“The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever.” Psalm 138:8a-b ESV
Images above of a couple of air fresheners plugged in.
Ishared this little story on social media today. As you probably guessed by now, it’s based on a true story that took place right here in the two bathrooms of our apartment.
When I plugged the air freshener into another socket, I could sense God stirring at my heart, teaching me a deeper lesson. The properly-functioning plug in a few days later only confirmed what I knew God to be speaking to me.
The lesson was two-fold. For one thing, the liquid in the vial reminded me of the Holy Spirit. As believers, the Holy Spirit dwells within us, but unless we are plugged into Him, we won’t “spread the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere” (2 Corinthians 2:14 ESV). We won’t be living a life powered by Him and for Him.
I also thought of all that God has put within us as individuals—our spiritual gifts and abilities and personalities. And although we may be able to complete some meaningful things throughout our lifetime using these aspects of our lives, we will not fulfill our true potential and purpose unless we are plugged into the One that put all those aspects into our beings.
Lastly, I think it’s also important to note that we must be plugged into Him.
One socket was good. The other was not.
We can be plugged into church, into Bible studies, and into doing many wonderful things. But unless we are plugged into the true Source, we won’t be fragrant.
If this story blessed you today, I hope you’ll share it with a friend.
May we never keep all that God has put within us to ourselves because we weren’t consistently and continually being plugged into the source. May we be a beautiful fragrance first and foremost to Him!
I don’t think I could have imagined a worse attire to be asking for an interview. When I saw that Christian Family Radio (CFR) had a booth set up at the local pool, however, I knew I had to shoot my shot.
Just weeks earlier, my family and I had stumbled upon their headquarters on our way home, and I had mentioned to JJ that perhaps I’d give them a call sometime to see if they would want to interview me about my gospel-centered children’s book. I definitely didn’t plan on giving them a call any time soon, however. And even if I did, I don’t know if they would have been interested in my book over a conversation by phone. So when I saw them at the pool, I knew I had to take my chance.
After assuring that my oldest son was settled into his one-on-one swimming lesson that afternoon, I mustered up what little courage I had and marched on over to their booth in my floppy hat and flip-flops, waiting in line for my turn to talk to the staff.
Fortunately for me, the young staff lady I initially talked to was really sweet and showed a lot of interest in my book, quickly pointing me to another staff member at the booth that was in charge of interviews.
What made the moment even better was that I had been carrying a copy of the book in my purse for several days now. I almost never carry it with me nowadays, but I had told my realtor I’d give her one for her kids next time we saw her, so the book had been in my purse ever since.
After showing Larry, the radio host, the book and briefly explaining the plot, he gave me his business card and told me to give him a call.
I headed back to where my son was learning to swim feeling excited and humbled and so unworthy. What were the chances that Liam and I would be there when they were? Who was I that God would give me such an opportunity as this?
Unable to contain my excitement, I told Liam’s swim instructor what had just happened, and she expressed a lot of interest in my book as well and told that she had never seen CFR there before. Turns out, they have only been there twice this summer. I truly believe that God ordained for me to be there when they were.
We went up north to visit family the week after that initial contact, so I once again mustered up what little courage I had and left a message for Larry the Monday after we returned, and he called me back shortly after to set up an interview that same week!
Just yesterday, I went to their headquarters to do the interview in their studio, and although I’m pretty sure I rambled quite a bit, I’m just so glad that God gave me the chance to share about my book. I had to keep reminding myself before the interview that the interview really wasn’t about me. It was about pointing children (and their parents) to their Maker and helping them to recognize that they had a wonderful purpose as an instrument in His hands.
As Larry edits the interview and then begins to play it in clips on radio, I pray that that is the message that will shine forth and that God will use it to help others know Him more.
View of a sunset from outside our apartment in early June
Before we moved to Kentucky, I stumbled upon a message from a Christian podcaster and author named Susie Larson who talked about occupying our “Promised Land.” In her video, she mentioned how Abraham went to the promised land as a foreigner and how it took faith for him to live there as such.
As I listened to her message just weeks away from our own move, I tucked away her message in my mind and the lingering idea that we may very well have our own challenges upon arriving to a new state. I would soon realize just how true that was.
