I was dealing with some work things this morning, and I was prodded when I started shutting down my device to stop. Ponder. Write.

What am I writing about? The thoughts inside my head. Possibly inside your head.

As I looked for quotes, pics, and bitmojis to add to my prose…my thoughts were blending together to what exactly I wanted to share.

Last semester, my life was stressed. Work was stress. Lots of things pulling me this way and that. Stress. I felt like I had to keep doing to accomplish this, that, and the other to achieve what was put in front of me.

Then, Jason, my small group leader, sent me a link and the name of a book as a possibility for our small group to study. We had finally finished Romans…after a decade (that little hyperbole goes out to my small group -IYKYK), so we were looking into a book study.

Soon, I had the study guide, and so I purchased a book from Amazon. I’m “that girl” who always wants the book that goes with the study. We started the book and video discussion. It prompted me to start thinking about my thinking.

Now, my overthinking has calmed dramatically in the past year – thank you, Jesus – so this thinking about my thinking was a different kind of…thinking. Guess what! Giglio writes on page 11, “Your mind doesn’t have to be stressed….The table He’s prepared for you is one of peace, clarity, and abundance. You don’t have to give the Enemy a seat at your table.”

It convicted me of some things and challenged me in others and encouraged me still in others. In case you too are struggling with your thoughts, I thought I’d share my realizations…

Being a teacher is hard. I love it – for the most part -as a career, but some years are harder than others. This has been one of those. Why? In many ways, it seems like my classroom is no longer my own. I am given edicts and decrees about what must, should, and cannot be a part of my instruction. No longer do I spend hours planning creative instruction based on what I believe my students need, I have maps and guides that control what happens in my room. It’s hard. I found my heart and mind becoming ugly towards those decreeing these mandates. Then, came this book study.

The most recent study -which we discussed last night – gives us 4 steps to follow when it comes to our thoughts inside our head…

1. Identify the thought – is it from God? If not, don’t give it access. Satan only needs a crack to get one of his thoughts inside your head. He wants to get your focus off of the Truth of God.
2. Speak the name of Jesus – if it’s not of God, tell it to hit the road in Jesus’s name. Take that thought captive – don’t let it breathe life into itself and destroy your mindset.
3. Claim the Truth – Jesus faced temptation for 40 days. The Word itself was used against the Living Word to tempt Him to turn from God the Father. Yet He, the Son of God Himself, used the TRUE Word to counter those thoughts.
4. Walk in the Truth – don’t just know it…live it.

So, those thoughts in my head…I knew they weren’t the thoughts God would want me to think about others. Now, when they pop into my head, and sadly they still do…I try to remember to just tell them to leave. Then, I remind myself of the Word – [Note to self…work on learning more of it by heart, so you can call on more verses when those contrary thoughts pop in…]

Then, there’s my “methodical planning” thoughts. “This needs to be just like this….” My world functions when it’s planned. My schedule. My tasks. This past year, I’ve struggled with things not going as planned. There have been times that I had so much on my plate that I would have to let something go. When that happened, I knew it was best for me, but….my thoughts taunted me that I wasn’t measuring up. That I was letting people down. In hindsight, I know…that’s not a thought from God. He didn’t create me to take care of everything. He reminded me that…I’m enough. The church won’t fall apart if I miss a leadership meeting. Worship will still be worship if I let go of being the “secretary”. If I say no to a Saturday all-day PD opportunity, others will step up. The world is not on my shoulders. Yep, He loves me. He loved me enough to die for me, and He doesn’t need me to help Him do His job. He’s got that covered.

Then, that realization was tested. If you read my blog, then you know my word for 2026 is REST. I know that I know that I know…that’s supposed to be my word for the year. Then, back in the beginning of January, a woman I’ve never met called me. A church near my school wanted to start a gospel-centered after school ministry. Great idea! However, someone at the church gave her my name as a teacher who would serve as a sponsor. My plate is full. I told her that. She countered with a “what if”. I explained my reasoning, and she again came back with another “what if”. Regardless of how many times I told her that I couldn’t add it to my commitments , she didn’t hear me. Weeks passed, and I thought it had left the possibilities… until this past week. She reached out asking me what was happening. Umm, I was confused. She told me she had sent an email to the administration and me after our previous communication. She forwarded her email. I read it. It stated that I was co-coordinating the start of this afterschool gospel group with her and that church. Once again, I told her (in writing this time) what I tried over & over to say in our phone call. This time she “heard me”. [Ha, she heard me when I wrote it, but she didn’t hear me when I said it. If that doesn’t confirm that I should keep writing I don’t know what does.]

