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There comes a moment in every believer’s life when the choice is clear: stay safe and stuck, or take a step of faith. We talk a lot about trusting God, but sometimes trust looks less like peaceful waiting and more like nervous obedience. A shaky step forward. A deep breath and a gulp. However, if you know God is calling you, you must move forward.

Faith doesn’t always feel strong. In fact, it often feels like trembling hands and racing hearts. But faith is not the absence of fear—it’s movement in spite of it. This is the kind of faith God honors, this is the kind of faith that advances His Kingdom.

Let’s look at a few examples of faithful forward motion in Scripture. These aren’t fairytale heroes who always felt bold and sure—they were real people who chose obedience even when the path ahead felt risky or unclear.

Abraham: Moving Without a Map

Abraham’s story in Genesis 12 begins with a stunning command: “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.” (Genesis 12:1, NIV)

Not “Go to Canaan.” Not “Here’s a route, here’s your GPS.” Just “Go… to the land I will show you.”

Imagine packing up your life, your family, your future—and stepping into the unknown with no details, no destination, and no guarantees except God said so. Abraham didn’t wait for every detail to fall into place. He moved forward at God’s word. That’s faith.

Daniel: Standing Alone with Conviction

Fast forward to Daniel, exiled in Babylon—a godless culture, surrounded by compromise. Everyone around him had adjusted their standards. Daniel could’ve gone with the flow to keep his position and his comfort, but instead, Daniel “resolved not to defile himself” (Daniel 1:8), even though that meant standing almost completely alone. He was faithful in the small decisions—what he would eat, how he would pray—and God honored it.

Daniel shows us that forward motion in faith sometimes looks like staying planted in conviction while everyone else drifts. It may not be popular. It may cost you status or relationships. But if God has called you to stand—stand.

Esther: Courage in the Face of Risk

Esther’s story is one of the most well-known in Scripture. She was given a divine opportunity to influence a king and save her people. Stepping into that moment wasn’t glamorous, it was terrifying. She told Mordecai, “I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish” (Esther 4:16). Esther had every reason to stay silent. Self-preservation would’ve been the easy choice. Faith compelled her to speak up—even when the cost could’ve been her life.

Sometimes moving forward in faith means putting it all on the line. It’s not reckless—it’s trusting that God’s hand is over the outcome.

Jesus: Obedience to the Cross

And of course, our ultimate example is Jesus. No one was more aware of the cost of obedience than Christ Himself. He knew the cross was coming. He knew the betrayal, the suffering, the agony. He even said, “Don’t you think I could call on My Father, and He would at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?” (Matthew 26:53). But Jesus didn’t call for a rescue. He submitted. He obeyed. He moved forward—for us.

“Not my will, but Yours be done.” (Luke 22:42)

Jesus teaches us that sometimes faith means walking straight into pain, into sacrifice—knowing that resurrection is coming, that purpose is on the other side, and that the Kingdom of God is worth it all.

Your Turn: Do Your Part

Each of these stories reminds us that the first step doesn’t always come with full clarity or confidence. But God doesn’t ask for perfect understanding—He asks for obedience.

What’s your move?

Whatever it is, take the step. God’s provision meets our obedience. When we do our part—when we trust, move, stand, speak, obey—He always does His. Do you need provision for your step of faith? He's a provider. Do you need protection for your step of faith? He's your Protector. Do you need wisdom for your step of faith? He's your infallible guide.

Scripture says, “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” (Exodus 14:14) Be careful: "still” does not mean stuck. Sometimes it means settled in trust as we keep stepping forward.

So take a deep breath. Gulp if you have to. But move forward. You'll find that your treasure awaits on the other side of your obedience!

p.s. here's my move of faith today! Launching a new ministry, Connect Mentoring Network. Friend, we are in this together - as I am asking you to step out, I am also stepping out! Let's pray for each other!

Spiritual friendship is not just “nice to have” in the Christian life—it’s essential.

"Two are better than one... If either of them falls down, one can help the other up." Ecclesiastes 4:9, 10

Have you ever hesitated to reach out to someone, afraid of being rejected or misunderstood? Maybe you saw someone at church who looked a little lonely, or a mom at the park who seemed like she might want a chat. You thought, “I should go say something”, but then quickly talked yourself out of it…. Let’s be honest—friendship on its own can feel risky, but being the one to make the effort ups the risk for sure. 

