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Do you have a group of people who you regularly talk about your faith with? Who you consistently pray with? Share your struggles and ask your questions? Learn from their experiences? Get encouraged by and encourage them? Or are you “doing your faith by yourself”? I get it. I did my faith by myself for years. I read my Bible and prayed and loved Jesus, but felt uncomfortable sharing my fears and doubts or asking anyone to pray for any of the real concerns I had. I was also nervous about being in a group with people who I feared knew their Bibles better or were “better Christians” or who would judge me for my past–who would look down at me. But I was missing out on so much!  Are you doing your faith alone? How's that working out for you? When we gather together we can be pointed back again and again to how much Jesus loves us, how He’s on our side fighting for us, how much grace He has for us. The truth is, we’re all on faith journeys. We’re all figuring it out. We’re all still learning. There’s no such thing as a “better Christian.” We all have so much to learn from each other–from each other’s backgrounds and experiences and stages of life, from what God is teaching them, what they’re reading in their Bibles, hearing in their prayer times, struggling with, discovering, how God has answered their prayers and opened doors in their lives. And you 100% have something to teach the others in the group no matter who you are. Even if you’ve just met Jesus. Even if you’ve never been in a group before. Even if you’re not even sure where to start in your Bible. You have the things God is teaching you, Jesus is whispering to you, the prayers deep down in your heart. The stories and perspectives only you have from walking in your shoes. You can benefit from the experiences and wisdom of others in a small group AND enrich and encourage others by being in a small group. It’s a win-win for everyone!  Where to start?
Jesus said, “Where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.” Of course Jesus is with you when you’re alone, but when a group of people seeking Jesus gets together there is power in that. This is how the church began. Read the book of Acts if you want the deets. Groups of believers gathered in homes and prayed and talked about Jesus’ teachings and spent time together on the regular.  Keep it simple--just gather together. Listen, it doesn’t matter if you meet in a house or a restaurant or at church. It doesn’t matter if you meet every week or every month. It doesn’t matter if you use a book or set curriculum or if people take turns setting a topic or you simply show up to share what God has been doing for you and how you’d like to experience Him even more. It’s the getting together–that’s where the magic happens.
My husband and I have been in a variety of small groups over the years. Some have worked. And some…have not. When a group fizzles out or people move away or it feels like a really bad fit it can be easy to give up, to say, “I tried it, but it didn’t work.” But the Bible urges us to “not give up meeting together, but encourage one another (Hebrews 10:25).” If you need a nudge to sign up, reach out or try again–this is it! A smaller gathering of people following Jesus is a safe, comforting place for you to grow your faith, your joy, your peace, your purpose, AND a wonderful opportunity for you to do the same for others who are also seeking the abundant grace and love Jesus invites us into. For more inspiration find me on Facebook and Instagram
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We hear a lot of buzz around the word community. We see it depicted so perfectly in shows like Sweet Magnolias where three women have been best friends since childhood and still share all their dreams and hopes and worries with one another, even starting a business together. But in the real world on the other side of the Netflix screen it’s sometimes more challenging to find those kinds of relationships.  People move, demands on our time and energy are high, and schedules are busy and often don’t match up with people we’d like to connect with. So why should we prioritize community when it feels like it’s out of reach or a lot of work? Community gives us a sense of belonging, a feeling of security and support, and reminds us that we have purpose. Things most of us crave. God’s Word illustrates the importance of community. In the opening pages of the Bible God declares “It isn’t good for man to be alone” (Genesis 2:18). Jesus tells the disciples that if two of them ask for something in His name their prayer will be answered and that if two or three folks gather in Jesus’ name, then He’ll be there with them (Matthew 18:19-20). And the author of Hebrews instructs us to not give up meeting together, but instead to encourage each other (Hebrews 10:24-25).  there's a reason for all this hype around community Mental health research shows that people with a healthy community have lower rates of depression, anxiety, and stress. Yes, please to all of that. So what does this mean for me and you?
 Hebrews 10:24-25 But how?
