Just Keep Showing Up

Just Keep Showing Up 

I love this quote.

Mostly because there is so much truth in it.

There will be seasons in life when we don't feel like showing up. Seasons when we're tired. Discouraged. Disappointed. Maybe even wondering if anything we're doing is making a difference.

But sometimes the greatest victory is simply refusing to quit.

Just keep showing up.

Keep praying when you don't see the answer.

Keep believing when circumstances tell you to give up.

Keep doing what is right when doing the wrong thing would be easier.

Keep getting back up when life knocks you down.

Keep moving forward, even if your forward progress is only a few inches at a time.

The enemy would love nothing more than to convince us that our circumstances are too hard, our prayers aren't working, our situation isn't going to change, or we've simply had enough.

He wants us discouraged.

He wants us distracted.

He wants us exhausted.

And most of all, he wants us to quit.

Because if he can convince us to give up, we've surrendered ground that we never had to surrender.

But there is something powerful about a person who refuses to stay down.

The Bible tells us in James 4:7, “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

Notice that word: resist.

It doesn't say we never get tired.

It doesn't say we never struggle.

It doesn't say we never cry, question, or have moments when we don't understand what God is doing.

It says resist.

Stand your ground.

Don't give the enemy something that belongs to God.

Your hope.

Your faith.

Your peace.

Your obedience.

Your future.

There are times when showing up is an act of faith.

We may not feel strong, but we show up anyway.

We may not feel hopeful, but we show up anyway.

We may not know what tomorrow holds, but we show up anyway.

I can speak to this personally. At my age, it would be easy to stay in bed, give up, and tell myself that I've earned the right to slow down. My body is showing signs of aging, and there are days when I have to make a very conscious effort to keep moving forward. I have to choose not to let what my body is telling me become an excuse to stop living, growing, and making progress. Every day, I have to make a decision not to allow the devil to gain ground in my life simply because getting older makes some things harder. I may have to move a little slower, work a little harder, and be more intentional than I once was—but I'm still showing up. And as long as God gives me another day, I'm going to keep moving forward.

Why?

Because our strength doesn't come from knowing how everything is going to turn out.

Our strength comes from knowing Who holds it all in His hands.

The enemy wants easy prey.

He wants people who will believe every lie he whispers.

He wants people who will become so overwhelmed by what they see that they forget what they know.

He wants people who will surrender when the battle gets hard.

Don't be easy prey.

When life knocks you down, get back up.

When you're discouraged, pray.

When you're weary, rest—but don't quit.

When you don't understand what God is doing, trust Him anyway.

When you can't see the way forward, take the next step you can see.

And when you fall, remember that falling isn't the same thing as failing.

Sometimes victory looks less like a dramatic breakthrough and more like getting out of bed another morning and saying, “I'm still here. I'm still standing. I'm still trusting God.”

That matters.

Every time we get back up, we are refusing to let the enemy have the final say.

Every time we choose faith over fear, we're standing our ground.

Every time we choose obedience over convenience, we're moving forward.

Every time we keep showing up, we're reminding ourselves—and the enemy—that our circumstances don't determine who we are.

We know whose we are.

We belong to God.

So keep showing up.

Keep fighting the good fight.

Keep putting one foot in front of the other.

Keep believing.

Keep praying.

Keep trusting.

Keep moving.

We don't have to feel fearless to be courageous.

We don't have to feel strong to stand.

And we don't have to see the finish line to take the next step.

Just keep showing up.

Because sometimes the enemy's biggest frustration is discovering that after everything he threw at us, we're still standing.

And by the grace of God, we're not just standing.

We're still moving forward.

Tim's Senior Yearbook

 Here are Tim's Senior Yearbook pages from Lighthouse Homeschool Association: 

I still can't believe that we aren't getting ready to go back to school again this year. It hasn't really sunk in yet, but I have a feeling it will once everyone else starts heading back to school.

Tim is taking a gap year.

When you say that, most people gasp because they immediately assume it means the person isn't going to pursue further schooling.

Honestly, I don't know what lies ahead for Tim. But I do know that whatever he chooses to do, he will be as focused and driven as he has always been.

We are so incredibly thankful for the blessing it has been to raise this incredible young man. To say we are proud of him is an understatement.

And yes, I know I said the word proud, and I know what the Bible says about pride. I promise you, that's not the kind of pride I'm talking about.

