Forty. As of tomorrow, November 22nd, we have 40 days left in this year.

Just how fast has this year gone by? Wasn’t it just Summer a few weeks ago, and now here we are with only 40 days left in the entire year?

2026 is a brand new year of life on it’s way to us. It’s filled with promise and potential and if you will be consistently available to God, he will fulfill you in ways you never imagined possible. But … we’re not there yet, my friends. It is not time to begin focusing on a new year, it’s time to finish this one right!

40 days separate us from this new year of life, and those 40 days matter significantly. God wants to prepare you, equip you and mold you in the next 40 days. Forty.

40 is a critical number in the Bible. 40 often represented new life, growth and transformation. God worked in the 40 to prepare a way for the future. God changed people in the 40. The preparation for a breakthrough of change happened in the 40.

My friends, that’s exciting!!!!! This 40 belongs to God and he’s preparing you for a new year of life in the next 40 days.

Jesus was tempted in the wilderness for 40 days by the devil. After that temptation, Jesus began his ministry on Earth and changed eternity.

It rained for 40 days, flooding the entire earth. All life outside of Noah’s ark was eliminated. Then the waters receded and life began again from only that which had been saved.

The giant Goliath taunted God’s people for 40 days. Then, the little shepherd boy David slays the giant with his slingshot and a rock and wins them victory and freedom.

How many days were between Jesus’ crucifixion and his return to Heaven? 40!

Forty. Then, completion, then renewal, then victory.

In the next 40 days before 2026 comes, God wants to do a work in YOU! Will you partner with him in the transformational process that brings victory? Will you let him have his time and space in your life for the next 40 days?

What have your past 40 days been like? Do you even really remember them? 40 days ago it was October 12th – what do you have to show for those days? Were they significant? Did you grow and get better, or did those days just pass with little to show for them?

Don’t let the next 40 be like your last 40. It’s time to go deeper. It’s time for full heart surrender. It’s time to wake up with intention and live on purpose. On the other side of this 40 is that new life, that growth, that transformation only God has seen. God wants to do a work in you! Will you submit to the process?

In the early days of Christianity, before someone could be baptized as a Christian, they were to wait 40 days. For 40 days they would simplify their life down to the basics and focus fully on living for Jesus. After 40 days, if they still wanted to commit their lives to Jesus, then they would be baptized.

What if the next 40 days was an intentional simplifying of our lives with a focus on Jesus to prepare us for 2026? What if we took these final 40 days of this year and allowed God the space to work in us so we step into the new year changed. What if this is your renewal and re-commitment to Jesus. 40 days of focusing on Jesus.

That sounds special doesn’t it … and basically impossible in your busy life. Especially the next 40 days of holidays, travels, gatherings and functions. It’s the busiest time of the year, certainly not the time you can slow down to focus on Jesus. That would be a huge struggle for the next 40 days, wouldn’t it?

And do you know what God says about that – Okay, struggle it out!

Philippians 2:12-13, “Work out your salvation with fear and trembling for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.”

That doesn’t mean you have to work to earn salvation, that’s a free gift given to you by Jesus, you simply accept that gift. But you do have to struggle to live like you’re saved. Work that out. Fight for it. Struggle with making time for Jesus in your daily life.

Did you know it’s okay to struggle with finding time to pray? Did you know it’s okay to have to work to read your Bible and not really feel like it 97% of the time? That’s okay – work that out.

Using the next 40 really busy, over-scheduled, cram packed days to re-commit to Jesus would be a struggle for you – AWESOME – work it out! Do it afraid that you might fail. Do it uncertain of how.

Here’s what you’re feeling right now – you’re feeling a battle between your flesh and your spirit. Your flesh wants to pretend like you never even heard this. Your flesh is reasoning with why you don’t have time and how waiting until January would just make more sense. BUT YOUR SPIRIT is saying something else. Your spirit is saying, “Wow, I need this.” Your spirit is craving space for Jesus. Your spirit is willing to work this out!

Right now, just lean into your spirit. This doesn’t have to be perfect. This isn’t about checking a box to meet a goal so you feel a sense of accomplishment. This is about giving God space to prepare you for a new year of life. This is about letting him work in your 40.

Go ahead and struggle with this. Don’t avoid it. Don’t run from it. Choose to struggle. Choose to fight for a way to focus more on Jesus.

There are a two things that have radically changed my life for the better. Perhaps one of these could be your way of making space for Jesus for the final 40 days of 2025.

1. Praying on my knees.

This changed my life.

In the beginning, it was a short prayer to begin my day while I reached for my phone under the bed. Then it grew. Eventually I no longer had to put my phone under the bed, it was habit. I just roll right out onto my knees. In fact, you know those fancy pillows you put on the bed but you don’t sleep with them? Yeah, put one of those on the floor for your knees to hit. It works perfectly.

Now, that is my primary prayer time. It’s my habit and it’s Jesus’ space. I begin my day on my knees and it has empowered me to walk through my days unlike ever before.

Could you try that for the next 40 days? What happens if you miss a day? What happens if you forget? Remember, just work it out – struggle through it – it doesn’t have to be perfect – just make space.

2. Reading my printed Bible.

Make time to read your Bible. Write in it. Highlight it. Truly study it.

I can’t explain it, but you will be transformed. This is how God works in you. And scripture says as he works in you, he gives you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. Your whole world can change when you start opening your Bible.

If you don’t have a print Bible and you can’t afford to buy one right now, MESSAGE ME! I will order one so fast for you that you have it on your doorstep by next week.

Sadly, I’ve spent the majority of my life without a Bible. I would google scripture when needed, or read the daily verse from an app. That’s good, but oh my goodness, I was missing the GREATNESS of an actual Bible in my hands.

Could you try reading the Bible for the next 40 days? Maybe a chapter a day? Or maybe listening for the scripture in the devotional and reading the paragraphs before and after that scripture? Or maybe just start with the book of John and read it slow.

How will you remember to do this every day? How will you make time when it’s so busy? Girl, struggle it out. Just work on that. Let it be messy and imperfect. 40 days in God’s word will transform you! You will step into the new year as a new person with changed thoughts and desires.

Remember our scripture, Philippians 2:12-13, “Work out your salvation with fear and trembling for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.” Embrace the struggle of making space for Jesus and let God work within you. He will begin to change you. Your desires will change. Your priorities will change. You won’t even have to force it. Give him this little space and watch it happen!

40 days. This is it. What will you do? The days will pass whether you commit to Jesus or not. Why not commit and come out better? Why not give Jesus a chance to work in you and make you better before the new year even gets here?

Could you listen to Christian music for the next 40 days? Could you journal for the next 40 days on specific ways you see God working?

There are countless things you could do, but what would you do?

God uses the number 40 throughout scripture to radically change people and situations. He shows up in the 40 to unleash his power. And now he’s giving you this 40. 40 days left in 2025 before a new year. How will you make space for Jesus in your 40?

