O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You.

PSalm 63:1

I love sunflowers. They’re definitely my favorite flower. Thankfully, my husband knows this—as well he should, after 25 years. So, with every birthday, each Valentine’s Day, and often for no occasion at all, he’ll walk through the door with a gorgeous bouquet of these bright, festive blossoms.

It’s fairly common knowledge that sunflowers have a unique characteristic when they are young: They are heliotropic. This not-so-common term simply means that the head of the sunflower follows the arc of the sun as the sun moves across the sky throughout the day. The science behind this phenomenon is pretty cool. Basically, cells on the east side of the stem elongate during the day, turning the head gradually to the west to follow the sun. During the night, the cells on the west elongate, so the flower is facing the east in time for the sunrise.

The how is definitely interesting…but what about the why? Well, scientists identify two main reasons. First, they grow more by following the sun. The second reason is that by facing the sun more, the flowers heat up faster—and the warmth attracts pollinating bees.

Sisters, because our creative God does nothing out of chance or without purpose, we can learn a simple, yet profound, spiritual lesson from these beautiful blooms: Face the Son.

So, what does this lesson look like as we live it out? Let me break it down as a set of questions we can each ask ourselves. 

• When I wake up, am I facing the new mercies of a new morning? 
• Do I daily soak up life-giving rays of the Light of the world through meditating on His Word? 
• Throughout the day—every day—am I keeping my eyes heavenward, knowing that this world is not my home? 
• Do I make the most of the nourishment provided to me by constantly seeking its Source?
• Am I growing as much as possible through spiritual disciplines (Bible intake, prayer, worship and serving)?

Like the majestic sunflower, our purpose—the why—for this “holy heliotropism” will be evidenced by the result. When we face the Son, we will exude a warmth that attracts others. And when our spiritual demeanor is inviting to those walking through this dark world with their heads bowed to the ground, we have the opportunity to turn their eyes to the only true Source of life. 

“Lord, may I keep my face toward You, so that I grow closer to You and exude an inviting warmth that impacts the lost and broken people around me.”

I will sing the Lord’s praise, for he has been good to me.

Psalm 13:6

I love music. Throughout my youth, I saw countless concerts. From Jimmy Buffet and Bruce Springsteen to the Rolling Stones and U2, I have ticket stubs from all my ‘80s favorites. (I realize I’m dating myself here.) My album collection was countless as well…music speaks to my mind and heart with significant power. Once I became a Christian, the Lord slowly altered my music tastes as my walk with Him deepened. Today, my ears pine for passionate praise and worship. 

Until recently, whenever I drove around town, I cranked the radio and sang along (not caring who may be seeing me from across the yellow line). And my headphones filled my mind with praise while helping to make my workouts go faster. Like all of us, I don’t get in my car much anymore. And gym doors are locked. My days are marked by time in the Word, work (praise God!), eating, a little mindless TV, and (fitful) sleep. And repeat.

But a dear friend of mine texted me a link to a beautiful folksy Christian song I’ve never heard before. And I actually stopped what I was doing to listen to it. The soothing melody, a rich tenor voice, and violin harmonies struck the chords of my soul that had been so silent. So did the message of hope.

Although so much has changed—and continues to change—let’s hold fast to the things that bring us joy and glorify the God of wonder. I still love digging into the Bible. I pray for family, friends, and leaders daily…I give thanks for my innumerable blessings. But I’m not filling my ears with music anymore at all. And this absence has parched my soul. 

What did you used to do (way back a couple of months ago) to put you in tune with the Lord (pun intended)? Consider this question, and then take action. 

As for me, I’m going to reconnect with familiar melodies of praise that I’ve let this crisis silence. I will join the chorus of trees in a song of joy.

Thank You, Lord, that heaven is filled with the songs of angels. And thank You for the reminder that I can sing along.

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Psalm 34:18

What a strange time this is. I don’t know about you, but this social distancing and self-quarantine thing is messing with me—and the people with whom I virtually interact on a regular basis. Even with the economic fallout of this crisis, my work is crazy-busy (praise the Lord!)…but it seems that everyone is functioning a bit “off” from their normal. Responsiveness is delayed or lacking, there’s a drop in care about quality, and the new work week is now 24/7.

Regardless of whether your job is currently hot, cold, or nonexistent, and whether you’re the only one in your house or you’ve got a family of nine, all this social distancing is creating a unique level of loneliness right now. And it’s a bit soul-crushing.

“Time” is weirdly fluid as well. Some days, we may use our time “wisely,” and other days are filled with more foolishness (um, can anyone say, “Tiger King”?). Social media posts are filled with quarantine productivity projects people are doing (making me somewhat feel guilty). But it’s all too easy to wander aimlessly within our walls, feeling purposeless and emotionally paralyzed. 

