Category: faith

I Am You, And You Are Me

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Think of the ocean, and all the waves within its vast, beautiful blue. Now think of us, as people, each like a wave in that ocean. Each wave is unique and separate in its own way, yet it’s still water, still part of something larger. Just as waves belong to the ocean, we are all connected. It can feel, at times, like we’re on our own or completely different from others, but beneath the surface, we share many similarities and are part of something so vast and profound that it stretches beyond what our minds can fully comprehend.

When we’re reminded to “love thy neighbor,” to treat others how we wish to be treated, or to follow the Golden Rule—it’s because, in essence, you are them, and they are you.

Notice The Good Signs

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Many of us are always watching for bad signs, or at least those are what we focus on. They’re the ones that seem to stick in our minds, weighing us down and becoming tough to shake.

Constantly looking for the bad can leave the good in the shadows. When we do this, it’s like planting more bad seeds than good ones in our minds.

But there are so many good things—moments of light, glimmers—that deserve way more of our attention.

Glimmers are those tiny, positive signs that often slip by, little reminders that good things are happening, too.

Though our brains are wired to spot danger, trained for survival, we can work to build faith that’s stronger than this tendency.

This shift isn’t easy. It’s a muscle we must work on every day.

Over time, with intention and patience, noticing the good can become as natural as looking for the bad once was.

Do Your Best With What You Have

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It’s easy to find yourself desiring someone else’s life or possessions—especially on social media. Social platforms are full of rabbit holes that lead down the paths of envy and jealousy. If we spend too much time longing for what others have, it often breeds unhappiness and resentment.

There will always be someone with more, and someone with less. Contentment comes from focusing on what we already have. And often, when we look closely, we realize we have more than we thought. Count those blessings, daily.

Reminder that it’s not about having everything. True joy comes not from accumulating but from seeing our lives through a lens of gratitude, finding beauty in the ordinary, and remembering that every small gift is one to cherish.

m.g.

We Don’t Really Own Anything

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Not too long ago, I had a realization: we don’t truly own anything. Everything we currently have is here for our enjoyment, to serve us, to bring us joy, or to help others. But we don’t actually own these things. We’re essentially borrowing them for however long we’re here, because when we pass, none of “our things” will go with us. Recognizing this has made me appreciate all that I “have” even more. These are gifts from God; yet, because they’re not really ours, we shouldn’t hold on too tightly. Let me explain.

A while back, I was on Facebook and saw a story that beautifully illustrated this. A man shared that he was at a gas station when he saw someone who was homeless and didn’t have shoes. His wife told him, “Take off your shoes and give them to that man.” And he did, without hesitation. Now, he could’ve easily thought, No, these are my favorite shoes—I paid a lot for them. But he didn’t, because he wasn’t attached.

It’s human nature to grow attached to our things, and it can be challenging to let go. But when the opportunity arises to share something that “belongs” to us, it’s a chance to pass on joy and appreciation to someone else. We can thank these things for the role they played in our lives and let them go. This doesn’t have to be a gift to a stranger—it could be to family or friends as well.

Personally, I’m learning that the more I give and let go of things, the more space I create—both in my home and in my mind. We don’t need nearly as much as we think we do. Why hold on when there are others who might need or benefit from what we no longer use? I have a few selected items that I hope can stay within my family, shared and appreciated across generations. But for everything else, I’m letting go of the idea that they belong to me.

“The Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh away.” Be grateful for everything God is lending you right now—everything.

Do More Unexpected Things

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Surprise yourself. Surprise others! Taking risks and embracing the unexpected can open doors you didn’t even know were there. Some people shy away from change, but change can be magical. Sometimes, the best moments in life are the ones you never saw coming. Step outside the familiar, take a leap, and let life surprise you.

It’s in the unexpected moments that we often find parts of ourselves we didn’t know existed—strengths, passions, or even dreams that have been waiting beneath the surface. When we step into the unknown, we grow in ways we can’t plan for or predict. So let yourself be bold, follow those sparks of curiosity, and trust that each unexpected step will bring you closer to who you’re meant to be.

Be Like A Child

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Life knocks you down. Life knocks you down hard. If we let it, life can harden our hearts, making us cynical and negative. Worry and doubt become our closest companions. We lose touch with the child within—the one who is resilient, carefree, and eager to embrace life’s joys.

