Cancer is not a thing until your momma has it.

So, it is true. Our sweet Momma has cancer…multiple myeloma…blood cancer…”chronic” cancer. And it’s a thing. A REAL THING. And there’s junk like chemo and a port and treatments and off weeks and side effects and oncologists and all those things you hear other people say.  It’s a REAL THING.  It’s happening. To her. My momma. To US.

I do not mean to be insensitive to other people, people I love and have prayed for. But, until you are really walking the road, it doesn’t really seem like cancer is a THING. It’s one of those words that you hate to hear, no matter whose name it comes after. You never want it to be said about people you love the least, much less about people you love the most.

And, I guess it’s true about anything. You don’t really know it until you are IN it. Until you are elbow deep. Until the words that are accompanying it are now yours. Are now coming after your momma’s name. And I think even when you hear those words all coming together in a long string of directives from the mouth of someone called an oncologist, it still doesn’t seem like a thing.

We went to the test results appointment with momma…me, my brother, daddy. We went as one unit, as we do, for support. And to make sure if they said THE WORD, we would all be able to hear THE PLAN. And, I’ve always heard, “the more ears the better.” Maybe that’s true, but probably not. In our case, we all heard 4 different things. When we sat down to hash it out, none of us heard the same story. There were things that 2 of us heard and 2 others didn’t. There were times when I blanked out, but I was totally listening the whole time. You just sort of stare and listen and try to get it all and write it down. But, that is impossible. Because he just said your momma has that thing. And, you are just like, uuuhhhh. And that’s about all that runs through your brain.

And when the meeting is over and your are in the hallway trying to figure out how to get to the bathroom and the pharmacy, and the nurse gives you directions…and your brother goes one way while you go the other. Then, you obviously are still like, uuuhhhh.

But when you finally get to the correct hall and you see your Momma walking down the hall, leaning in to your Daddy for support. You think, We can do this. Just lean in. Together. We will all do this.

Thank you for continuing to pray for Momma. And for all of the calls, texts, food, cards, love. It makes getting through this diagnosis and the resulting care so much easier. We’ve never walked this road before, but knowing people are willing to meet us at every turn is comforting, to say the least.

And, we know there is a reason and a purpose for all of this. Because while we are leaning on each other, we are banking on God’s promises.  He is faithful, through it all.

 

 

Quiet Time Part Three

I hope I have convinced y’all to carve out a little more quiet time in your day with Parts One and Two! But, if you find yourself a little unsure of what to do to occupy your newfound time with Jesus, below are a few ideas!  And, I’ll give you a little insight to what my morning quiet time looks like at the end! 🙂

Quiet Time Ideas:

1. Prayer — this is always #1 to me. Prayer changes things. Period. And what better way to start your quiet time than talking with Jesus?! Staying on track can he hard, so you can get a calendar with events to pray for, keep a prayer journal, use a spreadsheet (nerdy people like me do this), write it on a napkin…whatever you need to keep yourself on track!  
2. Jesus Calling — the app and/or the book. And when you read it, try to see how many of them are written just for you. Because it will be every day. I have been reading Jesus Calling daily for years and I never feel like I read the same thing twice. It only takes about 3 minutes and can be read anywhere! It’s my fave!
3. First 5 app — if any of you follow Lysa Terkeurst, you may already know about this one. It’s a relatively new (free!) app and is soooo good. They are currently going through the old testament and it’s just good y’all. Try it! This one also falls in the short read that can be done anywhere category.
4. Pick a book of the Bible and read it — sounds pretty elementary, really, but I do this a lot. I’ve been known to go in order starting with Matthew, or just find the shortest book and start with that one. 😉 When I do this, I read a chapter (or part of it depending on length) in one version, then read it again in another version (NIV is my primary and The Message is my secondary). Looking up the history of the Book is helpful in understanding who wrote it, when, to whom, etc.  I’ll also highlight, underline, color with a crayon, write notes in the margin, whenever I am getting something I need! And, I’ll journal during this time with date, passage that stood out, and why. Super simple! If you are looking for a place to start, Romans is FAB! It is basically How to Be A Christian. But, I also love Galatians, and 1&2 Peter! Oh wait…I LoVe 1,2,3 John! That one is my favorite too! I have lotsa favorites 🙂
5. Pick a word and study it — this is another one I do a lot. If we’ve been doing a series at church or there is something that I’m not 100% sure I understand, I will go to the index, write down all the references to it in the Bible, go look it up, and let God show me what He means by grace, righteousness, forgiveness, restoration, peace, redemption (just trying to give you a few ideas). A lot of times, we tend to go to books people have written when we don’t understand something, but you will find all you need in the Bible. It has happened to me countless times. And saved me a lot of money in books! I will google the definition of the word, but other than that…it’s all Bible. And, I always take notes on it, in case I need a quick reference. 🙂
6. Write the Word — This is something I just started within the last 6-8 months or so…and I highly recommend it!! There are “Write the Word” Journals (I have one and I LOVE) available that are sooo pretty. You may have also seen something on facebook or IG from Sweet Blessings  — a Scripture Writing Plan for each month (click the link and look on the right side of her blog). Each day there is a new set of verses to write. For February, I noticed that she even has a shorter version for kids! Writing things down aids your memory and lets things really sink in!
7. Journaling — Keeping a Gratitude Journal, Prayer Journal, Scripture Journal, whatever you choose, is such a great thing because you can go back and see what God has done for you! Your blessings, through answered prayers (and even some unanswered prayers) is a great reminder on hard days!
8. Verse of the Day — choosing a Verse to reflect on and memorize throughout the day or week is a great way to turn your thoughts to Jesus all throughout the day!
9. Seamless — if you need a Bible Study to stay on track, I highly recommend Seamless by Angie Smith. We completed it in Bible Study last year and I did a whole lot of OOOOOHHHHH!!!-ing. The whole time. It’s a great foundation of how the Bible ties together between the Old and New Testaments. I wish I had it 20 years ago!

Lastly, I always recommend having an accountability partner or 2 or 7! Nothing keeps us on track better than friends navigating life together!

Right now, my quiet time is in the mornings — 5AM! Since the beginning of the year, I’ve tried to get in an early morning routine of how I think my mornings will go once I start work (Feb. 8th! eeekkk!!). So, I started out at 5:15 and am now able to back it up at 5AM! How do I do this? COFFEE. I get up, go straight to the kitchen, and get my coffee. I do not talk to people. I can’t. Too early. Then, I go upstairs to my little spot that has all my things ready to go! I say a little “Hello Jesus!” prayer, read Jesus Calling and First 5, go over my memory verse for the week, pray the specific requests my Prayer Groups have, then start my Scripture writing. I like to mix this part up some, so sometimes I may be working on a specific Book or word, or I’ll just write scripture for the day. It’s usually one of the three. But, I am always writing something…for memory’s sake! I use my time in the shower to pray and then plan to do some praying in the car! (I’m working on some printables for this! :))

No matter how you choose to spend your Quiet Time, Where, or even When, you will be blessed by making it a priority for sure! That is one thing I will put a money-back guarantee on!

Be blessed friends!

Link to Part One

Link to Part Two

 

Quiet Time Tips: Part Two

Picture taken after I had my coffee! 😍

Part One can be found HeRe! Part Three HeRe!

Part Two: The Where, How, and Why

So, this morning, during my quiet time, I realized that I didn’t give a really good argument as to WHY making time for a Quiet Time with Jesus is sooooooo important.  I knew Part Two would include more ideas on a where and a how for sure! But, stay with me for the why’s too, if you will. 🙂

I also tend to write everything assuming everyone chooses to get up earlier…and that is mainly because that’s what I do. And the reason I get up early is that I know I will not make time later in the day. It is kindly hard to start this habit because we think it’s kindly hard. But, I will tell you that it only took me one week of setting my alarm at 5:15 am to automatically wake up before the alarm. And I am a “hit the snooze button 10 times” kinda gal! And, here I am 2 weeks later and I’m up at 5. I am not kidding, friends. It may be 164 angels or Jesus himself, but somebody wakes me up somehow.

