Discerning the Counterfeit

I once heard that when federal agents train at the Mint to detect counterfeit money, they don’t spend their time studying fakes. Instead, they immerse themselves in the real thing. They touch, tilt, and examine genuine bills for weeks, memorizing every detail—the texture, the patterns, the watermarks—until they know it so well that spotting a counterfeit becomes second nature. They don’t have to guess; they just know when something is off.

The same principle applies to our spiritual lives. When we spend intentional time with God—reading His Word, praying, and dwelling in His presence—we begin to deeply understand His nature and character. The more we align with Him, the clearer our discernment becomes. We won’t have to second-guess when something doesn’t sit right in our spirit because we’ll know His truth so well that anything counterfeit will be obvious.

False teachings, misleading doctrines, and even people who distort God’s Word will become easier to recognize. It won’t be because we studied deception—it’ll be because we’re anchored in truth.

So, if you want to sharpen your discernment, don’t fixate on the counterfeits. Get so familiar with God that anything not of Him stands out immediately.

“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.” 1 John 4:1-3 ESV

A Troubled Heart

Hey y’all! We are jumping right into scripture today because I believe these verses are so vital to our current climate we are in today. 

Here’s the verses: 

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?” John 14:1-2 ESV

As always, I encourage you to never take my word alone, but to read the scriptures for yourself in John chapter 13 and chapter 14.

In the meantime, let me paint a scene for you. In chapter 13, we see, Jesus knew his time of crucifixion was near and shared with the disciples that he would leave them soon and go to heaven. Jesus also washed his disciples feet, foretells of the betrayal of Judas and the denial of Peter. 

After learning all of this if you can imagine, this moment felt heavy for the disciples.

In chapter 14, the verse starts off, “let not your heart be troubled. The word troubled in the Greek means: to agitate, to strike one spirit with fear, to make restless

 I’m sure many of us can relate to agitated hearts today with everything that is currently going on in society. I know for myself I try to limit my social media and news intake because every day there’s a new “troubled” headline. 

But what Jesus said then to his disciples, is still true to us today, no matter what is going on we must: 

1. Believe in God. 
2. Believe also in Jesus. 

Jesus then reminds them he goes to prepare a place for them. Heaven should be all of our home, so even when life gets heavy always remember to believe in God and also in Jesus and that Jesus prepared a future home from us in heaven. Be encouraged on today and don’t lose hope! 

Love in Action

Happy belated Valentine’s Day! Since this holiday recently passed, let’s spend some time talking about love. I truly believe if there was one word that could change our world, it is love in action. 

I’ve shared I’m reading through the 4 Gospels of the Bible (The books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) before Easter. I was currently reading the story about the parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:25-37. 

First, lets highlight this verse about love: 

“And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭10‬:‭27‬ ‭ESV‬‬

To know anything about Jesus it is to know, he loves speaking in parables. I’m going to quickly summarize the parable and as always I encourage you to read it yourself. 

The Good Samaritan: 

A man was traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho and was attacked by robbers - who took his clothes, beat him and left him for dead. There were 3 people who passed by and saw the man. A priest saw him and crossed to the other side of the road. Next a Levite passed him and crossed to the other side of the road as well. As last a Samaritan saw the man and had compassion for him. He stopped, bandaged his wounds and sat him on his own donkey and took him to an inn for safety and paid for them to care for him. He even told them if he had additional expenses let him know and he would pay them off when he passed back through. 

The moral of the story was out of all 3 encounters, only the Samaritan proved to be a neighbor to the man and Jesus said for us to do likewise. Take a moment to think about how the world would look differently if we loved our neighbor as ourselves. 

Here’s practical steps to put love in action from the scriptures:

1. Love God with all your heart, soul, strength and all your mind. 
2. Love your neighbor as yourself. 

Are you putting love in action? 

Do you want a Reward?

Im currently reading the New Testament of the Bible and Jesus shares profound wisdom about several topics. When I'm reading the Bible, I automatically notice patterns and connections within scriptures - it's how God wired me and I love it. 

