Are you Desperate to be Healed From Your Pain?

LEARN

Are you desperate to be healed from your pain?

I get it. It is not a fun path to be in constant disorientation and discomfort, and because of the pain it is easy to go straight to fixing what you think is broken. It is easy to see suffering as a narrow doorway of only grief, and purposelessness where you long for the door to be opened so you can starting living your life again- living that life that is filled with filled with purpose and joy. In our pain we can struggle to see that both suffering & joy, and pain & purpose can be met together.

When we are in pain, we naturally want to do anything we can to get out of that suffering. However, before we begin to talk about how to fix our pain, we must first confront our pain. It is in confronting the reality of our pain that we are able to not be motivated by the fear of the pain but see it as something God is using for our good. This confronting of pain was something as a Biblical Counselor I knew, but as Jaime I did not fully understand until I had no choice but to face it.

I am just one person, and my experience is obviously different than yours, however I relate with those of you struggling with chronic illness and various forms and levels of pain. I relate to the uncertainty, frustration, and flat out difficulty in how it can effect EVERY part of your life. I suffer with you and for you in that, and more importantly God is also suffering with you. He suffers for us while also growing us closer to Him. He knows your pain, and is able to heal us yes, but more importantly save us. He is with us in our suffering and the first thing we have to do is recognize our suffering. We must fully confront where we are at so we can actively participate in the day God has set before us and the purpose He has for us even in our suffering.

KNOW

So however you are suffering today whether it is physical, mental, relational, financial, spiritual...

YOU ARE NOT ALONE and YOU ARE NOT WORTHLESS.

GOD LOVES YOU and HAS NOT ABANDONED YOU.

In fact it is quite the opposite, HE LOVES YOU.

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If you are dealing with illness or suffering of any kind and have not confronted the reality of the situation, I ask you to consider doing so. Consider what it might look like to see where you are and what you are navigating instead of only wishing it was gone, or waiting until it is fixed.

How might this shape your current experience in working through your pain? Then if you do decide to walk through your pain, I also recommend you open up to someone so you are not dealing with it alone.

And lastly, but most importantly, bring those burdens and feelings to God. God knows all and sees all. So even when we feel nobody else understands what we are going through, He does.

Are You In a Season of Waiting?

“ But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”

Isaiah 40:31

LEARN

Seasons of waiting can be daunting especially when you have been praying for

something specific for years that you have yet to see come to pass. There are several

things that I have been praying for specifically for over ten years now and still... nothing.

There have been times when I got discouraged, got disappointed, and cried out to God

like, “Why have you forsaken me?” You may be laughing, and when I think about those

times now, I do too. But in those moments, there were real tears and real frustration.

But what I have learned is that even if God doesn’t answer all of my prayers and even if

some of the things I have been praying for for years never come to pass – He is still

good!

Psalm 136:1 “Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good. His love endures forever.”

In moments of frustration and disappointment I had to choose to praise Him anyway,

still my heart, and know that he is still good, regardless (Psalm 46:10).

KNOW

It can be hard to still trust God and know that he is good when your body is broken

down with chronic illness or you have no money in your bank account to pay your bills.

It can be hard to see God as a loving God when you feel like he has left you or

abandoned you because what you think should happen is not happening. It can be hard

when you have been waiting for your husband to come and you are still single, feeling

left behind. Or you are married, and your husband and you can’t stop fighting. There are

many hardships that we go through in life that can cause us to doubt God or think He is

not for us. However, the opposite is true. He is with us, always. He is for us and not

against us. Even in the midst of chaos and heartache, He is still GOOD!

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What can you do in the seasons of discouragement?

 Get out of the negative spiral by praising Him anyway and shifting to gratitude

 Find scriptures and meditate on the goodness of God

 Remember all the good things that He has done for you

 Sing praise music

 Dance unto the Lord

Anxiety and gratitude cannot take up the same space in the brain at the same time. And

when we are in moments of discouragement – this can turn into anxiousness, because

ultimately, we are trying to figure out a plan to make it happen ourselves.

Shift from the negative mindset to the positive by saying “thank you God that I have my

life. I have food in my belly, clothes on my back, and a roof over my head.” Add

whatever else comes to mind. The more we can stay in gratitude, the more those

negative thought patterns lose control in our lives. This is not only Biblically but it is

scientific as well!

God’s ways are higher than ours and for whatever reason in your season of waiting -

God has said it is not time yet. So instead of complaining and working yourself up into a

spirit of depression - Trust that he knows best, and, in His timing, everything will be

made perfect.

To grow in your relationship with God, find your identity and walk in your purpose - check out Rachel’s workbook called Unlocking Freedom. 

https://www.amazon.com/Unlocking-Freedom-Connection-Discover-identity/dp/B0CQV1HYJR/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?crid=16G3B8WUP6UO7&keywords=unlocking+freedom&qid=1705007839&sprefix=unlocking+freedom+%2Caps%2C164&sr=8-4

You can also connect with Rachel through her website at www.daretolivefree.net where she offers holistic biblical counseling.

How Do I Create Biblical Routines and Rhythms for 2024?

To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven." - Ecclesiastes 3:1 (ESV)

LEARN

As we step into 2024, the opportunity to craft purposeful living through routines rooted in biblical principles becomes even more significant. The Bible consistently echoes the importance of seasons and times, inviting us to align our daily rhythms with divine principles. Consider adopting biblical rhythms not just for your day but as a guiding force for your entire journey in 2024. The Scriptures reveal the wisdom in recognizing the cycles of planting and harvesting, highlighting the delicate balance between work and rest. Drawing inspiration from these patterns, you can intentionally design routines that not only foster balance but also resonate with a deeper understanding of your unique purpose in this new year.

Think about how creating biblical rhythms into your daily life is not just about keeping a goal, but living purposefully knowing who you are and what your mission on this earth is. Living a life with intention will change the way you manage your time on a daily basis and shape your long-term aspirations.

KNOW

Establishing biblical rhythms isn't a one-size-fits-all endeavor; it's about understanding your priorities, seeking God's guidance, and aligning your daily activities with your core values. Embrace the realization that these rhythms aren't rigid schedules; they're flexible frameworks designed to honor God and contribute to your overall well-being.

Recognize the importance of prioritizing moments with God in your daily routine. Whether through prayer, meditation, or dedicated Scripture reading, incorporating these spiritual connections at the start of your day can set a transformative tone for all of the activities to follow. Understanding your values and consciously aligning your routines with them brings clarity to your actions and decisions, making your journey uniquely yours.

Moreover, reflect on how this alignment can influence your relationships, work, and personal growth. By weaving biblical principles into the fabric of your daily life, you're not just gaining direction; you're finding enduring satisfaction in authentically living out your values. This holistic approach to establishing biblical rhythms empowers you to navigate life's complexities with a centered and purposeful mindset, creating a life that resonates with your individual journey.

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• Devotions: Set aside time in your day to have intentional time spent in prayer and reading Scripture. Ideally setting aside a quiet moment to seek God's guidance, express gratitude, and center your thoughts on Him before you begin your tasks can help you remember to focus your minutes and days on honoring the Lord in all you do.

• Work and Rest Rhythms: Embrace the biblical concept of six days of work and one day of rest. Establish a rhythm of productivity during workdays and intentionally observe a day of rest, focusing on spiritual, mental, and physical rejuvenation.

• Family Time: Prioritize quality time with family. Establish routines for family meals, shared activities, and intentional conversations. These rhythms strengthen family bonds and create a sense of unity.

• Sabbath Reflection: Designate time for Sabbath reflection. Whether it's a weekly or monthly practice, use this time to assess your spiritual, emotional, and physical well-being. Consider areas for growth and celebrate achievements.

• Seasonal Reflection: Align your rhythms with the changing seasons. As Ecclesiastes notes, there's a season for everything. Use the transitions between seasons to reflect on the past, set goals for the future, and adjust your rhythms accordingly.

• Generosity Rhythms: Integrate rhythms of generosity into your life. Set aside time and resources for charitable acts, supporting others in need, and contributing to the well-being of your community.

• Digital Detox Rhythms: Establish rhythms for disconnecting from technology. Designate specific times for digital detox, allowing yourself to unplug and focus on real-life interactions, quiet reflection, and connection with God.

