He Came… So We Could Live

If Jesus had stayed in heaven, no one could have blamed Him.
Glory beyond imagination. Worship without end. Angels on standby. No sickness, no sorrow, no sin. He had everything.

But love won’t stay where it’s comfortable.
Love goes where it’s needed.
And so — He came.

He stepped out of heaven’s brilliance and wrapped Himself in human skin. He traded the throne for a manger, eternity for time, majesty for humility -- all so that you and I would know, without a shadow of a doubt, that we are not alone. Not abandoned. Not forgotten.

He came to show us the way to live a life marked by peace when the world is noisy, joy when days are heavy, comfort when our hearts ache, and purpose in every step we take. Jesus didn’t just tell us how to live — He walked it out so we could follow His steps.

This life we’re living? It’s the rehearsal. The warm-up.
The opening act before the eternal story that never ends.

One day, we’ll step into forever with Him — reunited with our loved ones, cheering alongside the great cloud of witnesses, hanging out with the saints, the disciples, the pathfinders, the Billy Grahams and faithful teachers who poured the Word of God into our hearts.

But until then… we lead.
Not by preaching louder, but by living brighter.

We keep asking that old but powerful question:
“What would Jesus do?”
And then, with God’s grace, we do it.

We forgive when it’s hard.
We give when it stretches us.
We serve when no one sees.
We love when it costs us something.
We stand firm when life trembles.

Because the One who came from heaven to earth now lives in us — and He’s still guiding, still empowering, still showing us how to choose the abundant life He came to give.

So today, let’s walk like people who know the way.
Let’s live like people who’ve met the Savior.
Let’s be leaders who don’t just talk the talk — we walk the walk.

After all, He came to reach us -- so we can reach the world.

Keep Christ in Christmas and in Every Day

These two magnets — each gently reminding us to “Keep Christ in Christmas” — were gifts from dear friends. They now hold a place of honor on our refrigerator, where we see them every single day.

And I absolutely love our friends' hearts — because they’re right. With all the glitter, garland, goodies, and good intentions, it’s far too easy to forget WHO the Star of the show really is.

But let’s be honest -- Jesus doesn’t just want a cameo appearance in December.

He isn’t a seasonal decoration we pull out once a year, dust off, and place center stage until New Year’s Day.

He is our every day Savior.
Our every moment Redeemer.
Our always King.

Yes, the Christmas story began with an angel showing up in Nazareth with an announcement that turned Mary’s world upside down and Joseph’s upside right — “You will bring a Savior into the world.” And in Bethlehem, heaven kissed earth in the form of a newborn King.

But the story didn’t stop in a manger.

In just a few months, we’ll be celebrating Resurrection Sunday — proof that the baby in the manger didn’t stay a baby. He became our Redeemer, our Burden Bearer, our Sin Forgiver, our Second Chance Giver, and our soon coming King.

So yes — let’s keep Christ in Christmas. But let’s also keep Him in:
• our homes
• our hearts
• our conversations
• our decisions
• our comings and goings
• our moments of joy
• our moments of meltdown

Every second of every day, He is the Welcomed Guest — the One who turns our chaos into calm, our worry into worship, and our ordinary days into holy ground.

He understands us because He became one of us. He sees us, knows us, carries us, comforts us — because He walked this earth, felt our pain, faced our temptations, and still promises:

“I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Hebrew 13:5-6)
That’s not seasonal.
That’s eternal.

So when I look at those refrigerator magnets, I smile -- because they remind me of the greatest truth we get to hold onto this season: We keep Christ in Christmas — because Christ keeps us every moment, every day, every heartbeat!

Advent: Holidays or Holy Days?

I spoke about Advent yesterday but I am leaning in even more! By the way, Happy Advent, dear friends! There’s a sweetness in the air this time of year that no scented candle can replicate — a hush, a hope, a holy expectancy drifting right into our homes like a soft winter breeze.

But before we dive too deep into the shopping lists and glittery gift bags, it’s worth pausing to remember what Advent really is.

