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Month: September 2023

Sometimes We Have To Take Baby Steps

Sometimes We Have To Take Baby Steps

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I listened to a young preacher do her initial sermon once, and I could tell how nervous she was. It’s an awesome task to stand in front of an audience, and pour your heart out, not knowing if they would even listen to what you had to say. 

It made me think about the first time I spoke in public. I was a member of Toastmasters. I was so nervous that I could feel my legs shaking through my pants, and I was sure everyone else could see it too. I had a written speech, but I couldn’t even see the words. It was a mess, but thankfully I made it through without passing out.

Back then I dreamed of speaking all over the world one day. Actually, I still hold onto that dream. I believe through God anything is possible. During those Toastmasters meetings, at times, I would feel so defeated, and my faith would feel so small. But I learned to be patient with myself, and to take baby steps.

Speaking in public didn’t come easy for me, because I was a background kind of girl. But I believe that God doesn’t give us a vision for something without also giving us provision to carry it out. The problem is that the enemy knows who you are too, and he knows what God sees in you because he sees it too. His job though is to keep you from it. Our job is to not let that happen.

Taking baby steps means that progress may be slow, but it’s still progress. I believe that one day if I want it badly enough, I will walk boldly into that thing God is calling me to. I won’t ever give up, because I know God is faithful to His promise. We serve a powerful, and amazing God. 

Keep pressing. Keep going. Keep believing, and trust that with God all things are possible. 

Until next time…

Be blessed

It’s For The Generations To Come

It’s For The Generations To Come

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We had an awesome time at the park this year for our family get together. God blessed us with a great day for a cookout. Although it was hot, it didn’t matter, because we hadn’t been together in a year.

When my father was living, he had Alzheimer’s. So we started having cookouts every year…not so much that he would remember who we were, but so that the younger generation would remember who he was. 

Just seeing generations of family cooking, and eating, and enjoying one another was amazing. Especially since one of my brothers had come home. My brother hadn’t been home for something like 30 years. He had been gone for so long that it was like having a celebrity in our midst…lol.

To say I am truly grateful to God is an understatement.

My parents were always big on family traditions. We got together at our family home for every holiday, birthday, and family reunion. My mother, especially, wanted all of us to remain close. And I feel blessed to be a part of a family that cares enough to want to keep at least some of our family traditions alive.

When both my parents passed away, my siblings, and I made a promise to do what we could to honor our parents wishes, and for the most part we have done that. Do we always get along? No. Do we always agree? No. Do we have differences and still find a way to love one another. Yes. 

And that right there is the most important thing…

God is at the heart of my family…right in that place where my parents used to be. He blesses us individually and collectively. He keeps our family grounded and focused on the whole…not on just a part. That is what has kept us together all of these years, and with the Lord’s help…will keep us together for the generations to come.

Until next time…

Be blessed!

It’s Not Always Comfortable

It’s Not Always Comfortable

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In this part of the world we are beginning one of the hottest weeks of the year. The weather report is saying that this week we are going to hit the upper 90s, and maybe even over 100 degrees.

Just thinking about that is making me hot. 

I am not a summer person. I would rather it be spring all the time. I don’t like being uncomfortable. Actually, I don’t know anyone who does. Most of us would love for it to be smooth sailing all the time, but if that were the case we would never grow, and we would never need God.

I was pondering these thoughts when I realized that we all fall short at times. None of us are perfect. The Bible says that God knew us before we were born. He already knew who we would be. And in spite of that, He still had a plan and purpose for our lives. I guess sometimes we just need a little reminder. 

God is always there to help us through those times when we want to give up. When we don’t know where to turn. When life is…just life. 

Through those times we learn how to persevere; how to endure; how to fall, and get back up. The thing is…if we never have hard times, we wouldn’t know how good the good times really are.

We have to remember that we belong to God, and no matter what situation we find ourselves in, when others see us…they should really see the God in us. 

That means that if God needs to use us to show His love to our neighbor…even the ones we don’t particularly care for, then we need to step up to the plate. God is glorified every time we turn the other cheek, give someone a little grace, or bless someone unexpectedly. 

God didn’t call us to be comfortable. He called us to be His disciples, and to represent Him in every area of our lives…good, and bad.

It’s not about our comfort..but it’s all about giving Him the glory.

Until next time…

Be blessed