WHEN STRENGTH LOOKS DIFFERENT

This picture is one of the last times that Tim lifted weight over his head.

I love this quote and included it with the picture because it's true.

After winning Nationals, Tim had been on such a high. He had worked so hard for that moment, and to see all of that hard work pay off was pretty incredible.

Then this...

For weeks now, Tim has been dealing with an issue with his elbow where it won't fully straighten out. He had some issues with it a few months back before Nationals. We thought it had gotten better with his working with his body guy, but after getting back to training, it has gotten worse.

He's been strictly doing lower body and core work while we figure out what is going on with his elbow.

Now we're going through the normal ropes to get everything that needs to be done, done. Tim has seen an orthopedic doctor. He's had X-rays done. There's no fracture or OCD changes and his joint spaces and alignment are normal. He's doing everything the orthopedic doctor is asking, along with PT. Next will be an MRI that will hopefully tell us what is really going on with his elbow.

We have to give what the orthopedic doctor is trying a chance first before we can move to the MRI step in order for insurance to pick up the tab.

Gotta love insurance... NOT!

But honestly, this has been a reminder that strength isn't always about what you can lift.

Sometimes strength is being willing to put the weights down when your body is telling you that something isn't right.

Sometimes strength is being patient when you want answers NOW.

Sometimes strength is doing the exercises you're supposed to do, going to PT, following the doctor's instructions and trusting the process—even when the process isn't moving as quickly as you'd like.

And sometimes strength is dealing with disappointment without allowing it to define you.

I know this isn't where Tim expected to be right now. After the excitement of Nationals and everything he had worked so hard for, I'm sure it's frustrating to have to back off and wait and watch others make the forward progress that you want to be making.

But this is just a pause. It's not the end of his story.

That quote says, "You can fake and buy a lot of things in life these days, but muscle and strength aren't one of them."

Tim has spent several years building his strength. He's put in the work when nobody was watching. He's learned that you don't get stronger by taking the easy road.

And maybe that's exactly what this season is teaching him too.

Because there are different kinds of strength.

There is physical strength.

There is mental strength.

And there is the kind of strength that comes from having to trust God when you don't have all the answers yet.

We don't know exactly what is going on with his elbow right now. We don't know how long this will take. We don't know what the MRI will show.

But we do know that God isn't surprised by any of it.

So for now, we wait. We do what the doctors tell us to do. We keep working the parts of his body that he can work. We keep moving forward instead of sitting still and feeling sorry for ourselves.

And we pray.

Because sometimes getting stronger doesn't mean adding another plate to the bar.

Sometimes getting stronger means learning how to keep going when you can't lift the bar at all.

This isn't the chapter we expected after Nationals, but it's the chapter we're in.

And we'll trust God with the rest.

YOU CAN DO ANYTHING

“You can do anything.”

Those are words we have told our son over and over again as he has grown into the man he is today.

Not because we believed life would always be easy for him. Not because we thought he would never fail, face disappointment, or have moments when he questioned himself.

We told him because we wanted him to believe something that is so easy to forget:

Your circumstances don't get to decide what you are capable of becoming.

From the time he was little, we wanted him to know that we believed in him. We wanted him to understand that when something is hard, that doesn't automatically mean you should quit. Sometimes hard simply means you have to work harder, try again, learn something new, or find another way.

There have been times when he didn't believe he could do something himself. But that's when we would remind him:

“You can do anything.”

Those words weren't meant to tell him that he would always get exactly what he wanted.

They were meant to tell him that he shouldn't put limits on himself before he ever gives himself a chance.

You may not be the smartest person in the room.

You may not be the strongest.

You may not have the most money, the most opportunities, or the easiest circumstances.

You may even have people who tell you that you can't.

But none of those things mean you should stop trying.

Sometimes the biggest obstacle standing between us and what we want to accomplish isn't our circumstances. It's the voice in our own head telling us we're not capable.

That's why I think it is so important to speak life into our children.

Tell them you believe in them.

Tell them they are capable.

Tell them that failure isn't the end.

