get that question all the time. To be honest, I wasn’t excited about the dry heat or the lack of shade, but I was sure God had led me here. How? I’m glad you asked. To tell the full story, I need to go back about ten years ago to the same month this is being published.

While working in “the uttermost parts of the sea”, on a cruise ship, I had to attend a sail-away party. There, I heard a woman call to her grandson, “Boaz!” I had recently been reading the book of Ruth, so I made a beeline for her. As we talked, I learned she was traveling with her daughter, a golf pro who was teaching lessons onboard. I was thrilled to find out she was a believer. In that brief conversation, I shared that I was waiting for God to bring me my own “Boaz”—my future husband. She encouraged me that God had someone for me and said she would be praying. What I didn’t tell her was that just a month earlier, on June 24th to be exact, the Lord had spoken clearly to me about meeting my husband within six months.

I never exchanged contact information with the guest, so I assumed I would never see her again. Then that December—exactly six months after the Lord told me I would meet my husband—I had my first phone date with Shiloh! We were then married on that special date, June 24, 2018. He didn’t know anything about the significance of that date until our wedding ceremony when I was sharing my vows. To say he was surprised was an understatement!

But wait, it gets even better! 

A few months into our marriage, I was at a doctor’s appointment in Plainview. When I mentioned my work at sea, the doctor lit up and said he knew someone whose daughter taught golf lessons on cruise ships. “Does she happen to have a grandson named Boaz?” I asked. “Yes—that’s the family!” he replied. When I asked where she lived, he said, “Here in Plainview.” Shiloh and I stared at each other, jaws dropped and minds blown. The doctor gave me her phone number, and of course I called her. Imagine her surprise when I told her I was not only married, but also living in her hometown! The hand of God ladies!

So, was that the end of the story? Not even close. You may wonder what God has been doing since I left behind my life of travel and adventure. Well, He had another big adventure planned, and it was just around the corner. Following God to a new place came easily for me, putting down roots in one place did not. It can be harder to trust the promise that “even there your hand will guide me” when life begins to feel more like Groundhog Day.

Just because God’s call was from a place of beauty to a place that was dry and remote didn’t mean it was out of His presence or plan. The truth is ladies, that when God called me here, it wasn’t just to a place, but to a person. A man of God whom I have built a life with. We are now raising two beautiful children who now adorn our home like precious jewels. Our lives are not perfect, but God’s hand is with us always leading, guiding, protecting and sustaining us to the uttermost. Instead of waking up in a new country on a new continent, I wake up to a house that needs cleaning and children who need to be fed. As I write, magnet tiles cover the floor around my feet, unfinished crafts are scattered across the table, the dishwasher needs to be unloaded, and the laundry still needs to be put away.

Another version of Psalm 139:5 says it like this, “you lay your hand upon me, such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. Where can I go from your spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?  If I go up to the heavens, you are there. If I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me. Your right hand will hold me fast.” Psalm 139 :5-10 (NIV)

If I truly believe that “even there” His hand will guide and hold me, then I can trust Him in the details of everyday life. As Corrie Ten Boom said, “His past faithfulness demands our present trust.” I can trust His hand to guide and hold me even when my two-year-old throws a tantrum I cannot calm, or when my daughter cannot find her glasses and we are already late for school. Psalm 139 reminds me that God’s hand guides me “even there”. I often think His guidance is only for life’s big, dramatic moments, not the ordinary, everyday ones. But from the extraordinary to the ordinary, His hand leads just as faithfully and will continue to do so until I see him face to face.

“For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you,
  Do not fear; I will help you.” Isaiah 41:13(NLT)

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen    you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”  Isaiah 41:10 (NIV)

“I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.” Psalm 32:8 (NLT)

We would like to thank Julie Posey for writing this post.

When I was first asked to write this blog about how “Kindness Transforms,” I really didn’t know what God had in store for me to write. Because the truth is, when looking back at my life, I wouldn’t say that, naturally, I’m a “kind person.” I bet anyone closest to me could probably tell you the same thing is true! Ha! Ha! For many years, the type of person I was, and what I can still battle with from time to time, is what you give to me is what you get back. If you’re unkind to me, you get that right back, and if you’re kind to me, well then, you get kindness back. That’s how I had always been until one day, God started to shift my life.

Romans 2:4 – “God’s kindness is intended to lead us to repentance.”

It started with a series of events unfolding through the years of my life. I was born and raised in the church, and yet, throughout my younger adult life, I struggled in and out of following God and attending church. In 2004, I came back to God and Harvest, broken, ashamed, and pregnant. I didn’t know what to expect, but I knew I desperately needed God and was skeptical about how I would be accepted and received in the church. But I was welcomed with open arms by everyone in the church. People all around me were kind and generous and made sure I felt loved and like I had a place to belong. My Life Group threw me a baby shower and made sure I had things for the new baby. I felt like I had not been overlooked; not judged for the life I had been living. 

Another time, in 2010, I experienced a divorce and found myself a single mom of four while in the middle of going to community college. Gosh, talk about feeling broken and ashamed for being divorced in the church! Again, people came together to love me and help out. I had a vehicle that was provided by a friend to get myself and my kids to school and Christmas was provided by the church. So many needs were met for me and my kids that year. Those situations softened my heart and led me to change how I wanted to treat others around me, especially during those times, because my walk with God was still a big struggle. I love how God is sovereign in the way he works out the details of our lives and how we experience His hand, His kindness, and His goodness even when we don’t deserve it. It has happened all my life. His kindness and mercy changed my life and still does.

Jeremiah 31:3-4 “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness. I will build you up again and you, will be rebuilt.” 

Recently, we celebrated our 5^th child graduating from college. While at his party, watching all my children and their spouses and my grandchildren interact and have fun, I couldn’t help but be grateful and overwhelmed at the kindness of God to give me such a wonderful family when I didn’t even know half the time if I was being a good mom or doing this parenting thing right. This alone makes me want to continue to live a life worthy of Him and all that He has to offer. It puts a fire in my heart to minister and treat people as He sees them whether they are kind or not, whether they like me or not. Do I do this perfectly every time? Definitely not! I’m a work in progress, and I’ve come a long way from the woman I used to be. My kindness might look different than yours. We all express it in different ways to each other, but my heart is continually growing and being healed. It is being softened with every act of kindness from God and others around me. 

Titus 3:3-7 “But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of the righteous things we have done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out generously through Jesus Christ our Savior. So that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.”

We would like to thank Brenda Martinez for writing this post.

“For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved by various passions and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, detesting one another. But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared, he saved us — not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy — through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit.” — Titus 3:3-5 CSB

You’ve probably heard the saying “happy wife, happy life.” Maybe you’ve even used it as a gentle reminder to your husband to pay attention to your wants and needs. I know those words have left my mouth a time or two. But honestly? There’s a flip side to that phrase that can feel a little unfair. As the wife, the mom, the heartbeat of the home, your attitude and demeanor has a way of setting the emotional temperature for everyone under your roof. When I’m struggling to keep a good attitude, more often than not, my husband and kids follow suit.

So, on those hard days, when everything is going wrong, and you just can’t pull yourself together, what’s a girl to do?

Let me tell you.

When I started praying about this topic, I asked the Lord to bring to mind past moments where kindness clearly made a difference in others. But He had something more immediate in mind. He wanted to show me examples unfolding right in my own home, in real time.

This past week has been a lot. We put our house on the market, which means the constant pressure of keeping everything spotless. Our dog is very pregnant and could have puppies any day. It’s mid-May, which brings the beautiful chaos of end-of-school events, baseball, softball, and a to-do list that never seems to shrink. Work has picked up as we’re growing our team, which means training new people on top of everything else. Summer is literally starting this week, and I am not ready for my kids to be home all day. My husband has a work trip, my in-laws are out of town, and I will be the sole adult running the show as school wraps up with a bang.

I’m stressed. And being kind, especially to the people I love most, has been a real challenge.

But here are three things I’ve tried this week that have genuinely shifted my perspective.

1. Stop and breathe.

Before anything else, just pause. Calm those nerves, sister. The Lord truly cares about every detail of your life, every stressor on your plate. Take a moment to find even the smallest win and give thanks for it. That simple act can break the spiral before it starts.

2. Turn your frustration into prayer.

This week, I found myself in that familiar cycle, frustration with my husband building into full-blown irritation. But instead of letting those thoughts run wild, I stopped and took them captive. I started praying for him. Thanking God for his hard work and dedication. Asking the Lord to guard his mind and heart. And something shifted. The bitterness softened. My heart moved from anger to compassion, to a real understanding of the weight he’s been carrying. That one choice to respond with kindness, even just internally, transformed me.

3. Choose kind words and a softened tone.

Nothing raises the temperature in a home quite like an angry mom. If you need a moment before you open your mouth, take it. Step away, breathe, reset. The words you choose and the tone you carry them in matter more than you know.

Here’s what I keep coming back to: the passage in Titus doesn’t say God was patient with us until we got our act together. It says He showed us kindness, and that kindness is what changed everything. We were foolish, disobedient, enslaved, and He met us there with mercy and love. Not because we earned it, but because that is who He is.

