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Faith

Naomi: There’s More to This Story

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You know who Naomi is, you’ve heard of her in the story of Ruth in the Old Testament.

This story takes place in the time of the Judges, just a couple of generations before King David, a time when there was a great drought in the land of Israel.

She followed her husband to a land she did not know, into a culture she could not accept, and a religion she could not follow. She was alone there in her world. The Bible only tells us of her husband and their two sons. Daughters would have given her companionship, but she seemed to have none.

During their ten years in Midian, she gained two daughters-in-law, Orpah and Ruth. She also lost her husband and both sons within those ten years, gaining only those two daughters. Those are a lot of major losses in a short time span.

She was bitter. She was lonely. She was likely afraid, as well.

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Stillness in Rushing Waves of Grace

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Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations; I will be exalted in the earth.

Psalm 46:10

The chants of laughter, resounding loud that you could hear from the children who ran into the rushing waves and excitedly waiting for a tremendous wave to come and ride it like we own the vast of the ocean. Its sunrise and morning breeze from the waves are the best-loved moment I had when I was a child. My friends and I loved to dip every morning or afternoon.

Growing up in a place where rushing waves were fun, not even a scary thing, was one of my childhood’s best experiences. But not in the reality of life when I’ve grown up. Its emblem the adversaries in my life’s journey.

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When the Struggle is Real

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“I don’t need refreshment, I need a resurrection.”

My friend said that to me in January as we were sitting at the local Starbucks. That statement hit me like a ton of bricks, and I have been reflecting on that statement still months later. The truth is that if I am honest, there are times that I have felt like that. Times I wasn’t sure I had anything left to give. Times I felt like God was being silent. Times I wanted to quit, because I was unsure He had anything in front of me. Times of fear, and doubt. Times of the weight of unworthiness.

Several months back, I wrote Confessions of a Perpetual Quitter. Little did I know at the time, that as I began to write that post, I would face an intense battle of wanting to quit. In my defense, I had a 2-month-old, and I was running low on sleep, and high on emotions. But the struggle was real, and I was barely walking the fine line of solid ground, and falling off a cliff. In writing the post, I began to feel like a hypocrite. How could I write a post about following His lead, when I was about to run from what He had in front of me? This is as real as it gets.

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Hope For When You Feel Like Giving Up On Life

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I was ready to give up. My head hurts so bad. I started counting the cost. Not just the cost, but the worth.

I begged the hospital staff to let me go because my family needed me. But then I got home and my head hurt so bad I couldn’t get out of bed. I was useless. Sure, they loved me and were happy to see me, but I wasn’t needed. And it’s a good thing I wasn’t.

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3 Keys to Survival When You’re Running on Empty

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We need a lot of things in this life. That is not a secret. Let’s be honest. We have needs. Personally, I think women have more needs than men. LOL, but that is for another discussion.

However, not every need will be met. And because of that, we don’t always understand why. A lot of people pull on us as women to meet their needs and we get plain ole empty.  We are mothers, daughters, sisters, friends, wives, etc. and we get pulled on by all those people in our lives. Sometimes all at once. Or at least it feels that way.

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Hope For When You Feel Emotionally Alone

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Do you ever feel like you have no one to talk to? Like no one could possibly understand what you are going through or how you are feeling? That’s where I’ve been this week.

There are things going on that I simply can’t discuss on the internet. Not because I don’t want to be candid, trust me I do, but because it really isn’t my information to share. Yet the feelings it leaves me with are very real.

Have you ever been there?

Have you ever wanted more than anything to talk to someone who could understand where you are at, yet not known who that was?

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Servant-Level Faith

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Lately, I’ve felt God prompting me to discuss subjects that I’m not all that interested in addressing. These are topics that aren’t fun or glamorous. They’re not ones that you’re likely to see on a bumper sticker or a beautifully curated Instagram post. He’s been impressing upon me the responsibility I have to devote my life to humbly serving others.

I’m sure you understand my desire to talk about literally anything else.

But, because God keeps going there, I thought it would be great to have a candid conversation about what these words practically mean for us. 

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What Happens In The Light

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Recently I had to help with a really big project. Most of what I helped with had to do with painting, and cutting and stapling a mesh screen on painted frames that would be hung.

Measurements had to be exact, the mesh had to be put on the frames in a specific way, and the mesh also “shed” a lot. Oh and the painting… that required just as much care and detail.

Simultaneously, we are reading about the 10 commandments and the explanation of them as well. There are so many if-then situations connected to the commands. My head was spinning over all of the conditions based on circumstance.

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Life is Hard, But God is Still Good

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“Both our van and our stove broke down this weekend, but God is still good.
My head hurts, but God is still good.
I spent the day in the emergency room, but God is still good.
I can’t breathe, but God is still good.“

As I write this on Sunday, Heather Hart has been in the hospital with covid for eighteen days. It’s been a rough time, full of joyful ups and terrifying downs, especially for Heather, but also for everyone who knows and loves her.

We thought she was getting better; we thought she’d be home in a few days, but Saturday night, the doctors said she has bacterial pneumonia. Breathing continues to be increasingly difficult and painful.

We don’t know what lies ahead, but if there’s one thing I’ve learned from Heather since I found Candidly Christian in 2017 it’s this:

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Look Up

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He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?” Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.” Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”).

John 20:15-16 ESV

I remember one dark morning when I sat on the floor in our basement, surrounded by a pile of tissues again. I held my head in my hands, trying to catch my breath when the most unlikely of songs began playing in my head.

Look Up

It was Lauren Daigle singing “Look up child, eh hey.” I ignored her and blew my nose again to drown her out, but she just wouldn’t be quiet. It was then that I realized it was God speaking to me through music as He often does. So I lifted my head, looked up at the ceiling panels and whispered, “Jesus, help me.”

My favorite part of the Easter story is when Mary is too busy crying at the empty tomb to realize Jesus is standing right in front of her. Mary gets me. But the most incredible part is that a hot mess of a woman like me was the first to see the risen Lord. Jesus didn’t choose royalty or a calm Bible scholar to appear to first. He chose a woman who came running to find Him. 

What I’ve learned from Mary (and Lauren Daigle) is that Jesus is always with us. All we have to do is look up. 

All we have to do is look up.
All we have to do is look up… Click To Tweet

Jesus, thank you for loving me just where I am. Thank you for being there for me at any hour, whether I’m seeking you or ignoring you. Please help me remember to always keep my eyes on You, especially when all I want to do is hang my head. In Your Holy name I pray, Amen.