As soon as doubt crept in, I’d allow my mind to undo and unravel everything that was once held on to and believed in.

No matter who you are, what your background is or if this is your first time hearing of God’s love, He’s ready for you to run to Him. The presence of God in your life doesn’t keep problems away but can give you hope and peace knowing that you are loved and protected by the One who can solve ANY problem.

”Sure we're sisters, but she doesn't understand me and I don't think she ever will.” I was swirling in a pool of emotions, you know the kind when something small is magnified in a split second and has you wondering where you went wrong? I was shocked, confused, angry and hurt.

“Two weeks before the first I was writing and creating but something was off, my excitement had slowed down and eventually came to a screeching halt. I brushed it off and decided I’d get back to it soon…”

“As I prayed and told God of my frustrations with not getting the things I wanted quickly, the words “grow gracefully” hushed me like an embarrassed child being disciplined in public...”

What if the year 2020 is still about vision and clarity? Maybe it’s just not from our human understanding of what vision and clarity look like? What if 2020 is not so much about a clearer vision of what we envision for ourselves but about us seeing God more?

“I have always had a love for animals, specifically WILD animals; the kind you only have access to if you visit the zoo or go to an extraordinary location…”

“Who did it?!!?!, GOD DID IT!!!” My late grandfather would say this at any and every family function. I remember it being a type of familial call and response and when he’d yell out, “WHO DID IT!!?!?!”, I was conditioned to reply “God did it!!!…”

Like freezing up for a performance, I was stunned and didn’t know what to say or how I was supposed to respond. I felt like my faith was being questioned. If God was asking me to believe Him for more, was I even believing Him for anything currently?

Food for thought: Is what’s routine for you worth remaining “routine”? Or can your time and energy be more useful in other areas of your life? It’s ok to be selfish for personal growth and peace.

Real trust guides you to a place of vulnerability and encourages you to leave the outcome in the hands of the one you trust. When you trust in God you relinquish all control and allow what you desire to be made second to what He desires for you. The beauty in trusting God is that He only wants what is best for you!

I didn’t have any known enemies, drama was foreign to me and I had positive life-giving relationships. But what was once a mild irritation towards her, evolved into anger and finally birthed bitterness. How could something so small turn into this callous and cold bitterness?

Love is not the presence of a romantic relationship but is always around if you keep your eyes and heart open for it.