We have to choose humility daily. It’s so easy to become focused on our own achievements, image and status, when we’re constantly being force-fed worldly self-improvement schemes. Every commercial, billboard and marketing strategy is directed towards YOU.

Peace is not some personality trait. It’s not “here today and gone tomorrow.” Peace is not a last-ditch effort. True peace is a person, and His Name is Jesus. That Name remains the same yesterday, today and forever!

We can give all our thoughts of hurt, anger, unforgiveness and questions to God, He can handle it all. God’s power and ability to overcome is greater than our problems.

I believe when we are five, the reason we are often times and weirdly our best and most fun self, is partly because of our childlike manner. But, I also think our confidence and freedom comes from the voices around us, and our parent’s protection over who is allowed to speak into our lives. We have voices of encouragement, voices of truth—voices telling us we are enough, voices tell us that we are beautiful just as we are, voices tell us how loved we are, voices telling us how to be strong when we feel weak or hurt, voices bringing out our originality, and voices disciplining us out of love.

May we stay focused on you, Father, in the midst of all we have going on in our lives. You hold it all together, Father. Help us to remember we don’t have to.

Whatever you are struggling with, please know you are not alone. I pinkie promise you. I want to say words to comfort you, but sometimes they aren’t enough. Let Jesus be the gap filler. Let Him be the one to calm the storm.

Work hard to take care of yourself physically, emotionally and spiritually. Commit to growing a little bit each day, and learn to celebrate the little advancements you are making without comparing them to others.

Christmas is Jesus coming down to be with me, telling me He sees my great pain, and He is there to carry it. He is coming to be my counselor when my thoughts are scattered, my peace in the storm, a strong and mighty warrior when the fight seems to hard, and a sweet comforter when the sorrow overwhelms me. He is God with me, in the loneliest of moments, and He is there in the midst of the hard of Christmas, to be our HOPE.

Our Creator has given all of us this gift to see past where we are, dream of a better tomorrow, and be driven by a vision so much greater than anything we could ask or imagine.

May we reflect Jesus in all that we do.

Deserving glory and honor, Jesus took on shame and sin. He lived his life for the Father–pointing everyone towards him with every word, action and deed. And then, He gave it all…for us. His life. It was the most brutal of sacrifices. He would be forever scarred for you and me, but oh, the joy he found in doing God’s will. Even as it hurt, even as it cost him all. He surrendered. He did it for God’s glory, He did it for us.

You do not have to try to impress anyone either. God made you in a unique way so you would have something great to offer the world around you. If you let the world shape you and influence you—instead of influencing it—you will miss the chance to share with others what God has given you.

So here it goes. A new season. A season of bravery. (Hopefully.) A season of clinging to the Lord because the truth is, I am desperate for Him. I want to be used by Him. But more importantly, I want to follow Him each day—whatever that looks like. To follow so closely to my Rabbi, that I’m covered by the dust of His feet.

In a culture that equates worth with busyness, we have to retrain our minds to know that there is power in rest. When we rest at the feet of Jesus, we won’t have to wonder what we should say yes to. He will lead us to the right opportunities, and He’ll give us the strength and energy to do them well. Let’s shift our focus from pleasing people, to obeying God’s leadership, and He will undoubtedly give us the opportunity to serve people.

God knows we will pray for what we desire, and he longs for the moments we spend with him – but he asks that we rejoice in ALL things whether or not the outcome is what we hoped for.

He needs not to hold onto anything of my past, because His love is so powerful that it makes even me forget my past as it melts away in His kindness.

In a culture that equates worth with busyness, we have to retrain our minds to know that there is power in rest. When we rest at the feet of Jesus, we don’t have to wonder what we should say yes to. He will lead us to the right opportunities, and He’ll give us the strength and energy to do them well. Let’s shift our focus from pleasing people, to obeying God’s leadership, and He will undoubtedly give us the opportunity to serve people.

Be brave. Be bold. Have what the world would call a “foolish faith” and sit and watch what God will do.

God never intended for us to aimlessly live our lives running in circles. He has more for us than that, and I believe He’s waiting for us to jump out of our routines and allow Him to take over our schedules a bit

God’s dream for us is that we would choose Him and stay connected to his voice for all decisions in our lives. That we would walk with character & integrity, running from sin. And that when we fall, we would run to the Father of kindness and let him heal and rebuild us.

He began to speak to me about how it was time to stop playing God. To give it all to Him and step back – step back and worship Him with no agenda, not asking for anything, but worship Him as a daughter who loves her Father and just wants to sit in His lap and let Him hold her.

One of my favorite things about Jesus is time management, and by that I mean this – Jesus ALWAYS had time for the one. People pulled, asked, and begged for his time. Crowds were waiting on him and yet, He had time for the right person/people at the right time. Jesus had TIME for the things that important for his role in the kingdom.

You have a choice. You can choose to believe in fear, or you can choose to believe in the faith of God.

We can speak life over our pain. We have to say, “You know what, I am not okay but Jesus is STILL good. He is still faithful. I can praise Him when I am in the valleys and when I am on the mountain tops.” Even when you don’t believe it: speak it. Read His promises. Let them be the feet to your steps.

My best advice is to find a teacher, a coach, a neighbor, or even a friend’s family member who will help you learn to take responsibility for yourself and to make good choices.

When you dream, don’t just think about a few things you might like to do someday if they work out. Get a real dream. Make it a big dream. Make it something you could never do by yourself, something that will stretch your faith, a dream that will give God a chance to do something huge for you.

Friends I have seen my Savior in action. And, I’ve not only seen Him take out my enemy. He has gently nursed me back to health and has thrown my mistakes into a sea of no return. He does not remind me of my mistakes like my enemy. I know the difference between their voices, and He is so kind and merciful.

When life knocks the wind out of me, I have found no better remedy than to fill myself up with words that are God breathed.

Don’t settle for weeds on the side of life’s trail. We serve a good father who longs to lavish us with fields of gold, with springs of everlasting water, if only we consciously serve and obey, and allow Him to remain where He belongs – as Shepherd, King and Lord of our life.

I can’t help but think about how God must feel as He looks down on us – running around endlessly, burning the candle at both ends of the stick.

We have a Savior who promises us that He has a plan for us, and that He will work all things for the good of those who love Him.