Be the weed growing through the cracks in the cement — beautiful, because it doesn’t know it’s not supposed to grow there. Shane Koyczan I heard this very inspirational quote the other day from a spoken word artist. I think what struck me most with this quote is that God tells us we are not going to belong in this world, but we are beautiful children of His. You see, we need to be firmly founded in God’s word, but we are not going to belong here in this world. We can thrive in God’s foundation, but that does not mean our life will be easy here. It just means…

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Philippians 4:4; English Standard Version; BibleGateway

God is our refuge and strength,    a very present help in trouble.2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,    though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,3 though its waters roar and foam,    though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah 4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,    the holy habitation of the Most High.5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;    God will help her when morning dawns.6 The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;    he utters his voice, the earth melts.7 The Lord of hosts is with us;    the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah 8 Come, behold the works of the Lord,    how he has…

You know what? I miss butterflies. They are graceful and so gorgeous. Have you ever seen one play in the rain before? I used to watch butterflies playing in our sprinklers for so long when I was younger. There was just something peaceful and serene about it. In a world full of so much chaos — be it national or international, at home or on the go — it is so important to press into God, who gives us peace. Yes, this world is crazy sometimes (maybe most of the time?), but our God is greater than the craziest moment of this world. Maybe we cannot move through this life…

We are officially seven weeks through the year. That means there are only forty-five weeks left in the year. That also means we are 13% of the way through the year! Although this may not seem like a long ways, we have certainly progressed far! The question is, how is it going? Is the year a success? How do we define success, though? I define success as follows, and challenge you to do the same. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we…

Did you know God is moving even when you do not know what to say or do? That is right! God is using your life RIGHT here, RIGHT now! There is no age restriction, degree required “footnote” at the bottom of God’s “contract”. The minute you choose to follow God, He starts shaping your life for Him! He is using you this very instant! Never doubt that God’s plan for your life is not happening. It may look like a mess, it may look like broken, incoherent, impossible pieces, but, the truth is, God is shaping you into a beautiful masterpiece, using your scars for His greater plan!

I cannot believe that it is not even one month into the new year, and I already want to start over. It is not because this year is going to be miserable or anything, but because I know this year is going to have changes that I am not ready to have happen. I have not handled these changes that well, and I wish I could start again. I am so thankful, though, that our God gives us a new start each day! I do not have to let my past mistakes, the poor ways I handled previous situations or anything about yesterday tear me down today, coming between my…

Christmas is right around the corner, but with it comes the stress and chaos of the season. We get so caught up in everything being “perfect” that we forget the true reason for the season is celebrating the arrival of the only one that could ever be and ever was truly perfect! There are no quotations needed when talking about the perfection of Christ for he truly is the perfect Lamb of God! It can be really hard to let go of our fake version of perfect, especially for those of us that feel the need to control what is going on around us (even when that’s completely impossible), but…

It’s hard to think about just one thing to focus on each week, isn’t it? So much seems to be happening all at once! How can we just be still and rest, reassured in the blessing of our God’s presence? How can we take a step back from everything going on around us? I am reminded of the importance of taking a step back throughout the week when my stress levels start to rise. Often times, on the days I have the least time, I neglect the one thing that would offer me comfort and peace – spending time with God. I challenge you this week, on the days when…

It is officially Thanksgiving week! We gather together over the next week, enjoying our time with friends and family. We enjoy food and fellowship, but it is also easy to get overwhelmed. We can often feel lonely, especially during the holiday season, like we are the only ones struggling. What a beautiful blessing fellowship truly is, though, for it reminds us that we are not alone in our tribulation. Not only can we cast our cares upon him who always listens (1 Peter 5:7), but we can also enjoy the company of those around us! Be honest this season – share your burdens with those you trust because those around…