The other day I was going for a walk, talking to God about all that was on my mind, and opening myself up for any thoughts He wanted to place on my heart.

Probably because the holidays are coming up and my mind is beginning to think on those, my thoughts drifted to traditions and changes, as time marches on. 🧡

Over the past several years, things would come up around the holidays that would shake up our “norm.” And I use the word normal loosely because I feel like I’ve never had rigid traditions. As much as I’ve felt like maybe I should, especially as it’s easy to look around at holiday times and see all the other Pinterest-worthy traditions and activities other people get into during the holidays.

One year, when I was pregnant, I was so exhausted and had so much anxiety being pregnant after loss that I didn’t wrap our gifts. They came in cardboard Amazon boxes and stayed that way, other than the ones that came with pictures of the items on the boxes (not sure who thought that was a good idea 😂)— those, I removed from their boxes and put in dollar tree bags, which was the second most fuss-free option!

I was so worried the kids would be disappointed not having Christmas paper to tear open, but they didn’t care. They reminded me Christmas isn’t about gifts anyway, and that they were glad I was tired because they were getting a new brother. ❤️

Another tradition we used to have was cutting down our own fresh Christmas tree. This is one of our best kept ones, except for a year I was having a miscarriage and in so much physical pain when we went that we ended up grabbing a precut one and rushing home. 😞 Or last year when we just couldn’t find a day to go when the weather wasn’t crappy and none of us had a cold, so we hit up the local corner tree place and chose one from a half dozen that they had precut there, threw it in the back of the truck, and drove home— decidedly content and not needing tradition to be joyful, but all the same— it just wasn’t the same.

You know that feeling, I’m guessing.

We just want it to feel “the same” sometimes don’t we?

Just like it used to?

The warm fuzzy feelings.

The perfect holiday moments that make our hearts feel like they’re going to burst!

Some days, years, holiday seasons are like that.

And sadly, some aren’t.
Some are just plain hard.

Years when loved ones who once were at the very centers of our circles won’t be with us this year.

Maybe they’ve gone on to heaven.

Maybe divorce has removed them from lives and families.

Maybe some friends and family have relocated.

And it’s just not the same, and the feelings are messy, and you just crave the comfort of the old days that you can’t go back to as much as you wish you could.

So many people on my heart this year that this applies to. ❤️‍🩹

And when I was on my walk with God, I was praying for them. And I was just thinking to myself how we long for something, anything that just stays “the same.”

Something, someone reliable.
Infinitely faithful.

A tradition that’s never changing.

A place to go that is always open,
never closes shop,
never gives up or goes away-
Whether by choice or by force.

Like that grandparents’ house that always had an open door and a warm welcome.

Or the place that always “knew your name and were always glad you came” (not the bar, but Cheers 🍻 had a catchy theme song didn’t it?)

Deep down I think in a world that’s constantly changing (and these days, shockingly so), we all just crave something and someone that doesn’t.

On that walk, God reminded me that HE fits that need.

He’s the only one who does!

——-

The next morning I woke up, and my husband’s bracelet caught my eye.

Its letters stand for
Jesus
Christ
Is
The
Same
Yesterday
And
Today
And
Forever!

This verse is so perfectly fitting for that craving for something that never changes, isn’t it?

I knew that was it!

There’s no place—
no home,
no holiday attraction,
no church even—
like our home in Him!
Our “quiet place”, affirming place, place of peace
in His presence!

When He gave me this verse it was as if a word that had been in my heart but I couldn’t identify with my mind in order to be able to express FINALLY came out! Such relief to identify the exact thing I was longing for!

And then He brought another verse to mind which I’m sharing below.

I believe someone else may need to hear this today:

God says to you and to me:

*️⃣I have cared for you since you were born.

*️⃣I carried you BEFORE you were born.

*️⃣I will be your God throughout your lifetime—

Until your hair is white with age!

*️⃣I made you and I will care for you!

*️⃣I will carry you along and save you!

(No need to carry it all yourself or save yourself.
Not from life,
and not even from emotions!)

Wow. God is so so faithfully, reliably, timelessly GOOD.