Advent is a season of expectation. The word comes from the Latin adventus, meaning “coming.” It’s the four-week journey where we prepare our homes and our hearts to celebrate the birth of Jesus. HOPE wrapped in swaddling cloths. JOY lying in a manger. LOVE made flesh.

Advent is meant to nurture peace and tune our souls to the quiet joy of a Savior who came close enough to be held. And as we make our plans this season, everything we do will either make sense — or become senseless — in relation to this purpose.

If baking cookies helps your heart lean toward Christ, bake your heart out.
If taking long walks in quiet places makes room for peace, lace up your shoes.
If sitting by the Christmas tree in silence or serving someone who’s hurting helps us prepare for Jesus, then let’s give ourselves fully to that.

Yesterday, as we began our own Advent journey, I couldn’t help but remember the years I rushed through December like a woman competing for the Most Festive Christmas House Award. Five bedrooms, five Christmas trees. Outdoor displays that could signal airplanes. It was beautiful -- and exhausting.

But Advent whispers something gentler: “Prepare ye the way of the Lord.” (Isaiah 40:30)

As we drove home from East Texas Sunday night, we saw stars shining across the countryside — modern reminders of the Star that guided wise men across deserts to the home of the Holy Family. And suddenly the shepherds didn’t seem so far away. They, too, were tending flocks on their own acreages of land when heaven touched earth.

This is Advent -- Slowing down. Preparing room. Letting Jesus come close. Aw! Sweet heavenly peace is my personal goal -- to lean into everything that our Savior brought to us! "You I will keep in peace -- whose mind is stayed on Me!" (Isaiah 26:3)

Let’s choose holy days over holidays.
Less hustle, more hush.
Less frenzy, more faith.
Less glitter, more glory.

May Advent transform our days as we prepare for the coming of our King – our Savior and Lord! Oh come, oh come Emmanuel!

Advent: When Heaven Comes Home to Us

Yesterday was the first Sunday of Advent — the doorway into the most beautiful story ever told. And while the world around us seems to sprint toward December 25th, Advent gently invites us to slow down -- to breathe -- to look up -- and to remember the holy journey to Bethlehem that changed everything.

And, at Epiphany Ranch -- the fireplace glowing, the whole crew gathered like birds returning home for the season.

Payton scooped his sweetheart up from the airport. Alexia and Winston brought wedding photos that made us “oooh” and “aaah” like we were seeing them walk the aisle all over again. Carl and I settled into the joy of being surrounded by children, grands, and in-loves -- everyone right where they belonged.

And wouldn’t you know — our own little family pilgrimage this weekend mirrored that ancient story in the sweetest, most unexpected ways.

Isn’t that what Advent is really about?
Family. Journey. Expectation. Love.

Mary and Joseph made their way to Bethlehem carrying more than supplies — they carried a Promise. And though their path was anything but easy, God met them in a stable, wrapped heaven in swaddling cloths, and placed Hope right in their arms.

And here we are, thousands of years later, still gathering, still traveling, still preparing room in our homes and in our hearts for the same Jesus who changed the world from a manger.

In the early morning with Staci — in our recliners, watching the sunrise, Aggie the cat settled into the peace in the room — felt like my own personal Advent chapel.

The hush. The warmth. The holy nearness of God whispering, “I’m here. I always come to those who make room for Me.”

And then by evening, heaven showed up in family laughter, shared meals, and Christmas photos in creams and browns that made us look like a cozy Hallmark cast.

This is Advent:
Heaven touching earth.
Holy weaving into ordinary.
Family wrapped in love.
Jesus drawing near.

So as we step into this beautiful season, let’s remember:
Advent isn’t just waiting for Christmas morning.

It’s celebrating that He still comes — to living rooms, ranch houses, jammie photo shoots, airport reunions, and quiet sunrise prayers.
The greatest love story ever told didn’t stay in Bethlehem.
It keeps unfolding -- right here in our family, and in yours.

