Perfect in the Imperfection

This devotional was from my June 1st Jesus Calling, by Sarah Young

I am involved in each moment of your life. I have carefully mapped out every inch of your journey through this day, even though much of it may feel haphazard. Because the world is in a fallen condition, things always seem to be unraveling around the edges. Expect to find trouble in this day. At the same time, trust that My way is perfect, even in the midst of such messy imperfection.

Stay conscious of Me as you go through this day, remembering that I never leave your side. Let the Holy Spirit guide you step by step, protecting you from unnecessary trials and equipping you to get through whatever must be endured. As you trudge through the sludge of this fallen world, keep your mind in heavenly places with Me. Thus the Light of My Presence shines on you, giving you Peace and Joy that circumstances cannot touch.

As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the Lord is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him.

—Psalm 18:30

“For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.”

—Isaiah 41:13

A bad habit of mine is to go throughout the day with my plan, my checklist and my nose to the grind. 

[x] Crossfit

[x] Make lunch

[x] Return emails at work

[x] Schedule a girls night with friends

When I'm going through those actions I don't connect them back to Jesus. I do a devotional in the morning, I rush about my day, and then I end with a prayer at night. But the thing is, God isn't just there at my morning devotional and my prayer time at night: he's here with me now. He's here with me of every second, of every moment of every day. He has orchestrated my days well-before I've even started to create that days to-do list. When I'm working out, He's with me and knows when I'll face my hardest moments and want to turn back. When I'm making a lunch for work, He's already 'prepared' what I'm going to take. When I'm at the office and juggling 30 things at once, He is there helping me get through it all. All of it- He is with me. 

Yet I'm not conscious to it. I don't often enough glorify God in the small moments of life; subconsciously I recognize that He is always with me, but I don't verbalize it often enough. "As you trudge through the sludge of this fallen world (aka our every day lives), keep your mind in heavenly places with Me". If we remember that God is with us, He will never fail or forsake us, than it makes getting through the sludge a little bit less grueling. Not to say that our day-to-day lives will be a scene from a Disney fairytale, but His way is perfect, protecting and profound. In the end, it's comforting to get the gentle reminder that He is always with us, protecting and guiding every one of our steps. 

“For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.” —Isaiah 41:13

1, 2, 3…JUMP!

Sometimes it feels like its never the right time. It never feels like the right time to quit your job. It never feels like the right time to take a trip to Europe. It never feels like the right time to start dating again. It never feels like the right time to move. Society makes us feel like it's never the right time to do what we dream of doing. 

Well guess what, there will never be the 'right time' to do it.

I had a friend disappoint me recently because they bailed on me because of timing. Well know what, life is always going to get into the way. Work is always going to be busy. The house is never going to have all those projects finished. Your family is always going to be demanding you in five directions. You're always going to want to have more money in your account. Life does not press pause for our dreams, we have to make them happen. So make time for them. There may be no better time than present to do what you've always dreamed of doing. 

Psalm 56:3 says "When I am afraid, I will trust in you". Sure it's scary to take a leap of faith and just go for it. Move across country. Take a trip. Change jobs. Date someone new. However there comes a point in time when you have to rely on God and your gut instinct, take a deep breath, close your eyes… and jump.

All Woman Cancer isn't Pink: Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month

When you think of September, what comes to mind? Changing of the seasons, warm sweaters, jeans, chunky knit scarves, Starbucks PSL, steaming hot stew? While all those things might be true there is also one thing many people don't know about September: it's Ovarian Cancer Awareness month. 

Ovarian Cancer, represented by a teal ribbon, is a type of cancer that begins in the ovaries and is "a growth of abnormal malignant cells that begins in the ovaries- the women's reproductive glands" according to Ovarian Cancer National Alliance. One of the saddest aspects of Ovarian Cancer is that it often goes undetected, earning the nickname of the "silent killer". Why does this type of cancer have a terrifying rate of late detection or no detection? Women typically don't realize something is 'wrong' until it's spread, mostly because the symptoms are so common to women: bloating, pelvic or abdominal pain, difficulty eating or feeling full quickly, and urinary symptoms. As a woman, these symptoms can be extremely common during certain times of the month, so it's so easy to let things slide by and go unnoticed.  

The Ovarian Cancer National Alliance believes that symptoms, although common, are still extremely relevant, but they aren't a definitive diagnostic tool. Since there is not currently a diagnostic tool for ovarian cancer, one of the most important things is to KNOW YOUR BODY. You are your best advocate; you, more than anybody else in the whole world, know when you're just feeling a bit "off", when these symptoms happen more than normal. 

Ovarian Cancer Awareness is something that is super close to my heart for many reasons, but one of those reasons is the incredible women I've met, survivors, warriors, battling soldiers who have or are still going through this awful disease. It's a beautiful thing to witness, the sisterhood that they have formed around such difficult circumstances. The women I have met, the families that have been affected, the stories I have heard are why I support Ovarian Cancer research and awareness.  

September is a month to come together and stand up against this silent killer. September is  a month to spread the word about Ovarian cancer. September is a month for women to understand their bodies, and more importantly listen to their bodies. September is 30 Days of Teal. 

For more information, please visit Ovarian Cancer National Alliance webpage for more information. Also please check out Teal Diva for support & information and The National Ovarian Cancer Coalition webpage.

"Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits- who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion" Psalm 103:2-4

Stop & Be Still

"The righteous person may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all." Psalm 34:19 

How easy is it to get overwhelmed and stressed out in everyday life? Little things suddenly add up and before you know it- boom- your plate has exploded. Getting to work on time, working out, packing a lunch, balancing the checkbook, paying bills on time, trying to figure out dinner, walking the dog, laundry, ironing, filing the car with gas...I know I don't need to go on because everyone goes through the endless checklist in their head on a daily basis.
  
However, although it's so easy to get caught up in the day to day monotony, it's important to remember who is in control. When life feels like it is spiraling out of control, it is so difficult to maintain order, maintain a gracious heart and keep a positive spirit. It would take every once of my being to maintain a graceful spirit when my life is falling apart, and that is why I constantly need God's Holy Spirit to renew my heart and cleanse my spirit. Don't stress about getting it all done.

I was reminded recently how busy everybody is, but someone asked if we were too busy for the Lord. How many times do we delay quiet time because we need to finish something at night, or skip church because we want a day to sleep in? I've found myself many times skipping out on reading the Word at night because I was so exhausted from a long day at work or not go to church because Sunday is my only day to sleep in. It was highlighted to me recently that when we listen to God and give him what he wants: our heart and our attention, he blesses us beyond our dreams. When we tithe, when we spend time praying, when we spend time in the Word, when we sit and listen and when we just sit in silence God uses those moments to mold, shape and change our lives.

Stop. Be Still.