Kindness isn’t passive. It’s a choice, often a hard one, made in the middle of a messy, stressful, imperfect life. But when we extend it, to our husbands, our kids, ourselves, something transforms. Sometimes it’s the room. Sometimes it’s a relationship. And sometimes, it’s your own heart.

So today, wherever you are and whatever kind of week you’re having, choose kindness. You might be surprised what it changes.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

We would like to thank Megan Hollis for writing this post.

Ephesians 4:23 – Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Have you ever felt like the sky is falling, or the walls are closing in around you? I know I have. Some moms reading this right now are caring for a sick family member, helping a graduating senior prepare for the next chapter, managing a house that feels impossible to keep up with, chasing little ones around, and staring at a never-ending to-do list.

So, how do we, as women who juggle so many responsibilities and wear so many hats, continue to walk in the fruit of the Spirit, especially kindness?

Kindness comes from Jesus. He, too, was constantly being pulled in every direction, yet He still chose compassion, patience, and love for others.

Think about the story where the friends lowered the paralyzed man through the roof just to get him to Jesus. We often focus on the loyalty and determination of the friends and say, “Wow, that is true friendship.” And it is. But sometimes we miss another important part of the story – Jesus.

Even in the middle of crowds, demands, and people needing something from Him at every moment, Jesus stopped. He noticed the man, responded with kindness, and met his need. That is what kindness rooted in Christ looks like: making room for people even when life feels overwhelming.

I have often thought about what it must have been like to be in Jesus’ position, surrounded by people needing something different from Him all at once. He was fully human, and surely there were moments when He felt overwhelmed. Yet He continued to respond with patience and kindness.

If you are a teacher, coach, administrator, banker, business owner, or simply someone known for getting things done, you understand what it feels like to have more and more added to your plate. Jesus healed bodies, minds, and spirits. Imagine how many directions He was pulled each day. Yet, when you read the New Testament, you also see that Jesus intentionally rested. He even told His disciples to rest. God created a rhythm for us: work for six days and rest on the seventh.

Rest is often where kindness begins. When we are overwhelmed, exhausted, and running without pause, kindness becomes much harder to give away.

If you know me at all, you know I stay busy. I love seeing growth around me and growth within me. I believe a growing person is a fulfilled person, and I never want to stop learning. That mindset is part of why I chose to go back to college for a master’s degree in counseling during one of the busiest seasons of my life. Many times, I have asked the Lord, “Why now?” But over and over, I am reminded that this season requires me to lean on Him more deeply for strength and rest. He has never left my side through it all.

I can always tell when I have not rested enough because I become short and impatient, usually with the people closest to me. In those moments, I have learned that I need one of four things: rest, food, time with Jesus, or time with people who refill my cup. It is difficult to choose kindness when you are neglecting your own well-being.

Self-reflection also requires another fruit of the Spirit: self-control. Kindness in our actions, words, and responses requires a filter. I love teaching students about what I call the “brain filter.” We have thousands of thoughts every day, but not every thought should become a spoken word.

When I taught younger students who struggled with blurting things out, I would place a coffee filter on their desks and have them touch it before speaking. It was a simple but powerful reminder to pause, think, and filter before responding. That small habit trained them to slow down and choose their words more carefully. As adults, we sometimes forget how important that filter still is. Our words matter, and the way we present them matters too.

How many of us stand in front of the mirror replaying conversations, preparing arguments, or imagining conflict that has not even happened yet? That habit does not produce kindness. I remember when the Lord convicted me about this very thing. I would attend meetings, social gatherings, or service events, longing for deeper friendships, but internally, I was constantly replaying conversations or assuming how people felt about me.

One day, in the middle of all that mental noise, the Lord stopped me and reminded me: When you stop making assumptions about what might happen and simply become the kind of person I created you to be, without fear, you will find what you are looking for.

That changed me. It was not instant, but every time I felt anxious or tempted to rehearse conversations in my head, I would stop and pray. I would ask the Lord to show me truth instead of assumptions. That practice brought freedom and kindness toward myself, which then allowed me to extend kindness to others more naturally.

Learning these rhythms—resting, filtering my words, praying instead of assuming, and leaning on Jesus—has helped me stay kind under pressure. Not perfectly, but intentionally. And maybe that is the goal: not perfection, but a heart that continually returns to Christ, the true source of kindness.

We would like to thank Janeé Harrison for sharing this post.

When I think on the character of God, one of my favorite attributes is His kindness. Hearing the word “kindness” on a surface level might cause you to think of other words, such as “sweetness” or “softness.” While those words may also reflect human kindness, the kindness of God is so much more. It implies a steadfast, loyal love within a relationship with Him. His kindness is an active force that brings restoration and protection. 

An amazing truth that I have learned about God’s kindness is that it extends even to unbelievers. Think about that! The same rain that waters your yard and makes your grass green makes theirs green as well. They see the same sunrises, mountains, and other beauty of the world just like you do as a believer. The fact that we wake up with breath in our lungs is a testament to God’s kindness and mercy. It is not just limited to those who have decided to follow Him.

While that is good news, it can be hard for the believer to see the kindness of God bestowed just as heavily (sometimes it feels like more so) on someone who mocks God or simply doesn’t understand or appreciate what He has done for them. Just like the older brother in the parable of the Prodigal Son, it can be tempting to ask “Why do they get the blessing as well? I’ve been here the whole time!” So why does God do it? Why does His kindness and love extend even to someone who doesn’t believe in Him? 

It’s to bring them to repentance.

Romans 2:4 CSB “Or do you despise the riches of His kindness, restraint, and patience, not recognizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?”

The word “repentance” means a change of mind. To repent is to change your mind and turn from your sin. If the kindness of The Lord brings an unbeliever to repentance, how can we do anything but rejoice? Galatians 5:22-23 shows that kindness is one of the nine fruits of the spirit. It is an attribute of someone who has decided to follow Jesus. This means that God uses US, those who are already His children, to bring kindness to a broken world. We are the very vessel that shows others who Jesus is! That can be so hard to do when our humanity tries to get in the way. It’s easy to justify not showing kindness to people who have really hurt us or hurt those closest to us. 

I watched a clip of a message from Rachel Morley, a Christian worship artist, and it really spoke to my heart (and honestly brought me some healthy conviction). She said “Jesus did not just pay for the healing and the wholeness of the victim. He paid for the healing and the wholeness of the perpetrator. And when we can see that, when we can believe for, love, and long for the wholeness of the perpetrator as much as the victim, that’s when we understand the cross. That’s when we understand the gospel. This is the offensive grace of the gospel, that my enemies get to be my friends.”

That may sound extreme, but that is exactly what Jesus did. The ultimate kindness of the Father is seen in the sacrifice of Jesus. He died to provide salvation to humanity. So, as Sons and Daughters, and bearers of His image, let’s represent Christ to a fallen world. The seeds of love and kindness you plant in someone’s life may just inspire them to find the source.

We would like to thank Courtney Harper for writing this post.

“For as the soil makes the sprout come up and a garden causes seeds to grow, so the Sovereign Lord will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations.” Isaiah 61:11

Growth

Growth elicits two very contrasting images in my mind:

One of pain, stretching beyond current capacity, ripping, rending, that will later be repaired. My brain feels risk in that. What if my flesh bleeds out before being repaired? What if my capacity were not meant to be exceeded? What if the repair leaves scar tissue that throbs for years? What if…

The mistrusting bunny trail of “what if” leads down a snake hole of death, marred by some previous pain and some hypothetical never-to-happen, slippery-slope lies.

The other image of growth though-what a powerful, peaceful, purposeful vision in which to reside!

The Hebrew word for growth is defined as sprouting, bringing forth, springing up. Oh what a beautiful image of spring renewal after a winter of dormancy. Soil softens with warm weather and life and beauty spring up revived, renewed. The same springing forth of vegetation in the Garden of Eden is used for righteousness springing forth in Isaiah 61, which is the lens for the remainder of this post.

The Soil

Our human hearts are the soil for spiritual growth, and the condition of our hearts influences the form that growth takes. Hardened hearts, like stone, require rending, hewing, scraping, like diamonds that are raw being refined. The process for growth becomes like the firing process of precious metals, fired to burn away the dross.

Soft hearts crumble like fresh soil giving way to the seed erupting with life, pressing through to bear flowers and fruit. Soft hearts mold like clay, formed into use by the master artist’s hands. Oh-yes-pottery also requires firing to become sturdy and useful, not crumbling and crashing at a breath of wind.

Both firings of metal and clay turn crude, mushy potential into beautiful, purposeful products. Likewise, our hearts are fired through circumstances that lead us into a winter season of rest and dormancy in preparation for vibrant spring growth.

I ask myself, “Do I trust my Maker to form me in seasons of growth or do I resist, failing to yield my will, forcing a firmer refinement process?” Then my prayer becomes, “God, keep my heart soft. Silence fear. Grow trust. Don’t leave me blind. Heal me from within.”

Repentance-Hebrew

Sometimes growing looks like letting go.