• Gratitude Practices: Cultivate a rhythm of gratitude. Daily, express gratitude for blessings, both big and small. This practice fosters a positive mindset and an awareness of God's goodness in your life.

• Learning Rhythms: Dedicate time to ongoing learning and spiritual growth. Whether through reading, attending classes, or participating in discussions, integrate rhythms that nurture intellectual and spiritual development.

• Evening Reflection: Conclude your day with an evening reflection. Review the events of the day, express gratitude, and seek God's guidance for the days ahead. This rhythm helps bring closure to the day and prepares you for restful sleep.

Crafting biblical rhythms is a dynamic and personal process. Adapt these suggestions to fit your unique circumstances and preferences, allowing God's Word to guide your daily, weekly, and yearly rhythms. By intentionally aligning your life with biblical principles, you embark on a journey of purposeful living that honors God and brings fulfillment to your soul.

If you are looking for more support on transforming your daily rhythms along with help for living more into the giftings and vocation the Lord has for you, you can learn more about my 30 Day Life Pathway Program!

What Does Hope Look Like in 2022?

“I pray also also for those who will believe in me through their (the disciples) message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”
-John 17:20-25

LEARN

In 2022 it is easy to set a new normal of ANXIETY instead of HOPE. But we as Christians need not fear. Christ loved us so much that he laid His life down in obedience to the Father, and one of the often forgotten things to note is what he prays about before being nailed on the cross. One of the things he prays for is US. The Son of God, petitions for us as the perfect embodiment of love. The Word tells us that even while we were sinners Christ died for us, and not only that, He also fervently prayed for us before his death. He knows what it is like to be in the world and knows what we need in order to have HOPE. We need Him- and lucky for us Jesus gave Himself up for us to allow us the grace and freedom we have!

We get the immense privilege of demonstrating to the world what joy and gladness look like apart from our circumstances. Hope in the midst of chaos doesn’t seem natural, because it isn’t! Our hope, peace, joy, and assurance are supernaturally given to us by the Holy Spirit through Christ’s sacrifice! So let us battle within our minds to form habits that are pleasing to God, ushered by the Holy Spirit. Let us reveal His truth, not only for our own sakes but for those who do not know the truth and are watching us.

KNOW

Remembering Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross on our behalf in order to give us a future and a hope is so humbling and also in the midst of anxious thoughts, so reassuring. The love of the triune God is with us, and is helping us. It is Christ’s love that advocates for peace in our hearts and peace amongst our brothers and sisters. We are never alone, we are always loved, and we are given a future and a HOPE in Christ. 🙏 ❤️

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Who can you share this truth with in the final months of 2022?

Do You Need Spiritual First-Aid?

The heart is deceitful above all things,
and desperately sick;
who can understand it?
“I the Lord search the heart
and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways,
according to the fruit of his deeds.”

Jeremiah 17:9-10

LEARN

Growing up I was a klutz. I seemed to always have a broken bone, stubbed toe, or would run into people on the regular. As much as I don’t like to admit it I can be quite clumsy and aloof at times. It is a running joke in my family that my stepdad and I are like magnets because growing up we would always run into each other in the kitchen- and speaking of the kitchen, my Mom’s glassware seemed to get the brunt of my clumsiness over the years! Now as a married woman, I purchase my glassware based on how thick the glass looks in case I drop it or bang it against the kitchen sink it at least has a fighting chance.  

Maybe you aren’t accident prone like I am PHYSICALLY speaking but if you think about it, we are all accident prone SPIRITUALLY speaking. All of humanity is in a fallen state, and we all are sinners. Spiritually speaking, we trip and fall often, yet many of us go on as if we are somehow immune from our clumsiness. We purchase the thin glassware, pridefully believing that we have nothing to worry about, only to come home and find it already broken and our hands bleeding from the cuts as we try to quickly pick up the broken glass before anyone sees us. These open wounds we have are hidden due to pride, insecurity, shame, and a false belief about God and His grace.

I am here to attest to you today that if you try to hide your spiritual wounds they will start to get infected, and not the kind that you can just put some ointment on and call it a day- these infections go deep, and can only be helped by seeking the correct medical care.

So, if you are hiding some spiritual wounds today, it is a good time to take note because in this action you are actually revealing something about your heart. Generally speaking your heart is saying something in the form of “when I sin it is best to ignore it and move on instead of confront it, ask for forgiveness, and seek God to come bandage the wounds. God is ashamed of me, and if I go to Him with this mess he will just be angry and disappointed in me. He must be, because I am angry and disappointed in myself. All I am is a failure, and nobody loves failures.”

KNOW

The blessing of God is that He sees our self-inflicted wounds and tells us to show them to Him. His whole reasoning for Jesus dying for us is so that we would be freed from having to hide our wounds. How sad would it be for us to inevitably kill ourselves from not seeking proper treatment because we didn’t think the doctor would want to help us. Christ not only is our healer, he gives us the freedom to come to him not matter the reason. He won’t turn us down, and he will never withhold love from His children. 

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Do you take your spiritual health seriously? Are you willing to show Christ your scars and ask for help?

Our state is sinful and fallen so we need to recognize each day that we have to check on the state of our heart. So today, take your spiritual blood pressure to see if you are veering into an unhealthy zone and fight to heal your heart so it can continue to be molded more into Christlikeness. 

Is Waiting a Gift or a Curse?

Psalm 130:5 “I wait for the LORD, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope”

LEARN

I hate to wait. Wait in line. Wait for mail. Wait for a text back. As a society we are so accustomed to the “instant” whatever of what we want or perceive we need. Hello, instant pots! The slow cooker’s fast and simple cousin. However, as I have sat in several seasons of wait in my life I have realized two things. 

1. The season of wait is precious to the LORD and it can be a gift he gives us. I remember what seemed like long days of infertility as month after month the pregnancy tests came back negative for 3 years. Over 36 times feeling rejection from a simple little stick. The doctors didn’t have answers. The holistic professionals said relax. And as we hoped to one day be parents it seemed everyone around us was popping out kids and getting pregnant so quickly. Not easy for the girl who doesn’t like to wait! I had a sweet friend and mentor who calmly told me one day, “Just wait. Trust his timing.” While God’s timing has rarely ever been mine, His has always been the best timing. For all of the parents out there, you know having kids is not easy. While it was worth the wait, it is hard. God was teaching me things about him and myself before I had kids I could only learn and discover in the wait.

1. A place of wait can also be a gift to God. We often hear about worship and honoring God, but what about waiting on him? Patiently every day with our quiet trust telling ourselves and Him, “I trust you. I trust your plan. Your ways are not my ways and your plans are not my plans. Yet, I will trust your timing, not mine.” I love this verse in Psalm 130 that says “my whole being waits.” My mind finds rest because he is in control of the situation. My body finds comfort because he formed me in my mother’s womb. My spirit knows he had plans for me before the formation of the world. 

KNOW

Waiting for most will never be easy this side of heaven. Focusing on His word, worshiping and praying will bring comfort and “a peace that surpasses all understanding,” as Paul reminds us in Philippians. It is not an easy road, but worth it. Since hoping 8 years ago for a baby have I grown better and more patient in waiting? My husband would probably answer no! The waiting hasn’t gotten any easier, but it does get sweeter. Things don’t always work out like I hoped, but His nearness and what I can learn and where I have grown after a season of wait has me trusting Him even more. 

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• Has there been a waiting period that felt especially hard or long for you? Is there a verse or scripture passage or even a worship song that brought you comfort during that time? Share it with a friend or someone else in a similar situation. Having a community during a waiting period is so precious and helpful. 

• Can you recall a friend or even a person in the Bible you can point to that “waited well”? What did they do that stands out to you? How did they cope?

• If you are currently in a season of wait, hang in there! Pray a simple prayer “gifting” your wait to God. Tell Him you are grateful for this time and for Him to show you what you can learn or need to see while you wait. Ask him to draw near to you and He promises us He will! (James 4:8)

Where do I Start in Dealing With Stress?

“A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” Proverbs 17:22

LEARN

Do you have chronic inflammation in your body, or constant restlessness in your soul? Most of us have some sort of inflammation or stress in our bodies and minds. As God created us as whole beings with bodies and souls it is important for us to look at every area of our lives that can be contributing to bettering or worsening our health in regards to stress! Understanding our stress allows us to be more authentic in our relationship with the Lord, others and ourselves.

