Author: anchoredhopeva

I absolutely LOVE God’s Word. It has literally saved my life! However, it hasn’t always been that way. I don’t know about you, but I used to dread reading the Bible. I knew I was supposed to read it daily, but I just couldn’t get into it. I tried reading different versions of the Bible, different devotionals, I just couldn’t get into it. Until my life went on a downward spiral….

I was desperate for things to change. My marriage, my relationship with the Lord, my attitude, my thoughts. I was on my way down into a very deep pit that I couldn’t get out of. No self help book could get me out this time. I remember feeling helpless and always had this thought…if the Word of God is so powerful why do I feel so powerless? I’m reading it, memorizing it, but nothing is changing.

Years ago, I started to attend a home Bible study that a friend of mine was teaching. It was the first time I had sat under someone that actually taught the Bible, line by line, scripture by scripture. She picked a part Hebrew and Greek words, gave us context to the scripture, and the history of what was happening at the time. It was a game changer for me. She taught me that there’s more to Gods Word then just reading it. When you pick it a part, there is so much gold.

Over the years, I have grown in my love for the Word of God. It’s no longer a chore, it’s a privilege. My “quite time” is no longer an obligation, it’s something I look forward to every single day. I wanted to share with you the 5 questions that have helped me go a little deeper in the Word.

1. What is this scripture saying?

2. What sticks out the most?

3. What can this scripture teach me about Gods character?

4. How can I apply this scripture to my life?

5. What is my prayer in response to this scripture?

Friends, God desires to speak to you through his Word. Just like anything else, you have to put a little effort into it. If you don’t, you will miss all the little nuggets of truth that will change your life!

When life gets stressful- plan a trip to the beach! That’s always a I thought I have when I just need a break. The beach is my happy place. It brings me the serenity I need when I can’t find it in my everyday norm. It gives me a break from the hustle and bustle that our schedule demands at home. It’s saves me from the need to be rushed, put together, alarm clocks, and well…just life!

The reality of this is that a week at the beach doesn’t change the fact that when you get home you will be back to the daily grind. Being gone just gives you a break from it all…or so you think. As I’m typing this we are actually sitting on the beach on our annual vacay to the Outer Banks. I may be sitting in the sand and basking in the sun, but there’s still opportunities to let the normal life creep in our vacation.

We had been on the beach for a few hours on our first day of vacation and my husband and I have a growth opportunity. That’s a very nice way of saying we got into an argument. We were joking around and I went too far with it. I said something that offended him and he took it real personal. I apologized right away, but the sting from my words couldn’t be fixed right away with just an apology.

Shortly after that, we go to rent bikes for the kids to ride around throughout the week. As they are riding the bikes back to the condo, my youngest son discovers the long bike ride isn’t really what he wants to do. He starts complaining and crying because it’s too hot and too hard to ride up the hills. Well- that just caused another level of frustration in my already frustrated husband. Keep in mind this is our first day of vacation!!

Taking a break from life doesn’t change what’s in your heart. You can’t run from what’s in your heart- it goes everywhere you do. So- no matter where you are your heart will always be exposed. If your heart is full of resentment and anger then that’s what comes out when given the opportunity. If you don’t have a thankful heart and you’re being ungrateful then that’s what comes out when it’s too hot to ride a bike. Can you see how we need more than just a vacation from life? When life is stressful, we need Jesus even more!

I woke up the next day and immediately got into my Bible. Honestly, I was a little mad that our first day of vacation was NOT what I was hoping for. My heart was full of ugly! I was disappointed that Jeff and I got into a fight. We could do that at home! I was annoyed that my youngest son was complaining instead of being grateful that we spent the money to do something he normally doesn’t do at home. Then, I was really ticked when Jeff showed his frustration by the way he spoke to us after all that went down. I shut down emotionally and wanted to go home. I mean we don’t have to spend all this money just to have the same stress at home!

That morning I asked God where he wanted me to read. He gave me Colossians 3. Of course I’m hoping that it would be something uplifting and make me feel good. Of course as I began to read God’s Word starts addressing the condition of my heart. You see, I came on this trip with a very heavy heart. I thought that getting away would ease some of the burdens, but obviously I was wrong. God began to deal with the doubt I had about a situation, the resentment and unforgiveness towards my husband, and the lack of love that my actions were showing. God is always after the heart! I can’t change the circumstances, but I am responsible for my response.

In order to have less stress, we have to have more Jesus….every moment of the day! If we allow our circumstances, emotions, and busy schedules dictate what’s in our heart, then we will get ourselves into a lot of trouble. The only thing that can change what’s in the heart is the truth of God’s Word penetrating to very depths of the ugliness. Then of courses making it right through repentance. Life will be stressful, but Jesus offers us the only thing that will calm us. His peace. However, you will only find it in his Word and in the pursuit of a relationship with him. Anything else that the world offers ( like a beach vacation) will only be temporary!

“But you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God’s instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you—from nothing to something, from rejected to accepted.”

1 Peter 2:9-10 MSG

Well…just like that it was over before it even began!!

