“He renews my life; he leads me along the right paths for his names sake.” (Psalm 23:3)
 
There are seasons in our lives when we feel tired. The day can feel draining and responsibilities stack up. There are times when we feel tired and even sleep does not help. During these times the care that we need goes deeper than a little rest a renewed life is what will help us. The soul needs restoration. The part of us that carries, hope, faith, and burdens that no one else sees needs a spark.

Worn-out from the mental, physical, and emotional load that each of us carries there is still hope of renewal. God knows exactly what each of us need to refresh our spirits. Renewal comes in many forms sometimes through mediating, through life giving community, or correcting our thinking. Renewal can also come through being told hard truths that shines exposing behaviors and attitudes as a form of love.

With an uplifted spirit we can follow God’s guidance. During these times we might be worried about making the wrong decision, missing God’s will for our lives, or on the wrong path at times. Yet he is leading us where he wants us to go – the right paths. When we follow his lead and direction the paths, we take honor to His name reflecting His goodness and faithfulness.

​There are times that feel uncertain especially when we feel depleted. He is waiting for us to ask Him which way to go. He is with us each step of the way restoring us, guiding us, and leading us. Trust the one who knows which step each of us should take.
 
Heavenly Father, help us to trust you even when we are tired and unsure of which path to take. May you restore us for your name’s sake.
 
Walking with you,
Stacy Watkins

“Therefore, I tell you, people will be forgiven every sin and blasphemy, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgive.” (Matthew 12:31)
 
Forgiveness at times can feel hard to do. To forgive someone who has deeply hurt you and caused severe pain and suffering can be difficult. The emotional and physical damage is there it will never go away. Forgiveness is not forgetting or pretending that what happened did not happen. Forgiveness and forgetting are two different things a person can be forgiven however, we still remember the act that was done.

When we choose to forgive someone, we longer mention past hurts with the person however, we can seek help from professional counselors or guidance from pastors. We can focus on healing, try and understand the situation from offender’s viewpoint, let go of grudges, and set healthy boundaries. For forgiveness to happen there should be acknowledgment of the hurt and time to process the emotions. It is okay to allow yourself to feel angry at the person or the situation but, we should not act upon the anger.

Forgiveness should not be rushed but allowance be made to process through emotions and actively commit to forgiveness. There are times when we are triggered and memories of the hurt will resurface; however, there must be an active commitment to forgive the person not to show bitterness or hold a grudge. Forgiveness takes time. The Holy Spirit helps us forgive. The first step is to pray to God over the situation. Depend on God as he changes your heart and develop healthy boundaries.
 
Heavenly Father, may we forgive as you have forgiven us.
 
Walking with you,
Stacy Wakins
​

“You said, “Listen now, and I will speak. When I question you, you will inform me.”” (Job 42:4)
 
Information is readily available today. When we need a quick answer to a question we can use AI, Google, or other internet resources. Though these resources do provide answers to some of the toughest questions on our minds cannot be answered by these resources but only through spending deep contemplative prayer. Listening to God to gain wisdom and a better understanding.

There are questions that the heart aches to ask. Questions relating to why a particular circumstance is happening in our lives, Is God evil, or even pertaining to what happens when we die. These questions have puzzled many within the church and many have tried to answer them over the ages. Questions relating to our faith help us workout our faith enabling us to understand God better, a stronger faith, and encourage us in times of crises.

It is not wrong to ask questions regarding faith. The questions we ask also stretch us they allow us to listen intently to the voice of God to hear his answer. Questions bring us into a deeper relationship with God.
The answers from God often cannot be rushed unlike a couple strokes on a keyboard to ChatGPT. The answers from God often take time, an open heart, and an openness to trust him with unfavorable answers.
 
Heavenly Father, there are questions that we have not sure how to ask may you answer the questions deep within our hearts. May we trust you even when answers are unfavorable.
 
Walking with you,
Stacy Watkins

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” (Psalm 23:1)
 
Often, people will exclaim the Lord being their shepherd. The Lord being in relationship to the people under his care. Knowing exactly what they need, when, and the direction that they need to go. On our own it can be difficult to know which direction to take, which opportunity is wise, what is the right step to take.

