The Studio Light

:: Overcome

"There is in every true woman’s heart a spark of heavenly fire, which lies dormant in the broad daylight of prosperity; but which kindles up, and beams and blazes in the dark hour of adversity." {Washington Irving}

"Plans are only good intentions unless they immediately degenerate into hard work." {Peter Drucker}

What's holding you back?

:: Life in the Vine

One of my favorite things about God is His loving, Father-heart. He desires to spend time with us, to teach us and know us, to love & care for us.

But just like my husband loves & adores our children, being a father requires discipline. Discipline because we know what's best for them.

Isn't it possible that God, as our Father, feels the same away about us?

As believers, we turn away from our old lives & reject what once was. This is a process: a process of pruning. Pruning that teaches us discipline and obedience.

In John 15:1-4, Jesus says, "I am the true vine, & my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me."

The process of pruning might look different in each of us: sickness, rejection, loss. We all experience it in some form. If you're not going through a process of pruning now, it's coming. So how will you endure?

When hardships arise, I pray for a posture of thanksgiving, eyes fixed on Jesus with expectation that He's in it. Because I know & believe these 4 things:

God loves me:
"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever." {Psalms‬ ‭136:1‬}.

God saved me:
"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" {Romans‬ ‭5:8‬}.

God redeems me:
"So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here," {2 Corinthians 5:16-17}.

God is for me:
"In all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose," {Romans‬ ‭8:28‬}.

Don't fight it... embrace it & choose to see Him in it.

:: Do you feel like you're wandering aimlessly? Stumbling through what seems like a drought. A place with no end. Seeking something, but not even sure what that is?

You're not alone.

If you're stumbling through a wilderness season in your Christian walk, be still. Be steadfast. God hasn't gone anywhere. Turn back to Him, my friend! His promise to renew our walk with Him is real. It's something to cling to!

These seasons can be the most enriching seasons of our lives. Why? We are forced to surrender. And when we surrender to Jesus, we acknowledge our dependence on Him. We see His work and His perfect plan for our lives.

When Jesus tells us to follow Him, it represents having a practical faith that is rooted in His word. It means we're meeting with Him every day. And because we seek Him and His word:

We know who He is.
We know who we are.
We know what is true.

Even in the wilderness, His promises are true. He's a promise-maker and a promise-keeper. Turn to Him and He'll show you the way. He'll make your path new. He'll give you life!

Praying for you. 💛

:: You know what I think?

I think we often get wrapped up in who we think everyone else wants us to be, and we forget who God has made us to be.

Who are you allowing to speak into your life? Who is steering your ship, sweet friend?
Let it be Him, not them.

Remember who you are. And when you forget, lean into your girlfriend... she'll remind you.
Because that's what we do.

Be that girl. Be that friend.

We're in this together. ✌🏻