I can’t help but feel hope bubbling up in my soul as I think about new life springing forth from things that look dark, dismal, and even dead. Giving new life and new hope is something God is really good at.

Real rest refreshes. Real rest restores. Real rest revitalizes. Real rest that can do all of these things can only be found in one place.

Whatever the situation and whatever the circumstances, he is worthy of our praise.  He is deserving of all glory.  And when we talk about the amazing things that he’s done for us, it has the power to strengthen faith and renew hope.

In this kingdom where the first is last and the greatest is the serves, achieving big things most often involves the smallest steps. It’s our little everyday moments that change the world. Our daily willingness to be people who love God and love people is what shakes this world to its’ very core.

This may sound like one of the oddest practices, but it is one I am finding particularly powerful in this new year.  I am choosing to do something I am bad at.  While it may seem counter-productive, allowing myself the grace to be bad at something is producing something incredibly good in me. 

God will take every trouble and transform them into opportunities for us to experience love, grace, mercy, peace, and even joy through him. He is with us in our struggles and he invites us to be with others in theirs. 

Our moments matter.

Our everyday minutes are the building blocks of our lives.

What we give our time, energy, and attention to every day impact our life.

I believe God’s invitation is to meet with us in those kind of everyday moments.  His desire is to connect with us and for us to connect with him, right where we are.

I believe God still does the same thing. He calls out to you and to me. He personally reaches out to us to get our attention. He has a plan and a purpose for us that he wants to speak into our hearts, but sometimes we don’t recognize his voice because we aren’t in a space to listen or to receive what God is saying.

Remembering this changes things. A shift happens and it becomes Serving…Because I have more than enough and I’m motivated by love for the One who gave all for me.

May our actions reflect our heart.  Even in challenges, may our love for God and for people be the motivating force behind all that we say or do.  If our actions speak louder than our words, than may our lives loudly proclaim our love for God and others. 

When we find something that’s incredible, we want others to hear about it because we want them to experience whatever amazing thing it is that we’ve experienced.

As a part of my daily rhythm, I begin my time mornings by taking a few minutes to be still and worship God for who he is and what he’s done.

And I found my flesh and the enemy, whispering, “Everyone who walks with you, gets covered in burs.”

Prayer is a soul deep, naked and unashamed conversation

with the only One who both fully knows and fully loves us.

I have lived too much life, walked with too many people, and heard too many stories to not believe in spiritual warfare.

Psalm 40 has been my life verse. And as I let my tears fall to the carpet in that quiet chapel, I praised him again for reaching down his hand and lifting me from the brokenness and mess I created.

This morning practice might be a helpful tool.

You are always only ever redeeming.

It is who you are and it is what you do.

I thank you, my God, my Lord, my King, my Savior, and my Friend.

Jesus said that when we come to him, like we do through PRAYER, and we take his yoke by PARTENERING with him in his work here and joining in his PURPOSE here, and we learn from him by being in his PRESENCE, we can trust in the PROMISE that we will find true rest for our souls.