Shepherds were often close to the sheep that they looked after. They knew their sheep’s fears, which ones were prone to wander, and the dangers that were constantly nearby. Exclaiming the lord as my shepherd is one of close relationship. God knowing our fears, what will entice us to walk away, and the dangers to keep us from developing a close intimate relationship. When we claim that God is our shepherd, we believe that we can trust him with our circumstances no matter the situation. God cares for each one of us. 

When we allow God to shepherd us our deepest needs are met. The psalmist cries out “I shall not want” it is not bad to want possessions such as clothes, cars, or devices. Here the psalmist is stating, the essentials he is not lacking because they can all be found in God. His safety, direction, rest, and provision are found in God. We can turn to God for what we truly need.

Today there are many sources that tell us what we need, the direction we should go, and even how to get there. When we allow God to shepherd us, we no longer strive after certain effects but, learn to be content with what we have. God knows exactly what each one of us needs.
 
Heavenly Father, help us to trust you as our shepherd. When we are worried or stressed help us to place our concerns at your feet for you know exactly what each of us need.
 
Walking with you,
Stacy Watkins

“Go, therefore and make disciples of all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20)
 
When we see green lights, we go. At track meets when the starting pistol is sounded runners go at the sound. There are moments that we know instantly to go. Those who do not have a green light sit idly until they see a green light and can go. Those in the next heat wait patiently until they are called forward and hear the starting pistol. However, we are all called to “Go”. We are called by Jesus not to sit idly by but to be apart of the great commission.

Before Jesus departed, he told the disciples to go make disciples of all nations. It wasn’t a suggestion but, a command to go be apart of the community and walk alongside people from all nations in their journey of grace. No one must be trained to make disciples just be willing to invest time in explaining scripture, praying, and helping others understand what it means to be a holy people.
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There is no one size fits all to make disciples. It all starts with an invite to know someone a simple hello, invitation to get coffee, and spending time with another person works perfectly. Faith is meant to be done within community. It can feel intimidating to make disciples, but the Holy Spirit is with you guiding you to the people who need a listening ear and want to learn about Jesus. He will give you the words to say even when you are unsure of what to say. Go.
 
Heavenly Father, give us eyes to see people who need to know about your love and grace.
 
Walking with you,
Stacy Watkins

“He told them, “The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few. Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest.” (Luke 10:2)
 
During recess you can always tell the kids that want to play basketball and the kids who are standing there hoping that they will not be picked to play. They are only there to keep the teams even. They are sometimes picked last because they do not know how to shoot a basketball or not very good at the game. Just like these kids who are praying not to be picked Jesus tells us to pray for workers. The harvest is ready. It is ready but there is more harvest than workers.

When we experience short staff at work we usually try and work harder and fill the gap. However, Jesus states, the need is so great that the first course of action we can do is pray. Pray first. Take a pause and “Ask” before trying to work out of our own strength, skills, or even strategy. It might not feel like work or contributing solving the problem, but it is THE work. Go before God in prayer and ask him for the assistance that you need; workers, tools, or even equipment he can open doors and pathways for assistance in the work.

​While praying for more workers we each need to examine our own hearts. Are we praying for workers and hoping at the same time not to be one of them? Or are we open to being one of the workers? As we pray about the work and our own response we can listen to the Holy Spirit as he convicts us and nudges us into answering the call that God has placed on us. God is calling and inviting us to be partners in the work that he is doing.
 
Heavenly Father, the harvest is ready may you open our hearts to the need that you want us to help in.
                 
Walking with you,
Stacy Watkins

“The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their cry for help.” (Psalm 34:15)

There is something about not only being seen but heard. People feel seen in multiple ways; by knowing their name, giving them a gift, and smiling and waving at them. When we are seen it is not in a critical way but, in a caring way. The eyes of the Lord on the righteous does not mean that God is watching us in critical way but looking at us in a caring or watchful way.

God knows where you are, how heavy your heart might feel or even what you are facing. Not only does he know your situation but listens to our cries. God is attentive to our honest prayers. The messy prayers that come from pain, exhaustion, and even fears. Our prayers do not have to polished or prefect since God is attentive to our needs and wants us to cry out to him.

