Back in 2015, I posted about my favorite YouTube videos. Some of the videos don't work, and I don't think they are an honest reflection of me anymore (it has been 11 years). I am just going to say these are a little embarrassing, but this is Frivolous Fridays, so things are happening.
As I mentioned in my Psalm 8 post (link), I’ve been sharing some of my reflections on the Psalms. Recently, I’ve completed a couple of these studies, but wanting to pace myself, I revisited some old journals to see if I had any past material. That’s when I found a study on Psalm 46 from last year. Interestingly, I had just worked on Psalm 46 again about a month ago. It seems I’ve been spending quite some time with this particular Psalm, especially the phrase: “Be still and know I am God…”
In this series, I’ll compare and contrast these two reflections on Psalm 46. I hope you’ll join me as I explore what new insights have emerged over time.
💖 What Does It Say About God?
God is our refuge and strength — not occasionally, but abundantly (v.1). The cross-references here are rich. Psalm 62:7–8 says: "In God is my salvation and my glory; the rock of my strength, my refuge is in God. Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge." And Deuteronomy 4:7 asks the rhetorical question that answers itself: "For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as the LORD our God is to us, for whatever reason we may call upon Him?" The nearness of God is not incidental — it is definitional. He is not a God who shows up when it's convenient. He is abundantly available for help.
God is in the midst of His people (v.5). This one stopped me. The cross-references pile up like a chorus — Deuteronomy, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Hosea, Joel, Zephaniah, Zechariah. The thread running through all of them is the same: I am here. I am with you. I dwell in your midst. "The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst; you shall see disaster no more" (Zeph. 3:15). The city does not move — not because of her own strength, but because He who lives with His people is her defense. His protection can be counted on because He is consistently present.
God is the LORD of Hosts — and He is covenantally committed (v.7). "The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge." That title — the God of Jacob — carries weight. Jacob was not the most impressive patriarch. He wrestled, he schemed, he doubted. And yet God tied His name to him. The title underscores faithfulness, power, and enduring commitment. 2 Chronicles 13:12 echoes it plainly: "God Himself is with us as our head." He doesn't just observe from a distance. He leads. (Gen. 32, 2 Chron. 13:12)
God is the one who makes wars cease (v.9). He breaks the bow. He cuts the spear. He burns the chariot. This is not a God who merely comforts — He is the one who acts, who intervenes, who dismantles the very instruments of destruction. The peace He brings is not fragile or negotiated. It is won. (Ps. 76:3, Isaiah 2:4)
God will be exalted (v.10). "I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." Isaiah 2:11 and 17 both anchor this: the loftiness of man will be brought low, and the LORD alone will be lifted up. The command to be still is not just an invitation to rest — your study note caught something important here. That call to stillness is set against the backdrop of impending judgment. It is a declaration before the nations, before enemies, before every power that thought itself great: Know that I am God.
That changes the verse, doesn't it? It's not only a mild whisper for the weary. It's a command to every opposing force — stop. He is God.
👩What Does It Say About Me?
Because of who God is — refuge, strength, abundantly present, dwelling in the midst of His people — I do not need to fear. That's not a feeling I have to manufacture. It's a conclusion I get to rest in.
And that word rest feels right. When I know that the LORD of Hosts is with me, that the God of Jacob — the God who is faithful to the unpolished and the doubting — is my refuge, stillness becomes possible. Not because the trouble is gone. But because He is here, and He is God, and that is enough.
I want to be found praising Him in that. Whatever I face, I want to be found there.
🙏 A Prayer to Close
Lord, as I am to be judged, may I have peace, hope, and grace in Your eyes. Lord, I know we will all face judgment, but I rely on the words that say You step in our place. I am surrendering that to You. But Lord, I want to be found praising You. In all that is honorable — I want to be found praising You.
I have had two blog posts on my mind for weeks. One being my Psalm 8 (part 2), and now this follow-up to my 40 random facts about me. I ended the last post of that series with the words of my friend, "What is one of your favorite things about last year?" And "What is one thing you want to accomplish in the next year?"