We’re going to spend the next few weeks talking about some different kinds of community you can engage in and grow in as well as some ways to plug into existing communities or even create your own. Be on the lookout for some emails in your inbox (if you’re not signed up already for my emails–shoot me a message) and my stories on Facebook and Instagram. Meanwhile, I’m praying that we all connect with people who inspire, support, encourage, and point us to the love of Jesus. We have a family tradition of packing our most worn out, grossest gym shoes for family vacation. You know the ones that you wear for yard work or a particularly messy house project? Or on muddy, rainy days? The pair you have your kids wear on their field trips? Yeah, those shoes. That way, while we’re at the beach, who cares if a wave washes over your shoes? Who cares if your sneakers get filled with sand? What does it matter if they get splashed with briny ocean and smell horrific the next day? Not us Smiths. Because we know at the end of the trip, we’ll leave those shoes there. We won’t need them any more.  The shoes we left behind at the beach this year. Now, keep in mind these are shoes that we probably should have pitched a month or two prior to our beach trip. But because of our tradition, it forces us to take inventory of our shoes and pick a pair to say adios to every summer. And the way it feels to throw those sneakers away? So freeing. To know I’ll never again have to wear those stinky shoes with the hole in the toe and the worn out souls, that even though they took up space in my suitcase on the way here, they won’t take up any room on the way home. Or ever again. This year as we were tossing these old gym shoes, it got me wondering what else I needed to leave behind at the beach from my life? What else was worn out, past its utility, no longer served me? And I don’t mean was there a pair of jean shorts I’d outgrown. I mean what was God calling me to purge from my schedule, my brain, to free me up for the goodness He has for me? I posed the question to our family. The answers included wanting to leave negative emotions, worries, the feeling that we need to control everything, some unnecessary tasks, stress, fear of the future, and too much time on our phones at the beach and return home without any of these burdens. Obviously no one wants these things in the first place, but they just kind of grow and pile up and evolve until one question in our mind or stream of thoughts or activity in our days turns into something that’s taking us away from all the love, hope, joy, and grace Jesus offers us.  Just like our annual shoe exercise helps us purge a pair that needs tossed, this mental exercise can help us eliminate some things in our lives that also need pitched–things that might be keeping us from the abundant life Jesus has for us (John 10:10). Jesus gives us so much goodness– rest, meaning, purpose, and peace. He will love us forever and never leave us. But sometimes in order to receive all the fullness Jesus has for us, we need to lay some things down. Simon and Andrew left their fishing nets. As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him (Matthew 4:18-20) James and John left their boat: Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him (Matthew 4:21-22). Not because those things were necessarily awful, but just because they were hindering the disciples from stepping into the full, free life He had for them. What’s hindering you from all of God’s goodness?  What do you need to leave behind? I don’t know what Jesus is asking you to leave behind today, but I’m guessing as you read this something came to mind. It could be a habit, an old perspective, an excuse, one of the things my family listed or something else altogether. But two cool things about Jesus:
So, what do you need to leave behind? Reply and let me know, so I can be praying with you for newfound freedom. Let’s lighten our loads and put some more spring in our steps to walk into the abundant summer Jesus has waiting for us. For more inspiration find me on Facebook and Instagram Over a scrumptious dinner of skillet biscuits and slow roasted chicken at a hip little restaurant that sprouted up a block away from the house she grew up in, I had the absolute joy of celebrating my mom’s 80th birthday. I asked her what wisdom she’s learned over her years that she could share.  Celebrating my mom's birthday with her boyfriend and my brother Mom didn’t hesitate. “Things always work out for good,” she said, nodding. “You might not think they will. They might seem pretty horrible, but they always work out for good.” She speaks from experience. My sweet, loving mama has lived through enough drama to create a Netflix series that runs several seasons long. When her father abandoned her family when she was little. When her mother was battling cancer. When Mom and her four siblings all lived together in her grandmother’s one bedroom apartment… and all of those things are just in Season 1, before she graduated from high school. But my mom? Tells me every day how blessed she is. Because she has incredible friends, a kind, sweet boyfriend, fabulous health, a family who adores her, lives in a darling condo, is active in her local church, and is beloved by everyone she knows. She has endured so much. And it DID all work out. As the words fell from her lips Romans 8:28 popped into my mind: And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. God has caused everything to work together for my mom who loves God–the struggles. The pain, the sorrow–all of it worked into a bouquet of joy. Mom loves her life and is surrounded by people who love her. It’s just as God promised. Of course it is.