Yes, life is full of pain, but it’s also filled with miracles. As we become more aware of life’s tragedies, anxiety often takes root, stealing the laughter from our days. Fear becomes a shadow over our joy.

Be like a child. Seek joy, even when life brings you to your knees. Let yourself find wonder, even in the smallest things, and keep the spirit of resilience alive within you.

Remember, in each day, there are small moments of beauty and magic waiting to be found. Embrace them, and let them soften your heart.

Soften The Heart: Devotional #25

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“Not my will, but yours be done.”

Luke 22:42

What a powerful statement. What Jesus said right here is, I trust you.

I love this scripture so much because it reveals that without a doubt we are going to go through some really hard things, just like Jesus did.

And instead of questioning God, we stop.

We eventually, ultimately, surrender.

We acknowledge that this isn’t what we want, but we say I trust you God.

We say, if this is how it’s suppose to be I trust you. I know you are with me, I trust you. And then we fully give it to GOD.

I said this prayer just a few days ago to God while in great pain and suffering…..not my will but yours be done.

I more so told God in my head that this isn’t what I wanted but if this is the plan for me and this is how my life is suppose to end I fully trust you God. I told God that I surrendered.

I told God that I trusted him and that if this was my time to go that I would accept it. I wasn’t going to question what was happening. Even though it’s not what I wanted I let God know once again that I trusted Him. I told God that I would be sad to not watch my children grow though.

After I spoke with God, I let it all go.

The rest was completely out of my hands and how this was going to end was something I trusted with God. I trusted his plan for me and my family.

How thankful I am for my faith and for Gods Word. Countless times I feel as if my hand has been held.

Now, what led me to that moment with God was I woke up with some minor abdominal cramping, very minor. As the morning continued the pain increasingly progressed to the point where I could barely even walk.

I called for my husband and he rushed home from work and raced me to the ER.

After an hour later of excruciating pain they discovered that I had a twisted intestine and that it was attached to a scar adhesion from a precious c-section.

Things got real, real fast when they said they were sending a helicopter for me to get surgery right away.

It was in that moment where I knew this was very serious. I was in too much pain to be scared but I knew my husband was terrified.

This is where I surrendered. I wanted the pain to end. I was letting go while fighting. It’s a hard thing to explain.

But I can fully say that I put my trust in God. Words can’t fully express how I felt when I woke up after the surgery and even how I still feel in this moment.

My testimony has grown in a way that excites me and that I’m eager to share. I have been redirected in the most beautiful way.

The word of God gives hope. The word of God gives peace. The word of God gives us strength.

What I have gone through God has been with me the entire time.

And I’m so grateful to have trust Him.

Thank you Lord, amen.

Soften The Heart: Devotional #24

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“Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father.

“You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews.

“But the hour is coming, and now is when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.

“The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ). “When He comes, He will tell us all things.”

“Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am He.”

John 4 21-26

After reading this full scripture it makes me think about times God has talked to me or communicated with me and I had not known. Just like the woman at the well.

I imagine her being like, “Uh, huh. Yeah when the Messiah is here he’s going to explain all of that.” And then here is Jesus like, “I’m Jesus Christ.”

What a humbling moment!

We think we know, and God reveals to us exactly that. We think we know. But we don’t. We have so much growing to do.

We are still children and acting as children do. No sense of boundaries, we hear what we want to hear, what are consequences you say?

I just described a toddler.

For some reason we think we know more than we actually do.

Eventually I feel like God makes it click for us, partly because of us His love for his children and because of his patience.

Then we begin to make the connections and understand.

If only we took things serious the first time could we have avoided some struggling. Maybe.

Let’s break down this scripture a little bit though.

What does “the hour is coming” mean?

When Jesus says “the hour is coming” in the scriptures, He is often referring to a specific moment or event in God’s divine plan, particularly His crucifixion, resurrection, and the coming of God’s kingdom. This phrase points to a future fulfillment of God’s purpose for salvation.

For instance, in John 4:23 as we read above, Jesus says, “The hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth.” Here, He’s referring to the future when worship will no longer be tied to specific locations or rituals but will be through a genuine connection with God.

In other passages, like John 12:23 (“The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified”), it refers to His upcoming death, where He would complete His mission on earth.

In summary, “the hour is coming” points to a pivotal moment in God’s plan, often linked to the transformative events in the life and ministry of Jesus.

But how do we worship the Father in spirit and in truth?

