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And He said to Me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Has God ever asked you to do something and you answer back with, “What? Not me. Surely He’s not talking to me. Obviously I’m overhearing someone else’s dialogue with God.” Have you ever been there? Have you ever looked around the room to realize you’re the only one there, and He is in fact talking to you?

Yeah, me too. This morning to be exact. Now, I’ve told Him how unequipped and unqualified I am, but He just led me to the verses above. And isn’t that the best thing about being used of God. It’s not about us at all! We’re simply a vessel, that by grace, He chooses to use. None of us are worthy, but by the grace and mercy of our Savior Jesus Christ we can stand before the Father.

And God always uses the least likely. Moses was a murderer with a speech impediment. Jacob wrestled with God. David was the youngest and smallest of all his brothers and still chosen as king. Even after he murdered and committed adultery, he was known as a man after God’s own heart.

1 Corinthians 1:27 says, “But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty.”

We don’t always understand why God calls us or why He asks us to do certain things, but we must obey Him. Obedience is better than sacrifice (Prov. 21:3). We are unequipped and unqualified, but we are not to lean on our own strength. It is only through the power of the Holy Spirit that we are able to do the things He has called us to. We must lean on Him.

Thank you Jesus that You equip me to do all that You’ve called me to. I praise You that it is not in my own strength, and it is only through Your power!

What is God calling you to do today? Trust His power to see you through.

Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You. Psalms 119:11

Everyday I begin with my cup of coffee in hand, sitting in my recliner, reading my Bible. This has become one of my favorite times of the day. Everything else is blocked out, and I can concentrate on the Lord.

However, being on Christmas break and staying up entirely too late, I found myself this morning trying to read with Witten crying, and then with him in my lap. Eventually, he decided he needed his tablet for some morning cartoons to which Thomas obliged because living with a two year old is simply survival most days. So I’ve found myself back in my bedroom to drown out the noise. It’s not always easy with little kids, but I know from experience that my time with Jesus is so important. So below are some tips on having quiet time with a toddler.

1. Just do it – I’ve said it before, and I’m saying it again. Just do it. One way that our children learn is by imitating. What could be better than them imitating you spending time with Jesus? Even if they’re throwing a fit in the kitchen, keep seeking the Lord. We all know toddlers normally quit their screaming when they don’t get their way.

2. Read it with them – This is one of the easiest ways to make my quiet time go easier with Witten. I simply read my Bible or devotional to him. Romans 10:17 says, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” There is no better time to fill their little spirits with the Word of God. Witten loves when I read my Bible to him. He gets still and normally leans back with his head on my shoulder. It is the most precious thing!

3. Have a plan – I keep all of my quiet time “materials” in one place. I have my Bible there, but I mostly use my phone with the Bible app. I read devotions on there everyday and can look up Scripture rather quickly. I also have a Bible study book. I have just started The Quest by Beth Moore. I love her Bible studies, and I highly suggest you checking them out. I also have my prayer journal. It lists prayer requests, specific prayers, as well as Scripture to pray.

Also, have a way to continue Bible study when your little one won’t cooperate. I am so thankful for my husband, who respects my time and will take Witten and keep him entertained.

Even when life isn’t going the way you think it should for your quiet time, I hope you are able to get in time with Jesus. It is so important and vital to our walk with the Lord that we spend one on one time with Him.

Tell me some ways you are able to do quiet time with a toddler.

For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger. Luke 2:11-12

This time of year becomes so busy. You can’t even go to the grocery store without having to wait in ridiculously long lines. You try to find the perfect gifts for everyone on your list. You spend time cooking and baking. Everything is a big hustle.

Then in an ordinary moment, my sweet little Ann Elizabeth puts it all in perspective. We were listening to the radio, and the lady said the best thing about Christmas was giving to others. Ann Elizabeth quickly chimed in that she was wrong, and the greatest thing about Christmas is Jesus.

So often we forget to put Him first. We get caught up with everything else, and forget to slow down and really recognize this as the celebration of the birth of our Savior. We’ve heard the story so many times we could quote it. It becomes mundane. We need to return to that childlike faith.

