Sweet and Sour 365

“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12 NIV) Today, lets make it a point to not let our circumstances speak louder than God's truths. Sit in His presence - More of You and less of me.

Quiet times are important with Him. I know how I get when I don't have my quiet time. I'm short with my answers...stressed out...take things the wrong way...and begin to listen to the voice that says, "You can't do it so why even try!" Jesus got away to have quiet times with His Father. He listened to Him and only did what the Father told Him to do. Sally Clarkson says in her book, Own Your Life, "A great estate is built one brick at a time, and so my legacy in Scripture is being built one quiet time at a time." Fill your mind and heart today with His word.

Are you serving to build your own ego? "He must increase, but I must decrease." (John 3:30) I admit...it's a hard thing to do. To not take credit for things. Whether it's praise from someone else about your kids, your job, or your hobby. You can start to build an altar if you let it go to your head. Matthew 20:26 “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant.” If we stop trying to get higher and bow lower to serve - that is when we win. Lysa TerKeurst says, "You are never more powerful than when you are on your knees." Get low today.

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." ~Phil. 4:6-7 (ESV)

Happy Friday, friends! We have access to an all powerful God - pray big. Steven Furtick says in Sun Stand Still, to flex our muscles and pray bigger...to get to a place where extraordinary prayers become ordinary in our lives. To not just pray for a good day but that He would show His greatness throughout our day. "Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years." James 5:17

Fear can be like waves smacking up against you. Jesus' disciples were experts at fishing and being out on the ocean. But one day there was a storm that caused them to be afraid. During this storm and chaos - Jesus sleeps. When He wakes - His question is, "Where is your faith?" I want to be able to have that kind of faith and trust Him to carry me. What about you? "So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." 2 Cor. 4:18 (NIV)

Do you ever think about how you affect those around you? You can bring them up or bring them down. Ann Voskamp says that "Anger is contagious and so is grace." Grace is a gift that God has given to us. How can we live and grant grace today?

"For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace." Romans 6:14 When we don't understand or feel like we are doing it wrong - sometimes we just give up. Go back to our old ways. But what if we let go of the reins and let Him lead? Today, one step at a time, let go of control and trust Him. He's got it.

Through Jesus we keep going...we keep fighting for our kids and we never give up! Through Jesus...we root down in His Word and rise up in Him. Friends, lean in and press on in this calling of Motherhood.

He has plans for you...

We tend to stay where it's comfy - what we know. Step out of the boat and anchor yourself to Him. "We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain." ~Heb. 6:19

A group of kids stand in a line while 2 captains pick their teams.   I remember the feeling as a kid if you were one of the first few called…it felt good.   I was chosen!   But if you were one of the last called…it felt like you were unwanted.   Only picked because you were the last one standing and had to go somewhere. Thank goodness we have a God who chooses us without question—a God that has no partiality. He chooses everyone… no one is missed ! Susie Larson says in her book, Your Beautiful Purpose , “God has a desire for us here, but remember, so does the devil.   Someone once said that both God and the devil have a plan for our lives.   And we are the ones who cast the deciding vote.”    We decide which team we want to be on.   Good vs Evil. God chooses us regardless of our past or our mistakes or our future mistakes.   He chooses us because He loves us. God works for our good .   Eph....

"I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness." ~Jeremiah 31:3

We've got to breathe - pray - and give thanks. Through it all.

Do you fight to believe this? I try...some days I fail big! Gal. 5:1 says to "stand firm and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." Be strong and stand firm on His Truth. Believe that it belongs to you! We are His daughters. He goes before us and with us. We don't have to fear. Don't doubt. "But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt." James 1:5-6 (preaching to myself)

He calls us out and sometimes the waves we see scare us - so we pull back. "He calms the storm and stills the waves." Psalm 107:29 No matter our storm - He is right there with us. He will either calm the waves or calm us. You know that feeling when you are under water and you need to come up for air? Then, as soon as your head comes out - you gasp for air? That feeling? Our troubles and thoughts can suffocate us at times. Come up for air - keep your eyes on Him - lean in - and trust.

So today, midway through the week - do not worry. Do not be afraid. Be brave - take heart and trust. "Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well." ~Matt. 9:22

We are called to be the hands and feet of Jesus. Look for opportunities today - whether that's serving inside the home, outside the home, or just giving a simple smile to a stranger. Be His hands and feet. "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”" Mark 10:45

"I want you to get out there and walk—better yet, run!—on the road God called you to travel. I don’t want any of you sitting around on your hands. I don’t want anyone strolling off, down some path that goes nowhere. And mark that you do this with humility and discipline—not in fits and starts, but steadily, pouring yourselves out for each other in acts of love, alert at noticing differences and quick at mending fences." Eph 4:1-2 (MSG)

He said that we will have troubles...but take heart He has overcome the world. Everyday we see Jesus - yet we miss Him. Jesus places His peace - Himself - in the world and in our troubles. "But take heart!" Take His heart and lean into the One who has overcome the world during the storms.

Don't face your day without facing Him. Begin with Him. It is so easy to hit the ground running every morning...but if we pause and begin with Him - we remain rooted in the truth! We struggle against ourselves, the world and the enemy daily - sometimes minute to minute! It can be rocky but "the ground is level at the foot of the cross." (Matt Chandler) Begin with Him

Do you ever feel like you're not enough? Not good enough...not strong enough...not smart enough...not Mother enough? Don't anchor your worth in something else. Let go of the lies. We are defined by Him and He says, "Hey, in Me you are enough! Stop trying so hard - in Me there is always enough." Do a little soul-care today.

Come to the well! Nothing disqualifies you. He will meet you where you are at. God is good! When we say that, "God is good" it has less to do with the outcome of our trials - it's more about His CHARACTER. He is faithful. He is love. He is good - all of the time. Come to the well.

Follow The Light and He will cause a spark to transform your heart. A toxic heart will destroy - all of our "issues" will flow from the heart - so guard your heart!