Throughout our day we might face times when we feel as we are overlooked, small, or not seen nor heard. There is one who always sees and hears us and wants us to call out to him. Our prayers do not fade away unheard, but each one is listened too and treasured. When life feels unfair and overwhelming remember we can trust God.

We can always trust God and cry out to him during hard times for he wants to hear from us. He desires our honest prayers and close relationship with us. He always sees us and hears us even when we feel alone. We can be confident that we are always seen and heard by him.
 
Heavenly Father, thank you for you always see us when we feel alone. May we continue to trust you each day.
 
Praying for you,
Stacy Watkins

“The Shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had seen and heard, which were just as they had been told.” (Luke 2:20)

The shepherds did not stay after Jesus was born, they returned to their fields. They returned to their ordinary work. They did not return the same but, was changed after experiencing the nearness of God. They returned to their ordinary lives praising and glorifying God. Encountering Jesus does not change our situations but, our lives are transformed carrying a new song into the mundane work.

The shepherd’s praise was grounded in what was told to them. That God would be faithful to his promise. It was not emotional hype. Real praise comes from remembering what God has said. It fills the heart and pours out into our mundane lives becoming moments of praise of worship.  There are several promises in the bible that we can remember and transform our lives. That God will never leave us or forsake us, He is with us until the end of the age, that he loves us.

Even in our darkest moments when we feel like we are alone we can hold onto the promises from God and praise Him for He is worthy of our praise. When we praise him, our hearts are transformed and we can turn mundane work into times of praise and worship.

Heavenly Father, may you continue to transform our hearts and lead us to praise.

Walking with you,
Stacy Watkins

“But the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.”” (Luke 2:10)
 
                 
Good news is meant to be celebrated. Got a new job, new apartment, or even in a new relationship. Often good news is proclaimed when situations are going well on good days when people are happy. They do not want to contain their excitement. Even in situations when we are happy, we can be afraid. The new job can bring challenges on the first day, the new apartment we might need to find a different transportation route.

The words “Don’t be afraid” comes with encouragement and comfort. Fear can come easily in new situations. The saying is not a command to avoid hardships, but a promise that the story does not end when we are afraid. There is comfort in the God who sees each one of us. The good news is not that life will suddenly miraculously get easier, but that God draws near to each one of us during our hardship. He does not leave us alone in our situation but is there to comfort and guide us. The good news of the birth of Jesus is for all people. Not some. Not those who have it together. All.

Whether on good days or bad we can experience knowing there is great joy. Situations do not determine joy but come from within from knowing God. Joy is not fleeting but is experienced through knowing the love of God. That he will never leave us or forsake us. That he is near us when times are hard and when they are good. The good news today is that Jesus was born and is God with us. God drew near his people. We can take comfort for ourselves and others that God came near.

Heavenly Father, may you replace fear with your presence, may you move our hearts to reflect who you are through compassion, justice, and mercy
 
Walking with you,
Stacy Watkins

“See, the virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they will name him Immanuel, which is translated “God is with us”” (Matthew 1:23)
 
This verse answers humanity’s oldest fear are we alone in our circumstances? Jesus is not just a messenger he is God. Jesus born on this earth as God incarnate came because God saw us in our suffering, our circumstances, and situations decided to be with us. God came close to us not wanting to be far off. God stepped into our world being born the same as all of us. Can identify with all of us.

​Jesus did not come to be above us or below us but to be fully present, engaged, and walk among us with all the burdens that we carry. He is with us every step of the way. There is no situation that is not with us. He is with us when we suffer. He is with us when we rejoice. He is with us when our hearts feel heavy. He is with us when we are uncertain. He is God with us in every situation. There are times in our life that feel like he is far from us, and we are alone in the situation. Take courage for he came for each one of us. To be With Us not matter how difficult the burden we are carrying may feel.
 
Heavenly Father, we thank you for Jesus that you loved us to send your son down to earth to be with us.
 
Walking with you,
Stacy Watkins