“What else?” I asked Mom. “Take care of other people,” she answered without missing a beat. Mom cares for so many; she speaks from a place of authority. She visits friends in hospitals and nursing homes, cooks and takes countless meals to friends who are sick or who just returned from out of town. She takes friends’ dogs out and waters neighbors’ flowers. She listens to others’ problems and invites people over for a meal or a game night. She lives this out on the regular. Again, Mom’s words echo the wisdom from the Bible. “Love one another as I have loved you,” Jesus instructed us in John 13:34 moments after He finished washing the disciples dirty, smelly feet. Mom’s last piece of wisdom was similar, “Be a friend.” My brother asked, “Who should I be a friend to?” Mom answered, “I don’t know. That’s up to you. Just be a friend.” It reminded me of when a man asked Jesus how to have eternal life. Jesus pointed the man to scripture, specifically to, “Love your neighbor as you love yourself.” Which sounds a lot like “be a friend.” And, just like my brother quickly asked Mom who he should be a friend to, the man quickly asked Jesus, “Who’s my neighbor?” Jesus answered the man by telling the story of The Good Samaritan, showing us that everyone is our neighbor. We’re supposed to love everybody. Just like Mom left her answer open-ended, knowing everybody could use a friend. If we see someone at the proverbial side of the road or perhaps sitting by themselves at a game, meeting, or gathering we can chat with them, offer a smile, a handshake, maybe sit down next to them–be a friend.  Mom blowing out the candles on her cake I’m sure my mom could have continued. She’s lived so well, so firmly rooted in her faith in Jesus and love for others. I was struck with how each nugget of wisdom she shared came straight from scripture. It makes so much sense, because the Bible holds so much wisdom. God dictated the words to human scribes, so that we could step into the full life God always intended for us to have all the way back to when He first placed humans in the glorious Garden of Eden. And every day since the day we messed up by eating the one thing God told us was bad for us, God has been trying to take us back to His goodness over and over again, to lands flowing with milk and honey (Exodus 3:8), to peace, love, and joy (Galatians 5:22), to truth and life, so that we may have life and have it to the full (John 10:10).
I highly advise listening to the wisdom of the people you respect who are a generation or two ahead of you. They’ve done a heck of a lot of living and have so much to teach us. But also, I advise opening your Bible or Bible App. You don't have to live for eighty years to access this wisdom!!! It's right at your fingertips! It doesn’t matter what time of day or if you listen or read, but get into God’s Word. Let it wash over you. Let His wisdom that He always intended you to know and flourish by fill your heart and mind. Trust in the fact that God DOES work all things together for good. It’s who He is. Take a moment to do something kind for someone else today–it can be as simple as shooting a text or helping someone carry in their armful of supplies (or toddlers). And be a friend. It will help you step into the goodness God has for you and you, like my mama, just might find yourself declaring, “I’m so incredibly blessed.” For more inspiration find me on Facebook and Instagram My husband and I just got back from an incredible trip. Brett spoke at a conference in Switzerland and then taught a seminar in France. What good wife would make their husband do all that international travel by himself? Not me.  Brett and I with Lake Geneva and the Alps right behind us. We’d never been to Switzerland before. And there we were on the edge of Lake Geneva (which is crystal clear and 46 miles long!) surrounded by the Alps, crisp mountain air filling and refreshing our lungs. And God’s presence was so tangible. The mountains were enormous. We couldn’t help but be in awe of God and how immense He must be to create things of such vast size and splendor. Every time we walked outside I gasped. The magnitude and beauty of God’s creation literally took my breath away. We had been to Lyon, France before. Fifteen years ago we had the blessing of living there for five weeks while Brett did some work at the same university where his recent seminar took place. This town is packed with beautiful memories for us. While Brett was working I walked to our old apartment. I strolled to our favorite bakery, still there, and bought (and ate) a warm baguette. As I popped into the church where we’d worshiped and roamed the route we had walked each day, I was flooded with God’s faithfulness. I felt like I was in a movie, and this was the flashback scene. Tears sprang to my eyes as I meandered down our old alley. I could picture my kiddos spinning on the spinners at the playground where they played every day. And I felt God telling me, “Look at what I gave you then AND where I’ve brought you to now. How much I blessed you then. How much I’ve blessed you now. All the countless prayers I’ve heard and answered in these fifteen years.” God’s goodness was so real and so present to me in those moments. His love flooded over me. I can’t really put into words how special and personal it all was, but I can declare how real and good and close our God is.  the cobblestone