#AdventHope #heavenonearth #RoomforJesus

Come Away With Me

Some mornings don’t just dawn -- they unfold like a love letter from the Lord. Yesterday was one of those mornings.

It was just my daughter Staci, and me — two recliners, one fireplace, one soft sunrise stretching its fingers across the big East Texas sky -- and one little surprise guest: Aggie, the cat who never snuggles, curled right into my lap like she had been assigned by heaven to complete the moment.

We weren’t rushing.
We weren’t fixing anything.
We weren’t replaying old hurts or juggling to-do lists.
We were simply sitting — in the quiet, peaceful presence of the One who whispers, “Come away with Me.”

And we did.

There’s something sacred about sharing sunrise with your daughter -- no makeup, no hurry, no agenda. Just two hearts settling into the “secret place of the Most High,” watching the world wake up while we gratefully rested in the presence of the God who never sleeps.

We prayed.
We chatted.
We breathed.
We remembered.
And we let go.

Let go of old issues that try to hitch a ride into a new day.
Let go of the people who bruised our hearts.
Let go of the pressure to hurry, perform, or push through.
Instead, we caught hold of something better -- the sweet embrace of our Lord.

There, in that warm room, wrapped in blankets and grace, it felt like Jesus pulled a chair right up beside us. His peace was thick, His nearness unmistakable. Thanksgiving settled over us like a soft shawl.

The world tells us that “getting things done” is the goal. But mornings like this remind me that the real goal -- is getting close. Not doing more — but being more aware of Him.

Every day holds this invitation:
To step out of the hustle and into His arms.
To stop striving and start abiding.
To trade the noise for His whisper.
To enter His gates — not with complaints or worries — but with thanksgiving.

Yesterday was a gift. But so is today. And tomorrow.

Because the same Lord who met us at sunrise is waiting to meet you wherever you pause long enough to say, “Here I am, Lord. I’m coming away with You.”

#epiphanyranch #sunrise #FireplaceCozy #comeawaywithme

The Joys of Thanks-Giving and Thanks-Living

Thanksgiving Day is behind us, but Carl and I packed our bags with joy and headed straight into a Thanksgiving life -- destination: Epiphany Ranch, East Texas.

Ahh-- that slice of heaven my Staci and Larry call home. The kind of place where the sky stretches so wide it feels like God painted it just for us. Where the air is fresh enough to clear our minds, warm our hearts, and maybe even straighten out our attitudes if it needs a little adjusting.

We’ll sip morning coffee on the porch while the sunrise puts on a show that takes our breath every single time. The chickens will cluck their morning opinions, the birds will offer their cheerful soundtrack, and the day will unfold slowly -- like God whispering, “Rest here -- breathe here -- enjoy Me here.”

By this afternoon, the house will be full -- Payton and his sweetheart, Alexia and her brand-new husband, Winston (still newlywed-glowing), laughter bouncing off the walls, and games and puzzles spread across every table.

And don’t think for a minute that Carl and I hesitate to jump in. Oh no -- we’re as competitive as the young ones. We don’t always win, but we give it our best shot and make them earn every point.

And then the food! Lord, have mercy. Nana's famous carrot cake, cheese ball and fruit salad and Staci and Larry's delectable goodies along with the turkey, dressing, and all the tasty treats we all love -- dishes that taste like comfort food and tradition rolled into one.

There’s something about good food in the country that almost makes us want to hum a hymn while we eat.

Standing in all this goodness, I’m reminded that this -- this is the life God wants us to live. A life full of joy, expectation, and the wide-open belief that something good is always on the horizon.

Thanksgiving Day may be over, but thanksgiving living goes on.

In the fresh air.

In the sunsets.

In the family laughter.

In the quiet moments where gratitude wells up without being asked.

God’s country reminds us -- His mercies don’t run on a holiday schedule. His goodness doesn’t expire when the leftovers do. Every sunrise is a fresh invitation to joy, and every sunset is a reminder that His peace covers us from beginning to end.