KNOW

Below are the areas you can examine when desiring to work through stress in your life from a holistic perspective. We recommend you take an afternoon and journal a paragraph in each area how you feel you are doing in each category, and 1 thing you would like to work on.

Spiritual Health
Emotional Health
Physical Health
Digestive Health
Social Health
Detoxification
Nutrition
Sleep

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We have a few ways we are able to help you figure out how to tackle all the areas listed above!

1. Biblical Counseling- our counseling uses a whole health approach that helps women honor God with their bodies and souls.
2. Stress Mapping Intensive: Our stress mapping intensive gets to the root of your stress and helps organize all of your stressors in a way where you can concretely start to make steps away from stress and into peace.
3. Nourished: A 5 week (online) study for women on food, fitness, and identity as it relates to the fruits of the spirit.

And……
For those of you who are desiring to help other women in a more holistic way, consider doing our Holistic Biblical Counseling Certification or Christian Health Mentor Certification- for women leaders desiring to grow and teach other women about Christ-centered health and wholeness.

What Can We Learn From Anxiety?

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
Matthew 11:28-29

LEARN

As a biblical counselor I find many women come for help with their anxiety in order to find a cure. This makes sense as the desire in counseling would be to work through issues in your life, and there are many practical tools that can help alleviate anxiety that should be utilized- however, there will always be a piece of our anxiety that may not have a cure this side of eternity. It is in this piece of the anxiety puzzle that I encourage women to view anxiety as something we see as a daily battle, and to not expect to perfectly rid ourselves of the worries of life.

Instead of focusing on getting over our anxiety (which often times leads to more anxiety) our focus should be on working in our anxiety. In this understanding, our hope is not focused on fixing our anxiety as our main goal, but fixing our eyes on Christ. When we do this even in the midst of anxiety we can learn what it is like to suffer well, and not be surprised if we can’t find a quick fix for our worries. So, instead of rising above our anxiety we can rise within our anxiety. We can have small victories, while recognizing our ultimate victory has already been accomplished in Christ.

In an attempt to rid ourselves of anxiety we forget that our anxiety is an opportunity to turn to God and recognize our shortcomings as humans. It is in the midst of anxiety that God promises us a hope and a future- one that is not dependent on our own abilities. So don’t lose heart. God is with you, he cares about you, he has not abandoned you, and he is desiring for you go to him with your worries.

KNOW

Anxiety is inevitable in our world because of the fall. We are in the midst of chaos, confusion, pain, suffering, sin, loss, sickness, and sorrow. In this life your anxieties may never fully go away, and you may feel overwhelmed or powerless to stop your anxiety but DON’T FORGET - GOD ISN’T OVERWHELMED. In fact he is the opposite. He is in control, caring, present, and available to you. Just because God hasn’t rid you of anxiety doesn’t mean he can’t, or that he is not with you, or that you have failed God as a Christ follower. So don’t lose sight that however you feel doesn’t take away from God’s power and the ultimate victory we have been promised (check out the book of Job for further studying on this). As you can see there is a lot we can learn about ourselves and God because of anxiety, but the biggest thing we can learn is to let go of our expectations of ourselves and lean more on God.

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One of the resources we have available to help you work through your fears is our book Gospel Activities for Women: Anxiety Edition. This book is a resource for women with practical exercises that deal with anxiety from a biblical and whole person approach. For other resources on anxiety you can also check out our RECOMMENDED RESOURCES tab! And lastly one of my favorite, short and sweet encouragements for anxiety is a resource from Bob Kelleman titled Anxiety: Anatomy & Cure.

Forest Syrup for Christmas

“Set your mind on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. “
Colossians 3:2

LEARN

I love the forest. Wondering through a fairyland of ferns and moss is my idea of a perfect day. It’s a known fact in our home that for any holiday, I will always be thrilled with receiving pinecones.  Or really any cone from the many variety of conifer trees we have in North America. I am also smitten with acorns as well as seashells due to my love of Oak trees and the ocean. But it’s those majestic conifers that definitely have my heart. Maybe because of growing up near the giant Sequoias, Hemlock and Spruces in Central California they remind me of home or the Pines I remember being surrounded by when I first gave my life over to the Lord. It could possibly be the coastal Redwood trees I lived nearby when I fell in love with and married my husband. 

For whatever the reason may be I have a deep appreciation for those beautiful ancient trees that remove my eyes away from all that is happening around me and transfer my gaze right up into the heavens. In those moments I can’t help but be reminded of Colossians 3:2, set your mind on things above. It may just be me being sentimental but when I walk amongst those towering trees I feel like they were made for that very purpose. To draw my eyes in wonder away from this earth and up to the heavens to remind me of my creator, whom my heart and mind should always be set upon.  And the only one who can bring the peace that is so needed within this broken world. What a wonderful gift our Lord gave us in his creation. That it can draw us closer in worship to him. And what a wonderful gift that many of the conifer trees that fill me with awe and that we all love to fill our homes with during the Holiday season are actually also both edible and medicinal!

KNOW

The use of conifer trees for medicinal purposes can be traced as far back as the Middle Ages and it is well known that the Indigenous people of North America used the needles, bark and sap of conifer trees in a variety of ways and passed this knowledge on to the early settlers.  I have enjoyed foraging then creating salves, cleaning products & even cookies from the forest and woods.

 A cup of tea made from the freshly gathered tips of Redwood or Pine can be calming as well as healing. High in Vitamin C and useful for coughs where phlegm is present, chest congestion or for soothing a dry scratchy throat, a honey based syrup made with Pine (or even Fir, Hemlock or Spruce) is a wonderful natural remedy to have on hand during the winter.  And for those who may wish to use Pine in a more fun and festive way can instead make a simple syrup with Pine needles and sugar to add to cocktails or to create a delicious homemade soda…a very fun treat! It should be noted that either of these variations would make a wonderful homemade holiday or hostess gift! 

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Forest Syrup Two Ways

Pine & Honey: 

1 c pine needles

1/2 c honey

1 c water

Pine & Sugar:

1 c pine needles

1 c sugar

1 c water

Directions:

For both variations in a medium pot add water and bring to a boil. Add pine needles, turn off pot, cover and let sit until the water has completely cooled or as long as over night. Depending on how strong you want the flavor. Once it has cooled completely strain the water to remove the pine needles. Add the water back into the pot with the sweetener of your choice and heat until the sweetener has dissolved.  Keep refrigerated, for 2-4weeks.

Uses:

Both varieties are delicious and make wonderful additions to holiday cocktails & mocktails. 

For homemade soda- Add 2-3 Tbsp. of either variety to a 12oz glass and fill the rest with sparkling water 

As a honey cough syrup:

- 1Tbsp every 2 hours for a cough soar throat or chest congestion (ages 2 & up)

*Keeping in mind that although foraging is both fun and at the moment very popular it’s necessary to use precaution and be very informed before you go. Something to note is that any tree in the Yew family is highly toxic and should be avoided and also that women who are pregnant should not consume Pine.  So making sure you can properly identify trees in your area is very important. And please do not use any needles from a tree you purchased at a Christmas tree lot! 

A cup of Chai in the Season of Gratitude

And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and
with all your soul and with all your mind.”
Matthew 22:37

LEARN

As seashell collecting and sunburned shoulders transition to pumpkin filled doorways and cozy knitted scarves I will get out the banner that I needle felted the word Gratitude on many years ago, and hang it above a large window in our living room. It serves as a yearly reminder of my desire during this season to refocus my heart and my mind to be filled with gratitude for all that Christ has done and continues to do within and around me. Just as the season brings to mind memories of apple orchards and evenings by the fire my hope in this season is to intentionally draw nearer to Christ with thanksgiving in my heart. Seeing this banner throughout the day is such a practical reminder to me that God is always so good. And he is always worthy of our praise.

Yet, the constant information, strife and confusion we are bombarded with in our world can leave our minds and our bodies in a heightened state of stress and anxiety. When we experience long term levels of stress our bodies over time become taxed and depleted leaving us physically and mentally exhausted. In this state we can easily develop a weakened immune system, which can lead down the road to serious illness. It can be so easy in our fast paced world for us to ignore our body’s signs of distress and to continue pushing forward. As followers of Christ we are called to take care of our bodies well and to actively use our mind and body in service to him. But, if we do not take the time to care appropriately for ourselves we can become unable to mentally and spiritually focus on and honor Christ, even becoming unable to serve him in the ways in which he has called us to.