We left Uvalde, Texas on May 30th a little before 6 a.m. in the middle of our first trial. Our youngest son was on antibiotics for an ear infection and was barely eating because his mouth also hurt. Listening to his occasional cries of pain as I drove was heartbreaking, and trying to coordinate times to give him his antibiotics and painkillers was a bit tricky too. Nonetheless, we made it through that first day and finally settled into a hotel room for the night a little past seven.
By 9 p.m., we were ready to sleep when the smoke detector began to chirp. After I located the only hotel staff member on site, both she and JJ tried to resolve the issue, but it continued to sound despite new batteries. So, we were finally transferred to another room and got to bed around 11 that night.
The next day, we got a later start and made it to our next hotel with no issues around five. CJ was also feeling much better. But just as we were settling down for the night, he threw up on the bed, resulting in several trips downstairs to obtain fresh bedding from the front desk. Fortunately, he slept through the night and seemed to be just fine by the next day.
The third day was to be our shortest drive, and I was looking forward to a relatively stress-free day. Twenty minutes in, however, it started to rain and didn’t let up the entire journey. At times, the downpour was so bad that I could barely see.
I would later discover that both JJ and I were thinking the same thing as we made that final leg of the journey. We were convinced by now that we were facing spiritual warfare.
The rain stopped shortly after we arrived to our beautiful, new apartment, and JJ and I moved our stuff into the place as Liam watched CJ in our bedroom, the smoke detector incessantly chirping the whole time.
An hour or so later, the maintenance man fixed the smoke detector, fortunately. Unfortunately, it would randomly go off six times within the first two weeks of living here. The last incident we’ve experienced so far was on Sunday morning, and it went off four times in a row, waking the whole family (Is it a coincidence that we found the church we plan to attend here later that day? I think not!).
In between these last two weeks, we’ve also experienced frustration as we’ve stood in long lines to get new drivers licenses and to deal with car registration, only to walk away empty-handed and with the knowledge that we’ll have to try all over again.
Although most of these issues have been minor inconveniences that have been especially disheartening due to being newcomers in a relatively unfamiliar place, we’ve also faced some greater challenges more recently.
Last weekend, the toe that CJ ran over with his tricycle in the spring started hurting again after he accidentally stepped on it, and I ended up having to have the nail removed on Monday, which has caused me a lot of pain. And just as the pain was beginning to subside, CJ jumped off his bed yesterday and sprained his foot.
Home after the toe nail removal.
I’d be lying to suggest that I haven’t been discouraged by all of these things. Lately, I’ve been praying for God’s protection and no more harm to my family or me.
And yet, in the midst of all these hardships here, I still believe God has called us to this place. I still believe He has a good future for us here. And I’m still holding onto the verse that Susie Larson included in her video weeks ago and that was scrawled upon a stone that an older gentleman gave me at church earlier this year, that “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him” (I Corinthians 2:9b NKJV).
I pray that we grow in our love for God and know Him deeper through this season as we watch Him work on our behalf and for His glory, seeing Him do what no eye has seen and holding onto the promise in Romans 8.
We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.”
View from outside our patio of a plant sprouting up from the ground.
In our four years of living in this apartment, this is the first time I’ve ever seen anything sprout so close to our patio. Perhaps the seeds I planted back in March (and that my toddler son quickly got into) ended up fallin into the ground beyond our home and are now sprouting. Or could it be that all the rain we’ve been having has awakened seeds that were once dormant but now spring to life? I may never know the answer to this question. What I do know, however, is that these little saplings are serving as a vivid image for what I hope my time is to be remembered for when we leave this little, Texan town.
What did I plant here? What seeds have I sown that will remain and grow long after I’ve left this place?
My mom told me something the other day as she ponders how much longer God might have her and my dad stay in their current dwelling place. She commented that she wants to leave any place where she has lived looking more beautiful than when she first came. In part, she means that in the most literal sense due to her own love of gardening. But I know the sentiment runs deeper than that.
As believers, we have an opportunity to plant something eternal because we have the Spirit of the eternal God living in us. At the end of our time here as a family, I hope and pray that we have left something beautiful and of eternal value, just as many within our church community have left such a deep impact on us. I hope that we will leave this place more beautiful than when we first arrived.
