Y’all, I don’t wake by my own strength. I wake again, but I don’t rise by my own strength. The Lord is the one who wakes me because it is the Lord who sustains me.
If I’m honest, letting God be the one that sustains me doesn’t come naturally to me. I am really good at trying to sustain myself. I like being in control; I like being in charge. I like to make plans and execute them perfectly. But all my plans and ideas can’t sustain me.
Read MoreSo, we lost Kobe last weekend. Even strangers to the NBA know Kobe Bryant, a true legend of basketball and the undisputed hero of the LA Lakers. There’s no doubt his loss (at 41 years old) and the loss of his daughter, Gianna (13), is tragic, and I think we all feel like these two lives were taken much too soon. In fact, it feels like all nine lives were taken too much too soon. Now, I’m not saying Kobe was a saint, but I’m happy to highlight any man that talks about his Catholic faith in a GQ interview.
Read MoreJesus hit me with this reality today: the truth always comes out. You can’t hide from it. Before Him, every truth will come out: the truth of the state of my heart, the truth of my relationship with Him, the truth of my desires and emotions. It’s an endless list.
Nothing is hidden from Him. Everything is brought to light in His presence. And that’s good. Painful, but good. Uncomfortable, but good.
Read MoreThis Gospel gets me every time. Instantly, I start asking myself, am I bearing fruit? Am I rich soil? Or am I like the rocky soil? Or, God forbid - am I like thorny soil? Immediately, my mind starts whirling, and I become terrified that I’m letting Jesus down.
Read MoreSisters, today is simple. It’s obvious. The Lord is strong and mighty and mighty in battle and the King of Glory. Whatever you’re facing today, whatever happens, whatever doesn’t happen that you wanted to happen - He is able. He is strong, and He will battle for you.
I tend to forget how capable, how big, how able He is. When I feel helpless or hopeless or disappointed, He is able to swoop in a fix it - in a moment. He can, and He will.
Read MoreAs I was reading the scriptures today, the phrase, “divided against itself” jumped out at me. It got me thinking about the house of my heart. My heart, my soul, my body all are a home, a house where I live. Is it divided against itself? Am I divided against myself? In truth, I often struggle to believe I’m enough - good enough, kind enough, generous enough, etc… and when I do that, my house is divided.
Read MoreHere’s the truth, girls - my single status comes complete with a bundle of emotions. About once a month, I find myself at the corner of confidence and insecurity. I’m confident that He has a purpose and a plan for each moment of my single season, but I feel unseen. I’m confident in His love and His promises, but I feel unchosen. I’m confident in myself and the woman He’s made me to be, but I feel unwanted.
Read MoreLast night, I attended an event that included a writing prompt. The question, “What do you want?” was asked, and we were invited to write down our desires. For five minutes, we were encouraged to “just write” - not to edit or worry about how our answers sounded - just give an honest, unfiltered response. At the top of my page, I listed, “I want to be a mother. I want to be lovely. I want to be a wife.” And then the tears came. In a room full of people, I poured out my desires as tears welled-up and streamed down my cheeks.
Read MoreTruthfully, the hardest part of writing daily devotions is the decision to start writing. I have to pause my audiobook or podcast or music as I sit down to read the scriptures. I hate to say it, but sometimes, I hit pause begrudgingly. Today was one of those days. But the readings took me by surprise. Our church was actually a little witty today. In the first reading, David takes Goliath down with a rock, and then the Psalm response is, “Blessed be the Lord, my Rock!”
Read MoreHave you ever seen the movie, Mulan? *Spoiler* - she saves China by joining the army (even though it’s illegal for women to be in the army). Whether you have or haven’t seen it, there’s this great moment in the movie when the Emperor lays out all of Mulan’s flaws just to land on honoring her before a massive crowd of people. I can’t resist but include the clip…
Now, you’re probably wondering what this movie clip has to do with our scriptures today.
