Category: Christian

I gotta be honest and say my heart and mind have been touched with burn out and discouragement… I’m just tired… I’m tired of negativity, division, separation and people who easily misunderstand what you say and make false assumptions.

I’m tired of social distancing and wearing masks… Yes, I do wear them where I am supposed to, but I definitely limit the places I go because wearing them is hard for me. I’m tired of this virus, as I am sure everyone is.

I’m tired of horrible conversations about politics and candidates that end up becoming attacks on each other.

There is just a lot that is swarming around and it’s to the point of causing me to feel suffocated. Ashamedly, I think that have complained and vented about these things more than I have prayed over these things. So this morning I stopped and poured my heart out to the Lord. I stopped and stilled myself before the One who is the answer during a chaotic time when it seems as if there are no clear answers and solutions.

As I was watering my flowers this morning, the Lord was continuing to deal with me and stir my heart, reminding me once again of how He is our constant supplier of hope as we live in a world that seems to be falling apart so rapidly.

God brought this truth and reminder to my mind as I looked over at my sunflower that had fallen over. I was so excited about this plant because it had 8 buds that had formed on it and I was looking forward to seeing them in full bloom. Although the plant had fallen over, it was still connected to the ground and so I left it alone in hopes that I would see some of those buds bloom.

My hopes have been fulfilled as I have been able to see two buds open up, but one flower did more than just bloom. Instead of just opening up to share its beauty, the stem began to turn and rise up towards the sun. The large plant it was connected to had fallen, but this little flower decided to bloom and rise again.

We live in days where all is falling and crumbling, but God’s light and truth is still shining brightly upon us. God used the beauty of His creation and as a perfect visual and reminder for me that we too can rise up in His presence and bare fruit despite what may seem to be falling and crumbling around us!

A couple of years ago my son had his first end of the school year testing/evaluation done. I homeschooled him that first grade year, and I wanted to see how he was doing. I needed an outsider’s evaluation of his strengths and weaknesses, and of course to make sure that he was on track academically. I am willing to bet that I was more nervous about this test than my son was, because along with homeschooling comes many challenging days. There are days that you consider a total wash, as far as academics go, because sometimes you are dealing with constant bad attitudes and out of control emotions. I was just hoping that amongst all the crazy days, there had been enough good days where I had provided him with sufficient, educational moments.

The great thing about the testing we had done was that the results were immediate. As soon as he was finished with his test, the test proctor pulled up the results on her computer screen to go over them with us. As the proctor began going over the results with my husband and I, she looked at us with a smile and said, “First, I would like to let you know that your son hears very well! Most parents are surprised by how well their children can actually hear. So the next time your son give you the excuse that “I just didn’t hear you,” you let him know that you have test results that prove otherwise!” We laughed when she shared this with us, because of course we had heard that excuse from our son more times than we could count, and she was probably betting on the fact that we had!

I was thankful to learn that my son could in fact hear and hear well. So any time he lack to respond or obey what he had heard, now revealed an issue of his heart. Sometimes our “want to” or “don’t want to” attitudes can get in the way of what we should do.

Reading Proverbs 4:10 took me back to this testing day. The test proctor’s affirmation about our son’s ability to hear rang loudly in my mind as I read and dwelled upon this verse. She was letting us know that a lack of response from our son was not due to his hearing but instead it had everything to do with his heart. Upon reading this verse from Proverbs, conviction and self-evaluation quickly set in. This verse says, “Hear, my son, and accept my words, that the years of your life may be many.”

This Proverb provides a clear, two-step process, with the second part probably being more vital than the first. Hearing God’s words is one thing, but accepting them and striving to live by them… well, that is where the honey’s at!  Although hearing is important and necessary, it is certainly not enough. What good is it if I hear God’s words, and then turn around to only reject them and fail to live by them?

As I evaluate my own heart and life, I have to say honestly that I have not always accepted His words. Hear them? Yes! But accepting them is not always easy. Accepting, requires a dying to self, and I find that there is a constant need for me to lay down my will and way in exchange for His. Our ears can hear, our minds can agree, but our hearts… our hearts must accept and follow!

Psalm 119:12

“I incline my heart to perform your decrees to the very end.”

