Tag: #christianblogger

When It Gets Hard

When It Gets Hard

When It Gets Hard

“Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.” Psalm 55:22 NIV

As we ALL know, life is filled with ups and down and the Word of God gives us inspiration to keep our heads up as we push forward. No matter what the challenges my friends, with God on our sides we do have the strength and resilience to overcome any challenge. How can we navigate those tight spaces:

  • In the midst of challenges find strength in the God in you.
  • When you fall, get on up and try it again, and again, and AGAIN!
  • Don’t let the storms of life extinguish your inner light or make you a mean person.
  • Setbacks are an opportunity in disguise to learn and grow.
  • Believe in the dreams you have and your ability to transform toward greatness.
  • Remember you are not defined by adversity, but instead how you rise above it.
  • The roads are paved with all kinds of challenging runs, but it’s not our swiftness or strength that keeps us moving its our willing and endurance.
  • Even in the darkest of night, the stars are still shining. Find the light within you and let it shine.

In the depth of our struggles lies and opportunity for self-discovery and personal growth. Embrace your journey and keep moving forward. Remember who you are and whose you are. You are a child of the King and He sees where you are at and where you gotta go. Trust him to lead the way.

The song writer reminds me that when it gets hard to remember:

I’ve had some good days, hills to climb, weary days, sleepless nights, sometimes the clouds are low, and I can’t hardly see the road.

But when I look around and think things over, all of my good days outweigh my bad days, and I won’t complain. The Lord has been so good to me, drying my tears, turning my midnights into day (you know trouble don’t last always) He’s been so good to me, Lord I thank you. Amen.

Remember friends, we are each other’s keeper and the only time we should be looking down on someone is when we are helping them up.

Are You In The Way?

Are You In The Way?

Are You In The Way?

“Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are.” Psalm 25:4-5 NIV

I remember those summers spending time at my grandparents’ house, and how my cousins and I would always find ourself staring at the television screen right in front of where granddaddy was sitting. Well he had no problems reminding us kids, that we weren’t made out of glass to see through and to move out the way.

It reminds me how sometimes the action of distractions can put us in the way. But even in those DISTRACTIONS, God wants us to trust his way, will, and process. I believe the question of are you in the way, gives way to the thoughts of are we trusting God, to just get out of the way.

What does getting out of the way look like? It is trusting God’s word, following His lead, watching what only He can do in our lives, a willingness to leave everything in His capable hands, and the faith that he knows what is best for us.  I remember the lighting flashing and the thunder roaring when I stayed at my grandparents. My grandmother would tell my cousins and I, to be quiet, God is working.  Even as kids we were taught about the importance of respecting God, and when he is in motion our best bet is to quietly get out the way. Amen.

Remember friends, we are each others’s keeper and the only time we should be looking down on someone is when we are helping them up.

Can You Dig It?

Can You Dig It?

Can You Dig It?

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your path.” Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV

Lord have mercy y’all, I know some of my uncles and aunties remember, saying these word “Can you dig it.” is an informal expression that means, do you understand what I am saying? I hear it a lot on some of my favorite 70’s television shows, like Sanford and Son, Good Times, and What’s Happening.

Now the scripture I have chosen today, tells us to trust in the Lord and not trust our own ways. Yep, I have my guilty shirt somewhere in the closet or is it in my storage container. Either way, I have tried it my way, time and time again only to have to come back to the drawing board. Yes, I was prideful and silly.  I was that hamster on that wheel going round and round and not getting anywhere. Same old same old. But one day I got tired of the insanity, I realized there was a better way. God’s way. His timing is perfect.

Even the best-laid plan we think we have friends, cannot begin to measure up to the magnificent plans of the Good Lord. God’s ways are not our ways, and his thoughts are not our thoughts. He can see so much further and clearer than we can.

We often will not understand how God is causing “all things to work together for good, but when we trust him with all our hearts, He shows us what making a way out of no way really looks like. Friends you don’t have to understand everything when you are trusting God. His word tells us to lean not to your own understanding. And when we acknowledgement of Him, our are paths are directed and lead.

Can you Dig it?! The scripture shares the lives of those who lived understanding that just that.

Solomon, God gave him great understanding, wisdom and a large heart.

The Sons of Issachar, these people were known for their understanding of the times

Job, learned to trust in God’s wisdom even when he didn’t understand why bad things happened.