I had every plan to answer that, but as I began to write my post (because, yes, most times I write it out by hand before typing it up), I realized I didn't really do that. Loosely but not really.
At the beginning of the year, I wrote out my prayers for 2026, and I have been blessed to see how God is answering them. The year is only halfway done, and I am blessed to see how God will answer the others.
📌Yellow note card — "Prayers for 2026."
God's healing power in my life, enabling me to experience His peace, hope, and joy.
Rely more on His facts than my feelings
Being fully funded
Pray for my heart to be restored in Him so I'm open to another relationship (in His timing)
Movement of the Holy Spirit, so there is revival for God throughout Sharpstown
Embrace what God desires?
That I may hear Him clearly
Praise:
My job is support-raised, and if you would like to learn more, please sign up for my mailing list (link). I am truly grateful to share that, while I am not yet fully funded, I have reached a strong percentage — something that has been a significant challenge for me over the years. This progress is an incredible answer to prayer, and I am deeply encouraged by how far God has brought me.
My heart is being actively restored, and I am in a relationship with a wonderful man who is pointing me more and more to Jesus. Last week, I shared a prayer request, and he said he was praying and thinking about it too. I thought it was awesome God has us on the same path, even if we don't talk about it.
Prayers:
I continue to pray for revival in Sharpstown, because I see so many nations represented in this part of Houston. I truly believe if revival were to happen here, it could transform not only Houston but also nations around the world.
Still truly trying to embrace who God desires me to be (that will probably be a lifetime prayer).
🙏 Back to praises and a little bit of prayers:
God's healing in my life… The end of 2024 and a lot of 2025 were hard for me. I sat in a lot of grief, shame, and regret, so I prayed for restoration. I can't say I have reached the pinnacle of His peace, hope, and joy. I think there are still things I am working through with God, but there is a lot more light than darkness.
I don't know when I wrote the blue card, probably later in January or early February, but as much as I can proclaim things over myself* I prayed:
Tears and pain would turn to rejoicing
Doubts and fears would turn to certainty
Longings would turn to trust
Hurt would turn to hope
Unforgiveness would turn to restoration
Lack would turn to abundance
Lack would turn to wisdom
God is graciously blessing me in many of these prayers, but looking over this list, I can still see some areas of struggle I need to actively turn over to the Lord. But as I said in my Psalm 8 (part 2) post, I am still crying out to God, "I trust, but help my untrusting."
I don't have a neat bow to tie on any of this — and honestly, I don't think I'm supposed to. Faith is a daily return. And so I'll keep returning, keep writing my prayers on little note cards, keep pinning them where I can see them. Because the card on my board is a constant reminder — "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us." (1 John 5:14). He heard me when I wrote those prayers in January, and He is still hearing me now.
💖 Lovely reader, He hears you too. So keep asking. Keep returning. Nothing you lay before Him is ever forgotten.
Thanks for reading and joining me in this journey.
This is usually what it looks like when I am getting blogging done
* I often wrestle with how to approach proclaiming things—I don’t want to fall into a “name it and claim it” mindset. Still, I believe there is genuine value in trusting God with our lives and honestly expressing our desires to Him. I am thinking of verses- Psalm 37:4, 62:8, Philippians 4:6-7, and Romans 8:26-27, and I hope that if I am misunderstanding these verses or taking them out of context, you will graciously correct me.
I wrote out my study of Psalm 8 (link), but I keep coming back to it. It was a good start, and I loved sharing what I learned, but I don't want my blog post to be just intellectual; I want to share life and start discussions (if possible on a blog). So I came up with some thought-provoking questions I will answer, and maybe you can answer in your journal or in the comments below.
Do you actually believe you were made in God's image? How would your daily life look different if you truly did?
I know the verse "Let us make man (man and woman) in Our image according to Our likeness…" (Genesis 1:26), and while I used to think it meant we were made like how God looks. But a few years ago, I heard when it says "according to Our image," it really means we were called to bear His image, to carry out His image and ways. I think it changes my idea on the question… Do I believe I was made in God's image?