As we prepare for our departure, the plants that have quickly sprouted up and are growing just past our patio challenge me to keep sowing here while we still can, even to the very end. And they also encourage me to trust that our time here has not been in vain. It definitely has not been in vain as far as what we have received here as a family. We have been blessed so greatly and by so many in a plethora of ways. But God has had specific ways for us to contribute to this community, too. I pray that our contribution will leave a lasting impact in the years to come. And, just like the saplings outside our apartment, that it will only grow.
Picture of my husband’s and my hands, compliments of my sister-in-law
JJ and I celebrated our tenth wedding anniversary last week. Our approaching anniversary had me feeling nostalgic as I remembered some of the highs and lows we’ve experienced throughout this past decade.
Within these ten years, we have lived in three different cities and called four different apartments and one house our home.
We’ve welcomed two precious sons into our lives and await to meet our other child in heaven.
We’ve certainly had our share of grief—of sickness, loss, and heartache.
But we’ve also had so much to celebrate, too.
Besides the blessing of getting married and welcoming our two precious sons into our family, JJ has been able to experience a gamut of opportunities within his career. Most importantly, I’ve seen God use JJ in that place. He has grown in his love of the gospel and boldness to share it as God leads. We expectantly wait to see what God might have for him as we prepare to move out of state.
As for me, I’ve found purpose in writing—a sense that God wants to use my words for His glory. It has been humbling and overwhelming in the best way. I pray it always is for as long as He wishes to use me in this way.
Ten years ago, we were five weeks out from a move across the state. We just didn’t know it yet. Ten years later, we are once again around five weeks out from a move. This time, however, we are fully aware of it. We have been for quite some time.
It is interesting to see how much our marriage parallels what it once was ten years ago. And yet so much has changed, too.
We move forward with a bit of nervousness but also with a lot of anticipation, believing this is where God is leading. And I move forward with JJ toward this new place and new life with trust because I know the man he is and the one that he has become.
I’m so grateful for these ten years and the ways I’ve witnessed God shaping JJ and molding him and giving him a greater love for prayer, His Word, and the lost. I’m also so thankful for how God sustained us. He has been our constant, faithful in all ways.
We may not know what these next ten years may bring, and we certainly don’t know what it will be like to live in a new state. But to be in God’s hands, in His will, is the best place to be. Our security is found in Him, and I look forward to seeing what these next ten years will bring.
Yesterday it dawned on me why I like this mason jar so much.
I’ve been using it for years to paint and originally tried to keep it spotless after each painting session with my son. He was a toddler when we first started using it, however, so that was an impossible goal. Keeping the walls and furniture smudge free as I took him and his paint-speckled hands to the bathtub was much more of a priority. So, the jar stayed smudged with paint instead, and I soon kept it with all my paint supplies.
Although I rinse it out after each painting session, it nonetheless has become more speckled and splattered throughout the years. Over time, however, a subtle beauty has emerged form that glass jar—a living story from each time it has been used.
Yesterday morning, after painting rocks with the boys to remember the empty tomb, I rinsed off the mason jar at the end of our activity, and I once again studied each color, each streak, each testimony to its quiet and steady use over time. And in that moment, I felt a nudge—a silent challenge—to be more like that jar for God’s good purposes.
The truth is, most people will never know about this glass jar that I appreciate so much. When they see my paintings (or, more likely, my oldest son’s artwork), they won’t comment on how well that jar cleaned off our paintbrushes in between paints. They’ll only comment on the colors, or perhaps even the size of the canvas and the brush strokes. They’ll certainly comment on the talent of the painter, as they’ve done so many times already with my son. The mason jar will never receive the recognition it deserves of a job well done. Not by a public audience, at least. But both my son and I know how important this jar has been, faithfully helping us to paint for all these years. And that is enough.
As God uses me in different ways throughout my lifetime, I hope I will find a deep peace in knowing that pleasing Him is enough also. Often times, the roles we play and the things God calls us to may seem so secondary to the tasks to which God may call others. But perhaps, in our quiet and steady service to Him, a subtle beauty will emerge—a living story for His glory of a greater masterpiece.
For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.”
Months ago, my sister-in-law commented on how she thought my children’s book could be a wonderful resource to victims of trafficking. In light of the Epstein files being released and my growing awareness of how rampant and atrocious this industry is, I really hope she’s right. Here’s a free link to read the story. Please feel free to share with anyone that might benefit from it.