I'm a millennial and statistics say we enjoy receiving rewards, recognition, bonuses and praises when we are working. While reading the Bible, I notice there were a couple things if we do them in secret, our Heavenly Father God will reward us. I don't know about you, but I want to be rewarded by God - sounds like a bonus!

So here’s the three things: 

1. When you give to the needy, do it privately. 

“But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” Matthew 6:3-4 ESV

2. Pray to your Father in private. 

“But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” Matthew 6:6 ESV

3. When you fast anoint your head and wash your face. 

“But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” Matthew 6:17-18 ESV

I believe the theme of these scriptures is saying don't be boastful about giving to the needy, your prayers or even about fasting. The purpose of giving to the needy, prayer and fasting is to be closer to God and not to complete kingdom activities to be acknowledged by others. 

Have you checked your motives to ensure when you do the following things it isn't for the praise of people. Let us each examine our own hearts. 

Living Like Jesus

The sayings of Jesus are opposite of what culture would tell us to do and in today’s society, we should be the examples that we can respond differently. 

Additionally, did you know the golden rule actually came from the Bible? Matthew 6:31 ESV, “And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.” 🤯

Like how would the world look differently if we lived by this one biblical principle? 

To live like Jesus lived takes intentionality and you have to learn to respond differently. Rise above the noise in culture and set your mind on Jesus. I won’t say it will be easy all the time, but it will be so worth it. There’s so much going on in the world, so why not focus on what we can control - our response to others. Are y’all ready to go deeper into the truth of God? 

Jesus says to you who are ready for the truth, I say this:

1. Love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. 
2. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the supple moves of prayer for that person. 
3. If someone slaps you in the face, stand there and take it. 
4. If someone grabs your shirt, giftwrap your best coat and make a present of it. 
5. If someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life. No more payback. Live generously.

Luke 6:27-30 MSG

I’m reading this and I’m shook. Before I share a blog, just know it hits me first. I also have work to do to live like Jesus lived. Are you willing to do it? 

Reflecting on the Beatitudes

Hey y’all! There’s so much going on in the world, and despite the challenges, I want this space to remain a beacon of hope. The Word of God reminds us:

"In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." – Matthew‬ ‭5‬:‭16‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Before we dive into today’s topic, let’s take a moment to breathe. Inhale for three seconds… and exhale for three seconds. Repeat as needed. Sigh… doesn’t that feel better?

In this season, I think the most important things we can hold onto are God and community. Thank you so much for being a part of the Wrenhowsway Community. ❤️

Now, let’s jump into today’s topic: the Beatitudes. This week, I spent time reflecting on the first and last Beatitudes. As I read through these scriptures, I couldn’t help but ask myself questions—why did Jesus present them in this particular order? He’s an intentional God, so I know there’s a purpose behind it.

Let’s look at the first Beatitude:"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." – Matthew‬ ‭5‬:‭3‬ ‭ESV‬‬And the last:"Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you." – Matthew‬ ‭5‬:‭11‬-‭12‬ ‭ESV‬‬

How we begin and end things is essential, and this holds true even in scripture. Jesus intentionally starts with “poor in spirit” and ends with “persecuted.”

The first Beatitude calls us to be poor in spirit, meaning to be aware of our constant dependence on God. Without this reliance, we risk becoming prideful, trying to navigate life independently of God’s rule. To remain “poor in spirit” is to stay connected to God, acknowledging His sovereignty in every aspect of life. Honestly, this reliance on Jesus is the only thing carrying me through this season. How about you—are you leaning on Him right now?

The last Beatitude reminds us that when we’re persecuted or lied about because of Jesus, we’re blessed. It’s a hard truth, but one that brings hope—Jesus sees us, values us, and promises a great reward in heaven for enduring such trials.

As we reflect on these verses, let’s remember that Jesus cares deeply for us. His words remind us of His love and intentionality.

