Memory Verse: Week 44

I believe that Satan doesn’t want us in God’s word and will use any and every means possible to keep us from the truth and therefore we must be prepared and have a PLAN!

To work on hiding God's word in our hearts, 

this year I'm going to be posting a memory verse for each week
 along with a printable to print out and hang up. 

Here's the verse for week 44:

     

You can print out the verses in English and Spanish and the complete list in a folder  HERE. 

Scars are Proof that God Heals

I have what often feels like many scars. The one on my finger from high school newspaper when I cut it with an Exact-o knife laying out the paper,, surgery scars including a hysterectomy scar, a giant indented one (they took and left out part of my skull) from brain surgery (that surgery also includes one on my stomach where they took fat to put in my head- how weird is that?), lots of little scars from skin biopsies and one big one that’s indented on my back from Melanoma. My scars are a reminder of things that happened in my life and although I could (and occasionally do) be ashamed of those scars and see them as awful, ugly defects that make me less than, I don’t. I choose instead to see them as reminders that I am such a lucky girl that has survived some pretty yucky events in her life. They are a part of my story. They are badges that I am a survivor. 𝗠𝘆 𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗚𝗼𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘀.

While you may not have a bunch of physical scars like I do, I bet your have some interior scars on your heart. Me too. ALL of us have emotional scars. The kind of scars that we tend to keep hidden. The kind of scars that make us cry to speak about. Difficult childhood? Scar. Father who abandoned you? Scar. Abusive relationship? Scar. Marriage ending in divorce no matter what you did to try and save it? Scar. Death of a loved one? Scar. And those scars? They are also a reminder that though we were wounded, we have been healed. 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗚𝗼𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘀.

I came across this quote about scars recently in a book i was reading and so loved it….

“But you and I, we must make an agreement to defy them. We must see all scars as beauty. Okay? This will be our secret. Because take it from me, a scar does not form on the dying. A scar means, I survived.” ― Chris Cleave, Little Bee

Jesus had scars- HUGE scars. When He appeared to His disciples after His death, they didn’t recognize Him when he walked into the room- until He showed them His scars. Once they saw His scars, they knew He was Jesus (John 20:24-27). Now Jesus could have healed His scars and come back perfect and whole but He didn’t. His scars tell the story of our salvation. He kept His scars to remind us- we are loved, He is with us always, and we are worthy. So worthy that He endured unbelievable pain. His scars are a reminder that we can be healed. God can redeem anything the enemy has stolen from you. His scars were important- and so are mine and so are yours. Jesus showed His scars with confidence, not embarrassment and so should we.

Although it’s not healthy to live constantly in the past we can use our scars to help others. We honor God when we reveal the beauty in our brokenness, in our scars. Isaiah 53:5 says…"But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed." This verse reminds us that God brings beauty from ashes when we allow Him to use what we have been through for HIS glory. Behind every scar is an untold story of survival. And you never know who needs to hear your scar story to be encouraged and to know that they too can be healed through Him. My prayer today is that we are able to see our scars as proof of His power and healing and share them with those who God places in our paths today.

November Scripture Writing Plan: Comparison & Envy

Happy almost November friends!

The scripture writing plan this month is over a topic I think most of us struggle with:
COMPARISON & ENVY.

I don't know about you but I am a girl who tends to compare.

I unconsciously tend to compare just about everything-

families, houses, churches, jobs, relationships, husbands, hair, weight, children, friendships, 

finances, blessings and even sometimes burdens (how ridiculous is that?). 

I think so many of us look at what we have and compare to what we think others have 

(or what they appear to have) and find ourselves lacking. 

And comparison sweet friends is a tool of Satan and it is super dangerous!

Why? It's dangerous because it causes us to focus on ourselves, 

instead of on God and it usually leads to envy and jealousy and resentment (super UGH). 

Because we are so clearly aware of where WE fall short it's easy to listen to 

Satan when he points out those around us who do NOT have those 

shortcomings or who have more than we do. 

And oh how he loves to point out those things to us to get us to focus on them!

"Psst.....look at her- she is thin and beautiful and so put together. So not like you. You are a big, fat, old mess." 

"Psst.....look at her and her husband- they are so loving and treat each other so well. So not like you and your husband who are so often snarky and often ignore each other." 

"Psst.....look at her house. It's huge and gorgeous and perfectly decorated and there isn't a mess or dog hair in sight. So not like your messy, disorganized house!"

"Psst......look at their friendship. They are always doing so many fun things together and you are all alone. No one cares about you. 

We have to intentionally stop comparing and remember that

God has a special plan for each and every one of us. 

He has a plan created specifically for YOU. 

His gifts for you are the best gifts for YOU to posses. 

He created YOU in His image and knit you together in your mothers womb. 

He knows your inadequacies and insecurities. 

He knows what caused them and yet

He chose you before you were born for a specific purpose,

to fulfill a plan in a predetermined point in time.

Ephesians 2:10: For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works,which God prepared in advance for us to do.

He created you, YOU. 