Hace meses, mi cuñada comentó que creía que mi libro de niños podría ser un buen recurso para las victimas de la trata de personas. Los archivos de Epstein ya han sido publicados y al darme cuenta más y más de lo desenfrenado y lo atroz que es esta industria espero que ella tenga razón.
Aquí hay un vínculo gratis para mi cuento. Siéntanse libres de compartirlo con cualquier persona que pueda beneficiar de el por favor.
Photo from Pexels.com of a snowy path through trees
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
Matthew 11:28-29
It’s cold outside, which isn’t necessarily a given on these winter days in southern Texas. The trees have lost their leaves, and there is a general sense of dreariness outdoors, but I don’t mind it. Not this year, at least. This type of weather reminds me of my need to do what much of nature is doing on this side of the hemisphere—rest.
Both Sunday school and the church service touched on this theme over a week ago, and I’m finding it in the verses I’ve been reading during my quiet time as of late.
Cease from striving. Be still and know that He is God. Rest in Him.
I generally jump into each new year with a lot of zest and a list of goals that I tend to only half-finish. This year, not only did I make the big list of goals, but I also started packing in anticipation of our move come May.
A few weeks later, however, I’ve found myself scaling back on all the things I want to accomplish this year, and I’ve already unpacked some of the items I had stored away. The truth is, after a busy fall semester of book readings and farmers markets and all the daily tasks as a wife and mom, I’m tired, and I need a break.
As I find myself in this slower season, I see God’s wisdom to have created this world with physical seasons—seasons to rest, to plant, to nurture and grow, and then to reap a harvest. And as I consider these seasons, I can’t help but think that our lives ought to follow a similar pattern too.
We certainly see these different seasons in our lives at different times. As I grow older, however, I’m finding beauty in the idea of starting the new year at a slower pace, with lots of time to reflect on the past year and to prayerfully consider what God might desire for me this new year. To rest, just like nature is doing now.
There will be plenty of time to tackle the projects ahead and to pack and prepare for a move come this spring. Perhaps the best way to prepare for the busyness ahead, however, is to find rest in the LORD and to physically rest as I commune with Him this winter season. After all, God created each physical season on purpose and for a reason. If the winter season that nature is given helps to lead to greater growth in the spring, then how much more do we need that time of rest and restoration so that we can experience abundant growth in our own personal seasons of spring! Let’s not take for granted the winter seasons God gives us. They happen to us on purpose and for a reason. Let’s take advantage of them to rest, reflect, and deepen our relationship with God.
For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.”
Picture of slips of paper with notes about the best of the year
I did things a little differently this year. If you have been following this blog for some time, you know that I generally write a list of the best things about the year over the Thanksgiving weekend. It becomes a time for me to remember how gracious God has been to me and my family and to consider how much He has generously given to us throughout the year, which always causes my heart to well up with deep gratitude to Him.
This year, I decided that I wanted to capture the best moment of each day, which I wrote down on little scraps of paper throughout the year. I must confess that I never quite got into the habit of writing down the best moment of each day every evening. I’m pretty sure I’ve skipped over a couple dozen days within the last 330 days or so that I have been doing this. At times, I wrote on several small scraps of paper at a time, trying to document the best of each day for several days at a time.
Although remembering to do this activity in the evenings, and then also trying to determine or remember which moment was the best was a challenge, I’m really glad I stuck to it as best as I could.
January was an especially beautiful month as I began this new routine. This otherwise dreary month turned into a vibrant 31 days for me as we enjoyed meaningful, often spontaneous moments together as a family, all orchestrated by God’s hand.
I have yet to read the slips of paper from this past year and to see what all I have deemed as the best for each day. I plan to do so (or to at least start it) sometime this weekend. But I look forward to reading each one and remembering how good this year has been and how God has been so kind to us. While we have certainly had some triumphant moments to celebrate this year as a family, I have noticed more, in writing down the best of each day, how gracious God has been to us in the small moments. I saw it in the evening where I felt His presence close to me as I made dinner and the boys played peacefully together in the living room. Or in the cold, winter evening when we watched a movie together as a family that taught the importance of hard work and persistence. And a more recent moment, when, while the fire alarm was blaring in our apartment complex, the boys and I went to get something to drink on a whim at our local HEB (a grocery store here in Texas, for those of you not blessed enough to know! 😉). I’m really glad I chose to document the days of this year, because I would forget all the little ways in which God lavished His love upon me this year. I’m pretty sure I still don’t recognize half of it as it is.