It's the kind of pride that comes from watching your child walk through hard things, learn from them, grow through them, and become someone you genuinely admire.

Tim has been through a lot in his young life. He's learned a lot, too.

He knows what kind of person he wants to be—and what kind of person he doesn't want to be.

He has dreams and goals that he is going after with all of his heart. And I don't believe there is any amount of anything anyone can say or do that will keep him from pursuing those dreams and goals.

For Tim, living a full life means living life on purpose and with purpose.

For him, being an elite athlete isn't just something he does. It's his job, his passion, and what he believes he was put on this earth to pursue. We believe he will continue to strive for greatness in athletics and in life.

And honestly, if he never accomplished another thing from this point forward, he could still look back on his life and know that he has already done more in his time on this earth than most people do in an entire lifetime.

And that's okay.

Everything hasn't always been great. There have been plenty of ups and downs along the way. But the man he is today makes us smile because when we look at him, we know we did something right.

I love the person he is.

I'd love the person he is even if he weren't our son.

He's just that good of a man.

And getting to watch him step into this next chapter of his life is something I don't take for granted.

I may not know exactly where this road is going to take him, but I know Tim.

And wherever he goes, whatever he does, he'll give it everything he's got.

DON'T BE A PARROT IN LIFE—BE AN EAGLE

I love this quote:

“Don’t be a parrot in life, be an eagle. A parrot talks way too much and can’t fly high, but an eagle is silent and has the willpower to touch the sky.”

These two birds couldn't be more different, and I think there is a lesson for us in that.

Parrots can be funny and entertaining birds, especially depending on what their owners have taught them to say. They can repeat words, sounds, and even phrases they've heard from the people around them.

And isn't that sometimes what we do?

We repeat what we hear.

We repeat other people's opinions.
We repeat gossip.
We repeat negativity.
We repeat what everyone else is saying without ever taking the time to decide what we actually believe for ourselves.

We become parrots.

And sometimes, the more we talk, the less we actually accomplish.

BE LIKE THE EAGLE

Eagles have always fascinated me.

If you've ever had the opportunity to see one up close, you know just how much they capture your attention. In my opinion, they're the kings of the bird world.

Everything about an eagle is impressive—their strength, their beauty, their focus, and especially their ability to soar.

But one of the things I find most impressive about eagles is how quiet they can be.

They don't have to make a lot of noise to get noticed.

They don't have to announce what they're doing.

They don't have to prove themselves to anyone.

They simply soar.

And when they're preparing to go after their prey, they can be incredibly silent and focused. They aren't distracted by everything happening around them. They know what they're after, and they move with purpose.

There is something powerful about that.

Sometimes we need to stop talking so much and start listening more.

Sometimes we need to stop explaining ourselves to everyone and simply let our lives speak for us.

Sometimes we need to stop worrying about what everyone else is doing and focus on where God is leading us.

DON'T BE A PARROT

Being a parrot means constantly repeating what everyone else says.

It means allowing the opinions of others to determine how you think, how you live, and sometimes even how you see yourself.

But God didn't call us to simply blend into the crowd and repeat what everyone else is saying.

He calls us to be transformed.

Romans 12:2 tells us:

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

In other words, don't simply repeat the world around you.

Think differently.

Live differently.

Walk differently.

Let God renew your mind so that your life reflects His truth, not simply the noise around you.

EAGLES RISE ABOVE

One of the things I love most about watching an eagle is seeing it rise above everything below.

There is something beautiful about seeing an eagle soaring high in the sky, seemingly touching the clouds.

And that reminds me of something spiritually important:

Sometimes you have to rise above.

Rise above the gossip.

Rise above the drama.

Rise above the negativity.

Rise above the opinions of people who don't understand what God is doing in your life.

Rise above the need to constantly defend yourself.

Rise above the things that are trying to pull you down.

Not because you're better than anyone else, but because God has called you to a higher way of living.

GOD WILL GIVE YOU WINGS TO SOAR

One of my favorite Scriptures is Isaiah 40:31:

“But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

I love that God chose the eagle as the picture.

He didn't say we would crawl.

He didn't say we would barely survive.

He said we would soar.

That doesn't mean we will never face storms.

Eagles actually give us a beautiful picture of what it means to rise above them. Rather than being controlled by everything happening around them, they can use the conditions around them to rise higher.

And isn't that what God can do in our lives?

The very things that were meant to knock us down can become opportunities for God to strengthen us.

The storms may come.

