She Speaks Truth

When I am somewhere, am I really there? Seeing others? Listening well? Being present? As a teacher, I see the struggles my fellow educators are facing and I am focused on being there and encouraging each of you as you move through this year.

Do you know that God is good? Do you remember to praise Him when things are good or go to Him when life feels “ordinary”? I share about a book about simple prayers and a psalm that I feel is what many of us need to hear and pray during this time.

When you ask for an answer or direction from God, is any answer ok or good? Learning to trust in Him while in the waiting can be hard. Accepting answers of not now or wait can be hard as well. Let God’s peace wash over us as we are in the waiting.

As I turn 50, I look back and look forward and share my hopes!

As we move into the new year with a new beginning, I recognize that words and time is hard. I have a prayer for you as we journey together in creating a space that is welcoming and peaceful and bring life to our relationships this new year.

At this Christmas time, with most of us feeling weary, I bring a small message of peace.

Do you find yourself wide awake at 2:30 am and going through all of the “things” of this life....the doubts, worries, could have or should haves and what if’s? No, just me? I share one of the ways I am finding just a small bit of peace during these times.

Who are you being available to I. Your life? I challenge you to look outside of your own day to day or set of problems and be available to the people you are sharing this life with today.

Where do you find yourself today? Are you living the life you dream of living? Do you feel stuck, overwhelmed, scared? God wants you to have a life that is full. What does that mean to have a full life? I challenge you to look at what excites you and makes your soul stir and do one small thing with that!

Have you been taking time to rest and rejuvenate you mind, body, and spirit? I have not recorded in the past few weeks because when I found words had left me, I knew I needed to do just that, are for myself first. I challenge you to practice caring for yourself this week.

I love spring and the time to plant new seeds and plants in the ground in the hope that new life will spring up and vegetables and flowers will be produced. I encourage you to plant seeds of hope in your own life through your words and actions with those around you. 

What are you putting into your life? Are you finding time to put in rest and positive words? With the pressure of this world, the things we put in also come out when we are under stress. I pray that you will find time this week to relax, to find words of motivation and be around people that bring laughter and acceptance. 

As a teacher, we look forward to Spring Break with much anticipation. As we look forward to a Spring Break this year, we also reflect back on last year this time and all of the changes and challenges that have occurred in this last year. 

What happens when Jesus tells us to love others as we love ourself but we find that we do not love ourselves very well? I challenge you to find a way to love yourself a little better this next week than you did the week before. As you begin to find ways to love yourself better, take that out to those around you and love someone else better this week. Please pardon the puppies barking in the backgr...

Did you find yourself in the midst of a storm where you are living? Here in Texas we had a "once in 100 years" winter storm. There was more snow than we ever see that came with power outage or rolling black outs, water systems failing, and people unable to leave their homes to get the basic provisions. During these storms, we want Jesus to make it stop and make the storm end. Sometimes though he c...

Here in Texas right now, where I am at, there is a blanket of white snow, forming a winter wonderland. It is peaceful and calm at 5 in the morning. I pray that God blesses you where you are today with peace and a reminder of His abundant provision and beauty in creation!

When you are not getting the answers you want...when situations are beyond your control....when life feels hard, do I continue to pray on and through? Do I continue to believe in the promises of God? Join me as I talk about some of the hard part of life these past few weeks and my need to surrender more fully to God.

During this time I have felt doubts and fears.  I connect with Peter in Matthew 14 as he is trying to walk on water to Jesus but when he takes his eyes off of Jesus, he begins to sink. I pray we will focus on God this week, keeping our eyes on Him when I feel doubt and fear.  Please excuse my dogs playing in the background during part of the podcast...they came running through when I was...

As we celebrate the life of Martin Luther King, Jr. today, we focus on the way he lived his life lifting others up and calling for love and peace among our countrymen. Am I also being an agent of change that stands for those that are oppressed, calls others to help in times of need, encourages peace and love towards those around me? Are you? I pray that this week will bring rest and healing to our...

The week started all bright and shiny  for me.  It was my birthday week and I was excited because I love birthdays. Then events happened that left me feeling angry and sad and not sure what it means to love those around me. I was not sure what it meant to understand that even though someone does not believe the same as me, they are not my enemy. I was not sure as I read posts, watched ne...

As I am reading the New Testament and Psalms this year, I am looking for insight in how I can surrender to God in all areas of my life. Today I am looking at who am I that God would want to use me in any way. As I do, I am looking at the lineage of Jesus through Joseph, a man with several in his line that may not be who you think would be the best candidates to appear in the lineage of the man tha...

This time of the year always makes me so excited to reflect on the past year and focus on the promise of the new year ahead. Even though 2020 was not what we expected it to be and there were major disappointments, I am still so hopeful for a 2021 that will bring new dreams. I am working on 2021 to be a time of surrendering to God with my time, my relationships, my health, my finances, my life. Joi...

When you were looking over the hard part of 2020, I asked you last week to name those hard things but not dwell on them. I wanted us to look at those hard thing, those disappointments and trials and look past that darkness to find the lights. Where did you grow? What did you learn? How were you stretched? Where did. you see God? We will take time today to rewrite the narrative and focus on the lig...

As we finish 2020, we have all faced hard things this year. Taking a few minutes to name the hards things can help us to be free to explore the good and face new joys and days ahead. I pray you find the courage to name your hard things and begin to look for the lessons and the nuggets of joy mixed in as we process how to move forward and finish this year strong.

If you, like me, need a little encouragement as we start this Monday morning, I pray these words do that for you. I have been awake since 4:00 am spending time with the Lord, going over all of my worries, fears, praises, requests. 4:00 am is always my "wonderful" time, in the dark, to fear the worst. The light of day and the presence of the Lord help me to bring the truth into better focus. This m...