Moses, a reluctant leader who led the people out of Egypt.

Ruth, a loyal woman who faced poverty death, and social discrimination

David, repented and had his words about God etched in history

Peter the Apostle, a man who overcame personal and spiritual struggles to show his belief in Jesus.

The benefits of trusting in God: Peace, direction confidence, and strength. Jesus prayed to his Father in the Garden of Gethsemane, asking him to spare him from the pain of his crucifixion, but he choose to put his fathers will before his own. “not my will, but yours be done.” Keep praying about it, trust in God, and keep the faith. You are on the winning side.

Remember friends, we are each other’s keeper and the only time we should be looking down on someone is when we are helping them up.

You’ve Come a Long Way Baby

You’ve Come a Long Way Baby

You’ve Come A Long Way Baby

“You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.” Psalm 32:7-8 NLT

I am sure some of you have heard that catchphrase, I used as my title today.  Now I am no smoker, and I’ve never been. Virginia Slims slogan “you’ve come along way baby,” got me thinking about what those words can mean in a spiritual sense.  I thought about how it could represent a reflection of this journey we call life, and how we came through the hoops and hurdles, even with scratches or scars, we made it. I think about the songs I sang in the night.

“Trouble in my way, I have to cry sometimes, trouble in my way, I have to cry sometime, I lay awake at night, but that’s alright, I know Jesus will fix it after while.”

Reminding myself that I serve a mighty God and through him I have victory. Keep the faith Jannie, just keep the faith. I have come along way baby. Coming up through the years, I think about how Good God has been to me, despite my foolish ways. Oh, how sweet it is to be loved by Him. For he walks, talks, and showed me the hills and valleys I have already came through

You too have come along way baby. You are living testimony of how a life with God makes the difference. He reminds us, that no matter where, he is always with us.

As we reflect on our own journeys, think on these few things, while you keep on pushing:

Personal growth, how we are developing and becoming the best version of ourselves.

Love yourself enough to make yourself a priority.

Happiness, take your own kind of joy wherever you go

Achievements, remember they come in all sizes.

Who are you helping and how does it help you.

Personal fulfillment, do you feel it down in your soul

Positive impact, making a difference in the ordinary, looks extraordinary on you.

You’ve come a long way baby, God only knows where and what you been through. But didn’t he lead you through it? And like the footprint I know he carried me. I read somewhere, “when you are going through something hard and wonder where God is, remember the teacher is always quiet during a test. Shush…God’s working on our behalf.” Amen.

Remember friends, we are each other’s keeper and the only time we should be looking down on someone is when we are helping them up.

A Life That Shows

A Life That Shows

A Life That Shows

“Whoever pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity, and honor.” Proverbs 21:21 NIV

Consistently throughout scripture God is portrayed as the giver of life, which distinguishes living organisms from inanimate things. Life is contingent upon the continuing, sustaining, “breath” of God.

This past weekend I attended a funeral with my husband. Not in the traditional sense. We were in his Semi Truck, along with two other drivers who all gave a trucker salute to the dearly departed in unison. It’s nothing like those diesels humming.

Sitting there in the truck I gazed out of the window seeing all the graves with various dates. With death all around, my thoughts were on life. What kind of life did they all live. What kinds of hurdles did they come through, the laughter, and love they shared with their families. “As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart.” Proverbs 27:19

On of my favorite Gospel groups, Commissioned came out with a song called, A life that shows. It is from the 1989 album, Ordinary Just won’t Do. Let me share some of the words with you.

You need a life that shows, every single day in every way.  A light that glows. People deal with us every day, seeing us come and likewise go.  They listen to what we say and what you stand for they don’t know. A little upward show will let them know it’s the Lord you stand for. You need a life that shows, you need to be a light that glows.

Sometimes blending in is misunderstood, as being afraid or being ashamed. Take a stand my friend this you should. You belong to Jesus be proud you’re wear his name. cause you are his, go ahead and be a witness, go on and be a guiding light. You need a life that shows. You may be the only help that some will ever know. Be a light that glows.

Let your light shine before all men. So, men can see the way, you can show them to a brighter day, there is a world filled in darkness, maybe you’re the only light they’ll ever know. Let your light shine. Amen.