Let’s continue to rely on Him, stay connected to our community, and let our light shine.

Try Again

As the year unfolds, I recently found myself in a meaningful conversation with a friend. I was sharing the incredible opportunity I had to read my book at Children’s Medical Center. What made this moment even more special was that it came from one simple act: trying again. My friend paused, smiled, and said, “That should be your motto for 2025—Try Again.” Here we are, nearly 21 days into the New Year. Many of us started with goals, ambitions, or dreams—whether it’s starting a new relationship, losing weight, committing to therapy, reconciling relationships, saving money, or anything else close to your heart. But let’s be honest: staying on track can be hard. Life gets messy, motivation wanes, and we sometimes stumble. Here’s the truth: we can do hard things. Even if you’ve already veered off course—whether it’s missing workouts, spending too much, skipping that book on your reading list, or faltering in your commitments—don’t be discouraged. Give yourself grace. Messing up doesn’t mean you’ve failed; it’s just a chance to try again. So, what if you start over today? 💪 Try again: at your workout plan.  💸 Try again: at sticking to your saving goals.  📚 Try again: at your reading challenge.  💬 Try again: at reconciling relationships or prioritizing self-care.  The beauty of trying again is that it reflects resilience, not perfection. Every day is a fresh start—a new opportunity to show up for yourself and what matters to you. It’s not too late to rewrite your story, one small step at a time.So, what will you try again today? Let’s make 2025 a year of persistence, grace, and growth together. 

We Don't Quit

I learned during a church sermon there’s a new holiday in January. The second Friday in January is National Quitters Day.  Apparently, by January 10th most people give up on their New Year’s resolution. However, we aren’t quitters, so we are still working on our goals and any resolutions we made for the New Year because we have a strong why, and we are committed to bettering ourselves. The goal is to become 1% better each day and to focus on what we can do to reach our goal based on the current day in front of us. It’s easy to say in 3 months, I’ll do this or that, but what are we doing today?  

There are a couple of reminders in scripture to remind us to focus on the day in front of us. 

 In Matthew 6, the Model prayer, also known as The Lord’s Prayer, Jesus reminds us to ask for our daily bread - not bread for next week. “Give us this day our daily bread,” Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭11‬ ‭ESV‬‬

In Lamentations 3, we are reminded we are given brand-new mercies every morning. “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations‬ ‭3‬:‭22‬-‭23‬ ‭ESV‬‬

In Matthew 6:34, we are told “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”

So the moral of this blog is to remind us to focus on our goal for today. It’s okay to have a bigger goal or even a deadline - but what can we do today to reach our goal? 

2025 Goals

I know it’s tempting to dive headfirst into the new year with a list of resolutions, goals, and plans that stretch as far as your imagination can go. But whoooaaa, let’s pump the brakes for a second. Before we start stacking up expectations, let’s take a moment to slow down, plan this thing out, and talk it through.  

This year, I’m doing something *different* with my goals.  

Now, usually, I have this loooong list of things I want to accomplish, and I try to tackle them all at once. While I might check a few off the list, I’m rarely successful with all of them. You know why? Because I’m out here trying to juggle everything, and inevitably, something (or a lot of things) ends up slipping through the cracks. 😩  

Let’s be real: many of us think we’re great multitaskers, but let me free you up real quick—we’re not. What we call multitasking is really just shifting quickly between multiple tasks, and it’s not as productive as we’d like to think.  

So, what’s the plan this year?  

Enter the 4 by 4 Method—a game-changer my mentor introduced to me. It’s a simple, structured way to focus on your goals without feeling overwhelmed.  

Here’s how it works:  

- You focus on 4 goals for 90 days at a time.  

- That’s 16 goals total for the year—4 goals each quarter.  

- Each goal falls into one of these categories:  

  1. Emotionally/Spiritually 

  2. Financially

  3. Relationally

  4. Physically

But here’s the key: only one goal per category at a time.  