We need to realize what a humbling sacrifice His birth really was. He came to this earth as a helpless baby born in a dirty animal stable, into a family without a lot of money, and spent His life ministering to others only to die a criminal’s death on the cross. He gave up the splendor of heaven to come to this world to reconcile our relationship with God the Father.

I pray this Christmas that you will slow down and realize what this season is really about. Read the story of His birth again, but this time really let it come to life. I pray that the Holy Spirit breathes new life into you and that you truly recognize what this season is all about.

Merry Christmas from my family to yours!

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23

One thing about having a blog and publicly proclaiming the Gospel is that people look at you. People are watching you. People are waiting for you to mess up. This world is looking to see if what you’re saying is really genuine.

Unfortunately I am human. I mess up. I get angry and say things I shouldn’t. I feel defeated. I get depressed. And when I mess up, I feel so inadequate. I have no right to be telling people how to live because I can’t even do it right.

Then He whispers to me, “I know you can’t. That’s why I sent Jesus.” How humbling! Sometimes we get so caught up in having to be perfect that we forget about the grace of God. Now, that does not mean live however you want. That means there is grace when we do mess up. Praise the Lord!

There is not anything we can do on this earth apart from accepting Jesus as our Lord and Savior that is going to get us to heaven. We will never be good enough.

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6

Jesus is the only One who can save us. He is the only One who can redeem us. We can’t do this without Him. We are sinful, and we will fall short. We will fall down from time to time, but we must get back up. This life is a journey, not our destination. This is not our home. We must remember that.

1 Peter 2:11 says, “Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul.” We have to remember to remove ourselves from temptations. We have to remember that this is not where we are planted.

2 Corinthians 12:9 says, “And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” His grace is sufficient. We are going to fall down and mess up, but this world needs to know that through the grace of Jesus Christ, we can get back up. They need to see that we need Jesus just as badly as they do. We can’t walk this world without Him.

Thank you, Jesus, for your grace and mercy to get through each day. I am but a sinner in need of You, Jesus.

Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams. 1 Samuel 15:22b

If you’ve been following my blog at all, you know several weeks ago I was under conviction to bake a pie for my neighbors. I tried to put it off for awhile, but I finally made the pie and trudged through the wet yard to take it to them. Then, they didn’t even answer!

Now, that’s been a couple of weeks ago, and this afternoon I just began to wonder why. Why in the world would God have me go through the trouble of making this pie, taking it next door, and then lugging it back home, with Thomas in tow, of course 😉? And if you know us at all, you know, we didn’t need that extra pie sitting around. So, I wondered why He would make me do all of that.

Obedience

Sometimes God asks us to do things to simply test our obedience. In Genesis 22, God asked Abraham to do the unthinkable. He told him to sacrifice his only son, Isaac. I mean, only four chapters earlier in Genesis 18, God had promised this son. Now, He’s telling him to sacrifice this son of promise. But you see, God had a bigger plan. He wanted Abraham to obey.

Sometimes our simple act of obedience speaks volumes. God may be asking you to do something small, like in my case, or He may be asking you to do something huge, like in Abraham’s case. Trust me, no matter what He’s asking you to do, it is much better to obey.

Oh I know sometimes it’s so much easier to give a little extra in the offering plate or volunteer our time in the nursery, but if God isn’t asking you to do that, it’s all for naught. Maybe you’re volunteering in the nursery when He wants you to lead the women’s Bible study. You can’t outrun God. Read about Jonah if you don’t agree. He wants your obedience.

Won’t you trust and obey Him today?

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. Psalm 23:5

I woke up this morning just sick about a situation my husband and I are going through. My insides were even shaking as I thought about it. I read my first devotional, and just sat in my chair thinking. I then began to just cry out to God. I cried and even yelled about it. Because I don’t understand. I don’t know why we’re having to walk through this.

And it’s okay to not know, but it’s not okay not to trust Him. He tells us that no matter what we’re walking through or what we’re facing, He will be there for us. We just have to have the faith that He’s already taken care of it.

