Category: Faith

What’s your greatest fear? That one thing you’d rather not even think about? That thing that makes your palms sweat?

For me I’d have to say that the fear of rejection, of not being enough, is totally up there…right along with cockroaches and mice. Both make my skin crawl.

As I start to unpack this fear, I have so many questions. Why do I feel this way? Where did this fear come from?

I grew up in a very healthy family with two parents who loved (and still love) my brother and I unconditionally. Our performance didn’t matter to them…but I can see now that it TOTALLY did to me.

You see, the more I performed, the more I was recognized. And the more I was recognized, the more worth I felt. It became a cycle and breeding ground for pride. It left me always striving for more and nothing less than the best.

That is until my best wasn’t good enough, at least by cheer standards 🤣.

Oh the tragic day that I didn’t make the Varsity cheer squad my senior year of high school. Boy was that a tough pill to swallow, but as everyone reminded me….adversity builds character. Who wants to build character their final year of high school?

While that disappointment was pretty trivial, more serious adversity would later follow. Fast forward to optometry school when I lived through a time of unexpected medical crisis. The result? God showed me Christ through the hands and feet of those who surrounded me and walked with me daily toward restoration. He took me from a place of utter brokenness and showed me a promised life of BEAUTY in complete dependence on Him. (This is an ongoing life lesson for me.)

However, through the healing process, I began to try and put up walls to prove to myself that I was strong enough. But God began showing me that I would never be strong enough by myself…no matter how much effort I put in trying! Instead, He showed me that if I put my faith in Him, He would heal my brokenness. As a matter of fact, He’s calling all of us out of our brokenness into a fulfilled life with Him!

“The Lord is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation.”
~Psalm 118:14

And then….

God sent Philip. My “fortress” as he loves to refer to himself. He protects me. He loves me. All of me. And he does it so well.

I had always preferred to be the one to give strength to others, but this season of my life God knew I needed some strength infused into my own life. God saved me and gave me new life, and then He made sure I’d be well taken care of here on Earth. What a gift!

So my fear of not being enough…is it still there? Unfortunately, it still creeps up at times…BUT God continues to remind me that all I need is Him. I am complete IN HIM. No matter what my circumstances bring, He will never leave me nor forsake me. There will be no question of my worth from Him. Ever.

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
~Deuteronomy 31:6

I am enough in Him. No performance required, just a simple yes I believe. My question is do you?

Ashley
“This is the day the Lord hath made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
~Psalm 118:24

Are you currently at a crossroads and not sure which direction to go?  Do you find yourself unsure of a decision you need to make?  Maybe your faith is being challenged?

Recently, I was reading from Romans chapters 3 and 4, and a small question jumped out at me. “What does Scripture say?” (4:3). I’m kind of inclined to think when the Word presents me with a rhetorical question and then gives me the answer I need to pay attention.

Here in Romans, Paul is discussing how righteousness is credited by faith and not works. He points to Scripture, and specifically the life of Abraham, to further his point.  Abraham is such a beautiful example of faith in action.  Paul is reflecting on the Word of God from Genesis 15:6, “Abraham believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.”

Abraham truly believed God in some very difficult circumstances.

So when you are faced with difficulties or questions about which direction to go….when you are at a crossroads, where do you turn? When your kids are bringing the crazy, or your life is spiraling out of control, or maybe you have personal conflict at work, who do you turn to first?

For me, it has often been my husband or a girlfriend who gets to bear the brunt of my frustration.  How do I handle this situation?  What can I do to make changes for the better?  What do you think I should do?

If we go back to Romans, here I think God is using a simple (but profound) question to grab our attention. When you don’t know something….what does Scripture say?  When you need guidance on how to parent in Christ, when you aren’t sure how to handle conflict at work, when your faith is being tested….what does Scripture say?

Not what does your spouse say, or your best friend, or better yet social media. But what does Scripture say?

I encourage you to dive in and find out because I know from experience that God is waiting to be in communication with us. And if you have no idea where to start, Ephesians is a great place. His Word will bring life, healing, redemption, hope, and so, so much more!

Ashley

“This is the day the Lord hath made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

Have you ever wondered why your life journey is leading you away from something of comfort and towards something new and unknown?  Are you being called to make a big life change or have a big decision in front of you?

Why, God, are you tugging at my heart into the unknown?

It hit me suddenly when I saw a picture. God has called me to move in an unexpected direction because that was right where He needed me to be, right where our family needed to be. In any transition, you move away from something toward something new. Things change. But in doing so, you have to let go of expectations and embrace His journey.

Then God sent me an angel, Mr. Jim, who further solidified God’s voice in my head. We recently met Mr. Jim, a retired Ambassador for Snowmass mountain, atop a ski lift. We started chatting, and I jokingly said we needed to keep him for the day. And that we did!  Turns out, he gives tours on the mountain and guided us across some amazingly beautiful slopes.