And the good news about morning quiet times also is that you do not have to SPEAK to anyone. You can pray out loud, if you would like, but if you are like me, you aren’t one to have a audible conversation for the first 45 minutes of your morning. So, the word “quiet” is a plus!

But, please don’t write all of this off if you cannot possibly get up any earlier. You will still be blessed by your Quiet Time no matter when you choose to do it!

Now, WHY should I make Quiet Time a priority?

1. Your days will run more smoothly! You will be ready to get the day rolling when you have given time to Jesus before you really get started good! And, when the devil throws up those roadblocks called “the dog just puked” or “child A won’t get out of bed” or “somebody’s out of clean underwear” — you can greet it with a much better outlook!
2. You will find comfort there. Whether you choose to read the Bible, spend it praying, write the word, whatever you are doing during your quiet time, you will be comforted. (Part 3 is full of ideas on what to do during your time!)
3. You will find answers you are looking for or peace in the waiting. Last year, when I was going through this season transition, there was not a day that passed without a WORD from the Lord. No, he never sent me an email with a step by step plan like I asked him to, but every single time I opened my Bible or one of the apps I use, it was something I needed to hear. It was reassurance that He was working for me even when I couldn’t see. It was showing me there was a purpose and reason for everything I was feeling and experiencing. It was confidence in learning his will for me and my family. Sometimes, it was multiple times in one day. But, if I had not taken the time to look for it–I would have missed all the encouragement I so desperately needed!

 

Now on to the Where’s and How’s of Quiet Time —

1. Make a special place for your time. Do you have a favorite chair or place on the couch? Go there! Find a little spot, a little corner in your house and make it your Quiet Spot! Put a few things there that make you happy and WANT to go there every time. I have a little chair in our sewing/play/office room that I haven’t used in years. I added a pillow for my back and a blanket because I love a blanket. I also have a table beside it with a lamp, my PEACE pallet, a candle, and a coaster for my coffee!
2. When you find your spot, make sure you put everything you need for your studying. I have a basket that includes my Bible, pens, pencils, markers, prayer journals, note cards, washi tape, a notebook, a clock, more markers and crayons, a calendar, index cards, sticky notes, Bible Study book. Can you tell I love office supplies? 🙂 The point is, you should not have to get up. And, you can hide it all from your kids, if you have little hands that love to “borrow” your blue marker for a second!
3. Reward yourself for being there! If it seems hard for you set this as a priority, choose something that will seem like a reward when you are in the middle of it! Have your morning cup of coffee or tea, if you need something to wake you up! Have a favorite piece of chocolate when you have finished praying, but not before (self-control, folks). Bring back some of the tricks you used when you had to study for finals. Whatever it takes to get you there! Once you get in a habit, you will see that the Spiritual reward is far greater, but let’s be honest, we all need something to get us going.

I hope you find some of these tips help you get the ball rolling on your own quest for a Daily Quiet Time! Start thinking about the when’s from yesterday and the why’s/where’s/how’s from today! Set a reminder on your phone for whatever time of day you choose and get started!! If you aren’t sure WHAT to do during your new found time, stay tuned for that! I have TONS of ideas!

May the Lord bless you as you spend more purposeful time with Him!

 

 

 

Quiet Time Tips: Part One

This is the first of a three part series on one of the things that is near and dear to my heart, making time daily for Jesus.

Part One: The When

Y’all. One of the things I hear the most from friends is “I need to be in The Word. NEEEEEEDDD. But, I can’t seem to fit it in my day! I have good intentions, but it just never works out!”

Who can relate? I know I can! Over the years, my daily schedule has changed a million times, with full-time work, part-time work, having babies, kids in pre-school, big school, the ever-evolving life of owning a small business…but my need for Jesus has not. If anything, it has increased! And just when I get in a groove with getting in some consistent quiet time, life throws another curveball! When I crash at the end of the day, I realize, I did not even open my Bible today!

Months ago, I saw this quote (and I didn’t write down where I saw it), but I jotted it on a sticky.

THIS WORLD WILL NOT FEED YOUR SOUL.

Is that not some truth, right there?! It reminded me of Romans 12:2 (The Message) Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well formed maturity in you.