But the Lord is near! He is above all of the CDC regulations and invites us to nestle in under His wings. He hears our cries of loneliness and frustration, and He delivers us from our fears (Psalm 34:4). Because challenges and trying times like this are promised in His Word, He encourages us to learn from them—about ourselves and about Him.

Let’s take refuge in the promises of God’s nearness to us—Psalm 16:18, Psalm 73:28, Jeremiah 23:23, James 4:8 are just a few. No matter how we feel (or don’t feel) or what we do (or don’t do) during this COVID-19 madness, He won’t leave us or forsake us. 

We are never alone…even when we’re all by ourselves.

Lord, I am thankful that You will never distance Yourself from me. Help me rest in this Truth.

You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in You, all whose thoughts are fixed on You!

Isaiah 26:3

Whether or not you are physically ill from it, COVID-19 has infected everyone. For some of us, this pandemic hasn’t yet made a big difference to our daily lives…for others of us, it has changed, well, everything. For all of us, though, there are health concerns, general anxiety and fear, financial uncertainty. This is really hard.

But, as believers, we have something that much of our nation does not: Faith and hope in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. So, let’s agree to do two things throughout this crisis:

1) Let’s LIVE this truth.

As challenging as it may be, we must embrace supernatural peace amid the chaos, and choose love and grace in response to the growing vitriolic attitudes around us. Solitude and isolation naturally create discouragement and anger…be very careful. You may be alone all day, every day. You may share a home with family members—a home that seems to shrink exponentially with every passing moment. Spend time with the Lord. Talk with Him, meander around your house with Him, cry to Him, rest in Him. When we intentionally focus on Jesus, we are promised that a peace passing understanding will guard our hearts and minds (Phil 4:7, emphasis mine). And because nothing makes sense right now, this promise is exactly the thing we need most.

2) Let’s SHARE with others the reason for our hope.

With little to no contact with others, it is difficult to share the love of Jesus. If we go for a walk outside or make a grocery run, we can’t come within six feet of others…and with the pervasive fear, few people want to make eye contact or talk in these situations. If we are blessed to still be working, we are probably at home, perhaps occasionally connected via phone or video meetings. So, what can we do? First and foremost, we can pray for others, from our President (and other leaders in this crisis) to the neighbors we’ve never met living around us. Take every opportunity to share joy and hope with others that you do come in contact with—smile, be positive, and don’t engage in all the political and cultural ire. Find creative ways to love your neighbors, through group emails or maybe porch drop-offs of cookies or an encouraging note. 

If we can focus on attempting these two things daily, we will be a great light in the surrounding darkness. But there’s one more thing…let’s make sure to be kind and gracious to the people with whom we are quarantined. These are probably the ones in our lives we love the most. But they’re also the very people on whom we are most likely to take out our daily frustrations and anxiety. Let’s love them best.

Is anything too hard for the Lord?  

Genesis 18:14a

Many of you may know the story in the Old Testament—in Numbers, specifically—about Moses sending the 12 spies to check out the Promised Land. When they came back after 40 days, 10 of those guys spun a tale of the insurmountable obstacles ahead. They spread terror and woe among the Israelites, convincing the masses there was no way they could triumph. “We were like grasshoppers in our own sight,” they bemoaned. 

And in that statement lay the problem. 

They saw their circumstances, their enemies, and their hurdles through their own eyes. They failed to recall—despite the pillar of fire and smoke in front of them, the manna every morning, and shoes that didn’t wear out—that it wasn’t “their sight” that mattered. It was God’s. To God, the purported giant men and huge walls were like mere particles dust. Moreover, the Lord had made a promise to His people to bring them into the land flowing with milk and honey. And although He’d kept all of His promises to the Israelites so far (notwithstanding all their whining and complaining), they were still too paralyzed to take the land.

Can you relate? Do you have an obstacle in your way right now that seems immovable? A hope-stealing problem that feels overwhelming? Are you feeling paralyzed because it’s just too hard? I’ve been there for sure.

What we need is a fresh perspective. Remember, whatever we are facing, our God is bigger. He is greater and more powerful than anyone or anything standing between us and His promises. In time eternal, He’s already been to the other side, and He knows just how best to get us there. We must simply trust that, in whatever we are facing, we are not the grasshoppers in the situation—our adversity is. We are standing alongside our immense and victorious heavenly Father. And the battle belongs to Him (1 Samuel 17:42)—so let’s hand it over.

He will make a way. Because, sisters. nothing is too hard for Him.

“Lord, when a daunting obstacle is before me, making me feel small and helpless, remind me that I can’t handle it on my own…but nothing is too hard for You.”

See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.

1 John 3:1

Yesterday we celebrated Easter. For many in our country, it was a fun day of egg hunts and candy-filled baskets. And for others, it was the glorious recognition of Jesus’ death-defeating resurrection. It is this joy—the finished work of the Cross—that actually brings my heart and mind back a few months to Christmas.