To be honest, the night we talked back in January…I ended the evening in tears. Partly beause she didn’t hear me. Partly because I felt guilty for saying no to a gospel-centered child-focused ministry. However, when that thought tried to steal my joy…I was reminded of our study discussion back In December. The reminder that I am enough. I don’t have to do it all. God’s God and I am not. If He wants this ministry to happen at this time, then it will. He uses me to teach children in a public school. He uses me to minister to His children at RiverStone Church. But…regardless of my talents and experience in this arena, He reminded me that…there are other people gifted and capable. It’s not my weight to carry. That realization…was a peace that surpasses understanding.

In hindsight, it feels like I’ve rambled all over the place with this blog today. It probably would’ve made more sense as two different writings. However, my thinking about my thinking seemed to be a reason to put my final thinking into writing.

So…what are you thinking? Be careful. When thoughts enter your mind that you know aren’t from the One who created you, the One who loves you enough to die for you, the One who longs to be your Shepherd – to protect and guide you….kick it to the curb. Page 95 of Louie Giglio’s book says, “The battle is won because of who walks with us through the dark valleys and who sits at the table with us when we’re surrounded by troubles.” Don’t let the troubles win. “Don’t give the enemy a seat at your table.” That table, my friend, is for you and the One who loves you most.

May your thoughts lead you to the throne of God. Peace.

Greetings, my friends.

I’ve wanted to write a post for a few days, but I wasn’t sure what to write about. Then, I came home this afternoon after worshiping with my church family, teaching Kids’ Crew, having lunch with friends, and visiting Mom & her dog. I remembered that I missed the sermon since I was back with kids, so I pulled up Facebook and forwarded to the sermon.

As I listened to Pastor Brynen, my mind often connected my lesson to the kids to his message to the older-than-kids. I thought I’d share those things with you.

Back in Crew, our lesson came from Mark 10. As we talked about it, I shared how Jesus wanted to let the children come to Him and He corrected the disciples. I pointed out that even though the disciples had been with Him as He preached and ministered….that they still had things to learn. Just like their parents, the pastors, and I do. We talked about what it meant to come to Jesus like a child and how children want to spend time with people and get to know them, how they have faith easier and learn easier. That we, as adults, can learn a lot from children. [Side Note: It was quite warm in the Crew Room, so this is a fair illustration. LOL]

Fast forward to the message I listened to from Pastor Brynen. He pointed out how scripture says we are God’s TREASURED POSSESSION even though we mess up a lot…and fail to have the faith we’re called to have. [Seems we still need to learn to have the faith of a child and a desire to build a real relationship.] As teachers (and preachers) do, he had two take-aways from the sermon. The first is that God loves you. All the time. Regardless of how awful we’ve been or how often we choose not to show our love to Him. Ahh, He’s a good and loving Father who love us. The second, He is with you always.

That first one, we hear a lot. I mean, that’s the first song that most of us learn in church. “Jesus love me, this I know…”

But, that second one, I think we lose sight of that truth. I mean, we acknowledge that He’s with us when we gather in our building to worship. He’s with us when we’re alone at home. Pastor Brynen added that He’s with you when you cuss out your co-worker and argue with family. Back in Crew, I would’ve added, “He’s with you when you talk back or disobey your parents.” During those moments of our selfish actions when our relationship with the One who created us has lost our focus, do we acknowledge that He’s there during those not-so-hot moments?

Here’s the truth of the matter. We are His treasures, but we let our life get so full of “stuff” (our ideas, our plans, and our desires) that we don’t have room for all He wants to pour into us. We are His treasured possession, but we need to be open to being emptied. I mean, the One who loves you more than anyone else does is surely going to fill you up with who He has created you to be. Serving Him. Being with Him. Loving Him.

