Category: Choices

  • All about the Comma

    All about the Comma

    “Never put a period where God has put a comma. God is still speaking.” – Gracie Allen

    Have you ever felt like your life was over, like there was no more hope, no more chances?

    Maybe you’ve faced a difficult diagnosis, a painful breakup, or a career-ending failure. In those moments, it’s easy to believe that God has put a period at the end of your story.

    But, are you still alive?

    If so, I’d like to encourage you. God didn’t put a period. Instead, He put a comma. If you are still alive, you still have living to do!

    He put a comma to indicate a pause, a breath, a new clause in the sentence of your life.

    This quote, “Never put a period where God puts a comma,” powerfully reminds us that our lives are not over. This is true even when it feels like they are.

    It’s a reminder that God is still writing our story. He has a plan to prosper us, not to harm us (Jeremiah 29:11).

    Let’s take a look at the story of Lazarus.

    In John 11, we read the story of Lazarus, a man who was sick and died. His sisters, Mary and Martha, were devastated. They hoped that Jesus would come and heal their brother. However, He didn’t arrive until after Lazarus had passed away.

    In their grief, Mary and Martha put a period at the end of Lazarus’ story. They believed that his life was over, and that there was no more hope.

    But Jesus came and said, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die” (John 11:25).

    And then, in one of the most amazing moments in all of Scripture, Jesus called out to Lazarus, “Come out!” (John 11:43). And Lazarus, who had been dead for four days, came out of the tomb, alive!

    This story is a powerful reminder that God doesn’t always put periods. Sometimes, He puts commas.

    And when He does, it means that there is more to come. There is more life to live. There is more hope to hold onto.

    Friend, If you’re feeling like your life is over, it may seem like there’s no more hope or chances. Remember, God doesn’t always put periods. He puts commas. And that means that there is always more to come, there is more life to live.

    Never put a period where God puts a comma.

    These are powerful words to live by. They remind us that our lives are not over, even when it feels like they are. God is still writing our story, and He has a plan to prosper us, not to harm us.

    I remember sitting with my sweet sister Sara during her last days here on earth. One of the last things she said was, “I want people to continue learning. Learning to believe and trust in God as I have tried to be God’s disciple. BUT,” she said, “it’s not about me. It’s about Him. That is the message I want people to hear.”

    Sara and God didn’t want to end this ministry. Event though He put a period on her life physically, the message needed to continue.

    She and God wanted to use a comma.

    It has been quite a journey. Sometimes it feels like God has put a period as I struggle to understand next steps. He has also shown me time and time again that it’s only a comma.

    My role is to be intentional. Be intentional in keeping an open mind, a humble heart, and faithful feet, to walk where HE leads.

    I encourage you, take a deep breath, my friend. Trust that God has more in store for you. He sometimes puts commas, not periods. And that means that there is always hope, always more life to live.

    Our role is to be intentional in remembering, this life is not about us. It’s not about our wants, needs, and desires. It is about Him. It’s about Him using us to fulfill His plan and purpose for us and this world.

    Stay tuned…more to come,

    With love and joy,

    Laura

  • A Beautiful Dance

    A Beautiful Dance

    The above picture is my dad and I dancing at my wedding.

    I grew up in a family that loves to dance. My mom and dad’s first date included dancing, and that tradition continued throughout their marriage. They were blessed with six kids, three boys and three girls. The birth order was boy, girl, boy, girl, boy, girl. My dad always said that it took a lot of talent to pull that off!

    Our Saturday nights together consisted of watching Lawrence Welk. We paired up with our dance partner. We danced through the house to the lively music! Oh, the memories of the “good old days.”

    I learned early on the importance in dance is that someone has to lead and the other has to follow. The leader must keep the partnership in time with the song. The dance partner’s job is to follow based on cues and signals from the one leading the dance.

    I think life is a dance. Sometimes we need to lead, and other times we need to follow.

    When we follow, we choose to honor the one who leads us.

    God commands us to honor others.

    This isn’t always easy because there are definitely times when we don’t necessarily respect the actions or decisions of others.

    I think honor is more about me and my heart than it is about the person I am honoring. I choose to have the heart of a servant. When I honor every person I cross paths with, the choice shapes everything I say and do.

    Most importantly we are called to honor God.

    …”Those who honor me I will honor, but those who despise me will be disdained.” 1 Samuel 2:30 (NIV)

    Without complete and genuine honor to God, it will be impossible to honor anyone else. So, this is where it starts. We are called to honor God in what we say, what we do, in our finances, in all things!