KNOW

Spending daily time in the word, meditating on the scriptures and intentionally focusing my heart on being filled with gratitude quiets my mind and lessons any anxiety and stress. As a part of a holistic wellness lifestyle I know the necessity of also maintaining a diet of nourishing nutrient dense foods and herbal remedies that will care for and strengthen my body. As an Herbalist there are many ways in which I use the plants that God has provided for us as methods of maintaining and strengthening the health of my family and myself. By far my favorite of all the herbal remedies I make is definitely Chai Tea! Rooted in India, Chai or Masala Chai is a warming, nourishing, soothing and immune boosting drink traditionally made with spice infused black tea, milk and sweetener. This spicy drink is helpful in preventing colds and flu, to relieve inflammation and to promote healthy digestion. Not to forget it is also delicious!

Usually year round but especially in these months leading up to winter I brew a large batch weekly and keep it handy in my refrigerator to make a daily cup of tea. Using the traditional spices and sweetened with honey I prefer mine with homemade almond milk and because I live in Southern California over ice until at least November. Along with the usual ingredients during this time of year I will add Astragalus, used in traditional Chinese Medicine it adds additional immune support, improves energy, strengthens the adrenals and has been known to improve heart function, kidneys and the liver. For those who wish to avoid caffeine the black tea can either be substituted with Red Rooibos or completely omitted. The recipe below is for a small batch, around three to four cups. I triple the recipe to have a weeks supply for our family. Hoping this season you will be filled with gratitude for the love and work of Christ, find time to slow down and enjoy a nourishing cup of tea!

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IMMUNE BOOSTING CHAI TEA RECIPE

Ingredients:

1 Tbsp. Cardamom Pods
1 Tbsp. Whole Allspice 1 Tbsp.
Dried Astragalus Root
2 Tsp. Anise Seeds
2 Tsp. Whole Cloves
2 Tsp. Fennel Seeds
2 Tsp. Whole Black Peppercorn
2 Cinnamon Sticks
1-2 Inches Fresh Ginger Root
4 Tsp. loose leaf or 4 Black or Rooibos Tea Bags
4 Tbsp.
Honey 2 c.
Water 1.

Directions:
1. In a medium pot place cinnamon sticks and ginger root.
2. Grind all remaining spices with a mortar and pestle and add to the pot.
3. Add water and bring to a boil.
4. Turn stove down to a simmer, cover the pot and leave for 10 minutes.
5. Add the tea, return to a boil, turn off stove and let it sit another 10 minutes.
6. Strain (making sure your strainer is thin enough to catch the spices)
7. Add honey and once cool keep in the fridge.
**To make a cup of tea heat on the stove 1/3-1/2c. Concentrate to 1c. Milk or place both ingredients in a cup over ice…however you want to enjoy your tea!

What Do We Do With All of Our Concerns

“The LORD is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?” Psalm 27:1

LEARN

When I see this scripture I think not only who shall I fear but what shall I fear? 2020 has definitely brought it’s fair share of concerns. One of the difficult things to realize within our fallen world is that there are always going to be things we are concerned about. The Bible makes that pretty clear. Another thing it is clear about is what we do with our concerns and how we are called to not allow them to turn into worry. When a valid concern over something turns into worry we are falling into anxiety. We are no longer trusting that God is good and His plan is something we can have hope in no matter the circumstances. In the midst of genuine concerns this seems impossible, but apparently it is possible because that is exactly what God desires of us as He has let us know in His Word. The hard part is in figuring out how we are to go about not worrying. So here is the blunt answer. Devotion. We usually think not being anxious is an emotional problem, but it stems from lack of devotion. Are we devoted to believing the Bible over our own thoughts? Are we devoted towards making God our ultimate fear or our circumstances?

This obviously is a simplified answer to a multifaceted problem, but it should always be where we start!

KNOW

Instead of allowing worry to consume us let us be a light to the world by being devoted followers of Christ. Let us replace worry with thanksgiving, prayer, and hope not because we always feel like it but because we are told it is what is best for us. Let us continue to serve when necessary, and share the Gospel at all times from an understanding of our amazing Lord and His love for us.

DO

Here are some good questions to ask yourself to see if your valid concerns have turned into sinful worry..
1. Are you bringing God your concerns or trying to fix them on your own?
2. Are your thoughts more focused on the what if’s of the future over being present where God has you today?
3. Are you neglecting responsibilities because of your concern?

What Does Jesus Look Like Through the Eyes of a Toddler?

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good. Romans 8:28

But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. Jeremiah 17:7

LEARN

Let me preface this blog post by saying you never know how much you can learn from a two year old! You think they are supposed to learn from you, and ideally they do, but boy oh boy can they teach you a lot about life too! I nannied for three years in college, and one summer I lived with the family I nannied for. I could probably write a whole blog post about all the things that sweet toddler taught me that summer, but instead I wanted to share how reading books with her taught me a little more about the heart of Jesus.

Here are some things I’ve noticed about reading books with a two year old. First of all, they rarely want to stay on the page you are supposed to be reading and would rather go back to previous pages, or jump ahead to future pages. Sometimes, when they try to “help” you turn the page, they take a big handful of pages and practically skip to the end of the book. They also want to read the story over and over, sometimes even pretending they have no idea what’s going to happen on the next page, when you know they already have it memorized!

Finally, you definitely cannot ignore the insane amount of times a two year old asks the question “Why?” when reading a simple picture book. Why did she do that? Why did he say that? Why are they wearing that? Why is it yellow? Why is it big, small, short, tall? You name it, they ask it! However, something I found to be particularly interesting is the fact that oftentimes they ask why about all the tiny details that have no relevance to the story. I’ve noticed that these irrelevant whys can lead them to miss the whole point of the story. One night in particular, when I will admit I got a little tired of all the whys, I realized this is likely very similar to the way God feels. In this moment I became overly aware of how many times I ask God why.

First let me pause to say I do not think God gets tired of us asking why the way we might get tired of a two year old asking why. I do not believe He gets annoyed with us, but instead honors our curiosity and our desire to understand and experience Him on a deeper level. He truly wants us to know Him, so I am confident He welcomes any opportunity to commune with us and respond to our questions, worries, fears, doubts, etc.

Therefore, I do not believe I am wrong for constantly wanting to ask God why things happen the way they do (both the good and bad things). Rather, I think the short, beautiful moments I spent reading with my tiny roommate began to open my eyes to the way Jesus wants me to live. When a two year old can’t get over the color of the mommy’s dress three pages back, or the size of the dog’s ears two pages ahead, I sit there and feel slightly frustrated, wishing she would understand what the story is trying to teach her (or at least let me stay on the right page long enough to finish reading all the words).

Maybe, just maybe, this is how Jesus feels about me, about all of us. Maybe He wants us to know that if we just stay on today’s page, the here and now, we will start to see the full picture of His movement in our lives. He doesn’t want us to stay stuck a few pages back in our story when He is ready to unveil the future pages He has prepared for us. Likewise, He doesn’t want us to skip so far into the future that we miss out on everything He has to offer in the day-to-day (which always seems to be a whole lot more than I expect… He definitely never fails to exceed all of my expectations!).

I know God has already written my story. He placed me in this world to fulfill a unique purpose crafted perfectly for me, just as I am certain He has done the same for you. However, when I obsess over all the whys and beg Him to reveal the reason and meaning behind everything that happens in my life, He probably sighs a little bit. Not because He is disappointed in me, but because He so desperately wants me to see what He sees. He wants me to be free to live in the moment, confidently acknowledging His sovereignty over my past, present, and future. Something tells me the answers are right there in front of me, and that maybe I’m asking why about all the insignificant details. Meanwhile, Jesus is so excited for me to fully embrace what He has in store for me today, right now.

KNOW

God sees you right where you are, just as you are. He sees your past and your future, but He has placed you in your present for a reason, to glorify Him. We are called only to trust and follow – trust the Lord to turn the pages when it is time and follow Him with confidence that He will work all things together for your good.

DO

• Meditate on the scripture verses above. Spend time in the word, prayerfully asking God to reveal His trustworthiness to you.