Tell them that falling down doesn't mean they can't get back up.

And most importantly, teach them that success isn't always about winning. Sometimes success is simply refusing to quit.

As parents, we can't walk through every door for our children. We can't protect them from every disappointment or remove every obstacle they will face.

Eventually, they have to walk through those doors themselves.

That's why we wanted our son to carry those words with him:

You can do anything.

Not because we think he can literally do everything without limitations.

But because we want him to approach life believing that he is capable of more than he may realize.

And as I look at the man he has become, I am so thankful we kept saying it.

Because sometimes the words we speak to our children when they're young become the words they hear in their own heads when they're grown.

I hope when life gets hard, he remembers our voices telling him:

“You can do this.”

“Don't give up.”

“Keep going.”

“We believe in you.”

And most of all...

“You can do anything.”

Maybe that's one of the greatest gifts we can give our children—not a life without obstacles, but the confidence to face those obstacles believing they are capable of overcoming them.

And if you're a parent reading this today, don't underestimate the power of your words.

Your child may not always show it.

They may roll their eyes.

They may act like they don't care.

But keep telling them.

Keep encouraging them.

Keep believing in them.

Because one day, they may become the man or woman you always knew they could be—and they'll carry those words with them long after they leave your home.

You can do anything.

Sometimes, they just need someone who loves them enough to believe it until they believe it too.

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.

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.

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.

If You See a Different Me, It Means I Saw the Real You

That quote hits home deeply with me.

There have been times in my life when I've had to become more direct, put some distance between myself and someone, or simply stop allowing them access to me. It wasn't because I suddenly became a different person. It was because they showed me who they really were.

They showed me a side of themselves that was ugly, hurtful, or intentionally disrespectful—and once you see something like that, you can't always pretend you didn't see it.

Those who really know me know that I'm a very Type A personality. I'm an “everything has a place and everything should be in its place” kind of person😂. But I also love to relax, laugh, and have a good time with my family and friends.

I'm also a quality-time gal.

Quality time is something you can't get back. Once that time is gone, it's gone. That's why I value the people I allow into my life, and I am a very loyal friend. When I love you, I love you deeply. When I care about you, I will show up for you. I will cheer you on, pray for you, stand beside you, and give you the best of me.

You will always get the best of me as long as you give me the same in return.

God has done a lot of work in me through the years. He has taught me to have more patience, extend more grace, forgive more freely, and not react to everything that happens around me.

But one thing I've learned is that grace does not mean giving someone unlimited access to you.

Forgiveness doesn't always mean restored access.

And loving people doesn't mean allowing them to continually hurt you.

I will distance myself from a person before I continue allowing intentional hurt, disrespect, or toxic behavior into my life—especially when it is directed toward me or the people I love and care about.

Frankly, I don't have time for it.

And I don't believe God called us to be doormats for people who continually choose to do wrong.

There is a difference between loving someone and allowing them to have unlimited access to your life.

Sometimes the godliest thing you can do is create some distance.

Sometimes you have to stop explaining yourself.

Sometimes you have to stop trying to make someone see what they refuse to see.

And sometimes you have to let someone go because keeping them close is costing you your peace, your joy, your focus, and your forward progress.

We have to be careful about the people we allow to influence our lives. The wrong people can become distractions from what God is trying to do in us and through us.

That doesn't mean we should become bitter.

It doesn't mean we should hate them.

It doesn't mean we stop praying for them.

It simply means we recognize that not everyone deserves the same level of access to our lives.

Jesus Himself knew that not everyone could walk closely with Him. There were crowds who followed Him, disciples who walked with Him, and then there were those He allowed into His closest circle.

There is wisdom in understanding that proximity matters.

So if you see a different me, don't assume I've changed for no reason.

Maybe I simply saw something I couldn't unsee.

Maybe I finally recognized what God had been trying to show me all along.

Maybe I realized that the relationship was no longer healthy, the friendship was no longer genuine, or the person I thought you were wasn't actually who you were.

And that's okay.

I'm not going to spend the rest of my life trying to force the wrong people to become the right people for my life.