HE is our real Home.
And He never will change!
He’s the same loving and sovereign God,
yesterday, today, and forever!

Isn’t that a breath of fresh holiday air?🌲 🥰

I hope it brings someone else comfort, joy, and peace today!

These are the “too late” tomatoes.

The ones that were still on our vine, at the end of the season, and had stubbornly stayed green until the days became too cool to help them ripen.

Well here’s the thing: I love tomatoes y’all. 🍅

I couldn’t stand the thought of throwing them out with the vine, especially now that we are really watching our grocery bills. I didn’t want ONE to be wasted.

So I went outside and began gathering them, to bring in.

Now my kids are used to me going out in late summer, searching the vine for ripe, red ones and bringing them in for our lunches.

But to see me pick the green ones?
Well it caused them to do a double-take.

“Did you just pick the green tomatoes?” my teen asked me .

“We don’t pick the green ones, Mommy!” the toddler chimed in.

Which is what I’ve told him time and time again:

“We wait until they’re ready, C! Don’t pick Mommy’s green tomatoes. Only the red ones!”

So he was understandably confused.

I’m not sure how much he understood me, but just for the heck of it I explained that this was the end of the garden for the year, and I was bringing in EVERYTHING, to give it a chance to ripen in the indoor warmth before throwing any out.

It’s been about a week, and slowly but surely they’re turning, some of them. See them? They seem to be cluster-ripening, as if it were contagious or something!

And all week I’ve been watching them and hearing God speak into my soul that such are the times that we are in:

The “end of (this earthly) season” draws nearer and nearer each day.

(No matter how long we have or this earth has, each day is one day closer to the end of harvest season.)

Maybe earlier in our lives, or when the times weren’t so chaotic in this world, we could afford to wait a bit longer.

Maybe we would wait to “harvest” (share the gospel in the hopes to bring people in to Him) a bit longer— when we could c.l.e.a.r.l.y see they’re ready! When all signs were like a bright red stop saying saying “Stop here! Come talk to me! I’m ready!”

But these days?
Well those “red tomatoes”- the ones clearly ready- the ones out and knowingly looking for someone to talk to them about Jesus- well maybe it’s just my own perspective, but they seem to be fewer and further between.

Fewer and fewer are growing up in the Church.

Of those in the church, fewer and fewer are taking their faith outside the walls and actually talking about the One who saved and is saving them.

Which means fewer opportunities for people who have never been a part of it all to even hear to begin with…

To me, it seems we are in a “cool” faith climate where the love of many has grown cold. Where the Son’s rays (us, since we are supposed to be extensions of his love) are hitting fewer green tomatoes, so that less are finding the chance to turn red- to get on fire 🔥 for Him!

So these days, I believe that we simply c.a.n.n.o.t. wait for a clearly re(a)d(y) sign.

I really feel like it’s time!

It’s time we start picking ALL the tomatoes!
Start bringing ‘em ALL in!
Start telling every single person who will listen, the Good News about what Jesus has done for us and wants to do for them!

I think it’s time we stop politely persisting, endlessly, in small talk that never gets passed “How’s the weather!“ or “How’s work?“ or “How are the kids doing in sports and school?” or “Where are you going on fall break?”

I think it’s time to “bring it in” and get real, like a coach does before the last quarter when they know the heat is ON!

Dive right past the small talk and get authentic and real and down to the eternal.

Have the faith talks.

Get past the awkward fact that if we open up that kind of talk they may have questions we can’t answer. That’s OK. When questions are asked, we have a place to go searching- the Bible, and we can do so together. It’s an entry point!

Not all we bring in to conversations like this will ripen. Maybe many won’t.

But SOME WILL.

So don’t give up!

The rate of ripening varies from person to person,
but the “bringing them in” is part of the job He has given us!

And when He shows up- I don’t want to explain to Him why I didn’t obey, and left lots of tomatoes out there, green and cold on the vine.

I want to say “I brought them all in, Jesus! As many as I could gather!”

And I want to hear – “Well done, good and faithful servant” ❤️

It’s not our job to ripen, Christian friends.
That’s not in our ability.
But it is our job to bring people in and give them a c.h.a.n.c.e to— like someone did for us!