So here’s to Epiphany Ranch --

To family --

To wide open skies, fish jumping in the lake, warm hearts, and the God who fills every moment with beauty.

Thanksgiving isn’t just a day. It’s a life -- worth living!

#Thanksgiving2025 #familylove #epiphanyranch

The Blessings Keep Coming

Here we are -- the day after Thanksgiving. The dishes were washed, the leftovers were stacked in the fridge and the cooks of America finally sat down for the first time in 48 hours.

For some, today is the great exhale after pouring heart and soul into a feast of epic proportions. For others? It’s the annual sound of the starter pistol: On your mark… get set… SHOP! Black Friday has officially begun.

But for us? Today is a different kind of glorious. We’re heading to East Texas where Larry, Staci, and their family are gathering for Round Three of Thanksgiving! More hugs, more eating, more carrot cake, more joy, and yes -- more elastic waistbands.

Yesterday’s blessings are still lingering in my heart. First, Thanksgiving at Ryan and Shawntel’s stunning new home in Austin. The table was full of food, family, friends, and even a precious widowed father this year and doing his best to raise his little girl with courage and tenderness.

There was room for all of us -- those who came from far away, those who carried heavy hearts, those who needed a place to belong. Isn’t it just like God to give us a table big enough for every story?

Last night came another wave of joy at Carl’s family Thanksgiving. As each person shared what they were thankful for, I could almost see Jesus sitting right there with us. Psalm 22:3 says that God inhabits the praises of His people -- and I believe He pulled up a chair beside every thankful heart.

And now, today, we turn toward East Texas for more celebrations. If laughter, food, and togetherness were Olympic events, we’d be bringing home the gold.

But here’s what settles deep in my soul this morning: Every person we encountered yesterday was made in the image of God. Every face reflected His handiwork. Every story held traces of Him.

Did you notice Him at your table? In the server who refilled your tea? In the quiet family member who carried unspoken worry?
Jesus said, “I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat. I was a stranger and you invited Me in.” (Matthew 25:35) Was He present at your table?

The closer we walk with our Lord and Savior, the easier He is to spot -- at the table, the parking lots or in the Black Friday sales lines where patience runs thin.

Wherever we were yesterday and wherever we are today -- let's carry on with Thanks-Living! May encouragement be felt and gratitude be plenty as we look for Jesus in every single person we meet -- not just at seasonal gatherings, but every day may we choose to walk, act and look like Jesus!

#EncourageOneAnother #WalkWithJesus #gratitude #ActLikeJesus

Happy Thanksgiving Eve to You and Yours!

Seriously… let me just say it plain: GOD GAVE ME YOU.
I can’t overstate how much my Facebook and Social Media family and friends mean to me. So before the turkey timer dings and the stretchy pants come out, I wanted to pause and tell you how grateful I am for each and every one of you.

Thank you for reading my daily posts, for “liking” and commenting, for sending messages that say, “That was exactly what I needed today.” You’ll never know how often your words have encouraged me right back. God knew I needed a place to cheer you on, pray for you, laugh with you, and sometimes remind you (and myself!) that hope is still alive and well.

I know -- deep in my soul -- that God gave me this little corner of the internet so we could celebrate Him together:
His peace when life rattles us,
His comfort when tears fall,
His joy that bubbles up even on grumpy days,
His strength when ours runs out,
and His beautiful, never-ending grace.

He’s given us determination, faith, hope, and blessings we can’t even count -- no matter how many times we try.

I’m honored—truly—to know you. To have you in my life. To pray for you when challenges rise and to celebrate with you when victories come. You’re part of my story, part of my joy, and part of my daily thanksgiving list.

So on this Thanksgiving Eve, let me say it once more:
I’m thankful for YOU.
For your kindness.
For your encouragement.
For allowing me the privilege of walking with you, even if it’s through a screen.

Have a blessed and beautiful Thanksgiving, dear friends.
May God crown your day with goodness, fill your table with joy, and surround your heart with His love.