• Can you think of a time when you may have gotten ahead of God rather than staying present in the things He was calling you to? What was that like? How were you able to center yourself back toward the present moment with Him?

• Commit to spending 5 minutes before bed each night this week to reflect on where God was in your life that day, helping remind you of His presence and movement in your present moment.

How to Glorify God with Your Body?

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (ESV)

LEARN

As Christians, we are called to love, serve, and honor God. When thinking about the practicality of this, we often think about what our relationship with God looks like and how we are serving those around us. 

An important topic that occasionally slips under the radar is how we love, serve, and honor God with our bodies. Our bodies are a blessing from God and it is important for us to take care of them. It is easier for us to serve others and honor God when our bodies are functioning properly. It is our responsibility to be good stewards of the body God has provided us with (apart from things beyond our control such as illness and accidents). 

KNOW

Our intentions for anything we do, including taking care of our bodies, should be to glorify God. If our intentions for physically caring for ourselves is to look or feel good, we must take a step back and remember that our bodies are meant to be a temple for God.

About six months ago, I was diagnosed with certain food sensitivities: dairy, gluten, eggs, cocoa, tarragon, brewers yeast, and bakers yeast. Luckily, my sensitivity is not enough to send me into anaphylactic shock, but it is enough to give me hives and rashes all over my arms and legs. When I first found this out, I did not take it very seriously. I thought to myself “I’ve been eating these foods my whole life, it can’t be that bad.” 

For a few months, I continued eating everything I wasn’t supposed to and my body was paying for it. By doing this, I was telling God that my own satisfaction through eating whatever I wanted was more important than the temple (i.e., my body) he has provided for me. I was stubborn and didn’t want to be inconvenienced. It took some time, but I finally realized that, by eating whatever I wanted, I was not honoring God. Once I changed my mindset and my focus was to honor God through everything I do, it got easier to stay away from those foods. Don’t get me wrong, it is still a daily struggle to avoid all of these things (especially cocoa - no chocolate!) but I find peace knowing that I am now feeding my body foods that provide nourishment and that I am able to honor God through this.

DO

Be in the Right Mindset

Take a moment and meditate on why you are taking care of your body. Are you trying to live a healthier life in pursuit of honoring God? First and foremost, we should be honoring God with our bodies and everything we do with them. As 1 Corinthians 10:31 says “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” Keep this verse in mind during the day as you are pursuing a healthier lifestyle.

Nourish NOT Punish

In today’s culture, it is easy to become obsessed with health and fitness. It is easy to over-work your body and restrict your calories when your mind is in the wrong space  Be mindful about what you are putting in your body. Many people think that eating a certain amount of calories or meals a day can lead to a healthy lifestyle. I want to challenge you to take a look at what you are actually putting into your body. Answer this: would you put diesel gas in a car that runs on regular gas? The answer would (hopefully) be no. Just because it is gas does not mean that is good for the car. In fact, putting diesel gas into a car that does not need it is harmful to the engine. This is the same for your body. Putting “food” into your body (or restricting food) is not enough to be healthy. We need to be fueling ourselves with foods that are nutritious. Eat when you are hungry but be mindful about what you are choosing to eat.

Listen to Your Body

God created our bodies to send us signals all the time. It tells us when we are hungry, tired, sick, and so on. One thing that we do not often pay attention to is our bodies response to food. Take a second to think about this. Some common symptoms of food intolerances/allergies include: bloating, fatigue, rashes (eczema), and upset stomach. Do you notice any of these symptoms after you eat? If you are not sure if you react to anything, keeping a food journal can be helpful. Jot down what you eat and how your body feels throughout the day. If you notice that you get an upset stomach every time you eat dairy, it may be time to reconsider the amount of dairy in your diet. 

Be Weary of Toxins

Unfortunately, there are so many toxins in our food and beauty products. Just because something is sold at a store does not mean it is safe for your body. Do your research and make easy, practical shifts in the type of food and products you buy. Read the ingredients list before you buy it! This goes for both food and household/beauty products. If you don’t recognize an ingredient, look it up or don’t buy it at all!

Move

Many jobs today involve sitting at a desk for 8 hours and getting up for the occasional snack or bathroom break. The lack of movement throughout the day can be so detrimental to our bodies! Moving gets our heart beating and blood flowing. This can be as simple as taking a walk around your neighborhood. Try to get in at least 30 minutes of simple movement a day.

What is The State of Our Hearts?

“He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.”
Psalm 23 :2

LEARN

Rest. Who has time for that? There’s always some place to be, somewhere to go, something that needs to be accomplished and checked off the to do list. It’s not bad to have goals and the drive to accomplish, but do we get to the finish line with a heart that is jouful and fully present or one that we don’t even know the state of, or is mangled in the making? What that could look like, is random breakdowns, emotions all over the place, very out of touch with the original purpose God has for us, feeling like we’re not hearing from God, or simply getting sick. Chances are, we’ve all been there at any of those points. The truth is, it doesn’t happen overnight, and usually there are warning signals along the way, but if we are too busy to notice, it seems to happen abruptly. We can be so busy doing for God, that we forget to spend time letting Him heal, refresh and renew our hearts. Sometimes we don’t slow down because we’re nervous about what's really going on in our hearts and are anxious about dealing with what could be there, or feel like there’s just not time for it. Green pastures are nice, and still waters are great, but we often pass up the opportunities and invites from God to embrace those places as the better option. 

KNOW

Our hearts are like a snow globe, when we are so busy - it’s like shaking the snow globe, but instead of a sweet little snowfall to admire, it can be a nasty blizzard, and you can’t tell the actual content inside. We need rest and stillness to see what’s really going on - the good, the bad, to hear from God, and what needs to be healed. Snow globes are beautiful when all shook up, but there’s also a beauty of when the contents have settled, and you can fully see the setting that is inside.

Our hearts are also like cars, they need regular maintenance, not just to be taken care of when there’s a random breakdown. Everyone wants to go on road trips and get to where they need to go, but there’s not many of us who will raise our hand saying that we enjoy stopping to get gas, get oil changes, or take our car in to get something worked on. (Maybe some of us like getting a car wash though).

The Lord is our good shepherd, and we, just like sheep, do not always rest easily, needing our good shepherd to lead us into rest. He knows when we need rest, and that stillness is needed in that equation. Self care these days, equates to things like netflix or baking, which isn’t always what our hearts need for refreshment. It might take a load off, but our hearts need rebuilding that only true refreshment and revelation from the Lord can give, that makes lasting change. 

DO

Accept Invitation of Rest, Journal & Pray

One of the best ways to know what is really going on in our hearts, is to accept the invitation from God into stillness. To sit with Him, and observe what is going on in our hearts. Then journaling these things can be very beneficial. While writing, we discover the contents even more in our hearts, and can bring those things to  the Lord in prayer, and receive His truth and healing over it. Also inviting other sisters in Christ to join you in prayer is huge (Matthew 18:20)!

Be Aware of What’s Allowed in Your Heart

Proverbs 4:23 “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”

The people, music, messages that we are exposed to, go right into our heart and influence us. If we’re not filling our hearts with the word of God or truth, something else that will negatively affect us, and is going to take its place. 

Go by the Truth, not Feelings

John 14:1 says “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.”

God doesn’t want to leave us hopeless in our mess if our hearts are troubled. He doesn’t want us to ignore a less than stellar state of our hearts either. A step in the right direction of a well-rested heart is believing that Jesus IS the son of God, and DOES want us to live in victory and empower us to move forward with healthy and joyful hearts. He went to the cross, not just for our salvation, but also that we might be healed in spirit, soul, and body.

How do you Fight Your Fears With Faith?

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity but of power, love, and a sound mind. “

(2 Timothy 1:7)

LEARN

Fear of failure, fear of judgment, fear of the future. What we anticipate happening can overwhelm our minds. According to Webster’s dictionary the definition of fear is, “an unpleasant often strong emotion caused by anticipation or awareness of danger” Ultimately, fear is just an emotion. This emotion focuses on what we think might happen. I want to add to this definition. The Bible reminds us in 2 Timothy 1:7 “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity but of power, love, and a sound mind.” So if this is true as we have Christ’s Spirit living inside us, fear is also a lie from the enemy. 