I want the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth! Seeking out the whole truth seems to be near impossible these days. A lot of sources will share partial information, and therefore, the truth that they are presenting is highly skewed, which is really not the truth at all. I feel lost in a sea of questionable information. I feel lost in the cross fire between people who have chosen a side. And me? I don’t want a side, I just want the truth and I want unity. The more I talk with people, the more I realize I am not the only one with this desire.

But I have come to the conclusion that the truths that I long for, the truths that pertain to the many current events of our present day, will never be fully known. There are just too many facets involved. Continuing seeking out the truth and obtain the “earthly” answers that I long for will ultimately leave my mind swirling, and leaving me with spiritual vertigo.  One thing is certain, the root of all our modern day issues is sin. Sin twists and distorts, and ultimately leaves us all feeling confused.

But God is not the author of confusion, and therefore we can know that the chaos of today is not the doing of God’s hands. (1 Corinthians 14:33) Among the confusion and the loud, disruptive noises, God is still speaking though, and He is still graciously offering a reliable, trustworthy source that will present the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth every single time.  God’s word has proven time and time again to be a gift and a treasure. God’s word has proven to be the reliable source that presents us with only the purest form of truth that our hearts long for, and no hidden agendas.

The prophet Samuel did great things on behalf of God in his day and time. How was he able to do this? Was it because Samuel lived in a more peaceful day and time, making accomplishing good things easier? What was Samuel’s secret weapon?  Samuel did great things on behalf of God, not because things in the world were peaceful, but because He knew God, the true source of peace, and he immersed himself constantly in truth and wisdom that can only be found in God’s word.

1 Samuel 3:21 says,

“The Lord continued to appear at Shiloh, and there He revealed Himself to Samuel through His word.”

As long as the Lord tarries, there is still work to be done on His behalf, but as long as we are immersed in confusion, we will not know our left from our right. God longs to continue to reveal Himself still today and lead us towards action. Obtaining this knowledge and direction that God longs to bestow, will only be gained by reading and being constantly immersed in His word. We must seek Him!

God’s word can anchor our hearts, minds, and souls. God’s word can serve to steady us during unsteady times. Let it be said of God’s church that even in troublous times, God was able to reveal Himself in mighty ways to the believers of 2020 and do mighty things because we sought out His truth, His whole truth, and nothing but His truth!

Hope is an assured, confident expectation of what is to come. It’s being able to trust our known God to an unknown future. God’s love and grace has supplied us with an ability to have faith, and therefore, we have what we need to have a hope that is fully supported. This hope that I cling to, this hope that I proclaim, is not one that is self-produced, but is one that God faithfully provides moment by moment, hour by hour, and day by day. Assurance of what is to come, assurance of our future, is pretty hard to think on right now, leaving many of us feeling shaken and discouraged. But, when has God ever failed? When has God abandoned His promises?

I remember a specific evening a couple of years back when my husband and I were riding down the road. My heart and mind had become completely overrun with anxiety, discouragement and grief. When I disclosed my struggle to my husband, his response was, “Declare right now what God has done in your life and in our lives together! Say it out loud! Go through the time line of your life and our lives together and speak what we have seen God do!” In this moment of heaviness, in a moment of feeling suffocated and feeling completely buried, I began to proclaim with my husband what we had seen God do in our lives. I proclaimed the many answered prayers that we had seen unfold in our lives in such miraculous ways. I spoke loudly and boldly of God’s faithfulness, and this defeating moment, turned into a victorious moment of praising God and declaring truth. On that car ride home, instead of being buried, my spirit was lifted and my heart was put to rest. I needed to remember and proclaim the faithfulness of God!

If your heart and mind seems to lack hope today, speak out what God has already done in your life! Remember and declare God’s faithfulness! Seek out another believer and listen to their testimonies and the mighty ways that God has worked in their lives in their greatest times of need! Now is the time to speak and hear God’s truth and remember the great things that He has done! Don’t let your hope run dry!

“Find rest, O my soul, in God alone;
my hope comes from Him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation;
He is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
My salvation and my honor depend on God;
He is my mighty rock, my refuge.
Trust in Him at all times, O people;
Pour out your hearts to Him,
For God is our refuge.”

Psalm 62:5-8

When asked by my husband what kind of flowers that I wanted to buy for the house, I immediately said without any hesitation, “Geraniums! They are a forgiving plant!” Of course my husband looked at me with complete confusion, because the two of us, in all of our years of marriage, we had never owned a geranium. Naturally he asked, “What are you talking about a “forgiving plant? And how do you know about geraniums?”

