"No More Of This!" and he touched the man's ear.

Remember the bracelets we all wore that had the acronym “WWJD” reminding us to think “What Would Jesus Do” in every situation. We do not see many of those bracelets anymore. Nor do we see a lot of action that models this way of thinking in the world today.

I actually don’t think that people and their actions are that much different than they were many years ago. However, there is a lot more awareness and light shed on events that happen since we all have cellphones with video cameras, ready to record at the drop of the hat. We take them everywhere and everyone has social media platforms where we can easily press a button and show the world what we are seeing. It makes you think about what did we not see before cellphones. right?

I went back and forth with my husband about how to write this article as it addresses an extremely sensitive subject matter and strong issue that our country is going through. When speaking to my husband about the grievances and sadness going on all around us the Holy Spirit reminded me about a story from the life of Jesus. One I think most of us are familiar with. This very powerful event that happens before the death of Jesus is one that I believe can be related to days we are living in now.

(Luke 22. 48-53) When Jesus’ followers saw what was going to happen, they said, “Lord, should we strike with our swords?” And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear. But Jesus answered, “No more of this!” And he touched the man’s ear and healed him. Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple guard, and the elders, who had come for him, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come with swords and clubs? 53 Every day I was with you in the temple courts, and you did not lay a hand on me. But this is your hour—when darkness reigns.”

Simon Peter cut off the officer’s ear because he passionately thought he was defending what was right. He was defending a man who was wrongly accused and later wrongly put to his death. Jesus responds in anger “No More of This!” He did not say “kill them” in defense of what is right! He told him to stop! He did not once even defend himself. This story can speak volumes in our personal lives and the worldly events happening around us.

Jesus who was wrongly accused took the time to heal the officer’s ear that had arrested and wrongly accused him. He was angry but not at his arrest he was angry about the vicious acts and violence being brought about in his name.

A man was innocently killed, and he was not the first or the last. We as a passionate body of believers want justice. We have a voice and we should speak up about it. But in our anger, we represent the one we follow, Jesus. A king whose response to violent retaliation was “No more of this!” Though we are angry we cannot respond with anger or raging using events to justify acting unjustly. Rioting, hurting others, tearing down buildings and looting is not the answer. Speak loud, come against the injustice! This behavior and the actions that have been done are disgusting and completely unacceptable. We should never stand by this and do nothing. We should do everything we can to shine a light on the truth. To represent a savior. Jesus accepts all colors, all background all people as we should.

A wrong action has never and will never produce the right one. I am not telling you how to feel, or even imagining how people feel. These actions are inexcusable and need to stop, and I pray one day they will. I am asking you to stand with me, No more of this, let’s “give the man back his ear”. Only Jesus’s power can change the evil in the world, shining a light of love like no eye has seen, and no ear has heard. Let us be the voice and feet that carry out this love in the crazy world. I am a white woman and I am still learning. listening and humbly just being there for my fellow brothers and sisters who are hurting. who are tired of this misfortune and division. I am angry with them holding hands with them and I am letting my POC know I see you. I am hurting with you and I stand with you about this injustice. But when I stand with you I stand as a daughter of Jesus. A savior of justice. A savior of hope, unity, and love. A savior who said turn the other cheek, and healed the servants ear. A man who died for everyone. Because Love is the answer and love will prevail.

Enjoy The Place You Once Prayed For

⁣⁣My sister-in-law once told me if you place your feet in contact with the earth it can be very therapeutic to your mental health. ⁣

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I’m not sure exactly how she said and I am pretty sure I wasn’t supposed to have shoes on, but it was cold, I’m sure you get the point. ⁣

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One thing that I do know for sure is; when I go outside and listen to the birds or the ocean it brings into perspective how truly blessed I am. There is so much peace and hope in those quiet moments.⁣

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Quiet moments can be hard to come by with four children. Even as I sit down to write this it's extremely loud, with kids running all through my house. There’s truly no sitting down or going outside when my kids are home at least not for this mama. ⁣

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If you’re a mama with busy children that do not stop going from one thing to the next and the beach is work rather then relaxing. I see you. ⁣

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These days actually getting the time to go outside and hear the quiet is a rare treat. But when I do get that chance I jump on it and take advantage of the quiet and peace. To me this picture is more than just a picture of me planting my feet on the beach looking for my first piece of sea-glass. It’s a time of reflection and peace.⁣

