You Can Sit with Us (and Other Ways to Spread Kindness)

You Can Sit with Us (and Other Ways to Spread Kindness)

by

Recently, I got a Facebook message from a girl who was really mean to me in school. We were actually best friends for years before that. I’m talking slumber parties, Christmas presents, friendship bracelets. The whole deal. But one school year she found a new table at lunch and a new group of friends, and seemingly overnight they were “the cool kids” with me as their target for years to come.

Her recent message wasn’t even mean, but decades later I still had a pit in my stomach when I realized who it was from. Imagine your childhood bully, just casually sliding into your DM’s as you were writing an article about being bullied and why kindness is so important to you all these years later. Imagine THAT! God is really funny.

In my new children’s book, Spreading Kindness like Betty Confetti, Betty is a girl who constantly goes out of her way to welcome the “new kid”, Brandi, who was feeling left out at school. Betty tries so hard because she remembers what it felt like to be on the outside, herself.

This is so important to me because I’ve lived it.

I’ve often been picked on for being “too much,” picked last for the team, or not chosen at all. I don’t always bounce back quickly from unkind words, but it is God who restores my heart and helps me offer grace and forgiveness to others time and time again.

Once I was the girl looking anxiously around the lunch room, holding my tray, and not knowing where it was safe to sit. Now I’m the woman who confidently says, “You can sit with us!”

One day in school when the mean girls were their meanest, I cried myself to sleep, praying for God to send me just one true friend. Now, I can see SO clearly how He did all that and more. The Lord so lovingly found a way to send me just the friend I needed, to spread kindness like confetti in every season of my life.

I think about how God sent me Susanne on my first day of kindergarten, and now she’s a kindergarten teacher herself. Or how I met Julie as we changed schools and became the “new kids” on the soccer team together. The answer to my prayer in this story was Rach, and she still prays for me, even now. In college came my awesome roommate Andrea, and we are so much alike that it’s wild! On Sorority Bid Day, I actually wasn’t picked at all, but my friend Nicole was waiting for me with open arms, and a BFF T-shirt she made to let me know I still belonged.

It’s not like I’ve gone decades without hurt feelings or heartache, but friends like these make every burden in life a little bit easier to carry.

Even as I entered the workforce pretending to be an adult, I was new, nervous, and lonely.  I didn’t know I was about to meet some of the most loyal friends I have ever known. These days, God abundantly answers my grade school prayer with a community of fellow moms (and a real-life Brandi) who have become like family. Just ask my first grader — two of them are his emergency contacts!

I pray Spreading Kindness like Betty Confetti encourages every follower of Jesus (both young and old) to not only pray for God to send us kind friends, but for each of us to BE the KIND of friend others need. To send the invitation, to save the seat, to make room in our hearts, and to pull up an extra chair. I hope that as Christian parents, grandparents, and teachers we will show our children how to include others and be kind to those who may feel left out. May we understand and model that our words matter SO deeply that they can have a lasting impact on others for years to come.

As Betty learned:
You’ve yet to meet a person that Jesus doesn’t love,
so let’s help spread His kindness while He watches from above.

I bet we’ve all had a time when we had our feelings hurt by someone else. Some of us may still be hurting and I pray the Lord helps us forgive and move forward with peace that He has better plans (and better friends) waiting for us. I’m laughing as I also pray that they don’t message you on Facebook tonight just to test your forgiveness.

We have the chance every day to spread kindness like confetti, just like Betty! We can do that In our communities, in our homes. In our churches and in our schools. Whether it’s In the lunch room or in the boardroom, God can use our kind hearts to bless all of those around us. Our friendship can be an answer to someone’s prayer, just when they need it the most.

Is there someone God has laid on your heart that can use some extra kindness? How can you sprinkle some confetti their way today?

Kindness is like confetti; there’s always lots to spare. When we love like Jesus does, we spread it everywhere! Spreading Kindness like Betty Confetti, the second book in the popular Betty Confetti Inspirational Children’s storybook series by author and artist Maghon Taylor, illustrates the importance of being kind to everyone everywhere. Perfect for a little one in your life, this sweet book helps teach about kindness in an adorable and accessible way. When Betty sees a new girl at school, she tries her hardest to offer a warm welcome, but so many obstacles get in Betty’s way! Notes get passed to the wrong people. Lunchroom invitations get mixed up. But in the end, Betty’s kind heart wins the day when she shares kindness with others.

We’re thrilled to give away FIVE copies of Spreading Kindness like Betty Confetti! Just leave a comment about a time you’ve experienced kindness.

And tune in to the (in)courage podcast this weekend as Maghon Taylor and Becky Keife have a conversation about Spreading Kindness like Betty Confetti!

Listen to today’s devotion at the player below or wherever you stream podcasts.

 

*Giveaway open to US addresses only and closes at 11:59 pm central on 10/1/23.

The Amazing Thing That Can Happen When We’re Simply Living Out Our Faith

by

As a life plan advisor at a retirement community, I’m part of a marketing team whose office is about 100 yards from administration. That means a lot of back and forth when I’m busy, so my step count – and surely my health – benefits.

It is rare for me to go from building to building without a stop or two. With 250 residents, I’m bound to run into a friend, and oftentimes, a few. Inevitably, conversation ensues. But ever a dutiful taskmaster, the clock reminds me I have work to do, and I’m reluctantly on my way.

One ordinary Thursday I was in a rush to get back to my office. Way down the hall, I noticed Mrs. Jones leaving her apartment and stopping a few doors down to knock on a neighbor’s door. As I neared, I couldn’t help but overhear their exchange.

“I wanted to apologize for what I said yesterday,” Mrs. Jones began. “I’m a Christian, and I know better than to talk about other people. I should’ve kept my mouth shut….” Her voice trailed as her neighbor tried to make her feel better.

“Why, I didn’t think twice about it, but I certainly forgive you. Would you like to come in and visit a while?”

About that moment, I brushed past the two of them, hugging the wall and pretending to be invisible.

Headed out for the day, Mrs. Jones declined her neighbor’s invitation and again reiterated why she was there. “I kept thinking about what I said last night, and I knew I had to apologize as soon as I could. I can’t take it back, but I am sorry for what I said.”

Soon enough, I was out of earshot, but I could still detect her neighbor’s gracious tone. There was something refreshingly childlike in their conversation, and my mind wandered to Robert Fulghum’s 1989 bestseller, All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten. Sweet as saccharine, as memory serves me, his essays talked about how our world would be a better place if we followed the same rules we teach our children – how to share, clean up what you mess up, and be kind to one another.

We learn good manners, common decencies, and how to treat others when we’re young, but sometimes we forget when we grow up, don’t we?

Throughout the day, my thoughts returned to these women who were living their faith in the most basic of ways. Confessing sin. Forgiving quickly. When you live out your faith, people notice.

And, even if no one is around to observe, when you live out your faith, God is glorified.

I’ve grown frustrated and admittedly judgmental toward the absence of civility among people who identify as “Christian.” With a looming presidential election, we’ve already seen contention on both sides of the aisle. Social media and its echo chamber algorithms love to stir the pot. And yet, though our nation has become increasingly polarized, that doesn’t give any of us permission to be rude or hateful. Quite the contrary as people created in the image of God. As His image bearers, we have the privilege and responsibility of reflecting His character.