Let’s start with the obvious: initiating friendship feels vulnerable. You don’t know how you’ll be received. You risk feeling awkward, ignored, or even rejected. In our social-media-saturated world, it’s easy to stay in our own bubble, where we scroll, like, and comment without ever truly engaging.

From the beginning, God said, “It is not good for man to be alone” (Genesis 2:18). While that verse speaks to marriage, the principle really is broader. We are created for connection. Scripture is full of examples of deep, godly friendships: David and Jonathan, Ruth and Naomi, Paul and Timothy, Jesus and His disciples.

Still, we hesitate.

We tell ourselves lies like:

All of those fears are valid—but fear doesn’t get to have the final say. When it comes to godly friendship, the return on investment is greater than we can imagine. God's best for you happens in community; it's the enemy of your soul who wants you in isolation.

Jesus Himself modeled what it means to initiate relationship - we talked about this on the blog a few weeks ago.  Check it out here if you missed it!

Jesus invited Himself over. Jesus made the first move. If the Son of God was willing to reach across social barriers, awkward situations, and the opinions of others to extend friendship, shouldn’t we be willing to do the same? The truth is, anything worthwhile involves some level of risk, and that includes friendship.

Friendship doesn’t happen by accident. It’s not something we stumble into—it’s something we choose to build. Like any investment, it requires intentionality, time, and sacrifice.

I loved morning car rides with my children on the way to school when they were small many years ago. There were a couple of verses that were on the usual rotation, and one that was repeated often was Proverbs 18:24. “A man who has friends must himself be friendly.” That’s not just a cute quote—it’s a reminder that friendships grow when we’re willing to plant seeds.  

Sometimes those seeds look like:

Prepare yourself: not every seed grows into a deep friendship. Some fade. Some were only meant for a season. However, some grow roots so deep that they strengthen your faith, bring you joy, and sharpen you into the person God is calling you to be. Those kinds of roots bring forth good fruit, friends who will:

That kind of friendship doesn’t just happen. It starts with someone being brave enough to go first.

Here’s the thing: you’re not the only one longing for connection. That woman you keep thinking about inviting to coffee? She might be praying for someone like you. The young mom sitting by herself at small group? She may be hoping someone notices her.

Someone is waiting for you to be bold. Not perfect. Just willing.

This week, take a step toward friendship. Plant the seeds. Show yourself friendly.

Are you nervous or unsure? That's okay, don't let those feelings stop you. Friendship built on faith, truth, and love is worth every bit of risk and effort. Remember that Jesus made the first move toward us. He came close. He extended His hand. Let’s follow His lead.

Godly friendship is a treasure - but many times you have to make an effort to enjoy it's benefits!

p.s. I’m continuing this discussion on the podcast this week! New episode will drop on Thursday. Subscribe on Youtube, Spotify or Apple Podcasts this week so we can connect again! Here’s the link tree so we can connect!

“Let Christ himself be your example as to what your attitude should be. For He, who had always been God by nature, did not cling to His prerogatives as God’s equal, but stripped Himself of all privilege by consenting to be a slave by nature and being born as mortal man. And, having become man, He humbled himself by living a life of utter obedience, even to the extent of dying, and the death He died was the death of a common criminal” (Philippians 2:5-8 Phillips)

(I love the Phillips translation! Try reading the Bible in a translation that is new to you - it will give it a fresh take!)

“Let Christ himself be your example as to what your attitude should be”

Jesus’ motivation, His very existence, His entire purpose for coming to earth was to redeem and rescue.  He said Himself, “For the Son of Man himself has not come to be served but to serve, and to give his life to set many others free” (Mark 10:45 Phillips).  His constant motivation was love. What if this was the litmus test for our actions as well?

Check your attitude this morning: Let Christ Himself be your example.

  1. Is love your continual motivation?
  2. Are you more interested in serving others than in serving your own purposes?

I have to ask myself these questions daily.  I find myself in situations daily where I have to make a decision separate from the inclination of my flesh.  I find myself daily evaluating what is best for me vs what is best for the people within my sphere of influence.

Sometimes the required action is mutually beneficial - sometimes the required action does not seem beneficial to me, so what do I do?  I trust the Lord to love me as I follow His example in loving others. I trust Him to take care of me as I take care of others. I leave behind the scarcity mentality.

It’s not exactly 100%.  As much as I want everything to be black and white, right and wrong (I find comfort in the boundaries), there’s gray.  You pray and do the best you can. You ask the Lord to test your motives and reveal your heart. You ask Him to search you and know you.  Even Jesus took care of HImself - He went to the garden alone. He took the disciples away for a rest. He slept in the boat before the storm.  He fasted and was separate, always doing what the Father asked Him to do. Take this as an example, not an excuse.