Yes! Absolutely.
Do I live it out daily? Probably not.
How would my daily life look different if I truly did?
One, I think I would have more confidence, not just in myself, but in showing love to others (not being prideful or selfish). I think I would have more trust. I frequently pray, saying, "I trust God, He is the maker of the universe. He stepped down from heaven, walked among us, dwelt with us, died on the cross for us, and rose again." So I do not struggle to trust Him as God. But sometimes I feel like the man who said: "I believe, but help me in my unbelief" (Mark 9:24). I say, "I trust, but help my untrusting."
Something I love about my boyfriend is that he is so trusting that God will work things out, and he is absolutely certain that God's got all this. I'm certain too, but there is a difference in our attitude. I have to start off with things going nuclear and then work my way back from there. I feel conditioned to start with the worst-case scenario and make plans A, B, C, and sometimes D, just in case. My boyfriend is conditioned (though he might correct me on the wording) to believe that everything will go all right and that God's got this (Matthew 6:34).
If I truly lived out carrying God's image more, I think I would just truly have deep certainty, a hope or peace surpassing all understanding (Philippians 4:7).
Where have you been looking for worth God has already given freely?
Not lately, but in the past, I have struggled with just the idea of being good enough — I know I am only good enough by God's grace, love, mercy, and salvation, not by my own efforts. But I struggle with this. There are moments when I feel completely inadequate in my job, in a relationship, and at low times, just walking on the face of this earth. I have to consistently remind myself of God's truth. He created me, He loves me, He chose me, delights in me, and saved me, and there is nothing I can do to change it. My sister frequently tells me to rely on His facts, not my feelings, and I hope I will eventually live it out.
I think this leads to answering another question:
What is one thing about God — His greatness, His gentleness, His attention — you have taken for granted lately?
I couldn't think of just one, so here are three:
His acceptance. God accepts me for who I am. I am not saying He won't transform me; I want to be renewed, refined, and restored in His holiness, but He will never abandon or forsake me when I mess up. He accepts me and loves me because I'm His cherished daughter; I am His beloved. And I need to lean on His acceptance, His grace, and mercy in my life.
His forgiveness. I spent a lot of time beating myself up for things He has already forgiven me for (1 John 1:9). I'm still figuring out what this genuinely looks like and what it means moving forward.
His faithfulness. He always provides. He doesn't hold back. He holds me, and I need to walk in security and confidence.
When you look at creation (the sky, the stars, the sunset, or maybe if you can see mountains (we don't have mountains in Houston)), does it make you feel small in a scary way or small in a safe way?
For me: safe.
Who in your life points you back to God when you're falling apart? Have you told them what it means to you?
For me: my dad, my sisters, my boyfriend, and my friends.
I hope to do more Psalm studies, so stay tuned, and please let me know your honest thoughts.
Now that it is the final facts, I will say this has been a fun and interesting reflection on my life.
33. First country I ever visited outside the U.S.? France, well, technically Spain, but all I did was get off the plane, get in a car, and drive on the highway to the cruise boat. So I am sticking with France.
In a town where I got to see Roman ruins outside of Marseille (Sorry, can't remember name)
34. Most random anecdote: I have been licked by a giraffe... my best friend in high school, Karen, and I were visiting Six Flags Marine World, and they had this opportunity to take a picture with a giraffe. Well, from what I remember, my friend held the salt stick to get the giraffe to come over to us, but she held it closer to me, and it licked me. Not sure why, but I freaked out, and somehow their telling me it was good luck to be licked by a giraffe calmed me down (I wasn't a Christian yet, so maybe that really did calm me down).
35. Favorite Boston memory: Going to John Lester’s no-hitter on my 23rd birthday or doing the Freedom Trail with visitors and stopping for some cannoli.
At John Lester's no-hitter
But in all honesty, I mostly just hung out with my friends and watched movies at their apartments. It was here I lived life, grew in my faith, and found a support system.
