Blossoming in His Presence

Hello friends! I am so glad to be writing on this blog again after a jam-packed summer. Between finishing my Master's degree and making an international move, there was not much time to devote to blogging.  In the coming days I hope to unpack those stories a little bit more for you, however, before we get to those testimonies I would like to set the background by sharing a lesson the Lord taught me in 2020 and the beginning of this year. Once upon a time… Actually it was simply in March of last year, my family and I were days away from making a long-awaited international move when the world shut down due to the pandemic. What we thought would be a very short, temporary delay turned into something a bit longer and harder. I was heartbroken and disappointed, to say the least. For others this delay may not have caused the same type of reaction, but in our situation it was an addition to a long line of failed attempts spread out between 13 years. My heart was weary and, frankly, I was

                                                                               Hello friends! It has been a minute since I last wrote on the blog. Some days it feels like life is moving faster than me. Time just seems to be flying! Haha.  Today, I would like to focus on the very first chapter from the Bible that my momma had me memorize: Psalm 23. This chapter has a special place in my heart and the Holy Spirit breathed new life on it for me in this past month.  Please ask the Lord to show you what He would like to say to you personally through this passage of scripture.  Let's dive in! “The Lord is my Shepherd [to feed, to guide and to shield me], I shall not want. He lets me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still and quiet waters. He refreshes and restores my soul (life); He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Even though I walk through the [sunless] valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod [to protect]

The trees have begun to blossom where I live.  Even so, there are still plenty of trees that are slowly recovering from the winter storm which occurred just a few weeks ago. When compared to their counterparts these trees seem to be barren, dry, and lifeless.  Yet, there is something so beautiful and hopeful about the arrival of springtime. The contrast between the tree in full bloom and the barren tree is like a cool river in an arid desert. It is a promise that eventually each one of these trees will once again be clothed in green. This reminds me of the lyric that says “ things that we thought were dead are breathing in life again .”  Life is the same way with ever-changing seasons. There are seasons where it feels like one is walking through the wilderness or desert. Perhaps it even feels like one is camped out at or stuck in these places. Such seasons are typically periods of refinement meant to prune away that which encumbers and hinders, while drawing you closer to the heart of

First, let me start off by saying that today's blog post was not my original plan. There are quite a few blog posts that are waiting in the wings, but my heart has been stirred to bypass those and share something different.  Whoever this is for, I hope you will be reminded of the strength of our God and leave with your heart refreshed. _______________________________ Recently I was surprised by some news. Instead of saying,  "Ok Lord, this is big but I know that You are bigger. I give this to You,"  worry was allowed instant access to my mind and heart. My planner's brain was running through all the complexities of this scenario. I was trying to figure out how I was going to make this work. As a result, a heavy burden weighed down on me. The next day, a friend asked how I was doing and was met with a bit of verbal vomit as I poured out my worries/frustrations. She lovingly reminded me that this was just another area to trust Jesus in. It was also another area for the

  Have you ever forgotten to grab your valentines before heading out the door, either growing up or recently? That is the worst feeling! If you are anything like me, I will still give those things out late, because I either spent way too much time or too much money for them to go to waste. There is no shame in my late valentine game!  As a single person, there are times where one feels forgotten or left behind. I am certain that there are those who are in relationships who feel this way too, every now and then. For some, Valentine's Day is eagerly awaited, and for others, it is merely endured. Are you feeling like a forgotten or invisible valentine?  Then there is something I have to tell you... You are seen. You are loved. Jesus has not forgotten you. You have not escaped His notice. You are precious in His eyes. He never says "Oops! I forgot all about ( insert your name here ). Has anyone seen her/him? Oh, where did I leave her/him last?" He knows exactly where you are

Waiting is not easy. At times it can be physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually draining.  But it also is not passive. After writing my last post about  holding onto hope in the middle of delays , I felt like I needed to share some practical tips that I personally use to keep my heart and life anchored while I wait. Here are my top 7 tips: 1. Worship I cannot emphasize this one enough.  Dance your way through the trials with Jesus (fun fact: this provides an endorphin boost needed to jumpstart the brain).  Lay with your face down to the floor while you soak in His presence.  Sing out songs of faith and adoration at the top of your lungs when your heart is aching.  Make a new song composed of lyrics from your heart or put a melody to one of the Psalms found in the Bible. Instead of listening to a depressing song that taps into the sway of your emotions, blast some worship music throughout your house. There is something so powerful about entering into worship in every season o