In The Red Fern Grows, the boy needed a raccoon skin, so he set a trap by boring a hole in a log, dropping a shiny washer in the bottom, and hammering nails in the side that would allow an open hand through, but a closed fist would not. He considered it very unsportsmanlike but used it so that he could train his dogs to help him hunt. When a raccoon saw the glistening metal, he slipped his hand through the nails and clutched it in his first. To escape, all it needed to do was open his hand, let go of the washer, and slip his hand back between the nails, but all night, it wrestled upward, inflicting pain by thrusting the nails into his fist.

How often are we like the raccoon, clinging to what is shiny, inflicting our own pain, caught in a trap of sin, placing our trust in ourselves, money, or other people. That washer at the bottom could be pride, materialism, addiction, gossip, any sin. And we wrestle with our own desires rather than relinquishing our hope in a shiny promise of nothingness, and we wait, caught in a trap of sin, for the world to consume us.

Letting go of sin and pride looks like letting go, changing our minds, repenting.

But what is this word repentance? Our world disdains admitting shortcomings and owning up to our sin. It attempts to redefine truth rather than repent. It clings to what is shiny and accuses the nails for our painful entrapment.

In Hebrew, the word for repentance means “to be sorry, console oneself, repent, regret, comfort, be comforted.” It involves sighing, regretting, and going another direction. As with Job, this repentance is often associated with dust and ashes (Job 42:6) Google ai overview explains this cultural practice: “Dust and ashes in repentance symbolize deep humility, mortality, and brokenness before God, highlighting human frailty and the need for divine mercy.”

This repentance, this sighing, this changing of the mind, is a crushing of self, an acknowledgment of human frailty, a desperation for our sovereign, righteous God.

Repentance-Greek

Repentance has an equally powerful meaning in the New Testament where Greek is used rather than Hebrew. Both languages contain nuances that are powerful in translation. Repentance involves changing one’s mind and thinking differently afterward. The roots, meta and noeō literally mean “with understanding”. These roots imply that a new understanding leads to a change of mind and a change of action.

John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus declaring “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near” (Matthew 3:2). Likewise, when Jesus sent out the twelve disciples to teach and heal, “they went out and preached that people should repent” (Mark 6:12).

We are called to change our minds from our natural sinful nature as God’s kindness leads us to repentance (Romans 2:4) and righteousness in Christ.

Repentance into Growth

In my life, growing in God’s timing looks like: Grief, Repentance, Rebuilding, Renewal, and Sprouting up into an oak of righteous.

Though I have grieved countless friends who have entered the Kingdom ahead of me, I choose to change my mind away from the deception of sin, away from my own limited understanding. I choose to trust in God’s faithfulness, in His goodness, in His redemption, in His ability to transform what the enemy meant for evil into good. I choose to silence the lie that deep love leads to fruitless, permanent pain and marring.

Unlike the raccoon, I choose to open my fist that clenched shiny, fearful pride. I choose repentance so that I can grow in God’s timing.

I choose to love in spite of grief. I choose to love deeply because that growth is what Jesus calls me to.

PS. blueletterbible.org contains many resources that help us understand the Hebrew and Greek translations of the Bible.

We want to thank Mary Coleman for sharing this post.

I nearly said no to writing this blog. Why, you ask? Because this is an area of my life I have had to walk through at a pace that is anything but the pace at which I think it should be. Have you been there? It’s also an area I’ve had to walk through that has required healing and laying down bitterness, jealousy, and surrendering my desires to His. 

I think it’s safe to say that we all have an idea or dream in our mind of what we think adulthood will look like. Mine was this: grow up, graduate from high school, graduate from college with my degree, start my career, get married, buy our dream home, have children, live a white-picket-fence life that looks like it does in the movies. I thought I had it all figured out. Didn’t you, too?

As an only child I kinda sorta got most of the things I always wanted (shocker, I know). And I think it shaped my thoughts into thinking that’s how it would always be (until I matured and grew up some). So of course it came as a bit of a shock the older I got, that was absolutely not the case! LOL! I did graduate high school, I did go to college and get a degree, but got married halfway through. I never started the career I envisioned with the degree I got, we haven’t bought our “dream” home yet, we have 4 precious kiddos, and our life definitely doesn’t look exactly like it does in the movies. What all does that have to do with growing in God’s timing?

For me, it means I had to learn and believe that God’s timing is much better than mine. And choosing to surrender the control I thought I had to make my life look the way I thought it should. Ecclesiastes 3:11a says, “He has made everything appropriate in its time.” Isn’t that just so good? It brings such a peace to my heart knowing that His timing is perfect. His timing is always on time. 

Growing in God’s timing looks like contentment to me. Contentment in our home and stewarding well what the Lord has given us, even if it’s not like the houses the influencers have. Contentment in my jobs, even if it’s not working in radiology and doing ultrasounds like I thought it would be doing when I was deciding what to do when I grow up. Contentment in my family and how the Lord has blessed us in ways we couldn’t have dreamed up on our own. Contentment that we may not get to go on luxurious vacations all the time across the globe, but being together in whatever we do is enough. 

This reminds me of one of the episodes of the Chosen when the disciples are saying, “even if….. it would be enough.” In God’s timing I have grown to learn how much more peaceful life is when we truly let Him be in control, surrendering our mind, will, emotions, and desires to His. In God’s timing we are reaching the goals we have for our family. In God’s timing He will fulfill the desires of my heart, because as Pastor Anthony has shared over the last couple of months as we have been studying the book of Matthew, once we are truly in relationship with Jesus, our desires start to look more like His. And living in His will and His timing is the best place to be.  

We want to thank Paige Keller for sharing this post.

Hebrews 5:12 AMP – For though by this time you ought to be teachers [because of the time you have had to learn these truths], you actually need someone to teach you again the elementary principles of God’s word [from the beginning], and you have come to be continually in need of milk, not solid food.

But how could I understand this as a young girl? I did not grow up in a Christian home with Christian parents. My home was broken in so many ways. When I did start going to church in the 7^th grade, how could I understand what the Pastor was saying? It sounded like Greek to me. But the one thing I do remember about that time is that I heard about a man, Jesus, and I didn’t know why, but I fell in love with Him. I wanted to know Him more and more. But how do you learn about Him when you don’t know the bible, you didn’t grow up in the Word, and you don’t know what questions to ask? I just floated along in a sea of “what am I supposed to do?”

Hebrews 6:1 tells us: Therefore, let us get past the elementary stage in the teachings about Christ, advancing on to maturity and perfection and spiritual completeness, without laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God. 

How was I supposed to get past the elementary stage? Well, let me tell you. Because I stayed in this stage for many years. I was a baby Christian for way too long.

I now know that God’s timing is perfect. But as a baby Christian, I didn’t know about God’s timing, just mine and it was “I want it and I want it now.” Can you imagine how frustrating that was? The older I got the more confused and frustrated I became. I didn’t grow much because I wasn’t hearing much about God’s grace, so I was a works righteous Christian, trying to work for my salvation. I ended up walking away from church for a time because of my confusion. I used to say I walked away from God, but I know that He was with me always. I didn’t walk away from Him, He would not let me.

Colossians 1:9b-10 says: “We are asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, so that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and growing in the knowledge of God”

When I came to Harvest, I finally started “getting it”. It isn’t about me and what I do, it is all about Jesus and what He did for me. That man that I loved as a youth was always there for me. He led me through so much, even when I didn’t know He was there. I was growing slowly. Was this God’s timing? I sometimes think that God moved too slowly for me, but I know that I probably wouldn’t have learned as much in my own timing. I am too impatient. He had to take me back to the basics for me to fully understand and GROW. 

As I was praying about what to write, I heard a song. I have heard this song many times. It spoke to me and then I heard it again this morning and it really moved me. I will close with some of the lyrics, it is “Even if” by Mercy Me.

“They say it only takes a little faith to move a mountain.
Good thing a little faith is all I have right now.

But God when You choose to leave mountains unmovable.

Oh, give me the strength to be able to sing it is well with my soul.

I know You’re able and I know You can

save through the fire with Your mighty hand

but even if You don’t my hope is You alone.

I know the sorrow and I know the hurt

would all go away if You’d just say the word,

but even if You don’t my hope is You alone.  

You’ve been faithful, You’ve been good all of my days.
Jesus, I will cling to You, come what may.” 

I want to keep growing, no matter my age and I want to do all I can to help others to grow. And I want to praise God “Even if” He grows me in His timing and not my own. Some of the best advice I have for a new Christian is this: Don’t be afraid to ask questions, like I was. Reach out to someone!

Thank You Lord that You helped me grow in Your timing!

We want to thank Debbie Crosby for sharing this post.

I love springtime. The weather is lovely, and all of the flowers finally start to bloom. I particularly love the bulbous flowers that come back year after year – tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, crocus, peonies. Spring is a glorious time, one that we tend to signify as growth. It ends the dormant season of winter, and new life springs forth. 

But without the dormant season, there would never be new life. 

There is a cycle to the life of these plants. Each spring they bloom, most of them only one time. The colorful petals last for a few days, a few weeks at best, and then all that remains are the leaves. Then, by first frost, even those are gone, and nothing remains to be seen of the plant. And yet, the plant is still alive and growing. 

Ecclesiastes 3:1 says that “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.” Everything includes our own growth. 

There have been many seasons in my own life, where I have felt dormant. Where my prayer life seemed stagnant, where worship felt like work. Seasons where I felt like I was faithfully showing up, doing what I had been taught to do, and yet, was seeing no fruit. 