If I choose SELF over OTHERS, then I am not trusting the Lord. If I choose SELF over OTHERS, then I am not loving as Jesus loved. Loving like Jesus loves means that I come in second.

“For He, who had always been God by nature, did not cling to His prerogatives as God’s equal, but stripped himself of all privilege by consenting to be a slave by nature and being born as mortal man”

It’s significant to notice that Jesus never claimed the rights due Him as the Son of God.  Reading His life years later, we might not complain had Jesus moved into His comfortable house and taught at the local church, teaching people how to minister and sending them out, but never leaving His own town. We might think, “Well, that’s what the boss does.  The general himself doesn’t go out into the front lines…” and then in our twisted way of thinking, we would have concluded that leadership was a place to arrive at, and that the “harder work” will come to an end at some point.

I did think when I was younger “well, when I have more money”, “well, when I am finished with school”, “well, when we have a larger church”, “well, when fill-in-the-blank-here”, THEN I will have arrived, THEN I won’t have to work so hard, THEN, life will be easier.

You see the downward spiral there?  Jesus knew, God knew, that one day in our society centered on SELF, we would misinterpret Jesus and think there was a place to arrive at, some place where it would be okay that our own needs came before the needs of others, to a place where it was okay for us to be comfortable and supervise.  That would not do - so Jesus made sure that He took on all the wonders and all the hardships of being human, and didn’t lay claim to any “rights” He may have enjoyed as the Son of God.

It’s important to note the why: why did Jesus lay aside His prerogatives as God’s equal?  I think two things:

He knew Who He was, and He knew the behavior of others would not change His identity.  

I also think that insisting on His rights, driving home the point that He “was God’s equal and therefore” wasn’t the main thing.  The main thing was to reconcile people back to God. The main thing was to demonstrate the love and the heart of the Father, the main thing was to serve and be served, the main thing was to communicate

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,

Because He has anointed Me

To preach the gospel to the poor;

He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,

To proclaim liberty to the captives

And recovery of sight to the blind,

To set at liberty those who are oppressed;

To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” (Luke 4:18-19 NKJV)

In order for people to receive salvation and experience the benefits of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, they were going to have to also understand that He was God’s Son, sent as a substitute for their sins.  But that wasn’t the gateway to Jesus’ message: "God loves you, God wants you free, God wants you healed, God wants you whole - and if I can effectively reconcile you back to God, you’ll know that I am truly sent from Him”.  His motivation was love for these lost people, these sheep without a shepherd.

My first career was teaching music in elementary grades. My point in teaching music was not to make sure that the kiddo’s know that I am their teacher - I never taught a lesson on who I am. However, as I stay on message, they figure it out and they begin to trust me. One day they’ll dance at their wedding or sing a lullaby to their child, and I’ll have a small part in that.  And that’s literally nothing, so insignificant in comparison to Jesus’ purpose, it’s embarrassing to even mention it. For Jesus, the most important thing was communicating His purpose, not promoting His position.

If we are going to love people like Jesus loved people, we’re going to have to figure out what the most important thing is and stay on that - and the most important thing is not us.

Maybe loving like Jesus loves requires laying aside my “rights” or promoting His purpose over my position for the benefit of others.

“And, having become man, He humbled himself by living a life of utter obedience”

Look at this, it’s not going to be popular:

Humble: 1. having or showing a modest or low estimate of one's own importance.

  1. of low social, administrative, or political rank

So being humble is having a modest view of your own importance (Jesus was the very definition! Who is more important than He is? Who had a more modest view of Himself than He did?) OR actually being of low rank.  

I guess it’s the same as the last point - but if you have to move out of the way in order for someone to see God, move out of the way.  If you have to work hard for the greater good and at the end of the day no one noticed or even knew, you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing that God sees you - and He is the reason you are working anyway.  

And being seen by the Lord?  Wow, what an amazing treasure that will be! <3 

Among all the other changes and life events, we moved about three years ago.  Not to a new town, just a new house.  With all the "babies" grown and moved out, I guess it was time to downsize. In my dining room, I have these floating shelves above my sideboard, super cute.  I love to decorate them with my favorite things.  After having so much fun decorating them for Christmas, I decided I would do a subtle little "nod" to Valentines - I put out my paternal grandmother's formal china with its little pink rosebuds, got a few pink things from Hobby Lobby and Target (and even had a Valentines dinner for some friends with pink chargers!).  Fun! (oh how Mama Annie would love it too, seeing her dishes so loved!)