Follow Pamela on Instagram – https://instagram.com/headmamapamela

2 Corinthians 6:11-13 MSG – “I can’t tell you how much I long for you to enter this wide-open spacious life. We didn’t fence you in. The smallness you feel comes from within you. Your lives aren’t small, but you’ve been living them in a small way. I’m speaking as plainly as I can and with great affection. Open up your lives. Live openly and expansively.”

Romans 2:4, “Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sins?

1 Corinthians 1:9, “God will do this, for he is faithful to do what he says, and he has invited you into partnership with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Isaiah 50:4 MSG, “God has given me a well-taught tongue, so I know how to encourage tired people. He wakes me up in the morning, opens my ears to listen as one ready to take orders.”

Ephesians 2:10, “We are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”

Isiah 6:8-9, “Then I heard the Lord asking, ‘Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?’ I said, ‘Here I am. Send me.’ And he said, ‘Yes, go …'”

BE CONSISTENTLY AVAILABLE.

Follow Pamela on Instagram – https://instagram.com/headmamapamela

Have you ever wondered why God would create a tree and place it in the middle of paradise, but not allow Adam and Eve to eat from it? Why would God make it possible to mess up? Wouldn’t it have been better if the option to sin were never even there? God, why put the tree there if it would cause so many problems?

I’ve often wondered this. Why mess up paradise with the ability to sin? What was the point?

Well, it was CHOICE. Free will is only free when there is an opportunity to do as much bad as there is good. Free will must include a choice. God desired for his greatest creation to choose him from their own free will, so he designed an opportunity to listen and obey him, or not. Unfortunately for us, Adam and Eve chose to not listen. But, the truth is, we would have all done the same. If you’ve ever made a wrong choice in your entire life, if you’ve ever messed up, then you would have eaten the apple too, my friend.

But do you realize there are actually two trees in the middle of the garden where Adam and Eve were? There wasn’t just the forbidden tree of knowledge of good and evil, but there was another tree, the tree of life. The tree of life offered eternal life to live forever. The fruit of this tree was not off limits, it was fully available. But the other tree which held the knowledge of good and evil was the one and only limitation given to them.

One thing, Adam, don’t eat from that tree. And Adam, tell Eve too. Tell her not to eat from that tree, it will change everything.

But, they fail. The temptation to do what they were told not to do is too great and they eat that fruit. Suddenly, their eyes are opened and shame comes into the world for the first time.

The other tree stood untouched, the tree that offered life forever. Instead they chose to eat from the tree that brought guilt, shame and regret. It was the first sin. Sin is choosing what we think we want in life over what truly gives life. And guess what … we’re still doing it today. We’re still choosing the wrong tree. We’re still choosing the things that aren’t good for us. We’re still making messes. We’re still leaving the offering of true and abundant life just hanging on the branch.

The first mistake was not filling up on the good stuff. They could have been so full eating from the tree of life that there was no room for the forbidden fruit from the other tree.

The second mistake was eating the fruit they were told not to eat.

The third mistake was hiding in shame. Genesis 3:8, “When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the Lord God walking about in the garden. So they hid from the Lord God among the trees.”

Shame was never part of God’s plan. Hiding from him was not the design of his masterpiece. But that’s what sin did. And that’s what sin still does. When we do what we know is wrong, we hide.

My grandson is 3. When he gets quiet, we know there’s a problem. He’s either eating play-dough, drawing on a wall, or sneaking candy. He hides when he’s doing something wrong. Here we are, grown women, essentially hiding while we eat play-dough. Sneaking around hoping no one finds out. Pulling away from God because of the guilt we feel within.

But imagine if Adam and Eve wouldn’t have hidden. Imagine if they would have ran straight to God after that first bite and said, “Oh no, we messed up! Help us!”

Imagine if we did that! Wouldn’t everything change?

The first mistake was not filling up on the tree of life. The emptiness created space for what wasn’t good for them.

The second mistake was choosing to do what they knew was wrong.

The third mistake was hiding in shame.

Now, their fourth mistake was casting blame.

Genesis 3: 9-13, “The the Lord God called to the man, ‘Where are you?’

The first sin was also the first opportunity to confess and repent. The first sin was the first opportunity for forgiveness. But shame caused them to hide and blame.

Girls, now that we know better, we can do better.

It’s not IF you mess up, it’s WHEN you mess up, don’t hide in shame. Don’t pull away from God. And don’t cast blame on anything or anyone else. Take responsibility for your choices.

God gave you choices knowing you would surely screw them up. But he’s given you a greater power than shame. He’s given you GRACE.

My friend, you are covered in the GRACE of Jesus. No, you don’t deserve it – and no, you can’t earn it, but it’s given to you anyway. His grace covers your guilt and shame and draws you back into him.

Grace says there’s no one to blame. Grace says stop retelling the story. Grace says you messed up, but you’re still worthy because of Jesus.

We’re still choosing the wrong tree, leaving the offering of true life often untouched while we chase after temptations and earthly pursuits. But the offering is still here for us. LIFE. Will we choose it?

Adam and Eve were banished from the garden because of their choice. Could they have stayed if they would have sought forgiveness instead of hiding in shame and blaming away the guilt? Think about it. Could sin have been stopped right there?

God saw their hearts would not turn to him, so they had to leave the garden and lose their opportunity to eat from the tree of life. God said in verses 22-24, “Look, the human beings have become like us, knowing both good and evil. What if they reach out, take fruit from the tree of life, and eat it? Then they will live forever! So the Lord God banished them from the Garden of Eden, and he sent Adam out to cultivate the ground from which he had been made. After sending them out, the Lord God stationed mighty cherubim to the east of the Garden of Eden. And he placed a flaming sword that flashed back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.”

They could have eaten from the tree of life and lived forever, but they chose the wrong tree.

Now, here’s what’s really amazing. We read of this tree of life again at the very end of our Bible where we’re told of what awaits us in Heaven. In the last chapter of Revelation, chapter 22, verse 1-2, “The angel showed me a river with the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb. It flowed down the center of the main street. On each side of the river grew a tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, with a fresh crop each month. The leaves were used for medicine to heal the nations. No longer will there be a curse upon anything.”

The tree of life is there for us!!!! The offering for eternal life hasn’t been taken away from us. It will heal us. There’s no curse on anything!

BUT, IT’S STILL A CHOICE. Just like it was a choice for Adam and Eve, it’s a choice for us.

If we will eat from the tree of life, living in God’s right ways, we will be filled to overflowing and there won’t be room for the forbidden things. If we fill up on God, Satan won’t have space to trick us.

There’s a tree of life and it’s available to you today. Come eat of it’s fruit. Get filled up on the good stuff so there’s no room for the offering of the enemy. Eternal life is in the offering.

And when you mess up, which you will, don’t hide in shame and don’t cast blame. Seek forgiveness. You don’t have to run from God. He kinda knew you would get it wrong sometimes. But he still offers the tree of life to you. Make your choice. Which do you choose today?

God offers us good things, and he also gives us the ability to really mess it up. We can ruin today with the wrong choices. We can ruin our opportunities. We can ruin our blessings. There’s a choice. The choice begins with the tree. Will you choose the tree of life and turn away from what is wrong?