To worship the Father in spirit and truth, as Jesus describes in John 4:23-24, involves a deep, sincere connection with God that transcends external rituals and locations. Here’s how:

1. Worshiping in Spirit:

Worship in spirit means connecting with God on a spiritual level, from the heart and soul, rather than relying solely on outward acts or physical locations. It’s about an authentic relationship with God, led by the Holy Spirit, where worship is heartfelt, personal, and not limited to rituals or ceremonies. This kind of worship engages our whole being, aligning our spirit with God’s Spirit.

• Romans 8:14 says, “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.” Worshiping in spirit is being led by the Holy Spirit, letting Him guide our hearts, prayers, and lives in a way that honors God.

2. Worshiping in Truth:

Worship in truth refers to worshiping God as He truly is, in alignment with the truth revealed in His Word, the Bible. It means worshiping with sincerity and understanding of who God is, grounded in the knowledge of Scripture. Jesus is the embodiment of truth (John 14:6), and worshiping in truth involves acknowledging and following Him as the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

• Psalm 145:18 reflects this, stating, “The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth.” Worship in truth rejects hypocrisy or superficial worship and embraces an honest, authentic pursuit of God.

In summary, worshiping in spirit and truth means bringing together heartfelt devotion and sincerity with a grounded understanding of God’s Word and His true nature. It’s worship that’s both inwardly genuine and outwardly aligned with God’s revealed truth in Scripture.

Wishing you love and blessings.

May our hearts and ears hear when God is speaking to us. And even so, may we continue to have greetings at the well.

May God never stop revealing himself to us even when we have lost our sight.

May we share our wisdom with others when God makes it very clear who He is to us.

May we honor the Father and The Son.

Amen.

Soften The Heart: Devotional #23

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Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their opponents in court.

Psalm 127:4-5

In this scripture we understand the significance of children. It is made clear how much of a gift that they are. Children are the arrows, they are the direction, they are the way. If we pay attention to the children they will lead us to the answers that we seek.

You’ve heard before that, “Children are the future.” Thats because they are THE FUTURE.

To have any children in your life is a blessing. Whether you have children of your own, nieces or nephews, maybe you’re a teacher, counselor, you’ve adopted, etc. “Bless is he whose quiver is full of them.”

(A quiver is a case that holds the arrows of the warrior.)

God has placed the children in your life as a blessing. See them as such.

With this awareness you can become more mindful of your influence around children. With this awareness, you understand that you are the one shaping them. Whether you have given birth to them or not, you are apart of their “maintenance and care”. So that they, like arrows, may be strong and sturdy. That they may hit their intended target.

Born doesn’t just mean to to give birth, it mean’s “to bring forth”. Any children brought to you in your life are a blessing. The scripture tells us this.

This scripture also tells us that we need children as much as they need us. How does a warrior fight without his arrows? How does an arrow fly without its warriors?

We are to be strong warriors with our bows and arrows (patience, calm, precision, is what makes a good archer) and we are to direct them. We are responsible for the accuracy and sharpness.

God has given us the best weapon to defeat the evils of this earth. To restore peace and love. We have been given the gift of children.

God also reminds us that we will struggle inevitably out there on the courts. In life.

However the more arrows that we have in our quiver the better. Which I interpret as the more children you influence in a positive way the more that they will influence others in positive way.

For every hand you touch, you touch every hand they touch as well.

We have great power to influence children and this awareness helps us to be more observant and patient with them. WE are what shape those arrows, WE are the ones that pull the arrows back and release.

Arrows that are shot with no intention can hurt and destroy. It’s important and vital that we understand who we are, that when the time comes to launch our children out into this world, they too will be warriors.

My Daughter Got Splinters In Her Foot And I Discovered A Spiritual Lesson In The Incident

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You’ve probably heard someone say once or twice before, God is good. And how would you define that phrase?

I feel like I’ve had some type of revelation and I’m excited to share it. God is good.

In the past whenever I would hear that phrase I would repeat to myself, God is good. But then think, what does that even really mean?

How do we interpret that? Well for one, we can look around at nature and be astonished.

Like, are you aware of what an octopus can do! It’s pretty spectacular. That in itself points to an incredible creator.

But God also reveals his work and skills in tribals and in times of distraught.

Let me share a little story that just took place a couple of days ago. A story of my daughter getting some deep splinters and what unraveled into a spiritual lesson.

At our house we have a little wood deck that my husband actually made. Picture a yard of turf, then you can two steps onto this wood deck that bridges to a giant sand pit.