KNOW 

Satan whispers lies to us and twists the truth. We focus our minds on what might happen and forget that we have a weapon to fight back. That weapon is concealed unless we wield its power. That power is our faith. Our faith is the confidence we have through Jesus Christ. It’s not just a matter of mustering up the nerve and saying “don’t be afraid,'' it's the reality of we are strong enough when life hits! Our confidence is in His Word and in Christ. This is the living power of the Bible.  Faith isn’t just head knowledge, but it is the action of the heart as well. We want to be a faith walker and not just a faith talker. We are known by our actions and not just our words Faith is a gift from God. It is not just based on our works and acts of love. It is given to us as a blessing! 

“By grace, you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.” (Ephesians 2:8)

DO 

These are six action steps that I have developed to walk in faith while fighting back against my fears. I have to live and breath these steps when facing doubt and uncertainty or when I sense the enemy trying to steal my joy and confidence. 

1. Put on Armor 

In Ephesians 6 we are reminded to, “put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.” We need to be dressed and ready for battle. We need to not just have our confidence in the helmet of salvation, but also in the belt of truth. We want to walk around “fully dressed” and ready to fight back against any lies and schemes we may begin to believe. 

2. Renew your Mind 

“Let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.” (Ephesians 4:23)

The Bible promises us that the Spirit will renew (change) our thoughts and attitudes. Stop. Really contemplate that for a second. Your mind can be re-wired. That right there is amazing and life-giving! Dr. Caroline Leaf, a neuroscientist who has done extensive work with head trauma patients describes neuroplasticity, and how the brain can change. It can be renewed with positive thoughts, memorizing scripture and studying the Word. She describes the process as little stems like small trees growing in our brains and coming to life that doctors can see in scans. On the flip side, negative thoughts and toxic emotions can cause parts of our brains to die. 

If we want to have our thoughts, attitudes, and minds transformed than it does take effort on our part. We need to spend quiet time with the Lord and memorize scripture to “guard our minds”. 

3. Bow in Prayer 

Prayer is one of, if not the main, disciplines of our Christian walk. This is the straight communication and intercession through Jesus to God the Father. In her book, Praying God’s Word, Beth Moore associates scripture and prayer as putting together two sticks of dynamite. One stick alone is pretty powerful, but the two sticks together, when we pray God’s words back to him from the Bible it is a force to be reckoned with! I urge you to try this for yourself. I have been astounded by the impact of praying God’s word, starting in the Psalms with a verse or two. David was so raw and vulnerable in these passages it is impactful and so meaningful to fight the battle of fear and anxiety. 

4. Stand and Share 

If we can share our burdens and fears with one another they can have less power over us. We are all built for community. By sharing and speaking out about where you are struggling or losing the fear battle it allows others to share their vulnerability as well. It takes courage but it also opens doors to allow God to restore and renew you through his followers. They can share your struggle, but also rejoice in your victories! Paul challenged us in Galatians, “Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ” (Gal. 6:2 NLT). Don’t buy into the lie of the enemy that others will judge or not want to help you and encourage. Some may judge, but that is probably based on their own insecurities and fears. So many others will want to lift you up in prayer and even have a word of scripture to share with you. 

5. Praise and Worship 

“Worship and worry cannot live in the same heart: they are mutually exclusive.” 

-Ruth Bell Graham 

So if worry and fears are the focus in our heart which springs to the mind continuously, it will push faith out! On the flip side, the exciting news is that if worship and praise are what is filling our heart and mind there is no room for worry to take root and lay hold of us. I love the story in 2 Chronicles 20 which tells of when the Israelite army was surrounded on all sides, their commander Jehosaphat sought God in prayer and God answered with a peculiar battle plan. He told them to put the choir (the worshippers) in front of the warriors. They headed into battle singing praises to God and it so confused all of the opposing armies they began to fight one another! In her book, Strong, Braved, Loved, Holley Gerth references this passage and says, “Praise is the sling and stones. The secret weapon. Stronger than our solutions. Mightier than our education and experience. More effective than a thousand bullets...to be a worshipper is to be a warrior.” I want to be a warrior! I will fight my battles and fear with a song in my heart and praise on my lips. 

6. Laugh out Loud 

“She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the 

future.” (Proverbs 31:25) 

For our final action step, I included this verse that I would dare to dream could be my life verse. I hope by the end of my life my children could etch this scripture into my tombstone as the epitome and culmination of my life. Oh, the irony it would be and glory to God that the woman who suffered through anxiety and panic attacks, laughed at the end of her life without any fear of the future! Life is tough and we are told we will face trials of many kinds. Sometimes to lighten up the situation we just need a good belly laugh. It is therapeutic to look a friend in the eye and laugh until we cry. God has blessed us with so much in the hope of our eternity that sometimes to release the pressure valve on our circumstances we need to have a good laugh and let His delight in us wash over us and take hold of any fear we may be facing. 

I hope one or all of these action steps can help you fight your battle with fears! I hope you can find JOY where there was once FEAR and LAUGHTER where there may be WORRY. REMEMBER who walks with you and sees your fears. He doesn’t condemn your fear and worry but wants to carry it for you!

What Does a Holy Rest Look Like?

“By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.” Genesis 2:2-3 (NIV)

LEARN

A few weeks ago, I told myself I wasn't allowed to go to bed until I checked everything off my to-do list. I came home from work that day and immediately set foot to complete the list. I threw some laundry in the wash and then pulled out the vacuum, getting excited as I anticipated answering the question, "What did you do today?" with how productive I had been. Not only would I receive praise and maybe a silent clapping emoji from anyone who heard about my beautifully completed to-do list, I would also feel much better about myself than I had the few days prior, right?

As I began the mundane pattern of pushing and pulling the vacuum across my hardwood floor, I started thinking about my motivations behind this to-do list. I also started thinking a lot about rest and my lack thereof. I realized that somewhere along the way, I learned to associate my productivity with my worthiness.

Growing up, I was a pretty proactive kid. I remember staying busy almost all the time, even if busy just meant playing with my neighborhood friends. When I got to high school, I became even more busy. I signed up for just about every extra-curricular possible, and then did my best to excel at each of them. I'm saying this simply to recognize the pattern I developed early on of finding my value in my productivity and activity. I don't recall my parents or peers ever explicitly telling me that the more I did and the better I did it, the more important I was. In fact, I can vividly recall the way everyone else around me balanced their productivity with rest. My dad was (and still is) an avid napper, my mom made sure to prioritize evening walks no matter how busy her day was, and my friends were great at napping, sleeping in, and binge-watching Netflix (three things that have never been a part of my regular skill set). Nonetheless, I carried my pattern of productivity into my college career.

My very last semester of college, I found myself more burnt out than ever before, clinging to the hope that once I graduated I would finally take time for myself, for true rest. I would say the first couple of months post-grad I succeeded at my goal of finding rest. Even then I looked at rest as a task to not just complete, but to excel in. Now, here I am almost one year post-grad and I am finally starting to learn the real importance of rest. This theme of rest has been all around me, almost begging me to acknowledge it in a new way. I've fallen in love with a very talented napper, my church has given multiple sermons on the beauty of rest, and I am haunted by the empty time and space that fills my life as I continue to grow into this new stage of life, requiring me to rest.

Recently one of the pastors at my church preached about the balance between work and rest, emphasizing the creation story and how God rested on the seventh day. My pastor said this shows us that rest is the "completion of the creative act." I can’t help but wonder if God did this on purpose to set an example for how we should live our own creative lives. After all, He's God, so He surely did not NEED rest, but He rested anyway. Like God did in this story, we must make rest an intentional and purposeful choice. 

Some of you are probably chuckling to yourself as you read this, thinking about how easy it is for you to rest, how you love taking naps or settling down with a glass of wine at the end of the day or going on a sunset bike ride with your kids. If that's you, I envy the beautiful, balanced life you have created for yourself and I seek your guidance as I work to create that for my own self as well. I do think I'm headed in that direction, but it's a journey I must continue to grapple with.

During one of my regular neighborhood walks, I came across a view just a few blocks from my home that I had never noticed before. I stood for quite a while at the top of a hill overlooking the airport and the bay filled with sail boats and lovely twinkly lights. I marveled at the way the sail boats looked as they sat perfectly still in the harbor with the sunset behind them. It appeared to me that the restful nature of the boats is what made the view so beautiful. The majority of the boats were simply docked in their place and if all of them were out sailing, the view would have looked much different. In fact, if the boats had been active, most of them probably would not have been in my sight at all. 