From Genesis to Revelation, we can discover glimpses of God’s character. Consider, for example, the fruit of the Spirit as described in Galatians 5:22-23 (NASB):

…love, joy, peace. Patience, kindness, goodness. Faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.

In the Gospels, we meet God in human form through the life, death, and resurrection of His Son, Jesus. We see tenderness coupled with strength. Truth tempered by compassion. Power displayed through His touch, His actions, His words, and His prayers. In Jesus, we find a God who sympathizes with our weakness, understands our temptations, and forgives us again and again and again.  

True, we’re born into a broken world, and in our flesh, we’re prone to sin. But, getting frustrated with or judgmental toward others doesn’t change a thing; it can even be self-destructive. What if, instead, we lived what we profess, following Ephesians 4:29-32 (NLT) as our guide?

“Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them…. Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.”

In living out their faith on an ordinary Thursday, two precious older ladies pointed me to Jesus and glorified God through their actions. I was reminded that some of the most important things I need to know I learned as a child.

Although counter-cultural in His time, Jesus invited little children into His life. He understood what Robert Fulghum would write about centuries later — kindergarteners are pretty darn smart.

Age is irrelevant in the kingdom of God. Living out our faith always makes a difference.

Every interaction with others is an opportunity to love well and bring glory to God. When we reflect any aspect of God’s character, we’re creating the kind of culture our broken world needs to see. We never know who might be watching, and our words and actions might just be preaching a message they need to hear.

 

Listen to today’s devotion on the player below or on your fave podcast app!

God Is Listening. It’s Time to Tell Him What You Need.

by

You will call to me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.
Jeremiah 29:12 CSB

Can you think of a greater gift than the Creator of the heavens and the earth, the God of yesterday, today, and tomorrow, the Savior of the world listening to your prayers?

The One who holds the stars in place also holds the concerns of your heart. 

The One who parted the Red Sea can make a way for everything you need.

Consider the beauty of the Lord’s words: You will call to me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.

Take time today to call out to your Creator, come to your Savior, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit. 

He’s listening.

We invite you to also share your prayer request in the comments. It’s our joy as a community to pray for one another.

 

Google or God?

by

The Lord brought me forth as the first of his works, before his deeds of old; I was formed long ages ago, at the very beginning, when the world came to be.
Proverbs 8:22–23 NIV

Raise your hand if you reach for your phone, open up a browser, and ask Google for the answer to every question you have. Whether we’re searching for solutions to everyday problems, like how to unclog a sink drain, or searching for answers to more serious matters, like what side effects are caused by a parent’s cancer medication, the internet has become our source of help, hope, knowledge, and wisdom. First of all, let’s thank God for access to such a wealth of information! But then let’s ask ourselves, how often do we turn to Google instead of God for wisdom?

I’m raising my hand right there with you! It’s easy to turn to every other reliable source out there when we need guidance in understanding something. Trusting what’s tangible is simpler than having faith in the unseen — and sometimes that’s okay! God has given us tools, resources, friends, and mentors to help us live well, but we want to make sure that our ultimate source of understanding and knowledge is the wisdom of God.

The Bible consists of sixty-six books written by various authors and in different genres. One genre is wisdom literature, which includes Job, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes. Together, these books share practical insights into how to live wisely.

In Proverbs 8:1–9, God’s wisdom is personified as a woman who stands at the city gates and urges us to listen and heed her call. Let’s take a deep breath, settle in, and listen to what she has to say to us today.

Read Proverbs 8 in its entirety. What parts stand out to you about Wisdom and why?

Wisdom offers herself fully, freely, and generously to anyone who will listen and choose her — regardless of our beliefs, status, life experiences, or background. And whether we’re aware of it or not, wisdom is applied by people every single day in all spheres of life — whether it’s by kings and rulers, as verses 15–16 tell us, or by the special needs teacher who’s figuring out how to care for and educate her students well, or by the employee who wants to hold their manager accountable for inappropriate behavior, or by the young woman who notices the toxic behavior of a friend and doesn’t know what to do. Everyone needs wisdom to live this life well.

For each sticky situation we find ourselves in and for all the knowledge we need help understanding, we have access to the ultimate source of insight we need: the wisdom of God.

God’s wisdom is necessary for people to survive, flourish, and fully enjoy life. His wisdom is our ultimate guide and has been since the very beginning of time. Thus, our passage for today:

“The Lord brought me forth as the first of his works,
before his deeds of old;
I was formed long ages ago,
at the very beginning, when the world came to be.”
Proverbs 8:22–23

The wisdom of God created boundaries where there was formlessness, light where there was darkness, and order out of chaos. And as God delighted over each day’s work, so did wisdom (v.31).

Now, in the same way, wisdom continues the work of shaping and creating, ordering and delighting, and giving us life when we live according to her instructions. Better than Google, wisdom is accessible to all, giving us structure and guidelines by which we can thrive.

It boils down to this: all we’ve got is God, and to begin to live wisely, we fear Him (Prov. 1:7) and obey His commandments. This doesn’t mean we need to be afraid of Him. It means that we understand who He is and who we are — He is God, and we are not. We live, struggle through, and enjoy this one life we have while being in awe of Him. And we heed His words to us, choosing to walk in His love, grace, and wisdom.

Let’s ask and seek God for wisdom, knowledge, and understanding because He is our greatest source for them all.

God, I love that from the very beginning of this world Your wisdom has been present, woven into everything we see and enjoy. I know nothing is guaranteed in life, even the goodness and well-being that could come with wisdom. But knowing that You are the source of all wisdom gives me the confidence to navigate any situation. Even when there doesn’t seem to be a way out, You can see a way through, and I trust You. I pray that my ears will be open to hear wisdom’s call so that in everything I do, I can live wisely. Amen.

Devotion by Grace P. Cho, adapted from Create in Me a Heart of Wisdom 

Create in Me a Heart of Wisdom teaches that wisdom is learned by understanding knowledge, listening to the Holy Spirit, experiencing struggle, being in community, and practicing what we learn over a lifetime. It won’t offer solutions to specific problems, but it will offer spiritual insight and practical guided questions throughout the study to help you seek God and gain the wisdom you need.

 Get a free week and learn more about the Create in Me a Heart of Wisdom Bible study!

Don’t Let Fear Take Any More from You

by

We took our first trip to the lake this summer. The Oklahoma sun was showing no mercy, so getting in the water was the only way to survive the heat. But I am not into water sports or activities, and neither is my husband. We stood with the water up to our waists and watched my brother and sister-in-law take our kids out on canoes and paddle boards. They were having so much fun, jumping off the paddle board into the water over and over again. My brother looked over at us and said, “Look at Moriah, she is fearless!” I smiled because Moriah, my ten-year-old, was in fact fearless in the water. I saw her confidently jump into the middle of the lake, swim, and climb back onto the paddle board. She was doing things that I was afraid to do.

When I was about her age, I was invited to my first pool party. I arrived late and everyone was already in the pool. I had never been in a pool before because I was raised in India. I didn’t want to embarrass myself by asking anyone to help, so I sat down near the pool and watched my friends. They began to wave and invite me to join them in the water. I slowly scooted my bottom to the edge of the pool and jumped in. I quickly realized I was in the deep end. My feet couldn’t touch the ground and I couldn’t get my head above water to breathe.