Instead of worrying about what others have and where we fall short, 
let's spend this month digging into His word

 to learn more about what God says about comparison and envy 
and then focus to STOP comparing ourselves to others!

FYI: I made the plan 31 days and plan to do that with

all topical plans in the future so that they can be done any month-

not just the month I write them for.

TO PRINT: You can find a copy of the plan in English and Spanish in the folder HERE.

{Just a reminder, don't try to print the images below or they will be blurry. Be sure to click the link to download a PDF copy!}

Indivisible

I love movies. 

And Christian movies, based on a true story and 

in the theater are my absolute favorite kind of movie! 

And one comes out tomorrow, Indivisible, that is FABULOUS!

INDIVISIBLE is the extraordinary true story of Army Chaplain Darren Turner and his wife Heather, whose lives are fully devoted to serving God, family, and country. But when war etches deep battle scars—both overseas and on the home front—the Turners’ rock-solid marriage is shaken to its core.

Carrying burdens the other can’t comprehend, they must decide if they’re willing to face one more battle: the fight to save their marriage. From the director of The Grace Card and the studio that brought you Fireproof and War Room comes INDIVISIBLE, the story of one marriage … one family … under God. Starring Sarah Drew, Justin Bruening, Jason George, Tia Mowry, and Madeline Carroll, INDIVISIBLE opens in theaters October 26. 

My husband and I were so excited to get to see this movie prior to it's opening. 

Not being a military family, it's so very hard to imagine the sacrifices that military families 

make and how difficult it must be being separated and then reconnecting when they return.

This movie did an amazing job of showing those sacrifices and my heart truly ached for this family. Indivisible is an amazing story of love and redemption 

and brokenness and the power of forgiveness. 

If you love Jesus and America and family- you MUST go see this movie! 

26.

Even in the Wilderness, He Provides

Maybe today you’ve been waiting and waiting and waiting- for a break, for a breakthrough, for a miracle- and you are weary. Maybe you feel like you are walking through the wilderness and it’s taking a sweet forever, you are losing hope and you truly can only see sand for miles and miles ahead. Whatever the desert you are walking through, whatever need you have (seriously, WHATEVER it is)........God’s got this. He is able to completely and fully provide what you need and give you the strength and endurance you need to walk through the desert you are in. 

Deuteronomy 29:5-6 says….

Yet the Lord says, “During the forty years that I led you through the wilderness, your clothes did not wear out, nor did the sandals on your feet. You ate no bread and drank no wine or other fermented drink. I did this so that you might know that I am the Lord your God.” NIV

God is the great provider. Deuteronomy is full of amazing reminders of God’s provision. The verses above are incredible. 40 years and they didn't need new clothes or sandals? 40 years with no food? Only God could do that! I love these verses because they are a beautiful reminder that..... 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀, 𝗚𝗼𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝘀. 𝗔𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀. It may not look as we hope or desire, but He does provide. My prayer today is that when you are weary of the desert you are in, you are reminded that He will satisfy your needs, even in desert times.

Memory Verse: Week 43

I believe that Satan doesn’t want us in God’s word and will use any and every means possible to keep us from the truth and therefore we must be prepared and have a PLAN!

To work on hiding God's word in our hearts, 

this year I'm going to be posting a memory verse for each week
 along with a printable to print out and hang up. 

Here's the verse for week 43:

     

You can print out the verses in English and Spanish and the complete list in a folder  HERE. 

Relentless Savior

My sweet puppy Poppy is only about 6lbs. Because of that we often lose her... in our house. That sounds a little crazy but she follows so closely behind me almost everywhere I go that sometimes I walk into a closet or room and grab what I need and close the door without realizing I’ve trapped her inside. A few minutes later I will realize she’s not in the room with me (because she is always in the room with me) and start to panic. I quickly retrace my steps and typically find her laying on the floor in the closet waiting for me. Now we have two dogs and when I realize Poppy is missing, I could just say… “Oh well, we have another dog, I’ll just forget about Poppy because she doesn’t matter” but of course I don’t. Because I love her so and because it’s my job to care for her, I immediately search for and find her- making sure she’s safe. This is exactly how God feels about us, His lost sheep.

Luke 15:4 says...

Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?

When one of God’s sheep is lost He follows it, searches for it, and doesn’t stop until He finds it and brings it so. He does this because of His great love for us. He knows that the sheep (and we) can’t save itself. He takes action and actively seeks out the lost. He doesn’t do this grudgingly- 𝗛𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗦𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗼𝗿. 𝗛𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗦𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗼𝗿! He left the 99 to save you and me!

Memory Verse: Week 42

I believe that Satan doesn’t want us in God’s word and will use any and every means possible to keep us from the truth and therefore we must be prepared and have a PLAN!

To work on hiding God's word in our hearts, 

this year I'm going to be posting a memory verse for each week
 along with a printable to print out and hang up. 

Here's the verse for week 42

     

You can print out the verses in English and Spanish and the complete list in a folder  HERE. 