   

Since Christmas and Valentines Day were so much fun, I decided a little "nod" to St Patrick's Day would be fun too, so off to my favorite shops I went!  Turns out, St Patrick's day is not subtle.... everything I saw was pretty "loud", sparkly, not the little "hint" of shamrocks I had hoped for, but then I remembered: my little Irish girl! Can we take a little rabbit trail together? 


My maternal grandmother collected music boxes.  Lots of them, shelves and shelves, boxes and boxes.  I loved playing with them when I was small. Some were very large, some were very expensive, but all of them were out - she didn't mind when we played them. This little Irish girl plays "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling", but have your earplugs handy when I start her up - she's so out of tune, it will give you a headache when she plays. Her dress is cracked, someone glued her back together long before I was around. Her paint is worn off in places.   I have very specific memories of this one when I was small - every time I got down the music boxes, I made sure she was one of them. I remember feeling sorry for her, thinking that no one would play with her because she was broken and didn't play a pretty tune.  I always thought no one would want her, so I made sure to give her some attention when I visited.  Isn't it funny the things were think when we are young?

When my grandmother passed away, my mother, aunts and uncle asked the grandchildren if there was anything in the house we would like.  I don't think anyone objected when I requested the little Irish girl, and I was so pleased to bring her to my house. Today, she was the perfect "nod" to St Patrick's Day for my floating shelf.  I decided to display my maternal grandmother's china along with her music box - it might not be "St Patrick's Day official", but it makes me smile.  It makes me remember.   (oh how Super Nana would have loved this too!)

You know, these little treasures - china and chargers and music boxes - all contain little lessons. Titus 1:15 says, "To the pure, all things are pure". I think this means that God can speak to me in everything if I focus my attention on Him, let my desire for His truth be the filter through which He speaks to me. So, today the lesson is about a broken, out of tune, faded out, old music box.

She doesn’t sparkle. She doesn’t sing sweetly. She doesn’t work quite right. Her dress is cracked. But she’s still treasured - not because of how well she performs, but because of who she belonged to, and the memories she holds. I don’t love her because she’s perfect—I love her because she belonged to my grandmother and now she belongs to me.

And isn’t that just like the Lord?

We may be cracked. Our song may be off-key. We may feel forgotten, or passed over, or patched together one too many times. Even in our imperfections, God chooses us. Loves us. Delights in us. Simply because we are His.

Psalm 22:30 says, “Future generations will hear about the wonders of the Lord" (NLT). I want to be the kind of woman who tells. Who shares. Who puts broken music boxes on the shelf and pink chargers on the table and celebrates every season of life, because every one is a gift. I want to be a bridge between generations—passing down beauty and brokenness, faith and joy, love and legacy.

And in this way, even my little broken Irish girl becomes a treasure <3

“I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you.”  Genesis 17:7

My two-year-old grandson and I love SeaWorld. At this stage in his life, we see it more as a zoo than a theme park. We love to stroll the paths, admire the aquariums, and see the animals above and below the water. He especially loves the shows. He loves the orcas, sharks, Elmo’s train…. He has a lot of favorites, and that makes life with him so much fun!

Last week, I invited his dad/my son to join us for the day. As we sat together at the orca show (his favorite!), my grandson crawled up into my lap. I kissed the top of his head, breathing in that familiar mix of sweat and sunscreen, the universal cologne of little boyhood. Suddenly, I was transported back in time to when his dad was two years old and snuggled in that same spot. That weight, that warmth, that love, that memory brought tears of joy to my eyes.

Watching my grown son hold his son’s hand as they walked through the shark tank (oh wait - the sharks are his favorite!), or laughing as he crammed his 6’4” frame into a tiny seat on Elmo’s train (that's also his favorite, LOL!), I was struck with gratitude—not just for the sweetness of the moment, but for the enduring goodness of God from one generation to the next.

The promises of God are not limited by age or time. Genesis 17:7 speaks of God’s everlasting covenant—not just with Abraham, but with his descendants. This is the beauty of generational faith: God doesn’t just call me to follow Him—He invites my children, my grandchildren, and their children after them.