It’s not too late.
God loves people (even more than I love tomatoes) and He does not want ONE to perish!

I haven’t written on here as much lately. Most of my creative focus is going into the book I’m working on. But I f.e.l.t. this message so much in my heart over the last few weeks that I simply had to share. 🧡

So many things are on my mind in this season of transition for my family and I.

So many fears and inadequacies that I have to take to God, in order to have them transformed into faith.

So many burdens of others that my flesh tries to carry, until I begin to feel myself breaking under the pressure and I have to be reminded by Him that we are called to share in one another’s burdens but we were never asked to carry them. We aren’t even supposed to carry our own. And so it takes me awhile, but eventually I’m reminded to leave those worries for others at the cross too.

I’m reminded to trade them — both of them—
the worries for me and worries for them—
for worship. I’m reminded I don’t have to know how He will make a way, always.

I can rest in His sovereignty and trust in His goodness and walk each day out singing His praises- because I trust that while I don’t “got this” {for me, or for anyone else}, HE has us all. And loving Him and showing love to others, and obeying him day-by-day is enough!

I r.e.l.y. on my quiet times, where I plug into Him, to armor and recharge my soul! 🔌 ⚔️

The thing is, we don’t HAVE to take quiet time. I’ve seen a lot of posts about how we can pray hurried prayers and it’s ok. And it is. I pray prayers in the midst of the chaos too. It’s not that I’m saying those aren’t good. But I’ll be bold here and say what I’ve found for my own self time and time and time again.

Quick prayers and a verse-a day aren’t enough.

Now, hear me out. I promise I’m not getting legalistic about this. I need my heart on this to come across loud and clear:

It’s not that God doesn’t accept those.
He will talk to us any time, any place.
It’s just- WE are missing out when we don’t take the time to soak His love in.
And there’s no way around that- it usually takes time to really feel recharged in His presence.

Over the years there have been a lot of things that have competed for my time with Him. I won’t go into those here, but think of anything good or bad that can distract us. Think on maybe what has distracted you.

Now here is one that may surprise you: Did you know even ministry can distract us from this quality p.e.r.s.o.n.a.l, intimate time with Him?

There’s a place for ministry in the life of believers of course! We are called to “go into all the nations making disciples”, but the underlying assumption there is that we would go FILLED, we would share from full*. And not a one-time fill, but a DAILY filling. He is our DAILY bread! We need to be perpetually filled!

But sometimes we can get our schedules or our brains so full with stuff- even good stuff- even ministry ideas, that we forget to come to Him just for “our time.”

I really relate my relationship with Jesus through the Holy Spirit as a marriage. And just like with a husband and wife, the commitment may remain if there’s no intimacy but it won’t be as joy-filled. How could it be?

How many of us wives would be fully satisfied and recharged if the only intimacy we had with our husbands was a ”peck” on the way out the door each morning? That’s barely enough to even feel the love and connection right?

But if we aren’t careful that’s how our marriages can end up. Quick pecks as we are running here and there and only occasionally crossing paths.

And if we aren’t careful that’s how our relationship with Jesus can end up too. Losing our selves so much in the busyness of life, ministry… trying to gain the world (souls) for Him, and yet feeling as if we are losing our souls…because without that time with Him our souls feel p.a.r.c.h.e.d!

It doesn’t take me long anymore to sense when I’m missing out on this q.u.a.l.i.t.y. time with Him. I swear it’s like my tolerance for being able to go without it is declining more and more.

I can feel it after a day.

After a week of rushing and not sitting in stillness with Him, I’m a MESS.

The week before last I was away at a youth training, and then a retreat with my husband. Both were AMAZING, but I struggled to make quiet time for just God and I in both of them. (In hindsight I see that He is trying to teach me how to have this, even when I don’t have the physical space I’m used to.)

By the time I got home, and as I tried to jump into normal routines again without a pause, I was acting….let’s call it hangry.

You ever heard someone say “You need to get laid”?