    God commands us to honor our parents.

    “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.” Exodus 20:12 (NIV)

    The command to honor our parents may seem easy to some. It is much more challenging for others who were raised in negative or abusive environments. Are all parents deserving of honor? No. Does God still command it? Yes.

    This is one of those times when we may find it hard to carry out that command to honor. So, I think we first have to check our own heart. We can choose not to think or speak ill of them, no matter what has happened. Forgive them for any offenses, and most importantly, pray for them. We can still honor them, even if we can’t be in relationship with them.

    God commands us to honor our spouse.

    “In the same way, you husbands must give honor to your wives. Treat your wife with understanding as you live together.” 1 Peter 3:7 (NLT)

    God has commanded honor within marriage for several reasons. Honoring marriage will bless the husband and the wife. It will also bless their children, grandchildren, and everyone else around them. Additionally, marriage is a symbol of Christ and the Church.

    When we honor God above all else, our life will be like a beautiful dance. Life will go much smoother if we take our cues. We need to get in rhythm with the music of life. Gracefully follow where He leads us.

    My friend, I know from experience. When I try to take over and lead my life, I get off rhythm. I stumble because I trip on my own two feet. I get frustrated and want to give up.

    God has been the greatest dance partner in my life. I choose to honor God by letting Him lead me through this journey of life. The dance is beautiful and smooth. It is filled with joy.

    I encourage you to Choose to honor God by letting Him lead you on your life journey too.

    He will be the best dance partner you’ve ever had.

    And it will be a beautiful dance!

    With love and joy,

    Laura

  • Where is God in the Shadows?

    Where is God in the Shadows?

    Jesus did not come to explain away suffering or remove it. He came to fill it with His presence. ~Paul Claudel

    We have many questions when we face difficult and tragic situations. One of the biggest is: “Why do bad things happen to good people.”

    A natural response when bad things are happening, is why? If God is good and all powerful, why doesn’t He stop the pain and suffering?

    God sits with us in our sadness. Accompanies us through the valley of the shadows. Holds our hand in our moments of fear.

    Suffering will look different for every believer in Jesus Christ. However, the desired end result should look the same when following Christ. 1Peter 4:12-13 MSG says, 

    “Friends, when life gets really difficult, don’t jump to the conclusion that God isn’t on the job. Instead, be glad that you are in the very thick of what Christ experienced. This is a spiritual refining process, with glory just around the corner.” 

    When I choose to let Him, God fills me with His presence in my spirit. I can feel strong in the middle of that weakness.

    Emotionally, it’s called a pit of despair for a reason. A hole can be dug inside us so deep that it seems everything good has been excavated from our lives.

    We all experience it in different ways. You may have lost someone you love. Or you may have found yourself in situations you never dreamed you would be facing.

    A pit is dug. And despair is the first visitor that wants to knock at your door.

    It’s in those moments I pray for God to get me out of His way. It’s those moments when I start praying for Him to change my heart for what He wants. Pray that I can be aware of the opportunities He has planned for me.

    It’s taken me a while, but I realize, this life is not about me. It’s not about my wants and desires. It is about Him. It’s about me saying yes to what He can do through me.

    It requires me to trust Him completely. It doesn’t change the loss. It doesn’t improve my earthly situation.

    But it does change the suffering.

    It allows me to not answer the door to despair and instead invite His presence into the pit. The pit looks jagged and deep. It turns out to be a God-shaped hole in the center of our beings. A hole that is dug by circumstances and choices, and we can choose to fill it with His grace.

    We all live in a place of unknown realities. He has ensured that we don’t have to suffer.

    We get to choose whether to trust Him. Then, ask Him to show us how He wants to use us.

    Then, say yes.

    With love and joy,

    Laura

  • Awaiting Grace

    Awaiting Grace

    I had some deadlines I was trying to meet, and errands that needed taken care of. I was in a hurried state as I ran the errands, causing me to be impatient.

    As I was waiting in line to check out, I realized how much time we spend waiting. And, how we are typically in a hurry!

    We wait for Uber rides, phone calls, vacations, and doctor’s appointments. We wait in check out lines and for packages to arrive.

    Waiting for answers is a fact of life—nobody gets out of it. So the question is not if we will wait, but rather how we will wait. How we wait may also determine how long we wait or if we give up!