We’re not saved by bloodline, of course, but there is an incredible grace in seeing the thread of God’s faithfulness continue through the generations. Psalm 145:4 declares, “One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts.” There is no greater joy than watching your children carry on the faith you’ve labored to live out.  One day, God willing, I’ll see my grandson begin to walk that same path.

“We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and His might, and the wonders that He has done.” Psalm 78:4

If we embrace this season with joy, we’ll discover its own special anointing. We become the storytellers of the family faith. That’s my call, and yours: to speak life into the next generation—not just through Bible stories, but through our own testimonies. Tell them about the time God provided when I had nothing. Share how He healed, how He carried me through heartbreak, how He surprised me with peace when it made no sense. These aren’t just stories—they’re spiritual inheritance.

Holding my grandson, watching him gaze at his dad with adoration, I felt it deeply: this is what blessing looks like. Not just health or happiness or financial security, but the continuity of love and faith. My grandson is just the cherry on top!

“Tell your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children to another generation.” Joel 1:3

There’s something profoundly holy about watching your grown child parent their own child with gentleness, laughter, and strength. It’s a glimpse of God’s faithfulness—not only in your own life, but in theirs. (Since this post is so personal anyway, I'll just continue: I'm in awe watching my son and daughter-in-love parent. They are excellent, and their children are surely blessed).

Faith passed down becomes more than memory. It transforms from something we talk about to something we live out, shoulder to shoulder, hand in hand. From the stroller at SeaWorld to the altar at church, from Elmo’s train to the truths of Scripture, every moment is an opportunity to pass along something eternal.

“To him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” Ephesians 3:21

I’ve been in a season of transition, and know from experience that transitions can be hard. Watching the years unfold brings tears and joy in equal measure. However, these transitions in my family have been a joy and ease: my son becoming a husband, then a dad, me becoming a GiGi. What a joy to hold a child in your arms and know that the God who held you all these years is now holding them, too.

To tell of God’s mighty works, and to declare that His mercy truly endures from generation to generation - that’s my treasure today and I am taking it all in! <3

 “Where are you?” Genesis 3:8

Genesis 3 has a very familiar history - even if you quit your “bible in a year” reading plan, you most likely made it to Genesis 3 at least! Adam and Eve disobey the Lord. When God comes to the garden, Adam and Eve hear Him and attempt to hide from Him in their shame. 

That question in Genesis 3:8 always catches me. God is calling to Adam, but it’s not because He doesn’t know where Adam is hiding. This isn’t a case of “I lost track of you.” It’s more like: “Adam, do you realize where you’ve ended up? Do you know how far you’ve drifted?”

It’s a sobering moment. And to be honest, it hits a little close to home sometimes.

Have you ever had one of those “where am I?” moments in life—not physically, but spiritually? Perhaps you looked up one day and thought, “This isn’t where I thought I’d be. This isn’t who I intended to become”. Sometimes it’s subtle. You’re still serving, still showing up, still saying all the right words. But internally? You feel a little off-track. A little lost. A little… somewhere else.

Let’s settle this up front: God knows exactly where you are. Hebrews 4:13 reminds us, “There is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.”

There’s not a thought you’ve had, a step you’ve taken, or a secret pain you carry that He hasn’t seen. He is not confused about your location or your situation. But sometimes—like with Adam—He asks you to think about it. He invites you to pause and evaluate: Where am I, really? Am I walking with Him… or hiding behind something?

We’re not talking about self-condemnation or self-indulgence.. This isn’t about spiraling into guilt or chasing perfection. It’s about simply and humbly coming before God with an open heart and asking: Father, am I still on the path You set for me?

Sometimes we can get so caught up in doing things for God that we forget to walk with Him. Ministry, leadership, even devotion can become routine if we’re not intentional. And before long, we can be physically present but spiritually off course.

Think about a GPS for a second. If you take a wrong turn, it doesn’t shame you. It doesn’t yell, it doesn’t call us names. It simply says: “Recalculating.”

In love, the Holy Spirit does the same. He gently prompts us back to center. The real question isn’t “Does God know where I am?” The real question is “Do I know where I am in relation to Him?”

If you feel off-track today, here’s the good news: God is still calling. The same voice that called out to Adam is calling to you. He’s not calling in anger. He’s not waiting to lecture you. He’s offering you an invitation to walk with Him again, to realign with His heart and His purposes specifically for you. Even when we are off-track, that knowledge of His character should give us peace.

That question—“Where are you?”—isn’t about punishment. It’s about restoration. It’s an opportunity. A chance to recognize where you are, so He can lead you where you’re meant to go. He knows the path, even when you can’t see the next step - and it’s a treasure when we let the Lord take the lead!