Well God spoke to my heart and said it was kind of like that…except for I needed the intimate, affirmation-receiving time with HIM…

“You just need to get PRAYED, Daylene. That’s all it is. Come get filled. ❤️”

Prayer is so many things.
It serves so many purposes.
It’s easy to make it just our list of needs, or others’ needs.

But sometimes we need a reminder that above all, prayer gives us what we REALLY need most-
HIM.
The present of His presence!

When I have quality time with my husband, intimate time, I can’t explain how it calms me. I think scientists say that it actually releases dopamine and oxytocin into my brain, if we want to talk biology. I don’t have to be able to explain it to know that it works.

The same goes for getting “prayed.”
I don’t know how He makes me feel better but He does! Every time!

He trades chaos for calm.

Anxiety for affirmation.

“Just a servant” mindset for JOY as He reminds me that is NOT how He sees me or us.

We are His beloveds.

The honeymoon NEVER has to be over with Jesus! (No matter how many “kids” or jobs (ministry projects) we have!)

Soak that in today!

Sit with Him in it!

Sense just how very loved you are…

not for what you do,

but for who(se) you are! ❤️❤️❤️

Say to Him today,
Thank you Jesus! That
“You are mine…and I am yours.”

—-—-
FromFull.com

Hey friends-

I don’t know what you’re going through today,
but I DO know a trick that helps me, no matter what I’m going through. And I’d love to share it with you!

When I was pregnant with our rainbow baby after having lost 5 babies, I r•e•l•i•e•d on praise music like never before ✝️ 🎧 🎶 to help me get through!

I listened to it morning, noon, and night to drown out all the doubts and thoughts of fear that tried to constantly bombard my mind.

The enemy always seeks to kill, steal, and destroy-
not just pregnancies,
but also the other good plans that God has for us.

He wants us to worry,
he wants to kill our joy,
steal our peace,
destroy our sense of security.

But in the presence of God,
we can trade-
worry for worship;
mourning for joy;
panicky feelings for supernatural peace;
insecurity for HIS security.

We enter into His presence through Thanksgiving and praise, and one of the best ways to foster praise when you don’t feel like praising is to turn on praise music and begin singing the words out loud.

This is one way to make our feelings follow our faith, instead of allowing our faith to be derailed or suffocated by those feelings.

We don’t have to feel guilty for our feelings- they’re natural. But we don’t have to stay stuck in them either! We don’t have to allow them to steal from us, or let them continue to make us feel as if they’re killing us.

We can refuse to let doubts linger in our mind,
and one way to do this is by crowding our mind space with POSITIVE, FAITH-FILLED words, and praise music is a great place to fill up with those!

Praise music can be uplifting!
Empowering!
Emboldening!
Peace-bringing!

Are you struggling today?

Get your praise on!

Blare “believing music” in your home.

“Conceal carry”-
stick AirPods in your ears and think of yourself with your ears plugged in this way, so you cannot hear the enemy’s lies.

As I was sitting in worship at church this last Sunday, listening to “Raise a Hallelujah” I was reminded of the power of praise music once again with the lyrics that reminded me “my weapon is a melody!” 🎶

Today I wanted to “arm” someone else with this!

One of your best weapons is a melody!

Choose your weapons (the music you’re listening to) wisely, and carry them with you wherever you go!

Earlier this week, I went out to my garden to pick tomatoes 🍅 and got a bonus reminder-lesson along with them.

You see, we have this one “defective” tomato plant with ripe tomatoes that are smaller than my three-year old’s fingernails, it’s so weird.

I have been waiting patiently up to this point, thinking they may start getting more fruit-full, but they haven’t, and now that plant is trying to take over the whole garden!

The other morning I had to pull it back because it was choking out my good plants, but I think I’m going to have to cut that plant out entirely.

As I was considering this God said to me:

“Remember, Daylene, don’t let the little (unimportant) stuff choke out the big (eternally important) stuff.”

It was a needed reminder, as I have found myself getting caught up in little details of projects so much that I was feeling “rotten” and less-than-full because that little stuff was beginning to choke out some of my most fruitful time with Him.

Later that day, He repeated this same theme through a friend as she shared what He had been speaking to her. ❤️

I love how He does that!