When I was sixteen years old, I was on the work study program at my high school. I worked half of the school day for a stock broker who had an office on our little town square in Covington, GA. Outside of the store front, sat two rectangular, cement flower pots, each positioned below a window. As you might have already guessed, planted inside those cement flower pots were bright, red geraniums. Part of my job was to help keep those flowers watered and looking good! Much to my shame, I overlooked that part of my job description frequently. It was so easy for me to walk past those potted plants as I entered the office each day, becoming preoccupied with other things, and not giving those little flowers another thought.

But their neglect always began to show, and my boss would kindly ask me from time to time, “Tiffany, have you watered the flowers out front lately?” Of course, he knew the answer to his question, but that was always his kind way of making me aware that I had neglected them, once again.

The cool thing about those flowers is that, every time they looked like they were closer to dying instead of surviving, the moment I began watering them and supplying them with what they needed, they always bounced back! They always forgave my neglect, and they always began to quickly flourish once again. New bright, red blooms would begin to form and their leaves returned to being lush and green. This plant was always so quick to forgive me that I could even see a difference in them just over night. These plants always bore the evidence of forgiveness, which allowed their health and beauty to return.

Over the years, I have had more experience with other plants, some also being forgiving, but others not being forgiving at all. There have been plants that I have loved and I have stood in awe of their beauty, but when the slightest overlook occurred, bitterness seemed to set in, and its beauty began to fade quickly. No matter how hard I consistently worked to bring these unforgiving plants back, they remained resistant to the above and beyond care they were being given. They remained in their shriveled up condition and their beauty was lost forever. This lack of forgiveness, this poison of bitterness that had gotten to its’ roots, became evident to all, and only served to cut off the life of the plant.

A heart that realizes that God has forgiven them of much will forgive much, and the evidence will always produce new, healthy growth that is evident to all.    

Forgiveness has not always been easy for me, but God has opened my heart and eyes to see the bottomless supply of undeserved forgiveness that He has graciously lavished on me. In light of this truth, how could I not strive to extend this kind of forgiveness to another?

Withholding forgiveness does not produce any power or exemplify a righteous stand that we may be seeking, but rather it robs you of freedom, healing, growth, and the beauty that God desires to see produced in our lives.

In the heart and life of those who forgive, flows abundant life and continuous growth because it reflects a heart that has received true and lasting forgiveness that only Jesus can provide. A heart that forgives reveals a heart that realizes that it has been forgiven of so much, and so it too must forgive.

Just as the geranium bears the evidence of forgiveness, may those of us who are in Christ bear evident blooms of forgiveness- simply reflecting humble lives that have been forgiven of much.

Colossians 3:13, 14

“Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”

2020 has become the year of “most likely” turning into “most likely not.” When I wrote dates down in my calendar at the beginning of the year for end of year school activities, upcoming church events, and extracurricular activities for my kids, I wrote them down in ink because I believed that all these big events were signed, sealed, done, and final! These plans, in my mind, were iron clad, taking a high priority for each particular date, and I would definitely be planning around these various events over the course of the upcoming months. But these plans that I had written down in ink were never guaranteed. Yes, they were plans that were to “most likely” happened, but I came to quickly realize that “most likely” can easily become “most likely not”.

I know life is temporal, and therefore, we really have no guarantees. With most of my plans for the first half of this year being written in ink, I was basically declaring them, at least in my mind, as a guarantee. I thought I knew what my days would look like in the future, even three months in advance. Very few of the plans I had marked in my calendar were written in pencil, but now it seems as if I am only writing my plans down using a pencil.

But, when I would write my plans down using a pen, it seemed to provide me with a sense of certainty. Why? Because I long for guarantees. I want to know what is next, and writing down my plans with something permanent served as an effort of striving to know what my days ahead might actually look like, and now… well none of us really know… and we never really did. I want to know what I can depend on. I want to be able to pick up my pen and have dependable plans. However, the markings that I make or anything that I write down can never be fully depended upon, but rather it is the mark that God has placed on my life that can provide me with the 100 percent guarantee in this life that that I long for; enabling me to walk by faith eternally.

2 Corinthians 1:21-22

“Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set His seal of ownership on us, and put His spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.”

