Soulful Sunday: Speech is Silver But Silence Is Golden

“These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.”
‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭1:7‬ ‭NLT‬‬


Boy, that year of being still sure turned into a long break!! I looked back and the last time I blogged was back in 2016, almost exactly two years to the date. A lot has happened in two years, and to be honest, a lot of it I probably needed to process in the stillness and silence with Jesus. I’m sure the lessons I went through will probably manifest themselves in a few blogs, so I will let all of those come out at the right time.

As I scanned back through my old posts, I’ve seen ways my heart has changed. I’ve also still been praying for that Godly spouse to come into my life, but God hasn’t seen fit for that time to happen. I’ve met some very interesting men and even made some new friends. When I last posted, the Nurse and her husband were newlyweds and now they’re an old married couple with the cutest redhead baby in the world, who I’ll refer to as Precious Niece. And I’ll have stories about that cutie for sure.

I know I’m in a growing season, and I’ll even try to be transparent about some of the changes that season is ushering in. That way if you’re growing too, we can be growing comrades!

The silence has been golden...a way for my faith to grow and now I know it’s more precious than any amount of money or gold in the world.  Hello Blogland...I’m back!!

Soulful Sunday: Who loves you?

Saturday's List: Top Five From 2015

1. God did incredible things and a campus of my church opened in my hometown. I'm so thankful to be a part of that church plant and excited that it allows God one more way to draw people to Him.

2. After trying for many years, I was blessed with a teaching position in my hometown AT THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL I went to as a kid! Dreams do come true!

3. I flew on a plane cross country and by myself. And survived. ☺️🙏

4. I got closer to the end on my Dave Ramsey debt snowball. I'm hoping by the end of 2016, the only debt I will have is student loans.

5. After spending the year struggling with my stomach and doing a special diet, taking different medicines, there was finally an answer and some relief. I'm on a new medicine, a new probiotic, and on a fiber supplement. I can finally eat and not worry about the consequences. (Still no dairy because I actually have an allergy to it.) Praise God!!

See, the new things ahead!

For the past few years, I've joined other followers of Christ in seeking God for a word for the year. I've felt this helped me to go deeper with the Lord while avoiding the pitfalls of not meeting a list of resolutions. (See this link on the science behind why 88% of resolutions fail: https://blog.bufferapp.com/the-science-of-new-years-resolutions-why-88-fail-and-how-to-make-them-work)

In 2014, the word was peace. God called me to seek peace that passes all understanding as 2013 challenged my faith. While 2014 was not smooth sailing, I learned to call on Jesus for peace 24/7 each day. You can't accumulate peace over time; it is like manna and you get a daily supply as soon as you ask. 

Last year, 2015, God kept asking me to believe. I had so much on my heart that I wanted to believe God could change or do. Truth be told, I felt like many of the things would never happen. I kept praying like the father from Mark 9, "I do believe, help me overcome my belief!" God worked in numerous ways, definitely showing me He is an Ephesians 3:20 God. 

As 2015 came to a close, there is one thing I'm still trying to believe God will do. If I'm honest with you, it takes a lot of my effort to believe. My heart has done 3000 bicep curls to believe and it knows one more could cause the muscle to fail. And the strength to believe will be gone forever. For 2016, God gave me a new word: still. Be still and know that He is God. Don't fight on my own anymore, just be still and watch Him fight for me. Ignore the wind and waves, for His peace will make them still. Heart, are you listening? You don't have to do more curls to believe. God will do it for us, just be still.

What is your word or goal with Jesus this new year?

Soulful Sunday: Peace

As I shared with you at the beginning of this year, the word that God laid on my heart for this year is PEACE.  When I wrote that first entry about peace and realizing that God wanted me to seek Him for peace, not that I was going to be in peace, I was frustrated.  Eight months later, and the truth still is there:  Life is not peaceful, BUT God is Peace.  Seek Him and let the Peace of Christ rule in your heart.  I cannot tell you all the situations I have been involved in over the past year, but I can say this: when I choose to look at God, the Peace is there.  The times I haven't looked at God, well...you guessed it.  Those are the times I was frustrated, sad, angry, or fearful.  In fact, let me even confess, I've had to ask God for more self-control to chose His Peace.  My first response hasn't been His peace in a lot of my circumstances.  In case I haven't shared with you, my personality has a strong feeler side to it...What does that mean you ask?  Well, for me, I can easily dwell in how I feel and in the feelings of others around me.  For example, I feel like October was a month of sadness and frustration for myself and others around me.  I was feeling worn out and confused by God.  On my way to work one morning, I was listening to Bethel's Loft Sessions, and the song, "Come To Me" came on.  For about two weeks now, when I am alone in the car, this song is on repeat.  And it has been God's love letter to me.  He is reminding me to come to Him.  Things may look confusing, frustrating, disappointing, sad.  Don't look at the circumstances.  Look at Him.  Receive His Peace.  I leave you with the video of "Come To Me," and don't be surprised if you leave it on repeat too.

Saturday's List

1. My last post was two months ago.

2. Since then, I'm trying to balance social media and my life. To be honest, I was getting too consumed by likes, favorites, and comments. I had to take a break to reprioritize.

3. Raise your hand if you are a teacher and are guilty of letting school over take your life during August, September, and October.

4. Oh wait...that's just me? They say confession is good for the soul. I confess that I struggle with being a workaholic at times. Like the past three months. Forgive me Lord.

5. BTW...when did November get here? I feel like I just had my birthday in May.

6. I'll admit, this week I've felt more like a teenager than an adult. Anyone else have these relapses?

7. Peace and Calming oil from Young Living Oil is so good! Puts me right to sleep...

8. I hate scrubbing the bathtub.

9. I also hate scrubbing the toilet.

10. And washing the bathroom floor is not a top ten on my favorite activity list either.

11. Dear God, if you are going to bless me with a husband one day...maybe you could give him a heart for cleaning the bathroom. And you can give me a heart for the chore he doesn't like. It will be a household chore swap! Thanks and Amen

12. I'm reading Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. I'm enjoying it! It's historical fiction, scifi, and romance all together.

13. Because of the book, I really want to visit Scotland now.

14. Time change is tomorrow. I'm excited to not have to leave for work in the dark.

15. Having rediscovered Tyler candles, I'm in love with their high maintenance    scent.

16. I promise that I'm not high maintenance.

17. No, really I'm not. I've not a stitch of make-up on, homepants on, and a college t-shirt on.

18. Final thing on my list today: I want you to know I love this song:

19. See? It's on repeat.

20. Have a blessed Saturday!!

Thoughtful Thursday: Bring What You Have