This week, a group of 18 of our church family will be heading to New York to be the hands and feet of Jesus to the poor and homeless. Please pray for them. We’re all called to be His Hands and Feet to others, and even though we all could go on mission trips…we could also pray for avenues locally to be His Hands and Feet to others.

Perhaps, you can find your way to a local nursing home. Visit some friends you know, or…ask someone on staff for the name of a resident who doesn’t get visitors. Go be their reason to smile. It’s not hard. Most are filled with stories. Or would love to simply sing a hymn or two or have someone pray with them.

Perhaps, you can seek out your local Big Brothers & Big Sisters organization and commit to be the stability in the life of someone who may not have that in their life. I’ve had the privilege of being a Big to two girls over the past 20 years. I still interact with both girls on occasion.

Perhaps, you can look around your church or your neighborhood for a stay-at-home mom who could just benefit from conversation with an adult. Or extra hands to hold her baby or play with her son, so she can take a leisurely bath or squeeze in an afternoon nap?

There’s lots of ways to be His hands & feet. For some, that opportunity leads you to New York or Liberia (we have a team of four going there in July), but for others…you can be called to do likewise right next door.

Just be watching. Be open. and BE…in a relationship with the One who died for you & lives again. Be open to wherever He leads you. Because remember…He loves you…and He won’t send you solo. He’ll be with you every step of the way.

My friends, it’s not something we “have to” do, but it’s something we “get to” do. There’s a difference. It changes your whole attitude. it goes along with why I have my daily #gratitudelistofjodilea on my final Facebook post each night. It helps me look at my day and see what the good was. Not what I HAD to do, but what I GOT to do.

So…what will you GET to do tomorrow for the One who loves you, is always with you, and sees you as His treasured possession?

Greetings! I had planned to write this last weekend, but alas…my internet was out.

A couple weeks ago, storms seemed to have raged across the country. During those storms, my power went out. It was Wednesday around midnight…or maybe Thursday around 12:30 AM. Regardless, it kicked off my fan which caused this 54-year-old lady to awaken. Storms grew, and I pondered getting out of bed. However, I was tired. So, I rolled over and asked God to watch over my home and the homes in our county, and I thankfully fell back to sleep. Warm, but sleep nonetheless.

The next morning, my cell dinged telling me we were having a virtual day. However, my electric was out, so I threw on some clothes…and headed to school. I can’t teach virtually in a house without electricity. Thankfully, before class was dismissed, my electricity was restored. Or…was it?

It seemed like I had electric, but…it was on an uneven path. By the following Wednesday, it was evident that though I had power…I didn’t have full power. Duke came out twice the next day while I was at school. When I returned home, I flipped the switch, and the lights were on. However, when I turned on the kitchen light, the living room light went off. When I opened the fridge door, the light was on “dim”. Hmmm, I called Duke.

The customer service associate assured me that Duke had been to my address TWICE. They verified the meter was working. They replaced “something” that wasn’t working. She said it in a way that made me think she was about to dismiss me, so I said, “That may be true…but while we’ve been on the phone…the light next to me…just went off.” She made a call. She created a new ticket. “I’m guessing they won’t be here until tomorrow, right?” She replied that she had no way of knowing, so I hoped.

An hour later…a Duke truck slowly passed my house. I went outside and waited until the tech got out of the truck. I watched him check with my neighbors and NONE of them were having any issues. So, I explained how my washing machine was sitting full of water because there wasn’t enough power to finish the cycle. He assured me that he would work to figure out the issue. And….he did. Or did he?

My washing machine….kicked on. My fridge light was on full power. And…while the washing machine agitated, the technician said, “Turn on the vacuum. Let’s make sure you’re full power.” I did. It did. The house had power.

So, I turned on the TV and ….my modem was blinking. I tried the reset. I called the help desk. They said, “You just need a new modem”. On Saturday (2 days later), the new modem didn’t work when it arrived. So, they scheduled a home visit. Their tech couldn’t be here until Monday. Goodness… was I thankful for my hotspot. You don’t know how much you depend on something until it’s gone.

On Monday, the tech arrived about 3:35. An hour later, he had it up and running. Power was restored to my electricity and my online connection.