streets of Lyon, France And coming home? Back to Ohio? I was once more overwhelmed by God’s goodness. For this life I have here and now. For our small college town with brick streets, local shops, a bandstand and random festivals year round that remind me of Stars Hollow. For beautiful trails and our quiet home at the end of a cul-de-sac so close to campus. For my husband and our kids and the work we get to do and the authentic, loving church we attend. I didn’t have to go to the Alps for the first time or return to the cobblestone alleys of Lyon to find God. He was in both those places. So tangibly. But He is also here with me on the floor of my family room where I’m currently typing. And He’s with you, too, wherever you are. I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away 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 139:7-10). Where are you today? Did you think you’d be somewhere else at this age or stage? Are you exactly where you thought you’d be, but it’s harder or different than you imagined? Or have you been somewhere so long that you feel like you’re stuck in a rut? Or maybe you’re in transition–about to move or switch jobs or change your relationship status and you’re feeling uncertain, confused, unsettled. Or maybe you really want out. Or you really want in. Or perhaps you’re perfectly content. Wherever you are… God is with you.  Psalm 139:8-10 You can discover (or rediscover) God’s goodness by taking time to gaze at breathtaking landscapes, marveling at the fact that God designed and created vibrant spring flowers, gurgling streams, and the canopies of tree branches providing shade overhead. You can become more aware of God as you take note of familiar sights and sounds, remembering all God has given you and done for you–blessings that surround you on the daily, how far He’s brought you to bring you to here. You can connect (and reconnect) with God by noticing the wind you can’t see but can feel so marvelously blow through your hair and thanking God for His love unseen, but so deeply palpable or by listening to a pipe organ play a hymn that reminds you of God’s promises or truly paying attention to the voice of someone you love, thanking God for creating that person and putting them in your life.
Wherever you are–whether you’re exactly where you always hoped you’d be or still figuring out why you’re here or what’s next, God is with you. He loves you. He is for you. He is fighting for you. He is listening to your prayers (and answering them). He is creating beauty around you and memories that one day you’ll hold dearly. He is comforting and protecting and equipping and energizing and fortifying you. No matter how high or low you are. Because God loves you more than you could ever imagine. And He promises to never leave you (Hebrews 13:5). Most of my usual running route is paved through the woods, but my favorite part is the last part–the part that goes off the paved path and onto a path paved only by feet. One day recently when I got to this part, not far along there was a large branch that had blown off a tree in the previous night’s storm blocking my path. I was feeling fairly tired that day, and considered turning around and just heading back to the trailhead and ending my run, but I decided to push myself a little bit further. I paused running long enough to grab the branch and haul it off to the side–off the path and into the woods.  How can you clear the path for someone else? Not much further along there was another branch. This time I felt a nudge to clear it, not necessarily for me, but for whoever might run this trail behind me. It was such a lovely thought. To be able to make someone else’s run or walk or hike a little easier. Maybe for a mama holding a child’s hand or one of the fishermen I sometimes saw in this part of the woods hauling their rods and bait boxes. Perhaps for another runner, trying to make a certain time, so they wouldn’t be slowed down. Or maybe, just so someone else would have it a little bit easier. I was so excited by this idea that I continued even further–more than I’d planned, trotting along and moving branches.  Galatians 6:9-10 It got me thinking about how I could do this not just on the trail, but in life. Who might be coming along behind me that I could clear the path a little bit for, make their way a little simpler? Someone starting out on their mental health journey? A young mama? Or newlywed? A woman wanting to read her Bible “more” but not knowing where to start? Who could you clear a bit of trail for? The teen who plays the sport you did in high school? What do you wish you would have known at that age? The college student worried about majors and internships and what’s next? What advice could you have used? The person starting their own business? In the position you used to hold? Pursuing their certificate or degree? Trying to balance a budget? Buy their first home? Set some boundaries? Try a healthier lifestyle? What do you wish someone would have told you? What have you learned along the way?  Loving others pleases the Lord and boosts your mental health. Clearing the trail for others, obviously helps them. But it also helps us. Serving others eases our stress, activates positive emotions, and can reduce depression and anxiety. Paul urged the church in Galatia (and us), “So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone--(Galatians 6:9-10).