I panicked and tried to move towards the legs I could see underwater in front of me, but no matter how much effort I used, it was as if I was stuck. I thought surely they would feel the movement in the water with me kicking, but nobody was moving towards me either. Finally, somehow I came up out of the water. As I looked around, I realized no one even knew that I was drowning . . . they were all laughing and having fun. What seemed to me like an eternity of agony was simply seconds — seconds in which I could have died and no one would have noticed.

This moment, this memory, kept me in fear of ever getting into any pool, lake, or ocean. I had no interest in learning to swim or do any water sports.

For me, part of facing my fear was to make sure that I didn’t allow that fear to walk into my future. I wasn’t going to let my fear keep my daughter captive. I enrolled my kids in swim class and took them to the lake. I made sure my daughter felt safe and enjoyed the water, even if it wasn’t with me.

That day at the lake, watching my little girl fearlessly accomplish things that evoked fear in me as a little girl, was liberating.

But it takes so much courage to let your child go with someone else to do something you are afraid to do. It reminds me of the story of Moses’ mom, Jochebed, who was a slave and lived in fear of the Egyptians. Life for a Hebrew mother like Jochebed was especially terrifying after Pharaoh commanded all his people, “Every son that is born to the Hebrews you shall cast into the Nile, but you shall let every daughter live” (Exodus 1:22 ESV).

Jochebed knew that she wasn’t going to let the fear that kept her a slave, also be her son’s demise. So she took her three-month-old precious baby boy, put him in a basket, and watched as he floated away in the river. If you know this story, you know that Pharaoh’s own daughter found the baby and took him as her own. 

Though her infant was initially returned to her nurse, the boy was eventually given to Pharaoh’s daughter and Jochebed had to watch from a distance as another woman named and raised her son. I imagine part of her deeply grieved what was taken away from her, but I think she was also so grateful that her son was the first in their family to experience a life of freedom from slavery, because of her courage. Moses would then go on to liberate all the children of Israel from slavery.

Jochebed brought freedom not just to her son, but her entire people group because she wouldn’t let fear walk into her future.

For me, watching my daughter fearlessly navigate the lake was breaking a generational curse. It’s over now, fear has lost its power.

“She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future.”
Proverbs 31:25 NLT 

Whatever fear has taken away from you, it doesn’t have to dictate your future. Take a small step of courage and speak these words over yourself today: “Fear is not my future!”

 

Listen to today’s devotion on the player below or wherever you stream podcasts!

 

The Move of God and Our Role in It

by

My church is amazing! It really is. This is the third church in my more than twenty years walk with the Lord that I have called “home.” I don’t know if this will be the last one, but I do know that I absolutely love it!

I’ve also reflected on my time at the previous churches I was a part of. Looking back, I see God’s hand and grace during those seasons. He brought me to each of those places and grew me. They were what I needed at the time.

Part of the job of community is to unlock gifts and skills and anointing within each one of us. Sometimes God uses one community to unlock one set of things. Then, He will intentionally move us to a new community where He unlocks a new set of things.

It’s important to remember that the unlocking is never just about us. It’s to bring God glory, edify the Body, and accomplish His purposes in the earth. The added blessing is that it brings us joy.

This month marks five years of being a part of my new community. I have grown exponentially more than I have in previous years combined. My church is far from perfect. My pastors would be the first to admit that they are flawed people; there would also be a line of the staff and congregants all shouting the very same sentiment — we are imperfect people.

That’s the beauty that I have witnessed. In their weaknesses, the Lord’s strength is seen. There is an utter dependence on God to show up and to move. My pastor has been going through a series in Sunday School about how the Church is actually called to function. It’s been convicting, encouraging, and empowering.

There are countless ideas and beliefs that I’ve had to cast aside or reevaluate. But, there are other beliefs that have become even more firmly rooted. As the revival at Asbury University began and grew, the Lord reminded me that all throughout the Bible, He has been a God that responds to the hunger of His people. The Beatitudes even tell us that those who hunger and thirst for righteousness will be filled. They are blessed and satisfied. The funny thing about spiritual hunger is that we are both satisfied, but also our hunger increases.

We can have as much of God as we want. Sadly, our desires are often weak or broken. We haven’t created space in our personal lives or churches for God to move in all of the ways He longs to.

Two of the key points my pastor has shared repeatedly have been the importance of the gifts of the Spirit and what he calls “working the Altar.” That simply means letting God use those gifts of the Spirit in you and through you, within — and ultimately outside — of the church walls.

Those are essential to the move of God in our lives and in our churches. My pastor is adamant about creating space for the Holy Spirit to move in freedom and teaching the congregation on what the Bible says the gifts of the Spirit are and how they are to be used. Then, he emboldens us to hear from God and use those gifts during our services.

I have had the great pleasure of leading worship at my church. The best part of being on stage is NOT the microphone, the lights, or the attention. It is hands down getting a front-row view of God moving in the room. When He shows up, it is undeniable. Our agendas, expectations, and desires fall by the wayside.

It’s the sweetest thing to watch the Holy Spirit bring salvation, freedom, healing, deliverance, peace, and joy to a hungry person. Their desperation for God to do what only He can do has stirred a hunger deep within me.

We create space for God to move. We come with hunger.

Then, we come with faith followed by obedience. Luke 1:37 tells us that nothing is impossible with God. His move begins with Him. And part of Hebrews 11:6 tells us that without faith, it is impossible to please God. This is us.

There are countless truths about God and His character and His desires that fill the whole of the Bible. He is good. He is kind. He is gracious, loving, and faithful. He is a provider. He is a protector. He does seek and save that which is lost. He is a deliverer, a healer, and a mender of all things broken.

He is a good Shepherd. He is the Prince of peace. He is the King of kings and Lord of lords. He is the Creator and Sustainer of all. He sees us and hears us. He is the ‘with us’ God.

This is the list we bring before God. We believe that God is who He says He is and He can do what He says He can do. We trust that His Word does not return void. We offer Him whatever faith we have — weak or strong, small or big. We offer it as a sacrifice.

Then, we let the Holy Spirit lead us as we use the gifts of the Spirit. My pastor reminds us to ask for the gifts that we want and then go forth and use them.

In the past five years, I watched corporate and personal prophetic words spoken, words of knowledge given, deliverance, and healings have occurred, all through a group of people who wouldn’t consider themselves anyone special.

The God of the Bible is much bigger than many of us have believed Him to be. He wants to move in our lives and churches with power and might. His role is the majority of His move, but He invites us to play a small part in what He’s already doing.

Don’t you want to partner with the God of revival as He moves on the earth?

If you have seen moves of God in your life or church, I’d love to hear your testimony! If you are longing to see Him move, I’d love to pray for you!

 

Listen to today’s devotion below or wherever you stream podcasts!

 

The Price Tag of Real Peace

by

A quick scan of my Google search results showed at least a dozen resorts promising absolute “peace and quiet.”

For the low, low price of thousands of dollars, I could escape the chaos of day-to-day life and buy myself some calm. Or so the various advertisements promised. Scanning websites covered with glittering ocean-scape pictures, I was tempted to believe them. I could use some peace. And these crystalline condos had no problem making their promise: Peace can be purchased. Captured. Consumed like a meal from a 5-star restaurant. As long as you’re willing to pay the price.