By now, most of those Christmas gifts so carefully chosen and excitedly received have probably been used, forgotten, lost, or broken. When my kids were younger, this typically occurred December 26. Not this Christmas. This year, I got my 17-year-old son a gift that cannot be misplaced or disregarded. This year, I took him to a local shop where he received the very permanent gift of tattoos. (I know, you’re either thinking, “What a cool mom!” or “You’ve got to be kidding.”) Let me explain.

My son is adopted—welcomed with open arms into our family from another. Forever. He was removed from a situation that would surely have led down a dark path if he remained. But through God’s grace and miraculous plan, this boy’s life was woven into ours. He was grafted into our family, so that his unique characteristics and gifts merged with those of our family’s…he has been rooted into a new, solid foundation to grow strong, while retaining from eternity past who the Lord created him to be. 

Adoption is a life eternally transformed.

The Lord is now leading my son to use his adoption—the miracle of it and the pain—to forge his future. So, as a point of remembrance, of focus, he got “grafted” tattooed on one wrist and the date of his adoption on the other.

Does your spirit stir at this story? Do you know? This is you and me when we trusted Jesus as our Lord and Savior. We have been welcomed into a new, forever family. We have been removed from a situation that was leading down a dark path if we stayed on it—a path of certain destruction. But through God’s grace and miraculous plan, our life was woven into His. We were grafted into His family, so that our unique characteristics and gifts merged with the family of God…we have been rooted into a new, solid foundation to grow strong and develop into who the Lord created us to be. 

Salvation is a life eternally transformed. 

Now, you may not want any ink permanently set into your skin with a shrilly buzzing needle. But never forget, sisters, that you have been grafted into the Royal family of the Living God. You are a daughter of the King, meant to glorify Him with your life in this world…and praise Him forever in the next.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

2 Corinthians 5:17

Have you ever taken an object that you found—something tucked away in an attic corner or discovered at a thrift store—and transformed it? You repair, paint, repurpose. This activity may be a passion for some of us…others of us may be passionate about watching TV shows focused on other people doing the restoration. Regardless of whether we are doing or observing, there is something so inspiring and satisfying about seeing the old, dirty, and broken thing given new life.

Although I’m not necessarily “crafty” in this way, I did complete a “self-quarantine” project the other day. In our kitchen we have a brick wall with a small fireplace. The brick, which matches the exterior brick, is dark, orange-red in color, and stained. And I’ve always thought how nice it would be to paint it. 

So, I did. That brick wall is now a bright antique white. 

The coat of paint transformed that 60-year-old wall, making it something new. It brought immediately to my mind the verse from Isaiah: “Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” (Isaiah 1:18)

This is what Easter is all about! Because of our sin nature, we are dirty, broken, stained. But Jesus takes our lives and gives us a soul-makeover, transforming us into something new. By accepting what Jesus did on the Cross—paying the penalty for our sin—and then believing that He was resurrected and now lives, we are made new. Redeemed.

Now, in full disclosure, my painted brick wall is in no way flawless. Due to the nature of the brick, there are imperfections and discolorations that still show through. For the overall look of my kitchen, it looks kind of cool. 

Not so much with us. Because of our nature, we will—in this world—have faults and failures. But, praise God, when it comes to our salvation, our soul renovation is without flaw. We are a new creation, completely redeemed. And, because of Easter, the Father looks upon the finished work of His Son—your righteousness and mine—and only sees perfection.

In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ for you.

1 Thessalonians 5:18

We adopted a new dog in November of last year. Her name is Caroline, and she is probably about five years old. She’d been in shelters and foster homes for about a year, after being picked up in pretty bad shape from a life on the streets. (We don’t know for how long, but she was rescued with two of her puppies that were already teenagers.) 

It took a few months for her to get used to us—and for our other five-year-old dog, Bella, to stop trying to eat her. But Caroline is super-snuggly (she’s on my lap, under my laptop as I write this) and the perfect addition to our family. She’s scarred up and a little wonky, but aren’t we all?

But there’s one thing that’s particularly noticeable about this sweet little dog…she is always just so happy to be here. Her tail is always wagging—which actually wags one of her back legs because it hangs about two inches above the ground. Her eyes are bright and shine with a noticeable gratefulness.

What an amazing lesson for us broken, scarred, and slightly wonky people who have been rescued by the grace of Jesus Christ. When we wake up each morning, we may not exactly jump around with glee, immediately ready to hit the outdoors in full-on discovery mode. But do we open our eyes to the wonder of a new day—a fresh gift from God, full of new mercies and potential? As we go about our day, do we bask in the wonder and beauty of creation? Are we overflowing with gratefulness for our eternal hope?