Grace continually invites us back.

Follow Pamela on Instagram – https://instagram.com/headmamapamela

As a woman, you are specially designed and created to be a servant. Before you stone me, understand that being a servant is not a lowly position. According to Jesus, the greatest is called to be the servant. By divine order, to be great, you must be a humble helper. If you cannot be a humble helper, you will never be great. You will never live in your fullest potential if you are not willing to be a servant.

Jesus said in Matthew 23:11-12, “The greatest among you must be a servant. Those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” My friend, there’s absolutely no wiggle room in this. There’s no gray area. If you’re going to get better and live a great life, you MUST humble yourself as a servant. Every time you assume the position of being better than someone else and above helping them, you have missed your calling.

Here’s the question – do you trust God? Do you trust his design? Do you trust he knows what you don’t know and has a better plan? YES? Then trust your positioning as a woman. You are the helper by God’s divine design. Not because you’re lesser than, but because you’re chosen as God’s girl.

After God created the first man, he saw it wasn’t good for man to be alone. Genesis 2, the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone, I will make a helper who is just right for him.” Then the Lord God made a woman from his rib, and he brought her to the man.

GIRLS, WE ARE THE JUST RIGHT HELPERS.

Think about that. It’s you. You are specifically designed to be just right. To fit perfectly in partnership with one who needs your help. It’s part of your design. This isn’t something to hate. This isn’t something to fight. This isn’t something to resent. This is something that makes you great. Again, according to Jesus, the greatest among you must be a servant.

It is an honor to be the helper. It’s fulfilling to be the helper. The helper is who you were created to be in your greatest and fullest potential.

Think about when Jesus wrapped a towel around his waist and knelt down to serve his disciples by washing their feet. Serving didn’t make him beneath them. It didn’t make him weak. It made him great. His humility showed a life-changing love. AND SO DOES OURS.

Now again, if you’re pulling away and ready to fight, come back to trusting God. If God designed it, can you trust it? If God aligns it, can you walk in it? God designed the woman to be the JUST RIGHT HELPER for man.

I’m blessed to have a wonderful husband. He’s easy to help, quite honestly. And he’s easy to help because he’s good to lead. If he were not a good leader, serving him would be extremely difficult. I must believe this is why the enemy attacks our men with such aggressive intent – if the man isn’t worthy of being followed, then the woman cannot follow and serve. If the woman cannot serve as the just right helper, then she is left unfulfilled by design.

If you don’t have a good man to help, what should you do? PRAY FOR HIM. My sister, he’s under attack. He’s hurting. He’s been confused. The way you can be the ‘just right helper’ to a man who is not leading well, is to pray relentlessly for him. You can’t change him, you can’t fix him, but God can! Do you believe that?

If you have been given a good man who is worthy of following, then HELP HIM. It is your role. Again, not because you are less than him, but because Jesus has called the greatest to serve and he showed us how.

When we fight against this and rise up in with our feisty selves, refusing to be the chosen, called and equipped helper, then we quite simply miss the fullness of our design. We’re actually fighting against the very thing that is missing within us. We’re refusing our blessing. It is a blessing to serve. What an honor it is to be that just right helper.

When sin entered the world through that first man and woman, struggles were created. Do you know that one of those very specific struggles is the fight over roles between men and women? It’s the discord and dysfunction in our relationships. To the woman, God says in Genesis 3:16, “You will desire to control your husband, but he will rule over you.” That was NOT God’s design. That’s what sin did.

Are you trying to control your husband? Is your husband trying to rule over you? That’s not within either of your designs. He is called to lead you towards God, and you are called to help him on the journey with God. If he’s not leading and you’re not helping, then it’s dysfunction.

Lord, please lead us back to our blessed design in partnership. And start with me. Go to work on me! Let the change begin in me.

If you don’t have a husband, you are still designed to be the helper. You’re not dismissed from helping. You don’t have to morph yourself into something you were never created to be. God’s girls are specially blessed to nurture, support, encourage and help. The world is starving for you to fulfill your designed role and help.

If you do have a husband, but he’s not a leader worthy of following, then your help is to pray for him. God can use you to reach the heart of your husband unlike anyone else in this world.

What a blessing it is to be chosen as God’s helper. We are following in great big footsteps. Jesus himself was a servant. He served and it made him great. He helped. And Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” God’s girls are blessed to be the just right helpers!

Follow Pamela on Instagram – https://instagram.com/headmamapamela

Today, my retreat girls will go with me to the largest natural gathering place for manatee in the world. The cold of winter is beginning to set in, so the manatee have traveled for hundreds of miles to come to their winter home in the warm springs waters of Blue Springs State Park and Crystal River.

We will kayak with these massive, marvelous creatures in the wild. We will swim with them. And every single one of us will be in awe of their beautiful and perfect design. GOD DID THAT!

In fact, God did that on day 5 of creation. Genesis 1:20, “Then God said, ‘Let the waters swarm with fish and other life’ … So God created great sea creatures and every living thing that scurries and swarms in the water.”

God created that manatee, uniquely designed it just as he desired, and you know what he said about it – he said it was GOOD!

But really, have you see the shape of a manatee. They’re like a big ol’ baked potato with a round tail. And yet we will all be in awe of them.

After God designed the manatee, do you know what he did the next day? Something even better. Something he said was not only good, but it was REALLY GOOD!

Imagine this scene – The Father God, the son Jesus, and the Holy Spirit all come together for a brainstorming session. They’re gathered to do their most creative and impressive work. Together, they will create YOU. They imagined you, designed you, then formed you. Just as they wanted for the purposes of your life.

That’s precisely what happened. The Holy Trinity designing you! Genesis 1:26, “Then God said, ‘Let US make human beings in our image, to be like us.'” You have always been seen. You have always been wanted. You have always been enough.

Genesis 2:7 “The Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into the man’s nostrils, and the man became a living person.”

Let’s make this personal. When I pause insert your own name into this scripture. God breathed the breath of life into _________, and she became a living person.

The purpose of life is to live it. Not just survive it, or endure it. Not sleep it away or wish it away. But live it. In order to LIVE this life you have been given and fulfill your purpose, you must be ALIVE.

This breath of life God has breathed into you comes with a single expectation. That you would open your eyes, experience life fully and be ALIVE with life.

Our scripture today says you came ALIVE – a living person. Not a miserable person. Not a tired person. Not a worried person. Not a stressed out person. But a LIVING person.

Will you be a LIVING person?

There is no time to waste. We can’t afford to wait until next month to wake up and start living. We can’t sleep away today. James 4:14 puts the brevity of life into perspective with “What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.”

BUT YOU’RE HERE TODAY. You have a chance to live today. What a gift you and I have been given. And remember, with all great things comes great responsibility. Not everyone received the gift of life today, but you did, and you have a responsibility to live it.

Today, let’s fulfill our purpose. Let’s do with this day exactly what we’re supposed to do. Let’s LIVE it! The dictionary uses 3 words to define ALIVE: Alert, Active and Animated. We will use that as our gauge and intentionally go to work.

