When Habakkuk says "it will not delay," he doesn't literally mean that it will happen immediately; he means that it will happen with certainty.

Our God is faithful, and He exalts our efforts for His kingdom in due time. If God has given you a vision, a God-dream, something to work toward for the glory of His Kingdom and the goodness of others, you can believe with unwavering faith that it will come to fruition in due time. ​

Do not give up on the hard work you're putting in today, even if you cannot see the fruits of it tomorrow. We are called to embrace small beginnings (Zechariah 4:10) and to continue doing good work without growing weary (Galatians 6:9). 

So let's be like Habakkuk, choosing not to let our impatience deter us from our callings, but rather, let's determine to live by His faithfulness and be people of great faith (Habakkuk 2:4).

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Today was a long day. Not like an ahh, relaxing summer kind of long day, but like an I’ve been working to the bone since the crack of dawn kind of long day. I spent hours and hours working on an over 25 page research project in between caring for kids and doing normal household things.

Besides that, I’ve just been in such a funk lately! I’ve been feeling sick for about five days now. I’ve been frustrated about my sudden and unexplainable weight gain. I’ve been feeling overwhelmed with the grandeur of my doctoral program research, reading, and writing tasks, and all around pent-up about life. I’m tired of coronavirus being a thing, I wish I knew how to solve the political and social issues our society is struggling with, and I just want unlimited funds, okay? And world peace!

Besides all this, I can’t remember the last time I just had enough margin in my schedule and my life to freely do the things I love: blogging, journaling, writing, painting, musicing (yes, that can be a verb!). 

As I edged closer to finishing my project this evening, I decided to place a Drive Up order for Target to get some epsom salts and kettle chips. All I wanted to do was turn in my project and sink into a salty, fragrant tub with a little bowl of salty, crispy, kettle-cooked potato chips! So when I got the notice that there was an issue with my Drive Up order and it was being put on hold, I called the store. When no one answered, I drove to the store. When no one at the store had any idea how to help me, I decided to cancel the order and just go ahead and pick up the things I came for and that I might as well knock out some grocery shopping while I was already out in my mask and everything…

I drove home an hour later feeling utterly and completely depleted.

As I was sulking myself into a funky heart space, and not in a good way, I looked out my window while stopped at a redlight and saw one of those white parachute fluffs floating by, probably from a Cottonwood or Poplar tree. I know it sounds insignificant, but I live in the city. It was dark outside, yet the world still felt hustley and bustley. But in the midst of all of that, this beautiful little spore (lol!) peacefully drifted a semicircle around my car. It was so unhurried. So at peace. So present and happy. The streetlight casted a glow on it, and I don’t know why, but I just felt a spark of joy in my heart and an overwhelming sense of peace.

For the rest of my short drive home, I kept thinking about how blessed I am. How blessed my family is. My husband and I have one another. Our parents and siblings are all alive and well. We have beautiful, sweet, healthy, happy children. We have a comfortable place to call home and an abundance of food to eat. 

As I carried two armfuls of groceries inside after parking, pondering these things, I looked up at my front door to see a sole Ladybug, vibrant and red, lively, crawling across the top threshold of our door entry. I know these things seem unimportant to a lot of people, but sometimes, it’s the little things like seeing a Ladybug, which is notorious for symbolizing luck, joy, and prosperity, that make life feel full of magic, awe, and wonder. 

It can be really hard in life to lose sight of these things. It is so easy to get caught up in pettiness, in being easily flustered and frustrated, in feeling the pressure to perform and to  accomplish many things, in letting the attitudes and energies of others overwhelm you with weight that you aren’t meant to carry. But we can’t let these things block us from living in the fullness of joy that God wants us to receive, dwelling on the good things. We have all good things; we just have to position our hearts toward Jesus and let gratitude find us, wherever we may be.

So, here I am. I’m typing this, at the end of my very long day, from a fragrant, salty tub, and all I can say is that I am so thankful to have a God who hears our cries, knows our hearts, and wants to comfort us… even if all it takes is showing up in Ladybugs or fluffy seeds from local trees.

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(Post originally written February 13th, 2020)

Tonight I was vigorously scrubbing the kitchen floor because tomorrow is Valentine’s Day and I want the house to be nice, tidy, and relaxing for my hubby. But in the midst of my scrubbing, I started thinking about expectations.