During this two week period, I have thought a lot about power. I thought about how as a teacher…by the 4th nine-weeks, it seems like I’m running on fumes. Some years more-so than others. This is one of those years. I love my kids. I love teaching. Alas, we’re under 30 days to go, and….I’m ready to rest. Sometimes, to be ready to go full-steam ahead, you have to rest and rejuvenate. I know the school year wasn’t established for that reason, but….He knew. He knew that the people He called to teach would need to rest and recharge in order to rise to the huge task of educating children. I’m thankful.

Then, as I have a lot in the past few years…and especially during these past four months, I pondered my spiritual life and my commitment to my church family and its ministry. To be honest, the past five or so years have been….draining. Yet, I had joy. In the midst of the tears of watching people I love exit our doors and find a new church family, I had peace. In the storm of discord and pot-stirring, I trusted. Through the joy…and the peace…and the trusting…I found myself becoming spiritually exhausted.

Yet, I knew the power source. As I reflect on the valley, I realized I could’ve “plugged in” more consistently and firmly. I often think in analogies and figuratively, and …. I have realized that I was a lot like my “loose outlet” that should be replaced. Because the plug wasn’t held securely, my spiritual power wasn’t as strong as it should’ve been. Duke discovered that my ground-wires weren’t connected (or something like that…), when they were fixed…so was my power. The Spectrum tech determined that a squirrel or a broken branch probably nicked the cable, and he replaced it allowing the internet to flow completely. I didn’t need a special technician to fix my spiritual drain. I just needed to plug into the outlet, to get a new battery, to…be hit by the Ultimate Energy Source.

How do I do it? I need to plug into my power source. I have multiple Bibles. I need to open them more consistently than on Sunday and Monday. Thankful for my prayers and praise songs, but….I must do my part to help THE Technician fix my connection. Honestly, how God has led us to join with another congregation family has been a huge boost in my power connection. I’m so thankful for answered prayers and for seeing how God is moving in our midst. Looking back, I realize that if it hadn’t been for those hard years and those exits and changes….that we wouldn’t have been seeking His direction as earnestly…to know what our next step would be and should be. A reminder that God uses all things for our good – even when we don’t see it at the time, and for His glory. I can’t tell you how often I’ve had talks with friends and colleagues about “what” God is doing in the midst of our two congregations.

It seemed like Holy Saturday was perfect timing for this post. Yesterday, Good Friday was a reminder about the power of the blood. You see, Christ was and is the Son of God. He submitted himself to the will of Father God by being obedient to death on the cross. He could’ve come down from it. I mean, He is God. But…He didn’t. He stayed there. He took the pain of the whip. He experienced the hammering of the spikes (more appropriate than thinking of them as nails like I hang pictures with). He did that…not only because of God’s plan but because of…LOVE. He loved me. He loves you.

And…tomorrow…we’ll celebrate that though He was dead and buried that His Power was greater. Even greater than death itself.

Honestly, last night, as we sang the final song sitting in a dark sanctuary, I had to get up. As I sang the words that Chris Tomlin recorded, it was as if electricity was flowing through me…and I had to stand in His presence to sing those words.

At the cross, at the cross -I surrender my life
I’m in awe of You, I’m in awe of You
Where Your love ran red
And my sin washed white
I owe all to You, I owe all to You

If I possess any power, it’s because of Him being my Power Source. Let Him be yours too!

I don’t know if a Sunday post is now my new routine, or if my mind just has lots of thoughts on Sundays. Regardless, here’s what’s marinating in my mind currently….

–I love to sing. I sang in worship back on January 19th. Then, the next two Sundays Patty had me scheduled to sing with the praise band, I either was battling my allergies or a cough. Last weekend, my cough was gone, and my voice was back. However, I didn’t trust spring. This past week, even though I was on spring break, I vetoed outside walking…to avoid my allergens.
Yesterday, I went to celebrate the upcoming birth of a baby girl. It was at the Old Red Barn, so the doors were open. Didn’t think a thing about it…until this morning when I spent a few minutes coughing. Ugh. I used the dreaded neti pot and said a prayer asking for the voice to make it through the singing. Thankfully, except for a cough between the first two songs, the voice hung in there. But…goodness was it warm.