Each goal includes actionable tasks, reminders, and regular progress check-ins (weekly or monthly). And if you don’t complete a goal during one quarter, you simply roll it over to the next quarter, replacing the completed goals with new ones. No stress, no guilt—just steady progress.   

What makes this year different*?  

We all know how easy it is to start strong and then fall off, right? 🙃 That’s where another critical piece comes in: a strong WHY. 

My mentor always says, “If your why doesn’t make you cry, the price of commitment will always be too high.” That hit me like a ton of bricks because, honestly, motivation isn’t always there. But a solid why? That’ll keep you anchored.  

For me, the difference between success and failure isn’t whether I get tired or lose focus—it’s how quickly I recover and how deeply I connect with my why.  

So, what about you? What are you working on this year? Do you have a strong enough why to keep you going when the excitement fades? And hey, would you consider trying the 4 by 4 goal method?  Drop your thoughts below—I’d love to hear from you! Let’s make this year intentional, impactful, and full of wins. 💪✨  Blog from Last Week: Start Today

Start Today

I’m a firm believer in starting your goals today! Too often, people wait for the new year to roll around before setting new goals, chasing aspirations, or making resolutions. But why wait? What are you waiting for? Instead of holding off, why not give yourself a head start on the new year?

There’s a book titled I’ll Start Again Monday that explores how we tend to procrastinate when it comes to tackling tasks or making changes. But if you can tell yourself, “I’ll start Monday,” then why not take it a step further and say, “I’ll start today”?

Imagine heading into 2025 already working toward your fitness goals, launching that new business idea, building up your savings, diving into books you’ve always wanted to read, prioritizing healthier rest, or practicing mindfulness. Don’t let the calendar dictate your progress—yorow, not next week—today is the perfect time to begin!

It's Christmas Time

The holiday season is in full swing, and I’m sure many of you are feeling a mix of emotions. Have you finished your holiday shopping yet? I’m almost there—I just need to pick up an ornament for a Christmas Party.

Whether you’ve already checked off your shopping list or don’t plan to shop at all, it’s important to keep the main thing the main thing this season. This time of year is about celebrating the miraculous birth of Jesus Christ, giving to others, enjoying moments with family and friends, or simply taking a much-needed break.

So before you break the bank, get upset with an Amazon driver over delayed deliveries, or feel down because you don’t have extra to give, take a moment to pause, breathe, and refocus. Let the main thing remain the main thing this holiday season - that Jesus Chris was born and is Lord.

Wishing you Happy Holidays and a Merry Christmas from Wrenhowsway!Last Week's Post: The Little Foxes

It’s the Little Foxes

You ever get to a point in life where things feel…chill? You’re not out partying, your prayer life is consistent, and maybe you’ve got a weekly routine of going to church or catching a good sermon online. You’re genuinely asking God to work on you, and yet—despite all that—you realize you’re still a work in progress. Yeah, me too.

It’s those “little foxes” that God starts to reveal—those seemingly small things that can trip us up and mess with our walk with Him.

This idea made me think of this scripture:

“Catch the foxes for us, the little foxes that spoil the vineyards, for our vineyards are in blossom.” Song of Solomon 2:15, ESV

I love this verse because it hits home for me as someone with a garden. In my garden, a lot of the veggies grow on vines, and I have to stay on top of things—checking for bugs or anything else that could harm the plants. Even something tiny, like an aphid on one vine, can quickly spread and become a full-blown problem.

It’s the same with life. Sometimes it’s those “small” things—little habits, attitudes, or behaviors—that God’s trying to clean out of us because they can be just as damaging as the “big” stuff. Laziness, gossip, little white lies, a lack of self-discipline… these might seem minor, but they can spoil the progress we’re making, harm our relationships, or even hinder our walk with God.

So, here’s the challenge: let’s stay aware of the little foxes in our lives. When God reveals them, don’t ignore it. Let Him work on you so that nothing gets in the way of your growth, your relationships, or your journey with Him. The vines are in bloom—don’t let anything spoil them!