As we talked, we discovered he is 81 years old and is living life to the fullest, as evidenced by his annual fall solo adventure trips around the country plus his past solo sailing trips across Europe. And not only has he retired from a successful career, he returned to school for a degree in divinity from Harvard and now gives back to his Snowmass community.

Papa Jim (as I started to affectionately call him) is a great reminder how God calls all of us out of our comfort zone and into dependence on Him.

A couple of days later, as my husband started our day off on a black slope, I just kept muttering to myself, “Lord help me. I’m getting out of my comfort zone. I can do this!”

While things are beautiful and known inside our box of comfort, Christ is calling us outside of our own limited expectations and into His realm of hope and complete fulfillment. He wants us to know Him more fully and this requires faith.

Thank you, Papa Jim, for showing me not only some gorgeous mountain terrain but what I can do when I get outside of my box!

Ashley

“This is the day the Lord hath made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

I have a friend going through a really, really difficult life circumstance. She’s facing overwhelming challenges, and it breaks my heart. I want to wave a magic wand that allows her to fast forward through the pain because in the end we know that He will get her through this….it’s just the getting through it part that stinks.

God can and will use the times of darkness to remind us that we are not created to do life alone. He promises us that He WILL restore our completeness in Him, but most likely until then we will continue to experience periods of pain and trials.

So how do we live in these moments?

Because I have no words, I wanted to share His Word with my friend. I went to the concordance in my Bible and looked under despair. 2 Corinthians 4:8 was listed. I want you to read verses 7 and 8:

“But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.  We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. “

Do you see all of those “buts?”  Before each “but” is what the world wants to heap down us and have us believe about our circumstance:  hard-pressed, perplexed, persecuted, struck down. However, the identities following the “buts” are how God wants us to see ourselves in the middle of the storm: NOT crushed, NOT in despair, NOT abandoned, NOT destroyed.

God is not saying that in those moments we are not broken-hearted. As a matter of fact, I think He uses the negative phrases to impress upon us that He gets our pain. BUT, He promises us that this is not the end. It is not our final chapter. We have HOPE in Him.

Friend, if you are smack dab in the throws of an all out spiritual battle, cling to the “buts” you see in this scripture. Know that God is continually working His provision in ways we cannot see or understand. Trust in His Truth and love. And please know that you are not alone.

Ashley

“This is the day the Lord hath made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

~Psalm 118:24

Yes, pun intended from this eye doctor. And the pressure is on. I mean, it is 2020 after all, the year of perfect vision!

So how do I capitalize on this year?  What goals do I set for this year?  How do I make up for all the missed opportunities from 2019?  Time is slipping through my fingers like a handful of sand.

Motivated yet?  Yeah, me either. Just exhausted thinking about it.

Continue reading 2020 Vision: My Top 3 Truths for the New Year

Today I found myself at another crossroads, and this time as panic started to work it’s way into my heart, I was able to recite this verse to myself:

Jeremiah 6:16

This is what the LORD says: “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.”

Its one God laid on my heart several weeks ago, and when my Bible study encouraged us to begin memorizing verses, this is where I started.

Certainly not a coincidence.

STAND:  You have to stop moving and doing in order to stand. It’s a position of grounding yourself to the foundation. God is asking us to slow down and be still so that we can reconnect with His foundation.

LOOK:  Next, we are called to look. Where?  We need to first look UP…to God. Connect with Him in this circumstance.

ASK: Don’t turn to a friend or spouse first. Ask the Creator of EVERYTHING for His pathway forward. Which way is the right way, the tested way?  That’s where I want to be.

WALK:  Once He reveals the next step…take it!!!  It’s time to stop standing and start walking. But don’t walk until you have completed the other commands first. And remember, He is with us. We are not walking alone.

Then…and ONLY then will we find rest in our souls beyond the crossroads.

Anyone else need to hear this tonight?

Shut the front door.

Have you ever felt like you were stuck inside your head? Stuck with your front door to the outside world shut tight?

(Photo cred:  Lasse Moller on Unsplash)

Or maybe you are stuck on the outside trying to find your way through a closed door into a relationship or group?

Sometimes doors close for a reason, but we can allow ourselves to get so fixated on the closed-off situation that we are missing other doors opening to a new opportunity. Are you stuck on a door that is closed?

Will you look up and look out to see what other doors might be opening?

Closed doors often bring uncertainty, pain, defensiveness. But God calls us to knock on His door as we navigate our circumstances, for it is always open.