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I was only able to plant my feet on the sandy beach because my husband sat in the car with the kids, as I got some quiet time while looking for Seaglass in the ocean breeze. Knowing that my children were in the car complaining that we weren't getting to swim in the ocean and that they were too cramped in the car.⁣

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Sometimes we get so caught in the busyness of life always hustling to go to the next step that we don’t realize we prayed for where we are. I had to explain this to my kids as they complained when I got back in the car (which was sitting right next to the ocean.) Telling them that I didn’t get to see the ocean till I was 21, and they now live 5 minutes away from it.⁣

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What can you take from this? Look around! Take the little moments that you do have and shift your perspective to realize where you are is part of where you prayed to be. If you’re still in the hard yucky parts of life because (we all go through those) remember that the hard parts are what will produce the growth, you have the strength to get through it. God‘s got you in every season. There’s power in being thankful and keeping your feet planted on the ground. Enjoy those little moments of peace in this hectic world if you can find them. I know they’re there just like the Seaglass that we looked for.⁣

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By the way my husband is the one that found the sea glass. It was right by the car. ⁣

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Don't forget you need grace too.

Grace is something you can give yourself too! Something so simple that we tend to forget. I feel very strongly about this. We are often hardest on ourselves, expecting too much like we should be able to operate at a level we would never expect others to be able to perform at. Especially we women. We are the queens of multitasking that we tend to think we should do all the things all the time. Am I right?

We often get caught up in the trap of comparison, wanting to keep up our image on Instagram or Facebook, even amid this pandemic. We pressure ourselves to do more crafts, have the best homeschool center, make the most Instagram worthy meals, and do everything the same way everyone else does. But what would you tell your friend if you saw her trying to achieve all this but not measuring up? Would you tell her to cut herself a break (Grace)? I Would!

I had to fall flat on my face, reaching a point where my life felt truly out of control before I learned to give myself grace. Did you hear that? I had to LEARN to give myself grace. This was not something that came naturally to me in any way. Why is that? Why do we feel that we need to be stronger than everyone in the room?

We hear people say that the devil is a liar. A liar who tells us that we are not good enough but that's, not the only way he lies to us. He tells us lies like we need to try harder, be stronger, don't feel, feel more, do more, and so on! All those things are ways the devil can attack us. You see I was once told, “If the devil can’t stop you, he will get behind you and push you so hard you burn out”. We need to constantly remind ourselves that our strength and purpose is found in Jesus, not in our achievements. We were never meant to do life alone and we are not designed to carry the weight of the world on our shoulders. Those worries and struggles were meant to be handed over to the maker.

Friends, Its okay to not be okay. Just recently I cried, not for a moment but for a couple of days. I was sad and to deny that would be silly. I would be lying to myself. And we all know that's not going to solve any of my issues. I was upset about the way the school year ended for my children. They were missing their friends and only talking to the teachers they had finally gotten comfortable with through Zoom calls. I was stretched beyond measure as any parent and things just kept piling up. This season has truly stretched our family in ways that I never could have imagined. We have learned how to deal with the disappointments of school, life, and constant challenges while learning the lessons of patience. (Courtesy of our little lady.) Learning to genuinely enjoy the present and all that God has blessed us with while giving myself and those around me grace. Roll with the punches and learn to laugh at yourself.

Grace has given me the freedom to be okay with simply not being okay. Grace helped me realize that perfection is only found in Christ. Grace gave me the revelation that my reliance on Christ is a beautiful thing, making me stronger as I continue to discover him while accepting my dependency on Him. Remember God has it under control, so we do not have to. He has it under control friend!

I am not here to tell you it's all going to be fine and we all know the end. But it doesn't always feel that way all the time. I know. So with the truth planted in our hearts, I am here to tell you if you are sad? Cry! Are you angry? Be angry! It is ok to be angry. Are you being tested? You will pass the test! If you fail. Take it again!

Does life suck right now? Maybe it does, and if it does, I believe you! But it is okay.

Jesus’ grace is a gift and it is not a gift found in getting it all right, but found just accepting that we need it. Take your grace, cry your tears, and stop trying to figure it out. Sometimes we are just surviving and that is okay. So maybe I am here just to say its okay. And sometimes okay is good enough.

2 Corinthians 12:9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. ... Therefore it says, "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.