Encourages lovingly. Practically.

Repeats Himself.

Repeats Himself through a friend so we understand it’s not just us that struggles with these things.

It’s so common!

We aren’t alone.

And we are better together, reminding one another-

It’s ok to pull up “vines” sometimes –

things that may be full of fruit, even,
but not the BEST kind,
not the FILLING kind,

Sometimes we MUST prune away the little stuff in our lives- maybe even some stuff that feels big and necessary in this moment- so that the e.t.e.r.n.a.l fruits in our lives {the Word, the time with HIM, the fellowshipping with Him in the center} has space in the garden of our hearts to grow and prosper.

And when we do,
we may feel less full in quantity
{#s of things to go on our resumes, perhaps,
or dollars in the bank}
but MORE full in quality!

And what we DO have
{especially that relationship with Him}-
b.e.c.a.u.s.e we have made room-
we are more able to feel thankFULL for!

FromFull.com

Yesterday’s “Trash Talk” ⤵️

{If you don’t know what that is, I often look for trash on the ground – 1.) to pick it up and leave someplace better than I found it and 2.) okay this is my primary “selfish” objective- because I’ve found God gives some really great reminders to me through e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g- even trash.}

So here was yesterday’s reminder- as I walked up on three smashed crayons in a parking lot, probably dropped by a kid in a hurry. Or maybe dropped in a moment of frustration by a mom whose toddler was having a fit getting in their car seat. (Not gonna lie, I’ve been there before. Like very recently.)

BUT…

Broken
Crayons 🖍
Still
Color!

That’s what He reminded me with these three smashed restaurant crayons.

We are all a little broken aren’t we?

And I don’t know about you, but my wanna-be-perfectionist self often used to discard old crayons for a fresh box.

The beginning of every school year was out with the old and in with the new!

Yet I think He is wanting to change my perspective A LOT this season.

I am that broken crayon:

I have been smashed.

“…pressed on every side by troubles,
but …not crushed.
…perplexed, but not driven to despair.
… hunted down, but never abandoned by God. …knocked down, but … not destroyed.”
‭‭- 2 Corinthians‬ ‭4:8-9‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Unlabeled. (My old fancy titles are gone.)
I am now “just” a mom.
“Just” a wife.
“Just” a daughter of God.

But that’s enough.
Actually it’s not “JUST”-
it’s not fair at all,
I don’t deserve these amazing roles…
the opportunity to be a mom, wife,
or daughter of the King.
Pure gifts- that’s what these roles are that I get to “color”.

Sometimes the enemy tells me that I’m not good enough.

Sometimes he tries to make me stare extra hard at my brokenness, my imperfections…

Sometimes he has tried to tell me that my husband would be better off with a “fresh crayon”— a better wife than myself.

Or that my kids would be better off with a more perfect mom. One with fancier labels intact. Team mom. Crafty mom. Obsessed-with-the-role-of-mom mom.

And “all” I am is a very imperfect mom who loves them, loves their dad, and obsessively loves the God who created us – and even though He is God of the universe— chooses to do life with us. ❤️

But- that’s all He wants of us, mommas.
That’s enough.
He doesn’t care about any labels.
He doesn’t care if we look fresh or used up.
He made us to color His messages of love into this dark and drabby and love-hungry world, not to stay pristine and “safe”
in our own little boxes!

He reminded me of that today.
How he sees us – even in our brokenness-

Especially in a bold brokenness…
that refuses to give up,
refuses to believe the lies
that we are just done,

A bold brokenness that sees ourselves the way He does-
Not trash, but treasure.

Broken pieces = character

The smaller we become = more used up for Him,

The more we’ve given of ourselves = the more beauty we’ve created to leave behind, pointing the way for others toward our forever Home.

And one day in heaven,
we will all be new again.

Everything broken, everything bent-
Everything once tossed aside-
collected by Him
{if we have allowed ourselves to be picked up by His loving hands}
and FOREVER, perfectly restored. ❤️

Whenever our souls feel weary
or “on the floor”-
it’s simply that they’re attesting to this, reminding us…
though we live on this imperfect planet
right now,
we were MADE for heaven’s “more.”