I can love you from a distance.

I can forgive you without bringing you back into my inner circle.

I can pray for you without continuing to give you access to me.

And I can walk away without hatred in my heart.

Because sometimes protecting what God is doing in your life means being willing to let go of what—and who—is standing in the way.

Empty seats are better than the wrong company.

And sometimes the empty seat isn't a loss at all.

Sometimes it's simply making room for the people God actually intended to sit there.

Your Choices Are Writing Your Story

Every one of us has moments when we look at our lives and wish something was different.

We wish we were healthier.
We wish our relationships were stronger.
We wish our finances were better.
We wish we had more peace, more purpose, or a deeper walk with God.

The truth is, the life you have today is largely the sum of the choices you've repeated.

Not luck.

Not fate.

Not coincidence.

Our habits become our future.

Our decisions become our reality.

That can sound discouraging at first, but it's actually one of the most hopeful truths you'll ever hear. Why? Because if your choices helped create the life you're living today, then different choices can help create a different tomorrow.

Too often we wait for life to change.

We wait for the perfect opportunity.
We wait until we "feel ready."
We wait for someone else to change first.

But real transformation rarely begins with waiting. It begins with choosing.

Choosing to forgive.

Choosing to pray instead of worry.

Choosing to spend time in God's Word instead of endlessly scrolling through social media.

Choosing discipline over excuses.

Choosing gratitude over complaining.

Choosing faith over fear.

None of those choices may seem dramatic in the moment. Yet repeated day after day, they shape the person you're becoming.

The Bible reminds us in Galatians 6:7, "Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap." Every choice is a seed. Eventually, every seed produces a harvest.

If something in your life isn't working, don't simply hope things will magically improve.

Ask yourself:

What choices have led me here?

Then ask an even better question:

What choice can I make today that honors God and moves me in the right direction?

You don't have to overhaul your entire life by tomorrow morning. God often works through small acts of daily obedience. One faithful decision today can lead to another tomorrow. Over time, those decisions build a life marked by wisdom, peace, and purpose.

Remember, your past choices do not have to define your future. God's grace gives us the opportunity to begin again. Every new day is an invitation to make choices that reflect His will and trust His direction.

So if you don't like where your life is headed, don't lose hope.

Start making different choices.

One better decision today can become a completely different life tomorrow.

Your life is a result of the choices you make. If you don't like your life, it is time to start making better choices—and with God's help, those choices can lead you exactly where He wants you to be.

Where You Look Determines What You See: Choosing Faith Over Fear

Where You Look Determines What You See: Choosing Faith Over Fear

Life has a way of presenting us with challenges.

Some seasons feel heavier than others. Unexpected circumstances come. Plans change. Doors close. Prayers seem unanswered. We face situations that are bigger than our ability to fix them.

And in those moments, we have a choice.

We can focus on the problem.

Or we can focus on the possibilities.

Where we place our focus often determines how we walk through the season we are in.

When we focus only on problems, our problems begin to consume us. We replay the situation over and over in our minds. We search for every possible thing that could go wrong. Fear begins to grow, and before long, the problem feels bigger than anything else in our lives.

The more we focus on what is wrong, the more wrong we seem to find.

But when we shift our focus toward possibilities, something changes.

We begin to look for solutions instead of reasons to give up.

We begin to see opportunities instead of obstacles.

We begin to recognize that even difficult seasons can produce growth, wisdom, and strength.

This doesn't mean we ignore our problems or pretend they don't exist. Faith isn't about denying reality. It's about remembering that our reality is not bigger than our God.

Throughout Scripture, we see people who faced impossible situations but chose to focus on God's possibilities.

When David stood before Goliath, others saw a giant they couldn't defeat. David saw a God who was greater than any giant standing in front of him.

When the disciples looked at the crowd of thousands needing food, they saw a shortage. Jesus saw an opportunity for a miracle.

When the Israelites stood before the Red Sea, they saw no way forward. God saw a path where there wasn't one.

The difference wasn't the circumstance.

The difference was where they placed their focus.