Like most little girls I wanted to be a ballerina. I begged my mom to sign me up to take classes, so she did. She took me to get cute little ballet slippers, a leotard, and of course a tutu! I totally looked the part. I remember going to my first class so anxious, yet excited! I made my way to the front of the class right where the mirrors were. I wanted to watch myself glide across the room all graceful like the ballerinas I watched on tv. I was pretty confident that I was born to perform. Watch out Juilliard here I come!

I obviously got a little ahead of myself being young and naive. After a few classes I started to pay attention to the other girls in the room. I watched them in the mirror as we learned different poses. I noticed something was different about them or maybe it was the fact that I didn’t look like them at all. For the first time I experienced insecurity at such an early age. These girls had something I didn’t. They actually looked like ballerinas. They had long slender legs and I had short pudgy ones. My thighs touched and theirs didn’t. They were so graceful and delicate. I was like a bull in a china shop trying to do a plié. It just wasn’t natural to me like it was to them. Needless to say after that session I felt defeated and I quit. I didn’t have what it took or the look. Did I mentioned my thighs touched and theirs didn’t?!!

Fast forward to a few years later when I decided I wanted to try modeling. A local modeling agency came to my school to recruit new faces. Once again my mom wanted to support another dream I had, and took me to the modeling agency that came to my school. I was so excited because I just knew this was something I could do. I was still confident in the fact that I was born to perform, but this time it was going to be different. Modeling didn’t require much right?!!

I hadn’t done this whole modeling thing before, so I was unprepared. I didn’t know about portfolios or that I needed a certain walk for the runway. I just thought I needed to show up and they would immediately see that I was the one they had been looking for. Well, it definitely didn’t go how I had imagined it in my head. I was told I had the face, but I was too short. I would never be able to do anything but headshots or catalog shoots if anything at all. My dreams of becoming the next Cindy Crawford (yes I realize that totally shows my age!) were quickly crushed by a woman who barely looked at me. Once again that insecurity of not looking the part sprung up in me. Ugh, those insecurities!

There have been many more moments where the insecurity of not being enough or not looking the part have surfaced since then. In those moments I gave into the lie believing that I didn’t have what it took. I wanted what someone else had, to be a part of something amazing like them, or even worse I wanted to look just like them.

“But you are the ones who have been chosen by God”….

It took me well into my 30’s to figure out this one simple truth. A truth that God whispered so sweetly in a time that my insecurities were so out of control. He said “Daughter, you don’t look like anyone else because I have chosen YOU to be set apart. You weren’t made to do what everyone else is doing. I chose you for a purpose like non other. A work that only you can do. You can’t look like them or they will never see who I am.”

“Chosen for the high calling of priestly work…”

Even though I still pick myself apart, God continues to show me the truth of who I am. He challenges me to be confident in the woman that He has made me to be. A woman that has been hand picked by the Creator of the Universe for such a time as this. I have my own race to run and I can’t afford to be distracted!

Friends, He whispers the same truth over you today! You were strategically formed and given specific gifts and talents for His purpose. He chose you and set you apart for His work that can only be done by you. You weren’t made to look like or be like anyone else on purpose. Instead of wanting to be someone else, embrace all that you are, even the flaws you so desperately want to change. The world needs YOU! So get out there, be confident in who God has made you to be, and set the world on fire with the Light that is in you!

Forgiveness sounds good, but it’s not that easy to do. Usually behind the “I forgive you” is a painful offense. An offense that holds us prisoner as long as we let it. I know this all too well. There’s moments where forgiveness is simple and quick, but there’s also moments where it’s complicated and complex.

We’ve all heard the quote “not forgiving someone is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die”. Sounds kinda silly, but it’s oh so true. You expect the other person to be miserable with you, but that never happens. The other person is living their life carefree. Meanwhile, you’re a hot mess!

That’s what unforgiveness does. It’s starts off as one little seed of offense and then it gradually grows into a root of bitterness and resentment. Not only in that relationship, but in every relationship. It eventually bleeds into every area of your life. It traps you. Not being able to forgive keeps you in that place of pain.

You can be so consumed with the offense you don’t even realize how much it has taken over your life. It controls every thought, every action, every word that you speak. It will ruin your life and rob you of any joy that you should have. We know life is short, but one way to definitely shorten it even more is to hold on to offense. Maybe not in the quantity of years, but the quality of the years that you have. Not forgiving someone not only hurts you in the moment, but also others around you start to feel the after effects of it. Revenge and grudges are how the world operates, but God’s way is different. We forgive so we can be forgiven.

Who has hurt you that you are having a hard time forgiving? I know in most situations you have every right to feel the way that you do. There’s no way of justifying what they have done to you, but can I challenge you to forgive them anyway? Not because they deserve it, but because you deserve to be free from the misery. It doesn’t let them off the hook, it allows you to move forward. Trust me when I say this isn’t easy, it’s actually really hard. Probably one of the hardest things you will ever do. However, let God avenge for you. He is the God of justice and the only Judge. He knows what they’ve done, so let Him do his job and you do yours…forgive!