It’s important to note, Paul got that memo from Jesus. Jesus tells us on repeat to love one another. And making someone else’s path a little clearer looks a lot like love. We all have life experiences. Failures and victories we’ve learned from. And people who helped us get where we are. What if each of us took a few moments today, it doesn’t have to be a big thing, to pause whatever we’re running towards to clear a branch or two out of the way for the person a few steps behind us? The 40 days leading up to Easter (Lent) started six days ago. It’s a time set aside in some church traditions to get closer to Jesus. If you didn’t give it much thought but you wanted to, or if you’re intrigued, it’s not too late. It's never too late to get closer to Jesus.  It's never too late to get closer to Jesus. If you considered doing a reading plan or being more intentional with your faith walk, you’re allowed to start right now. No guilt. No problem. (I have two free reading plans linked below if you’re looking for one). If you wanted to give something up or build a healthy rhythm into your life–why not start today? If you thought about fasting, but didn’t, no big deal. You still can try if you want to (any questions on fasting–message me, I love to chat about how to do it safely). And if you don’t feel comfortable fasting, that’s okay too. Lent isn’t about following rules. Being a Christian isn’t about following rules. It’s about following Jesus.  Because when we do, we become more like Him–more loving, more giving, more peaceful, more confident in who we are and the work we’ve been given, more patient. Yes, please. My favorite thing to do is to tear down the lies of the world and the ones in our heads so we can live in Christ’s truth–I do it for you, but the reason I know it matters is because I need it. I do it for me, too. So this Lent, this is my focus, marinating myself in Christ’s love for me. Reminding myself who I am because of Him. When self doubt and negative self talk slithers my way, I’m grabbing the armor of God and holding up my shield of faith, sinking my feet into His peace, waving around my sword, which is the word of God, verses I know by heart, or ones I just read that morning. I’m standing strong in the fact that God made me in His image, goes before and behind me, says I’m wonderful and His masterpiece, that He calls me holy and chosen and royal. He says, does and believes all these wonderful things about you, too. Join me in this pursuit? It's never too late to get closer to Jesus.
Two FREE reading plans you could use for your Lenten journey to get closer to Jesus. How to Read the Bible and Change Your Life and Taking Care of Yourself Isn't Selfish, It's Biblical.
Click on the pics to download your FREE guides today. Today, my beautiful, talented, Gilmore Girls loving, rom-com writing friend, Betsy St. Amant Haddox is guest blogging AND we're giving away a copy of her brand new book, Once Upon a Divorce. As a divorce survivor and single mom, Betsy St. Amant Haddox shares her own raw, unfiltered story of what happens after the fairy tale ends. In her humorous, vulnerable, and authentic way, Betsy recounts how she navigated her ex-husband's abandonment and the seeming silence from heaven that followed. She takes readers through the thorny path of figuring out life as a single mother, healing from loss, and finding God to be faithful through it all. Once Upon a Divorce proves that the end of a marriage isn't the end of the story.
And now from Betsy.... Whoever says God doesn’t have a sense of humor has clearly never gone through anything difficult. I don’t mean that irreverently. I mean it literally. Some of the funniest things happened during my darkest season of divorce. And not just laugh-out-loud moments, but irony or things others might chalk up to coincidence that I know are otherwise. There are several instances where the humor wasn’t evident until years after the fact. Such as the time my husband had only been moved out for a few months, and I happened to look down while washing my hair in the shower and saw something that most definitely was not supposed to be sitting on the drain between my feet. A scorpion. Let’s just say the arachnid didn’t make it, and he probably also went deaf before he kicked the proverbial bucket (RIP). That poor creature represented everything unfair in that season of my life and really got it. Or the time when another wildlife creature burrowed up under the lining of my trailer and died, and Billy the Exterminator’s (remember that show?) nephew had to come dig it out. (Yes, that experience was as gross as it sounds.) Possibly the most ironic was the time when I almost canceled a first date with a nice single dad because I was so fed up with the entire dating process (more on that in the book) but then ended up going anyway and eventually marrying him.  It’s amusing how God works. Folks often refer to Christianity as the upside-down kingdom. Things typically don’t go the way we expect or hope. Jesus talked about how the least will be made great and the great will be made small. In the upside-down kingdom, leaders serve. Humility is advancement. Sacrifice is honored. Less is more. And in losing our life, we gain it. I don't know where you're feeling upside-down today. Maybe you're not going through a divorce, but you're in a different hard season that feels out of sorts. Shaky. Distorted. Maybe you're dealing with a prodigal child, aging parents, death, grief, financial strain, or some sort of major life transition. Maybe nothing specific has happened, but you wish it would. Maybe you're still single and longing to find a spouse. Maybe you're waiting for that healing, that break through, that promotion or progression that seems like it's never going to arrive. Whatever it is, may I remind you that we can be firmly planted in this upside-down kingdom, on a Rock that never shifts? In this particular kingdom, one that makes little sense to the world, we can thrive. We can have peace and joy not because of our circumstances, but because of the One sovereignly in charge of them all. We can have success, not because of dollars signs and bottom lines but because of focusing on our eternal inheritance that can't be destroyed. (1 Peter 1:3-5) When we cling to the fact that God is writing our story, that this hard chapter isn't the end, that there are so many more pages ahead, we can release our death grip on control. Because He's got a grip on us. Okay, how can you win your FREE copy? Message me one word about how your life is feeling upside down right now. I'll randomly select a winner within a week and Betsy will send you a copy (open only to continental U.S. residents over the age of 18).  In other news...I have a new book releasing February 6! Betsy and I wrote these books during the same time period. I can't tell you how many calls, texts, prayers, and voice memos flew between us as we dove into some painful parts of our stories to reveal God's faithfulness and love. I even interviewed Betsy for my book :). You can pre-order a copy of Holy Care for the Whole Self HERE!