Our daughters have so much fun in our backyard. Tons of laughing and imagination. My husband and myself always say how much we love just watching our children play. It’s truly a blessing.

Well one late afternoon the girls and I had just got back from picking up a half pepperoni and half cheese pizza. The girls raced to the trampoline to play with the puppies that we just recently got (2 border collie pups, too cute. But they chew on everything!) I shouted to come inside to eat and then………

Then, I hear screaming. I look out the window and my 3 year old is sitting on the wood deck, head down, crying hysterically. Echoing through out the neighborhood. My other daughter is shouting, “‘mom! She has a splinter!” I knew it was bad. This wasn’t the first time that this type of situation has happened.

I had just sat down too and taken two bites out of my pizza. I thought of course, this is parent life. I walk over to the deck nonchalantly (I’ve learned it’s best to not react too much when they’re in distress. Makes it way worse) and look at her foot. I see it and think, shit.

There’s 2 splinters that are deep in her foot. These won’t be easy to pull out with just tweezers, she’s going to need “surgery”. I call my husband and tell him what happened. Luckily he was already on his way home from work. He tells me to soak her foot in water. I take her to the bathtub.

That was a struggle as you can imagine with a 3 year old. Although it quickly became a party in the bathroom. Her sisters were there fully supporting her. One is feeding her pizza while the other is making her laugh with silly gestures. Her foot is soaking in the water, she’s got a lollipop in her hand, a “bravery” light up watch/bracelet, and her unicorn baby doll. At this point she’s calmed down a little.

Then dad gets home.

She begins to cry hysterically all over again which I totally understand. It’s like when someone asks, “are you okay?” when you’re totally not and you begin to uncontrollably cry. We’ve all been there right?

My husband looks at her foot and with no hesitation but complete confidence says, “I can get those out.” In my head I’m thinking, ummm are you sure, did ya see her foot, and I even suggest urgent care. I reiterate that they are deep and I don’t know if he can do it. My confidence in him is slim.

He says, we’ll wait till she’s asleep. Or we can leave it and let her body reject it. I wasn’t for the latter, I wanted those wood pieces out of her tiny little foot. Splinters can be painful! We all know this.

She quickly falls asleep, I’m sure to the exhaustion of crying. My husband gets all prepped up for “surgery”. I say that with a sense of humor. Our daughter rests on our bed. I give him his space while checking periodically on the both of them.

In this inconvenient moment I think about how amazing my husband is and I think about what a great dad he is too. This is when God comes to mind and the spiritual message enters.

In this moment my husband revealed to me once again what he’s capable of. I saw him in a different light caring for our daughter, coming to her rescue, and even our other daughters took notice watching their daddy take care of their baby sister. As one of my daughters watches from afar she says, “Daddy’s my hero”.

I believe God works and reveals Himself in similar ways. How would we know how great God was if it wasn’t for the hard times. How could God show us what He’s actually capable of doing if it weren’t for those muddy waters that we get caught in? It’s in these times of fear and pain and discomfort that God steps in and says, “I got you, wait till you see how I’m going to heal you and make this better again.”

Do we trust God? Let’s be honest, not always. Like my 3 year old daughter with splinters in her foot, instead of surrendering her foot and letting us help her she held her foot close to her and kept it restricted. We had to wait till she was asleep before we could even touch it!

It’s these moments, which can be unbearable moments that actually bring us closer to God. He reveals different sides that we never knew. We learn more of Gods capabilities, powers, and healing through these moments.

My daughter getting those splinters sucked. But because of those stubborn/painful splinters I got to witness my husband caring for our daughter. So gently he took those out of her foot without her barley even noticing. My daughters watching from afar developed a new level of trust in their Daddy.

I do believe God works like this. And you know what? Yeah, God IS good. He takes unfortunate events and uses them to bring us closer to Him. God reveals that He can remove “splinters” and more. He can make those pains better. And sometimes like my 3 year old, we don’t surrender to Him. But it doesn’t even matter. He’s going to take care of us anyway.

If you want to recognize how God has been good in your life think for a moment of some difficult times. And think about the good that came from those times.

Read between the lines of your life and you’ll see and you’ll know how present God is.

Would love to hear how God has worked in your life or would love to hear a simple moment turned spiritual.

The splinters
The culprits.
When he pulled the first one out.

Thank you for reading! 🙂