Of course, I know their promise doesn’t quite deliver. Yes, I’ve taken a few beach vacations, and we always have a good time. And yes, for a few days, we experience a brief reprieve from the busyness of daily life. I’m all for our annual family vacations, and I have seen the value of the investment of time and money in our relationships.

But absolute peace and quiet? Not even close.

No vacation, no matter the price tag, can deliver on such a claim. Regardless of the resort’s cost or location, we can still hear the ring of late-night music, the whine of moody teenagers, and the constant din of other vacationers negotiating real life through conflicts and conversations, even though we all paid a hefty price to escape it all. And, of course, our real lives always loom on the horizon, full of various challenges and question marks. We can never quite forget what is waiting for us when our vacation comes to an end. Reality doesn’t go away, no matter the price.

Which leads me to an important and shoulder-shaking conclusion:

Peace can not be bought. It can only be received.

“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.
Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal.”
Isaiah 26:3-4 NIV

I’ve been meditating on these two verses for the past couple of weeks. In them, the prophet Isaiah makes a claim he believes he can deliver. A promise of perfect peace. Is it possible? Can he really deliver? Let’s break down the keywords in Isaiah’s claim:

  1. “Keep.” Our perfect peace is “kept,” which comes from a Hebrew word that means to guard, watch, protect, and preserve. Picture a soldier standing firmly beside you, tasked with guarding your peace. This is what Isaiah says the Father does for us. He is our watchman in the night, the keeper of our peace. He doesn’t sleep so you and I can.
  2. “Perfect peace.” This is the word we know as Shalom. Although it is translated as “peace,” it actually means far more than that. It is safety and security. It means to be complete to the point of utter tranquility and wholeness. God’s perfect peace blows an ocean vacation out of the blue water.
  3. “Minds.” The Hebrew word here is yeser, which simply is our inclination, desires, motive, and thoughts. These are the plans and purposes we form in our minds. Here, Isaiah is telling us that the secret of our peace is to keep all our plans, desires, purposes, and thoughts steadfastly anchored to the knowledge of God Himself as our Guard, Refuge, and Fortress. We aren’t depending on our plans to work out. We’re depending on God to do what He said he would do.
  4. “Trust.” The Hebrew root here means exactly what you think it does: to put confidence in. To rely on.

Now, with this context, go back and read those two familiar verses in Isaiah again. Here is my best attempt at a paraphrase:

Father God, you stand guard over my peace. You alone make me complete, whole, and secure, no matter what happens around me. You never take your eye off me — my health, my children, my people, my finances, my future … you stand guard over all of it. My only job? To keep my eyes trained on YOU, not my circumstances. When I do this, when I trust You to stand guard over me and everything precious to me, the payout is peace. Right here, right now, without writing a check or traveling anywhere. Your peace costs me nothing but trust. And You are the only One rock solid enough to hold my trust.

Perfect peace all boils down to TRUST. Can we trust God to keep watch through the night? Can we trust that He will stand guard over our people, our person, and our peace? Can we rely on His promises of unfailing love, perfect plans, and eternal redemption of all things?

This is Shalom. This is the peace we crave. Everything else is nothing more than a pricey diversion.

 

Listen to today’s devotion below or wherever you stream podcasts!

Hope for the Harried and Hungry (and a lesson from onions)

by

The Bible is full of metaphors for how God sanctifies us, but in my book, the metaphor that sticks best is French onion soup. I know, stay with me.

Growing up, my cultural identity was a big question mark. I’m a dyed-in-the-wool third-culture kid: I’m Indian, grew up in Dubai, but attended a British-run school. My ancestors were Christ-followers in a country dominated by Hindus and Muslims. I didn’t feel at home anywhere.

But when I was eleven, I watched real journalism for the first time: CNN covering the first Gulf War. I knew then that I wanted to be an international correspondent, and I made it my life’s goal to become one. This identity rose above race and religion; it was a vocation.

I got into journalism school in the States, and after graduating, I began working at CNN. My dream was on track — I was a working journalist! But a few years later, I married my college sweetheart and moved to Los Angeles from the news mecca of New York, and for five long years, every employment door I knocked on stayed shut.

I was unmoored. If I wasn’t a journalist, who was I? A new Christian, I shook my fist at God. Why wake me up every morning if You won’t give me a purpose? Just take me home!

In many ways, I related to an onion: overlooked and stagnant in the darkness of the soil.

The kitchen became my solace. Here, I turned chaos into order, and ordinary ingredients into extraordinary dishes. My husband and I launched a cooking variety show on YouTube called Aarti Paarti, and soon after, some friends suggested I audition for Food Network Star, a cooking competition that awarded the winner their own cooking show.

I knew I could cook a few things, but I wasn’t a chef. Until then, the shame of my journalism career ending had been private; I couldn’t bear America witnessing my inevitable failure as a cook too. But I submitted an audition anyway, hoping they’d say no.

Except they didn’t. Their yes ripped me out of the safety of the pitch-black soil.

The first challenge on the show was to make 150 servings of a dish. The lights of the soundstage burned my eyes; sweat streaked my upper lip. The arena was populated by chefs trained in top kitchens and culinary schools. What am I doing here? I’m a dirt-splattered onion on a chopping block, I thought. With my heart in my mouth, I prayed, God, I can’t do this. Help. 

I made Tandoori BBQ Chicken on Scallion Blinis and to my utter surprise . . . I won! Astonished, I felt the papery skin of self-doubt begin to loosen at the root.

Each week, the challenges threatened to slice my onion-heart open and expose me as a fraud, but while chef after chef lost, I inexplicably remained. With every win, I felt the truth of 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NLT):

. . . My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.

As the competition heated up, the flames felt unbearable at times. But through it all, God was close, and His voice in my ears said, The only identity that matters is that you’re Mine. And even though I went on to win the show, understanding that truth felt like the biggest victory of all.

I read somewhere that sanctification is the closing of the gap between our identity and our behaviour. That process isn’t pretty, and it for sure isn’t painless. But here’s why it’s worth it: We don’t see all the potential God packed into each one of us. One of the benefits of being a child of God is that He’s intent on unleashing our full potential in the world! 

Take, for example, a raw onion. Take a bite, and you’d hardly describe it as sweet. But here’s the crazy thing: all the sugar you enjoy in a caramelized onion is there in the raw one! We just can’t taste it. Only heat can transform the onion’s large sugar molecules into the smaller ones our tastebuds can detect. And for French onion soup, you must slice the onion in a particular way — across her bow, slicing rainbow arcs that will melt into silky, sweet ribbons. Likewise, God knows how to slice and dice each of us to reveal those innermost parts of His glory.

Though our journeys are unique, one thing that unites us all is the refining fire. Just as onions release their moisture when they first hit the hot pan, God evaporated the misshapen molecules of my identity through the show: that my career was all that I was, that people’s opinions of me were paramount, that I had to earn His affection and attention. He replaced the lies with the truth that I am wonderfully made and that “he who began a good work in [me would] bring it to completion” (Philippians 1:6 ESV).

If you’re in the middle of the refining fire, don’t give up! Caramelization only happens at a whopping 212 degrees Fahrenheit. Pull the onions out of the frying pan too early, and they won’t reach their full potential. Our growth and sanctification can’t be skirted or hurried because each step is vital to the end result. 