James 1:6-8 says, ” But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” Wow! No doubting he tells us. I’m just going to be honest and tell you that I’m not fully there yet. I have to fight back those doubts that creep in.

If you’re like me, you have to battle that each and everyday, and the only way to do that is to spend time reading the Bible and praying. You can only win the battle on your knees. Ephesians 6:11-12 says, “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” Oh, your battle may look fleshly, but trust me, the real fight is in the spiritual realm. This earthly trial you are walking through is the result of spiritual warfare, and you better be on your knees to fight it.

I know that if I try to “fix” it with my carnal mind, it is useless. I have to give it all to Jesus. He has already won the war. My simple, finite mind can’t take care of it. I know that when I dig into His Word and spend time praying, I am changed. Even as I write these words to you this morning, He is changing me. You see, everything I write in this blog, is something I am dealing with. God uses this as a tool for me to act on my faith and change me. I hope He is using it to change you too.

If you’re walking through something today, and you don’t know what to do, quit trying to stand up to the problem. Fall on your knees and give it to Jesus. Let Him fight your battle for you.

Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 14:27

I am a worrier by nature. I worry about so many things, and it is one of the biggest things God has been dealing with me in my life. The problem I have ran into is that I don’t know how to live my life without worry.

It feels so foreign to me when the peace of God sweeps over my soul because I’ve lived so long in a state of worry. I sat this morning getting ready to read my Bible, and I had such peace when thinking about a certain situation. But do you know, I sat there and let worry creep back in! How ridiculous!

Embrace My peace.

Why does that seem so hard for me? Because I allow the devil to sneak those worrying thoughts back in, but Jesus gives me His peace. He’s already taken care of it. I just need to embrace His peace.

One of my favorite verses is Philippians 4:6-7, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Did you hear that? Peace that surpasses all understanding! No, we don’t understand it in the midst of trials, but we must embrace because the God of the universe is taking care of us. He’s telling you and me, “I got this. You can let go.” And if you will dear brothers and sisters, His peace will sweep over you today.

I pray you embrace His peace. It’s unlike anything this world can give!

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is it’s own trouble. Matthew 6:34

I missed jury duty Friday. My friend texted me yesterday to tell me they called my name. I was distraught to say the least. I had called on Tuesday, and they said we weren’t needed. They then went onto say to call back on Thursday night, but I thought they said next Tuesday.

I felt sick most of the morning, and called and talked with people at the courthouse until I got it figured out. I still have to call back in the morning to talk with the secretary, and I still just feel horrible about it. I was praying this morning about it, and I could hear God say, “Slow down.” You see, I was so busy making the phone call, I didn’t slow down and take it all in.

This morning all I could hear were the words SLOW DOWN, and I could see an image of the sign above. I know I get so caught up in everything going on around me that I forget to slow down. My life is so busy. With three small children, a full time job, and several side projects, I’m always working on something or doing something. I find myself worrying about the next step before I’ve completed made it off of the first.

Today’s world is fast paced, no doubt, but God tells us to slow down and just concentrate on one day at a time. Now, that doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t plan ahead, and be smart. It just means that we can’t live our lives waiting for the next moment.

A perfect example is one that involves my girls from a few years ago. We were at the local county fair. The girls were in line to ride, and Olivia could only keep asking about the next ride while Ann Elizabeth stood in anticipated excitement. Once they got on the ride, Ann Elizabeth’s face held a grin from ear to ear. It was precious to see her childlike wonder. Olivia, on the other hand, sat being miserable wanting to get to the next ride.

How many times do we find ourselves doing that? We can’t enjoy the moment with our kids because there’s housework to do. We can’t enjoy the moment with our spouses because there are kids to take care of. We get so caught up in the “next”, we don’t enjoy the “now”.

I pray today that I will begin to slow down and enjoy all that God has blessed me with. Help me, Lord, to enjoy the things You have given me and not worry about what is to come. After all, you are Lord of it all!