–Since today was “Family Worship Sunday”, I had the privilege of sharing a children’s message as part of the worship service. I love teaching kids lessons from scripture. Yesterday, as I sat coloring my Message Box objects, I thought, “Wait! The bulletin didn’t switch the ‘children’s dismissal & blessing’ to ‘children’s message.'” Now, sadly…there was only one person to blame for this snafu. It was me. I do the bulletins. I made the mistake. I was highly irritated with myself. I confessed to Pastor Brynen, Tyler, & Kamra, and they extended grace to me. Alas, I wasn’t as nice to myself.

–As I sat visiting with Chuck prior to the service beginning, I looked up at the screen. The slide asking for volunteers to help with the children’s ministry popped up. My first thought was, “I really like how that looks!” My second thought, “Ugh! That IS should be IF.” Man, I’m really slipping.

–My low voice came in really handy during the second song this morning. Patty, who leads the praise band, has to work to hit the low notes of the verses of “Good God Almighty.” During practice on Wednesday, she asked me if I wanted to sing them since my voice can go there more easily. Low voice for the win…and today’s after effects of yesterday’s outside air made it even easier.

–After the songs concluded, the kids gathered around me. I’m always tempted to break out in my ‘Granny Myrtle’ voice…as it feels like I’m Mother Goose getting ready to teach the children. Alas, I withstood the temptation. The objects in my box guide the message and the kids interaction help it move along. To be honest, today’s was a challenge. I try to align it with the pastor’s message…or at least the pastor’s scripture focus. When he told me his focus for the day’s sermon, a couple of friends and I determined that was a bit above the thinking of a child. So, I took his “4 part” series and combined it into a 5 minute message. I thought it went pretty well. Pastor Brynen even game a high five afterwards for pulling it off as he told his wife he didn’t know how I was going to tackle today’s passage. That’s all well and good, but….as I listened to it afterwards, I sadly focused on, “Wait! I made a point of sharing that I had THREE scripture passages, but…I only shared TWO.” UGH.

Then, Pastor Brynen started preaching. He started with a question: How are you today? I’m just saying…90% of the time when I’m asked that question, my response is a simple, “I’m peachy”. I figure…life could be worse, so I’m peachy with what the day holds as I trust Who holds it.

Then, he moved on to today’s challenge. He reminded us that we need to love ourselves and find our identity through Christ and not the approval of men. He proclaimed that we are fearfully and wonderfully made. As I told the kids today, we were created in the image of God. For us to genuinely love others, we must love ourselves which requires us to fill our tank. How do we fill our tank? I mean, we can’t pull up to Shell or to Kroger’s. LOL.

We must fill our tank by resting in the assurance that God loves us. We are called to be children of God, and as His child we must find our identity in Him. Not in the opinion of men…Our identity must be secure in the fact that we are a child of the Living God!

What does filling our tank look like? We do so by training to be godly. By setting our hearts on the things above and pruning away those things that belong to our earthly nature. As a child of God, we should bear fruit. When we’re bearing something other than the fruit of the Spirit, we must prune it away.

So, what needs to be pruned from your life? If you’re like me, you tend to be more critical of yourself than you are of others. That typo in the bulletin. That misspelled word on the announcement slide. That skipped verse in my message. That cough between songs. Countless other things I could list….they’re the thoughts that want to bruise the love and acceptance I am called to have for myself.

At the conclusion of the sermon, Pastor Brynen asked us what “fruit pie” we needed to eat….humility, goodness, patience, joy, etc. As I sat around the lunch table, I realized I needed to eat some “Gentleness Pie” and “Patience Pie”. I need to treat myself more gently and less critically, and I need to accept my shortcomings and not expect perfection.

What about you? Where does your identiy come from? Do you love the person God created you to be? Look in the mirror. See the image bearer of the Living God. Let Him train you to be godly, so that you can truly love Him, others, and yourself.

So, were you curious which Bible verse I neglected to share? It was my wrap up verse. After reminding the children that the greatest commandments tell us to love God and love your neighbor as yourself, I was going to share John 13:35. You see, that love that we show to God and to others…and to ourselves shows the world that we belong to Him. It’s our birthmark. It’s our fruit. So, my dear friends, bear fruit through the love you show God, your neighbors, and yourselves. It’s a great choice. It’s….the greatest commandments.