Uncompromised

  Solace: Words of Consolation On November 5, 2023, something very simple and very precious to my heart came into the world: Solace: Words of Consolation . It is not a big book. It is not fancy. It is a small booklet, a quiet gathering of black and white photographs I captured during one of the hardest seasons of my life, paired with the Scriptures that held me together. For several months, I was a full-time caregiver for my mom. Those were sacred, exhausting, tender days where love and grief lived side by side. And when she passed suddenly, the ground beneath me shifted in ways I still struggle to put into words. The verses in this booklet are Scriptures friends shared with me, prayed over me, and passages the Lord pressed gently into my heart. Solace began there, on the floor of my heart. Every page in this little booklet was prayed over. I put it together slowly, sometimes with tears, sometimes with deep breaths, and always with the reminder that the living Word of God was w...

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 he...

Blue Christmas: Hope for the Hurting During the Holidays The holiday season is here, twinkling lights, cheerful music, and the hustle and bustle of family gatherings. But for some of us, this time of year can feel heavy. Grief, loss, and loneliness may seem more intense against the backdrop of festive cheer. I get it. The world seems to expect joy and togetherness, but what if you’re not feeling that way? Maybe you’re missing someone deeply, especially at Christmastime. For me, it’s my mom. I miss her more than words can express. For others, it might be the loss of a spouse, a close friend, a child, or even a dream. We all carry different burdens, but they often feel heavier when everyone around us is celebrating. The Meaning Behind Blue Christmas:  You might have heard the term "Blue Christmas" before. For many, it brings to mind the classic Elvis Presley song about missing someone during the holidays. For others, Blue Christmas has come to symbolize the grief and sorrow tha...

As the holidays approach, I’ve noticed many posts from dear friends who are missing loved ones, and I’m one of them too. Grief is such a strange thing. It looks different for everyone, comes in waves, and evolves over time. I still remember when my husband buried his mother on December 22nd and then led worship for every Christmas Eve service just days later. With a steadfast heart, he encouraged, loved, and led the congregation to worship Jesus with their whole hearts. That’s what it means to truly belong to the Lord. Anyone else might have been overcome with sorrow, but he stood firm because his eyes were fixed on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). This is my second Christmas without my mom, and some days are just plain hard. Even though I know I’ll see her again one day because of the promise we have in Christ, it still hurts. I miss the simple things, calling her to share something silly, asking for her prayers, or just hearing her voice as we talked about...

  Over the past two months, my life has been a journey of sorting, packing, and letting go. It all began when I was tasked with emptying my mother's house after she passed suddenly, a difficult time of reflection. As I returned to my new home, town, and state, I was reminded of the verse from Isaiah 43:19, "See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland." Embracing this new season, I realized it was not just about physical changes, but also about a spiritual transformation. In the process of sorting through belongings, I began to meditate on the need for inner sorting as well. As believers, we are called to release the burdens that weigh us down and keep us from experiencing the fullness of God's grace. Philippians 3:13-14 encouraged me, "Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining t...