In times that seem so uncertain, reading that God has given us something as a guarantee is extremely comforting and reassuring. The language that Paul used in writing to the believers in Corinth were words that would have great significance to them and would have been instrumental in helping them understand this guarantee that Paul was striving to portray.  Paul purposely made reference to the fact that those who stand firm in Christ have been anointed, and that God Himself has set His very own seal upon their lives (our lives), giving a GUARANTEE for the future!

In this time, seals were of great importance. Documents or letters were often times sealed with a soft material, like melted wax, that would eventually harden. Before hardening, the person who was endorsing or writing the letter or document would impress their signet (their symbol) into the moldable wax, providing authenticity and authority. Placing your mark upon the melted wax on a document was a big deal and signified that you fully embraced all its’ contents! The small dollop, baring the mark of the sender, had so much authority, that no one dared to question or challenge its’ authenticity and mark of approval.  In fact, the symbols used to make the mark upon the seals were so distinct to a particular person of power, that often times, when that person died, their seal would immediately be destroyed, never to be used again.   

By Paul telling the believers in Corinth that they had been marked with a seal by God, he was emphasizing the powerful, authoritative, unquestionable, and distinctive mark that God had placed on their lives. This mark could fill them with great confidence by helping them to become aware of this guarantee they now had while living in a world of, “most likely not.” He was telling these believers that they can have a confidence in God’s final, authoritative mark over their lives. This mark they bore was final and would carry them for all eternity- no questions asked.

But, in order for a seal to bare the mark of the sender, and be properly sealed, the substance first must be soft and able to be molded, and likewise, it is true for the hearts who bare God’s seal. The seal of God is set only upon the hearts of those that have had that heart of stone removed and replaced by a heart of flesh- a heart that is soft. Once the heart become soft, God then impresses upon us His distinctive seal, His mark that speaks for us with full authority, giving us the guarantee that we long for!

If God has placed His seal upon your soften heart, then you my friend can rest easy in the guarantee that guards your life. For it provides you with peace that surpasses all understanding that will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. If you can’t say for sure that you bare God’s seal of grace and mercy, then I urge you to lift your eyes to the One who saves, bow your knee to the Name that is above all other names, and allow Him to place that guarantee on a softened heart.

Some of the most productive conversations I have ever had in my life were about things I didn’t really want to talk about. Some of the hardest conversations I have ever had, ended up resulting in tremendous healing, closure, restoration, and, ultimately, peace. There were conversations that I avoided having with loved ones in my life for a very long time, because I didn’t want to have another battle over who was right or who was wrong, or whose hurts were more severe, all the while stirring up all the past hurts all over again. So my goal???  Avoid those tender topics like the plague! One day, though, the right and wrong mentality dissolved, and instead of pinning each other’s wrongs upon one other for display, we sought out having an understanding of each other’s positions, perspectives, and hurts.

The moment everyone involved began to seek after understanding, both sides realized that everyone was hurting; just for different reasons and in different ways.  The time that we finally took to sit down at the round table, no longer avoiding the issues, allowed us to look one another in the eyes and realize that there was a strong love that was still alive, there were voids that needed to be filled in all of us, and there was a true healing that needed to take place by way of a restored relationship with one another.  The fact is, when something breaks, all the pieces that are involved are broken and bare jagged edges. It’s simply the result of brokenness that is felt by everyone involved, and ignoring one another’s brokenness and hurt gets you nowhere.

In our nation today, I look around and I see tremendous brokenness. I see a nation of people who want to take a side and “die on their hill” so to speak. I see groups of people that have their long lists of wrongs that they want to pin upon the other side for display. But where does any of those actions get us? What does that produce, other than more brokenness and division? I think that it’s our time for us to take a seat at the round table, look each other in the eye, and really listen to one another and gain a perspective that is not our own. There are many voids that need to be filled and hearts that need mending. The impossible can become possible when we strive to have the conversations that we may not want to have. BUT, once these conversations begin, you will realize they are not that bad to be had, and can end up resulting in great healing, closure, restoration, and ultimately, peace!

Proverbs 3:13-18

Blessed is the one who finds wisdom,
    and the one who gets understanding,
for the gain from her is better than gain from silver
    and her profit better than gold. She is more precious than jewels,
    and nothing you desire can compare with her.
Long life is in her right hand;
    in her left hand are riches and honor.
Her ways are ways of pleasantness,
    and all her paths are peace.
 She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her;
    those who hold her fast are called BLESSED.