36. Favorite Houston memory (not family related): Seeing Reba McEntire at the Houston Rodeo
But I would not have gone to the Rodeo if it weren't for the wonderful friends I have made at PLI... so I should give them a little shout-out.
37. Favorite comfort food on a bad day: This is going to sound random, but when I am feeling really crummy, I like to make rice and eat it with butter and sugar. We ate a lot of rice when I was growing up because it was cheap and easy to make.
38. What has been the hardest season of your life, and what did it teach you? I have struggled with depression on and off since my junior year of high school. The time that stands out most was after grad school, when I searched for a job, and nothing happened. Whenever friends asked about it, I wanted to cry or shout—I felt useless, disappointed, discouraged. Other friends seemed to get job offers right away. I cried out to God, “Why?” My quiet time became a checklist. I remember walking home from the train and wishing a bus would hit me and end it all.
I felt like dirt—worse than dirt.
Moving to Houston didn’t magically fix things; my problems followed me. I still scrambled and called out to God. One day, driving to a babysitting job, I thought a pickup truck would merge into me. I swerved into an 18-wheeler. Somehow, I only damaged my bumper and had a headache. I walked away knowing God must have a purpose for me. I’m still living in that truth.
39. Do you have any irrational fears or phobias? Yes, ants, and my roommate thinks it is hilarious that I love Ant-Man.
40. Favorite role in life (thus far): Being "Aunt Blaire," if you spend any time around me in real life, you will know my niece and nephews are my favorite subject to speak about (after Jesus). I'm always so proud of them; they hold my heart, and watching them grow up has been one of the biggest blessings in my life.
After putting all of this together, I'm already thinking about what comes next. A friend in Boston had a beautiful birthday tradition... every year, she would ask two questions: What was your favorite thing about the last year? And what is one thing you want to accomplish in the next year? I love that. Simple, intentional, and worth sitting with.
I think that deserves its own post... Stay tuned. 🎂
The big day has come and gone — and honestly? I wouldn't change a thing. I was busy visiting my boy in Tennessee, soaking up the good stuff, and I decided that working on a blog post could wait.
24. Ever since I was a child, I have always had a close friend with a "K" in her name. It started with Katie, my very first friend. Then came Karen in high school, two different Kates in college, and in adulthood — the Kates are still going strong, plus my last roommate in Boston was named Kyra. (I also had wonderful friends named Caroline, Liz, and Sarah along the way, but the K's are clearly a pattern.) Maybe "B" and "K" just go well together. I'm not questioning it — I'm just collecting them.
The Kates and I
25. One truly stupid thing I did as a kid was staple my own thumb. In my defense, I had just received the most adorable Noah's Ark desk set, and the stapler was shaped like a hippopotamus. Naturally, the only logical way to test whether it had staples in it was to press my thumb down on it. It did. I pulled it out myself — without crying, I might add — because I didn't want to frighten my younger sister. I then went to find my parents via my older sister, who, unfortunately, cannot stand the sight of blood. Let's just say her reaction was... dramatic. (Or at least, that's how I remember it. 😄)
26. The first book I remember loving: Ella Enchanted... it is a retelling of Cinderella, but don't judge a book by its movie because the book is so much better.
27. Continuing my book theme- Favorite author (besides God), Kate Morton, Jane Austen. I have liked Susanna Kearsley, Fredrik Backman, Ann Vosscamp, and others.
28. If I could meet a fictional character: Emma M. Lion, Katniss Everdeen (though she would probably think I was weak), Mr. Knightley.
29. Submitted by a friend: What is your favorite book from the last 10 years? This is hard to answer... 1) because I can't remember every book I have read over the last 10 years, and 2) it is hard for me to choose a favorite.
Audio Book: Homecoming by Kate Morton, because it is narrated by Claire Foy, and she has a really great voice.
Christian non-fiction: Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers by Dane Ortlund, The Broken Way by Ann Vosskamp, Seeking Allah Finding Jesus by Nabeel Qureshi.