Honestly, these seasons are hard. I find them frustrating. And yet, having lived to see the other side of several of these seasons, I now know just how rewarding they can be. 

Just as with the flowers that bloom every spring, there is a season for everything. The dormant season is good for the flower – it helps it to recharge, to heal and renew, and even to multiply. The same is true for us as God’s daughters. We were not created to constantly be putting off showy blooms. We too, need dormant seasons. 

It is in the dormant seasons, where I learned that showing up for my time with the Lord, just to show up, was worth it. His presence, was worth it.

In the dormant seasons, I’ve learned that the discipline of prayer – whether I felt like praying or not – became a delight. 

In the dormant seasons, I’ve learned that sitting in my secret place with my Savior leads to my sanctification. 

We see the same truth play out in the lives of many listed in scripture.

There was a season where Joseph was in the pit and the prison, before managing the palace. 

There was a season where Moses was hiding in Midian, being prepared to lead the Israelites from Egypt to the Promised Land.

There was a season where Ruth was a widow, gleaning in the fields – the foundation being laid to become an ancestor of Jesus. 

There was a season where David was simply a shepherd, learning to be a warrior and a king. 

There were 30 years of life on earth, where Jesus himself prepared and waited for a 3-year season of ministry. 

These seasons aren’t filled with beautiful blooms. But they are filled with growth. These seasons create in us the kind of growth that produces plants and people that last. The kind of people with deeply rooted faith, who carry light into the world, knowing that no matter what storm comes, their God is good. 

These dormant seasons create in us a steadfastness, an unwavering hope that enables us to stand alone for the truth when no one else will. 

These dormant seasons create in us the humility that it takes to love others through their dormant and painful seasons.

These seasons produce within us exactly what we each need so that when spring comes, we can do what God has called us to do.

If you find yourself in a dormant season today, do not look on it with disdain. Don’t allow yourself to become discouraged, but keep seeking Him. Whether it is a season of pain and suffering, or simply a season where you feel stagnant, the Lord is not surprised by it. Psalm 139:16 tells us that “Your eyes saw me when I was formless; all my days were written in your book and planned before a single one of them began.” God knew this season was coming, and He knows exactly the growth that is planned for this time. So just as the psalmist cries out in Psalm 31:14-15, we can say, “But I trust in you, O Lord; I say, “You are my God.’ 15 My times are in your hand.”

You can trust in the Lord, even in this dormant season, because spring is coming. Continue showing up, sitting in the secret places with Him, and you will bloom again.

We want to thank Brooke Kellum for sharing this post.

 Joy, the feeling of great pleasure and happiness. The Word tells us in James 1:2-4 that we should “count it all joy” when facing trials and challenges, to develop perseverance and spiritual maturity.

When I was asked to write a blog about choosing joy daily, I really had to think about what that looks like, and since I am a very visual person, this picture came to mind: alarm screaming, kids crying and not wanting to go to school because they wanted the blue shirt with the black pants and not the red shirt with blue pants, coffee that was hot and now turned cold, rushing to get everyone where they need to be, and after all of that, arriving on time to a job that requires your time and attention. Where is the joy in that?! Where is the feeling of pleasure and happiness?

Philippians 4:4 says, “Rejoice in the Lord always,” even when things are not going our way. In the past, when things were hard, I chose to put chemicals in my body to spark that “joy” and get through what I needed to, but the truth is, they did nothing but keep the pure joy that only God can provide hidden and out of reach. “A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” Proverbs 17:22. They really didn’t bring me happiness or joy, they just numbed the bad feelings, and only temporarily.

God promises us in John 16:24, “Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be full.” Joy is a gift from God that helps keep us rooted in Him rather than the world and the circumstances you are facing. So, how do we choose joy daily? We focus on Him and the blessings He has given, find women who are rooted in Christ who will pray for us and help us see the joy and blessings in our life, and pray for God to give us eyes to see the joy in all circumstances. When “bad” days hit, and they will, remember that we have an unlimited well of joy that God provide if we will just choose to breathe, take a step back, and ask Him!

So, even though the coffee is cold, I have a full cup, my kids have clothes to wear (even if they’re not the right color), everyone is taken care of, and God gave me another day on this Earth to speak His name to someone who may not hear it from anyone else. I guess it’s not so hard to see the joy in all that after all.

We want to thank Randi Cason for sharing this post.

Think of the word joy. What comes to mind?

Is it a thing? A person? Or did your brain immediately jump to the “Sunday school answer” before I even finished the question? Ha.

But really, when you hear the word joy, what picture forms in your mind?

Maybe it’s a memory with someone you loved who has passed away.

Maybe it’s your mom’s lasagna on a Sunday afternoon.

Maybe it’s the sound of laughter.

Many of us connect joy to an experience. 

I believe there are two different kinds of joy.

There is experiential joy. The kind tied to circumstances, moments, memories, and things. These are good gifts. God created a beautiful world full of laughter, relationships, good food, adventure, and celebration. Scripture reminds us that God is a good Father who gives good gifts (Matthew 7:11). Experiencing joy in those things is not wrong. In fact, it’s part of His design.

But there is also a second kind of joy.

A deeper, steadier, unwavering kind. A joy that doesn’t rise and fall with circumstances.

When I think about joy, my mind often goes back to a trip I took in 2008. I had the opportunity to travel with a missions team to Malawi, Africa.

Hands down, the people I met there were the most joyful people I have ever encountered.

And the craziest part?

They had almost nothing.

I remember watching a group of boys proudly show me a toy car they had built themselves. It was made from discarded plastic bottles, bits of broken wheels, sticks, and string they had found on the ground. To them, it wasn’t trash, it was a treasure. They laughed, raced it across the dirt, and proudly explained how they had built it.

Their homes had dirt floors. Their beds were blankets laid directly on the ground. And yet when we visited, the women welcomed us with the brightest smiles and the most generous hospitality. They served us as if we were honored guests.

There was a light in their eyes I still remember.

When I came home, I struggled.

I opened our pantry and it was overflowing with food. More options than I could even think about eating. I stood there and felt uncomfortable with the abundance.

Then I walked into Walmart.

And I remember feeling overwhelmed, not with gratitude, but with consumerism. Aisles and aisles of things people were buying, but somehow still seemed unhappy.

I couldn’t shake the contrast.

There was such a stark difference between the spirit of where I had just come from and the spirit of where I lived.

The difference wasn’t possessions.

It was joy.

The people in Malawi had almost nothing to rely on except Jesus.

Which turns out to be everything.

Here in America, we have almost everything to rely on.

And sometimes we forget about Jesus.

Which is still everything.

I believe that is the difference.

When Jesus is all you have, you quickly learn that He is enough. Your joy isn’t built on comfort, convenience, or abundance. It’s built on trust.

Real joy doesn’t come from having everything.

It comes from knowing the One who is everything.

And maybe the real question for us is this:

Where is our joy coming from?

Because the source of our joy will determine whether it fades…

or whether it lasts.

We want to thank JuLea Bouma for sharing this post.

Joy, the bright yellow character from the movie “Inside Out,” is always cheerful and smiles throughout the movie, no matter the circumstances. She tries to keep it all together when the other characters, Disgust, Sadness, Anger, and Fear, seem to not understand that joy is above all emotions and should be preserved. My family and I love this movie, and we laugh and feel every bit of emotion, because we can relate to it. I kept thinking about this movie when I saw the topic for this blog post.

I then took a minute to think about ways I choose joy during the day, and to be honest, I did not resemble Joy, from the movie, at all. There were a few days I only broke a smile once or twice. I definitely did not leap with happiness to go clean the 10th poopy diaper of the day. I felt disappointed to realize my past few days did not look like joy-filled days. I am a tired mama of 3, who stays home, homeschools 2 kids, and changes at least 10 diapers per day. I probably wear my pjs all day, until it is time to get ready for nighttime church or evening wrestling practice. I rush out the door after making dinner and taking five or ten minutes to get myself ready. My heart felt sad that I might not be the right person to write about choosing joy every day.

I kept thinking about ways we choose joy every day. I knew there had to be more than just what we have been told about what joy is. We have a saying in our house, “TV is to entertain us, not to teach us how to act,” because I know how easily I let movies or TV shows shape my perception of life.

So, I went to the Bible to remind myself what joy really is. There are countless examples of joy in the Bible, but they don’t all portray characters like the bright yellow “Joy” from Inside Out.

The first example I remembered was Christ on his way to the cross. What a powerful image of a selfless man almost beaten to death, slowly walking to his own crucifixion for the sake of mankind. I want to come back to this example at the end, because I think it wraps everything up beautifully.

Let’s read Nehemiah 8:10: Then he said to them, “Go and eat what is rich, drink what is sweet, and send portions to those who have nothing prepared, since today is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, because the joy of the LORD is your strength.” Nehemiah tells God’s people to have joy and celebrate. This is after the Babylonian exile, when God’s people hear the Law and realize their shortcomings before the Holy God of Israel. Nehemiah didn’t want them to dwell on their past choices or sinful human nature. Instead, he wanted them to feel God’s redemption and see what God had for them after the exile. The people still had a wall to rebuild, and, though they were grieved, they could celebrate and rejoice in God, because He was the only one that could sustain them through this period of rebuilding physically and spiritually.

