Thank You Jesus

Thank You Jesus!

This song….this song has become my “life song” if you will….

“I…was a wretch, I remember who I was….I was lost, I was blind, I was running out of time.”

Y’all!!! May we NEVER forget where we came from, what our lives were like before Jesus rescued us.

Please don’t wait. Christ is coming back soon. You need Him. I need Him, we ALL need Him.

2 Peter 3:9 says, The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.

Choose Christ. It will be the best decision you’ll ever make.

Thank You Jesus for the Blood Applied!

Every Right to Write

When I start to doubt myself and my writing abilities I take a glance at this quote by Richard Rhodes.

“You are a human being with a unique story to tell. You have every right” That is the line that I read over and over.

Research for this project of mine is coming together quite nicely, I have to admit.

All my fellow writers, what is the one thing that encourages you to keep going when you’re having “off” writing days?

Let’s Agree to Disagree, Please?

I shared a couple of thoughts in a previous post but I would like to share some more……

What does it feel like to “have the whole world” on your shoulders.

I have no idea…..

I can’t even imagine….

This whole situation of people bashing the Olympic gymnast for withdrawing is infuriating.

As a suffer of mental illness I know what it’s like to not have it all together, to feel pressure to “snap out of it.” (which by the way is the WORST thing you can say to someone with mental health issues.

I can’t say I know what is going through Biles’ head but if she feels she needs to take a rest mentally then LET HER TAKE IT!

Sure, people all over are complaining that she “let our country down” and that she’s “selfish” (are you kidding me with that??) is SO. VERY. MUCH. INFURIATING!

Maybe she was feeling fine when she first got to Tokyo. Maybe she wasn’t. WHO KNOWS BUT HER! And for her taking a stand and backing down is definitely worth praising. If she isn’t mentally prepared for all those moves, she could really hurt herself! Getting “lost in the air” is definitely something I would think is dangerous! She could land wrong and really injure herself.

If you don’t agree with me, that’s totally fine! Seriously, it is! We are all entitled to own opinion.

I hope I’m not coming across as sharp or rude. That’s not my intention.

BUT, I am an advocate for mental health awareness and I am totally #TeamBiles

What a Day That Will Be!

²⁴ Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. ²⁵ For whoever would save his life^[a] will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. ²⁶ For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul

Matthew 16:24-26

Taking up our cross means to give up our selfish ways and follow God’s will for our lives.

It’s a daily thing. We must do it daily. We’re going to have struggles along the way, Jesus promises us this in John 16:33,

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Catch that last phrase? “Take heart! I have OVERCOME the world!

One day it won’t be like this. One day we will be free from it all and will be with our Lord and Savior for eternity! What a day that will be!!

There is coming a day
When no heartaches shall come
No more clouds in the sky
No more tears to dim the eye
All is peace forever more
On that happy golden shore
What a day, glorious day that will be

What a day that will be
When my Jesus I shall see
When I look upon His face
The One who saved me by His grace
When He takes me by the hand
And leads me to the Promised Land
What a day, glorious day that will be

Jim Hill, What a Day That Will Be

Matchless

This past Sunday our church started a Woman’s Bible Study. We are going through the book, Matchless by Angie Smith.

I can already tell I’m going to enjoy it.

Who is Jesus? Why did He come to earth? How can I know Him?

We live in a world where there’s a lot of confusion about Jesus. Too often people want to shape Him and His message to fit their personal needs or agendas. So how can we know the truth?

Join Seamless author Angie Smith in this 8-session search for truth as she unfolds the story of our matchless Savior—His mission, miracles, and message. Through her signature wit and accessible style, Angie unpacks Scripture in a way that’s easy to understand, regardless of how long you’ve been studying the Bible (a great option for new believers!). This study will deepen your understanding of Jesus through biblical, historical, and cultural insight and help you see Him less as an iconic figure and more as an intimate friend.

Have any ladies on here ever done this study? How did you like it?

A Different Simone Biles Take

A friend from college posted this on his FB page regarding the drama surrounding Simone Biles and her decision to withdraw from the team events.

I haven’t heard anything else, whether she’s withdrawing from the WHOLE competition or just the team. Whatever it is, that’s HER business. It’s HER health.

We do not know what she is going through mentally. Like David says below, ” And then to have the eyes of the world upon you and carrying the stress of being the face of a global event…that’s a lot! That’s also why I think people need to be slower to criticize and quicker to show empathy and compassion.“

I will be joining my friend David in standing behind mental health warriors. Mental health is so so important. It’s crucial

Read on:

A Different Simone Biles Take

Two weeks ago I interviewed a woman who was a victim of sexual assault during her college years. Rather than me summarizing her story, I’d like to share her words with you:

“It wasn’t until I became a mom that I started having anxiety, and I didn’t understand why. I had a loving husband, two beautiful boys, and I was no longer in my childhood. I asked a therapist, ‘Why is this happening now? There’s nothing I’m afraid of. There’s no stress in my life.’ He said, ‘Bonnie, did you know that a soldier doesn’t experience anxiety and panic attacks when he’s fighting, when he’s being strong on the battlefield, when he’s protecting others? When does he start feeling his anxiety and panic attacks?’ I said, ‘When he comes home.’ He said, ‘Exactly. When he’s safe. That’s when he starts experiencing the depression and anxiety and the fear that he couldn’t when he was out on the battlefield.’ I had hidden all these things about myself and they were finally expressing themselves in anxiety and depression.”