I became frustrated each time an airplane flew by, obstructing my view of the pleasantly still harbor. What if we are called to be more like the sail boats and less like the airplanes? What if God is looking out on us begging us to just be still? Maybe our rest is a part of the picture He has painted of creation, and if we don't take hold of a holy rest we will continue to fly right through the painting, never stopping to become a part of it as we were created to.

In case you were wondering, my to-do list remained only half completed that night a few weeks ago. I went to bed early and even left my laundry in the dryer. I know, crazy right?

KNOW

One of my favorite worship songs is written from the perspective of Jesus calling us to himself, to find rest in him and to anchor ourselves in his peace. I’m beginning to think that rest is simply the act of coming to a stillness in Christ. This can mean spending time in prayer and in the Word, but it can also mean allowing yourself to nap despite your lengthy to-do list, sharing a meal with your loved ones and not getting up to do the dishes right away, taking your dog on a run, and SO much more. What does resting in Christ look like to you?

My prayer for you and for me is that we each learn what it is that brings us closer to a holy rest and that we don't allow productivity to become the indication of our worthiness. I have a pretty good feeling that this holy rest will give us greater insight into our worth and value than anything else could.

DO

• Spend time reading the creation story and reflecting on God’s choice to REST on the seventh day.

• Listen to your favorite worship music and spend time praying for a holy rest.

Do I have to be a Gentle and Quiet Woman?

Your beauty should not come from outward adornment [...] Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit.
(1 Peter 3:3-4)

LEARN

Before we dive in, let’s do an exercise. Close your eyes, and think of a lake. The lake is clear and glassy - there’s no strong wind or waves - it’s peaceful. Breathe in, breathe out. Allow yourself to experience the lake. Now, let’s get started.

I’m sure we’ve all heard of that passage in 1 Peter - the “gentle and quiet” one. It seems like this is one of those passages that can be easily misunderstood, and I think it’s important that we don’t let a broken view of Scripture skew our view of who God is. This is such a beautiful calling from the Lord for us as women. In this, we know that our beauty isn’t tied to anything but our spirit in the Lord. But what if “gentle and quiet” aren’t the first words that come up when describing your personality?

As Christian women, we desire to be closer to God, to follow his design for us, but sometimes it seems like His design just wasn’t made for our personalities. What about those women who are extroverted, life of the party, outspoken, and opinionated? Does the Bible mean that women should reject who they are, and to be silent, then? Does it mean that we can’t also be warriors? I don’t think that’s what the Bible calls us to at all. God made each of us as unique individuals. He made us into introverts and extroverts, fighters and lovers, quiet and loud. God made you an extrovert - why would He do that if He didn’t want you to be that way? If you’re not someone who easily fits into the box of “quiet”, don’t lose hope. You can still be beautiful in the Lord while being exactly who God created you to be.

So first, what does it mean to be gentle? It’s no mystery that we, as Christians, are called to be like Jesus. Jesus was the picture of perfection, and Scripture shows us that He taught with incredible gentleness. The way that we, as Christian women, can be gentle is to follow in the footsteps of Jesus - loving in our teaching and interactions, but firm in the truth. Jesus never sugar-coated His words to people - in fact, at one point, he advised sinners to actually cut off parts of their body if those parts caused them to sin; “And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell” (Matthew 5:30). To be clear, Jesus doesn’t want us all to start amputating our limbs - bodies are truly gifts from God - he’s telling us that we should be willing to discard what we value most in order to gain godliness. This may seem incredibly direct, but Jesus is telling people this out of love, and gently reminding them that, as unimaginable as a life without a part of your body may seem, the consequences of sinning against God are terrible in comparison. We are called to tell the truth of the gospel, to help our brothers and sisters bear their burdens, to call each other out in love, and sometimes those things are hard. What we have to remember is that we must do these things to bring each other closer to God and away from sin - and that is both loving and gentle.

Now that we’ve discussed gentleness, let’s move on to quiet. Quiet has many different definitions. The definition we usually think of first is being nearly silent. However, I believe God gave us voices and opinions because He wanted us to use them. Another definition of quiet, which I believe Peter was trying to portray, is: the absence of noise or bustle; calm. So then what does this mean for us? Here’s another question: remember that lake from before? After all the busyness and the buzz of the day, after all the swimmers and the boats have gone home, the lake is calm. It doesn’t have any big waves or ripples in its waters. The lake is undisturbed, peaceful. Quiet. This is a picture of what our souls should be. When we’re rushing around, getting frazzled or frustrated, our lake is being torn up by waves - and nobody wants to be out on a boat in rough water. The way that we, as women who are loud, can be gentle and quiet, is to be willing to love and guide each other on our paths to the Lord, while maintaining our calm and quiet waters.

KNOW

• There’s nothing wrong with your extroverted personality.

• Being silent in the literal sense is not helpful to those around you. 

• You have a voice so that you can speak into other people’s lives.

• Some people may be quiet in their voice or their words, and some may be quiet in their souls - both are beautiful.

• Women may be called to submit to their husbands (key word being husbands, not men in general), but they’re also called to lead by example in their faith (1 Peter 3:1-2).

DO

• When you find yourself getting anxious, stressed out, frustrated, frazzled, or any variation, come back to the lake. Ask yourself these questions:

  • What does your lake look like right now?

  • How does that affect the people around you? Do they see you as a safe and peaceful place, or as a stormy force of nature?

• Pray that the Lord will give you a soul that cannot be shaken so easily by the world, and one that can remain calm even when faced with less than ideal conditions.

• Read 1 Peter 3 and reflect on what it really calls us, as women, to do. Apply this to the overarching truth about God’s mission for His people.

How do I Use my Breath to Calm Anxiety?

“The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.”  Job 33:4

LEARN

Take a deep. Breathe out. Ahhhh. It’s easy to forget to breathe isn’t it? I mean, we are breathing right now, but we don’t think about it. When we take a moment of stillness to be with the Lord, simply becoming aware of our breath can help focus the mind on truth and relax the body. This is especially helpful when anxious thoughts tempt us to panic. 

KNOW

What type of breather are you?

Try this experiment. Sitting up or standing, place one hand on your abdomen and the other on your chest. Now take a deep breath in.

Did your abdomen go in or out?

If your abdomen went in on the inhale, you’re only filling the upper part of your lungs. If your belly relaxed and expanded on the inhale, you are breathing form the diaphragm. This means your lungs are expanding and drawing in more air, releasing more carbon dioxide with each breath. Notice a baby and how their bellies move up and down on each breath, they are filling up their lungs and are natural belly breathers.

DO

How to breathe deep

Sit in a chair or stand.

Place one hand on your abdomen just above your navel.

Place your other hand on your upper chest, just below your collar bone.

Inhale deeply through your nose and try to gently make the hand on your abdomen move. You want your belly to expand like a balloon with air.

Relax your abdomen. Your upper hand should move only slightly on the deepest part of the inhalation, gently filling the upper part of the lungs with air after the lower part of the lungs are filled.

Exhale gently through the nose. This is considered a complete deep diaphragmatic breath. 

Put into practice

When anxious fears come into your mind tempting to rob you of your joy and peace in Christ, here are a few simple steps you can take. 

Take a few moments to sit still before the Lord, handing over all your worries in prayer. 

“Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7

Use deep diaphragmatic breathing to help your body return to a place of rest 

5 seconds of inhale into your lower and upper lungs, 5 seconds exhale = 10 seconds
Do this three times through = 30 seconds 

As you breathe, meditate on Philippians 4:6-7

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

You can also do the following stretches while meditating on the corresponding scriptures

The Angel
“For He will give His angels charger over you to keep you safe in all of your ways.” Psalm 91:11

This stretches the spine and shoulder muscles, builds abdominal strength, and endurance.

The Reed
“A bruised reed He will not break, and smoking flax He will not quench.” Isaiah 42:3

This stretch releases and opens the front of the body and strengthens the endocrine system. 

Don’t forget to breathe. 

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Psalm 46:1

What Would Jesus do First?