Today, we will be ALIVE by being ALERT. Wherever we are, we will actually BE THERE. Repeat to yourself, “right here, right now”. Hey, you will never get this back. Every moment today is a once in a lifetime moment, don’t miss it. Taste your food. Hear the sounds of life. Open your eyes and see life unfolding all around you.

You are surrounded by unspeakable beauty. There is beauty before you, beauty behind you. Beauty to your left, beauty to your right. Beauty above you, beauty below you. Beauty within you. God’s creation is begging for you to notice.

Today you will savor it because you are alert. Continue to bring your mind back to the state of right here, right now.

Second, today we will be ALIVE by being ACTIVE. We refuse to sit and wonder and worry. If we are stuck in a rut, we won’t be by the end of the day because today, we’re taking the next step. We will be in action. We will get up and get going.

My Daddy used to see the buzzards circling in the sky and he would say, “Sis, you better look alive!” The morale of the story – buzzards are always looking to prey upon the things just sitting still. Maybe you’ve been sitting still, just thinking about making changes, worrying about all that needs to change, making plans for change, that the buzzards are circling you. Girl, you better look alive. Be ACTIVE today.

And third, today we will be ALIVE by being ANIMATED. This means be excited, energetic and lively. Put some pep in your step.

You say you don’t have anything to be excited about … ah girl, that’s the result of not being fully alive. I guarantee you there are 10 reasons to be over the moon excited about your life surrounding you at this very moment.

Even in the darkest of times and hardest of seasons, there is good. You’re not discounting the hardships by being excited over all that is good and right. There’s no guilt in that.

Show your creator some energy today. Girl, don’t hide your happy. If you’re excited about something, let it show. The world is so hungry for positive energy. It’s literally contagious.

If you’re struggling with energy, let me teach you the law of energy. Energy grows where energy is used. If you use all the energy you have today, tomorrow your energy tank will be refilled, plus a little more. You can literally BUILD your energy, but the only way is to use it all up today. Get up, get dressed up and show up. Even if you don’t have anywhere to go and anyone to see. Do it for you. Do it because you’re alive. Be ANIMATED today.

What a recipe for a new day of life. Be fully ALIVE by being aware, active and animated.

No one can live this life but you. You’ll never get this day again.

The purpose of today is to live it. Will you fulfill your purpose the best you can today? Tell me you’re all-in!

Yes, that’s what I wanted to hear. I bet God is smiling down on his girls right now saying …. ahhhh, it’s gonna be a good day!

Follow Pamela on Instagram – https://instagram.com/headmamapamela

Our God is a God of details. He has literally thought of EVERYTHING. There’s not a single thing he has overlooked. There’s nothing that he hasn’t accounted for. He has a plan and a purpose for all things.

To see his attention to detail, look at his creation. This week, we’re studying Genesis 1, the account of creation. We see his glory in the details of this world he imagined, designed, formed and filled. How did God think of making snow falling from the clouds? That didn’t just happen because of an accidental atmospheric condition – no, that happened because God designed it. How did he think of lightening flashing from the sky? What made him create the colors of the Northern Lights or leaves on trees that turn to brilliant shades of red, orange and yellow before letting go? He thought of it all and spoke it into existence.

Details – God is not only in them all, he is all up in them. He’s not only over all the details, he’s all over them. Nothing just happens because of coincidence. God knew how brilliant the skies would be. He knew how a stunning sunset would make his creation pause.

Someone sent me a video of a sunset savoring dog. This golden retriever would go outside every evening at just the right time, then sit and watch the sunset with intention. This dog’s eyes were fixated on the setting sun as he sat in apparent awe and contentment. Then, after the setting of the sun, the dog would go back inside. And he did it every evening.

My sisters – why aren’t we doing that? Why aren’t we enamored by the display of God’s power?

My friend Kimberly gets completely giddy when she sees a fall leaving floating through the air. She breaks out in full song and dance, watching that single leave float it’s way down to the ground. She receives that little detail as if it were a special display of God’s love just for her. Now, why don’t we do that?

Pick a detail of nature that could be God’s signature sign of love for you. For me, it’s a hot pink sunrise or sunset. I know God is thinking of me with that, because I’m thinking of him. My friend Nicole finds rocks in the shape of hearts, that’s God’s signature for her. I’m pretty convinced that God created mangoes just for me because he knew how much I would love them.

What’s your thing? A little detail of creation that will be your and God’s special thing? And when you witness that special thing, will you give God praise for it?

One time, as Jesus was riding through a crowd on a donkey, his followers began shouting praises. They declared his glory with their voices, giving him honor. When the Pharisees in the crowd heard the people, they said to Jesus, “Rebuke your followers.” Essentially, tell them to be quiet. Jesus replied in Luke 19:40, “If they kept quiet, the stones along the road would burst into cheers!”

Someone or something is going to praise God for the details of his work. Will it be you, or will you let the rocks cry out in your place? God is putting his marvelous works on powerful display all around you, but you’ve been so busy that you’ve failed to even notice.

One of my favorite songs right now is called “This Won’t Take My Praise” by Blanca and Taylor Hill. It talks about being down, being attacked, being surrounded as the weapons of Hell form against you, but declaring:

What hardship or struggle has been taking your praise? Instead of joy, you have worry. God wants his praise back.

Sometimes it’s not the hardships of life that take our praise, it’s simply the noise of life. We rush right past the details God designed to wow us, and we miss it. And when we miss those details in creation, then it’s easy to miss those details in the unfolding.

Our lives are all unfolding one day at a time. Nothing is happening by chance. God is in the details of the unfolding. But when we’ve conditioned ourselves to pass by the details of God’s creation with glazed over eyes and distracted minds, we naturally miss the details of God’s divine workings in the details of the daily unfolding of our lives. We fail to give him praise and we let the rocks take our place.

Is there a rock crying out to God because you’ve failed to do so? Is there a rock praising God because you’ve been to busy for that?

Something unspeakable happens within us when we start intentionally noticing the details of God’s creation – we start recognizing the details of his work in our families, in our homes, in our lives. When you learn what God’s fingerprints look like on the details of the universe, then you are able to see those same fingerprints on the unfolding of your life. And when you know he is working, then you can surrender your details to him. That’s the whole point.

When we read Genesis 1 and we see God created the heavens and the earth by his spoken word and he made all of this where there was once nothing but void and deep darkness – then we can believe God can create absolutely anything needed in our lives today with only a word.

It doesn’t matter if for 3 generations it’s always been a problem in your family, one word from God now can change that for you and every future generation after you.

It doesn’t matter if you’ve tried to overcome the same struggle for 30 years, one word from God now can give you a total breakthrough. Today could be the last day of that struggle ever again for you.

It doesn’t matter if you’ve been stuck in a dark funk for 3 solid years and you have no energy left to even hope for something different. one word from God now can bring light and healing to that darkness and you can find your way out and never go back to that darkness again.