Let’s read Romans 15:13: “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Paul encourages the readers to have hope and trust God’s plans and purposes. He tells them to have joy, which comes from a spiritual connection with God, because it is not circumstantial. He reminds them to have peace in a time when persecution was likely to happen. Here, Paul is talking to the church in Rome that was made up of Jews and Gentiles. The people there wanted to follow Christ, but it was going to take unity and change. The church had to trust God and have hope in His promises, even if their circumstances were uncomfortable. In all this, Paul asked them to have hope, joy, and peace.

Lastly, let’s read Matthew 27:30-31, “Then they spat on him, took the staff, and kept hitting him on the head. After they had mocked him, they stripped him of the robe, put his own clothes on him, and led him away to crucify him.” Think about Jesus on the day of his crucifixion. His physical body had been beaten and tortured beyond our imagination. He was bloody and unrecognizable. He slowly walked to God’s purpose, fully knowing what that was. The physical pain was not over, but the agony did not stop Him. This is the kind of joy that does not come with a smile. This is the most beautiful example of joy found in scripture. Jesus, our Christ, had joy in His heart every step of the way. He didn’t smile or leap to that cross, but He was full of hope, joy, and peace. He was in full obedience to His father. He rested in God’s plan and promise so much that he was able to rejoice through such a horrific situation.

After I referenced the Bible to figure out what joy really looks like, I felt a heavy load come off my shoulders. I don’t have to feel cheerful or leap as I am on my way to change what feels like the 100th diaper of the day. I don’t have to wear a smile all day in order to experience God’s true joy in my life. I know God called me to be home and homeschool my children. We have some long days, and some really fun ones, but regardless of the circumstances, I am in peace and joy because I know I am in obedience. But what about the deeper things in life that make a spill of apple sauce or a dirty diaper seem so minuscule? When you get the lab results for cancer screening and the news makes your heart sink? Or when you get a call at three in the morning with horrific news? Maybe you are still praying for your adult children to come back to Christ, or maybe for your parent who is living a life away from Christ, and their pain hurts you deeply.

Those are the days we have to choose to trust God, because only He knows why. Those are the days we experience joy and peace, even though our faces do not wear a smile.

The peace we have in Christ is what showers us through the hard days, and what helps us choose joy everyday even if we do not know what is ahead.

When you feel life’s burdens on your shoulders, remember to hand them to God and trust that he knows why. Exchange your troubles for the joy and peace that only God can give you. Like Psalm 118:24 says, “This is the day the Lord has made; let’s rejoice and be glad in it.” Choose joy everyday by trusting in Him and living in obedience to Him. Seek Him every day in the little things, and trust that He has a purpose for your circumstances. Open His word and ask the Holy Spirit to keep you on His path. Remember, even if your circumstances don’t bring a smile to your face, you can still overflow with peace and rejoice.

We want to thank Mayra Ramirez for sharing this post.

Joy.  Only three letters, but it packs a powerful punch. When I was asked to write this blog, I did what anyone does who realizes they need to know the power of the meaning of this word — I Googled it. And, I learned a lot.  Basically, joy is an intense, long-lasting state of contentment and satisfaction, rooted in a relationship with God. It’s not just being happy; it’s going beyond happy. It’s more of a feeling of well-being.  It’s knowing that, regardless of circumstances, we will survive and be stronger. Joy is a fruit of the Spirit. Gal. 5:22-23 says, “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  Against such things there is no law.” (Emphasis added) Joy is a gift from God that remains even in trials, coming from trusting His faithfulness, His promises, and knowing Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.  

I needed to be reminded of how joy was defined, because at about the same time I was asked to write this blog, something happened to some friends that has broken my heart, causing me to ask some hard questions, to search for answers I’m not sure are there just yet, and to be strong, all at the same time.  

In late January, some friends of my youngest daughter (Mary) went on a ski trip to Colorado. The friends are Jennifer and Chance Hanes, with their 3 kids — Ellie, age 10, Addie, age 8, and River, age 5. (Jennifer is one of Mary’s best friends. She is an OB nurse in Amarillo, and she was there for the birth of all three of my grandkids. I’ve known her most of her life, so she almost feels like one of my own kids.) Ellie has been skiing many times, so she skipped Ski School that particular morning. As Ellie and her parents were skiing from one trail to another, something happened. Someone fell in front of her, and she tried to ski around them, and in the process, lost control, flew off the side of the mountain, and hit a tree with great force. By the time her parents got to her, she was not breathing and was turning blue. Jennifer started CPR until Ski Patrol got to them. They took her to a local hospital and realized she needed to be airlifted to Colorado Springs. She was then transferred to the best neurological hospital in the country in Denver, Colorado.  

While Jennifer and Chance and their other 2 kids were driving to Colorado Springs, she sent out a text blast asking for prayers. Mary was in that blast. Mary then sent a text to people she knew would be prayer warriors, and that’s how I got involved from the beginning. I reached out to my prayer warriors, and the fire was lit. There have been prayers for this child all over the country, and probably even the world (her aunt is from Austria, and her family has also been added to the prayer warrior list.). Without going into great detail, because it will make this blog way too long, Ellie is currently still in the hospital in Denver and is paralyzed from her shoulders down. Her parents have been told this will be her life, But God is the one in control.

When this all happened, to say I was sad was an understatement. I was so full of fear for Ellie, pain for her parents, worry for her siblings, and a ton of questions. I really couldn’t think straight, let alone pray.  And joy — nowhere to be seen. John 10:10 says, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” Ellie was alive! And although at first she was completely sedated, on a ventilator, and facing the unknown, God was with her. A couple of weeks later, she had a tracheotomy tube put in and still can’t really talk, but she can mouth words, and her brain is fine. The Hanes family is still facing many unknowns — will Ellie improve any physically, what will the future hold for Jennifer and Chance as her caregivers, how will this effect Addie and River long term? Things that the evil one can use to steal joy and crush hope. But, I believe this is just a chapter in their collective stories, and not the end of anyone’s story. Joy is returning to my heart. Psalms 30:15 says, “Weeping may stay for the night, but joy comes in the morning!” One day, a few weeks after her accident, Jennifer posted a video of Ellie teaching her speech pathologist the Anne Wilson song, “Let me tell you about my Jesus.” THAT IS JOY!!!!!!!!  

A few days ago, I received a devotional email and found this truth: “If you are up against something difficult today, remember: You’re bing shaped.  You’re being sharpened. And because of Jesus, you can choose joy.”  

So, each morning, before your feet hit the floor, join me in saying Psalms 118:24: “This is the day the Lord has made, I WILL rejoice and be glad in it.” (Emphasis added)   

“Father, You are the source of my joy. Even when I face various trials, I can trust You are using these things to make me stronger. Thank You for stretching my endurance and strengthening my faith. I know You are always with me.  Help me to see every day and every circumstance as an opportunity for great joy. In Jesus’ name, Amen.” (Proverbs 31 Ministries daily devotional.)

We want to thank Hope Warren for sharing this post.

Joy…how we all desire joy! That inner most longing that so many search for on a daily basis! Joy transforms difficult times into blessings and turns heartache into gratitude. Joy could also be viewed as an utmost surrender and a choice to be made. Depending on the translation, the word “joy” can be found between 165-245 times in the Bible. Joy is obviously very important; however, it’s often misunderstood.

A few years ago, I had the word joy spoken over me, not once, but twice. After many years of caring for two parents and everything that accompanies that, I just didn’t see joy in my life. Obviously, others did! Maybe I was missing or misunderstanding something. What my friends had spoken over me was accurate. I DID have joy! I was just misunderstanding the true meaning.

I have seen joy listed as one of the fruits of the Spirit; however, the true meaning of joy is often confused with the emotion of happiness. I had my eyes set on happiness rather than joy. Happiness is linked to external circumstances or even possessions and can sometimes feel like a roller coaster ride. Happiness is here one day and gone the next. Joy, on the other hand, is deeper. It comes from our connection with God, not from our life’s circumstances. Joy is a choice, a deliberate focus on God’s presence and all He has to offer.

So, did I have joy in the midst of my daily caregiving? Yes, I did. God was my rock and my fortress. He was my comforter, counselor, and guide. Did I question Him? Absolutely! Did I experience happiness? Sometimes. When things looked like they were improving and we had amazing days, there was nothing but happiness. But as the definition of happiness says, it will be fleeting. Those amazing days eventually came crashing down.

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

Caregiving did bring trials, and those trials taught me how to persevere through whatever was thrown at me that day. The trials brought many tears and brought me to my knees more times than I can count. It was through these times I learned that the real secret to joy was training my heart, rather than depending on my mood.

How many times do you say, “I’m just not feeling it today?” The world values feelings and emotions, and often, we make them the highest authority in our day. The Christian life isn’t one of passive response to fleeting moods, but it is a call to active engagement with our Lord, especially when our hearts feel cold, hurt, or distracted.

Society often tells us to “follow our hearts.” Jeremiah 17:9 tells us, “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” But…what if we allowed our hearts to become pliable instead of a fixed instrument? What if we allowed our Creator to shape and train our hearts? That’s where joy begins.