I have no idea what Simone Biles is dealing with, other than what’s been made public. What I do know is that this young woman has endured more in her 24 years than most of us will ever have to deal with. She’s experienced childhood hunger. She was in foster care. She experienced sexual abuse at the hands of a team doctor. I can’t even fathom what it’s like to deal with those issues. I’m thankful I’ll never know. And then to have the eyes of the world upon you and carrying the stress of being the face of a global event…that’s a lot! That’s also why I think people need to be slower to criticize and quicker to show empathy and compassion.

I’ve been disheartened today hearing some of these “hot takes” about Simone Biles from “tough guys” who argue she failed her teammates and her country. Many of these people don’t believe in the seriousness of anxiety and depression, seeing it as nothing more than basic stress and laziness. And that is why I shared the story above from Bonnie Gray.

It’s sad to see people try to flex and downplay mental health. I know a lot of these guys think they look masculine, but they actually come across as weak and too prideful for their own good. I’ve talked to far too many men who are struggling with mental health but are afraid to get help. Why? Because they know they’ll get mocked and ridiculed for being “weak.” So, they suffer in silence.

This isn’t about laziness, weakness, or participation trophies (Simone’s trophy case has more gold than I’ll ever see in my life). This is about a young woman and her personhood–something that is much bigger than the Olympic Games (and it’s called “Games” for a reason).

Mental health warriors, you can count on me always having your back! Don’t let those who don’t understand and who don’t want to understand knock you down or make you feel less than.

And though I doubt Simone Biles will ever see this, she’s got a lifelong fan in me!

Same, David. Same. 🙂

GO SIMONE!

Guard Your Heart

God Looks at the Heart

I suffer from major self-esteem issues. Between my weight and my dental problems I honestly can’t stand the way I look sometimes.

I’ve always struggled with my looks. I’ve never thought of myself as pretty. My self esteem has always been low. My confidence has always been almost non-existent. I’ve been like this for as long as I can remember.

Add serious dental problems and it’s depressing. (I am getting dentures though! My insurance expanded to cover extensive dental work, including dentures!!! PRAISE THE LORD!)

But then I read verses like 1 Samuel 16:7 and it gets me to thinking that I need not worry because God is not looking at my outward appearance as man does but rather the nature of my heart.

1 Peter 3:3-4

³ Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. ⁴ You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God.

Proverbs 31:30

³⁰ Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last;
    but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised.

The Lord is more concerned with the state of our heart.

He cares about what is on the inside.

How is your heart “appearance?”

Do you struggle with inner beauty?

Friendships

There’s nothing like having a great friend. You know the one I’m talking about, the friend who has your back throughout everything and even if you lose contact for a little while, it doesn’t matter because y’all pick up right where you left off as if nothing happened.

I met some really wonderful friends during my time at Welch College. They are lifetime friends. One in particular, my best bud, is one of those friends. We’ve lost contact throughout the years….life happens, you know?

But recently we’ve reconnected and I realize how much I truly do miss her. She’s in Mississippi and I’m in Virginia. But though we can’t see each other as often as we’d like, it’s okay!

She’s a godly woman. She loves Christ and her family and is pretty much the definition of the Proverbs 31 woman.

She is clothed with strength and dignity,

    and she laughs without fear of the future.

When she speaks, her words are wise,

    and she gives instructions with kindness.

Proverbs 31:25-26

¹⁷ And Jonathan made David reaffirm his vow of friendship again, for Jonathan loved David as he loved himself.
1 Samuel 20:17

Let the Research Begin!

A co-worker brought this quote to me on Friday. I love it! It’s so true!

I’ve always struggled with confidence when it comes to my writing. Will anyone like what I write?

But this quote was a good reminder that my words matter. If I want to read a book that hasn’t been written then it’s up TO ME to write it!

Writing used to be something I only did for myself. I didn’t like anyone reading my stuff because what if it sucks? What if it’s stupid?

But as I grow as a writer I gain a little more confidence each time I put pen to paper.

This “project” as I like to call it now (not ready to call it a book just yet.) is going to take some time. I know this. I’m going to struggle sometimes. I need to remember that I won’t always sit down and write pages upon pages. Some days I may write 10 pages, other’s 5….I’m taking it one step, one word, one sentence at a time.

Buckle up y’all….it’s going to be a bumpy ride.

It’s getting real. 🙂