It just made me think, gosh, I need to remember this when I’m putting other things over my time with Jesus! Because a good dose of Soul Food is what I need to keep me going! You? I know how awesome I feel when I’ve taken the time to study the Word, but I don’t always make it Priority #1, as it should be. So, as I started 2016, I decided I was going to do my best to get back in the habit of bringing daily Quiet Time back to my routine.

Here are some tips I have used to get back in the groove! I hope they are helpful to you! I would love to hear your ideas too!

When do I fit a Quiet Time into my crazy daily life???

1. Set your alarm 15 minutes early— I know, I know!” I am waaayy too tired.” “I already get up crazy early.” “I HAVE to have my sleep.” “I am NOT getting up a minute earlier than I have to!” “D. All of the above!”  I totally get it! Completely. But, hear me out. THIS is life-changing. I can’t even describe how starting your day with Jesus completely and totally changes your whole day. Every time I take just a little bit to pray, read a chapter, whatever, I am ready to start my day! If I get up and jump immediately into making breakfast, getting ready, waking grumpy kids, I am not always in the best mood.  And, it’s just 15 minutes! But I will go ahead and warn you, you will want more and move it back 30 minutes! And you will be a LOT more refreshed than if you’d slept that extra 30 minutes!
2. Can’t seem to get up earlier? Have your time before bed! Cut your shows off early, DVR what you can’t miss, and excuse yourself from your people. Sneak away and hide in a closet, if you have to! 🙂 But, don’t go to the bathroom…they ALWAYS look there first!
3. Get a lunch break? Use part or all of that time to study! (It might be a great time to start a Bible Study with co-workers!)
4. While you are getting ready in the mornings — Hang a prayer list or weekly verse on your shower door or your mirror to keep yourself on track!
5. In the car, on the way to work — you can also tape a prayer list in your car! Or SING! If your kids are in the car with you, part or ALL the way to your destination, use that time to pray for everyone’s day! (It might keep some from fussin for a couple of minutes!)
6. While you work out — Taking your workout time to pray or listen to a podcast can be considered double-duty!

Hopefully one, or some, or all of the above gives you a few ideas of ways to fit in some time with Jesus. The point is, quiet time with Jesus is one of those things we have to MAKE time for. Even if it’s just for 15 minutes. Jesus is listening 24/7! And He LOVES hearing from us when we are groggy from waking up or out of breath from running! Your attitude will receive an instant adjustment, I can just about guarantee!

Coming up:

Part TWO: The Where and How

Part THREE: The What

 

 

 

PEACE in 2016

  (pallet art by the amazing Ginny at Pallets Anyone?)

John 14:27 — PEACE I leave with you; my PEACE I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

It’s the last day of 2015! Whew, what a year! I get so excited when I start thinking about a new year, all of the exciting things I know about and even those surprises that will be coming! A new year is so fun and almost scary because who.even.knows. what’s gonna happen. (except for God, obviously)

Lord willing, I will be heading back to work in 2016 — full-time, outside the home kind of work — and let me say, there are 175,000 different emotions that tag along with this new season!  And, because I have been blessed to have been able to work from home in some capacity over the last nine and a half years, starting something new affects everyone in this house. Even the dog!

Luckily, through TONS of prayer, studying, pleading with God, prayer, more studying, a bout of depression (if I’m honest), more praying and pleading, I am happy to say, I really am excited about the possibilities of new things! But, that’s not how 2015 started. And, thankfully, the Lord is faithful and patient with us. And he gave me a year of ups and downs and some sideways to get my act together. And to realize that HE is already where I’m going.

As I started thinking about my goals for 2016, I decided that I needed a WORD for the year. (One of my BFFs does this every year, so I thought, why not?) Have y’all done this? Basically, pick a word & a scripture and use it as your theme for the year. Can I share with y’all how I picked my word and how GOD is always 10 steps ahead?

Ok, so I knew with all the changes coming up, that I would need PEACE, y’all. A healthy dose. But, I kind of thought, that’s a weird one, so I’m gonna try to come up with something else. So, I said, Lord, I like that one, but I feel like there’s something more fitting. I’m gonna keep praying and let you show me something else.

