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Reflections of His Blessings, Warrensville, NC (2026)

06/03/2026

A note from God

I stood in the grocery store the other day and watched a young mother quietly put an item back at the checkout. Instantly, I was taken back to my childhood — standing beside my own mama in Meijers on North 21st Street, watching her do the very same thing. Back then, I didn’t understand what she was doing. Now I know. She was sacrificing what she wanted so she could make sure our family had enough for the month. That memory hit me hard, and I felt tears fill my eyes.

Mama has since gone on to be with Jesus, but if I could tell her anything today, I’d want her to see what her prayers produced. I’d want her to see what God carried me through… and where He has carried me to. I never want to forget where I came from — the struggles, the hard lessons, the bad decisions, and the places that nearly broke me. Because the truth is, by the grace of God, any of us are only one poor decision away from heartache. But even in the pits I created for myself, God never stopped carrying me. He saw something in me worth saving — just like Mama did.

I don’t know where God will carry me next, but I’m overwhelmed with gratitude for where He has already brought me. Take a moment today and look back at where you were and where you are now. If you love Him, there will be evidence of His hand on your life.

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” — Romans 8:28

05/27/2026

The Kindness of Jesus

Jesus never measured a person by what they owned, what title they carried, or how popular they were. He cared about hearts. He noticed the overlooked, sat with the rejected, comforted the hurting, and loved people who had nothing to offer Him in return.

Life has taught me that money isn’t everything. Fame isn’t everything. Success isn’t everything. What matters is how you make people feel. Do you speak kindly to the cashier who’s clearly overwhelmed? Do you show patience to the elderly person moving slower than you’d like? Do you check on the friend who suddenly became quiet? Do you still treat people with dignity when they can do nothing for you in return?

That is the kind of character Jesus showed every single day.

Jesus owns everything. He is known throughout the entire earth. Yet with all His power and glory, He still loves me personally, hears my prayers, forgives me, and provides for my needs daily. That’s what impresses me. I want my life to reflect Jesus — not just in what I say, but in how I treat people.

“Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;” Romans 12:10

05/20/2026

Kindness without Obligation

There’s something special about giving when there’s no obligation, no recognition, and no reward waiting on the other side. It becomes even more meaningful when you extend kindness to someone who may never be seen as “in need”—or even to someone whose own choices may have led them where they are. Help them anyway. Not because of who they are—but because of who you are.

Maybe it’s giving a coat, slipping some cash, picking up a coworker’s workload, or simply letting someone merge in front of you. Small acts, done with a pure heart, carry more weight than we often realize. Because kindness like that doesn’t just reflect you—it reflects Jesus. He taught us, “For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you” (John 13:15). True giving isn’t about being seen—it’s about serving and showing others who He is.

I remember a time when I needed help—real help. And God sent someone who gave without hesitation and expected nothing in return. They didn’t see me as someone who could repay them. They simply saw a need… and met it. I’ll never forget that. Their kindness made a difference in my life—and your kindness can make a difference in someone else’s.

There is joy in serving. There is peace in giving. And there are blessings that follow—not always seen, but always felt. So today, choose kindness. Not for recognition. Not for return. But simply… because of who you are. You just might show someone Jesus.

05/13/2026

Choosing Jesus for Life

My living room is set up so I can look out through the sliding glass doors and watch the birds. I arranged it this way when we moved into our home, while sweet Carolyn, my sister-in-law, was living with us. She loved birds and found such joy in watching them. She would point out their names and share little details about each one. But the redbird—she spoke of that one with special affection, often reminding me how they mate for life. I saw one the other day, and it made me think of her. Curious, I did a little more reading.

There’s something deeply tender about watching a pair of redbirds perched side by side. Northern cardinals are among nature’s most devoted partners. They do mate for life, travel together, and even share food beak to beak—a quiet, beautiful act of care. The male offers seeds, proving he can provide. It’s more than instinct; it’s a picture of faithfulness in action.