I don’t know what type of year this has been for you, but I pray that God will help you to remember how kind and faithful and gracious He has been to you throughout this year. In this world, we are not without troubles. However, Jesus has told us that He has overcome this world. I pray you can find comfort in Him and recognize that He has not forsaken you and is not withholding His love toward you. He is more generous to us that we’ll ever know—at least this side of heaven. The fact that He gives us each breath and sustains us and has provided a way for us to know Him personally is proof alone. May He bring to your memory all the little (and big) ways He has lavished His love upon you and generously given to you. Regardless of our personal circumstances, there is still so much to be thankful for, so may our hearts overflow with thankfulness to Him! Happy Thanksgiving!
I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and exult in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.”
I debated about whether to post this or not. Perhaps I wouldn’t at all had I written this more recently. The body of this post is from a journal entry from August of 2008, however, so I feel a little more inclined to share.
I stumbled upon this journal entry recently while going through old diaries. I’ve been carrying around a heavy box of journals I’ve been collecting since over two decades ago, and as we look ahead to a move at the end of spring, I’ve been determined to lighten our load and to rid myself of anything that does not need to travel with my family and me. Thus, I’ve been reading through old journals, trying to determine what is worth keeping and what can stay behind.
Most of what I’ve read so far has been embarrassing, to be honest. I’ve been revisiting the thoughts of a young woman who had areas in her life where she desperately needed to be set free. The lies I had believed as a girl and carried into young adulthood were still binding me up and determining my most every move.
The entry I share is no different. Most of it is filled with a wrong mindset about my Maker. I see a shift in my thoughts, however, as I continue to read this particular entry. A small glimmer of hope streams through the dark clouds of my mind as I consider another perspective that, although perhaps not completely accurate, is trying to grasp ahold of the truth and God’s deep love for me.
Here’s the entry I wrote back then:
08/8/2008
It’s raining outside. The storms here in Morelia scare me. The thunder cracks as if a big whip had just whizzed through the air. It rumbles with a passion.
The first thing I wonder is if God is mad at me. I have so many issues with Him right now. I wonder if His heart is good towards me. I wonder if He’ll ever give me what I want most. I wonder why He would want me to hope to only see those hopes continually thrashed and left bleeding in pieces. I wonder if He just wants to use me and nothing more. Am I a pawn to do His bidding? Does He care about my feelings and desires and fears, or does He only care about those things that He can use for His master schemes?
But then I hear the thunder again, and I hear it as a passionate groan, a deep mourning. Could it be that God is sobbing because of this very heart I claim He knows nothing about? Could it be that He feels desperate for me to see the war Satan is raging on my life? Could it be that He is watching in silent agony and begging me not to listen to the lies?
Several months after writing this, I went on to discover just how many lies I had been believing. God did a wonderful work in my life and my heart to free me of many strongholds. For me, it was nothing short of miraculous. He did within me what I didn’t think was possible. It certainly wasn’t possible without His Spirit working within me.
I don’t share this post lightly, and I’m not completely comfortable putting these thoughts out there, either. I share these ideas, however, because I think that the way I felt in this journal entry is not that all uncommon. We all have our hang ups and wrong thought patterns that seem determined to dominate our minds, and we’ll never fully be free from these struggles until Jesus takes us home. My hope, however, is that the words I’ve written today can encourage others to challenge their own perspective on their circumstances and help them to see life through the lens of God’s goodness, mercy, and grace. I sure learned a lot about such things in the months that ensued after writing that entry! My life was forever changed.
If, like me, you have struggled with similar thoughts, I pray that you will see how God desires to truly set you free. He has so many wonderful gifts in store for us, but the best one of all—the one that allows us to enjoy all others—is living with a mind that has truly been set free by our Savior. Let’s aim to grasp ahold of that freedom together again and again in this battle of our minds. It’s worth the fight!
For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.”
Galatians 5:1
For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.’
