This is the place you’ll find hope. The kind of hope that can carry you through those hard places you unexpectedly find yourself in.
I’m no stranger to the hard life throws at us and in the midst of trying to find my way through one of those dark places I heard 4 words deep in my spirit,
“Lift Up Your Eyes.”
It was a gentle reminder from our great God that I needed his perspective instead of my own to walk through my husband’s unexpected journey to Heaven.
Those words carried me and you too if you’ve followed along with me. They also led us to creating the Seek and Savor podcast which equips us to lift our eyes on a daily basis.
I’m Mama to four amazing young adults and Nana to six darling grands with two more on the way.
My sweet husband got to meet his Savior at the age of 47 after a year long battle with brain cancer. We miss him every day.
Life for me, felt like it was ending but God was doing a new thing.
I don’t know where life finds you today beloved, but God, He is all about doing a new thing in us and it begins when we fix our gaze on Him instead of our circumstances.
Life may be filled with hard things dear one, but we were made to do hard and holy things and in the process we become vessels of beauty, fit for the KING.
“My presence will go with you and I will give you rest. ” Exodus 33:14
I’d love to connect with you.
Email me using the form below and I’ll respond soon. I’m also available for speaking events for women of all ages and stages. For a list of topics, please visit my Speaking Page.
If you have felt overwhelmed or disappointed in ANY way beloved, you may be experiencing this....
The enemy tries to tell us we are alone and forgotten. Just like he came to Eve in the garden, whispering lies to her soul. Trying to lead her astray from the one great lover of her soul. He does this with us. He uses whatever he can to divide our hearts. We start to pull back and keep a piece of ourselves for ourselves, as if our God is not to be trusted with ALL of us. Stop. This is not a new tactic. He tried this with Jesus and what did He do? He spoke truth to the enemy and over Himself. “It is written.”
It is written dear one that - God is with us. - He has good plans for us. - Darkness has not overcome. - He is our good shepherd. - He restores our souls.
What truth from God’s word do you need to speak over your heart today? #seekandsavorpodcast #speaktruth #renewyourmind #guardyourheart #rejoicealways...
For me, finding the path to being able to rejoice began with “lifting up my eyes.” I was only months out from two very big griefs that had struck our family, and I was struggling to just breathe. I was wondering if life would ever hold joy again and if I still had purpose on this earth. Exiting the park after a long walk, I started climbing the sidewalk that would lead me home and I heard in my Spirit, “ lift up your eyes.” This has become a life journey! One I wished I had begun long ago. If you find yourself fighting to keep your circumstances from dragging you down don’t miss this week’s brand new episode of the Seek and Savor podcast. I believe you will take something valuable with you. ❤️ Link in my bio....
It was just a few years ago on Christmas Eve, the house lay quiet, and I was the only one still up putting the last-minute gifts in the stockings. I smiled, anticipating the expressions of delight. Stockings are our favorite. It’s the place you still find surprise. You never know what you might find hidden in the toe. I thought back to Christmases past when I wasn’t alone. My husband sat beside me yawning. Placing one item in after another, anxious to climb into bed himself. I let out a sigh, longing for Christmas to make things right. And I began to wonder what it is we’re really hoping for at Christmas?
Surely, it’s not just that latest gadget, a beautiful sweater, or every item on our list. I think it goes deeper. It’s the eternal longing He placed in all our hearts to see His face. I remember one of my favorite Christmas songs. “O holy night the stars are brightly shining It is the night of our dear Savior’s birth Long lay the world in sin and error pining Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.” Just like that my heart is laid bare. Like a surgeon ready to operate, I feel the Spirit exposing our deepest longing. We’re desperate to feel our worth. We want to be seen, known, and loved. So, what does our Father do? He goes to the greatest lengths to show us. Like light breaking the darkness, our Savior left His Father’s side and appeared here so that we might never doubt again, just how much we’re worth. May this Christmas find us all not encumbered by more Christmas treasures we find under the tree. But, may we finally see the greatest gift we have been given: the worth we have because of Christ. “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly” (John 10:10, ESV). 🎄MERRY CHRISTMAS DEAR FRIENDS!
I can tell you when I’m NOT the happiest, when my thoughts are all about me.
I am the most happy when I forget about myself. That is when I can let go of disappointments, anxiety, or even pride.
When I “Lift Up my eyes” from myself to others and then to God, hope comes, love pours out and I am filled with joy.
This week God gave me a beautiful picture of what happens when we do that! He gave me a choice to give in to the frustration of the moment and how I was inconvenienced or lift up my eyes and give. ❤️ I’ll be hopping on stories this weekend to share what happened so make sure you are following along. ❤️ We always have a choice.
I woke up this morning with these words coming out of my mouth. “Up from the grave He arose.” But they continued… “With a mighty triumph o’er His foes. He arose a VICTOR from the dark domain And He lives FOREVER…” These words are from a song written by Robert Lowry. But my heart claimed them aa my own upon waking. The enemy comes to steal, kill and destroy. But Jesus came that we may have LIFE friends! I don’t know the things you may find yourself wrestling with in your everyday life. I don’t know the wilderness season you may find yourself in or the grief that may feel like is breaking your heart. But I do know this good news is bigger than a day! It was for yesterday, today and tomorrow. It will carry you when you feel weary and hide you in the shadow of the Almighty as you wait for deliverance. The good news that Jesus came, He died and He rose from the dead is for EVERYONE! It’s for you beloved. John 14:1 (ESV) “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.“ Psalm 9:10 (ESV) “And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.“...