God, in His wisdom, created this kind of devotion not only in nature, but also placed a longing within us—for a love that is steady, sacrificial, and enduring. While earthly relationships reflect that beauty, they also point us to something greater: a relationship with Jesus that was chosen long before we ever chose Him. “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you…” (John 15:16)

Just as the cardinal remains committed to its mate, following Jesus is not a fleeting feeling—it’s a lifelong covenant. He provides, He sustains, and He stays. In a world where so much is temporary, His love remains constant. Today, I’m grateful to know this kind of love—a love that chose me, never leaves me, and faithfully holds me every day. For the rest of my life, I want to love Him with that same devotion—faithful, unwavering, and true.

I pray you feel His love too.

Thank you, Carolyn, for sharing your love of Red birds. I now have a deeper love for them too.

(Photo credit: www.unsplash.com)

05/08/2026

Praying Friends

Hey, let's grab coffee. Want to take off to Sylacauga, Alabama? I’m up for a game of Pictionary - you in? We all have friends we can call for moments like these. I can already picture mine—their coffee orders, their favorite places to go, the games they’d choose. Those friendships are a gift. They’re joyful, necessary, and full of life.

But let me ask you this—who are you calling when life gets heavy? The best friends aren’t just the ones who laugh with you… they’re the ones who pray for you. The ones you can text in the middle of a hard day and simply say, “Can you pray?” The ones who don’t just offer words—but go straight to God on your behalf. Those are the friends who help fight battles you can’t always see.

The Bible shows us the beauty of deep, faithful friendship in David and Jonathan. They shared a bond rooted in love, loyalty, and strength. “The soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul” (1 Samuel 18:1). That kind of friendship holds you up when life tries to pull you down.

I thank God for the friends in my life who have a true connection to Jesus—those who cover me in prayer, who encourage me, and who walk with me through every season. And yes… it’s even sweeter when they enjoy coffee, road trips, and game nights too. I pray you have friends who pray. And if you need one—I’m here. I’ll stand with you, believe with you, and most importantly, I’ll pray for you.

05/05/2026

Healing

I’ll never forget the time you stole my lunch in the third grade. Remember that? I’ll never forget when you told someone I didn’t want their gift—and I gave it away. Remember that? I’ll never forget when you borrowed $150 and never kept your promise to repay. Remember that? I’ll never forget the way you treated my family member when they were passing away. Remember that? I’ll never forget the way you ignored me and treated me terribly in front of my colleagues. Remember that?
I do.
Once hurt has taken root, it’s hard to bounce back—especially when there’s never an apology. Proverbs 18:19 reminds us, “A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city…” Those wounds can build walls around our hearts if we let them. But I’ve learned something in my own walk: I had to pray and ask God to help me forgive. Not because they said “I’m sorry,” but because I needed freedom. And forgiveness… it truly does set you free. The hurt was real. The silence was real. But so is healing.

If you’re carrying something someone dear to you has done—something they never made right—I pray today you find peace. I pray God softens the weight of it. I pray you begin to heal, even without the apology. Forgiveness doesn’t always come easy. Sometimes it comes through prayer, little by little. But it can still be given—even when it’s never asked for. Jesus forgave. And by His grace, I am healing too.

04/22/2026

I’m Grateful for the Hard Days

“What a privilege it is to be tired from the very things I once prayed for. Lord, remind me—even on the hard days—to stay grateful.”

I find myself in a place I once only prayed about. A life filled with blessings, responsibilities, and answered prayers. And yet, some days are still hard—tiring, unpredictable, even overwhelming. In those moments, it’s easy to focus on what feels heavy instead of remembering how I once longed for the very things now in my hands.

“Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.” (Psalm 103:2) I never want to forget.

When life feels complicated or weariness sets in, I want to pause and remember where I once was—and where I could still be if not for God’s grace. I think of others walking through battles I can’t imagine, and it humbles me. It shifts my perspective. What I sometimes see as burdens are, in truth, blessings I once begged God for. This life may not be perfect, but it is an answered prayer.

So on the hard days, when I feel stretched thin or weary, I pray: Lord, remind me. Remind me that You are in control. Remind me that this season, even with its challenges, is a gift. Remind me what a privilege it is to live a life I once only dreamed about. Thank You, Lord, for my life—for the joy, the growth, and even the hard days.

Today, I am grateful.

04/16/2026

You are a King

“David’s brothers saw a shepherd. God saw a king. Let God define you—not others.” Read that again.