Fear asks, "What if this goes wrong?"

Faith asks, "What can God do through this?"

Worry focuses on what we cannot control.

Trust focuses on the One who is always in control.

I have learned that some of the hardest seasons of life can become some of the greatest opportunities for growth. The moments that stretched me the most were often the moments where God revealed His faithfulness the clearest.

Looking back, I can see places where I thought something was an ending, but God was creating a new beginning. I thought a door had closed, but He was preparing another one to open. I thought I was walking through a struggle, but He was building strength and purpose through it.

God doesn't waste anything.

Romans 8:28 reminds us:

"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose."

The challenge may still be real.

The waiting may still be difficult.

The road may still be uncertain.

But when our focus shifts from the size of our problems to the greatness of our God, we begin to see possibilities we never noticed before.

Instead of asking, "Why is this happening to me?"

We can begin asking, "God, what are You teaching me through this?"

Instead of focusing on what we have lost, we can look for what God is building.

Instead of allowing problems to define our story, we can trust God to write a greater one.

Because the things we focus on tend to grow.

If we focus on problems, they will take up more space in our hearts and minds.

But if we focus on God's possibilities, we begin to see opportunities for growth, purpose, and blessings that we may have missed before.

Our circumstances may not always change immediately.

But our perspective can.

And sometimes, changing our perspective is the first step toward seeing what God is doing all along.

The True Measure of Leadership: Preparing Others to Lead

The True Measure of Leadership: Preparing Others to Lead

One of the greatest misconceptions about leadership is believing that our value comes from being indispensable.

Many people measure their success by how much everyone depends on them. They want to be the one with all the answers, the one who has to make every decision, or the one who keeps everything moving. While that may feel important for a season, it isn't the goal of true leadership.

Real leadership isn't about making yourself impossible to replace.

It's about making sure others are equipped to succeed without you.

The strongest leaders don't build followers. They build leaders.

They teach.

They encourage.

They invest.

They share what they've learned instead of guarding it.

They celebrate the success of others, even when those people eventually outgrow them.

Jesus modeled this perfectly.

Throughout His earthly ministry, Jesus poured Himself into His disciples. He taught them, corrected them, encouraged them, and trusted them with responsibility long before they felt ready. His mission was never to have people depend on His physical presence forever. He was preparing them to carry the Gospel to the world after He returned to the Father.

Paul followed that same example. In 2 Timothy 2:2, he wrote:

"And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also."

Notice the pattern.

Paul taught Timothy.

Timothy taught faithful people.

Those faithful people taught others.

That is leadership.

Leadership creates a legacy that continues long after the leader is gone.

Whether you're raising children, coaching athletes, managing employees, serving in ministry, or simply mentoring a friend, your greatest accomplishment isn't having people always come to you.

It's watching them confidently walk in what you've helped them become.

As parents, we don't spend eighteen years teaching our children so they'll need us forever. We prepare them to become responsible, capable adults who love God, make wise decisions, and someday invest in others.

As coaches, we don't just teach techniques. We teach character, discipline, perseverance, and confidence so our athletes can lead both on and off the platform.

As Christians, we aren't called to collect followers for ourselves. We're called to make disciples for Christ.

That kind of leadership requires humility.

It means letting others make mistakes.

It means giving away opportunities.

It means celebrating when someone you've invested in accomplishes something greater than you ever did.

That isn't losing your importance.

That's fulfilling your purpose.

A leader's success should never be measured by how many people still need them.

It should be measured by how many people are faithfully leading because someone once believed in them.

So ask yourself today:

Am I building dependence on me?

Or am I building confidence in others?

Because leadership isn't about being needed.

It's about preparing others to lead.

When I think about leadership, I don't think about titles, positions, or how many people know your name. I think about the people God has placed in our lives and the responsibility we have to pour into them.

One of the greatest blessings of my life has been watching God allow me to invest in others — especially through my role as a wife, a mother, a co-business owner with my husband, and a follower of Christ.

As parents, we spend years teaching, guiding, correcting, and encouraging our children. We don't do that so they will always need us. We do it because we want to prepare them to step into the calling God has placed on their lives.

