I’ll admit it. I am a control freak. I don’t necessarily boss everyone around. Instead, I try to control every aspect of my life. I strive to know all the details and plan ahead. Then, I fret, worry, and overthink…
As a teacher in the public school system, I have often been afraid to express my beliefs about Jesus. After all, I am technically a government employee. Thus, separation of church and state is necessary. Additionally, I have students of all different nationalities, and I wouldn’t want to offend anyone’s cultural differences. Yet my heart longs to lead others to God’s love and family. So, I have learned to lead like Esther.
Are you a stressed-out, anxious, exhausted mom? Is there a recurrent pattern of “if only” in your mind? If only I could get more sleep. If only I had more time. If only I knew the right way to do this. If only I knew the right words to say. If only I had more patience. If only I could be a better mom like ____.
Why are hugs so magical? Sometimes, all we need is a hug to melt away all our stress, make us feel safe, calm the storms raging in our minds, and reassure us everything will be okay. When life gets tough, we need a warm embrace—not words, not advice, just a hug to make us feel better. Why? Hugs let us know we matter and are loved.
Have you ever woken up from a bad dream that left you unable to sleep? Perhaps our bad dreams are more than our imagination. Maybe the enemy is hurling lies and insults at our subconscious mind.
Sometimes, I wonder how God could ever use me. I have a sinful past. And even though I am a Christian now, I still make mistakes. I’m an average woman, wife, and mom. I am not a public speaker. I don’t have any formal writing or Biblical training. “Who am I to think I could help further God’s kingdom?”
Have you ever messed up and felt unforgivable? Sadly, I have. When my daughter was twelve, I walked into the house with my arms full of groceries and tripped over her backpack, nearly falling. Rather than simply asking her to put it away, I lost my temper and barked at her about being more respectful. As the words flew from my mouth, I noticed the new friend she’d invited over and the look of horror on her face, and I was reminded of David when he wrote Psalm 34.
Whenever I’ve made mistakes, I’ve felt unworthy of God’s love and wanted to run from Him due to my shame. But when I read Psalm 34, I find genuine encouragement because it demonstrates God’s grace. It shows God is with us, helping, healing, and delivering us even when we are at our worst. All that is needed is a humble, repentant heart seeking God.
Is there a difference between knowing who God says you are and acting like that person? I once thought there must be some magical way to get God’s truth of my identity from my head to my heart. There must be a trick to actually “receiving” His gift of love and feeling the freedom His word promises.
Recently, I saw a beautiful plaque on Etsy reading, “Tears are prayers too. They travel to God when we can’t speak.” Then the creator listed Psalm 56:8. But when I looked up the verse, it read: “You have taken account of my miseries; Put my tears in Your bottle. Are they not in Your book?” (Psalm 56:8, NASB) So, I wondered if this interpretation of the verse was correct. Are tears prayers?
Have you ever felt your emotions were too intense? Perhaps someone has even implied you are “too much”: you are too emotional, sensitive, or dramatic. If so, then you aren’t alone. Some people just feel more deeply than others. But is this really a bad thing?