If we are going to allow the Lord to shape and train our hearts, there are some steps we must take in order to partner with Him in this journey:

*Begin with the Word. Read and reread. Let it sink in. Do it slowly and intentionally. It doesn’t matter when during the day you do it. Personally, I prefer to do it first thing in the morning with my breakfast. It sets my mind and heart on the right path for the day. When we wake up with a sluggish heart and decide not to read the Word of God or seek God in prayer, it may seem like a minor concession. But over time, these small neglects compound, leaving us spiritually depleted. When we are depleted, joy is absent.

*Express gratitude. Even in the trials there is something to be grateful for. It may be minuscule, but it’s still good. It’s all about what you magnify.

*Enjoy God’s presence. He is with us always. He is there on the mountain top, in the valley and all points in between. Cry to Him for help. Talk to Him when things seem dry or even discouraging. The key is persistence with Him.

Joy is a process. This process isn’t instant. Trees don’t grow overnight. But over time, with consistency, you will find your spiritual roots growing deeper and stronger. Joy may not come immediately, but it will come as you begin to make Jesus your first and final focus in your day. It’s about knowing Jesus and developing an intimate relationship with Him.

We want to thank Kathy Jones for sharing this post.

I must admit, I love adventure. Adventure equals discovery. I’ve had many adventures in my life. Some of the crazy ones happened in my own kitchen experimenting with new recipes. You never know what “discovery” may land on the family table for dinner. Travel adventures with my husband are also a favorite. These are great fun to us! 

What about you? Are you one for adventure and discovery? Have you ever set out on a type of mission to discover something? Sounds like a 007 movie, doesn’t it?  Has there ever been something that was so mind-boggling that you spent time and effort to discover the depths of what it was that was of such interest to you? How long did the discovery mission take? Did the adventure take you to places unknown, to sights you had never seen? Did you feel things you had never felt before? Were there “Ah Hah” moments or just jaw-dropping, eye-popping “WOW oh WOW” moments? What did you feel? Fulfilled or disappointed? Maybe, not even sure how to feel about what you discovered?  

It’s funny, I think as Christ followers, that we are on an amazing discovery mission every day…we just don’t realize it. A mission of discovering who God is. Let’s face it, sometimes life seems mundane and routine, not really the most exciting adventure we might choose for ourselves, right? But what would happen if we changed the way we see our daily lives to seeing life as a discovery mission? We are here by God’s plan and we have purpose. Grabbing hold of this thought is the start of the adventure of discovering who God is. That thought alone changes everything, doesn’t it?

If someone were to ask you, “How do you discover who God is?” What do you say? It seems like a tough question at first, at least I thought so. I think I probably stumbled a bit with my words and rattled off something that I can’t even remember. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized I needed to search for the answer! Check out what I found: Psalm 139:13,16 tells us very clearly. ¹³“For YOU created my inmost being, you knit me together in my mother’s womb. ¹⁶Your eyes saw my unformed body; ALL the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” Mind boggling, jaw-dropping, right?  

If we ever had a MISSION to discover who God is, this verse beckons us to live our lives on the most exciting adventure mission EVER!  Think of it: discovering who He is because He thought of us first. We are HIS idea! Which means, this gift of life that we have been given, is an adventure of purpose to discover who God (our Creator) is on a daily basis. He wants us to know His love and care for us, because HE created us! The most wonderful part of discovering who God is, is that HE WANTS TO SHOW US who He is! He doesn’t hide from us. He desires relationship with us. 

So, how does this work? We know earthly relationships, right? So, let’s start there. First, an introduction is made. Then spending time with that person is probably next on the list. Listening and talking to that special one usually occurs. At times, we may find ourselves just sitting quietly observing them or thinking about them. All these things are ways we use to discover and learn about who someone is.

I think a relationship with God to discover who He is, is somewhat similar. There are some obvious differences though. Our physical eyes can’t see God. Our physical hands can’t touch Him, and our cell phones don’t have Him listed in the contacts. This is an earthly dilemma; however, I have some good news! There is a book, it’s been around for quite some time. Its writer is God, but He did choose to use human hands to dictate for Him. The Bible. His very words written in a way, that if we will take the time and make the effort to read them or even use those “devices” to listen to them, He will make Himself known. Discovery of who He is begins to happen in us. Our heart’s eyes will begin to see Him. Our spirit’s hands will raise to touch Him, and the discovery we will make will be something we will want more of every day of our lives! God just works like that. The more we read or listen, the more time we spend asking questions of Him and allowing Him to show us answers, the more we DISCOVER WHO HE IS! I know, it sounds crazy, but it is true! 

Spending time in His word, is where we truly discover who God is. Sometimes it’s in the mundane and routine where the words we read come to life. At other times, it’s an exciting adventure! A prophet named Isaiah penned these words, “As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is MY word that goes out from MY mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55:10-11

God’s word was written to us on purpose to show us who He is! His word tells us how much He loves us and desires a relationship with us. Whether we read or listen to His words on our devices, it will accomplish what He desires for us. Our part: make the effort to pick up the Bible and begin the discovery mission of a lifetime. Remember the family table I wrote about…my Bible is laying on that table. If you’ll excuse me, I’ve got some discovering to do today.

We want to thank Kori Covington for sharing this post.

I heard a sermon illustration one time that went something like this:  A young woman was given a book for some occasion, but when she tried to read it, she found it to be boring and hard to read, so she put it on her shelf and never opened it again  As time went by, she met a man, they began to see each other, and she fell in love with him.  As they grew to know each other, she found out he had written a book – the very book she had been given!  She ran to pull it off the shelf, and as she read it this time, she found it fascinating!  She could not put it down.  The words were the same.  But now, she knew and loved the author.

When I think about discovering who God is, I think about when Kelly and I got married. I thought I knew him pretty well by that time. We had talked and prayed and spent a lot of time together. I was confident about spending my life with him. Now that we’ve been together for 39 years, the way I know him now is so much richer, deeper, and our relationship has been proven through the good, the bad, the fun days, and the boring, humdrum ones.  I believe it’s the same for most everyone who is married, or between life-long friends!  You can’t know someone well without time spent together. And not just the fun times!  

​I’ve known ABOUT God for most of my life, but I did not KNOW Him.  When I finally received Him after many years, our true relationship began. Spending time with Him through all these years – a couple more than I’ve been married – I’ve come to know Him more deeply. He’s been there through joy, disappointment, hurt, sickness, health, and He’s NEVER failed. NEVER. The cool thing is – we’re not done!  As we grow older, and even after we pass to heaven, we get to know Him better and better for all eternity.  I Corinthians 13:12 says, “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.” Wow! To know Him fully one day!

​I’m so grateful to God for wanting us to know Him.  He’s not, as some in this world think, a distant, uninterested kind of God. He’s fully committed to involvement in our lives, if we will just give Him the chance. Psalm 139 describes it, “O LORD, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar…How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!” Who doesn’t want to know Someone with that kind of love toward you? 

​Just as the girl in the first paragraph began to read the book with new delight because she was in love with the author, and he loved her, I want to pick up the book of love letters God has written to me, the stories of all He has done, because I love Him so much! I want to spend all my days forever getting to know Him better. Let’s join with the apostle Paul, when he says that his desire is “that I may know Him (Philippians 3:10). 

Here is a song that has been on my heart as I have thought through this blog post. I pray that it blesses your day today. https://youtu.be/Y_-pvEyxVS8?si=F60sNk_9MRbsS-NS

We want to thank Sheri Warren for sharing this post.

When I was a little girl, I always wondered how the stars stayed in the sky. I would look up at the moon and wonder how it could just hang in space without anything holding it up.I have always been fascinated with astronomy! I love looking at the stars, trying to pick out the planets, watching comets run across the sky, and waiting to see a falling star.

There are times when I love to just go outside and watch the hawks flying over our pasture. Have you ever noticed that the trees all point upward with their branches? Do you ever sit and listen to the birds sing? Isaiah 55:12, Psalm 96:12, and 1 Chronicles 16:33 describe the trees of the fields clapping their hands and the birds singing for joy. Isaiah 44:23; 49:13, and Job 38:7 all teach us that the heavens and the Earth sing praises to their Creator. All of creation worships God!

Did you know the stars actually sing? After you finish this, please take a couple of minutes to go to YouTube and search for “Mashup of Stars and Whales by Louie Giglio”. I’ve always been fascinated with the stars, planets, animals, and nature! I love hearing the sounds that the stars make and listening to the whales sing. I promise you that once you hear them you won’t ever be able to sing “How Great is Our God” the same way again. (Psalm 148:1-10, Psalm 48:1)

Our God is Lord and Savior! He is King of Kings and our Redeemer. He is powerful and sovereign, yet gentle, merciful, and loving. He loves us and cares deeply for us. (Psalm 139:1-18, John 3:16)

He is everywhere and part of everything. He created all we see and hear. John 1:1-5 says “in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. All things came into being through Him.”

He makes Himself known prior to salvation through creation. He wants us to find Him. This is how He woos us to a relationship. (Hosea 2:14, John 12:32, Luke 15:20, John 3:16-17, John 6:44, Revelation 3:20, 2 Chronicles 16:9)

Once we surrender our hearts to Him, our relationship grows deeper and we continually learn as He reveals Himself more and more. This comes from spending time with Him. Discovering who God is will be a journey that continues right on into eternity.