The Microphone is Always On

Let me tell you something—God is working on me, and let’s just say, He’s got me in a season where I’m watching my mouth. If I ever send you a random message that starts with, “I apologize for…” just know I’m over here being obedient and keeping my blessings flowing! Sometimes, though, I try to have my own little side conversations with God about it - before I send the message, but in the end, I apologize for my words.

Have you ever caught yourself saying something and immediately regretting it? Whew, let me share a story that still makes me cringe.

Storytime: 10 plus years ago, I was on a movie date (we’ll call it...an experience), and I decided to text my friends about something. Here’s the plot twist—I sent that message straight to the guy I was on the date with. Yep, the same guy sitting right next to me. 🙃

He checked his phone in the middle of the movie, and there I was, popcorn in hand, oblivious to the mess I had just created. The realization hit me a few minutes later, and let’s just say...that was the longest 90 minutes of my life. #Wannagetaway

Fast forward—there was a lot of explaining to do, and spoiler alert, things didn’t work out. LOL. But here’s what I learned from that situation (and a hundred others like it): words matter.

Scripture says it best:

“A bit in the mouth of a horse controls the whole horse. A small rudder on a huge ship in the hands of a skilled captain sets a course in the face of the strongest winds. A word out of your mouth may seem of no account, but it can accomplish nearly anything—or destroy it!”- James 3:3-5 MSG

The words we speak or even write have power. They can build someone up or completely tear them down. And let’s be real—it’s a lot easier to say something in the heat of the moment than it is to repair the damage afterward.

So, here’s your reminder (and mine): the microphone is always on—watch your words! You never know who’s listening, but God always is. Let’s make sure what we’re saying reflects His goodness. ❤️

Oh, Give Thanks!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

It’s Thanksgiving week, y’all, and let me tell you—this is my absolute favorite holiday. Back in the day, it was my favorite because we automatically got two days off work and the Christmas season went into full swing. But now? It’s deeper than that. It’s my favorite because it’s all about giving thanks.

When I take a step back and look at my life, there’s not a single part of it where I can’t see God’s goodness and grace. Every moment, every blessing, every lesson—He’s been there. And for that, I give Him thanks.

So, here’s a little challenge for you this week: as you take time off, whether you’re spending it with family, friends, or enjoying some quiet time solo, write down ten things you’re thankful for.

I’ll go first:

1. I’m thankful for my relationship with God—it’s grown so much this year.

2. I’m thankful for my health and the ability to move and do things.

3. I’m thankful for God’s protection, from dangers I’ve seen and the ones I haven’t.

4. I’m thankful for my family, my friends, and my church community.

5. I’m thankful for my job, which lets me provide for myself and others.

6. I’m thankful for clean water to drink and bathe.

7. I’m thankful for my car, L Beeszy, so I don’t have to walk everywhere!

8. I’m thankful for a cozy apartment to call home.

9. I’m thankful for my little garden—it’s been such a peaceful place for me this year.

10. And I’m thankful for YOU—for showing up, for being part of this community, and for sharing this journey with me.

Honestly, I could keep going, but I’ll stop here so you can jump in! What are you thankful for? Hit me up in the comments or reply to this post—I’d love to hear all the things that fill your heart with gratitude.

Happy Thanksgiving, friends! Let’s pop off on being thankful together.

“O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: For his mercy endureth for ever. O give thanks unto the God of gods: For his mercy endureth for ever. O give thanks to the Lord of Lords: For his mercy endureth for ever.” Psalm‬ ‭136‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭KJV‬‬

I Trust in God

Can we all raise our hands and acknowledge the world feels tense right now? I’ll raise both hands. 🙌🏽 

For me, when I’m anxious or stressed I feel the tension in my shoulders and neck. If I’m really nervous I can feel the discomfort in my mouth because my jaw line is tighten and I grind my teeth. It’s interesting to me that your whole body responds to your internal and external environment. 