    My impatience because I was in a hurry caused me to put my things back and leave. Now I just have to make that trip to the store again! I gave up.

    As Christians, we also wait for…

    His birth.

    answered prayer.

    His death.

    His resurrection.

    His coming again.

    Our faith is often tested by waiting. Waiting on God, means that our life is under His authority and direction. If we move ahead without God’s direction, we live in a life of turmoil, anxiety and uncertainty.

    That anxiety leads to impatience. That impatience may lead to giving up. Giving up on His direction and plan.

    Waiting on God is not a passive state. It is an opportunity for growth, spiritual development, and active engagement in His plan. A plan where we focus on faith, trust, and obedience.

    We learn about God’s perfect timing and His ability to be in charge of every detail. We so often long for proof, but that is where faith comes in. Faith is believing and trusting in God, even without seeing and knowing.

    Hebrews 11:1 gives us the definition of Faith – “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

    Hebrews 11:6 says “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.”

    In the Merriam Webster dictionary, the definition of waiting is, to remain stationary in readiness or expectation; to serve.

    So what do we do in the wait?

    Focus on the readiness of your spiritual development.

    Be in prayer – Seek God’s guidance, strength and wisdom during the wait. Ask Him to give you an open mind, a humble heart, and faithful feet. To know, accept, and walk where He is guiding you.

    Study His word – His word is truth. Allow His truth to shape your understanding and deepen you faith in the plan He is forming.

    Focus on how you can serve others.

    Serve and minister to those around you, showing compassion and love. You can do this by engaging and participating in church and/or community outreach.

    Be in the present moment. If you focus on the future, you are missing what God is needing from you now. Because if this is your life, if this is where you are at, then this is where God is too. Don’t waste time worrying about a future you have no control over.

    What is unknown to us, is not unknown to Him.

    Lent is a time for waiting. Waiting for his death. Waiting for Easter Sunday. The resurrection. The grace we receive because of His love for us.

    I pray for strength. Strength in our faith to trust in His plan. Be encouraged and take time to grow spiritually during this season.

    His gift of grace provides us His love, forgiveness, and acceptance even though we haven’t earned it. It’s a gift that can transform our lives and relationships. 

    It’s worth the wait!

    With love and joy,

    Laura

  • How do you define Joy?

    How do you define Joy?

    There are times in life when my heart and soul feel heavy. A heaviness that I can’t seem to shake. A heaviness that seems to take away my joy at times.

    I know that JOY is a choice. So, how do I choose joy when everything around seems anything but joyful?

    My youngest sister Sara, was confined to the four walls of her home the last 3 years of her life. In spite of all she experienced with her health, she chose joy.

    When asked how she defined joy, she came up with this definition:

    The unwavering trust that God knows what He is doing and has blessed me with an opportunity to be a part of it. Not despite what is happening in my life, but because of it. When everything earthly feels heavy, He gives me an internal lightness that can’t be touched.

    I’d like to break it apart together.

    The unwavering trust that God knows what He is doing…

    Unwavering – When something is unwavering, it is firm. It is unshakable. My trust, my confidence, faith and hope in God must be firm. It can’t be shaken. When life throws me lemons, I can make lemonade. I must be firm in my faith that God knows what He is doing. I must believe it and trust it.

     Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. [Proverbs 3:5-6]

    …and has blessed me with with the opportunity to be part of it.

    The life I am living is a gift from God. It is a blessing. It is a set of circumstances that I can choose to see as a gift. I have a choice to see the circumstances in my life as a burden, or a blessing. I choose to focus on my circumstances as a gift whether positive or negative. This perspective allows me to see my life as an opportunity.

    Not despite what is happening in my life, but because of it.

    Despite is to see life as a blessing without the affect of what is happening in my life. Regardless of whether I am facing negative or positive in my life, I choose joy because of life itself. Because life is a gift.

    For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. [Psalm 139:13-14]

    When everything earthly feels heavy, He gives me an internal lightness that can’t be touched.

    My life is all about Him! It’s not about me. When I focus on God, I maintain a firm belief in His plan for me and my life. No matter my circumstances, I will find the joy that is down deep in my heart to stay.

    I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. [Galatians 2:20]

    Write out this definition of JOY. Put it in a place that is easy to access and read. Better yet, define what joy means to you!

    We are in a world that needs Him. God is love. He is always with us and never leaves us. He gives us that internal lightness that can’t be touched.

    With joy and love,

    Laura