So, the first step to discovering who God is, is surrendering to the wooing of the Holy Spirit and giving your heart to Him. Then, the rest is the adventure of a lifetime.

“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13

We want to thank Janie Keller for sharing this post.

I was recently talking to a friend about my daughter going on a date with her Dad. We talked about how when she was growing up, that wasn’t really a thing. For me, it wasn’t in my routine; I grew up with a single mom and had visits to my dad’s house. My grandparents were very involved, but my granddad wasn’t taking me on a date every month. I am not saying this to bash Granddad (or my dad), just that times are different now. But here is what my daughter and I will both take away from our experiences: her dad and my granddad are good fathers.

I am not sure if you have gone to the Freedom In Christ class here at Harvest, but you are asked to go sit alone and picture sitting down with Jesus. This could have been happenstance due to my granddad passing before the class, but the man that sat with me representing Jesus was similar to my granddad, an older man moseying to his chair, with a pleasant smile and loving eyes. I know my granddad was good and a great example of faith, but this sealed it for me. I have followed Jesus for most of my life, since I was eight, but seeing him as father was not my experience. My biological dad had left our family, not wanting children, and I’m supposed to see Jesus as my father? It made no sense to me. And then Anthony started talking about our roles as Christians and being a son or daughter first. We are children of God, adopted into His family (Romans 8:14). Of course, I’ve heard this before, but more recently it has brought me around to reflecting on how my granddad was an example of Jesus as a father: loving, loyal, disciplining in love, faithful, and steady.

It has taken me several years and lots of loss to see God as a father, and a good one at that. I first had to learn, or really realize, the role of a father (what the role of a father is). As described earlier, it took the loss of my granddad to see those characteristics and how he was a reflection of Jesus. It took another loss for me to see God as good. When we are hurting and, in the weeds, it can be hard to see God is good, even when we are reminded daily by friends and scripture. One way this finally “clicked” for me was hearing how Annie F. Downs talks about December 21st. December 21st is the winter solstice and the darkest day of the year, but she reminds us that light is coming, the good is coming. We may feel like we are in the darkest hours with no hope in sight, but the light and good are coming. (1 Peter 2:9).

Being adopted into the family of God may not seem like a milestone to some, but if you’ve grown up without that family bond, it means the world. While it may have taken me years to see how I was adopted by a good Father, I am so glad to finally see the light. I am glad to know and have such a good, good Father.

Romans 8:14-17

For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. ¹⁵ The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” ¹⁶ The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. ¹⁷ Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

1 Peter 2:9

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

We want to thank Ashley Criswell for sharing this post.

I really don’t want to write this post. I would much rather sit across from you on my couch with my cup of coffee and instead hear your story and share mine. A year and a half ago, my very young marriage ended in heartbreak as my husband walked away. I was left a single mom to a sweet little girl trying to pick up the pieces and asking so many of the questions that you have probably asked yourself. How do you trust God who would allow such tragedy to happen, after you trusted Him? How on earth can the God who says He “works all things together for my good” think this is good? Why would He allow those things to happen? If I am being honest, it is hard to trust again after all of your dreams, plans, and hopes have been shattered and the fears you have spent so long running from become reality.

I don’t know if I have the perfect answer for you, the one that will make everything that happened to you be alright and make you go “back to normal.” The reality is sometimes God allows tragedy to expose what our trust is really in, or He uses it to invite us to trust Him in deeper ways. When I started to sit with this blog post, I asked God how do *I* trust again. He clearly said, “Trust begins with fear.” Now, I don’t want you to be confused. He did not mean being afraid. Many times, when our trust is shattered, we allow fear to be the thing we cling to. We build walls around our heart and declare, “I have trust issues,” or “I don’t trust anyone.” I get the sentiment, I really do. Why would I let someone back in that has hurt me? However, the only one who is hurt by this is us.

Instead, the word for fear He was pointing me to is Yirah in Hebrew. This word does not only mean being afraid, but it also means respect, reverence, and worship. It is a type of awe that is closely tied to trembling. When we look at scripture, we see in Psalms 33:18, “Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, on those who hope in His steadfast love, that He may deliver their soul from death and keep them alive in famine.” The fear of the Lord causes us to place our hope in Him and keep us from death, because fear sees God rightly. He is the one who can sustain and can give us life. He is someone worthy of being trusted, because He is the only one capable of fulfilling His promises.

A few verses down from the one I just referenced, it says, “Our soul waits for the Lord; He is our help and our shield. For our heart is glad in Him because we trust in His holy name. Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us even as we hope in you.” Psalm 33:21-22. Trust is calm assurance that the one who is bearing the weight of what has been given can and will hold it well. Trust requires faith in the one that it is put in. When it is put in anything or anyone other than God himself, it is folly, because it cannot bear the weight. Fear allows our hearts to trust God again because we see Him for who He is: Sustainer, Creator, Promise-Keeper, Healer, Redeemer, the list could go on and on. But it starts with a humble admission that we are not the center of His world, but that He entered ours to save us. He is the greatest good that we could have.

Trusting Him won’t disappoint you, but if you feel disappointed, don’t rush past that feeling. Instead, sit with it and submit it to Him. Tell Him that you feel like He abandoned you and didn’t do what you thought He would. Then, after you are done, sit and listen. The verse I just quoted says, “Our soul waits for the Lord; He is our help and our shield. For our heart is glad in Him because we trust in His holy name.” Psalms 33:20-21. We need to wait for the Lord to speak, and He will, sweet sister. If we sit waiting, He will answer us, and rest assured that what He says will draw us ever closer to His heart. Remember, we do not need to be afraid of what comes next or afraid to allow God back in after rejecting Him. Instead, repent of this fear, and take up a holy fear that worships and kneels in awe of Him and He will hold you close as you learn to trust Him again.

We want to thank Savanna Rodriguez for sharing this post.

“Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep.” – Psalm 127:1-2

I’ll admit I am not always great at trusting in God. But my husband is very good at that; he never worries about anything! I’ve always found that amazing, because I can manage to worry about anything! But I’ve realized lately that worry is a sin. Worry is me saying, “God I don’t trust that You can handle this; I think I can do it better.” Which, that is, in fact, a lie. Because, as the psalmist says, even the watchman who is doing his job is working in vain, because unless the Lord watches over a city, it will not be protected. I’ve had to learn this hard lesson when it comes to my children. When I became a mom, I wanted desperately to keep them safe and to do everything right. But then I started to realize that even if I did EVERYTHING in my power to keep my kids safe, it doesn’t mean that bad things don’t still happen. And I began to realize that I have to release control of even the things I love the most to my Heavenly Father, who loves them SO much more, and is the only One who can actually bring protection.

This past year has been one of great joy, and with that, great difficulty. We have welcomed another daughter into our family, and she is such a joy! But we’ve also dealt with hardships, such as financial difficulties, mental health battles, parenting hardships, and discouraging health diagnoses in our family. And all these things seemed to happen back, to back, to back. I remember asking Daniel one night, “when is the hard stuff going to end?” And the more we talked about it, the more we realized that we are all promised “hard”. And as much as we might want an answer of when it all ends, we don’t usually get that. But we are also promised that Jesus will never leave us or forsake us. And what He constantly reminded me of during those hard times, is that He had brought me through every single day up to that point. I had made it; I had survived. And while that maybe didn’t feel like much of an accomplishment, to only be able to say, “I made it through,” it should be enough for me to be confident that He would continue to help me through. And then, as this time of “survival mode” continued, God slowly began to change my mindset where I could begin to enjoy the days and the time and see all the joy and good in everything again! He had promised to get me through, and He was, and is faithful.

Hebrews 12:26-28 “At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” This phrase, ‘yet once more,’ indicated the removal of things that are shaken – that is, things that have been made – in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe.”

This scripture has been comforting to me in knowing that when I feel like things around me are shaking, it will only reveal the solidness of Gods support and presence in my life. The things that are shaken in my life are things that I might feel attachment to, like my comforts or circumstances, but in the midst of the shaking, they are proven to only be temporary. God may be stripping away things that are NOT eternal, in order for my focus to be placed on things that ARE eternal. I have begun to learn through this season of life, to trust God with our provisions and when things feel hard ,to lean into the constant presence that I know He provides in my life.

I am not always good at trusting God and releasing control, but sometimes I have been forced to trust because there was no other option! And maybe that is the best place to be, because He always comes through.

We want to thank Joanna Capps for sharing this post.

I used to be suspicious of God. My default view of him was that he was holding out on me. Often, I felt he was mad or disappointed in me. And these feelings led to a general doubt whether he really was good.

Of course, I didn’t know I felt this way. I wouldn’t have consciously been able to articulate it. But it showed up in my life as a lack of trust. And the evidence for distrust is directedly related to our level of control.

When we want to control God, when we want to control our circumstances, or when we want to control others—the general root is a lack of trust in God.

Trust is not the same as belief, though they are sometimes used interchangeably. We can have a firm belief in God, in Jesus, and in all that he accomplished for us at the cross—and yet not fully trust him.