New Year’s Eve is the anniversary of the day our world began unraveling…. But God was with us, carrying us, making a way. As I read and remember some words God gave me when we were in the thick of it, these are some that stood out as worth sharing. They are my gift to you as we enter a New Year. May they lead you deeper into Him.
“It was not enough anymore for me to just read His word in the morning. For, by the afternoon the pain of watching the changes in my Alan from the brain cancer would overwhelm my heart if I did not gird it up with MORE of God’s truth! I see now how beautiful the scripture is that says,
“You shall teach them to your sons, talking of them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road and when you lie down and when you rise up.” ( Deut. 6:8) The Lord knew we would need daily, reminders of His Word. His Truth becomes the solid ground that we can build our lives on! The word is Living and Active and more powerful than a double edged sword. It is the ONE thing that is strong enough to carry us through hard times, to strengthen us when we are weary and renew our hearts when they fail us. Carve out time in your day to sit down with this GIFT. Ask the Spirit of the living God to open your heart and mind as you read it so that you might be transformed by the renewing of your mind ( Rom. 12:2). It is the Greatest Treasure and too often it just sits on a shelf. Let it be your daily bread for the new year.❤️#new #lifeafterloss #hopeforthefuture...
Sometimes, we just need to step away and remind ourselves that our God knows all that is troubling our souls and He has not given us over.
I do that sometimes and on this particular night it was medicine for my soul. After I walked this historic horse farm I sat on top of a hill and witnessed the ever changing sky. Minute by minute the colors changed, chasing each other until even the lavender faded to black. I felt the tension leave my body.
It reminded me that everyday He goes to great lengths to show us He is present.
We can either stop and notice or continue on, overwhelmed by what our feelings are speaking to us.
He is for you beloved! How do you exhale all the things and remind your soul this is true? Tell me all the ways! 👇🏼 #exhalefear #inhale #joyforthejourney #rejoice #seekandsavorpodcast...
How in the world can we “rejoice always,” when we look at everything going on in your world and mine? Take courage my friend. God is still at work. Don’t miss this episode of the Seek and Savor podcast, Desperate for Rescue.#seekandsavorpodcast #liftupyoureyes #linkinmybio #rejoicealways...
It was just a couple of years ago, but I still remember it. She told her mama that Nana had to have this even though they had already bought me a present. Her mama obliged.
It was a necklace that said two words, “Immeasurably More,” A lump rose in my throat as I opened it.
My heart needed those words. It needed to remember that while I “lift up my eyes,” I also need to remember that God is able to do immeasurably more than I can find the strength to ask for or even imagine. This is for you too friend.
Our God is for us. His book is a love story. Sit down, and invite Him to speak to your heart. You are dearly loved. “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen Eph. 3:20,21 #seekandsavorpodcast #heisforyou #renewyourmind #rejoicealways...
Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think....(Eph.3:20) We serve a God of FAR MORE beloved.
Somewhere along the way, whether by fiery arrows of doubt and fear from the enemy or by our own insecurities; this truth becomes threatened.
We begin to think small. We begin to ask for little. We begin to tell ourselves to settle for less. We may even begin to think that we are hoping for too much.
Ah, what welcome relief to know that we serve a God who is able to do far more, abundantly than all we ask or think. And the cherry on the top is the next verse: “According to the power that works within us!” When you follow Jesus and His Spirit comes to live inside you, you have this same power, the power that raised Jesus from the dead. That’s no small thing friend. So let’s dream with God. Let’s set our minds on things above rather than the earth. Let’s ask and seek and knock and do it all for His Glory. #seekandsavorpodcast #hopeforthefuture #renewyourmind...
So often fear makes us want to turn around and go the other way.
Or we think we must hurry ahead to achieve all the things we want to. Staying steady, our hand in his hand is often hard. The enemy comes in and tells us that uncomfortable is not the place we want to be. He says “in control” is better.
But, oh beloved what joy is found in surrender.
“For I am the LORD your God, who takes hold of your right hand and tells you: Do not fear, I will help you. Isaiah 41:13
Happy Birthday to my Alan! 10 birthdays in Heaven, and it makes me wonder. Is he celebrating being home from his mission on this earth? What is He doing while we remember the gift He was to us, and still is? Ever since he left I have been sharing words with you. Because I feel called by God to share in some small way the “JOY, that is set before us.” Sometimes it’s a joy that wells up and overflows for the taking and other times it must be fought for.
I can make a list a mile long of all the good God has brought about since he left. Because that is our God, good and faithful, chasing us down with His mercy and grace. I can also count the tears that have been shed, how many times we have longed for Alan’s actual presence and the memories we wanted to make with him. The in between, is the place I have learned to live. Holding both joy and sorrow, trusting that when I am weak Christ’s power is being made perfect in me and finding true joy in walking every day with my Savior. When we had to choose the words to mark where Alan’s physical body was laid, I waited a year. I wrestled, I cried but, then I knew…”Alive in Christ.” It was the single most important thing to say and it’s true. This is why we lift up our eyes beloved. It’s why we are not overcome by it all. If life is in between for you beloved, you aren’t alone. ❤️ May I pray for you? #seekandsavorpodcast #lifeafterloss #hopeforthefuture #rejoicealways #griefshare...