Gratitude on this Thanksgiving Day

So much to be thankful for on this day of Thanksgiving ! Right? If you're reading this -- you have eyes to see! You have a computer or cell phone to check out today's news. Most of all -- thanks be to God for His great love for us!

This Thanksgiving looks a little different for us. We’re not gathered around one big table like the days when all my chicks were under one roof. This year, we’re lovingly scattered -- like God took a basket of blessings and sprinkled them all over Texas.

Today, Carl and I will head to Ryan and Shawntel’s beautiful new home, where tradition meets turkey and gratitude spreads wider than the dessert table. Then this evening, we’ll roll ourselves into Terrell and Amelia’s home (Carl's family) for Round Two -- where love will be abundant and our waistbands a little less forgiving.

Then tomorrow -- Friday, it’s off to East Texas and Epiphany Ranch where Staci, Larry, and their crew will gather for Round Three. By then, I expect laughter to be loud, memories to be sweet, and my clothes to be planning an intervention.

Oh, this Mama’s heart remembers the years when we were all around one table -- kids everywhere, noise everywhere, joy everywhere. Those days are tucked inside me like a cherished recipe card.

But here’s the anchor of my heart this year: God’s abundance is not tied to geography. His goodness doesn’t shrink if we’re scattered. His presence doesn’t diminish if the table is small.

Whether alone at a cozy table, seated in a crowded dining room, or making the Thanksgiving Tour of Texas, His promise holds true:

“The Lord will open the heavens, the storehouse of His bounty…”

-- Deuteronomy 28:12

Gratitude isn’t about where we sit. It’s about Who sits with us.

So here’s to a Thanksgiving that’s beautifully scattered yet spiritually gathered. Here’s to joy that travels and a God who follows us with goodness and mercy every mile of the way.

Happy Thanksgiving, dear friends and family. May the Lord bless you with heaven’s abundance, wherever you sit and whoever sits beside you. And may your heart notice, in a fresh way, the blessings beyond measure that God sprinkles into our lives every single day.

#Thanksgiving #gratitude #blessings 

God is a Hand-Holder

I’ve held a lot of hands in my lifetime -- starting with those tiny, sticky, curious little hands that belonged to my children and grandchildren. I remember those zoo trips, theme parks, parking lots -- those moments when I held on tight because they trusted me to keep them safe. Their whole world felt steady when their little fingers wrapped around mine.

These days? Well, now it’s Carl’s hand clasping mine as we weave through parades and busy streets and even the church crowds after the last "Amen" is said.

Isn’t it funny how roles reverse? Our children's hands used to depend on us, and now we depend on each other.

But here’s the sweetest part: no matter whose hands we’ve held, there is One whose hand has never let go of ours.

Sometimes I can’t even open a pickle jar, but God? His hands can do anything. Isaiah 41:13 tells us, “I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says, ‘Do not fear; I will help you.’”

Think about that for a moment. The same hands that shaped the galaxies -- hold ours. The same hands that measured the oceans -- hold ours. The same hands that led Israel through deserts, quenched their thirst from a rock, and kept their clothes from wearing out -- those hands hold ours too.

And those hands have never aged. Never weakened. Never trembled. But the miracle doesn’t stop there.

Those mighty hands became flesh -- human skin, human warmth --and were willingly nailed to a cross. Hands strong enough to snap the beams of Calvary like a toothpick instead stretched wide to prove a love that would never, ever let us go.

Life brings detours, delays, valleys, and shadows that sometimes make our hearts shake. But in every moment, God’s nail-scarred hands wrap around ours. Firm. Faithful. Unfailing.

So today, let’s walk like people holding the strongest hand in the universe. Because we are.

Lord, thank You for holding our hands through every season. When fear whispers and weariness weighs us down, remind us that we're safe in Your grip. In your beautiful name, we say -- thanks, Lord! In Your name we pray! Amen.