While I was named a Food Network star, I’m in no way a complete dish. I’m still simmering away on the stove, deepening in flavour. Every day, I trust God’s capable hands to build a dish out of this unpalatable, unremarkable allium that I am — to turn the raw, unpolished sting of my fallen heart into a tantalizing near-perfect bowl of soup, poured out for Him, declaring to all who draw near that there is nothing sweeter than being called a child of God.

Have you ever felt empty after a full day? When there is still more to do, tasks to finish, and mouths to feed, how do you get it all done? You can reach for the One who will always sustain you. In her new devotional cookbook, Unwind: A Devotional Cookbook for the Harried & Hungry, Aarti Sequeira brings rest and peace to your meal preparation and the dinnertime rush.

In this thoughtful recipe collection by cooking show host, Food Network Star winner, and culinary expert Aarti Sequeira, you will be inspired by fifty heartfelt devotions, inspirational quotes from Aarti, and selected Scriptures as you recreate tasty recipes straight from Aarti’s kitchen! Hear about it from Aarti herself:

Aarti Sequeira- Book – Unwind from DaySpring on Vimeo.

In Unwind, you will discover reasons and recipes for joy, peace, hope, comfort, strength, and more that can lift your spirits even on the most demanding days. This new cookbook is a perfect way to unwind and prepare to enjoy a delicious meal with the people you love.

We’re thrilled to give away FIVE copies of Unwind! Just leave a comment telling us what cooking or family recipes mean to you*.

Then, tune in to the (in)courage podcast this weekend as Aarti Sequeira and Becky Keife have a very real and honest conversation about cooking, Jesus, and Unwind!

Listen to today’s devotion at the player below or wherever you stream podcasts.

 

*Giveaway open to US addresses only and closes at 11:59 pm central on 10/1/23.

What If Making a Home Is the Next Right Thing God Has for You?

by

I was never a child who dreamed of setting up a home or even getting married. In fact, when I was a young woman in high school and I imagined the future, I imagined what I called my Banana Republic Season: I would wear crisp Oxford shirts, live in New York City, and work as a journalist. I’d be a new version of Nora Ephron, crafting witty and memorable turns of phrase. I didn’t give much thought to what my living situation would be beyond the city.

I moved to Chicago for college and later to Austin and Nashville for work. I did the city thing, but was floating around from apartment to apartment. A few years ago, I moved back to New England (where I attended grad school years before) and I signed a lease for a little apartment. I knew I’d be here at least a year, maybe two.

I was met with old friends who helped me do the heavy lifting of moving, and this little space was turned from an empty few rooms into something vaguely familiar — though I didn’t even have a place to put my keys and was learning where my dishes would go. But with each small furniture find or purchase, I filled out my small apartment, replacing IKEA bargains with shelves and pieces that I re-painted and made my own.

It was 2019 and I had no idea what was coming.

No idea that a few weeks later I’d lose my job.

No idea that a few weeks after that, I’d get a call from a dear friend telling me she was sick.

No idea that I’d grieve the loss of that friend and then a global pandemic would keep me in this little apartment way more than I ever anticipated.

When COVID hit, I started going room-by-room and making sure everything had a place. I figured that if I was going to be stuck in these rooms, I might as well like them and get acquainted with their quirks. I unpacked those boxes that had been lingering during the season of transition, but I always left one closet untouched. I worried that if I tackled that last task of organizing, I’d have nothing else to distract me from the tiredness and raw grief I was wading through. What I didn’t realize was that in doing so, I was also avoiding settling down and settling in.

This summer, in the midst of wondering what is next in ‘my one wild and precious life,’ as Mary Oliver would say, I asked the Lord where He wanted me to focus my attention. Perhaps there would be a new task, adventure, or hobby on the horizon!

As I prayed, the idea that came to the surface was the encouragement to make a home. To settle down and settle in. It felt a little silly, but I realized how much I’d been waiting for something to shift and for my heart to be uprooted all over again. I’d spent so much time in my life moving that I forgot what it was like to let my heart be still in the space I called home. This invitation to make a home wasn’t just one to grow up, but to grow into whatever the Lord is up to next.

Over and over in Scripture, we see that God gives His people a place to find peace. Paul closes his second letter to the Thessalonians with the blessing, “Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way” (2 Thessalonians 3:16). And sometimes, I think God gives us a chance to join Him in that process of making spaces that give us room to be at rest. 

Finding peace and making a home looks different in different seasons. Sometimes, it’s hosting a dinner party. Sometimes, it’s saying no to overcommitments. Sometimes, it’s taking time to go on long walks to call a good friend. For others, settling into peace means showing up at small group or making a favorite recipe.

Home is where we make it.

So I started with that closet I’d been avoiding. I started getting rid of things I didn’t need, organizing what I used, and rearranging my clothes. I found the final touches of my apartment this weekend and the last thing I placed was a little bowl in which to put my keys and wallet when I walk in the door. It’s a place to set down what matters and remind myself that I can settle in, too.

This apartment has proved to be a steady little friend, a haven to return to and exhale with. She has seen me yell and weep and rejoice and cheer. She has been forgiving when I put nails in her walls and hung up favorite memories and paintings and family portraits. And she has become a home that was made when I had no imagination for a future of making one.

 

Listen to today’s devotion below or on your fave podcast app!

Your Treasure Is Meant to Be Shared (and it has nothing to do with money)

by

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.
2 Corinthians 4:7-12 (NIV)

We carry within us the greatest Love — One who died so we could live, One that compels us to die to ourselves so others can also live. This Love is the strength that carries us when we don’t think we can go another step. He’s the path that shows us where to go when nothing makes sense. Love — God — lives within us, and He wants to show Himself to those around us, to the world, through our imperfectness, so others can see Him clearly.

Let’s love as He loved us — generously, keeping in mind that the treasure of His love is meant to be shared.

The Peace of Jesus Doesn’t Hinge on Your Performance

by

Your baby is teething and keeps waking up at all hours of the night. A rude driver cut you off on your morning commute. Your roommate left her dishes on the kitchen counter — again.

Ugh. Can you feel the tension crawling up your neck?

Or maybe you woke up to a perfect hair day. Your kind neighbor brought in your trash cans. Your kids didn’t fight on the way to school, and the predicted storm instead gave way to clear blue skies.

Hooray! What a glorious day!

It sure is easy to let things that are beyond our control — whether bad or good — dictate our attitude. I see this in my kids too. If they get to play the video game of their choice: happy campers. If I ask them to take a family walk or empty the dishwasher: grumpy complainers. While I desire (and expect) my children to choose a grateful and cheerful manner whether they get what they want or not, I have to admit I don’t always follow my own standards.

But what does the Bible have to say about our attitude? In a nutshell, it says we should take a cue from Jesus. Listen to the instruction the apostle Paul gave to the Philippians: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. Everyone should look not to his own interests, but rather to the interests of others” (Philippians 2:3-4 CSB).

There’s that word: humility. It means turning away from self-focus to others-focus, having a posture that chooses to serve instead of strive, and remembering that God is in control and we are not. These instructions lead us to the big takeaway: “Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5).

When I was younger in my faith, I remember reading Paul’s instructions and thinking it was kind of ridiculous. I mean, Jesus is Jesus. The Savior. God in human flesh. Sacrifice and obedience must come easy for Him, right? How can God expect imperfect us to have the same attitude as perfect Jesus?

While I understand where my younger self was coming from, in truth it was a cop-out. I didn’t want to put others first. It felt like a lot of pressure to try to live up to Jesus’ standards. The bar was too high! How could any of us possibly reach it?