The winds may blow.

The circumstances may be difficult.

But with God, we don't have to remain trapped at the level of the storm.

We can rise above it.

QUIET DOESN'T MEAN WEAK

Sometimes people mistake quietness for weakness.

But an eagle doesn't have to be loud to be powerful.

And neither do we.

You don't have to respond to every comment.

You don't have to participate in every argument.

You don't have to explain yourself to everyone.

You don't have to prove your worth.

You don't have to repeat everything you hear.

Sometimes the strongest thing you can do is remain quiet, keep your focus, and continue moving in the direction God has called you.

Let other people make the noise.

You keep soaring.

DON'T BE A PARROT—BE AN EAGLE

Life is full of noise.

Everyone has an opinion.

Everyone has something to say.

Everyone seems to know what everyone else should be doing.

But we don't have to repeat all of it.

We don't have to allow the noise of the world to become the voice inside our heads.

Instead, let's be people who know who we are, know Whose we are, and know where we're going.

Let's listen more.

Let's speak with purpose.

Let's stop repeating what everyone else says and start living according to what God says.

Let's rise above the things that are trying to keep us down.

And when the storms come, let's remember Isaiah 40:31.

We may get weary, but God can renew our strength.

We may feel weak, but God can give us strength.

We may feel like we're falling, but God can teach us to soar.

So don't be a parrot in life.

Don't spend your life repeating the noise around you.

Be an eagle.

Be quiet when silence is needed.

Be strong when life gets hard.

Stay focused on where God is leading you.

And when the opportunity comes—

spread your wings, rise above, and soar.

Happy Heavenly Birthday, Popsie

Birthdays are supposed to be a time of celebration—cake, laughter, presents, and gathering together with the people we love.

But sometimes a birthday comes around and reminds us of someone who is no longer here to celebrate with us.

Today is one of those days.

Happy Heavenly Birthday, Popsie.

It has been 2 years and 3 months since you left us for your heavenly home, and somehow, that amount of time feels both incredibly long and like just yesterday.

There are still moments when I think about you and wish I could pick up the phone, hear your voice, or see that smile again. I wish we could sit together, talk about life, laugh at the things that only our family would understand, and celebrate another birthday with you.

Time may continue to move forward, but missing someone doesn't have an expiration date.

There isn't a day that goes by that you aren't thought about and missed. You left behind memories that we will carry with us for the rest of our lives. Those memories become even more precious as the years go by.

I find comfort in knowing that while we miss you terribly here, you are no longer hurting, no longer growing older, and no longer experiencing the struggles of this world. You are home.

And I believe that one day, we'll see you again.

Until then, we will continue to talk about you, remember you, laugh at the memories, and keep your place in our family and in our hearts.

So today, we celebrate you.

Happy Birthday in Heaven, Popsie. 🎂💙

I hope Heaven is celebrating you in a way that only Heaven can.

We love you.
We miss you.
And you will forever be in our hearts.

Until we meet again… ❤️

Walking in the Light

There is something powerful about the words “walk in the light.”

John isn't simply talking about believing in Jesus. He's talking about how we live.

To walk in the light means choosing to live openly before God rather than hiding in darkness. It means allowing His truth to expose the things in our lives that need to be changed, surrendered, forgiven, and healed.

And there is something else I find especially interesting about this verse.

John connects walking in the light with having fellowship with one another.

In other words, our spiritual integrity doesn't just affect our relationship with God.

It affects the quality of the communities we create.

What We Do Privately Affects How We Live Publicly

John is one of the few New Testament writers who draws such a direct connection between our spiritual integrity and the quality of our relationships with one another.

That's important because we can sometimes compartmentalize our faith.

We can think our relationship with God is one thing and our relationships with people are something entirely different.

But Scripture doesn't really allow us to separate the two.

How we walk with God will eventually show up in how we treat people.

If we're walking in the light, it should affect the way we love.

It should affect the way we forgive.

It should affect the way we speak.

It should affect the way we handle conflict.

It should affect whether we're willing to admit when we're wrong.

It should affect whether we're willing to extend grace.

It should affect whether we hold grudges or choose forgiveness.

The condition of our hearts eventually becomes visible in the way we live with others.

Walking in the Light Doesn't Mean Being Perfect

Sometimes we hear the phrase “walk in the light” and think it means we have to have everything together.

It doesn't.

Walking in the light doesn't mean we never make mistakes.