My husband and I sat in our rocking chairs on our back porch in the cool of the evening, and he asked me, “Tiff, of all the flowers we’ve planted this year, which one is your absolute favorite?” I sat there thinking of an answer to give as I looked at all the beautiful varieties before my eyes. All I could think of, as I thought of an answer to give, is how beautiful all of these flowers are and all for different reasons. Their collective uniqueness and their being together is what makes their beauty increase all the more. Therefore, I couldn’t choose. I love them all, and I love these flowers best when they are together.

The variety that God has supplied in every category of creation, leaves all people in awe and wonder. How could it not? New discoveries of all God has created continues to be made throughout the world, and I believe these new discoveries will continue until the end of time. What a beautiful representation of our Creator through His creation! What a cool reflection of how we can know Him, but our search of Him will be continuous, even into eternity!

We as people, stop and marvel at the creation all around us, but we often overlook the beauty of God’s greatest creation, the human race. When God made people, He made them in His image, He blessed them, and then He told them to be fruitful and increase in number. (Genesis 1:28)

Our variety is what makes us beautiful, and our created uniqueness is more beautiful when we are together!

From the beginning of time, God longed to bestow blessings upon the crown of His creation, and longed to see us be productive and bear fruit as we increase in number. Just as His variety in nature is beautiful and breathtaking, so it is with the very people that He created in His image! Our variety is what makes us beautiful, and our created uniqueness is more beautiful when we are together!

Acts 17:26a

“From one man He made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth”

I opened my eyes and I was surprised to see how much darkness there was around me still. It was just as dark with my eyes open as when they were closed. I was sure it was still the middle of the night, but it still seemed unusually dark.  I lay there a good while longer, waiting for any amount of light to come shining through before I tried getting up.  After continuing to lay there, for what seemed like hours, there was still no hint of light. With great caution, I finally reach my arms out, striving to feel what was around me, and all I could feel were hard, concrete walls. As I continued to run my hands across the rough surface, I realized these walls lacked windows. I continued to carefully feel my way around in the dark, hoping I would stumble across a door so that I could escape this dark and dreadful room, but my search was unsuccessful.

For many days, which eventually turned into months, I wandered around in that dark room, striving to find any way out. After all my striving, I realized the room had completely entrapped me and there was nothing that I could do to break free from this place I had found myself. I finally stopped that pointless search and fell on bent knees, crying out loud for God to work on my behalf. There was absolutely nothing I could do, and I was in need of being rescued. I sat in that room long enough to feel and understand just how helpless I was, and if I was to gain the freedom that I longed for, it would have to come from an outside source. I needed a Savior!

I didn’t stay in that box forever. In fact, I experienced a great and timely rescuing! I was in the box long enough to experience what “way maker, miracle worker, promise keeper, light in the darkness” really means, and therefore be able to loudly proclaim, “My God! That is who you are!”

How do we understand that God is our way maker, until we realize we need a way made for us? How do we take notice of His miracles, and see that He is our miracle worker, until we see we are in need of a miracle? How do we believe He is a promise keeper until we get to the point of needing Him to fulfill His promises before our very eyes? And lastly, how do we cherish His light and recognize that we need His light, unless we have experienced complete darkness?   

For a long time, I looked back at my time spent in that dark, empty room, and I would mourn over the wasted time, but honestly, it’s the time spent in that room that has fueled my praise to my King of Kings. Time spent in that dark empty room allowed my heart to be filled with an endless gratitude for what He has done on my behalf! I should have been trapped in that room forever, and you should have been trapped in yours. But God came, and He made a way, performed a miracle, flooded that dark place with His light, and set us free! The place of darkness didn’t have the final say so and therefore we have a great story to tell!

As we stand free today, it’s important to remember that many we encounter daily are not free. There are those around us that find themselves still in that dark room. Therefore, our stories must be told! It’s the message of hope that God has given us to share. Let those who still find themselves trapped in that dark and hopeless room know why you have hope today. Let them know that you too were once trapped in that room of complete darkness, but God heard your cries for mercy! Point those who are stilled trapped to our way maker, miracle worker, promise keeper, our light in the darkness, and let them know why we can say “My God! That is who you are!”