For more inspiration find me on Facebook and Instagram I’m one of those word-of-the-year-girls. You? For 2023 I felt God telling me I needed to say, “Yes!” more often. Not to any old thing to fill my time or tickle my fancy, but to the things He was putting in front of me. I wrote Y-E-S in chalk on the framed slate I have in my office, penned, “Say yes, yes to the God of Israel!” (Joshua 24:23) at the top of each week in my planner before planning out the week, and when opportunities arose I prayed through them. But when I was waffling, I continuously heard God whispering in my heart, “Say yes. Say yes to me.”
And so I did. I said yes to pitching a new book idea. I said yes to some incredible speaking engagements. I said yes to sharing my feelings and joining an awesome Bible study group. I said yes to visits with friends and silent prayer time in the middle of the day and trips and counseling appointments and taking days off to rest and learning more about Jesus and dates with my husband. I said yes to getting coaching and trying something new and asking questions and treating myself. Over and over again I said yes to Jesus and the goodness He had for me. I even journaled about the yes-es I said, because I’m also that kind of girl. We do have to be careful about our yes-es. We should rarely, if ever, and then only under extreme circumstances, say yes to things that aren’t healthy for us mentally, physically, or emotionally. We should never say yes to impress somebody or because we feel like we have to or when we honestly don’t have the bandwidth to honor a yes. But God has so much goodness for us and loves to delight us. I fear we turn down so much of the loveliness He has for us.  Joshua 24:23 MSG What if in 2024 we said yes to: spending more time in our Bibles veggies and fruit getting enough sleep taking time to pray reaching out to a friend a bite of chocolate walks in the sunshine setting healthy boundaries hugs journaling running through the sprinklers apologizing staying hydrated going down slides What if we turned to Jesus and asked Him, “What do you think?” And when He gives a nod, we say, “Yes!” Not sure when to say yes or no. Try using this verse as your guide: Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me--put it into practice (Philippians 4:8). What if we didn’t just think about these things but said yes to them!  click on the link or image to download your FREE guide Something else we can all say YES to this year is taking care of ourselves. We are created in the very image of God–self care isn’t selfish. It’s Biblical. I’ve created a FREE guide to get us started. Just click HERE to begin Biblically caring for yourself in this new year.