It doesn't mean we never fail.

It doesn't mean we never struggle.

And it certainly doesn't mean we have to pretend we're perfect for the sake of appearances.

In fact, walking in the light requires the opposite.

It requires honesty.

It means we're willing to let God shine His light into the places we'd rather keep hidden.

The attitudes we don't want anyone to see.

The hurts we're carrying.

The sins we're struggling with.

The bitterness we've held onto.

The pride we don't want to admit.

The mistakes we wish we could erase.

Walking in the light means bringing those things before God instead of hiding them from Him.

And that's where grace comes in.

John doesn't say that those who walk in the light are never sinful.

He says that “the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin.”

That's the hope of the Gospel.

We don't have to hide because Jesus already knows.

We don't have to pretend because His grace is greater than our failures.

We don't have to remain trapped in shame because His blood cleanses us.

There Is Freedom in Being Honest With God

Walking in the light can be humbling.

Sometimes God's light reveals things about us that we don't want to see.

It can be uncomfortable to admit that we're wrong.

It's humbling to acknowledge that we need forgiveness.

It's humbling to realize that sometimes the problem isn't everyone else.

Sometimes the problem is us.

But humility isn't something we should fear.

Humility is often where healing begins.

When we stop defending ourselves and start surrendering ourselves to God, He can begin doing a work in us that we couldn't do on our own.

Walking in the light means saying:

“God, search my heart.”

“Show me what needs to change.”

“Forgive me where I've failed.”

“Heal the places in me that are broken.”

“Help me become more like You.”

That's not weakness.

That's surrender.

And there is incredible freedom in surrender.

Lives Knit Together by Forgiveness and Redemption

John says that when we walk in the light, “we have fellowship with one another.”

Think about that.

The people who walk in the light aren't people who have never failed one another.

They're people who understand forgiveness.

They're people who understand grace.

They're people who have experienced redemption.

They're people who know that they themselves have been forgiven and therefore learn to extend forgiveness to others.

When we walk in the light, our lives become knit together not by our perfection, but by God's forgiveness and redemption.

That's what makes Christian community so beautiful.

We don't gather because we've all gotten everything right.

We gather because we've all needed Jesus.

We are all people who have fallen short.

We are all people who have needed grace.

We are all people who have needed forgiveness.

And we are all people who can be made new through Christ.

The Light Doesn't Destroy Us—It Renews Us

Sometimes we are afraid of God's light because we think it will expose everything wrong with us.

But God's light isn't meant to destroy us.

It's meant to bring us to life.

His light exposes what needs to be healed so He can begin healing it.

It reveals what needs to be surrendered so we can finally let it go.

It shows us where we've wandered so He can lead us back.

It reveals the darkness not to condemn us, but to call us out of it.

That's why walking in the light can be humbling, but it can also be healing, renewing, and invigorating.

There is something refreshing about no longer having to hide.

There is freedom in being honest with God.

There is healing in receiving His forgiveness.

There is renewal in surrendering our old ways to Him.

And there is life in knowing that we don't have to walk through this journey alone.

Keep Walking in the Light

Walking in the light is a daily choice.

Every day we have opportunities to choose truth over deception, forgiveness over bitterness, humility over pride, grace over judgment, and obedience over self-will.

And when we fail—and we will—we don't run from the light.

We run toward it.

We take our failures to Jesus.

We confess them.

We receive His forgiveness.

We get back up.

And we keep walking.

Because the goal isn't to convince everyone that we're perfect.

The goal is to become more like Jesus.

And when we walk in His light, something beautiful happens.

We experience deeper fellowship with Him.

We experience deeper fellowship with one another.

We become people who understand grace because we've received grace.

We become people who can forgive because we've been forgiven.

We become people who can offer hope because we've experienced redemption.

And little by little, God creates communities where broken people don't have to pretend they're whole.

They can come into the light.

They can be honest.

They can heal.

They can grow.

They can forgive.

They can be renewed.

And they can discover what it means to walk together in the light of Christ.

“But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin.”

What a beautiful promise.

Walk in the light.

Not because you're perfect.

But because Jesus is.

Not because you never fail.

But because His grace is greater than your failures.

Not because you have everything figured out.

But because you know the One who does.

And when we walk in His light, we don't just discover a deeper relationship with God.

We discover lives knit together by His forgiveness, His grace, and His redemption.

