Plugged Into Peace

When Kindness Isn't Appreciated “If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet.” — Matthew 10:14 (NIV) “And let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due season we shall reap, if we do not give up.” — Galatians 6:9 (ESV) So, what do I do when kindness is not appreciated by others? When the love, forgiveness, grace, and mercy I offer aren't returned? I remember what Jesus taught — and I shake the dust from my feet and move on in peace. I trust that God sees every seed I've planted, even if others do not. He promises that no act of love or service done in His name will ever be in vain. Someone, somewhere, will value the kindness. And when they do, it will breathe new life into me and encourage me to keep going — to not faint in well-doing. Every tear, every moment of exhaustion, every unseen act of love is a seed. And God, who is faithful, will bring a harvest in His perfect time. I still win —...

  Do Now What You’ll Be Satisfied With Later Let’s be real—every day comes with a series of choices. From the moment our eyes pop open (whether it’s to an alarm, the sun, or a toddler or pet climbing on our head), we are invited to decide how we’ll move through the day. Some of those choices lift us up. Others? Well… they teach us what  not  to do next time. But what if we got intentional— on purpose —about what we give our energy to? What if we paused to think,  “Will this feed my joy in the Lord, or drain it?” That pause could change everything. Because here’s the truth:  we can’t always control what happens, but we  can  prepare our hearts and minds for how we respond. We can choose gratitude for the good. We can choose prayer when things get tough. We can choose to protect our peace by being mindful of what we consume, who we engage with, and how we treat ourselves. All of that starts with  daily planning —not just the to-do list kind, but hea...

  ✏️  1.  Spiritual Revelation: Holding back kindness is a form of evil. God should be the center — everything else in life should revolve around Him. 2.  Lesson: You’ve got to stay in the Word every day — it brings healing to both today and tomorrow. 3.  Kindness feels like the sum of love and forgiveness. Even when I must be firm, I can still be kind. Kindness helps me stay joyful — and helps me release others with the same grace. 4.  Forgiving myself and others means being kind and gentle to both. Grace starts with how I treat myself, too. 5.   How can I truly love someone without kindness? I can’t. 6.  Kind. Kindness. It’s the practical ingredient in extending grace and mercy — giving myself and others permission to grow into who God wants us to be, not just what I want. 7.  The enemy attacks our thoughts — which can manifest in emotions and show up in our actions. Protect your mind! 8.  I need self-control to develop patience, kind...

Taming the Tasmanian: How to Protect Your Peace When People Spiral You ever notice how someone else’s drama can feel like it just landed on your lap… uninvited… like a wild cartoon tornado? Picture it (Sicily… just kidding — Golden Girls fans, you get it): You're minding your business. Life is decent. Then boom — in comes a friend, a family member, or even your own inner thoughts, spinning faster than the Tasmanian Devil himself. And just like that? Your peace is in pieces . 🌀 Infected by Drama You Don’t Own Sometimes we think we’re not being affected by someone else’s issue — but in reality, we’re being infected . Think about it: Someone vents to you angrily, then you walk away mad. They unload sadness, and suddenly you’re sad. You step into their stress, and now you’re spiraling. And sometimes, it’s deeper than feelings — it turns into behavior : Risky choices, snapping at others, shutting down, numbing out. You didn’t sign up for that — but here you a...

Don’t Stay in the Cell: Embrace God’s Forgiveness There’s a certain weight that comes with regret — that deep, pit-of-your-stomach feeling when you realize you’ve messed up. Maybe you hurt someone. Maybe you broke a promise. Maybe you did the very thing you swore you would never would. And now, you're sitting in the emotional equivalent of a prison cell — mourning, regretting, and condemning yourself over and over. But here’s the powerful truth: God has already paid the price. Imagine this: you’re in that cell, fully aware of what you did to get there. You grieve it. You own it. And then — someone walks in and tells you the debt has been paid. You’re free to go. No conditions. No tricks. Just… freedom. But instead of walking out, you stay. You keep mourning. You keep beating yourself up. You keep punishing yourself. You refuse to leave. That is what not accepting forgiveness looks like. And honestly, that’s not thankfulness — that’s a pity party. That’s choosing shame over grace. ...

Let’s Be Real: The Bible Isn’t Up for Debate Wouldn’t it be refreshing to just open the Bible and read it as what it truly is—a conversation and guide from God? A divine message crafted out of love, direction, and purpose. Yet so often, it's misunderstood, debated, or even twisted to justify behaviors that go against God’s will. It would be nice if we could just “agree to disagree,” but if we’re claiming to follow Jesus, then we need to understand: this isn’t a casual topic. It’s literally a matter of life and death—physically and spiritually. Now picture this: Two people are arguing about what they believe the Bible means—each twisting the Word to fit their personal lifestyle or narrative —while Jesus stands nearby, watching and listening to them debate His Word. What a heartbreaking waste of time. Here’s the truth: The Bible doesn’t change its meaning to accommodate our disobedience. Just because we want to live a certain way doesn’t mean God is okay with it or that H...

Keep On Living – God’s Still Teaching Ever heard someone say, “Keep on living” ? If you haven’t yet, just wait. You will. And when you do, it’s usually coming from someone who’s seen a few things, been through a few storms, and knows that life doesn’t always give you a heads-up before the test. It’s not shade. It’s actually love wrapped in wisdom. “Keep on living” means: What you may not understand now... you just might later. Life has a way of pulling up a chair and sitting you down for a lesson you didn’t sign up for — a timeout that God can use for your good and His Glory. Sometimes we don’t “get it” until we’ve lived it: You don’t understand patience until God makes you wait. You don’t value peace until chaos has overstayed its welcome. You don’t see grace clearly until you realize how much you needed it. But here’s the thing — God is in all of it . He’s in the waiting, the learning, the crying, the bouncing back, and even the confusion. He never wastes a season. Every ...

  Trusting in the Lord is Like Being the Child of a Five-Star Luxury Restaurant Owner I know what the costs are. I know it’s expensive—I can’t afford it! Nothing I do can cover the price of this menu. But I’m the child of the owner. He owns it. I’m covered. My portion is paid. If I know this, why would I be stressed? Why would I cry and faint at the table when the bill comes? The bill is COVERED! If I truly understand this, what is my issue? Maybe… The last time, I wasted the meal (wasn’t thankful). The last time, I didn’t share the meal (didn’t spread the Good News). Maybe I didn’t even acknowledge the owner (didn’t give honor). Maybe I only show up when I’m hungry (selfish motives). So many “maybes.” Because of this, maybe the owner will have a firm talk with me. Maybe He won’t reserve my table. Maybe He’ll let me miss a meal. Maybe He’ll still answer my call for a reservation but I will have to wait in line. Maybe I’ll get something I didn’t order. So many possibilities. But wh...

The Vehicle of Life is Driven by God! HE has the ultimate GPS— God’s Purposed System . When you sit as a passenger in a car with someone that is known for perfect driving skills, you know that you are in safe hands.  You can truly rest and trust in the decisions of the driver and know that you will arrive safely to your d estination.  This is true when considering God is the expert driver and we are the anxious passenger. We make the choice to jump out of the vehicle at every speed bump—falling to the ground, crying, worrying, and seeking comfort in the arms of anyone nearby. Of course, there will be moments when God allows us to get out, take a breath, and process our emotions. Hopefully, those around us will offer Godly counsel, gently guiding us back to the vehicle where God has been patiently waiting with His foot on the brake . Inevitably, we get back in—not because we have all the answers, but because we trust that God is able. He’s done it before, and He will do it aga...