When we were children, friendship and community seemed easier, didn’t it? We were in school together, when you had a deskmate or someone who shared your seat on the bus, 8 year olds could be pretty simple. (Well, at least when I was an 8 year old, life was simpler - not sure if it's simple for the 8 year old in 2025!). However, as adults, we have to make more of an effort.  Godly friendship doesn’t happen by accident!

One of my friends and I laugh often about how we became close.  She had moved to a new city, and I thought, “she needs me” - so I called her up and said, “Hey!  I’m coming to sleep over at your house!” I called another friend and said, “Hey - we are going to a sleepover!  Get packed!” LOL!  Today, we are still BFFs, and we still laugh about that story!  

You might be thinking, "I could never!”. I know - it sounds embarrassing, but this is not without precedent. You know who did this way before I did?  

“When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.”  So Zacchaeus came down at once and welcomed Jesus gladly.” Luke 19:5-6 NIV

(Anyone else singing the children’s song in your head right now?  “Zacchaeus, you come down!  For I’m going to your house today! I’m going to your house today!”)

To be honest, at the moment of that phone call when I invited myself over, we weren’t really that kind of friends yet. The Holy Spirit, in His kindness, allowed me to see a need - and it turns out that it was a need I had in my life too.  The result is one of my most treasured friendships!

Okay, so you don’t have to cold-call people to get friends, LOL!  However, the faith journey should not be a solo one.  God’s idea is for us to be in families and in community - He was the one who said, “it is not good for man to be alone” (Genesis 2:18). The enemy of your soul wants you isolated - don’t fall into that trap.  

A few tips for you:

Friendship is not just emotional support—it’s a spiritual discipline. When we surround ourselves with godly companions, we position ourselves to hear God more clearly, walk more faithfully, and live more fully.

Don’t wait for friendship to find you. Sow seeds of intentionality, vulnerability, and prayer. Water them with consistency and grace. Trust that God, in His perfect timing, will surround you with the kind of friends who make you more like Him. I have found that this effort is worth it, and I have been blessed with godly friendships in my life. Today, I want to encourage you to make that investment! You will find it to be a treasure <3 

p.s. I'm continuing this discussion on the podcast this week! New episode will drop on Thursday. Subscribe on Youtube, Spotify or Apple Podcasts this week so we can connect again! Here's the link tree so we can connect!

God includes Sabbath-keeping among the Ten Commandments, placing it alongside commands against idolatry, murder and adultery. Whoa! Considered in this context, the seriousness and sacredness of Sabbath is surely underscored here. It's not just a spiritual tip for well-being, it's an act of obedience and reverence.

I have to be honest: I didn’t always observe a weekly Sabbath consistently. Even now, there are some weeks when I allow this time to be crowded out (I say “I allow” because I’m taking responsibility - this is a result of my own choices). BUT, it’s important and ought to be a priority in my schedule (and yours!).

“Observe the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Work six days and do everything you need to do. But the seventh day is a Sabbath to God, your God. Don’t do any work—not you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your servant, nor your maid, nor your animals, not even the foreign guest visiting in your town. For in six days God made Heaven, Earth, and sea, and everything in them; He rested on the seventh day. Therefore God blessed the Sabbath day; He set it apart as a holy day.” Exodus 20:8-11

I had some wrong ideas about Sabbath - I thought it meant only Sunday. This wasn’t possible for me: as a pastor’s wife (until a few weeks ago, my husband recently resigned his pastorate), Sundays were not a day of rest - Sundays were a workday for us.  I also wrongly thought that Sabbath meant 24 straight hours of NOTHING, no activity at all.  This was hard for me too - I’m a “mover and shaker” generally, and enjoy being happily busy.

Ken Shigamatsu (one of my favorites authors/pastors) defines Sabbath as “a chance to step off the hampster wheel and listen to the voice that tells us we are beloved by God. The sabbath heals us from our compulsion to measure ourselves by what we accomplish, who we know, and the influence we have”. Take a deep breath, take a pause and quietly consider that!  Now this is a concept I can get behind! The Sabbath is a divine invitation to rest, reflect, and realign with God—and with ourselves.  Sabbath is 24 hours set aside for rest, for life-giving activity. 