These three things I’ve learned about trust:

1. Trust comes through relationship.

2. Experience builds trust.

3. Our level of trust directly corresponds to our level of surrender.

At the core of my difficulty trusting God was a wrong view of him, and a wrong view of him will always lead us to suspicion and control. Over the last decade, I’ve discovered more and more who God really is—the perfect, loving Father he’s always been. This changes everything.

My ability to trust him grows as I see his continued faithfulness and goodness and as I learn to surrender every part of me—all that I want to control.

One of my favorite quotes comes from a parenting book I read years before we were parents. It says, “The only person I can control on a good day is myself.”

God gave us a spirit of self-control (2 Tim 1:7). We control our choices, our response to our circumstances, and our response to those we’re in relationship with. That’s it. We can’t control what other people do or every circumstance in our life. And we sure can’t control the Creator of the universe, try as we might.

When I know God is sovereignly in control, that He maintains all things, and by him and through him and for him, they exist; when I know this sovereign God is both holy and good, just and merciful, gracious and loving, present and faithful—then I can trust him fully with my heart, despite my circumstances.

In this world, you’ll have trouble. Jesus said so. But he didn’t say it without hope. He attached it to a promise—”Take heart, I’ve overcome the world” (John 16:33).

It seems like every time I’ve blogged over the last year, I’ve said the same thing: I’m in a hard season. It’s still true, though now it’s a season of grief. My heart hurts, and the pain and sadness overwhelm me some days. I simply and profoundly miss my mom. And yet I understand now why Paul writes that we do not grieve as those without hope (1 Thes 4:13). I understand the comfort God gives us in our grief because I’m experiencing it daily (2 Cor 1:4). His presence never leaves. He’s faithfully carrying me through good days and hard days.

This is no longer a mental assent, a choice to believe the truth of God’s word. It starts there, yes. But what grows is a familiarity and a certainty in the character of God and in the strength of our relationship.

That’s trust.

If we want to trust the Lord, we have to let go of our suspicions, embrace the truth of God’s nature and character, and surrender all to him.

“Our soul waits for the Lord; he is our help and shield.

For our heart is glad in him because we trust in his holy name.

Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in you.”

—Psalm 33:20-22

We want to thank Laura Brandenburg for sharing this post.

Romans 8:28:  “And we know that in all things, God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”  I know that verse very well and have heard it quoted and have quoted it many times to others. I believe that His word is truth and that He never changes. One of my favorite verses is Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”  It is easy to believe these verses when times are good and we see our plans working out, but when our plans have died, when we’re facing something that is life shattering, and our hearts are broken, it is hard to believe that anything good could come out of it. That is when I must remind myself of my Heavenly Father’s Heart of Love for his children and that God’s not finished with the story yet. Learning to trust takes time. We want the hurting to stop and our questions answered quickly.

Just like the children of Israel in the desert had to learn to trust God through experiencing hardships and God’s deliverance, the same is true for us today. There is not a formula for this journey. And we can’t expect God to do things our way, and in our time. He and He alone knows the future and what is the very best for us. Through every hardship that we go through, there is a learning opportunity to trust God with the outcome. Knowing our Father’s heart for us determines how we perceive all other experiences in this world, and our trust in Him and others. Romans 8 has many verses about God’s Love and they are a great reminder for us to not lose hope.

I’m sitting here looking at a picture of our daughter, Torrie, in front of a house in Germany that my grandparents and Mother lived in until she was 8 yrs old. These were trying times for Germany and its people. Hitler was rising in power, the country was in a depression, and the people were looking for a way out. Grandpa Zschiedrich chose to sell everything, leave his friends and family, and move his wife and children to America. I cannot imagine what trust, faith, and courage he must’ve had.

You might be asking why I’m telling this story of my grandparents. It’s because the story didn’t end there; it didn’t have a happily-ever-after ending. When they reached the United States, they were to have property and home awaiting them. Instead, they were put on a train and sent to the swamps of Arkansas. They and 10 other German families were made slaves to clear the swamps. Some Christians hearing about them came during the night to rescue them. My grandparents never got to see their dreams happen, but their children were freed from living the nightmare of a horrible war, starvation, and living in a country that had no freedom. Their children, grandchildren, and generations to come were given the freedom to live a life of freedom and abundance! Where their dreams ended, ours began!

The dreams we have for our lives don’t always turn out to be what we wanted. The dreams I had for my life look nothing like the life I am living. God’s plan is so much better! I have learned to trust God’s love for me, no matter what is happening in my life. It sometimes takes me a while, and I still ask why. But very quickly, The Holy Spirit reminds me of His love for me. He has the last word, and my story has not ended.

“I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.” Isaiah 42:16

Dear Heavenly Father, I give you praise and glory! Knowing that when I am in the darkest valley, my heart is breaking and all hope is gone. You are there with me! Your Holy Spirit gives me perfect peace. That when the fear of ‘WHAT IF’S’ try to come, they will not come near me but will flee before me. And instead, I will fix my eyes on you and live a life in anticipation of your love and goodness. To God be the Glory! Amen

A good Bible Study on learning to trust is—- ‘ I Want to Trust You, but I Don’t’ by Lysa Terkeurst

We want to thank Elaine Norrell for sharing this post.

It seemed like every year around Christmastime, my mom would remind my siblings and me that “it is better to give than to receive”. I believe she was teaching us that precept at a young age because she wanted to remind us that Christmas was not just about getting gifts, but the true joy was in giving gifts as well. As a youngster, I really didn’t believe that theory at all. However, as the years have separated me from my youth, I have come to realize that my mom knew exactly what she was talking about. 

The joy of giving is indeed a special feeling. There’s nothing I enjoy more than seeing the look on my grandkids’ faces when they open a gift from me. Or the joy I receive leaving a basket of goodies on my neighbor’s front porch. I believe that God allows us to experience that joy so that we might become more generous in our giving. 

The Bible clearly encourages us to be generous with numerous scriptures that set the standard for helping others. Proverbs 21:26 tells us that “The righteous give without sparing.” Without sparing means that we are giving generously. 

Another verse that comes to mind is Deuteronomy 15:10, “Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to.” It’s like a circle. We are blessed to be a blessing to others. When we use our gifts that we were blessed with to bless others, God can and will bless us in return. Then we will have more blessings to use to bless others. Isn’t that neat?!

Generosity offers us an opportunity to also be grateful for what we have. Through the blessings that we receive from the Lord, we can and should thank Him for all He’s given us.

2 Corinthians 9:7 reminds us that “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” Giving should not be done begrudgingly or out of guilt but should be given in accordance with love for others. Love is what matters most. Verses about giving remind us of the reality that without love, even giving all to the needy is fruitless. It’s important to give with LOVE and to be motivated by care and compassion for others. 

It seems there are always more opportunities around the holidays to become a generous giver. If you are looking for a way to give generously this Christmas season, here are a few ideas:

1. Dress a live doll – this is sponsored by the Junior Service League in Plainview and benefits children who need Christmas gifts.
2. Salvation Army – there are always “bell ringers” at Walmart or United. Any monetary donation is appreciated.
3. Give an offering to the local church. The Bible tells us that we should bring our “tithes and offerings” meaning that an offering is over and above our tithe. The local church has ways throughout the year where they can bless families in need. 
4. Give of your time at a shelter or a food kitchen. Giving doesn’t only mean financially. Your time and talents are a huge part of giving generously. 
5. Do something kind for a neighbor. Rake leaves. Help take down Christmas lights. Bake cookies. Anything you can do out of love is a blessing!
6. Keep that generous giving going all year long! It doesn’t just have to be at Christmas!!!

Give it a try! I promise that if you give generously, you get much more in return. So, during this Christmas season, I pray that you have a generous spirit and realize it truly is BETTER TO GIVE THAN TO RECEIVE.

We want to thank Vickie Young for sharing this post.

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

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

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

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

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

We want to thank Courtney Harper for sharing this post.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

We want to thank Christian Greer for sharing this post.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

We want to thank Janie Keller for sharing this post.

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

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

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

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

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

We want to thank Jamie Austin for sharing this post.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

We want to thank Randi Cason for sharing this post.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Thank You Jesus for loving us so much!  

We want to thank Debbie Crosby for sharing this post.

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

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

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

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

We want to thank Angelina Alvarado for sharing this post.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Let’s be women who reflect Jesus.

We want to thank Beckah Hunt for sharing this post.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

We want to thank Chelsea Criswell for sharing this post.

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

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

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

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

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

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

We want to thank Sheri Warren for sharing this post.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

JESUS IN US

Author unknown (rewritten by Elaine Norrell)

I saw Jesus last week,

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

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

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

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

I saw Jesus last Sunday

He was teaching a Bible class.

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

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

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

I saw Jesus yesterday,

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

They talked, laughed, and prayed together quietly.

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

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

I saw Jesus today.

He was praying on his knees all alone.

He then began to cry for those he prayed for.

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

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

I see Jesus everywhere, 

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

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

May someone see Jesus in you today.

We want to thank Elaine Norrell for sharing this post.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

We want to thank Yanna Elliot for sharing this post.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

We want to thank Julie Posey for sharing this post.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

We want to thank Mayra Ramirez for sharing this post.