Numbers Don't Define Us

It still amazes me how I might not remember what I had for breakfast -- yet I can rattle off my childhood phone number. It was: 462-7611. Yes -- just seven numbers back then!

And don’t get me started on that ticket number at the Social Security office -- the one that told me I was “Number 37.” I held onto it like it was a Golden Ticket.

Funny, isn’t it? I forget where I set my glasses, but I can quote my Social Security number.

But when it comes to the numbers that really matter -- my children’s and grandchildren's birthdays and anniversaries -- those are sealed into my heart. They’re not memorized; they’re cherished.

Here’s the truth, dear friends: Numbers may track our days, but they were never meant to define our worth. "So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom." Psalm 90:12

Some of us have lived half our lives as if the scoreboard was our master. We count calories, steps, salaries, wrinkles, followers, mistakes, marriages, days till baby is born, days until our income taxes are due -- and we let those digits boss us around like they own us.

But no score, no stat, no measurement can ever tell us who we are! Only our Maker gets that job. And He never asked us to be the top earner, the skinniest, the youngest, the strongest, or the most successful. He simply asks us to be His -- loved, called, chosen, and held.

We are NOT -- the salary we earn, the balance in our bank account, the size in our closet, the number of times we stumbled, the number of friends we do or don’t have.

We are God’s children -- loved, redeemed, valued. Not because of what we do -- but because of Who He is. That’s it. Simple. Freeing. Like exhaling after holding our breath too long.

So here’s my questions:

Is there a number holding you hostage?

A score? A size? A salary? A stat from your past?

If so, it’s time -- time to step out of the world’s measuring tape and into the arms of the One Who handcrafted your purpose.

You are not a number.

You are a story. His story.

And you’re still being beautifully written.

So, let's drop the numbers and keep the TRUTH! We are God's beloved children -- fully, freely -- FOREVER! AND, we can count on THAT!

#number #GodsChildren #ourstory

If You Can't Lick ’Em… Join ’Em

It’s beginning to look a lot like -- well, both. Thanksgiving and Christmas are currently sharing the stage like two headliners who showed up to the same concert. And honestly? It's okay!

Just last week, I wandered into Hobby Lobby (dangerous territory for anyone with a pulse and a credit card), and there it was: Thanksgiving marked down 75% off -- while Christmas had clearly moved in -- aisles and aisles of everything Christmas. If you’re a late decorator, consider this your friendly reminder: run, don’t walk.

Time for confession, dear friends. Our home? Fully decked. Inside, outside, upside-down — we are Christmas-ready. I may very well be the first in our neighborhood to fire up the twinkle lights. If loving Christmas early is wrong, I don’t want to be right.

But here’s what I’ve learned: it’s not really about when we decorate. It’s about why.

Both Thanksgiving and Christmas invite us into the same heart posture — gratitude, kindness, generosity, joy. One season thanks God for His blessings; the other celebrates the greatest blessing of all. In truth, these holidays and holy days hold hands.

So yes, I’m happily aboard the early -- Advent/Christmas express.

Thanksgiving ushers us into remembrance — for warm homes, family hugs, answered prayers, second chances, and mercies new each morning. And then, like a gentle hinge, it swings the door wide open for Christmas — for nativity scenes, carols, candlelight, and that miraculous moment when heaven bent low and placed Hope in a manger.

As I set out my favorite nativity scenes, I’m reminded all over again:
Christmas isn’t just a day -- it’s a story too big to fit into 24 hours.

The One who hung galaxies chose to come close. The One who named every star chose to be wrapped in cloth. The Almighty became Emmanuel -- God with us. God with me. And God with you.

So if someone says, “It’s too early for Christmas,” let’s smile graciously and whisper, “Not for me.” Because gratitude and joy were never meant to be seasonal. They’re meant to be lived, breathed, shared.

It’s never too early — or too late — to celebrate the Hope of the world.