Memory Verse: Week 41

I believe that Satan doesn’t want us in God’s word and will use any and every means possible to keep us from the truth and therefore we must be prepared and have a PLAN!

To work on hiding God's word in our hearts, 

this year I'm going to be posting a memory verse for each week
 along with a printable to print out and hang up. 

Here's the verse for week 41

     

You can print out the verses in English and Spanish and the complete list in a folder  HERE. 

Stormy Seas

I'm willing to bet that you (or someone close to you) is in the middle of a storm. An old seaman once said, "In fierce storms we can do but one thing. There is only one way to survive. We must put the ship in a certain position and keep her there."

Richard Fuller commented on the old seaman’s words: 

“This, Christian, is what you must do. Sometimes, like Paul, you can see neither sun nor stars, and no small tempest lies on you. Reason cannot help you. Past experiences give you no light. Only a single course is left. You must stay upon the Lord; and come what may -- winds, waves, cross seas, thunder, lightning, frowning rocks, roaring breakers -- no matter what, you must lash yourself to the helm and hold fast your confidence in God's faithfulness and His everlasting love in Christ Jesus.”

Isaiah 25:4 says....

You have been a refuge for the poor, a refuge for the needy in their distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat. For the breath of the ruthless is like a storm driving against a wall. and like the heat of the desert.You silence the uproar of foreigners; as heat is reduced by the shadow of a cloud, so the song of the ruthless is stilled. NIV

No matter what storm rages in your life today – no matter how fierce the winds or how high the waves may be or how out of control you feel, remember this – 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙉𝙊𝙏 𝙖 𝙨𝙪𝙧𝙥𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙂𝙤𝙙. Heaven is not in a panic. 𝗞𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗴𝗮𝘇𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝗛𝗶𝗺 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗴𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀. “Lash yourself” to Him, and He will supply everything you need to stand firm in the storm.

Speak TRUTH

“If people really knew you they wouldn’t like you at all. You are a big fat fake.“

I don’t know about you but there is often a list of lies running around in my head. (True confession: The one I hear most often is the one listed above.) The more those lies run around in my head, the more likely I am to believe them because those sneaky little things start to burrow and take root. And eventually they begin to feel like truth. Why? Because Satan is crafty and he will do everything in his power to root those lies in our heads and confirm them in our hearts.

Your lies may be different but my lies are things those like:

• You are a stupid idiot. How could you make that mistake? Can’t you do anything right?
• Wow. __________ is so much smarter, prettier, wiser, kinder, more successful, more witty than you. You suck.
• Why can’t you get it and keep it all together? Everyone else can- you just aren’t strong enough or smart enough. -You aren’t good enough. You will never be enough. 
• You should be able to do everything and meet everyone’s needs simultaneously. You shouldn’t ask for help because it just shows what a slacker you are. 
• You are a crappy wife. You’ll be lucky if your husband doesn't get tired and leave you for someone better, prettier, younger, smarter, kinder.
• You have zero self-discipline. If you did you would consistently eat better and exercise more. You are destined to be a big old lazy fattie. 
• Your dreams are ridiculous. You’ll NEVER be able to make them come true so you shouldn’t even bother. 

Now none of those are things I would say to ANYONE else. EVER. So why is it okay for me to speak it to myself? It’s not. If you wouldn’t say it to your friend, you shouldn’t say it to yourself. Those lies are a ploy Satan uses to convince us those lies are truth. Satan wants nothing more than for us to listen to and believe those lies. He wants to distract us and disable us- that is his ultimate goal.

1 Peter 5:8 says:

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. NIV

Did you know that lies lose all power in the light of truth? They do! We must notice when we are listening to those lies, take every thought captive and replace those lies with THE truth. The truth that God’s word is full of. We just have to remember to listen to (& read) His word instead of Satan’s stupid lies. 𝙄𝙛 𝙂𝙤𝙙’𝙨 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙙 𝙨𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙙 𝙖𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧- 𝙜𝙪𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙞𝙨 𝙬𝙧𝙤𝙣𝙜? 𝙔𝙤𝙪. If we kick those thoughts out the moment they arrive, they won’t be able to take root and control us. Is it hard? For sure. But the more we fill our head with God’s truth, the less frequent and quieter those lies will be.

My prayer today is that we are aware of the lies we allow in our head and that we immediately counter them with truth from God's word!

Scripture Lock-Screens

     

     

Setting your phone lock-screen to a Bible verse is a GREAT way to

memorize a verse or to remind yourself of one of God's promises.

If you are looking for a lock-screen, the crazy talented Krystal Whitten

has a ton of beautiful Bible verse lock screens you can download for FREE HERE.

And while you are there, check out all of her awesome work- she's incredibly talented!

Memory Verse: Week 40

I believe that Satan doesn’t want us in God’s word and will use any and every means possible to keep us from the truth and therefore we must be prepared and have a PLAN!

To work on hiding God's word in our hearts, 

this year I'm going to be posting a memory verse for each week
 along with a printable to print out and hang up. 

Here's the verse for week 40:

     

You can print out the verses in English and Spanish and the complete list in a folder  HERE.