Read MoreIt’s a happy time to live in Kansas City this Monday. For those of you who aren’t football fans, the Kansas City Chiefs won their way to the Superbowl yesterday, and the city is AMPED. UP. The energy is contagious, and it’s so fun to ride the wave of excitement. As I read this scripture, I’m coming off the high of a Chiefs win, and I find myself convicted. Jesus compares Himself to a groom and His presence to a wedding.
Read MoreSisters, this Gospel is RICH for Lectio Divina, so we’re going to take advantage of that today! I’ve put together three different meditations, each from a different perspective, to help guide you into a deeper Lectio Divina. I encourage you to take a little extra time in prayer today if you can. Typically, this exercise takes about 30 minutes. As with most things, what you “get out” of Lectio Divina typically corresponds with what you put in.
Read MoreBecause of one man’s testimony, it became impossible for Jesus to enter a town openly. Because of just one testimony. Just one report made the name of Jesus known across an entire region and ignited a new wave of faith and hope. And even though the leper was instructed to tell no one, his actions prove that one testimony can go a long way. Sisters, we’re called to testify to God’s goodness.
Read MoreImagine yourself as a child before the Father - maybe at 3 or 4 years old. Imagine God’s tenderness toward you. Imagine His patience. His concern. His love. Imagine Him stooping toward you to help you tie your shoe or bandage a skinned knee or teach you something new. Imagine your cries for help. Perhaps you can’t reach your cup of water or are frustrated with a sibling who stole a toy out of your hand. Consider how often parents hear, “Daaaaadddddyyyyy” or “Moooooooooom” from the other room.
Read MoreIn the first reading, Hannah’s husband finds her foolish before the Lord. She was so fervent in her prayers that he thought that she was drunk. But when he confronts her, she responds, “I was only pouring out my troubles to the LORD.” I found myself asking - How often do I pray like that? How often do I truly pour out my troubles to the Lord? How often do I allow myself to look foolish before Him? Do I truly pour out my heart?
Read MoreOh how I love this verse. It seems to echo within me. I can just feel the Lord lean in and whisper, “Come after me” with a playful smile and a slightly mischievous wink. “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men. Come after me, and I will transform you. Come after me, and I will give you something better. Come after me because I have a higher calling in store for you.” He promises to make us fishers of men - whether traveling across the globe or living in your hometown.
Read MoreSisters, there are so many reasons to praise God, to glorify Him. Just looking at the first reading, it’s so evident that God had a vision and a plan for our lives from the first. In His divine justice, He made a way to salvation and eternal life for us through His Son. He has always been generous with us.
Then, in the Gospel reading, our Jesus continues to demonstrate God’s generosity. He comes to bring peace and freedom and healing.
Read MoreSisters, as much as I strive to keep the commandments, I’m such a sinner. I really am. I fail all the time. I love the Lord so much, and yet, I struggle. And even though this confession is to be expected, it’s still hard to admit. Let’s just say that humility of any kind absolutely does not come easily to me. I want to believe I have all the answers, all the solutions, and every ability needed to solve all my problems.
Read MoreHow often do I credit the good things in my life to be mere coincidence? How often do I ask God to show up, and when He does, I credit good luck? Why don’t I believe that when I ask, He will deliver? In little ways and big ways?
When Jesus walked on the water, the disciples were “completely astounded” because of the hardness of their hearts - they didn’t understand the loaves and the fishes, and so they didn’t expect God to demonstrate His glory by walking on water.
Read MoreWhen I encounter need, I’m often frustrated. When I have to wait for someone to get ready or when my personal space is invaded or when I’m interrupted while I’m working - I’m often frustrated or annoyed. Sure, it’s often a fleeting annoyance, but my first instinct isn’t generosity. But Jesus isn’t like me. When Jesus encounters need, His heart is moved with pity.
Jesus is drawn to our need.
It is our need that attracts our God to us.
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