Some observations about the “straight and narrow”path… 💛

🔘 There are lots of weeds {invitations for worry, and the cares of this world} & we must learn to navigate around those or we could get tripped up. Or at the very least annoyed about how they rub up against our legs and make us lose our peace. 🌱

🔘 When you keep your face toward the sun, the shadows do fall behind you, but you also feel BLIND sometimes – meaning you don’t always get to see what’s in front of you, in your future. ☀️

🔘 Be careful about measuring yourself by the shadow you cast. When the sun is shining from behind you {when His glory is shining through you}, it’s easy to overestimate your “size”. Remember- this world was made by Him & for Him. We don’t need to be epic or make history, we are beyond blessed to simply be a part of HiStory! 📖

🔘 No matter how narrow the road is, no matter how rough {or smooth} the traveling conditions…the journey is ALWAYS better together with Him & with others! No need to go it alone. Let’s all help each other stay on the straight and narrow instead, calling out to one another, encouraging one another, looking out for one another when someone veers off. It’s worth the effort. & It’s eternally important. 💛

My “On This Day” memories today reminded me of an episode two years ago, when we were at Kohl’s to get some clothes for our son. We had told our daughter that her turn would be soon, and she had said she was ok with waiting. (She always has more clothes than the rest of us put together I think!)

In the checkout, when she came up to me with $10 in Starbucks gift cards and her wallet, and told me she wanted to buy them for me, I told her thanks but that’s ok. I wanted her to save her money to buy something she wanted. And I would take her out for a coffee date, but I would pay. She didn’t have to.

All of a sudden the tears started falling.

It made absolutely no sense to my husband or to me.

“You don’t even like Starbucks, sweet girl.” (She didn’t, at the time. She really does now!)

“Are you really ok that we are getting your brother clothes today and waiting on yours until next month?”

“Did I say ‘no thank you’ in a hurtful tone? I don’t think I did. I appreciate your generosity.”

“What did I do?”

“Nothing. You didn’t do anything. I’m fine. It’s fine.”

But the tears kept flowing.

I wasn’t sure what to make of it.

She didn’t look fine. But she didn’t want to talk about it. So we finally just let her be and ten minutes later she really was fine. She understood. But her emotions had a mind of their own. And THAT was what was most frustrating to her!

Boy have I been there.

Like the very next morning.

Laying in bed, scratching my hubby’s back. Having a perfectly peaceful moment and then one little thing pricked a hole in my emotions and the tears started oozing out.

“Are you crying?” he asked me. “What did I do?”

“No. You didn’t do anything. I’m fine. It’s fine.”

(Sounds familiar, huh?)

And he really didn’t.

Dang those tears.

I wish they would obey my desires but they don’t.

They come flooding out whenever they wish to.

Sad moments, happy moments, frustrating moments.

Moments of overwhelm and moments of intense joy alike.

Sometimes they make sense and sometimes they don’t.

And always, despite my better judgment and my will to hold them back, still they flow.

The best gift my hubby can give me when this happens is a simple hug.

A squeeze of the hand.

An “are you ok?”, followed by a simple change of subject when I assure him that I am.

Trusting that I’ll be honest when I’m not.

And just like that, the tears leave as quickly as they came on.

Emotions make no sense at all sometimes.

But, to not have them I would have to harden my heart. So I’ll take them in stride, knowing they are just a part of the softness that my mom-and-wife- and-woman job requires.

I keep my heart on my sleeve, ready to share.

And if that means that I have to use my sleeve sometimes to wipe the tears that my wide-open heart lets out, so be it.

I don’t like appearing so weak.

But, as a woman, don’t mistake my tears for weakness, for lack of self-control. I assure you that they’re not.

They’re a sign of a different brand of strength.

Strength to KEEP putting my heart out there, when I want to wall it up.

Strength to KEEP caring about the world around me, and KEEP praying for the lost, when I want to go into my own bubble and just “do me.”

Strength to KEEP being “not ok” with how the world around me is right now, and to use that humble, not-ok-in-self state to drive me to constant prayer and petition.