I’d love to hear--drop a comment: What are some things you’ve said yes to? How will you care for yourself in 2024? Do you have a word for the year? If so, what is it? For more inspiration find me on Facebook and Instagram We set up our Christmas tree the day after Thanksgiving and had to wait until now to decorate it. It took over six weeks of doctor appointments that ended in an unexpected five-day hospital stay to finally get a diagnosis and treatment for our son’s back pain. My agent started pitching a book idea I had in January, and I just got a book deal for it.  We finally got to decorate our tree! Waiting. I’m not good at it. You? And yet it’s a part of life. It seems like so many things I’ve been waiting for for weeks, even months have come together in the past few days, and it feels so fitting, like God is really trying to tell me something, because Advent (this season leading up to Christmas) is a season of waiting–waiting for the birth of Jesus. Which has always seemed a little strange to me, because Jesus came to earth, lived like a human, so He could fully relate to you and me, was executed on the cross to free us from our sins, and rose from the dead. This all went down over 2,000 years ago, so we don’t really have to wait for it. Do we? Aha, but it turns out, this is where the good stuff happens. In the waiting. I know I know. I don’t like to wait. Like zero percent like it. But I’m learning there can be purpose in the waiting. It can help us more fully experience joy. Waiting Dials Up Our Excitement This year I got all the joy and excitement of selecting our Christmas tree and bringing it into the house in November–the scent of pine, the ushering in of the season, that happy, expectant feeling in my heart. Then the tree sat in the corner without a single ornament. I kept sneaking peeks at it thinking, soon, soon we’ll be able to decorate you. But I had to wait. We have a lot of reconstruction going on in our home due to a pipe leak in June (yes, June!) and the tree couldn’t be decorated until some wall patching and painting was complete. Then the other night I sang along to Christmas music and ate minty candy canes with my husband and son while pulling out memories in the form of ornaments and hanging them on pine branches. It was beautiful and fulfilling and so worth the wait. My excitement and joy were amplified, because I’d been waiting and anticipating, and at long last we were able to trim the tree.  a 5-day stay in the hospital was part of our waiting Sometimes We Have to Wait for Things to Move Forward All the appointments, MRIs, X-rays, physical therapy, and prescriptions for our son, led us to a doctor who discovered what looked like the source of our boy’s pain. This doc’s expertise was critical to the next step of being referred to a specialist who got us admitted to the hospital when we didn’t have a clue that’s what we needed. Once in the hospital the best care team of professionals confirmed his diagnosis, tended to our boy, and set him on a path to healing. The journey got us to the right place. Each step of the way mattered, helped doctors rule something out, got us closer to a treatment plan. And each new answer gave us a burst of joy--it's treatable, the biopsy was successful, he's on the right meds--joy, joy, joy. Through the waiting God showed us He is always with us, always guiding us, that He cares so deeply about every detail and step in our lives. It felt like waiting to us, but God used that time to make things happen, to put things in place, to line up the right doctors at the right time so our son could be healed. Waiting Makes Us More Appreciative The book deal? Well, that’s just super fun. But by waiting almost a year for it I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that God has put this book in the publisher’s hands where He wants it published. I’ve had time to work on this book, pray over this book, and pray for the future readers of the book, that the words will increase their understanding of God’s love for them. The waiting has reminded me of God’s faithfulness, perfect timing, and provision. I feel so grateful for this new opportunity, and I’m not sure if I would be as appreciative, as full of joy, if it had come quickly. And that’s why each Advent, we spend four weeks waiting for Christmas. Not because we’re pretending we don’t know Jesus was already born, but to prepare our hearts for how beautiful the miracle of Christmas is. To marinate in the fact that Jesus chose to come down from heaven to show us His goodness, heal our broken hearts, bodies, and souls, teach us what love is, and give Himself for us. That He chose to come as a poor boy, to an unknown family, to a teen mom and be born in a barn full of smelly cows and goats, to completely humble Himself, so we could see that things and status and fancy homes or clothes aren’t what bring us joy–love is.  Luke 2:10-11 We decorate and bake and send cards and buy gifts and have parties. But we do it all in anticipation. To build on the excitement. To remember how beautiful it is to hope for something, so we’ll appreciate it even more. We read what the prophets had to say about Jesus arriving on earth to better understand what a planner God is. That He’d always intended for Jesus to be born to a virgin (Isaiah 7:14) in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2), live in Egypt (Hosea 11:1), and be a branch on Jesse’s family tree (Isaiah 11:1). That sometimes all that planning takes time. To remind our hearts and souls that what happened that first Christmas changed everything. That today in our busy lives with texts to respond to and kids to care for and dishes to wash that Jesus’ love and peace still reigns.
“Don’t be afraid!” the angel said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! This great joy is for you and me. Joy. Some days we have to wait for it. Do our part. Let God do His. Take the next step. Make the next call. Pray. Read our Bibles. Move two squares forward and one square back. Pray some more. Wait some more. But we do it hopefully. Expectantly. And in the waiting we can hold onto hope, get excited for a beautiful outcome, cling to Jesus and His love and grace. So when we get there it’s even sweeter than if we hadn’t waited, we can better feel and experience joy. For more inspiration find me on Facebook and Instagram |
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