If you find your mind wandering down this same line of thinking, it’s time for a full stop. Paul’s instructions to adopt a Christlike posture are not a prescription for religious performance but an invitation to spiritual freedom, to eternal peace in Jesus rather than temporary pleasure in ourselves.

Jesus Himself said, “So if the Son sets you free, you really will be free” (John 8:36). We don’t have to perfectly follow an elaborate set of rules or offer animal sacrifices on an altar to be made right with God. We don’t have to earn our salvation or be a really good person for God to love us. “For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift — not from works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).

We will beat this drum as loud and as long and as often as we need to! Nothing about the peace of Jesus is wrapped up in our performance.

So what does adopting the same attitude as Jesus look like practically? Paul’s teaching in Philippians goes on to unpack this: “Do everything without grumbling and arguing, so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God who are faultless in a crooked and perverted generation, among whom you shine like stars in the world, by holding firm to the word of life” (Philippians 2:14-16).

Hold firm to the Word of life. That’s the goal, friend! Jesus said it Himself: “I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance” (John 10:10). How do we get this abundant life? Follow God’s Word and Christ’s example. Don’t grumble or complain. Be different from this dark world so you will shine brightly. In this way, the world will know whose you are!

Join me in praying this today:

Jesus, I want to be more like You. Help me adopt Your attitude of humility. Help me take on Your posture of servant-heartedness. I confess I’m often prone to grumble and complain. Help me exchange my irritability for Your peace. May Your light shine through me. I’m Yours. Thank You for being my Savior and Guide. Amen.

 

Devotion by Becky Keife, adapted from Create in Me a Heart of Peace

Create in Me a Heart of Peace will help you experience an inner calm-meets-strength that can’t be rattled by volatile circumstances or swallowed up by busyness. You’ll discover that the peace of Jesus is more powerful, practical, and applicable to our lives than any counterfeit version this world could offer.

 Get a free week and learn more about the Create in Me a Heart of Peace Bible study!

 

Embracing the Mystery of Faith in Every Season

by

On an early September morning, with the skies still deep in their slumber, a dear friend pulled into my driveway. I kissed my snoring husband on the forehead, tiptoed through the kitchen as I checked into my flight, and wheeled my suitcase outside. School was back in session, and I was heading to a writing conference. The fall air was thick with an early morning fog.

The mark of a good friend is someone who drives you to the airport. The mark of a best friend is someone who wakes up early and drives forty-five minutes of winding back roads to get you to the airport on time.

It was too early for conversation, so we were quiet during the drive, the two-lane road bending and shifting as the car carried us forward. Haze hung thick in the air, and the back roads seemed even quieter than usual. The far-stretching fields turned from green to gold. We could see only a slight stretch ahead of us.

The morning mist held a sense of mystery, inviting my mind to wander. Will my kids be okay while I’m gone? Is it selfish to travel for work? My unspoken anxieties hung in the autumn air as we traveled on the sleepy roads. I wanted to see further ahead, to know everything would be okay.

No matter how much we want to see what will be, we live surrounded by mystery.

We don’t know what tomorrow will bring — we are but a vapor, our lives a mist (see James 4:14).

I wonder what it would be like if followers of Christ were known for our willingness to embrace the mystery rather than claiming to always have clear and concise answers.

Because the truth is that a life of faith is mysterious.

We live in mystery, believing there is truth in a swirl of now and not yet.

Amid life’s unpredictability, the temptation to seek clear-cut answers is strong. Yet, we believe in a God who created galaxies and became an infant born in the dirt. We live in the tension of now and not yet, unable to fathom all the mysteries of life and God’s ways.

The apostle Paul reminds us that this Christian life is a profound mystery that exceeds our understanding (1 Timothy 3:16). We don’t have all the answers, but we believe in the mysterious truth that is clear enough. In the haze of the unknown, we trust that Christ will light our path just enough to keep moving forward.

Eventually, our drive through the dense fog ended. My friend pulled up to the departure line at the airport, and I opened the car door, the thick fog blanketing me.

I didn’t know what the future held, but at that moment, I knew that God held me.

As parents, we’re entrusted with nurturing and guiding our children while navigating our own wonderings about faith. Life’s demands often make it challenging to tend to our souls and our family’s flourishing.

We can embrace the fantastic, messy, holy mysteries of faith in every season.

This fall, consider taking some time to reflect:

  • Why is there peace in knowing we can’t fathom the mysteries of God?
  • Why do you think people (especially adults) have such a hard time saying, “I don’t know”?
  • Have you ever shared your doubts and wonderings with God or with someone you trust? What happened?
  • What can the fall season teach us about God’s mysteries?

Borrow this prayer:

O God of mystery, hear our prayer. Comfort us in our doubts. Give us peace when we don’t know what comes next. We know our lives are but a vapor, but we also know that in the mist, You are there.

Help us to live into the mystery of a life of faith. Let us embrace the beauty in the unknowing. Give our family the courage to admit what we do not know and faith to trust You with our questions.

In our wondering and in our wandering, we believe in what we cannot see. Amen.

May God lead you and your family into rhythms of grace this fall – and in all the seasons to come.

Adapted from Every Season Sacred by Kayla Craig. Copyright © 2023. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, a Division of Tyndale House Ministries. All rights reserved.

—

Every Season Sacred: Reflections, Prayers, and Invitations to Nourish Your Soul and Nurture Your Family Throughout the Years by Kayla Craig is a weekly invitation for parents to ask big questions, embrace faithful rhythms, and experience God’s mysterious, loving presence together. Every week, Every Season Sacred includes:

  • Honest & hopeful devotions for every season of the parenting journey
  • Encouragement to parent with intention & imagination, presence & purpose
  • Open-ended conversation questions & discussion prompts
  • Thoughtful prayers to borrow throughout the year.

With tender curiosity and contemplative wisdom, Kayla blends thoughtful musings and practical resources to meet parents right where they are. Whether you’re parenting a toddler or a teen, this family resource is one to turn to all year long as you journey through fall, winter, spring, and summer. You might want to grab a few copies of this beautiful, nuanced hardcover book as gifts to have on hand!

Great news! Kayla is gifting her preorder bundle to (in)courage readers with no purchase required! Visit this exclusive page to get immediate access to 100 family conversation cards, a booklet of daily prayers, a curated fall playlist, and instant access to the book’s first chapters.

AND more great news… we’re giving away five copies of Every Season Sacred!

Just leave a comment about your favorite season or rhythm, and you’re entered to win*.

Tune in to the (in)courage podcast this weekend as Kayla Craig and Becky Keife have a vulnerable and delightful conversation about Every Season Sacred!

*Giveaway open to US addresses only and closes at 11:59 pm Central on 9/26/23. 

 

Listen to today’s article below or wherever you stream podcasts!

How Parenting from a Place of Rest Transformed Our Home into a Haven of Peace

by

As a homeschooling parent, my days are often a whirlwind of activity, filled to the brim with lesson plans, extracurricular activities, and endless attempts at optimizing every second of our day.

It’s what we, as mothers, are told to do.

I had read countless articles by well-intentioned mothers, each offering tips on maximizing our morning routines and squeezing productivity into every nook and cranny of our schedule. I followed their advice with noble aspirations; I wanted to provide my children with the best education, the most enriching experiences, and an unquenchable thirst for knowledge.