The Person Who Challenges You May Love You the Most

“The person who challenges you and holds you accountable loves you more than the one who watches you stay the same and settle for mediocrity.”

That's a statement that can be hard to hear.

We live in a world where people often confuse love with approval.

If you love me, you should agree with me.

If you love me, you shouldn't challenge me.

If you love me, you should support whatever I decide to do.

If you love me, you shouldn't point out where I'm wrong.

But that's not always what love looks like.

Sometimes love looks like someone sitting across from you and telling you the truth.

Sometimes love sounds like, “You can do better.”

Sometimes it sounds like, “That's not who you are.”

Sometimes it sounds like, “I love you too much to watch you continue down this road.”

And sometimes the person who challenges us is the very person we need the most.

Real Love Doesn't Always Tell You What You Want to Hear

It's easy to surround ourselves with people who agree with everything we say.

It's comfortable.

They don't challenge us.

They don't question our decisions.

They don't point out our blind spots.

They simply tell us what we want to hear.

But there is a danger in being surrounded by people who will never challenge us.

We can become comfortable staying exactly where we are.

We can convince ourselves that we're doing fine when we're actually settling.

We can mistake comfort for growth.

We can mistake acceptance for love.

And we can become so accustomed to mediocrity that we stop believing there is more for us.

That's why we need people in our lives who love us enough to tell us the truth.

Not people who criticize everything we do.

Not people who tear us down.

Not people who think they are better than us.

But people who genuinely care about us and want to see us become the person God created us to be.

Accountability Is Not the Enemy

Accountability can be uncomfortable.

Nobody enjoys having someone point out their mistakes.

Nobody likes hearing that their attitude needs to change, that their choices aren't wise, or that they aren't living up to their potential.

But sometimes the uncomfortable conversation is the conversation that changes everything.

A true friend won't just celebrate you when you're doing well.

They'll also pull you aside when you're heading in the wrong direction.

They'll tell you when you're making excuses.

They'll remind you of who you are when you've forgotten.

They'll challenge you when you're settling.

And they'll hold you accountable when you need it.

That's not rejection. That's love.

Sometimes We Need Someone to See What We Can't See

One of the problems with being human is that we don't always see ourselves clearly.

We can see everyone else's mistakes while overlooking our own.

We can recognize unhealthy behavior in someone else while making excuses for it in ourselves.

We can see someone else settling while convincing ourselves that we're simply being realistic.

That's why having the right people around us matters so much.

Sometimes someone else can see potential in us that we've stopped seeing in ourselves.

Sometimes they can see that we're capable of more.

Sometimes they can see that we've become comfortable when we should be growing.

Sometimes they can see that we're allowing fear to keep us from moving forward.

And sometimes God uses that person to get our attention.

Jesus Never Called Us to Stay the Same

Following Jesus is not about remaining exactly as we are.

Yes, Jesus loves us exactly where we are.

But He loves us too much to leave us there.

Our walk with Christ should produce change.

We should grow.

We should mature.

We should become more like Him.

There should be things in our lives that we eventually have to let go of.

Attitudes that need to change.

Habits that need to be broken.

Relationships that may need boundaries.

Pride that needs to be surrendered.

Forgiveness that needs to happen.

Faith that needs to grow.

Sometimes that growth is uncomfortable.

But growth usually is.

You cannot become stronger without being stretched.

You cannot become wiser without learning.

You cannot mature without being corrected.

And you cannot become everything God has called you to be if you are determined to remain exactly as you are.

Be Careful Who You Listen To

There is another side to this that is important.

Not everyone who challenges you is doing it out of love.

Some people criticize because they want control.

Some people tear others down because they are insecure.

Some people disguise jealousy as “accountability.”

So we need wisdom.

The right person won't challenge you simply to make you feel small.

They'll challenge you because they want to see you become stronger.

They won't constantly remind you of your failures.

They'll remind you that you can grow beyond them.

They won't tear you down.

They'll build you up while still telling you the truth.

That's the difference.

Don't Push Away the People Who Love You Enough to Tell You the Truth

If you have someone in your life who loves you enough to challenge you, don't automatically assume they're against you.

Listen.

Consider what they're saying.

Take it to God.

Ask yourself whether there is truth in what they're telling you.

Maybe they're seeing something you can't see.

Maybe they're trying to keep you from making a decision you'll regret.

Maybe they're reminding you that you're capable of more.

Maybe they're refusing to watch you settle for less than what God has for you.