Just ask my kids, students, or husband - I have HIGH expectations for the people in my life. But the person whom I hold to the highest of standards? Myself. Me.


I am my number one critic.


I’ll be the first to admit that I have overly ambitious, perfectionist tendencies. That Drive. Me. Crazy. But also, they just drive me.


I want to keep a spotless house, while working a full time job in hopes of someday buying a bigger home, so I can host lots of people and cook lots of delicious meals for everyone. And I want to be a good and thoughtful neighbor. And I want to be the best employee at my job and teach my many different assigned curriculums in the most engaging, exciting way for my students, without letting anyone down. And I want to go back to school for my own next academic pursuit in the meantime. And of course I want to be the best mom I can be, giving my kids lots of love and experiences and wisdom and quality time and affection and things. And when I think I’m falling short, the mom guilt is all-consuming. And I want to be a devoted and doting wife. And I want to make lots of cool art and write a relevant book and pursue a million other little hobbies. I want to pay off all of our debt and grow a substantial savings. I want to be invested in ministry and volunteer more at my church. And you know I want to spend time with God and pursue His calling for me.  I want to keep reading and listening to podcasts and going to conferences and growing. And honestly, I just want my car to stay clean! And for the laundry to be caught up. For more than a day. And I want to be really healthy. And eat mostly plant-based. And I want to look thin and glowing and polished and be well dressed while doing ALL THE THINGS! 


Phew!


Some days it feels like I’ve got a grip on all of it and a good rhythm going and that everything is going to work out okay. But then other days, like today, it all just feels like too much to balance, and honestly, it kind of feels like I’m drowning in a million duties of my own making. 


The only true sense of relief when I’m feeling this way? To pray.

1. "He gives strength to the faint and strengthens the powerless. Youths may become faint and weary, and young men stumble and fall, but those who trust in the Lord will renew their strength; they will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not become weary, they will walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:29-31

God knows that life can be exhausting and hard, but He never asks us to navigate it alone. He gives us what we need not just to carry on, but to SOAR.

2. "And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, then he who raised Christ from he dead will also bring your mortal bodies to life through his Spirit who lives in you." Romans 8:11

Is there anything more empowering than knowing the same Spirit that literally brought Jesus back to life has been given as a gift from God unto us? The Spirit of God lives within us. His Spirit is our helper, our teacher, our comforter, our wisdom, and our strength.

3. "But as for you, exercise self-control in everything, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry." 2 Timothy 4:5

It's easy in this world to get overwhelmed with things we think we should be doing, but God's word makes it simple. We should focus on doing the work He calls us to do, and we can rest assured that if He calls us to ENDURE something hard, He will equip us with the self-control and ability to endure it.

4. "Know that the Lord has set apart the faithful for himself; the Lord will hear when I call to him." Psalms 4:3

Often when we are overwhelmed, it's because we have a lot of responsibilities. But God's word and Spirit gives us the strength to continue to be faithful in what we are responsible for; we can call on Him for strength.

5. "Whoever is faithful in very little is also faithful in much, and whoever is unrighteous in very little is also unrighteous in much." Luke 16:10

This Scripture encourages me to continue embracing what I've been entrusted with. When I struggle to keep our small apartment organized and uncluttered, I remind myself that this is my trial run to be faithful in homemaking. If I don't want to care for 750 square foot, what makes me think I would want to care for two or three times as much?


6. "I am able to do all things through him who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13

Whatever it is you have to do or want to do, it can be done by His strength.

7. "Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your cares on him, because he cares about you." 1 Peter 5:6-7

At the end of the day, we have to humble ourselves, in acknowledgement of our humanity and shortcomings. We can only do the best that we can, but so long as we are faithful to Him and rest in His strength, He will take care of us, EXALT us, even!

When the decade turned and we entered this new year of 2020, I didn’t really have any resolutions or big changes I wanted to make. To be honest, I feel like I was ending 2019 on a really blessed note, feeling happy with my life and everything in it. I didn’t want to change that or make life harder by imposing rigid resolutions upon myself! 


But alas, over this past week of the new year, the Spirit of God has spoken to my heart and urged me in one area that HE wants to change: my prayer life.