Matthew7:7

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”

Recently, I had a door close in a very big way, and the unknown on the other side was pretty scary. I wasn’t sure where this new road would lead me. What I have found is that God was already opening a new door, one in which He needed me to walk through in order to be in service with Him.  How does the saying go?  When one door closes another door opens…and sometimes you might find yourself climbing out of a window to get there!

(Photo cred:  Marina Khrapova on Unsplash)

Our certainty and truth lies in knowing that His door is always open. Our job is to come to the threshold…right now. Climb out of a window if you have to in order to be at His door.

He wants to walk with us through all of life’s ups and downs, and He will always be waiting to welcome us home with open arms.

In Him,

Ashley

Psalm 118:24

“This is the day the Lord hath made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

(Photo cred:  Erika Fletcher on Unsplash)

Kindergarten is no joke these days, and it appears it is no match for my spunky third child (or her mama). I get it. She holds it together all day at school and then comes home to her safe person…me. But I, too, hold it together all day until I reach my safe place…home. So as you can gather, this can sometimes be a recipe for messy.

How do I parent our head-strong, independent, go for gold third child? (Did I mention we are JUST alike?) What is the best way to give her boundaries, direction, expectations in a healthy way that won’t leave me feeling like I blew it in the heat of the moment?  Anyone?  Like I am all ears.

I am beginning to more fully understand that each of my children are unique and need different life strategy approaches. One day this week, after completely missing the mark, I had to call in backup…daddy to the rescue. He truly has more patience in his pinky than I do in my entire body!  How, I asked, am I supposed to reach her?  How can I help her understand?  Water on a rock was his answer.

(Photo cred:  Didin Emelu on Unsplash)

Water on a rock?  What?  You see, water that drips constantly on a rock will over time change the entire shape and look of the rock…one drip at a time and yet the effect is cumulative.

As I took a step back, I realized that’s exactly how God transforms my life. Like water on a rock, He drips grace, forgiveness, unconditional love, truth, wisdom into my heart, and over time, this constant dripping changes the entire shape and look of my heart. Like water on a rock, God transforms my soul.

God’s constant dripping should remind me that change does not always happen overnight.  Most often, it’s a journey. And God is calling me to drip goodness, love, boundaries, and expectation into the lives of my children.

I can’t wave a magic wand of control around and force transformation into their lives. Rather, like water on a rock, with patience and consistency, I can model how to live a life in Christ. I can teach my children obedience and respect without compromising my own. Yet, I will need the strength and grace that comes from God in order to do so.

Proverbs 22:6

“Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.”

(Photo cred:  Amy Humphries on Unsplash)

My prayer is that the drips I receive from God can fall into my heart and overflow into the interactions with my kiddos. Need a reminder?  Walk outside, grab a rock, give your concerns to God in prayer, and keep it with you!  Better yet…grab multiple rocks and share with a friend!  Your challenging relationships may be at work, with a spouse, or friend, but the same concept applies. Let God drip His promises into your life so that you can drip His goodness into the lives of others.

Romans 12:12

“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer.”

Blessings on your journey,

Ashley

Psalm 118:24

“This is the day the Lord hath made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

(Photo cred: Marcus Neto on Unsplash)

No, I’m not talking about the great American singing competition. I’m talking about the very things that separate us from His purpose for our lives. Want to know more?  Let’s take a look….

Wherever you are, take a moment to open your Bible and read Jeremiah 10:1-16. Now you ask?  Yep, like right this minute. Don’t have a Bible handy?  No worries. There’s nothing that the Google can’t handle. Type in the verses and you will see the Scripture.

Done?  Whew…what were the Israelites thinking??  I mean, how can these people, God’s CHOSEN people, begin to think that these lifeless images made by their own hands would bring them joy, healing, and life?  These verses describe the wooden idols as having no power, inanimate, worthless.

Yet the Israelites are spending their valuable time, energy, and money on their idols sculpted of wood and adorned with silver and gold.

Crazy, right?  Not so fast.  My idols may not look like the Israelite’s, but they certainly can and will take control of my life, pushing God to the side. Mine are not made of wood but reside on screens. They revolve around other people’s perception of me. My idols are crazy schedules, binging the next show, and material stuff that suck my time, energy and resources right out of my soul and pocketbook.

(Photo cred:  Neil Soni on Unsplash)

I had to ask myself:  Am I putting God first in my life, or am I just trying to squeeze Him in?  Wake. Up. Call. God above ALL else…period.

I have found that if I give Him the first fruits of my time, He will give it back to me tenfold. This tired, stressed-out, anxious mama has found rest, peace, and fulfillment in spending time in His Word.

(Photo cred:  Priscilla du Preez on Unsplash)

God is offering you His peace, unlike anything this world has to offer. Stop. Meet with Him, and let your life be transformed.

Are you looking for a place or resource to help you dive deeper into Scripture?  Message me and I’ll be happy to help you find a good fit!