#joytotheworld #Christmas #Thanksgiving

A Thanksgiving Week Kickoff

This is it — Thanksgiving Week! My heart is already doing cartwheels -- and so is my kitchen. I’ve already gotten the call from my son:
“Mom, PLEASE make your dressing -- and your cheese ball -- and don’t forget the artichoke dip!”

Then my daughter chimed in from East Texas:
“CHEESE BALL!” (I’m beginning to think I am the Cheeseball Queen of the Southwest.) And, "Please make Larry's favorite -- Carrot Cake!"

Between now and Thursday, my oven will barely get a nap. Shortbread wreath cookies… DoubleTree cookies… Snickerdoodles… chocolate toffee “crack.” If sugar were a love language, I’d be fluent.

But before I charge into full-force Martha mode — apron on, mixer humming, pecans flying — I need a Mary moment. A pause. A breath. A quiet thank You to the One who makes all this joy possible.

This is one of my favorite weeks of the year because it pulls our hearts back to center. Back to gratitude. Back to God. Yes, the turkey is delicious and the pumpkin pie -- well, it deserves its own holiday. But this week isn’t really about food. It’s about focus.

I’m thankful that America — with all her complicated history and current chaos — still sets aside a national day for giving thanks. In a world where people argue about everything from Christmas decorations to the Ten Commandments, I’m grateful Thanksgiving hasn’t been canceled by the “Let’s-remove-everything-sacred” committee. (Don’t give them any ideas.)

But here we are — still blessed to gather, still free to pray, still able to say, “Thank You, Lord,” without apology.

Thanksgiving isn’t just a holiday… it’s a posture. A deep, daily yes to God’s goodness.
It’s waking up and being grateful that:
• We have a warm bed.
• We WOKE UP — because the alternative isn’t nearly as appealing.
• We get to spend another day loving, giving, serving, hoping.

President Lincoln got it right when he proclaimed a national day of “Thanksgiving and Praise” in 1863. Praise is what lifts our eyes above the headlines. Thanksgiving is what steadies our hearts. And when we put the two together? Joy walks right in and makes herself at home.

So, Happy Thanksgiving Week, my precious friends. May gratitude be our rhythm, joy our song, and God our steady foundation.

“Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD.” — Psalm 33:12

How to Stay Steady

Back in my high school days, “going steady” meant something. It meant you wore your boyfriend’s class ring on a chain around your neck — a shiny declaration that you were taken, committed, off the market. One glance at that ring, and everyone understood -- she's going steady.

Funny thing is, after all these years, I’m still “going steady" with THE ONE Who is the "steady" One!

These days, I want my life to show — as clearly as that ring once did — that I belong to Jesus. That I’m committed. That I’m steady. Not perfect -- but planted. Rooted. Holding on to the One who never lets go of me.

But staying steady in this wobbly world? Whew! Some days it feels like trying to walk across a tight rope while life, people, and circumstances toss curveballs at our head. Yet Scripture gives us the secret -- “He is the stability of our times.” Isaiah 33:6

Not our emotions. Not the news. Not popular opinion. Not even our own strong will. God i our steadiness. So how do we stay steady?

1. Stay close -- Just like that high school ring said, “I’m taken,” our daily walk says, “I’m His.” Spend time with Him. Let His Word anchor our thoughts. Steadiness starts with staying near.

2. Stay connected -- We wobble more when we walk alone. God designed us for community — believers who steady us when we sway and pray for us when life tilts sideways.

3. Stay surrendered -- Steadiness isn’t stiff. It’s flexible. Clay stays steady because it yields to the Potter’s hands. So do we.

4. Stay remembering -- Think back on every time God held you together when life tried to pull you apart. The same God Who steadied you then -- will steady you now.

Life will shake. People will wobble. Circumstances will shift. But Jesus? Oh, He never moves.

So yes — after all these years, I’m still going steady. Still wearing His love like a ring around my neck. Still holding His hand like a girl smitten. Still choosing, every day, to stay steady in the only One who keeps me from falling.

The world may shake, but the One who holds us -- never does.

#StaySteady #isaiah336 #FaithStrong