Life is...Why Now?

Life is...Why Now?

Why a mental health crisis now? 

Why the rise in mental health issues when we're finally getting out of the pandemic? 

When I've gone through difficult times I think...

"If I can just get through this part - THEN everything will be better."

And when the season passes and it's not all better it's devastating.

Life is still hard, even after the storm passes.

There's a rainbow, there's sunshine, but there will be another big storm or small thunderstorms and rain, BUT it's nothing to fear. 

 

There's a beautiful story about a storm in Matthew 4. 

The disciples and Jesus were in a boat and a great storm came upon them.

They cried out to Jesus, "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?" And he awoke and and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, "Peace! Be Still!" And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 

He said to them, "Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?" 

And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, "Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?"

What storm do you have in your life? 

What changes can take place if we are bold enough to... 

+ Cry out to Jesus.

+ Listen for Peace! Be Still!

+ Take in the great calm.

Jesus showed that he did care. 

Then and Now.

If you're struggling don't stay in the darkness alone. Cry out to Jesus. Call out to a friend, a counselor, a pastor, a helpline.

"Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us." ~Psalm 62:8

Life is...Finishing Well

 Life is...Finishing Well

It's easy to show kindness to someone when they are around. 

BUT how you treat others when they aren't there shows your true character.

It's easier to start a journey well than to end well, but how you end a journey makes all the difference.

We end journeys big and small every day: jobs, relationships, conversations, putting the kids to bed at the end of a long day...

*That is a hard one for me. It's difficult to end the day well when I just want my kids to go to sleep, so I can have a few minutes to relax.

It's hard to end well. 

It's tiring. 

It's exhausting. 

It's frustrating. 

~2 Timothy 4:7 says "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." 

The finish is crucial!

What if Jesus didn't finish well?

What if he stopped before the cross or before the resurrection?

We didn't need another great teacher. We needed a Savior!

He had to finish well.

Peter and Judas BOTH betrayed Jesus. It is how they finished that made all the difference. Judas wrongly believed he couldn't be forgiven. He wouldn't ask. He decided it was the end. Peter asked for forgiveness and FINISHED the journey well!

"And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up." ~Galations 6:9

My prayer for you and for me is that we FINISH WELL!

Things that Change & Things that Don't

 Life is...Things that Change & Things that Don't

When I think of how to explain the last 9 months it almost seems impossible. How do you explain the craziness? It has been so life-altering & changes daily. I think this is the pinnacle of the destruction, the madness, the hurt, the heartache, the uncertainty - but it's not.

For me I can sum the changes into:

Fighter jets used to bring me a sense of peace

           -

Now they bring fear

So much has changed in 9 months

BUT...

God is still the same.

"For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed." ~Malachi 3:6

There is NO OTHER place to put my hope. Everything has changed. Everything seems uncertain. EXCEPT God!

"For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is in him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God. Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. Selah" ~Psalm 62:5-8

Will you join me on focusing on God and not on the headlines?

Will you join me in bringing TRUE Love, Hope, & Light into a world that DESPERATELY needs it?!