Then, I went to church the following Sunday and what was the title of the sermon? PEACE

I’m being serious. And, then, I read my Jesus Calling and just about every other thing I ran across that week, and would you like to guess what they were all about? PEACE.

So, there you have it. My word for 2016 is PEACE!

Not only do I want to have PEACE, but I want to be a peacemaker! I’ve also decided that our family will focus on peace this year! I’ll share more on that later.

It makes me laugh how God works. And how I am always like, I know that’s not what you’re saying, and he’s always like, here’s some more proof for you since you do not believe me. I can almost bet he second guesses that stubborn trait he gave me.

I chose the verse above because it reminds me that I need HIS peace and I will only get it through him. But, it’s also a good reminder that fear will come. But, His PEACE will get us through!

If you’ve never thought about choosing a word theme for the year, I urge you to do so! Here’s how:

1. Pray about it!
2. Read the Bible.
3. When you choose it, go to the index in your Bible and read or write all of the scriptures that include that word.
4. Choose a theme verse, if you would like, and meditate on that verse.
5. Continue to study about the word, pray about it, put it in to practice all year long.
6. Hang up reminders in your car, on your mirror, at your desk, above your sink, on your fridge. (The pallet above is from my super talented bestie Ginny at Pallets Anyone? — she’ll even paint you a reminder!)
7. Find a friend or 2 that will pray your theme for you during the whole year!

I hope all of you have a PEACEFUL 2016! And, I’d love to hear your word for the year!

1 Thessalonians 3:16 “Now, may the Lord of PEACE himself give you PEACE at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.”

 

 

 

His Seasons

Fall is by far my favorite time of year.  Growing up on a farm, it means it’s Harvest Time. And, when I was little, ok, up until about 8 years ago (when daddy stopped planting cotton), it meant it was time to jump in the cotton wagons. One of my most favorite memories of all time! The smell of the cotton being picked is honestly unlike any cotton scented candle on the market. In fact, it’s probably one you wouldn’t want to have burning in your house. But, I can still smell it in the air and there is just nothing like it.

Another thing about fall that I love are all of the obvious signs that CHANGE IS COMING! Leaves start to change color and fall off the trees, It gets darker earlier, the air is a little more crisp…it is, most of the time, a gentle change. We know it’s coming, by the months on the calendar. Sometimes, we are ready for it and sometimes we are not. But, we know it is about to happen.

There are many times in our lives that our seasons change. Sometimes, we are given a heads up, sometimes they are abrupt, but they are NEVER without purpose. Just like all of the seasons have a purpose in nature, so all of the seasons of our lives have one too.

I am currently going through a seasonal change in my life. It has been sllloooowww, definitely slow, but I know that is the way I needed it to be. And, I know God knew that too.  I’ve owned my own business for the last 7 years. A dream I have had since I was about 8 years old. I’ve had the honor and privilege of being home with my children for 9 years. But, now, God is saying, “It’s time.” And, I know that it is.

Time for something different. Time to move on. Time to realize that a dream has been fulfilled. Time to TRUST his plan over mine. Time to let Him show me what’s next.

He has always been faithful. Walking every single step ahead of me. Planning it all out better that I could have ever imagined. Holding my hand in times that I was throwing a fit and telling him NO! (there were a couple of months of that) Showing me over and over and over exactly what I needed to see, needed to read, needed to hear. Showing me that TRUST IN HIM is all I need to make it through every single day.

I have about a million different things saved on my phone that God has shown me this year, as I’ve been in the middle (and still am) of this season of change. I will be sharing those, little by little, because I hope they are a blessin to someone else. And, I want my kids to know how this change has come about.

Because their little lives will be changing too. And I want them to feel God’s hand in all of this. How he has us all in his hand.

All seasons are His seasons. All changes are His changes. He leads us every step of the way. Thank you, Lord. Thank you.

Praying for our children

Anybody else really needing another month of summer with the kids? Or are you ready to push them out the door because all.of.the.arguing?