And maybe, just maybe, they're loving you in a way that isn't always comfortable but is exactly what you need.

We should be thankful for people who are willing to have the hard conversations.

Thankful for the friend who says, “I love you, but you're wrong.”

Thankful for the person who says, “You need to do better.”

Thankful for the person who refuses to let us make excuses.

Thankful for the person who sees more in us than we currently see in ourselves.

Because the person who simply watches us stay the same may be giving us comfort.

But the person who challenges us to grow may be giving us something much more valuable.

They may be giving us the push we need to become who we were created to be.

So don't settle for people who only tell you what you want to hear.

Surround yourself with people who will pray for you, encourage you, love you, challenge you, and hold you accountable.

And when those people speak truth into your life, don't be so quick to become offended.

Sometimes the hardest words to hear come from the people who love us the most.

Real love doesn't always let you stay comfortable.

Sometimes real love looks you in the eyes and says:

“I know you're capable of more. Don't settle.”

And sometimes that's exactly the reminder we need.

I Won't Hide My Love for Jesus

I love this quote for the simple fact that it speaks my heart.

I am not going to force Jesus on anyone.

I'm not going to tell you that you have to believe exactly what I believe. I'm not going to chase you down and demand that you follow Jesus. I'm not going to force my faith on you.

But I also won't apologize for loving Him.

You don't have to follow Jesus like I do, but I'll secretly hope you will.

Actually, if I'm being completely honest, I won't always keep that hope so secret.

Why?

Because I know what it's like to do life with Jesus.

I know what He has brought me through.

I know the comfort He has given me when I was hurting, the strength He has given me when I was weak, the peace He has given me when I couldn't find peace anywhere else, and the grace He has extended to me over and over again when I have failed Him.

I know what it's like to have Jesus meet you in the middle of circumstances you never thought you'd have to walk through.

And when you've experienced that kind of love, it's hard to stay quiet about it.

I'm Not Ashamed of Who I Love

I don't expect everyone to believe what I believe.

But I do expect people to respect my right to live out my faith.

If I want to blog about Jesus, I'm going to blog about Jesus.

If I want to worship Him in church, I'm going to worship Him.

If I want to talk about what He's done in my life, I'm going to talk about it.

And if I'm somewhere in public and I want to thank God, pray, or simply express my love for Him, I'm not going to feel ashamed for doing so.

I'm not forcing anyone to join me.

I'm simply living out what I believe.

We live in a world where people are encouraged to be open about the things they love, believe, support, and value.

So why should my love for Jesus be the one thing I have to hide?

It shouldn't be.

Jesus is not something I'm embarrassed about.

He's not a hobby.

He's not just a Sunday morning tradition.

He's not simply a part of my life.

He is the reason I have hope.

Then I Think About Those Who Couldn't Worship Freely

When I think about being open about my faith, I can't help but think about people throughout history who didn't have the freedom I have.

I think about the Jewish people who were persecuted and murdered during the Holocaust.

Their suffering is a heartbreaking reminder of what can happen when hatred, prejudice, and persecution are allowed to strip people of their humanity and their right to live according to their faith and identity.

And then I think about believers around the world today who have to be incredibly careful about who knows they follow Jesus.

There are Christians in various parts of the world who cannot openly carry a Bible.

They can't freely gather together for worship.

They can't necessarily tell their neighbors, coworkers, or even extended family that they believe in Jesus.

For some, being discovered could mean imprisonment, violence, losing their livelihood, or even death.

Some believers have to worship quietly behind closed doors because openly proclaiming Jesus could put their entire family in danger.

And then there are the martyrs.

People who have lost their lives because they refused to deny Christ.

People who understood that following Jesus could cost them everything—and yet they considered Him worth everything.

That makes me stop and think.

What Would I Do?

There is a question that Christians sometimes ask:

If we were put in that situation, would we do the same?

If following Jesus meant losing our job, would we still follow Him?

If following Jesus meant losing our friends, would we still follow Him?

If following Jesus meant losing our freedom, would we still follow Him?

And if the ultimate price were placed before us, would we be willing to give our lives rather than deny Him?

I can't honestly tell you exactly how I would respond in a situation I've never experienced.

I can say what I believe in my heart.

I can say what I hope I would do.

And with everything I've experienced in my life and everything God has done for me, I believe I would choose Jesus.

I believe I would rather sacrifice my life than deny the One who gave His life for me.

And I don't say that because I think I'm some great Christian who has never failed.