We know this because of Genesis 1. We see the power of God’s word to create anything and everything. The problem is, we are only allowing the lesson to impact us on the surface. We’re not getting the lesson into our spirits to change how we respond to real life.

That’s what happened to the disciples. They had just worked with Jesus to miraculously feed a crowd of thousands with 5 small fish and 2 pieces of bread. We’re not even talking about a basket full of food to begin with, we’re actually talking about the lunch of a boy who was in the crowd. These were more like 5 little sardines and 2 pita breads. That’s what Jesus had to work with. Essentially a fish sandwich. As Jesus prayed over what little there was, he broke it and gave it to his disciples to feed to the crowd. They kept coming back to Jesus for more food, and from so little, there was so much. In the end, the entire hungry crowd of thousands had eaten until they were all full, and afterwards the disciples gathered 12 baskets full of leftovers.

Miraculous. Jesus worked in the details and they saw it. Every detail was taken care of. There was a problem, and Jesus miraculously worked in the problem.

But do you know what happened next? Next, Jesus told the disciples to get in a boat and go across the lake. Late that night, in the middle of the lake, they encounter serious trouble. A storm is threatening to sink their boat with wild winds and waves. Then, they see Jesus out walking on the water and they are terrified. But Jesus climbs in their boat and brings calm to the storm. Every detail was once again taken care of in the presence of Jesus. There was never any reason to worry. Jesus miraculously works in the problems.

And here’s the point for us today – After Jesus gets in the boat and calms the storm, Luke 6:52 says, “They still didn’t understand the significance of the miracle of the loaves. Their hearts were too hard to take it in.”

Jesus had just shown them his miraculous power in the details of a problem. They had literally just came from feeding the crowd of thousands of people with a boy’s lunch. After seeing Jesus working in those details, they should have known he would work in the details of the next problem too. The lesson of the loaves was sitting in their boat in the form of 12 baskets full of leftovers. But when the next problem hit, they forgot. The lesson hadn’t gotten into their heart.

God is showing us, his girls, his power in the details all around us. May our hearts be soft and receptive. May we see his power in creation, and therefore trust his power in the unfolding of what is now and what is to come.

The lessons are all around us. Let’s see them, receive them, trust them, and move forward in faith with them today.

May your eyes be wide open today, may you SEE God working in the details. May your heart fully receive the lesson God is showing you so nothing takes your praise. If God can do that, then he can do this. If he has the power to make that happen, then he can make this happen. Open your eyes and see it!

Follow Pamela on Instagram – https://instagram.com/headmamapamela

If God says it, it happens. If he speaks it, it’s done. No further preparation is required. Impossible becomes possible. What has never been before will JUST BE.

The creation of the entire universe is revealed in 6 days. Genesis chapter 1 says on day 1, there was light. Day 2, space. Day 3, land with trees and plants. Day 4, sun, moon and stars. Day 5, fish and birds. Day 6, animals and human beings. Now my friends, THAT is a work week! You think you get a lot done in a week, you’ve got nothing on God.

How did he do it? He spoke it into existence. Every single thing was spoken into existence by the word of God.

Some think these are 6 literal days – Some say each day represents an entire age of time – but what does it matter? God did it and you now see the proof of it today. We can be divided over the details of it, or we can stand in awe of the wonder of it. Science says the earth is billions of years old. Some Christians say you must ignore all science and follow the timeline of genealogy back to Adam and Eve, which is about 6,000 years. That’s a box, my friend. God doesn’t fit in our boxes. Don’t get hung up on details of division, instead, get swept away in the wonder of his creation.

The creation of the world declares the glory of God. His mighty power is on display in creation. His glory is being declared all around you. Open your eyes and see it. His mighty power is on display in the sun that is shining, the snow that is falling, the trees, the waves, the mountains, your dog and cat, YOU! How absolutely marvelous. Look at what God did with what was formerly empty, deep darkness.

As the Spirit of God was hovering over the deep dark waters, he speaks words of tremendous power. Genesis 1:3, Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. The original Hebrew writing of this is even more powerful. It says “Light be: light was.” No further explanation. No delay. No struggle. Just BE, and it BECAME.

What was this light? We quickly assume it’s the sun, but we would be wrong. The sun, moon and stars were not formed until day 4. This is day 1 and there is light that separates the day from the night. The former darkness was now lit up. This is the first thing God did in creation, and it’s the first thing he does when working in our lives. He brings light.

The light is the presence of God. He’s there. God is the light. Revelation 22:5 tells of the future time when there will be no more sun and the light will go back to it’s original source. It says, “There will be no night there – no need for lamps or sun – for the Lord God will shine on them. And they will reign forever and ever.”

The Spirit of God is hovering over the darkness and he brings the light of himself. Before anything else, he brings light to the situation.

Where is there darkness of confusion, chaos, anxiety, depression or dysfunction in your life? Our impulse is to hide it. But my sister, hiding the darkness only perpetuates the problem. The light of God must shine on that. Bring that into the presence of God.

Lord, bring your light to this dark situation. Your light is the beginning of change. Your light is the beginning of something new. Your light is where it all starts.

What have you been trying to hide? What has created guilt and shame in you and caused you to pull away and self-isolate. Let me tell you what self-isolation really is – it’s self-sabotage. It’s you sitting in dark corners where more of the same darkness festers. Bring it to the light.

I remember when one of my children was a young teen and they went through a really hard time. What they went through was unfair. What they went through turned their whole world upside down. And what they went through made them want to hide in shame. So they did. And we as parents, were completely clueless. The smile was still bright and beautiful, but we had no idea what was happening in the dark hidden spaces, until one day that darkness consumed them and made life feel like their life wasn’t worth living anymore.

That’s what darkness eventually does. It consumes us. It traps us. It casts a dark shadow on everything and everyone and makes you feel so alone. The answer is the LIGHT. Let there be light, and there was light. Light be: Light was.

So, we set out to create a safe space where everything could come out of the shadows and into the light. There would be no judgment or punishment. No questions. Just empty it out. If it stayed hidden in them, it would continue to eat at them like a flesh eating disease. But if it was brought to the light and no longer hidden, it would all lose its power and healing would begin.

Looking back, we realize the things that were still never talked about and remained hidden in darkness were the very things that continued to cause harm. Whew, let me tell you something, I could be such a better Mom now! But, that’s the value of getting to be a Grandma, ya’ll. We get a second chance to get it right!

This is the power of confession. Confession is shining light on what is hidden in darkness. James 5:16, “Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.” Who knows what you struggle with? Who really knows how to pray for you? Who helps bring the light of God into that situation? Whatever you keep hidden and secret will continue to hurt you. Whatever is brought to the light loses it’s power over you.

It’s really why the enemy of your soul works so hard on keeping you hidden in guilt and shame. He knows if you crack that door open and let light shine on that darkness, then he has no where to hide. Light banishes the darkness. Darkness cripples you. Light heals you.

Jesus said in John 8:12, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”

The light of day 1 is JESUS. It’s not the S-U-N that provides the ultimate light, it’s the S-O-N, our Jesus! He banishes darkness. He brings truth, hope and life overflowing. He is the answer to every threat of darkness.