I will admit, despite saying simple prayers with my kids before bed each night , throwing up a shout of praise when life was going well, and occasionally crying out to God when I was feeling weary and needed an extra dose of His strength, my prayer life last year post-seminary was lukewarm at best.

I recently have the impression on my heart from God  to commit to a deeper prayer life this year, and that by doing so, I will witness a greater extent of His power and what He is able and willing to do in my life and the lives of those around me through prayer.


I feel Him nudging me to pray in my classroom in the mornings before the kids arrive and to watch how the atmosphere flourishes as a result. I feel Him urging me to fall on my knees as I pray about my families' finances and our desire for a new home and to witness Him move mountains on our behalf to provide more abundance than we could have imagined on our own. I feel Him calling me to pray for my husband and children and to watch His great favor cover them not only in this year but throughout the course of their lives.

And I also felt an urge to share these things God has been whispering on my heart with you. I hope that you too will desire a deeper prayerful relationship with the Lord this year, no matter where you're starting from.

But honestly, sometimes this concept of prayer can feel overwhelming. It's often hard to even know where to start. So I've been thinking on (and praying about- ha!) how to enhance my prayer life, and am sharing here five tips to help you and me experience new power through prayer in 2020!

1. When you pray, expect for God to hear your prayers and respond abundantly.

In Philippians 4, Paul writes, "My God will supply all your needs according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus." When we pray, we should remember that we are tapping into the greatest source of power and riches to ever exist. God is so much greater than we can comprehend and He is able to do more than we can ask or even think, because of who He is.

My favorite example of this is in God's answer to my prayer for a husband. It's no secret that I sought to be married and build a life with someone, so I prayed for a spouse. But never in a million years could I have imagined a spouse so perfect for me as the man that God put into my life, my now husband. It serves as a constant reminder in my daily life that God knows our needs even more than we do, and He seeks to bless us beyond what we can even imagine for ourselves. Remember that when you pray to Him.


2. Commit to reading his Word as you seek Him.

God gave us His word in Scripture and it is the most beautiful gift, along with Jesus and the Holy Spirit. It is often when we are studying His word in the Bible that we hear his response to our hearts' prayers.

I feel so blessed this year because the women's ministry at my church has committed to reading through the entire Bible this year together. We are using the YouVersion "Biblical Storyline" plan. It is incredible, as it guides you through the Bible as a narrative with rich, insightful videos and guidance. It isn't too late to start if you want to read through the Bible this year as well! Click here.

3. Pray authentically.

If you've ever heard someone pray at church or at an event and felt intimidated by the eloquence of their prayers, you are not alone. But it's important that we don't get caught up on crafting perfect prayers. The Bible tells us "People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7) and that we shouldn't pray just to be seen by others (Matthew 6:5). God already knows the depths of our souls and hearts, intricately and thoroughly. There's nothing within us that is hidden from Him, so we can pray to our Abba Father genuinely and authentically.


4. Pray whenever you can.

It is a wonderful practice to have a designated place and time for daily prayer, but that shouldn’t limit us from praying outside of that timeframe. Ultimately, believers should live in constant communion with Christ in prayer. We have been called to pray "without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5:27). This means that whether we are driving to work, washing the dishes, hanging out with our kids at the playground, lifting weights at the gym, or getting ready to tuck in for the night, we can be yielding our hearts toward our Heavenly Father in prayer.

5. Pray about everything!

This is a big one for me. I've often been caught up on the asking for things in "His name" command, and it has, in the past, limited my prayer life. I was afraid to pray for things that I wanted if they didn't clearly depict God's righteousness and will. But God has been teaching me that we don't have to be hesitant in what we pray about because ultimately, He is sovereign and in control. The more we pray and spend time intentionally pursuing God, the more His good work is done within us, aligning our desires with His own. So pray about the little things, the selfish things, and the big, world-changing things too. Pray about it all. the Bible says we should be anxious for NOTHING, but pray about EVERYTHING (Philippians 4:6) - so whether the thing that is stressing you is seemingly a selfish desire or the most selfless and intercessory concern in the world, BRING IT TO GOD. He can handle all of our prayers, big and small.
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Happy Praying,
​and Happy New Year!