Is This It?

Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. Colossians 3:2

Ever wonder, “Is this it?”

You wait your whole life to grow up. To finally be on your own.

Time passes and life doesn’t turn out how you dreamed.

Haven’t met “the one” yet.

Yes, you love your job, but even that begins to get old. Redundant.

After all, it’s almost every day.

You enjoy the freedom to buy what you want within the confines of your budget.

But after a while, even that novelty begins to wear thin.

You search for a new hobby, landing on something great.

Lasts a bit, you meet some new friends, but again, after time, it gets old, too.

So you ask yourself again, “Is this it?”

Fast forward and you’re approaching your fifteenth wedding anniversary.

Yes, it’s been wonderful. The love of your life lives with you!

And the children are simply perfection. Except when they act soley within their flesh, which happens too many times in your opinion.

The monotony of this stage becomes routine and you ask yourself, “Is this it?”

Each stage of life brings this question. We think of the next part romantically, as if boredom or loneliness will not be our friend.

Yes. That’s the answer to your question. Yes, this is all this life has to offer you.

But the biggest piece of your life, making the most difference, is Jesus.

When Jesus isn’t the center of your world, life simply crawls by in dull excitement at best.

But Jesus fills the void our bodies were created with. A void that can only filled by God Himself.

Ask God to fill you. Ask God to walk alongside you each and every day.

As He dwells within you, humbly submit to His ways as He guides your every step.

Each day can become pregnant with fabulous possibilities as you focus not on yourself, but on Him and Him alone.

Instead of asking, is this it, you will be declaring, this is it!

Return your focus back to God. After all, life really is all about glorifying Him.

Photos by Jon Tyson, Ethan,  Darius, & Alex Shute on Unsplash

Thanksgiving

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:17

This holiday, created by the Pilgrims in 1621 and made official by President Lincoln in 1863, evokes many types of emotions.

Thankfulness to God for all He provides, including food and shelter.

Thankfulness for our family and friends.

Thankfulness for our great country and the freedom she gives.

Deep down thankfulness for every blessing in our lives.

But what about the icky parts? The ones you’re not thankful for?

Give thanks anyway.

Thank God for keeping you safe within the storm.

Thank God for giving you His peace when your world seems anything but.

Thank God for filling you with HIs joy when yours has walked out the door.

Thank God even if. Because ‘even if’ still includes God.

Your world may look dark, but God is light. He’s your light in the darkness.

God will forever lead you down the path He has for you. Faithfully.

He will never leave your side in good times and bad. Period.

He stands with you, surrounding you with Himself.

And that is something we can all be very thankful for.

Photos by Thibault MokuenkoLibby PennerDebby Hudson, & Autumn Mott Rodeheaver on Unsplash

Can I Have It?

Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved. Psalm 55:22

Her back ached as she stumbled along the path.

Taking a tissue, she wiped the sweat from her brow.

“How much longer,” she thought aloud to herself.

“When will this load go away? I’m so tired of carrying my entire life every single day.”

She knew why it was so heavy.

She simply couldn’t resist keeping decisions for her alone to make.

She liked that so much, issues multiplied in her bag daily, adding to the weight.

Approaching a hill, she saw a figure, standing on her path.

He looked tall. Kind. Strong.

As she drew near, she recognized who He was. Jesus.

The relief almost caused her to fall down, yet she caught herself.

“Jesus,” she called, “can you please help me?”

Reaching out, she caught his arm as He steadied her on her tired feet.

He placed His hands on her shoulders, removing the burden from her back.

He easily lifted it, placing it down on the ground.

“Why, my daughter, are you carrying something so heavy? Have you forgotten Who I am?”

She looked up at him, unsure of what to say.

He peered into her burden, lifting out the first rock.

“Your marriage. Can I have this one?” Jesus gently asked.

She nodded her head.

He reached in again, this time lifting out three rocks.

“Your children. Can I have them, too?” Jesus asked. “They are safe with me.”

She nodded, tears running down her cheeks.

As Jesus kept reaching into her burden, he brought out all of her rocks, including her job, future, friends, home, and identity.

And each time, she willingly gave them up as Jesus instead placed them into His bag He so easily carried.

Willing to give up control, she whispered, “Thank you, Jesus. You have freed me beyond my wildest dreams.”

Jesus smiled at her, held out His hand, and together they walked down the path of life.

She was now skipping and smiling, fully reliant once more on her God, who created her and her precious little life.

She knew life was back in order with God taking her worries.

Reading her thoughts, Jesus bent down to whisper, “Now don’t try to pick these back up. You were not made to carry them. I was.”

And she wholeheartedly agreed.

Photos by Karsten WürthThomas SchweighoferMarc Rafanell López, &  Olivia Snow on Unsplash

Kerplop

Though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with His hand. Psalm 37:24

The long school year finally came to a close.

Where was I with under an hour till the bitter end?

In a heap on the floor.

After missing the last step while waltzing down the stairs to assembly, I heard my ankle make a weird sound as I fell to the floor.

Happy summer to me!

Lying on the ground with my head on the stairs, I contemplated what had transpired.

Didn’t have to sit alone more than a couple of seconds before my friend came rushing to my side.

Not wanting to throw up or faint, I laid there quietly, unable to do much else.

My friend summoned help and over the next bits of time, I was covered with God’s provision.

While resting on the dirty stairs, I was cared for. All my needs answered.

When I was at my lowest, God never left my side.

He was in the people who came, helping with different things each time.

He was in my husband’s schedule who had not left for a job hours away.

He was in the friend who recommended where to go.

He was in the doctor’s office that helped me in and out in under an hour.

He was in the details.

He always is.

Yes, He allows things. Suffering.

But He’s always right there along with you.

We can have peace amidst our trials because we know Who is with us.

God goes before us, is beside us, and is behind us.

Every single day.

Even when we go kerplop.

We have no idea how blessed we really are.

Photos by Lindsay HenwoodDenys SudilkovskyKelly Sikkema, & Jonathan Borba on Unsplash