What happens when you bring a secret struggle or sin to the S-O-N, the light of Jesus? God speaks! And when God speaks, something happens! It happens immediately. It happens without explanation or understanding. This is how prison doors are flung wide open. This is how chains are broken. This is how you are set free. What once bound you is robbed of it’s power when in the light of Jesus.

I get to mentor a beautiful young soul who has an unimaginable story. She wasn’t loved well as a girl. She was vulnerable and someone took advantage of her vulnerability for many years throughout her high school and college years. Hiding this secret shame became her number 1 mission in life, so she became the funny girl everyone loved. She was the life of the party. But within, she struggled with a darkness no one knew about. Until one day, she came to a retreat and she sat in a room of about 10 complete strangers, and for the first time, that darkness was revealed.

She told her story.

Over the past 2 years, I’ve seen her grow and heal in unimaginable ways. Her life looks radically different today. She’s no longer the hurt girl hiding in the darkness behind her jokes. While she’s still one of the funniest people I’ve ever met, she’s also one of the most healed people I’ve ever met. She’s doing the hard stuff and she’s living in the light of Jesus. The day she was baptized at a later retreat, you could feel chains fall off of her. She left all that in the water of that hot tub and she is free now.

LIGHT. It was God’s answer to darkness on day 1, and it’s still his answer to darkness today. His light is the S-O-N, Jesus.

God’s word is powerful, he wants to speak his light over you today. Won’t you let him? Won’t you let him bring light to your darkness? Won’t you let him bring healing here? It can happen in an instant and you will never ever be the same. Your answer is the light of the S-O-N.

And you know what God says about it next? He says, “It is good!” God knows good, and he knows light for your darkness is so good!

Follow Pamela on Instagram – https://instagram.com/headmamapamela

Genesis means origin. It’s the source, the beginning, where every single thing got its start. I’ve always loved the book of Genesis, for one simple reason … it was the book of the Bible I was able to flip right too. I always felt so proud of myself when a preacher would say, “Turn to the book of Genesis”, and boom, I would be the first one there.

Genesis is not only the beginning of our Bible, it’s the beginning of everything. It is our origin. And really, it’s pretty wild that we get to read about God’s amazing and miraculous acts to create everything we see today. No human was alive to see these acts. We only have this account today because God revealed it later to the author to record for us.

Moses wrote the book of Genesis, but he likely used much earlier writings to gather his information. Perhaps writings from the first human, Adam. And perhaps Adam received directly from God the account of creation there in the Garden of Eden. The words of God were written so that we could read them today.

To understand the Bible, you must first understand one thing – You won’t understand everything. There are some things that won’t make sense. Some things that we have absolutely no proof of. Some things that seem totally impossible. Faith will be required on your journey through the Bible. I’ve found one thing that has greatly helped me in my studies – I believe 2 Timothy 3:16, “All scripture is inspired by God and useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives.”

As you commit to either begin studying your Bible, or continue your studies, remember ALL SCRIPTURE IS INSPIRED BY GOD. Every word of our Bible is inspired by God and it’s useful to us. Lean into it with faith instead of pulling away in doubt. There will be things you don’t understand, don’t get hung up on them. There will be things you don’t agree with, but keep reading. There will be things that even seem contradictory to science or common sense – In those cases you must make a choice. Either believe that God is beyond our understanding, or struggle to make an infinite God fit in our limited little box.

There’s a whole lot of the Bible I don’t understand – heck, there’s a whole lot of the very first chapter of Genesis I don’t understand, and I simply don’t have to. But there’s so much that can help me see the truth and help me realize what may be wrong in my life.

Together, we’re going to dive all-in on the book of Genesis. Today is day 1. I’m sure God will take us on several detours along the way and we’ll be all over scripture, so it will never be boring or dull. Remember, it’s me – I don’t do boring! This isn’t your typical devotional. In every day of our study, let’s keep coming back to ask 2 things:

1. What truth am I learning?

Now, let’s get started.

Genesis 1:1-2 (go ahead and dare to flip there now in your Bible with confidence – you can find it!), “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.”

God’s holy word literally begins with an opening sentence that challenges our human minds. “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” We will never understand a power that could do that. We will never know precisely when or how. It’s beyond our human capacity to even assign that thought a proper place in our inventory of historical events.

Do you know how big the heavens and the earth are? This means EVERYTHING. Every distant galaxy, every unknown planet, every black hole beyond exploration or explanation. God created ALL of that in the beginning.

When was the beginning and how did God get there in the beginning? I have absolutely no idea – and neither does anyone else. But does it even matter?

Now, here’s the question – Can you BELIEVE Genesis 1:1? Can you believe, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Because if you can believe the opening scripture of the Bible, then you can believe every other verse in the Bible. Every other impossible thing, every other miraculous story, every other huge promise, every other thing beyond our human capacity – it’s all within reason if you can believe verse 1.

So decide now – do you believe it? Did God create all that is? Is there a divine Creator behind all of this, or did it all just happen by chance? The God big enough for Genesis 1:1 is also big enough for every other verse and chapter of the Bible. He’s big enough to create you, know you, save you, redeem you, and offer you a place in eternity simply because you choose to believe his Word.

Now, imagine verse 2 for a moment. Imagine there’s nothing but deep waters covered in darkness. Everything is empty and formless. And the Spirit of God is hovering over those deep, dark waters.

Do you know what God is doing? He’s getting ready to unleash his power. He’s getting ready to design and create the entire universe. But he’s not creating it out of nothing – he’s creating it out of himself. All of this didn’t come from nothing – all of this came from God. God is EVERYTHING. He us unlimited. The sun and the moon are part of God. The mountains are part of God. The oceans are part of God. You and I are part of God. We’re not from nothing – we’re from God himself!

Some scientist believe all of this came from dust molecules that evolved for eons, getting better and better until here we are with our upright walking and super advanced human brains. And honestly, I find it much easier to believe there’s God, there’s always been God, and he created all of this through himself and from himself.

Nothing comes from NOTHING. And nothing creates more of nothing. You are not “nothing”, so you didn’t come from nothing. You came from God.

This is your origin. The beginning of everything you know and every thing you don’t know. And here’s the Spirit of God hovering over the deep waters of darkness. And that Spirit is about to do impossible things that forever changed everything.

The Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. Just hovering. Moving. Looking. Searching. Preparing. Something big was about to happen!

And that same Spirit is still moving today. The Spirit that holds the power to create, change and move. The Spirit that is absolutely unmatched and unstoppable. Can you believe that Spirit is hovering over your life right now? He’s moving. He’s looking. He’s searching. He’s preparing. And something BIG can happen in your life!

A few years ago at a New Year Retreat, I sat chairs in circle on the beach in Pensacola. As the sun came up, we each sat in that circle and worshiped. I had created a playlist of about 100 worship songs and I would just hit shuffle play, and see what song God played for us. Each time, the same song would play. Over and over again, sitting on the shores of the ocean, “Rest On Us” by Maverick City would play. What are the repeated words of this song?

