The Fish Tank

"Just because someone has more followers than you doesn't mean they're better than you. Hitler had millions. Jesus had 12." Funny how God works sometimes...well, all the time. I often forget that He knows my thoughts and ways before they even happen. I woke up this morning to my daily verse, devotion, and the quote above all saying the same thing. I, like you, have struggles. I, like many women, have insecurities. In this day and age where status has meaning and how many followers you have on whatever social media you fancy is important. I struggle. I say I don't but let's be real, subconsciously someone out there has convinced us this stuff matters. I know I am only 35 (even thought I cannot believe it), but I have learned through my growing up that more friends or "followers" doesn't mean a more fulfilled life. Being invited to every event isn't the end-all-be-all. Being included in every play date isn't the most important thing. What...

"Let Me help you get through this day." Jesus Calling Sometimes I look for the big blunders or problems when I hear Him tell me to let Him help me through the day. I am wondering when the life-altering event is going to occur forcing me to my knees in pure abandon because I have no where else to go and don't know what else to do. I forget the little things; those moments when I am exhausted and can't move another muscle but have three hungry boys to feed. Those moments when the laundry is STILL in the washing machine and I have already run it twice because I left it the first time and didn't want it to start to smell. Those moments when I really desire to be slow to anger but my patience was tested all day. There was shaving cream all over my kitchen and the kids but we were laughing and letting chaos be chaos. We went outside in our close and danced in the hose enjoying the moment and Texas heat. And then it happened. In between popsicles and running around the...

"Mary sat at the Lord's feet listening to what He said. But Martha was busy with all the things that had to be done." Luke 10:39-40 I am a busy-body. I have to be on-the-go constantly and cannot comprehend relaxing or taking a nap. There are things to do; people to see. If I don't complete the tasks now they will pile up into an unmanageable pile of overwhelming chaos. My husband, however, knows exactly how to relax. Sometimes I get mad when I see him napping in all his splendor of peace while other times, I envy him. I am always telling the boys to rest their bodies because rest is good for their souls and helps them grow. Yet, I don't follow my own instructions. Too many demands. Too many texts and emails to respond to, pictures to upload, meals to prepare, laundry to fold. Summer began a week ago in our home and I am completely and utterly in heaven having all the boys home with no real agenda. I felt free that first summer day. It got me to thinking about h...

"Teach us to number our days, so that we may gain a heart of wisdom." Psalm 90:12 Let me preface this post by saying that I have ignored the prompting to write this one for far too long. I didn't want to write it because, for so long, I have feared death. I am not afraid of dying or Heaven. I am afraid of leaving my family behind and shattering their everything or losing someone close to me. However, when God wants you to do something He won't let you be until you follow through. So, here I sit; palms a little sweaty. Death is always present. You know it's there and eminent. There is no denying death or escaping it. However, most of us do not think about death on a daily basis. We go about our lives living it up not thinking about the end. Last fall I began a journey where God forced me to face death and I wasn't that happy about the journey to be quite honest. My adventure began with a series at our church that went through the phases of death. Then, at our...

I am flooded with ideas and words that need to be written. I let the chaos of everyday life get in the way even though I am constantly feeling and hearing God tell me to "write it down." I hear Him boldly yet let life take-over. Not anymore. After today, my passion to get out the name of Jesus and all He is doing in my life and how alive, active, and relevant He and His Word are today is beyond measure. So, here I sit with three loud crazy boys playing around me trying to write one of the most important messages I can ever write. I will try my best to relay this precious message that has been on my heart for ages... "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me." John 14:6 Commercialism. Humanness. Man-made rules. Religion. Hypocrisy. Lies. Manipulation. Marketing. Complicated. Judgment. Terrified. Do you ever feel like you are being "sold" on Jesus? Like He is some commodity that needs to be on the market with ...

"He opened the rock, and water gushed out; it flowed like a river in the desert." Psalm 105:41 Have you ever had one of those dreams that impacted you mightily? I have some crazy dreams. I often wonder where my mind goes as I sleep. Some are jolting, others joyful, and some I google in order to find meaning in the craziness. A few nights ago I had a very vivid dream. So real and impacting. I was intrigued how God moved in my dreams. Most of us believe God only came to people in their dreams in Bible times. I believe He can speak clearly to us in our dreams today. Scott and I were in our backyard at the new house. I bent down and pulled out a blade of grass. I held it up to him to show him the giant root that was brown and dry. So dry that I made a comment to Scott stating we needed to make sure we watered the grass when we moved in. I didn't want the grass to die and, by the looks of the exceptionally dry roots, the grass did not have much time. That dry root was so cl...

As the trees come back to life and the grass turns green I think of the classic story, "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" by Eric Carl. I love this story. I remember reading it as a child and now I share it with my children and the preschoolers I teach. As winter fades and spring blossoms I relish in the blessing of new life. I, too, feel as though I am ending one chapter and heading into another blossoming through all that God is teaching me. I, like that very hungry caterpillar, have experienced a journey of famine that led to an overflowing leading to pains and stretching and a time of seclusion so that He may do His great work in me. I have felt like I was in a cocoon. It was tight and squishy and dark and scary. Many times I tried to wiggle my way out too soon leading to difficulties I most likely would not have faced had I trusted completely in Him. But you see, I got claustrophobic and thought if I could only get myself out of this cocoon a little sooner I can breathe and ...