“Jesus wept.” John 11:35

LEARN

One year ago I was kicking off the first week of my very last semester of college. Today, I find myself about to start my second full-time, “big girl job” since graduating in December 2018. It took me almost that long to realize I am sitting in a big period of transition. While I absolutely recognize how common this transition period is especially for many people my age, I also believe it is not talked about enough. Sometimes it feels like we are just flung into this world with dreams and passions and hopes and no clue how to chase them. Unless we are set up with an explicit next step such as grad school or a very specific career path, the period right after graduating college can feel confusing and full of empty space. Don’t get me wrong, I am learning to find an abundance of peace in my newfound mind-space, but at the same time I am becoming more and more aware of how big and wide this in-between period of life really is. Big and wide is new, hopeful, and exciting, but it is also full of so many unknowns. This summer the unknowns were causing me to feel a little extra homesick and a little extra teary-eyed (although I am hesitant to admit it). However, these unknowns kept leading me back to Jesus so they also left me feeling a little extra loved and little extra hopeful.

What could quite possibly be the shortest verse in the Bible is John 11:35 - ”Jesus wept.” Something drew me back to this verse and I was reminded of a reflection I wrote during my last semester of college which I ended up keeping to myself. I think it’s actually worth sharing, especially for anyone out there who might be feeling unsure as to where Jesus stands in the midst of your own feelings of confusion, transition, loneliness, or anything really. In order to understand the significance of this short verse, let me first give you a tiny bit of context. John chapter 11 narrates the death of a man named Lazarus and ends with Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. In the middle of the chapter, Jesus comforts Lazarus’ sisters, Mary and Martha, during their period of grief. Right before this verse, Mary and Martha had come to Jesus in sorrow, telling him that their brother would not have died if Jesus had been present. They brought Jesus to the place where Lazarus lay dead and “When Jesus saw [Mary] weeping… he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled” (John 11:34). Then, “Jesus wept” (John 11:35).

When I first became a Christian about four years ago, I expected quick answers, advice, and direction from Jesus whenever I asked for it (okay let’s be real, I still have this expectation a little more often than I probably should). However, I think this verse demonstrates an even more loving way that Jesus responds to us when we confide in him. While giving immediate advice can definitely be a blessing, what I’m learning we need first and foremost is simply someone to sit with us, listen to us, walk through our situations with us, and seek to truly understand and empathize (not just sympathize!) with our emotions. This is exactly what Jesus does in John 11:35, therefore validating Mary and Martha’s emotions amidst their circumstance at hand. He allows himself to feel the pain that Mary and Martha are feeling and takes a moment to sit in that pain with them. I am reminded through this story just how much Jesus aligns his heart with ours as an act of showing his love for us (in verse 36, the Jews correspond Jesus’ weeping with his love for Lazarus).

What strikes me most about this chapter is the order in which Jesus does things. Before he ever raises Lazarus from the dead, he FIRST weeps with Mary and Martha. His first action is to come alongside us, his presence becoming a reflection of his love for us, and THEN he takes further action. I read a devotional months ago that emphasized our role as human beings rather than human doings. Essentially, we have a role to BE with God and with others before we have a role to DO anything or take any other action. Jesus makes this so easy for us because he promises to always be near, never far.

I think it is also important to note that Jesus isn’t weeping over Lazarus’ death the way Mary and Martha are. While Mary and Martha are weeping because they assume the finality of their brother’s death, Jesus weeps solely because his heart aligns with theirs. His tears do not minimize his confidence in the plan that is to come (raising Lazarus back to life). I love that he allows himself to sit and weep with these women simply because he cares for them. The feelings we experience matter to him. Today, nine months out of college, I feel incredibly grateful that Jesus understands my heart. I am confident he is walking with me through the period of transition I find myself in. I pray for a steadfast trust for myself and each of you in knowing that his plan supersedes all of our confusions or uncertainties.

KNOW

Do you believe that Jesus desires to weep alongside you? Do you allow him to do so? Do you remember a time when you found yourself in a season of uncertainty and unknowns? Maybe that season for you is right now. How did you and/or how can you learn to let Jesus and let others in to the unknown with you?

Please know that whether today is your first day of high school, last day of college, or just your ten thousandth day at the same job you’ve had for thirty years, you are never alone, never invisible, and always, always loved.

DO

Read the entire story about Jesus comforting the sisters of Lazarus in John 11:17-37. Spend some time in prayer, allowing Jesus to feel your joys, sorrows, and confusion alongside you.

Is Jesus Better than a Beach Body?

I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.
John 6:35-40

LEARN

Over the past year I have been seeing more and more Christian health coaches on social media talking about how getting fit has literally changed their lives. That they now have purpose and identity and they are living into their full potential for Christ. I don’t doubt they mean well when they share things like this, but what they are claiming is far from Biblical truth and this is why.

The slogan for a popular fitness company that uses health coaches to promote their products and live out their vision has a very worrisome motto. Their motto is “to help people achieve their goals to lead healthy, fulfilling lives.” Now, I am all on board for what they do in helping people lead healthy lives and achieve their health goals, but I do not agree they are helping people lead fulfilling lives. We know that Biblically the only fulfilling life is one that is focused on Jesus as the source of our identity, not fitness. It is not fitness that will fulfill you, but Jesus.

THE LIE THEY ARE SPREADING:
A healthy & fit body gives you fulfillment and identity.

THE BIBLICAL TRUTH WE SHOULD BE SPREADING:
A healthy and fit body can be a means to glorify God, but fulfillment and identity is found in Christ.

We must be watchful of the things we allow to seep into our thoughts that aren’t Biblical. Even if they are well-intended. I have no doubt the women posting about their fitness makeovers are more confident in their bodies, but confidence and happiness are not the same as having joy and ultimate fulfillment. Their confidence is only as deep as their bodies are fit, and their happiness I assure you will waver if it is not grounded in the joy of the Lord.

Just the other day I watched a documentary on Netflix about a man who did a bunch of triathlons in one year, but was left unsatisfied so he decided to do 50 triathlons in 50 days in 50 states, and run to raise money for a charity. Wow! It really is quite the human accomplishment to attempt something like that and do it for a good cause. But what stuck out to me even more than his drive was the WHY behind his motivation and the sacrifices he took in order to do so. He was not a Christian, and the documentary wasn’t focusing on the spiritual implications of his WHY but it made me realize how lost people are when they buy into lies. As Christians we are called to sacrifice our lives for God, and in Him we find fulfillment, but here in this documentary I was literally watching someone almost kill themselves because they felt it would give them purpose. He seemed to believe that this accomplishment would fill the void of “not enough” when he completed it. I don’t want to spoil the rest of the documentary for you, but I am curious if he did finish what he set out to do that he now feels satisfied, that ultimately all the pain and putting his family second over this goal he had was worth it. I saw dedication yes, but at the cost of sacrificing his responsibilities as a father, husband, and even to his own body for what gain? For what consequences in the future? For what existential purpose? Watching that documentary made me more aware of the importance we have as Christians to share the Gospel. To give people hope and purpose that is more than just our measure of fitness. That people can have what they are looking for - lasting fulfillment, contentment, and any sense of identity that is worth identifying with if they turn to Christ.

I also want to say this to you who may also feel this way. You don’t need triathlons, or a perfect body, or perfect health to fulfill you, you need Jesus. So go run the marathon, go workout at the gym, go eat healthy, these are all good things to do for fun, or for health, or to be a good steward of your body, but don’t do those things in hopes of finding fulfillment; In hopes of having that craving of “more” finally be satisfied, because it won’t. That craving will only be stopped when your hunger and thirst is met through the bread of Life, Jesus Christ!

KNOW

Do you believe that Jesus is better than anything else? This song below is one of my favorite songs and is such an important and powerful song to sing that we need to not only declare but pray that our hearts believe that Jesus truly is better!

Jesus is Better
by Austin Stone Music https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTewCIvR7Og

In all my sorrows, Jesus is better
make my heart believe
In all my victories, Jesus is better
make my heart believe
Than any comfort, Jesus is better
make my heart believe
More than all riches, Jesus is better
make my heart believe
Our souls declaring, Jesus is better
make my heart believe
Our song eternal, Jesus is better - make my heart believe

DO

-Read the word and meditate on scriptures about your identity and the fulfillment that is found in Christ.

-Pray that God will reveal himself to you and give you peace in your soul

-Find a Christian mentor who can help you, one that understands it is Jesus that ultimately fulfills us. (If you are in need of a Christian Health mentor reach out to us at womenbecomingwhole@gmail.com and we will match you with one!)