Life is challenging right now for every one of us. But, as followers of Jesus Christ, we have joy unspeakable to which we can cling each day. We have the breath of God in our lungs. We have a Savior that will never leave us or forsake us, no matter how long we are isolated from others.

Let’s pray: “Lord, help me to be thankful at all times, in all circumstances, appreciating the multitude of gifts you lay out in front of me each day.”

“And they overcame him (the accuser) by the blood of the Lamb and the by the word of their testimony…”

Revelation 12:11

Throughout the Bible, the enemy of our souls is called “the accuser.” And, sisters, I know you know that’s a fitting moniker for Satan. He stands before the Throne of God accusing us to God (Zech 3:1). You can almost hear the hiss from his smelly mouth, “Did You hear what she just said?” And, “Don’t forget about what she did all those years ago—how can she possibly be forgiven?”

But that’s not all! Satan and his minions lurk around us, hissing those same accusations in our ears in an attempt to steep our minds and hearts in shame, aiming ultimately at discouragement. Better yet—so he believes—is when he accuses God to us. Things like, “God won’t help you with this—you’re on your own.” Or, “Oh, with the way you’ve lived your life, God can never love someone like you.”

We must never forget that Satan has been defeated by the precious blood of Jesus Christ! He is living on borrowed time, doing his best to take us down with him. He wants to prevent as many people as possible from God’s redemption…and keep the redeemed as quiet as possible. That’s why Revelation 12:11 declares that he is overcome by the Lamb’s blood and the word of our testimony. 

He despises our praises, prayers, trust, and obedience. And his accusations are meant to silence us from sharing with others God’s amazing grace, mercy, forgiveness, and love. 

So, we must speak out. We are sinners, but we’re saved by grace. We will mess up (daily), but we’re forgiven. God may not be answering our prayers the way we want Him to…but He will answer them in His timing, for our good and His glory. We have all been through fires (and more flames are waiting). Each of us has a powerful testimony to what the Lord has done and what He’s doing. 

Most importantly, when you accepted the miracle of salvation, Satan lost the war for your soul.

But he’ll still attack with daily battles to conquer some ground in our lives with pinpoint accusations perfectly designed for each of us. So, keep on talking, girls. Speak your testimony. Speak the truth of God’s unfailing, perfect love. And shut that scoundrel up.

Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.            

1 Timothy 4:8

The gym has been my “thing” for decades. When I was in college, I started teaching aerobics (that’s the ancient word for “fitness classes” for anyone under 40). Then, as years progressed, I dove with abandon into trend after trend—step class, Tae Bo, P90X, kickboxing, yoga…you get the picture. Always hitting the gym hours before the rest of my family got out of bed for the day. Asked for his opinion, my husband may use the word “obsession.”

After becoming a Christian, many habits of my “old self” ceased—praise God. Walking with the Lord shifted my priorities and studying the Bible became a daily practice. But don’t start rolling your eyes at my piety just yet. 

See, my daily morning devotion time came only after I spent an hour and a half at the gym. The 15-30 minutes I spent in the Word was an item on my “to-do-before-everyone-wakes-up” list…and it wasn’t even at the top. 

But the Lord knew my desire to walk more closely with Him. And He knew my stubbornness about “my” gym time. So, because I ignored His whispers to me about my priorities (that is, my idolatry), He was forced to shout. During a fitness season of boxing, I sustained multiple injuries (two of which required surgeries), and my workouts came to a complete halt.

And I am so grateful. 

Instead of spending nearly two hours focused on exercising my body, that same time went to training in God’s Word and listening to Him speak to my hungry soul. I was being truly obedient in spiritual disciplines (not just box-checking). My relationship with Him grew deeply over the next years (yes, years) of near-sedentary living. 

And although I can do some physical activity now, the Lord knows me—and so does the devil. Over the past few years, my idolatry has slowly crept back in a bit. Sure, I don’t come home dripping with sweat (and maybe a little blood), but early-morning gym-attendance has once again become a daily thing, prioritized as the first thing. Because my work is from home and flexible, I’m able to spend a good chunk of time in the Word…but have I put that old idol back on its feet? Am I, like Achan after the fall of Jericho (Joshua 7:10-26) secretly holding onto something in my tent that the Lord specifically told me not to?

Well, enter COVID-19. My gym has closed. And I am terrified—not of illness or financial ruin, but of not being able to work out. And just like that, the Lord is once again forcing my hand, pulling back the curtain of my self-idolatry. I get to reassess my heart and fully dive back into the Lord’s priorities. (In full disclosure, I’m not quite “grateful” yet, but I know I’ll get there.)

So, what about you? What can you learn from the COVID-19—about yourself, your heart, our God? Let’s all use this time to assess, refocus, and prioritize Jesus.