And that is what I’ll teach my daughter:

Tears come and go.

We have little control over them.

But to stop them would mean becoming less sensitive, which is a price not worth the cost.

We don’t have to feel ashamed.

We just have to take a moment to gather ourselves.

To let them empty themselves out.

And then to go to God in prayer,

thank him for the heart he gave us that we wear on our sleeve,

and let him fill us up with joy again.

Tears don’t make us weak.

They’re the lubricant that keeps our heart-gears turning when the world tries to jam it up. ❤️

This is a word God gave me in prayer for someone today that I wanted to share because I believe it applies to so many. (It’s something He has had to free me from too, as I used to suffer from anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts, etc.)

❌Stop claiming these demons by default! ⤵️
{and make no mistake, that is what they are!}

❌Stop saying “my anxiety; my depression; my demons; etc.” — {Yes, I know some Christians who even literally do say “I’m struggling with my demons.” No! You do not own demons! If you have received Jesus info your life, then this is not your inheritance! You have received freedom! For freedom he has set you free so don’t submit to those chains. Don’t accept them! We all do battle with demons but we do not take them into us as residential guests. Don’t accept over yourself what He has given you the power to reject! Reject these things and accept what He has given you— peace, love, joy and a sound mind! ❤️❤️❤️

❌Stop taking them as part of your identity!
➡️Here is your identity, faith friends. Here’s what God says about you! Read it aloud and own THAT. You are His and He is yours!

“But now…
listen to the Lord who created you.

…the one who formed you says,
“Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. ❤️

I have called you by name; ❤️
you are mine. ❤️

When you go through deep waters,
I will be with you. ❤️

When you go through rivers of difficulty,
you will not drown. 🛶

When you walk through the fire of oppression,
you will not be burned up;
the flames will not consume you. 💔🔥❤️

For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior…

Do not be afraid, for I am with you.

I will gather you and your children from east and west.

I will say to the north and south, ‘Bring my sons and daughters back to Israel from the distant corners of the earth.

Bring all who claim me as their God,
for I have made them for my glory.

It was I who created them.’

Bring out the people who have eyes but are blind, who have ears but are deaf.

Gather the nations together!

Assemble the peoples of the world!

Which of their idols has ever foretold such things? Which can predict what will happen tomorrow? Where are the witnesses of such predictions?
Who can verify that they spoke the truth?

But you are my witnesses! says the Lord.
You are my servant.

You have been chosen to know me,
believe in me,
and understand that I alone am God.

There is no other God— there never has been,
and there never will be.
I, yes I, am the Lord, and there is no other Savior.

First I predicted your rescue,
then I saved you and proclaimed it to the world.

No foreign god has ever done this.
You are witnesses that I am the only God,
says the Lord.

From eternity to eternity I am God.
No one can snatch anyone out of my hand.

No one can undo what I have done.”

‭‭{from Isaiah‬ ‭43:1-13‬ ‭NLT‬‬}

Yesterday I had two calls within a half hour of eachother that I did not answer, because they came up “spam risk”.

If it had just been one I would have not thought much of it, but when the second one came up my son asked who it was (probably because I don’t ignore calls often), and I said “Spam risk” and added “of course I’m not answering when it comes up like that.”

Immediately after I said that, I thought to myself that I wish all the thoughts that are presented to our minds came with this kind of label.

You know the ones:

The fears.

The lies.

The attacks on our identities.

The icky thoughts that lie to us about others sometimes.

———

Wouldn’t it be handy if we had a spam-thought filter?!

———

“Ahhh but you do,” He whispered to my heart.

You just have to use it.

And to use it you have to slow down for a moment.

You can’t just “answer any call.”

You can’t just entertain any thought.

You must “… capture rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.” (from 2 Cor. 10:5)

when these thoughts come in-

think of them as 💥 SPAM- 💥

then use that acronym to remind yourself what to do:

💥 Stop.

💥 Pray.

💥 And

💥 Meditate on the Word.”

His wisdom in this truly stopped me in my tracks.

Who else needs a SPAM filter on their thoughts?

‭‭———

“For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭10:3-5‬ ‭NIV‬‬