30. Favorite books of the Bible (if you are allowed to have favorites): John, Ephesians, Deuteronomy, Psalms (I mean, it just covers the wide range of emotions).
31. What Bible verse has shaped your life most? Can I list a few?
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. -Hebrews 10:23 (NIV)
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. - Ephesians 2:10 (NJKV)
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. -2 Peter 3:9 (NIV)
And what does the LORD require of you, but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God? - Micah 6:8b
For your steadfast love is before my eyes, and I walk in your faithfulness. -Psalm 26:3 (ESV)
32. A favorite line from a TV show that I quote a lot: "Life's tough. Get a helmet." - Boy Meets World.
21. Submitted by my aunt: "Have you ever daydreamed about moving to Kansas?"
Sorry, I can't say that I have. Okay, maybe when I was a kid, and my cousin and I would play dress up and act out stories together — maybe then. In high school, I dreamt of becoming a writer in New York City, but I fell in love with Boston instead. And for a while, I dreamt about working at the Library of Congress, because the main building is so beautiful. But dreams have shifted. I am now fulfilling my dream of being used in God's kingdom, working with immigrants and refugees, and fulfilling a heart's desire to love on kids so they know they are loved — not only by me, but by God.
22. Submitted by my cousin: "Did you know about PLI before you moved to Houston?"
Simple answer: "No."
Long answer: I moved to Houston to be closer to my family. I loved Boston, but every time I visited my sister and her family, it was getting harder to get back on the plane and leave them (my niece and nephews have me wrapped around their little fingers — and they know it). Also, at the time, I had a roommate who was taking amazing trips by herself and with her best friend, and I was getting a little envious — okay, a lot envious — because she lived so close to family that she spent her vacation time and money traveling. And I would love to travel.* So I moved to Houston.
The kids and I, the fall after I moved here
In the winter/early spring of 2020 (before the world fell apart), I joined a Bible study focused on sharing your faith — something I really struggle with. I had done some campus ministry in college, but most of my grad school and adult years were spent with people simply knowing I was a Christian and hoping that if they had questions, they would ask. I especially struggle to share my faith with those closest to me without getting on a soapbox, so I felt convicted to join. Through that Bible study, I heard about the nations in Houston. Did you know Houston is one of the most diverse cities in America?"Houston is the 2nd most diverse major American city in 2025"
After the Bible study ended, one of the group's leaders and I went for a walk. She was trying to pull me into another Bible study, gearing people up for overseas missions. I couldn't imagine doing that. 1) In my head, I thought overseas missions were for the "Super Christians." 2) I didn't have a specific people group my heart yearned to reach — I had a heart for children and vulnerable populations, but I hadn't found a people group I wanted to invest in. 3) And probably most importantly at the time: I had just moved to Houston to be close to my family. I told her as much, so she pivoted and told me about PLI. After about the third mention, I had to stop her and ask what those letters stood for — Prestige Learning Institute.
It was COVID, and I wasn't quite ready to leave my house, but by January 2021, I was done with my life being just working from home, going for walks, and watching TV. I needed to do something. I looked up PLI again, applied to volunteer, and got completely sucked into the After-School Program 😃.
When the world opened up a little more, I started looking for full-time work — but I didn't want a full-time job that would take me away from the kids I had come to love. Around that time, one of the women I'd connected with noticed that PLI had an admin position open. I applied, and my now-friend in HR pointed me toward a communications position in development — but it required support raising. As an introvert who wrestles with insecurity, that gave me serious pause. I brought it up with my therapist, and she asked, "Would you do it if it wasn't for the support raising?" I said yes. And I think that was my answer. So I applied — and that's what brought me to PLI. I'm sure there are more details I'm leaving out.
*If I could do anything (other than what I'm doing right now), I would turn this blog into a travel/Bible study/lifestyle blog and somehow make enough money from it to live, save, and get by. Not that money is a driving factor — but enough is enough.
