She Speaks Truth

Here in Texas right now, where I am at, there is a blanket of white snow, forming a winter wonderland. It is peaceful and calm at 5 in the morning. I pray that God blesses you where you are today with peace and a reminder of His abundant provision and beauty in creation!

When you are not getting the answers you want...when situations are beyond your control....when life feels hard, do I continue to pray on and through? Do I continue to believe in the promises of God? Join me as I talk about some of the hard part of life these past few weeks and my need to surrender more fully to God.

During this time I have felt doubts and fears.  I connect with Peter in Matthew 14 as he is trying to walk on water to Jesus but when he takes his eyes off of Jesus, he begins to sink. I pray we will focus on God this week, keeping our eyes on Him when I feel doubt and fear. 

Please excuse my dogs playing in the background during part of the podcast...they came running through when I was recording. 

As we celebrate the life of Martin Luther King, Jr. today, we focus on the way he lived his life lifting others up and calling for love and peace among our countrymen. Am I also being an agent of change that stands for those that are oppressed, calls others to help in times of need, encourages peace and love towards those around me? Are you? I pray that this week will bring rest and healing to our individual lives and the country. 

The week started all bright and shiny  for me.  It was my birthday week and I was excited because I love birthdays. Then events happened that left me feeling angry and sad and not sure what it means to love those around me. I was not sure what it meant to understand that even though someone does not believe the same as me, they are not my enemy. I was not sure as I read posts, watched news channels and talked with others what it meant to be a follower of Jesus who is called to Love the Lord with all my heart and then to love my neighbor as myself. I am struggling a bit with that and I am calling myself and you this next week to love those around us, even when we do not agree. 

As I am reading the New Testament and Psalms this year, I am looking for insight in how I can surrender to God in all areas of my life. Today I am looking at who am I that God would want to use me in any way. As I do, I am looking at the lineage of Jesus through Joseph, a man with several in his line that may not be who you think would be the best candidates to appear in the lineage of the man that would mold and care for the Son of God. I encourage you to look past your mess and focus on how, despite past failures, you can motivate and encourage others around you with your actions and words. 

This time of the year always makes me so excited to reflect on the past year and focus on the promise of the new year ahead. Even though 2020 was not what we expected it to be and there were major disappointments, I am still so hopeful for a 2021 that will bring new dreams. I am working on 2021 to be a time of surrendering to God with my time, my relationships, my health, my finances, my life. Join me as I focus on surrendering to His will this year and reading the New Testament and Psalms this year. I will put a picture of my January reading plan in the notes on my Facebook Page, The Care Circle. My episode cover picture shows my refection time and planning time that took place yesterday as I began to prepare for a new year and reflect on the one coming to a close. I pray you find rest for your mind, body and soul as you move into 2021. I will be with you again in the new year. 

When you were looking over the hard part of 2020, I asked you last week to name those hard things but not dwell on them. I wanted us to look at those hard thing, those disappointments and trials and look past that darkness to find the lights. Where did you grow? What did you learn? How were you stretched? Where did. you see God? We will take time today to rewrite the narrative and focus on the light in this year. Join me as we journey together towards a life of depending on God in all times.

As we finish 2020, we have all faced hard things this year. Taking a few minutes to name the hards things can help us to be free to explore the good and face new joys and days ahead. I pray you find the courage to name your hard things and begin to look for the lessons and the nuggets of joy mixed in as we process how to move forward and finish this year strong.