It really depends on what mood everybody wakes up in, right? 😂😂😂

Here’s something I’m praying over my kids as they start this new journey! It’s a great one to keep in your back pocket for all seasons of life, really! 

Join me in praying for our kids. With God’s grace, they can be world changers! 
1 Thessalonians 1:11-12

(I) constantly pray for you, (child’s name), that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith. (I) pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

  

Times they are a-changin’

Y’all. Things change. It doesn’t matter how bad we don’t want them to, they do. Time changes, People change, Kids grow up (crazy fast), People get sick, People get better, Jobs change, Life changes, and sometimes people do actually change the toilet paper roll. I saw it on the teevee.

Change can be super scary, or super fun, or both, or change can be (fill in the blank with your favorite emotion.) And, gosh, sometimes you don’t really know what to do with it.

I have currently found myself in a little plot twist of my own and in order to make myself feel like I am “doing” something to be “in control” of the situation, I’ve come up with this…

What To Do When You Don’t Know What To Do But You Need To Feel Like You Are Doing Something  (WTDWYDKWTDBYNTFLYADS for short)

{This is also good for when you have a “friend” going through something “hard” and you want to “be a blessin” but you can’t really “do” anything other than take her a casserole in your leopard pajama pants} I’ll let you figure out the short version of that.

1. Pray — We know this, but it’s not always the absolute first thing we do. So, pray for the situation, for help with coping, for your attitude, whatever the struggle is…pray for it and about it. And do it a lot. Like all day.

2. Go to the WORD and pick out a verse for your new season — There’s one in there for it. You may have to read a little, but you’ll pick something up by doing that too. (I have chosen Romans 15:13 for mine : “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”)

3. OWN that verse —

• memorize it
• write it on cards & hang it on your bathroom mirror, on your dash, at your desk, above the kitchen sink, anywhere you are for a lengthy period of time. And don’t just pick one place, put it in all of them

 

• make “I” statements from your verse. (I am filled with joy, I have peace, I trust God, etc)
• write it on your hand where you are reminded constantly. Write the whole verse or pick one of your “I” statements!

 

4. Repeat all of the above over and over and over. We tend to become anxious, worry, feel nervous, uncertain at the drop of a hat. But staying in constant contact with God by praying and filling yourself with His Word is the only way to be confident in the change.

He is hearing you. He loves you. He is working for you and will reveal it all when HE is ready for you to see. What we do while in that change of season is up to us. And, everybody is happier when we are letting God lead our change.

Peace and joy and trust trump worry and doubt and anxiety any day of the week!

WANTED: Balance

Y’all.. .I get so cracked up at us women. We put so much pressure on ourselves to be awesome. At all the things. All the time. We fill our plates so full that we should be carrying around platters, then get mad at ourselves when we can’t get it all done. And have perfect kids at the same time. And look at our husband with constant googlie eyes.

We get so caught up in the “I’ve got to be superwoman” that we forget that we are just not. We don’t allow ourselves to say “No!” to anyone. And if we do, we feel guilty about it.

So we are constantly struggling with this word–BALANCE.

We are walking a tight rope in high heels, carrying 150 lb. platters of to-do lists and guilt, all while expecting ourselves not to fall.

And, so we go to our friends, mentors, whoever we see on their respective tight rope and we say “You look like you’ve got it all together…how do you balance?”

Isn’t that the million dollar question?

Someone was so desperate once that they even asked me what my secret was…and I just laughed and laughed. Because I’m on that tight rope too. And, I don’t have a clue. I’m tired and my insanely long list and beating myself up…it ain’t workin’ out so well.

So, I’m trying something new — Will y’all join? I want y’all to be awesome, not overloaded. I want y’all to feel good about yourselves everyday. I want you to know you are a blessing!

And, it’ll be free. And it’ll be in bullets. And, you won’t have to read a whole book. Just a quick blog post. Ready?

• As soon as you wake up, surrender your WHOLE day to God. Every second of it. He’s in control of it anyway, not you. Say something like this, “Lord, help me to get done what you want done today. Give me peace when I don’t check everything off of my list. Help me to give myself grace at the end of the day. This is your day.”
• Repeat this every time you feel anxious, guilty, worried, upset that things aren’t working out like you thought. Every time you feel like you are about to fall.
• And, for serious — Let God have that platter.
• Do not white knuckle it.
• He can see you.

