Life in Motion

What would a life in motion look like?

What would a life closer to love look like? What would a life closer to peace look like?

To move closer to these things we have to move away from hate, away from fear, away from worry.

I say a life of love would mean encouraging others. It would mean being aware of someone's faults and flaws, but choosing to focus on their good qualities instead. A life of love would mean 1 Corinthians 13 in action. That chapter sounds lovely, but it's only any good if you apply it.

I looked up the definition of motion. We all know it means movement, but I wanted to dig deeper. Some synonyms for motion are: "Agitation, direction, change."

When I said a life of love would look like 1 Corinthians 13 in action, I'm sure it stirred up feelings of agitation because that means that you and I have to change. 

A life in motion means you are going somewhere. You have a direction. You are not just sitting still. You are actively pursuing more for yourself even though it's painful. 

I'll offer this thought: A life without motion has no direction. Maybe you fall into that category. Maybe you've lost the motivation to move. Maybe you think it's no use because you'll be stuck in this place forever. 

STOP THINKING LIKE THAT! Today is a new day. You can change! All you have to do is make a choice to move. Don't let the pain hold you hostage. You can rise above this! So, get out of the slump and move. Baby steps are still progress.

Remember little victories become big ones! Next time someone asks you how life is going, don't talk about the mess. Just say, "I'm a work in progress!"

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The Empty Jar

The jar sat on the counter. Countless people passed by. Not one coin was put in.

Day turned to night and the jar remained empty.

This jar represented hope. It represented innocence. But the reality was, this jar remained empty.

This empty jar held a lesson. It taught me that even if no one else saw the value, to do it anyway. Give others the opportunity to give. It taught me that even if it remained empty, it still held promise. Because my plans were bigger than the jar. They could not and would not be contained.

This empty jar held a lesson about people's hearts. Not everyone is giving. Not everyone cares.

This empty jar held a lesson about opportunities. Hundreds had the opportunity to give, yet they chose not to. They missed their opportunity to make a difference, but that didn't mean I had to miss mine.

This empty jar held a lesson about familarity. People ignore what they don't understand. Not everyone will share your vision. Dream it anyway.

The jar may not have been full of money, but it was full of lessons I won't soon forget. 

Christmas Donation to Greenville Memorial and Ronald McDonald House

On Friday, my mom and got to be Santa's helpers as we took a donation of journals and sketch books to teens at Greenville Memorial. This was our third donation, but the first one at Christmas!

While there, Emily Durham, the Child Life Specialist who handles donations, shared with us that 400,000 children A YEAR come through Greenville Memorial and the speciality clinics! I knew they helped many people, but that's a lot!

This is me with all the donations. Since many families stay at Ronald McDonald House, we knew they could use journals and notepads to help them keep track of things. Often, it's the little things that mean the most when you are in stressful situations.

This is hanging on the wall of the Ronald McDonald House. My mom and I both loved it. "Together... we can change a child's life." THAT is the reason that I'm able to do what I do. These donations would not be successful without the help of generous companies, friends, and family members who want to make a difference! You helped put smiles on so many people's faces.

Are you frustrating the grace of God?

God gave me the phrase "Frustrating the grace of God" earlier this year. That phrase came back to me today, so I decided to look up the meaning of frustrate. Frustrate means prevent (a plan or attempted action) from progressing, succeeding, or being fulfilled.

Everything makes sense. Frustrate means to prevent a plan from progressing, succeeding, or being fulfilled. I was telling my mom I didn't know if she had noticed but I'd gotten my joy back in an area of my life when I STOPPED trying to control everything. I was frustrating the grace of God in my life....AGAIN and didn't even realize it!

I couldn't let God do His job because I was too busy trying to do it. I was getting overwhelmed and frustrated trying to fix things and fill in holes I had no business messing with.

Have you done that? Scratch that. We all have. Have you done it recently? Are you tired, overwhelmed and angry about a situation that is beyond your control? Here's some advice. STOP. Stop trying to fix things. You can only do so much. Let God handle it!

God sees everything. He sees you doing more and more, yet it doesn't seem to make a difference. He wants to help. It's what He does best. He can't help you out of your situation unless you let Him. God's grace is readily available. Don't prevent progress or success by getting in God's way.

All of your efforts will leave you tired and defeated. You've tried it your way and it hasn't worked. Let God's grace cover you and your troubles.

Grace for the Moment

Image Credit: Time © Marek Bernat via freeimages.com

There’s a song that says, “He gives us grace for the moment,” and I firmly believe that is true.