Quite the opposite.

I've failed God more times than I care to admit.

I've made mistakes.

I've made wrong choices.

I've said things I shouldn't have said.

I've had moments when my faith wasn't as strong as I wanted it to be.

I've fallen short.

But somehow, through every failure, Jesus has continued to love me.

He has continued to forgive me.

He has continued to pursue me.

He has continued to show me grace.

And that's why my love for Him runs so deep.

He Loved Me First

My willingness to stand for Jesus isn't based on believing that I'm strong enough on my own.

It's based on knowing who He is and what He has done for me.

The Bible says in 1 John 4:19:

“We love because he first loved us.”

That's it.

I love Him because He loved me first.

He loved me when I didn't deserve it.

He forgave me when I failed.

He stayed when I wandered.

He picked me up when I fell.

He gave me hope when I felt hopeless.

He gave me strength when I didn't think I had any left.

And He has never once asked me to be perfect before coming to Him.

He simply asks me to follow Him.

So No, I'm Not Going to Hide Him

If my talking about Jesus makes you uncomfortable, I'm sorry you're uncomfortable—but I'm not sorry that I love Him.

If my blog posts about Jesus aren't your thing, you don't have to read them.

If you don't want to hear me talk about my faith, you don't have to engage in the conversation.

But I'm still going to talk about Him.

I'm still going to worship Him.

I'm still going to thank Him.

I'm still going to tell people what He has done for me.

And I'm still going to hope that somewhere along the way, someone who doesn't know Him will become curious enough to find out who He is.

Because I'm not trying to force Jesus on anybody.

I'm trying to show people what I've found in Him.

There is nothing better than doing life with Jesus.

And if you've never experienced that relationship for yourself, I hope one day you will.

Not because I forced you.

Not because someone pressured you.

But because you encountered His love and realized for yourself:

There really is nothing better than Jesus.

So believe what you want.

Live according to your convictions.

I'll respect your right to do that.

But please understand this about me:

I will respect your freedom to believe differently, and I ask you to respect my freedom to love Jesus openly.

I'm not forcing Jesus on anybody.

Just don't expect me to hide my love for Him.

Cherishing Every Moment With Tucker

I'm writing this post with a heavy heart.

On the 10th, we found out from the vet that Tucker's lungs are full of nodules. The vet won't say with certainty that it's cancer, but what we saw on his X-rays looked just like Dexter's did when we found out that he had lung cancer.

We were told that with dogs, lung cancer generally forms somewhere else in the body before it takes over the lungs. So, more than likely, if this is cancer, it could be somewhere else in Tucker's body as well.

The only way we would know for certain would be to do an ultrasound, but those are very expensive. For now, we've decided to wait a month and have another set of X-rays done to see if there have been any changes.

After going through this once before with Dexter, we've made the decision to keep Tucker as comfortable and happy as possible for as long as we can. When the time comes that his suffering outweighs his quality of life, we'll have to make that incredibly difficult decision to let him go.

It's never easy having to make that kind of decision. We love our pets so much that they really aren't just pets—they're family.

Tucker has been the most amazing dog. We cherish every moment we've had with him, and right now, we're cherishing the moments ahead because we simply don't know when one of them will be our last.

Dexter went downhill very quickly. He was good one day, and the next, he wasn't. He couldn't walk and was floundering all over the floor. Tucker, thankfully, is still doing fairly well other than having some sick spells and bouts of dehydration. He's still acting pretty normal. We can tell that he's slowed down some and wants to rest more, but he's 10 now, so that's to be expected.

Right now, our focus is simply on keeping Tucker as happy and comfortable as possible. We're going to spoil him, love on him, and enjoy every moment we have with him.

Tucker turned 10 this past March, and honestly, that just seems so young to me to be facing something like this. But in dog years, he's still lived a good life, and we are incredibly thankful for every year, every memory, and every moment God has given us with him.

I'm sure there will come a day when I'll write another post about Tucker—the day when we've had to make the hard call that I already know is coming.

But that's not today.

Today, Tucker is here. He's still enjoying life. And we're going to cherish him for as long as God allows us to have him.

For now, enjoy a couple of pictures of Tucker—one from when he was younger and one from more recently.

And if you have a pet you love, don't take those moments for granted. Love them a little harder. Take the pictures. Make the memories. Because sometimes, the moments we think we'll have forever are the very moments we later wish we could have back.