Because I’m aware of this, when there’s things I can’t control I must release them and place my trust in God. For me trusting in God is not denying the reality or even thinking my situation is going to change it immediately (although it can because he is big G - God) - it’s actually the opposite. I acknowledge the reality of the situation, talk to God about and then release the burden of carrying it to him because it’s too large for me to carry. 

I ask myself can I do anything to change this situation? 

Usually, the answer is while I can’t change the immediate situation, I can change my response and my attitude. Therefore, I change my heart posture to trust in God. 

I mentioned earlier that I release the burden to him. Yall, I know this may sound silly, but every time I release something to God I stretch my hands in front of me, palms up and open my fingers as a sign of release and close my fingers and then open them as if I’m handing something to Him. I’ll repeat this as many times as I can until I feel the release in my body too. Therefore, I’m trusting the unknown future to a known God.

My two questions to you are: 

1. What are you carrying this week? 

2. How can you release it and trust in God?

If you can’t change the situation, change your heart posture! I trust in God. 

Scriptures: 

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7 NIV 

Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.  1 Peter 5:7 NLT 

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.” Proverbs‬ ‭3‬:‭5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

In case you are still here, bonus content! I’ve listened to both of these songs in my devotional time are throughout the day and they helped me! 

Trust in God

I Will Trust in the Lord

 Last Week’s Blog: Vantage Point

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Vantage Point

Sometimes, I can be a ball of nerves. The Bible says, "Do not be anxious," but here I am, anxious, trying to control every outcome as if I hold all the cards. The irony is that I *know* I don’t have any real control, yet I still find myself wrestling for it, holding on tightly to my own plans and hopes, imagining I can somehow steer it all.

It’s in these moments that the scriptures speak louder than ever, reminding me of something critical: do I actually trust God? Or am I just pretending to be in control, as if I’m somehow in God’s place?

Then, I picture Jesus seated in Heavenly places, on the right hand of God, his Father. He has the vantage point—the perfect perspective to see and know all things. He already knows every single detail: the mistakes I’m going to make, who I’ll marry, whether I’ll have kids, what my next job will be, the current events I will live through and etc... Knowing this, I’m reminded, "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." 1 Peter 5:7 (NIV)

The weight of trying to control it all is exhausting. It’s a weight we were never meant to carry. We can’t control people, and we certainly can’t control outcomes, no matter how much we’d like to think otherwise. So I invite you, friend, to do what I’m reminding myself to do: invite Jesus into the situation. Lean on the one who has the clearest view and the wisest plan.

It’s okay to share that you’re nervous, worried, confused, or anxious. I think it’s human. But we don’t have to stay there.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” - Philippians 4:6 (NIV)

Trust that He hears you and has the best vantage point.

Last Blog: It's GoodTo check out more of my blogs and or content check out my Linktree!

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It's Good

I think in our culture we underestimate the word good. Even when we are ranking something we use the categories of good, better, and best. This order signifies that good appears to be a lower ranking and we must be the best. I think maybe our English vernacular can’t compute the goodness of the word good. 

Storytime: I was reading during my devotional time. Sidenote: (I’ll do a blog on how I structure my mornings with God and share with y’all.) Okay back to the story, I was reading about a Jewish celebration called Rosh Hashanah and it made a reference to the story of creation in Genesis Chapter 1. In this chapter every time God spoke and created (because he’s the greatest Creator) he said it was good.

Scripture reference: “Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good! And evening passed and morning came, marking the sixth day.” Genesis 1:31 NLT

Here’s a slight biblical history lesson: The Book of Genesis was written in Hebrew and was later translated to English. As always research this for yourself and don’t even take my word for stuff! That’s how you build good study and relational habits with God by having a curious mindset. Okay I digressed! Back to the story, in the scripture above when God said it was very good. 