As the Spirit was moving over the water

God did something within each of us. The Spirit of God was moving over us, hovering, and he moved, he filled us, we were forever changed.

The Spirit of God was hovering over the surfaces of the water when there were only deep waters covered in darkness – then EVERYTHING CHANGED.

Your life may feel like deep waters of darkness right now, but I’m telling you my sister, the Spirit of God can come and change that! He’s hovering over you right now.

What would God require to create something beautiful in your life? What would be needed to begin a work in you? Well, God doesn’t start with nothing, he starts with himself. He creates from himself. He forms from himself. God is here, so God has everything he needs. Invite him to hover over you and do his work!

Spirit, come move over us. Come rest on us.

The same powerful Spirit that created us and everything around us is not only here with us right now, but when you are a follower of Jesus, that Spirit lives IN you! Within you is the Spirit that can do impossible things. It’s not only all around you, not only hovering over you, but dwelling IN YOU!

Follow Pamela on Instagram – https://instagram.com/headmamapamela

Romans 15:13, “I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.”

God is the source of our hope. Hope means you have something to look forward to, something to cling to, something you’re counting on. You may not know how and you may not know when, but you know something good is going to happen in the future. That is hope. Hope that it’s all going to work out. Hope that you’re going to make it through. Hope that every promise will be fulfilled. Hope that the plans for your life are good.

Your goals and good works are not the source of that hope. Your perfect plan and perfect follow through isn’t the source of that hope. What’s the source? GOD. I pray that GOD, THE SOURCE OF HOPE. Repeat after me, THE SOURCE.

We’re currently dealing with termites in the darling little turquoise beach cottage we’re staying in. In literally one week we noticed the baseboard trim in 2 areas begin to crumble. This is a new house. Thinking it was some sort of water damage, my husband touched the affected areas of the wood and it caved in then termites began crawling out. Ummmmm yuck.

Did you know that termites can completely chew through a 2×4 in 2 weeks? Did you know active termites can destroy your house from the inside out while your floors are clean and the candles are lit?

The professionals came out to the house to look for one thing. THE SOURCE. Where were the termites coming from. If they could find the source, they could save the house. Less than 2 feet from the deck is a tall palm tree. In the top of that tall palm, they found the source. There was the termite nest and there sat the queen. Now, mission on to hide bait in the wall for the worker termites eating the house so they take it all back and poison the source. If the source is wiped out, the destruction ends.

God is our SOURCE OF HOPE. All hope flows from him. If our connection with God is poisoned, all hope ends. How do we become connected with this source of hope? YOU TRUST HIM!

“I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace BECAUSE YOU TRUST IN HIM.” Repeat after me: Because you trust him.

Your trust in God opens the flow of hope. Hope feels like joy and peace. Hope feels like happiness and burdens lifted. Hope feels like assurance for the future. Hope feels like a deep knowing you’re going to be okay. All of this flows from your TRUST IN HIM.

My friend, if you don’t trust in the source, then you are disconnected from your hope. If you don’t trust God, then the whole world looks really scary. If you don’t trust in God, governments have the power to ruin you. If you don’t trust in God, that sickness could be the end. If you don’t trust in God, everything can come crashing down at any minute.

I’m an adrenaline junkie. I love every adventure that takes my breath away. I’ll climb that. I’ll jump off that. I’ll ride that with my hands in the air the entire time. And I can do it because I trust I’m connected to something. There’s a bungee. There’s a parachute. There’s a rope. There’s a seat belt. I’m trusting there’s something securing me. And as I trust whatever I’m secured to, I can have extreme joy and complete peace as I’m flying or falling or hanging upside down. If I didn’t trust it, instead of joy there would be complete panic. Instead of peace there would be anxiety.

When we are filled with panic and anxiety, could it be because we’re not trusting the source? Is there a disconnect with our source? When the connection with our source is severed, the flow of joy and peace is halted.

My sister, that is NOT God’s desire for you. He does not wish for you to be filled with panic and anxiety. He doesn’t want you overwhelmed with fear. In fact, do you know how many times the Bible says, “DO NOT FEAR” or something similar like “don’t be afraid” or “don’t worry”. 365 times. That’s once for every morning of the entire year. Every day God is telling you, TRUST ME. God says, “When you trust in me, your worry, your fear, and your anxiety is replaced with joy and peace.”

Life is not a kiddie ride. It’s not the carousel with the fancy horses. It’s the wildest ride in the park! It’s the wooden roller coaster that shakes you so hard you get a few bruises and walk away spinning. That’s life. And you’re going to need to be securely attached to something or you will never find joy or peace. When you know God’s got you, you can throw your hands up and enjoy the ride. But until you learn to trust him, there will be no joy or peace.

Trusting in God doesn’t mean life becomes easy. It doesn’t mean things work out the way you thought they would. It doesn’t mean everyone plays nice. Trusting God means you go through it and come out of it with HOPE.

If you still have the source of hope, you can keep coming back. If you have a path to the source, hope will continue to flow.

Our little termites have a source. As long as their source remains, they will keep coming back. If the source gets wiped out, they cannot survive.

As crazy as it sounds to compare God to a Queen termite, he is our source. And if our source remains, then we can keep coming back again and again and again. No matter how many disappointments we face. No matter how many things fall apart. No matter how hard times get. Our source will sustain us to survive. But if we become disconnected from our source, then all hope is gone.

How do we become disconnected from our source of hope, which is God? How does that happen? Well first, you must know the source will never leave you. Romans 8:38-39, Paul writes, “I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow – not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below – indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

God will never stop loving you. He will never turn away from you. Ever. Nothing you could do would separate him from you.

But my sister, you could separate yourself from him. You could reject the source of hope and stop the flow. How? By no longer trusting him. By trying to control this on your own. By trying to make things happen under your own power.

If you don’t trust him, you lose all hope. And without hope, there is no joy or peace.

No God, no joy.

No God, no peace.

Anything you’ve been trusting in outside of God will disappoint you. God is your source of hope. His promises are for you. His plans are for you. His blessings are for you. You can be confident in this and just keep coming back!

One more time, lets read Romans 15:13. This is my heartfelt prayer over you today. “I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Trusting in God looks like you just coming back to God as your source. Over and over again. Don’t let fear block you. Don’t let worry get in your way. Don’t sit stuck in overwhelm. Come back to God and be filled to overflowing with hope as you trust ONLY in him.

One final thing that hits me about trusting our source. If you don’t trust the airplane, it doesn’t make the airplane fail. You just don’t get to take the trip. If you don’t trust the parachute, it doesn’t make the parachute bad. You just never get to jump.

A failure to trust the source doesn’t cause the source to fail, it simply causes you to miss the opportunity. God has overflowing joy and peace for you on this journey, but you have to trust him as your daily source and your eternal hope. Will you?

Follow Pamela on Instagram – https://instagram.com/headmamapamela

Do you ever feel like you get a spiritual spanking? Well, God’s word does say, “Spare the rod, spoil the child.” God doesn’t want his girls to be self-indulged, spoiled brats. So he uses his rod to protect and discipline us.