23. If I had a superpower, it would be: teleporting or speaking any language.
24. TV series I have watched all the way through more than once: Gilmore Girls, MASH, The West Wing,Ugly Betty, Downton Abbey, The Office, Parks & Rec, Crash Landing on You.
I don't know how many times I have said it on here, but one of my dreams is to use this blog as a Bible study that maybe one day will become a book (dream upon dream) — but if I don't start somewhere, I will probably never start. So here I go.
First, let me explain that I go through something like a Discovery Bible Study (DBS) (to learn more, click here). In this, I go through questions:
What does it say? Or what happened? Who, when, where?
What does it say about God? His character or His promises?
What stood out or made me question something?
What does it say about people/me?
I write out the verse, and if it's cross-referenced, I look it up. So it can take me days to go through a section, or weeks to go through a chapter… but I don't mind. I had a friend tell me once that it took her 10 years to do an inductive study of the whole Bible. And I figure the time is going to pass anyway, so I might as well use it to get deeper into the Word.
This post is dedicated to my boyfriend. A few days ago, I was really struggling, and I couldn't stop crying, so I called him and asked him to read a Psalm to me. He pulled out his favorite — Psalm 8 — and read it over me.
📖 The Passage: Psalm 8
v.1 — "O LORD, our Lord, how excellent is Your name in all the earth, who has set Your glory above the heavens."
v.2 — "Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have ordained strength, because of Your enemies, that You may silence the enemy and the avenger."
v.3 — "When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained..."
v.4–5 — "What is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him? For You have made him a little lower than the angels, and You have crowned him with glory and honor."
v.6 — "You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet."
v.9 — "O LORD, our Lord, how excellent is Your name in all the earth!"
What Does It Say? (Observation)
Psalm 8 is a song of praise — a bookend psalm, opening and closing with the same declaration: "O LORD, our Lord, how excellent is Your name in all the earth." It begins and ends in worship, and everything in between is wonder.
A quick note on the very first verse that stood out in my study: the first word is the divine name Yahweh. The second Hebrew word, translated "our Lord," carries the meaning of "Our Sovereign." So right from the start, David is not just praising a faraway deity — he is crying out to the God who is both transcendent (above all the heavens) and intimately personal (our Lord, our Sovereign).
Does it stop you, too — that He is both the God of the universe and somehow, personally, yours?
💖 What Does It Say About God?
God's glory surpasses the heavens (v.1). Cross-referencing with Psalm 148:13: "Let them praise the name of the LORD, for His name alone is exalted; His glory is above all the earth and heavens." And Psalm 113:4: "The LORD is high above all nations, His glory is above the heavens." His name and His glory are inseparable — and both are incomprehensibly vast.
God uses the weak to silence the proud (v.2). The cross-references here are fascinating. In Matthew 21:16, Jesus quotes this very verse when the children are crying out "Hosanna" in the temple courts and the religious leaders are indignant. Jesus essentially says: Yes. This is exactly what this psalm is about. And 1 Corinthians 1:27 echoes it: "But God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things that are mighty." God doesn't need the powerful or the polished. He ordains praise from the mouths of babies. That's the kind of God He is.
And honestly, doesn't that just take the pressure off?
God is intimately attentive to human beings (v.4–5). This is perhaps the most stunning part of the psalm. David looks up at the stars — at the immeasurable expanse of creation — and asks: What is man, that You are mindful of him? The rhetorical question is meant to stun us. And it should. God created all of this, and yet He is mindful of us. He visits us. The Hebrew text of verse 5 reads: "You have made him to lack little of God" — human beings are made in His image, just a little less than the angels, and crowned with glory and honor. When is the last time you actually let yourself believe that about yourself?
What Stood Out or Made Me Question Something?
The note I wrote in my journal says it best: "The response to this rhetorical question creates stunned awe."
Man — made of the earth — starts out at the summit of God's creation. That's not arrogance; that's the biblical vision of human dignity. We were made for something. We were made like Someone.
And then there's verse 6, which pulled me into a cross-reference rabbit hole (the best kind): "You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet." (See also: Genesis 1:26, 28; 1 Corinthians 15:27; Ephesians 1:22; Hebrews 2:8.)