From the Bible concordance, good in Hebrew, in the verse referenced above means pleasant, agreeable and good.For me, the Hebrew definition sounds so much better than the English definition.Webster defines good as to be desired or approved of.  All of this to say, the next time you use the word “good” remember we were created in the image of God and everything He created, He said it was good!Ciao! ✌🏽

Last Blog: Drawing Closer to the Mirror

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Drawing Closer to the Mirror

You know how when you step closer to the mirror, your reflection becomes so much clearer? Suddenly, every detail is up close and personal, things you may not have even noticed from a distance are now front and center. This simple act of drawing closer to our reflection holds a powerful message about our relationship with God.

Imagine that mirror reflection as a symbol of how we should be with God. He’s created us in His image, right? So, when we “move closer to the mirror”—when we draw closer to God—we start to see ourselves in a new light. We’re given the chance to truly reflect God back, and in the process, He reveals things to us, things we need to work on.

When we get close enough, He’ll show us areas that need attention: our heart’s posture, patterns of sin, or parts of our character that may need refining. This closeness is a blessing because it means we’re allowing God to work on us, to mold us to look more and more like Him in character. And just like looking in the mirror shows both the good and the imperfections, spending time with God does the same—it gently nudges us to become better.

Reflecting God's Image: Becoming More Like Him

As we draw near, we should start to mirror qualities of God’s character. Imagine your reflection showing qualities like kindness, love, mercy, and generosity. These aren’t just “niceties” they’re traits we should work on to reflect God.

Kindness: Are you patient and gentle with others, even when they don’t “deserve” it?Scripture reference: Proverbs 11:17 - “Those who are kind benefit themselves, but the cruel bring ruin on themselves.”

Love: Is your love selfless and sacrificial, seeking the good of others?Scripture reference: 1 Corinthians 13:4-5 - “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.”

Merciful: Do you forgive and show grace, even when you’ve been wronged?

Scripture reference: Matthew 5:7 - “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.”

Generosity: Are you willing to give freely, of your time, talent and treasure?Scripture reference: 2 Corinthians 9:7 - “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

As we look into our “mirror,” let’s reflect on these traits and ask ourselves, Are we kind? Are we loving? Are we merciful? Are we generous?

So today, take a step closer to that mirror, both literally and spiritually. Draw near to God, let Him show you what needs work, and let your reflection—your actions, your character—start to look a little more like His.

Patience

I am not a fan of long waits and stuff—long lines, long meetings, long books, long hikes… Get the idea? 

I’m going to share a secret with y’all - don’t judge me. 😬😬😬 I listen to my audiobooks on a speed of 1.5 - 2. I also sometimes read the last chapter before finishing the entire book if it is too long before. I prefer a good summary, blog and or cliff notes you know. 😂

So if you can imagine, you probably won’t see me asking God to help me be patient although it’s one of the fruit of the spirit you know. 

Since we mentioned patience, let’s recap all the fruit. 

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Galatians 5:22-23

Notice the scripture says fruit and not fruits. 😆

For me this means the 9 fruit are like a fruit basket altogether - I need to have all of them inside of me, not just the ones that are convenient. 🙃 🎵 You can’t have one without the other! 🎵

Looking at these have you thought of which fruit you need to work on? 

“But if we look forward to something we don’t yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently.)” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭25‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Lean In

I’ve always been a lover of a good story. Give me all the details, or at least enough to follow along! When a friend starts telling a juicy story, I can’t help but lean in, physically and mentally, hanging on to every word.

Lately, I’ve realized that same posture—leaning in—is exactly what I need to do to hear God clearly and focus on what truly matters in my life. This season is full of distractions. They’re not all bad things, but if they’re pulling me away from what I’m meant to focus on, they become distractions—whether it’s social media, TV, or an overly packed schedule.

With fall here and Q4 upon us (can you believe it?), the question is: Are you ready? Have you thought about where you're leaning in this season?

Remember, where you place your attention affects what you retain. So be intentional—lean into what’s right for you during this season.

Last Blog: The Repetition of Love: What Does It Take to Love Like Jesus?

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