Remember friends, we are each other’s keeper and the only time we should be looking down on someone is when we are helping them up.

Mission Impossible

Mission Impossible

Mission Impossible

“But He said, “the things which are impossible with men are possible with God.” Luke 18:27 NKJV

How many of you have heard of the television show, Mission Impossible?  This was an American action spy television series from 1966. It was about a group of extraordinary spies, each expert in their own fields. They belonged to the Impossible Mission Force. I believe the point of the show, was what might look like a totally impossible situation, with the right resources, it can be possible.

When I think of the right resources, I think about the Good Lord and some of the mission impossible scriptures in the Word. Noah and the Ark, Moses and the children of Israel, Daniel who was in the lion’s den, and what about his friends, Shadrack, Meshack, and Abednego who faced the fiery furnace. A young David who stood against Goliath with only a slingshot. All these missions had one thing in common. Faith.

All those great scriptures got me thinking about my own mission impossible, made possible. I must admit, I never saw any of these wonderful and incredible things for myself. I remember saying, “Lord how are we going to get this done?”  I didn’t know how to write a book, blog, or start a podcast. But I wouldn’t let the fear of not knowing how to do something stop my mission. Yes, ya’ll, He  truly works in mysterious ways. He makes a way out of no way. Though things look impossible on the outside, we have a God who is working on our behalf on the inside.

Let me leave you with this scripture: “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and future.’ Jeremiah 29:11. Amen.

Remember friends, we are each other’s keeper and the only time we should be looking down on someone is when we are helping them up.

The Race

The Race

The Race

“I have seen something else under the sun: The race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong, nor does food come to the wise or wealth to the brilliant or favor to the learned; but time and chance happen to them all.” Ecclesiastes 9:11 NIV

Most commonly the scripture I read is said this way, “The race is not given to the swift or to the strong but to the one who endures to the end.”  As I was driving home one day this week, I thought about that scripture, and two interesting characters came to mind: The Tortoise and The Hare.

This fable tells the story of a race between a hare and a tortoise. The hare makes fun of the tortoise for being slow, and the tortoise accepts the hare’s challenge to a race. The hare gets far ahead of the tortoise, but then stops to take a nap.  The tortoise continues moving slowly but steadily, and eventually passes the sleeping hare to win the race.

The moral of the story is you can be more successful by doing things slowly and steadily than by acting quickly and carelessly.  You know what the hare’s problem was? He was overconfident and cocky.  That old rabbit saw that turtle as an unworthy opponent, you know, not a threat at all. Cecil as he was called on Looney Tunes, was a meek and humble creature.

The turtle’s perseverance and determination helped him to complete the race. Nope he did not entertain the idea of quitting, instead he stayed focus on the race. That rabbit had his own ideas about what he saw as a worthy opponent.  Can you see that rabbit, sizing up the turtle? He figured “it’s in the bag.”

Have you encountered people who think they got you all figured out?  Have you been underestimated? Look at Jesus who was born in a manager. There laid the savior of this world. He was underestimated, questioned, ridiculed, and hassled. But he came to set the captive free through healing, and with love. He came to give us the right to the tree of life. He is the way, the truth, and the life. He is our enduring strength. Yes, it’s the God in you, that won’t let you give up. Amen.

Remember friends, we are each other’s keeper and the only time we should be looking down on someone is when we are helping them up.

Here’s a Story

Here’s a Story

Here’s a Story

“Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.” Colossians 3:19-21 New International Version

There are several instances of blended families in the bible: Woman at the Well,  Joseph and his half-brothers, Ruth, Naomi, and Boaz, King David and his children, and Abraham, Sarah, and Hagar. Let’s focus on Jesus’ earthly family relationship.

Two Scripture give us information about the siblings of Jesus.  The book of Matthew, chapter 13, says, “Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. ‘Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?’ they asked. ‘Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas? Aren’t all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” We are never told exactly how many siblings Jesus had, but the book of Mark, chapter 6, indicates there had to have been at least six: at least four brothers, named; and two sisters, unnamed.

One can only imagine the relationship they might have had. Chasing each other, skipping rocks in the river, chores, they may have even witnessed the gifts Jesus had, keeping it in the family. Plenty of talks and laughter around the dinner table, and then at the end of the day mother Mary tucking them all in bed, with a kiss for each of them.  As a child, Jesus had the freedom to do just that, be a kid.