This is where Psalm 8 connects directly to something much bigger — to the story of Christ. In 1 Corinthians 15:27, Paul quotes this psalm and applies it to Jesus. Hebrews 2 does the same. The dominion given to humanity in Genesis, echoed in Psalm 8, finds its ultimate fulfillment in the Son of Man. Jesus is the one in whom all things are truly put under His feet.
That thread — from Genesis to the Psalms to Paul — makes me sit on my bed with a cup of tea and just... wonder.
What Does It Say About Me?
I am seen. I am visited. I am crowned.
Not because I earned it. Not because I am impressive. But because He is, and He chose to make me in His image, to give me dignity, to set His attention on me.
On the day I called my boyfriend crying, I didn't feel crowned. I felt like the dust I'm made of. And he read me this psalm. And somewhere in "O LORD, our Lord, how excellent is Your name" — I remembered that the God whose glory is above the heavens also bends down to be our Lord. My Lord.
That's the whole psalm in a breath: He is infinitely great, and He is intimately ours.
🙏 A Prayer to Close
Thank You, Lord, for Your authority, and for the authority You have given me. Lord, I am sorry if I have ever abused or misused it. You are holy, righteous, and good. You love wholeheartedly. You are my God, and I don't want dominion if You are not leading.
Amen.
🔎 Cross-references used in this study: Psalm 148:13; Psalm 113:4; Psalm 111:2; Psalm 44:16; Genesis 1:26, 28; Matthew 21:16; 1 Corinthians 1:27; 1 Corinthians 15:27; Ephesians 1:22; Hebrews 2:6–8; Job 7:17–18; Job 10:12
Can you sit with that for a second — that the God who made the stars is mindful of you, specifically?
13. My dream job: Novelist, travel blogger, or to own a bookstore and coffee shop.
14. I like to start my day off with: tea, prayer, and Bible time. It sets the tone for everything else — and honestly, I'm a much better human being when I don't skip it.
15. I would like to learn how to: Bake fancy desserts, crochet, needlepoint funny sayings on pillows, speak another language (right now on Duolingo, I am learning Arabic), and have some kind of impressive dancing skills.
16. Places I would love to visit: Scotland, Israel, Turkey... see other places of interest on my Pinterest Board. On my bucket list is to go to Sandringham, UK, for Christmas and see the Royal Family.
I actually have been to Istanbul and Turky but it has been twenty years
17. My favorite type of movies: Rare romantic comedies (the classic kind — not the modern ones drowning in unnecessary content), historical dramas, and musicals. The only action movies that have my heart are Marvel — specifically Captain America, Ant-Man, and Spider-Man.
18. My favorite flavor of ice cream is Ben and Jerry’s Phish Food.
19 (more specific follow-up to fact 15). — we're talking éclairs, macarons, cannoli, and all those intimidating-but-gorgeous things that look like they belong in a Parisian patisserie window.
20. Favorite flowers: daisy, daffodils (because they were the first flowers to bloom after a long winter), peace roses, pink lilies, and honeysuckles.
I don’t know about you, but I have been very blessed over my years of my Christian walk to have consistent quiet times. If I could have my way, I would probably spend an hour and a half to two hours in prayer and Bible time… but life happens, so this amount of time is usually reserved for Saturdays. However, lately I have felt my prayer life has been a bit surface-level, which has made me wonder why.
A couple of weeks ago, my church did a sermon on “The One Thing that is Necessary” using the story of Mary and Martha. {Link to Sermon on Youtube skip to 34:55}
But at the end of the sermon, Brad, one of our pastors, gave some practical tips:
Daily read, fix a time and place.
Pursue accountability
Confess: how many times do you talk to Him per day?
Attempt to share something that you read in your quiet time.
Memorize Scripture
Post Scripture where you can see it.
If it feels too intellectual, try including worship songs.
If your mind wanders, write out your prayer/meditation.