A shepherd carried 2 tools, a rod and a staff. The rod was a wooden club used to ward off any predators seeking to harm his sheep. The rod was also used to correct a sheep that refused to listen. Why? Because the sheep would no doubt get himself in trouble if he didn’t stay close to the shepherd. The shepherd’s staff was a long stick with a curved end, used to guide and gently move the flock.

So, when David says in Psalm 23, “Your rod and staff protect and comfort me”, he’s referring to the ways God shepherds us. Not because he hates us, but because he loves us. Because he knows the way to get to where we need to go. Because we are but clueless sheep and he is the great shepherd.

The past few devotionals have felt like the rod of discipline, but they’ve been so much more the rod of protection. God is warding off the threats to our hearts. He’s beating down the dangled temptations of the enemy. Oh what beautiful work he has been doing for us as we stay close to him. We’re not being punished, we’re being protected.

This morning, I asked God is there was a little more of a “staff” type teaching than a “rod”. Can we balance out the week with something sweet, something encouraging, something to cuddle up to along the journey. Girls, I’m telling you, God hears every prayer and he responds directly. Our God is absolutely so cool. The way he works is no doubt grand and mysterious, and also sometimes quirky and comical. Let me tell you how he answered me today.

As you know, we’ve been studying the book of Romans. This morning, I sat down to that most highlighted and filled chapter in my Bible, seeking one last teaching to wrap up our study, but again hoping it would be a comforting staff instead of a rod for another spiritual spanking. And there I saw a scripture highlighted in my favorite color of pink, jumping off the page. As I read the scripture it came alive and I immediately saw the map to each point.

See, that’s how it happens for me. God shows me how his word comes alive and flows to other scriptures and practical teachings. I see it. You know how in those crime documentaries police have a bulletin board with photos and clues and they start putting the pieces together. They put a push pins in each piece of the puzzle, then they connect them with red yarn, so it all links together visually. Well, yeah, that’s how devotionals happen for me!

I read a scripture and it starts linking with personal stories, songs, movies, other scriptures. I can see the push pins and follow the red yarn. Then, all I have to do is sit down and start writing furiously as God’s Spirit guides me in putting in all together. 1 hour later, I’m recording live to share the findings with you in the day’s devotional.

So today after asking God for a sweet, refreshing devotional, I open the book of Romans and see it there in pink highlighter, just waiting, and as I read the scripture, all the pieces start connecting perfectly. There’s red yarn everywhere, tying together the perfect devotional.

So, I start writing. Writing what you’re hearing right now. And I get to this point to whip out that scripture God showed me so I can quote it word for word … and it’s gone. Like literally gone. I flip all through the book of Romans searching for those 2 verses highlighted in pink that got me so excited just minutes before, and I can’t find them. I’m on a timeline, God. We go live with our work together in 1 hour, now where did that scripture go?

Finally, in desperation, I go to the Google and I do a search for key words I remembered from the scripture God had led me to earlier. Guys, it wasn’t even in the book of Romans. It’s 48 pages after where I had been reading. 3 entire books later. I have no idea how I was somehow in the book of Galatians, I promise you I had opened to my bookmarked spot in Romans where we left off yesterday. It’s so bizarre!

I’ve learned when odd things happen, maybe it’s not odd, maybe it’s God. I asked God for a comforting sweet devotional today and he’s giving it to us in the sweetest of ways. Bizarre, but sweet. Not odd, but God!

So, here’s the scripture he took me to in the wrong book, 48 pages beyond where I opened my Bible. Galatians 5: 24-25, “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.”

I see push pins and red yarn going EVERYWHERE, y’all! Thinking about our own passions and desires being sacrificed isn’t exactly a warm fuzzy thought, is it? What if I don’t want to give up what I want? Does this mean all the passion in my life has to be sacrificed for some sort of buttoned down, boring life? NO! Because something radically different happens when things are nailed to the cross of Jesus and crucified.

Do you know what happens? Those things don’t stay dead. THEY ARE RESURRECTED.

Jesus died on that cross, but he was resurrected to life! When we allow all our passions and desires to be nailed to the cross of Jesus, they die and come back to us better than ever before. Our desires are sanctified. Our passions are aligned with the divine. We have a resurrected fire burning within us according to God’s best plans.

My friend, you can trust God with the desires of your heart. You can trust him fully with the things you dream about. You can confidently give him everything you’re passionate about. Nail all of that to the cross. When you do, only God’s best will be resurrected within you. All those lesser than plans and worldly desires will die, while God’s greatest plans and eternal desires will come to life fully.

When you crucify your passions and desires on the cross of Jesus, you allow God to breath his life and power into only the best of them. God’s approval is stamped on the resurrected desires and passions. God’s power is assigned to the resurrected dreams.

Will you allow them to first be crucified with Christ? I mean let them go. Give them up. Release your grip. Trusting God will resurrect his best appointed dreams and desires for your life and do something greater through them than you ever could have. You can trust him with this.

Jesus didn’t stay on that cross. He died there, but he was resurrected in his full glory. Our passions don’t stay on that cross when we surrender them. Our desires aren’t hanging there forever in a crucified state. They die, then God brings them back in his full glory. RESURRECTED TO LIFE AGAIN!

Do you have some old dreams that have died? God could breath new life into them again.

Do you have some old desires that have gone cold? God could resurrect them.

Lord, breath your life into every desire and passion that aligns with your best plans for my life. If you’re in it, I want it. If you’re not, I don’t. That’s what crucified desires and passions really look like. We will only cling to what God resurrects.

When we live by the Spirit, the Spirit will literally lead us in every part of our lives. Those are not my own made up, feel good words – those are straight from that pink highlighted paragraph in my Bible. The scripture God wanted his girls to hear today.

I used to feel guilty if I didn’t pray about where to park and which store to walk in. I felt like I had failed God when I didn’t seek him in every little thing. And even more than that, I feared what horrible thing might happen if I didn’t pray about it first. Now, I’m seeing the push pins and the red yarn connecting. Ohhhhhh, when we LIVE by the Spirit, meaning we’re open to the Spirit of God continually and we’re in close relationship with him, then the Spirit will lead every part of our lives. IT’S ALREADY HAPPENING!

That’s how we end up in the right place at the right time. The Spirit of God is involved in the details of our lives. He’s been invited to lead. And when he leads, he aligns the supernatural. When he leads, he puts us in front of the right people. When he leads, he creates opportunities, connections and confirmations in the most ordinary places. A trip to the grocery store becomes a spiritual adventure when the Spirit of God leads us!

The Spirit of God lead me directly to Galatians 5:24-25 today, and he asked me to share it with you. “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.”

May you see the push pins and the red yarn connecting all the details of your life to this truth. God is working in you, through you and for you! His Spirit is guiding you. He’s breathing new life into your surrendered desires and passions.

Ahhhh, God, you are so good! Thank you for your sweet staff today!

Follow Pamela on Instagram – https://instagram.com/headmamapamela