But those kid days, were not meant to last. While visiting the temple in Jerusalem at the age of twelve, Jesus became separated from his parents and was left behind. When they returned to Jerusalem three days later, his worried parents, found him in the Temple listening to the teachers and amazing those around him with his understanding.  His purpose clearer every day to his parents no doubt. No ordinary boy, his mission and calling were coming for him.

He was the King of Kings, Lord of Lords, The Good Shepherd, and Savior of the world. He was born into this world with one mission. To save it. Isaiah, chapter 53, foretold this purpose, it reads: “But He was wounded for our transgressions; He was bruised for our iniquities. The chastisement of our peace was upon Him, and with His stripes we are healed.”

I believe that both Joseph and Mary, wanted Him to be a kid as long as possible, but they also knew that Jesus higher calling would not be denied, and where they left off, God would take over. When I think of the term blended families, like all family units, It takes lots of love, patience, humility, teamwork, communication, dedication, respect, and trust.

Remember friends, we are each other’s keeper and the only time we should be looking down on someone is when we are helping them up.

It’s Dead to Me!!

It’s Dead to Me!!

It’s Dead to Me!!

“Death and Life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.” Proverbs 18:21 ESV

God is always looking ahead on our behalf. He keeps on making adjustments for us here and there as we go on our journeys. We serve a God who inputs into us ideas to help us grow. His message of hope to the world is drop the ruck sacks. Try walking for a while with a bag full of rocks on your back. After a while, it gets heavy, it slows you down and drains your energy.  But what happens when you just drop it!! Can’t you walk faster, can’t you think a little clearer? Think of it as “the tossing of dead weight!!”

I think we will give all that EXTRA its proper burial. Why? Cause it’s Dead to Me!! We can’t let things, stuff, junk, take away our peace! Destroy our joy! We can no longer live in the nightmares of yesteryear that won’t let us be! You and I can’t let stuff disturb our me time! No creeping in the home either! We don’t have time for foolishness. We are not going to let those ridiculous opinions keep us restless and hungry! Refuse to waste your words or raise your blood pressure. “Nooooo Lordy!” We gonna bury the hatchet, and not in our heads!!!

Friends the next time you are thinking about picking up:

Fear, Procrastination

Doubt, Negativity

Comfort Zone, Failure

Giving Up, Lack of confidence

Neglecting your own health

Blame game, Distraction

Seeking approval, Judging others

Remember power is not just in the tongue of others, but it’s in your own mouth. What will you choose when you speaking into your own life? We don’t have time to waste our words and life on the foolery! Remind yourself that all that extra, unnecessary nonsense don’t have a place in your world, say, “its Dead to Me.”  That’s it, we are taking back our lives, with love, laughter, so we can live our best life EVERYDAY!  Amen!

Remember friends, we are each other’s keeper and the only time we should be looking down on someone is when we are helping them up.

Mirror Mirror on the Wall

Mirror Mirror on the Wall

Mirror Mirror on the Wall

“Thou art fairer than the children of men; grace is poured into thy lips: therefore, God hath blessed the forever.” Psalm 45:2 KJV

I bet you can guess what movie my title for today is from. It’s the most recognize quote from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. It is a 1937 American animated musical fantasy film produced by Walt Disney Productions. Did you know that it is based on the 1812 German Fairy tale, by the Brothers Grimm. It was the first animated feature film produced in the United States in 1938. The movie had a budget of 1.5 million dollars, however at the box office it made 418 million dollars.

The scripture begins with a poetic and powerful description of the King, praising and exalting Him both for who He is and what He does. The psalmist begins by simply noting the beauty of the King, saying He is more beautiful/ fairer than all others.

“Mirror mirror on the wall who is the fairest of them all. The lord Jesus He is the fairest of them all!  He is the Word made flesh, who He heals, reveals, compels, he sets free, leads, saves, forgives, provides, and loves. He makes a way out of no way. He wipes our tears away and replaces them with joy. He is our bridge over troubled waters. He walks and talks with us. He is our strong tower. He has us in the palm of his hands. No more loneliness, He is the HOPE that took us through yesterday. He is the head of our today. And He is right there  preparing us for our tomorrow.

Remember friends, we are each other’s keeper and the only time we should be looking down on someone is when we are helping them up.