However, reality often fell short of my ambitious goals.

Despite my relentless efforts, my kids often dragged their heels through our meticulously planned days, accomplishing little, and I found myself drowning in frustration. The to-do lists grew, but our sense of accomplishment shrank, and the toll it took on all of us was undeniable. Meltdowns became a regular occurrence – not just from my kids but from me, too.

It was during one of those moments of exasperation that a revelation struck me like a bolt of lightning.

The exhausting cycle of packed days, stressed-out kids, and emotional meltdowns was not going to change until rest became a central factor in our lives.

I needed to pivot, to transform the way I approached parenting.

My realization came one day as I was reading Matthew 11:28: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (NIV).

Jesus’ words struck a chord deep within me. His invitation to find rest in Him was a reminder that in the midst of my family’s hectic life, He is our source of calm and renewal. But even more so, it was a wake-up call for me to pursue slow, unhurried living within our family.

Since that day on my living room couch with my Bible in hand, when my world felt rocked to its core, our family has made some big changes.

For example, in our home we now have:

  • Morning Rituals: We begin the day slowly and when everyone is ready. We come together for family prayer and read a short Scripture passage to set a calm tone.
  • Simplified Scheduling: I have more of a skeleton list of to-do’s, prioritizing quality over quantity in activities and lessons to reduce rush and stress.
  • Outdoor Exploration: When the weather permits, we spend time in nature as a family, going on slow walks, hikes, or picnics. Surprisingly, it’s while we’re outdoors that I have some of the most meaningful conversations and connections with my kids.
  • Quiet Times: We have daily quiet times where everyone can read, color, or simply enjoy moments of solitude. This has been a game changer for us, and we all feel rejuvenated afterward.
  • Unplanned Moments: I’m naturally Type A and a planner, but I’ve learned to embrace unstructured, spontaneous moments as a family, allowing time for play and creativity.

Taking to heart Jesus’ words in Matthew 11:28 extended far beyond the weariness of my individual soul; they became a healing balm over the fatigue of our home and the pressures of our daily lives.

Choosing the path of slow, unhurried living, I watched in awe as Jesus transformed our home into a haven of peace. 

Now (for the most part), the relentless rush of the world is left at the doorstep, and tranquility has taken its place. My kids still complain at times or don’t want to do schoolwork. But I now respond to them from a place of rest, and with the aim of maintaining our home as a sanctuary where stress and anxiety find no foothold.

When our homes become havens of rest, we shed the burdens of busyness and constant striving, discovering a deeper connection with ourselves and with one another. It’s in the unhurried moments that we truly see and hear one another, building bonds that withstand the test of time.

When we parent from a place of rest, we also grow spiritually. We model a life of rest for our children, teaching them not only the value of unhurried living but also the spiritual benefits of drawing near to God for refuge and renewal.

My prayer for you today is that your home can become a haven of peace as well, for your days to be characterized by unhurried moments, and for you to experience the richest blessings and the abiding presence of God’s grace.

 

Listen to today’s devotion below or on your fave podcast player!

The Secret to Being Everything and Everywhere All at Once

by

I have a superpower, a secret strength that I call on when I am deep in the mire of monotony and the mundane, when I am desperate for deliverance from my ordinary life.

I make myself disappear by way of daydreaming. At a moment’s notice, I can leave life’s mere moments — the middle of car rides, the middle of meals, the middle of my son asking one million brilliant questions. I do it all the time. Even did it this week. In the middle of my son asking me a question, I retracted from reality and retreated into the recesses of my mind.

Where I could breathe . . . where I could press pause on all that presses and pretend to be someone other than me. Where I could leave behind my ordinary life — its gaping wounds, its worries, its woes.

When I disappear like this, my body is present but I’m mentally absent. In my thoughts, I mull over my ordinary life . . . pitting it against all my high and lofty dreams. To be a singer. To travel the world and visit exotic places. I dream some more and imagine myself hiking Yosemite, then catching a taxi in New York City. Then, again, dreams flash fast across the expanse of my mind. I’m a ballet dancer. I’m teaching children in South America. I’m an artist in a concrete studio. I’m a tourist in Paris.

I live into my dreams and cast myself into the countless possibilities panning across my mind. When I am jolted back to reality, I want to cry. But I can’t . . . because my children need to see that I am here, and my husband needs to know that I am happy, that there’s no place I’d rather be.

If I’m honest? It feels scary and raw to admit these things, to spill them out on the screen where you’ll scroll and read and respond to them. Because the last thing I want is to be told to appreciate my life or to be thankful and content. I’m not sure I need anyone telling me what I already know and believe to be true — that I really can’t escape my life. That I can’t be all the things I ever dreamed of being.

What I want, though, and what I need is for someone to tell me that God sees all of these infinite possibilities for the way my life could have panned out — the corporate career I almost had, the places I once called home, the dreams I cradled and, sometimes, still carry.

What I want, and what we all most desperately need, is for God to tell us that He sees deep down into our hearts. That He sees all our multifaceted passions and all of our divergent desires — all the daydreams, longings, and nuanced layers of loss.

It’s true — sometimes our tendency to daydream is really just a desperate attempt to replay the scripts of all our secret longings. All of which matter to God, even if they don’t ever come to fruition. So what if we let these replays become prayers? What if we let them become pleas, invitations to ask God to help us make peace with all that swells in and around us?

In the middle of our daydreaming, what if we dared ask God to reach in deep into our hearts and remind us that He sees the many ways we pine and strive to be and do all? What if we took our broken dreams and desires to escape our ordinary lives and turned to the only One who can be all, know all, and do all?

God is omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent — knowing everything and being everywhere are His superpowers and His alone. He is everything we need and He is available to us everywhere, even all at once.

In this, we can rest assured: we’re not missing out on anything. We’ve not been handed a second-best life. There’s not some better, prettier, stronger, smarter, richer, freer version of ourselves floating around out there in an undiscovered multiverse.

The only secret to being everything and everywhere all at once is realizing that, only in Christ, will we ever be satisfied and fulfilled. Only in Him will we experience the greatest depth and width and height of life. Only in Him can we be everything we were ever created to be.

It’s no secret and it’s no superpower.

To be with Him is to be everywhere we ever need to be.

To be known by Him is to see we are everything we ever need to be.

How about you? What are your multifaceted passions and daydreams? How can you open your heart to believe that God sees all of what you wish for and all of who you are?


Practice peace, purpose, and being present to your life through soulful prompts and prayers with Rachel’s book, Let There Be Art.

 

Listen to today’s devotion on the player below or on your fave podcast app!

Your Mind Is Full of Whatever You Fill It With

by

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing, and perfect will.”
Romans 12:2 NIV

Our minds often feel cluttered, overwhelmed, and unclear about who we are, what we’re here to do, and how to navigate the day-to-day moments of life. When this happens, it means that our mind is usually full — full of worry, doubt, fear, and uncertainty. The quality of our thought life is largely the litmus test for how we’re really doing and what we really believe about ourselves, others, our circumstances, our future, and our standing with God. Almost instinctively, we tend to look at what’s wrong instead of seeing what’s wonderful.

So, how do we shift from a mind bogged down and steeped in anxiety to a mind that is joyful, optimistic, secure, and courageous? The answer: mindfulness.