Y’all — you are gonna get done what HE wants done every day anyway. You might as well own up to it. And be good with it. Your tight rope will start to become a sidewalk and your high heels will be your favorite pair of sneakers. And, you’ll be be-bopping along in no time. Free!

And, if you have to move something to the next day, move it and say “I reckon the good Lord didn’t mean for this to happen today.” Let it go and go to bed.

Will y’all do this with me? Let’s finally find balance…in Jesus.

Just go ahead and be you

 

 Y’all…Clowns. They freak me out. I do not like Halloween because people come to my door with masks on. And I’m supposed to give them candy. I just find it disturbing.

I need to see people’s faces. I need to know who you are. I may never remember your name, but I will remember your face. And, I’ll probably make an obvious statement like “You look like somebody.”

Social Media allows us to “know” people we don’t actually KNOW. You know? 😉 Depending on who you follow, you could “know” a celebrity or a public speaker or even a neighbor that you’ve never even met. And, because you see their posts you feel like you really know them. When in fact, you only know what they want you to see.

Because people only show you what they want you to see on social media. Y’all know that, right? I mean, I know y’all know.

But, if we KNOW…why do we have such a hard time comparing? Why do we fall in this trap of looking into other people’s lives and thinking ours is not enough? Why do we wish we had what someone else has? Especially when we know it’s not always real.

When we see pics of celebrities — we KNOW they are airbrushed. We KNOW they spend thousands of dollars that we don’t have on trainers and chefs. When we see pictures of someone’s “clean eating” dinner, we feel bad about those Chicfila nuggets we ate off our kid’s plate.  We see a craft on pinterest, we feel bad that we aren’t having “daily craft hour” with our own children. We shame ourselves at every turn.

It’s got to stop, y’all. Seriously. If not for our own selves…for our kids! They have no idea what it’s like to not see every second of someone’s day played out on social media. And, if WE are having a hard time comparing…think of what it’s like for them!

Here are some TRUTHS that I imagine Jesus would post on his social media account. These are the ones He wants us to be reading…

1. He created us and wrote our story before we even took a breath.               Psalms 139:13 & 16 — “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb…All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”
2. He made a plan for us to go through life with nothing missing, nothing broken, but with HOPE for a future with him!                                                    Jeremiah 29:11 — “For I know the plans I have for (insert your name here), declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
3. When he made us, he prepared us THEN for the good works he wanted us to do, for HIS kingdom.                                                                                         Ephesians 2:10 “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
4. He gave us each something different, DIFFERENT being the key word here.                                                                                                                        Romans 12:6 “We have different gifts according to the grace given us.”

What does this all mean?

• God does not have a copy/paste button. He did not make anyone the same. While we may have similar traits, everyone is different. We all have a different story that HE wrote.
• We were ALL given a gift. Specifically a “different” gift. Yours could be singing, sewing, smiling, talking, fixing hair, sending cards, building bird houses. Whatever it is — HE gave it to you. {If you don’t know what your gift is…ask him to show you!!}
• Those gifts he gave…he gave you ENOUGH to do them! Enough courage, enough strength, enough stamina, enough guts. God doesn’t half-way do something. He goes above and beyond. Remember that.
• However you are to use those gifts is going to be different that someone else that may have a similar gift. Let’s say you build and sell pretty bird houses. And, your neighbor builds and sells pretty birdhouses. Don’t compare your bird house business to theirs. Because even though it looks similar. It’s different. God’s plan is to prosper us all. Not just you. Not just your neighbor. There’s enough to go around. Don’t try to copy them — because that’s like copying their story. You have your own. BE YOU.

God wrote a different story for each of us. Gave us a different gift. Made different paths for us to walk.

Write these verses on your heart, on an index card, on your hand…whatever it takes for them to pop in your head every time you start comparing and shaming yourself.

YOU ARE DIFFERENT!

God made you to be you…no one else can be you!

Own it! Love YOU! Be YOU!

Be the you God made you to be!