I wrote them down, but in my arrogance, I thought, “Just do it anyway.” There have been seasons in my life when my quiet time has just been a checklist duty, but in that, I know God blesses my obedience and that it will be fruitful.
Well, today I took some time to ask “God, why am I just feeling surface level?” Yes, I am busy, and there are a lot of moving parts, but I am walking through a season of basking in God’s love, feeling redeemed, restored, hopeful, and content. So why do my prayers seem so surface?
Was I just focusing on myself? When I do this, I turn to this prayer:
From my prayer wall
"Heavenly Father, I thank you for the gift of life and the beauty of this world. I pray that you would fill our hearts with new hope and joy, especially for those who are struggling. May you bring healing and strength to those who are sick, comfort to those who are hurting, and peace to those who are weary. Bless all those around us, that we may know the power of your love and the strength of your grace.
May we be a source of light and hope to others, and may your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Amen."
And I try to break it down line by line and list out people who need prayers for in each part.
But still, while there are always a lot of people to pray for, my prayers seemed surface-level, so I asked, “Is there something —a thought, and influence, a power that is not of YOU?” I couldn’t think of anything… but I went to Brad’s #7 tip “If feels too intellectual; try including worship songs.” And I searched for “Repentance songs” and found this playlist: Link. On it, it had one of the songs I have on repeat a lot, so here I am sharing it with you:
So I'll leave you with this — like Martha, are you so busy doing good things — even good spiritual things — that you haven't stopped long enough to ask, 'God, why does something feel off between us?' When was the last time you set down your checklist, sat at His feet, and simply listened?
Thanks for reading, and if you have any songs you like to listen to, to draw you closer to God, please share them with me.
It is now May... which is my birthday month. And as I am turning 40, I thought I would share 40 random facts/stories about me!
1. Born in Oklahoma City
One of my favorites from childhood
2. Favorite drinks: tea, vanilla latte, Dr. Pepper
3. Favorite foods: Chinese, Italian, Pizza (though my doctor told me with some liver issues I have to go Gluten light -- not sure exactly what that means). 4. Least favorite foods: eggs, seafood, cilantro (yes, I am one of those people that it tastes like soap)
5. I have lived in 3 out of the 4 continental U.S. time zones, and have yet to live in the Mountain Time Zone. At one point, I thought about retiring to New Mexico (and while that still might happen... God can do mysterious things), but I think right now I want to retire in one of the Carolinas. Also, I have thoughts about getting a property (currently have no idea how to buy one), building a tiny home, another tiny home for a library and writing work area, and a third or fourth for ministry workers to come and rest.
I don't know if this truly counts as a tiny home, but it is cute Though not sure about the salmon color Link
I currently reside in Houston. But I was born in Oklahoma City, then when I was 10 going on 11, my mom and I moved to the west coast, first living outside of Seattle for 2 years, then we (with my stepdad) moved to outside San Francisco, and for college I moved to Boston. I attended Suffolk University for undergrad and Simmons College (now Simmons University) for grad school.
From my prom... I still love that dress
6. First concert saw (without parents): *NSYNC. Can't remember the first concert I saw. My mom worked at a college when I was growing up, and we frequently went to jazz performances, but when we lived in Seattle, we saw Bette Midler and Billy Joel, just not sure which one was first.
7. First CD owned: Spice World, my Grandma PJ accidentally bought me the Spice Girls' second album.
8. First Broadway Musical (On Broadway): Annie Get Your Gun with Bernadette Peters. I grew up watching musicals from Mary Poppins, The Sound of Music, My Fair Lady, Gigi, White Christmas, and others. But seeing a musical on stage was very cool, but I remember thinking how small the theaters were in New York compared to those I had been to on the West Coast. First live musical (Off-Broadway) — my mom might have to correct me, but I believe it was The King and I. But I do remember once in one of the college plays we saw Our Town.
9. Favorite childhood memory: playing dress up with a friend or cousins and sister
See, this is the level of dress-up I am talking about. Yep, this is my grandparents' (probably) 1960's kitchen