Some of you are thinking what I thought at first: “there’s no way I can take 24 hours off!” Again, I have to be honest: when I first began to pray about Sabbath, when I first recognized my need for it, when the Lord started dealing with me about getting into the rhythm He intended for His children, there was no way. I had packed my calendar out.  I didn’t run my schedule - my schedule ran me. “Lord, how am I going to stop for 24 straight hours? Are You kidding? I’ve made commitments here.” 

I don’t know about you - but when the Lord starts to deal with me about disobedience, He isn’t kidding. (Oh - sorry, did I say disobedience out loud?  That sounded harsh…. But this is one of the Big Ten, remember?)

At first, it wasn’t realistic.  I had made commitments, I had over-scheduled, I had made promises that I should not have made, I kept once-genuine needs on the calendar past their effectiveness….  It was understandable that I needed time to rearrange some things on the calendar as well as needing to eliminate some things altogether. 

I realized that I needed to start budgeting my TIME the same way I budgeted my MONEY. The reason I can’t buy another car is that I made a commitment to the one I have.  If I want another car, I need to sell this one, right? The reason I can’t buy a new outfit today is that I bought a new outfit last week - I spent that money already. My time is just as valuable and needs to be carefully budgeted as well.

I looked at my calendar:

Slowly, I got my calendar in balance and worked up to 24 hours of rest.  Most weeks, my Sabbath is Friday dinner-Saturday dinner. That time is for rest, for life-giving activity.  I’ll describe my Friday/Saturday to you, as an example: 

A few last things about Sabbath:

Sabbath is an act of radical trust: Keeping the Sabbath means ceasing work, even when there is more to do. Sabbath rest is a weekly declaration that God is our provider, not our "hustle". Sabbath reminds us that our identity is rooted in being and not in doing.

Sabbath is a return to God's intended rhythm for us. The Sabbath is rooted in creation itself. "On the seventh day, God rested" (Genesis 2:2-3). If the Creator of the universe paused to rest - not from weariness, but from delight - then so should we. Observing the Sabbath with joy reconnects us with the divine rhythm of work and rest; helping us recover from burnout, anxiety, and striving.

Sabbath is a preview of eternal rest. The Sabbath points us forward to the eternal rest promised in Christ (Hebrews 4:9-11). Jesus is our Sabbath rest - He frees us from striving for righteousness through works and invites us into grace-driven rest.

Maybe you need a little space to budget differently? Take that space and use it to re-order, work up to the 24 hours. Give yourself grace, it may not happen overnight. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you. This time is a gift from the Lord - and receiving Sabbath from His hand with delight every seven days will become a treasure to you! <3

This is one of my favorites - it’s probably one of yours too: 

“Thus says the Lord who made it, the Lord who formed it to establish it (the Lord is His name): ‘Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’ ” Jeremiah 33:3 NKJV

(Before you get nervous, I’m not going to ruin your favorite verse like I did with Psalm 46:10 if you were with me back then: https://jenniferwspivey.org/2020/12/30/a-new-look-at-an-old-favorite/ You might even like Jeremiah 33:3 more after we visit!)

We like to say that God is a “God of second chances”, don’t we?  Have you ever heard that phrase?  I think it mostly references the second chances He gives to His children. However, I wonder if we are this gracious to God, if we are quick to give Him a “second chance” if we don’t like the way it went with Him the first time around.

Did you ever hear a word from the Lord that you weren’t too sure about?  A few examples from my life: 

Perhaps it was a battle you had to face, a relationship you had to end, a hardship you had to endure…. Even a warning from the Lord is a gift, He always speaks for our benefit and nothing He says is without value.

When we look at Jeremiah 33:3 (or any scripture really), it’s important to get the context.  Sometimes I skip the history lesson for time’s sake (or word count, LOL!), but let’s go into it a little bit this time. I dearly love the history lesson!

Backing up to Jeremiah 32, the Lord comes to Jeremiah with a word that is not as encouraging as 33:3 - 

“Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: ‘I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me? Therefore this is what the Lord says: I am about to give this city into the hands of the Babylonians and to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, who will capture it. The Babylonians who are attacking this city will come in and set it on fire; they will burn it down, along with the houses where the people aroused my anger by burning incense on the roofs to Baal and by pouring out drink offerings to other gods. The people of Israel and Judah have done nothing but evil in my sight from their youth; indeed, the people of Israel have done nothing but arouse my anger with what their hands have made, declares the Lord’ ” 32:26-30

Yikes. Now let’s look at 33:1, we’re working our way back to 33:3, hang in there: 

“While Jeremiah was still confined in the courtyard of the guard, the word of the Lord came to him a second time”

A second time, really?  Jeremiah is still in his confinement, he’s still in the place of captivity, still under the attack that the Lord told him would be coming…. To be honest, if I were Jeremiah, I might have said, “Thanks but no thanks - not real crazy about the first thing You said, Lord, so I’m not sure I’m interested in You coming a second time.”

