Micah 6:8 tells us how to please God. It's not about the sacrifices but it's all about our time with Him and how we treat others. When we're able to find our peace and joy in Him, we're able to bless others - to love and treat them right no matter how they treat us. God alone is the source to empower us to please Him as we live our holiest hot mess lives.

Hebrews 4:14-16 reminds us that Jesus feels our pain on a visceral level. It also reminds us that we can boldly go to God and receive grace and mercy from Him. Receiving from God when we're suffering helps us to be encouraged as we live our holiest hot mess lives.

Psalm 136 is very repetitive with the reminder that God's love is eternal. It also reminds us of the great things God's done and how wise and powerful He is. We might not understand all the tragedies, but we can trust God and praise Him in advance for His plans. As we live our holiest hot mess lives, let's pause and praise so we're not overwhelmed by recent events whether personally, nationally, or globally.

John 14:1 is our focus today when Jesus told His disciples not to worry or be upset - this is right before He's about to allow Himself to be tortured and crucified. As we wrestle with our grief and our worry, let's also believe Jesus. If He tells us not to worry then we need not worry - but how? Spend time in His Word, listen to praise and worship music, and pray - alone and with others. As we live our holiest hot mess lives, let us do so believing that Jesus won the war already. Let's not just believe IN Him. Let's believe Him.

I'm Psalm 142, David cried out to God in despair. I think it's safe to say that many of us are in despair right now. We're on total overload of all of the tragedies that continue to explode across the news. It's been an exhausting two years with an exhausting two-three weeks lately... so today's podcast is a bit longer than usual but prayerfully it will encourage us that we're not alone in our rage and disbelief of what's happening. And even in this, we can keep going to God as we live our holiest hot mess lives. Even if we're going in anger... He can handle it. Just keep going to Him!

Colossians 3:16-17 wraps up our week of words to live by found in this chapter. Today we find that we're able to be strategic and determined to live our holiest hot mess lives when we allow Christ's message to live in our hearts and we worship Him with thanksgiving.

Colossians 3:15 helps us to remember that no matter what is happening in the world, it's the peace of God that we are to use to guide our decisions - to shape our responses - so that we can operate out of the Fruit of the Holy Spirit. When we're thankful, it helps us to trust God...which helps us to feel and then operate in peace as we live our holiest hot mess lives. Also, it's no coincidence that God chose this verse on today - two years after the day that news was spreading of the murder of George Floyd. It felt like peace was the furthest feeling we could find and that thankfulness was impossible. And while the past two years have been filled with more tragedy than we can keep track of, we as God's chosen people must continue to trust Him and to find our peace in Him as we continue to choose an attitude of gratitude so that the darkness doesn't overwhelm us. Especially if we're going to live our holiest hot mess lives and shine our very bright lights.

Colossians 3:14 really wraps up the preceeding two verses and helps us to to be more mindful about the love that God has for us and the love that God desires for us to have for one another. When we add love to what we're doing and saying - to who and how we're being - then we create the unity God desires as we live our holiest hot mess lives. And to God be the glory for this 100th episode!!!!🎉🎉🎉

Colossians 3:13 really holds us accountable as to how we are to tolerate and forgive those who have wronged us. Building off of yesterday's verse, we are reminded that God has forgiven us greatly and so we must also forgive others as we continue living our whole holiest hot mess lives.

Colossians 3:12 reminds us that not only are we loved by God but we are chosen by God to be His people. Since God chooses us and loves us, we need to be strategic in how we show love to others so that we can help them to recognize God's love for them and to be in right relationship with Him. As we do this, we will also continue to grow in our character while living our holiest hot mess lives.