So many times, we want grace to cover us at all times. And it is. It is always there helping us when we least expect it. It is not in one big lump, though.

Grace is found in the little moments. Grace finds us when we are weakest. Grace is there when we are lonely.

God gives us grace for the moment because he knows we are human. He knows our minds are frantically trying to figure out the next step…or what tomorrow holds.

He has been reminding me to let go and just be held in His grace. He wants me to just breathe and embrace His grace for the moment, not tomorrow. 

I encourage you to rest in His grace today. He says in 2 Corinthians 12:9, “My grace is sufficient.” That means it is MORE than enough. Remember that!

He will be there for you moment by moment if you will let Him do what He does best – hold you and everything dear to you in the palm of His hand.

Be the Miracle

Be the miracle when it’s uncomfortable. In fact, miracles happen in uncomfortable places. They don’t happen when everything is rosy. They happen when things are the hardest when you are pushed to your breaking point.

 Being the miracle for someone else will cost you your life. What does being a miracle look like? Laying your life down. Giving when it hurts. Showing up even though nothing seems right. 

What does it take to get a miracle? Faith and trust. 

Same for BEING one! Be means to prevail or endure. It means staying in the fight no matter how many rounds it takes. To be the miracle for someone else means to show the person what’s possible when you choose to not give up. You may get knocked down, be bruised and bloody, but you are still standing. You are still breathing.

You are a miracle because you refused to take no for an answer. You looked at the wall before you and found a way to climb it. Then, you helped others find their way over the wall, too. 

That’s what being a miracle looks like! I’m not going to wait for a miracle. I’m going to realize I AM a miracle in the midst of the mess! I encourage you to do the same.

No Turning Back

You might not understand the title, but bear with me. You know, we all say we want God to change us and make us more like Him. It sounds good. Until it actually happens.

For weeks, I have been seeking God by praying more and reading my Bible almost every day. Putting God before my feelings. And for a while, things were good. And then I hit what we call an impasse. An impasse is a place that you come to that you say, "Okay, this is too much. I can't pray anymore." 

I actually took it a step further and told God, "I don't think I can handle this. It hurts too much."

Well, I got past the hump that I thought was a mountain and kept praying. Lots more praying in tongues.

 I hit the big Kahuna. A situation came up, and I was frustrated. I said things I shouldn't have. I gave voice to those negative thoughts bombarding my mind. That was not good. I felt utterly defeated, and promptly declared, "I don't know how God got the disciples to do it." To which my mom replied, "That's why most of them didn't make it. They quit because it was too hard...too much dying to what they wanted or thought."

Yeah, I was there. But the thing is, no matter how painful it is, I know God is working this out for my good. You can't sincerely pray for change and God not answer. So be ready. I have a lot of stuff that needs fixing in my mind and heart. And when I prayed for God to get to the root of the things holding me back, He has. I have been a blubbering, emotional mess for around three weeks. The situation that came up tonight had nothing to do with the people. It had everything to do with ME. That situation shed light on things that need attention in my life. And to be honest, I don't know what all I need to change. And I don't have to! That's where God in His infinite wisdom and mercy comes in to help me change. I just have to be willing.

Recently, I have even thought and said, "But God! There are many other people who don't pray. They don't seek You. They don't want change. They don't put You first."

The devil tried to convince me that I didn't have to either. He's right. I don't have to seek God. I can stop right here. But the thing is, I can't. I know too much. I know how powerful God is. I know that the Bible isn't just a book of stories. It brings life to all who find it. It is a lamp unto my feet and shines the light on the path. Even if no one else chooses this path, I must continue on.

I know too much to stop praying. I know that prayer changes things. I know the Holy Spirit is my teacher and helper. Because I am assured that if I keep running towards God, I WILL be made more like Him. My thoughts will become His thoughts. My ways will become His ways. I have come too far to quit now. I have made up my mind I won't turn back. I can't go back to the way things were before I knew God was real because there is nothing there.

I can't go back because I know too much.

My prayer I can't promise that I won't make mistakes, but I do promise to keep trying. To keep surrendering.

Because even though I look and see people not following God, I know that You have called me to a higher standard. You expect me to keep surrendering, to keep growing, to keep changing.

So even though everything within me is screaming, I give You access once again to my heart. You are the healer of the broken hearted, and I trust You. I know that You not only took my physical pain on the cross, but You also died so that I could be free in my mind and emotions.

Like Mary Mary’s song says, 

“I've come too far from where

I started from


Nobody told me
The road would be easy


And I don't believe He's brought me this far


To leave me.”