You know, it's so easy to fall into this trap. Often feeling this way and even making someone feel this way. David started out as a shepherd—overlooked, underestimated, and left in the fields while others were seen as more qualified. He went through many obstacles before ever stepping into his calling, but in time, he became king of Israel. Not because people saw it—but because God did.

I relate to that more than I can explain. There was a time when people looked at me and saw limitations. They saw my struggles—physical and mental—and made quiet assumptions about what I would never be. In their eyes, I wouldn’t go far, wouldn’t do much, wouldn’t become more. It’s easy to start believing that when you hear it enough. But God didn’t see me that way.

My life, just like David’s, has been built in stages. Through hard seasons and moments that felt small and unseen. But God was working in every one of them—shaping me, growing me, leading me somewhere I couldn’t yet see. “Man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7)

People may define you by what they see. The enemy may whisper lies about who you’ll never be. But God sees beyond all of that—He sees purpose, growth, and a calling. God can see a king in you. I know this to be true because He saw a King in me. I pray I can be that person who whispers encouragement to someone who needs it most, “Let God define you - not others.”

04/13/2026

Baking Soda

Did someone say pumpkin rolls? I love making them—I made over 200 this past holiday season. One evening I pulled one from the oven and immediately thought, this looks terrible. It was thin, fragile, almost paper-like. I wondered if I had changed something—different pumpkin, different flour, something “off” in the recipe. I rolled it anyway, but the next one came out the same way. That’s when I paused. I quickly ran through the ingredients in my mind, then looked at everything I had set on the counter.

That’s when my eyes landed on the baking powder. In an instant, I knew what had happened. I had left it out. Such a small ingredient—just a teaspoon—but it changed everything. It gives lift, structure, and stability. Without it, the whole thing falls flat. You don’t see it. You don’t really taste it. But you absolutely know when it’s missing.

It reminded me how often God uses the “small” things—and the “small” people—to hold everything together. Not everyone is the sugar or pumpkin that everyone notices. Some are the unseen ingredients—the quiet encouragers, the faithful intercessors, the behind-the-scenes servants, the steady ones who don’t get attention but make everything work the way it should.

Small doesn’t mean insignificant. Hidden doesn’t mean unimportant. Sometimes what you don’t notice is exactly what makes everything rise. So I pray I never overlook the “baking soda people” in life—the ones who may never be seen, but without them, things would fall flat. And I pray I never forget that I don’t have to be the most visible ingredient to be the most essential.
That day, I had to discard those rolls—but I didn’t lose the lesson. Thank You, Jesus, for the small things that carry the greatest impact.

1 Corinthians 12:22, “Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary.”

04/07/2026

Stepping Away

According to the National Fire Protection Association, thousands of home fires each year begin with something small, often a single open flame. It doesn’t take much. One spark touches another, and before long, everything is burning. The tragedy it brings to families is heartbreaking, and just this year several homes have burned right here in Ashe County.

That is why this photo touched my heart in a deeper way. I was struck by the power of removing just one match and how it can change the trajectory of a fueled fire. One small break—and the flame can go no further. Daily life can unfold exactly like that row of matches.
We wake up late. No hot water. We cannot find what we need. After trying on three outfits, insecurity creeps in. We rush out the door only to realize the gas tank is empty and the debit card is not in our purse. One frustration fuels the next. Before we know it, several matches are lit.

The enemy hopes we never pause—because stepping away weakens his power. He will use anything: stress at work, tension in marriage, misunderstandings with family, even hurt feelings at church. It starts small, a thought, an offense, a replayed conversation, until a line of fire burns in our minds and hearts. But when we whisper, “Jesus, help me,” we pull a match out of line. Stepping away is not weakness; it is wisdom. The enemy cannot continue a fire we refuse to feed.

My heart goes out to our neighbors in Ashe County rebuilding after literal fires—I lift them up daily. But today I pray differently for the rest of us: that Jesus would give us the discernment to recognize the sparks, the courage to step away, and the power to stop spiritual fires before they consume what matters most.

“Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out.” — Proverbs 26:20

Reflections of His Blessings

06/03/2026

05/27/2026

05/20/2026

05/13/2026

05/08/2026

05/05/2026

04/22/2026

04/16/2026

04/13/2026

04/07/2026

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