Watching our son grow has been one of the greatest reminders of this truth. The goal was never for him to stay dependent on us forever. The goal was to help him develop character, confidence, faith, discipline, and the courage to pursue what God has put in his heart.

There is something incredibly humbling about watching someone you have invested in begin to walk confidently on their own.

That is the reward of leadership.

Not being the person everyone has to come back to.

Not receiving recognition for everything you have done.

But seeing someone else use what you poured into them to make an impact of their own.

At the end of the day, everything we have comes from God. The opportunities we have to lead, teach, mentor, and encourage others are not about building our own name — they are about pointing people back to Him.

My prayer is that my life reflects a leadership style that serves, equips, and multiplies. That the people God places in my path would not just remember what I did for them, but would be stronger, more confident, and better prepared to fulfill their own God-given purpose because of the investment I made.

Because true leadership isn't about creating people who need us.

It's about helping create people who are ready to lead.

And that is a legacy worth leaving.

Take Time to Improve Not Prove... 

The older I get, the more I realize how much truth is packed into this simple statement.

Somewhere along the way, many of us started believing that our value comes from what we can prove to other people. We spend so much of our lives trying to convince others that we're enough.

We want to prove we're talented.

Prove we're right.

Prove our point.

Prove we're successful.

Prove we're worthy.

Prove we deserve the promotion, the bigger house, the nicer car, the better clothes, or the recognition we've been chasing.

If we're honest, we often spend more energy trying to impress people than we do becoming the person God created us to be.

The problem is that proving yourself is an endless race with no finish line.

No matter what you accomplish, there will always be someone who isn't impressed. Someone who expects more. Someone who thinks you should have done better.

When your identity is built on proving yourself, "enough" never comes.

I watched this happen with our son during the years he competed in his previous sport. He felt like he constantly had to prove himself. No matter what he accomplished, it never seemed like enough.

Looking back, Scot and I have had to admit that we sometimes unintentionally added to that pressure. We weren't perfect parents.

We've apologized to Tim many times for the part we played.

Children shouldn't have to spend their lives trying to earn their parents' approval. They should be free to discover who God created them to be while knowing they are already deeply loved.

Thankfully, we learned from those mistakes.

As Tim grew, we intentionally shifted our focus. Instead of encouraging him to prove himself, we encouraged him to improve himself.

That one change made all the difference.

Improving means becoming a little better today than you were yesterday. It means developing your character, your work ethic, your discipline, your faith, and your gifts. It means competing with the person you were yesterday instead of constantly comparing yourself to everyone else.

Improvement is a journey.

Proving is a performance.

One builds your future.

The other only feeds your insecurity.

I understand this lesson on a deeply personal level because I spent much of my younger life trying to prove myself to my father.

I wanted his approval.

I wanted his attention.

I wanted him to be proud of me.

Too many of my decisions were driven by trying to earn something that could never truly be earned.

Looking back now, I realize how exhausting that was.

A life spent trying to prove yourself to people who may never be satisfied isn't really living at all.

"For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ." — Galatians 1:10

Everything changed when I realized I didn't need to prove my worth—I needed to improve the person God had created me to be.

Every day became another opportunity to grow.

To become wiser.

Kinder.

Stronger.

More disciplined.

More like Christ.

That's a life worth pursuing.

The beautiful thing about following Jesus is that we don't have to prove our worth to God. Through Christ, our worth has already been settled. We don't work for His love—we work from His love.

That changes everything.

When you know whose you are, you stop worrying so much about proving who you are.

Instead of chasing approval, pursue growth.

Instead of competing with everyone else, compete with the person you were yesterday.

Instead of asking, "How can I prove myself?" ask, "How can I improve myself?"

One question leads to frustration.

The other leads to transformation.

So keep moving forward.

Keep learning.

Keep growing.

Keep allowing God to shape your character day by day.

Take time to improve... but don't waste time trying to prove.

The people who truly love you won't love you because of what you've proven.

They'll love you because of who you've become.