Thankfully Jeremiah had a soft heart and ears to hear what the Lord had to say, how much he would have missed:

“This is what the Lord says, He who made the earth, the Lord who formed it and established it—the Lord is his name: ‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’ ” 33:3

But wait - there’s MORE!  Jeremiah does call out to the Lord, and the word is an encouragement in his distress: 

“For thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, concerning the houses of this city and the houses of the kings of Judah…. I will bring health and healing to it; I will heal My people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security.  I will bring Judah and Israel back from captivity and will rebuild them as they were before.  I will cleanse them from all the sin they have committed against Me and will forgive all their sins of rebellion against Me.  Then this city will bring Me renown, joy, praise and honor before all nations on earth that hear of all the good things I do for it; and they will be in awe and will tremble at the abundant prosperity and peace I provide for it.’ ” 33:4, 6-9

WOW! I’m so glad Jeremiah was receptive when the Lord came a “second time”, and what an example this provides for me. Where else would Jeremiah had gone at that moment?  In his crisis, had he left the Lord, where else would have found healing and restoration and help? It reminds me of Peter in John 6:68, “Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” Even in crisis, especially in crisis, there is no other source of help.  

Every time the Lord speaks, it’s a gift - let Him come to you a second time (and a third time, and a fourth time, and....) and it will be a treasure! <3 

We joke sometimes and say, “but who’s counting?” but the truth is that I am counting.

3,037.  That’s how many days it’s been between the first day and today.   The day my world changed and hasn’t changed back. I feel it every day, a weight on my chest that makes it hard to breathe sometimes.  The days when I wonder if God can hear me - I’ve prayed over this more than 3,037 times - multiple times every day, countless now. 

I know He could fix it, heal it, solve it, restore it.  Beyond that, I even have faith that He will fix it, heal it, solve it, restore it. Maybe you have a prayer, dear to your heart, that is still on the “not yet” side of the column? Maybe yours isn’t 3,037 days - but I bet you know how many days it's been since day 1. We understand each other.  We’re in this together. 

Joel 2:12-14 is a big encouragement to me on these days when I feel the weight of the 3,037 more than others.  Want to go get out the dictionary and the Strong’s concordance and follow a few rabbit trails with me?

12: “Now, therefore,” says the Lord, “Turn to Me with all your heart; With fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.” 13: So rend your heart, and not your garments;

I have to pause here, it's too good: 

rend, Strong’s H7167: cut out or tear

heart, Strong’s H3824: heart as the most interior organ, comfort, courage, understanding

garments, Strong’s H899: covering, rag - from H898: to cover with a garment

Let’s remove the “cover”, remove any barriers between us and the Lord, remove any barriers between us and people.  Live heart open, arms open, wide open. The moment we get brave enough to throw away the pretense and pretending is the moment when we begin to heal. Back to Joel 2:

13: Return to the Lord your God, For He is gracious and merciful, Slow to anger, and of great kindness; And He relents from doing harm.”

Let’s go to the King James, where “relent” is translated “repent” and “return”:

repent, Strong’s H5162: to pity, console, comfort, ease

Doesn’t that sound like the Lord? Bringing comfort, as He always does when we allow Him to be our Comforter.

return, Strong’s H7725: to turn back, not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point; rescue, restore, retrieve, recover, fetch home again

I love the reminder that God’s perspective is not ours.  Let’s not wait for our lives to “change back” - what the Lord has for us isn’t behind, it’s ahead. Return here means to “turn back, not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point”. When there is a return (and there will be a return!), we’ll be better.

14: “Who knows if He will turn and relent, And leave a blessing behind Him— A grain offering and a drink offering For the Lord your God?”

Here’s the best part: the blessing that He leaves behind becomes “a grain offering and a drink offering for the Lord your God” when we receive it from His hand.  That means that these 3,037 days are not for nothing.  When God leaves a blessing, He’ll leave it in such a way that I can offer it all back to Him - and in His hand, my pain has a purpose. 

When we are able to move our “not yet”s to the “it is finished” column, we’ll be different for the experience and the testimony it brings - and that’s a treasure worth waiting for, even 3,037 days or more <3 

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