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When You Feel Like You're Not Enough Wow, it’s been exactly two months since my last post! Things have been pretty busy around here, but I’m excited to finally share an update with you all. I don’t know about you, but some days I feel like I’m constantly playing catch-up—with laundry, with relationships, and yep—studies too. It’s like no matter how early I wake up or how much I cross off the to-do list, there’s still this lingering weight. The house is never quiet long enough to think, the inbox keeps filling up, and I forget (again) to defrost the meat for dinner. And then by mid-afternoon, I start to hear that subtle whisper: You’re not doing enough.  Maybe you’ve heard it too. Lately, I’ve been unpacking and trying to make our new house feel like home. It’s been nonstop—boxes, tasks, and a scary health moment in between. Some days, I walk into the kitchen or living room and think, Okay, we’re getting somewhere. But then I step into our bedroom—and the boxes are still there. Hone...
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I’m supposed to be non-stop packing, but here I am. As I pack, listening to music, this song came on, and I just had to share my heart. "Faithful Still" by KingsPorch —I’ve loved this song since last year, so it’s been with me for a while. Every time I hear it, my heart is reminded of what I already know but sometimes forget: God is faithful. He has never failed, and He never will. How often do we find ourselves wondering, Will God really come through this time? Maybe it’s an unanswered prayer, a painful loss, or a season of waiting that feels like it will never end. Our hearts know He is faithful, yet our circumstances whisper otherwise. But here’s the truth: God’s faithfulness is not dependent on our feelings or circumstances—it is anchored in His unchanging character. When we face trials, it can feel like we’re standing in front of an immovable mountain. Maybe it’s a health crisis, financial hardship, or a broken relationship that seems beyond repair. But Jesus tells us: ...
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Isn’t it absolutely awe-inspiring that while people often look at our outward appearance—our flaws, failures, or even the messiness of our lives—God sees our hearts? He doesn’t judge us by what the world values, but instead, He looks deeper, beyond the surface, and sees us for who we truly are. 1 Samuel 16:7 says: “But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not look at his appearance or his stature because I have rejected him. Humans do not see what the Lord sees, for humans see what is visible, but the Lord sees the heart.’” This truth has been on my heart all week as I’ve talked with a few friends who are going through incredibly difficult seasons. They’ve been misjudged, hurt by others, or weighed down by the feeling that no one sees or truly understands them. It reminded me of times in my own life when I felt unseen or unfairly judged. Sometimes it’s hard to face situations like gossip, lies, or backstabbing, but these actions often reflect the condition of the person’s heart. Matthew 12:34...
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We’ve had a couple of snow days here in southeastern Oklahoma, and let me tell you, snow in the South is a whole different experience than what we were used to in Massachusetts! Every time it snows, I remind my husband: “Snow days in the South are the best snow days.” Here’s why: the snow comes just long enough to sprinkle some joy into our lives. It accumulates just enough to play in, snap some beautiful pictures, make snow cream, and soak in the peaceful stillness that only a blanket of white can bring. And then—poof!—a couple of days later, it’s gone. No mushy, slushy, muddy mess sticking around for weeks, no grimy ice piles hanging on for dear life. We can just enjoy it for what it is and move on with our lives, snow-free and stress-free. This week, as I watched the snow, the hymn “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” kept running through my mind:  "Morning by morning new mercies I see;  All I have needed Thy hand hath provided,  Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me." It’s...
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Fruit grows in the valleys Earlier today, a friend shared a post with a quote attributed to Billy Graham:  “Mountaintops are for views and inspiration, but fruit is grown in the valleys.”  The words immediately intrigued me, making me pause to meditate on their meaning. Out of curiosity, I decided to fact-check whether Billy Graham actually said this. It turns out, he did! This quote is featured in  Quotes from Billy Graham: A Legacy of Faith  and has been referenced by his grandson, Will Graham, in a devotional on the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association's website. This discovery made me reflect deeply on the profound truth captured in the quote. As I turned to Scripture, it became clear how much this idea resonates with biblical teachings. - Mountaintops: A Glimpse of God’s Glory Moses on Mount Sinai received the Ten Commandments (Exodus 19-20), a pivotal moment for Israel’s relationship with God. Elijah on Mount Carmel witnessed God’s power as fire consumed the a...
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  Rooted in Hope: My Favorite Passage to Start the New Year Happy New Year, friends! As we welcome 2025, I want to share a passage that holds a special place in my heart—a scripture that has encouraged me time and time again: “But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in Him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” — Jeremiah 17:7-8 This imagery of a tree, deeply rooted and constantly nourished, gives me hope for whatever lies ahead. No matter the challenges or changes a new year may bring, when we trust in the Lord, we are strengthened by His steadfast love. On this last day of 2024, let this quote from Dr. Adrian Rogers bring comfort and encouragement: "We don't know what the coming year will bring—sickness, heartache, or trouble. But I do know that you can boldly say,...
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El Roi: The God Who Sees Me  Life feels heavy sometimes, doesn’t it? Disappointment, grief, betrayal—they press down on us, making it hard to take the next step. Some of the deepest wounds come from those we trust most. People we cherished and believed in can turn against us, creating false narratives that feel impossible to untangle. And yet, I know I’m not alone in this. These past few weeks, my heart has carried much. They’re the kind of burdens I used to share with my mom. We’d pray together, and she always had a timely word from the Lord—a verse to meditate on, a prayer to lift me up. But she’s not here anymore, and oh, how I miss her. She knew me well. She knew my husband well. She knew our hearts and loved us deeply. That kind of love is rare, and I don’t take it for granted. While the world looks at the exterior, God looks at the heart. “Man does not see what the LORD sees, for man sees what is visible, but the LORD sees the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7). He is always seeking hear...