Mindfulness simply means to be aware of something. And awareness is at the heart of abiding, which— using our working definition—means “to live in a state of expectancy.” If you’re in a state of worry, that means you’re expecting something to go wrong. You’re actually residing in doubt and choosing to find refuge in fear. However, Jesus showed us how to abide in peace by centering His life, words, and work around mindfulness with God. Everything else flowed from Him being constantly filled with expectancy about God’s goodness.

Our mind is full of whatever we fill it with. The good news is that we can choose to fill it with the goodness of God. This is the reason for tracking your Daily Blessings and committing to seek out everyday goodness. Choosing to see life through the lens of appreciation, affirmation, and gratitude (instead of lack and loss) is how we renew our minds to align with the Holy Spirit. It’s how we learn to see that God really is always with us. This awareness . . . this intentional discipline of holy mindfulness . . . is how we learn to abide.

Because we’re rarely taught how to abide and just told that we should, this concept can end up fostering more stress and confusion. Don’t let that happen here! Abiding is really simple. Breathe that in and embrace this truth for a moment. Abiding is simple, and it’s designed to be enjoyable. It’s not a to-do list or get-it-right type of thing. It only requires one thing: that you be intentional. Understand that abiding isn’t random. It’s specific. It’s consciously choosing to enter and remain in the secret place of God (a promised space with only your name on it) for the purpose of receiving, resting, and resetting.

This also happens when we speak (declaratively) the language of God. Our words reset our world. You see, the brain is an organ, but the mind is an organization. Renewing your mind allows the presence of God to reset and reorganize your thinking (and speaking) so the Holy Spirit can recalibrate every aspect of your life. Our minds are the bridge to seeing either blessings or burdens. Mindfulness enables us to abide.

Lord, thank You for the gift of wisdom. I know You love to give wisdom freely and lavishly. Equip me to see the way You see. As I enter Your presence, renew my mind. I submit every stubborn and misaligned thought to Your Holy recalibration. As I abide in You, help me to think like You. Amen.

—

The greatest weapon blocking what God is building in your life is worry. As an ambitious woman daring to believe bigger about who you are and what Heaven has for you, you have much on your mind. Dreams, goals, responsibilities, mission-building, and a to-do list that never ends. Our mental stress can cause our eyes to default to what is wrong or missing versus seeing what God is sending. In her new book, Daily Blessings: A Mindfulness Journal on the Goodness of God, Reinvention Strategist Marshawn Evans Daniels shows how the practice of appreciation and affirmation invites you to exchange overwhelm, self-doubt, perfectionism, and distrust for a spirit-led, limitless mindset. You will see how God’s love moves Heaven and Earth for you every single day and in every single way.

Daily Blessings has a ten-week intentional framework structured to help you practice appreciation and affirmation. Each week is based around one of The Ten Dimensions of Abiding. You’ll kick off each week with (1) an overarching anchor Scripture, (2) a master devotional reading, (3) a mindfulness centering called “Let’s Abide”, and (4) guided Prayer Moxie. You can revisit the kick-off message for the pillar you are in each day if you like. You’ll likely notice that the passage will spark something new each time. Additionally, each day is broken into two phases: Phase One is Morning Gratitude, and Phase Two is Evening Appreciation and Affirmation. This Daily Blessings journal is your daily invitation to abide in the goodness of God.

Pick up your copy of Daily Blessings: A Mindfulness Journal on the Goodness of God… and leave a comment below to enter to WIN one of five copies*!

Then tune in this weekend to the (in)courage podcast as Marshawn talks with Becky Keife about the Daily Blessings Journal! You won’t want to miss this POWERFUL conversation!

 

Listen to today’s devotion at the player below or wherever you stream podcasts.

*The giveaway is open to U.S. addresses only and closes on 9/25/23 at 11:59 pm central.

What Sunflowers Taught Me About Friendship

by

When Hurricane Hillary blew through Southern California, I stood back and prayed. We live in the mountains of Northern California, so except for praying for our friends and their neighbors who lived down south, we assumed we would be utterly unaffected by the storm.

But as we watched the weather reports, we realized that not only were we going to get thunder that required our dog to be on a constant stream of anti-anxiety medication, but there was going to be rain and wind enough to wreak havoc around our mini-homestead.

So we reinforced the chicken coop and brought in some of the equipment we didn’t want to get wet. Then I caught my husband, Roger, standing on a ladder, attempting to tie our sunflowers together. (Because that’s what you want to see as thunder and lightning come rolling in — your husband standing on a metal ladder in the middle of your garden.)

But here’s what you have to understand: These were not your average sunflowers. When I bought the seed packets months before, I wasn’t paying attention to the type of sunflowers I was getting.

When they named these “Mammoth Sunflowers,” they weren’t kidding. These yellow beauties have grown to fifteen feet and show no signs of stopping. I cannot tell you how much joy we’ve received from these flowers. I’ll be in the middle of a call with a client and find myself staring out the window at these majestic giants. And I’ve caught Roger more than once glancing out the kitchen window with a big smile on his face.

The amount of happiness we’ve sown from a two-dollar pack of seeds almost feels like cheating nature. That is, at least, until Hillary blew through.

We wanted to do our best to give these joy-bringers the best chance at survival.

I wasn’t worried about the smaller sunflowers and other flowers and vegetables that were protected by our garden fence. I knew they were enclosed and would ride out the storm just fine. But these giant sunflowers, which had grown ten feet beyond the garden fence, were the most at risk.

That’s something I’ve noticed often — it’s my friends and the people I love who are growing beyond their safe places and bringing so much joy to others who are often most susceptible to being hurt. The ones who are serving the most are the ones who are risking the most.

And what is the cure for that — to stay safe? To not grow beyond the expectations of others?

No.

It’s to find the other people who are growing and serving and loving and hang out with them.

It is to lean on those friends who are also venturing outside the safe zone.

“Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their labor:
If either of them falls down,
one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls
and has no one to help them up.”
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 NIV

If you are in a season of growing, doing things beyond others’ expectations, beyond the safety of what you are “supposed” to be doing, that will make you vulnerable when the storm comes.

My strategy when I’m taking risks is to hang out with others who are doing the same. We can support each other and hold each other up.

If you are in that risk-taking season, I’m guessing you’re also supporting others who are doing the same. Can I suggest a few practical steps?

  1. Remind your friends, and yourself, that what you are doing is brave. Most people rarely grow beyond the garden fence. Taking risks is an act of courage and you are to be celebrated, and so are your friends. My friend, Susy, whom I consider my hype woman (and I hope I am the same for her), gives me words of encouragement, puts together celebration bags, and reminds me that even when I fail, I’m just clear-cutting a path for the next time I try.
  2. Feed that friend. About the holiest thing you can do when someone is in a battle is feed them. If they live nearby, take them food. If they live far away, send them Starbucks gift cards. Both are acts of service.
  3. Remember that everyone gets to succeed. My husband and I are a great team because we are too busy fighting side by side to fight with each other. We keep each other standing because that’s what you do with people who are by your side.

Oh, and our sunflowers? The ones Roger tied together? They survived. It was not the same story for the ones he didn’t get to support each other.

And that? Is a lesson for us all.

Want to learn more about Kathi’s red house in the mountains? Click here to check out Kathi’s new book, The Accidental Homesteader.

Listen to today’s devotion below or wherever you stream podcasts!