You may be able to chew the meat and spit out the bones, but you can’t chew the meat and spit out the poison. Maybe you’ve heard part or all of this clever expression, and while it may be quite clever, it’s also rather concerning. I‘ve actually heard it quoted a couple times recently, once during a conversation between Allie Beth Stuckey and Dr. Neil Shenvi, and Dr. Shenvi’s addition of the poison component resonated so very deeply in my troubled heart. I’ve been thinking a lot about the seeming innocence of the first part of this expression in juxtaposition to the dangerous toxicity of the latter half. In light of the many false narratives circulating among our culture and the false gospels creeping into our churches, I’m feeling an urge to call it out — not to stir the pot, but to stir your heart. What “gospel” are you reading? And who are you believing? Are you listening and learning out of guilt? Are you being convinced your very moral foundation must be rebuilt? There are a lot of new ideologies floating around out there, with seemingly innocent and somewhat good messages, but the truth of the matter is, there is only one truth that matters — the Gospel Truth.

We can say all the right things in all the wrong ways. Even saying there is an absolute truth or only one right way seems rather unpopular these days. And one who holds a worldview that would claim such a thing is seen as arrogant, insensitive, and unloving. In an effort to not mince words or speak too vaguely about the topic at hand, when I say, “We can say all the right things in all the wrong ways,” the “we” is “me” (and you too if you hold fast to a Biblical Worldview), the “things” are Biblical Truths held by those with a Biblical Worldview. When Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6), we take Him literally, trust Him completely, and seek Him continually. When we do that, we find that He never changes, but we should be changing everyday as we become more like Him in our actions and attitudes — in everything we say and do. So, in these conversations we’re having, knowing we want to say the right thing in the right way, with God’s help, let’s work on our tone, temperament, and timing. TONE (Ephesians 4:29, Colossians 4:6) We can say the right thing in the wrong tone. Instead we should be full of grace, seasoned with salt, avoiding any unwholesome talk. TEMPERAMENT (Romans 8:5) We can say the right thing with the wrong temperament. Instead we should put off our flesh, and be led by His Spirit. TIMING ( 2 Timothy 4:2-4, Ephesians 5:15-16) We can say the right thing at the wrong time. Instead we should remember His timing is perfect, and waiting on Him is always worth it. So, speak the truth boldly, but as you speak, yield to the Spirit, and do it with love, grace, and humility. Humility is key to allow grace in the space where hearts can be open to receive the truth that is spoken. You can say what you mean without saying it mean. Seek the truth before you speak the truth, so when you speak the truth others will want to seek the truth.

This. Present. Darkness. I heard these three words strung together as Chelsey, the host of the Living with Less Podcast quoted verse 12 of Ephesians 6 in the English Standard Version. This verse is found in the passage of scripture that explains what the armor of God is and why we, as Christians, should take up this armor every single day. When I heard Chelsey say these words, and read them again in God’s Word, it reminded me of a book I read years ago when I first started walking with the Lord. The book, This Present Darkness by Frank Peretti, is a fictional allegory that sheds light on a spiritual reality. There’s a reason God gives us His armor. We are at war with the forces of evil. Light vs Dark. Good vs Evil. God vs Satan. The sole purpose of the armor of God is to battle THIS PRESENT DARKNESS. THIS. As in “This” right here, not “that” over there. It is right in front of us. It is creeping up behind us, and it is all around us seeking to devour us. It is THIS present darkness. This one here, up close and personal. Not “that” one, way over there, far away, staying at bay. PRESENT. As in present, not absent. It is here and accounted for. It is not missing in action, on leave, or excused. It is PRESENT. It is also PRESENT . As in present tense, not past or future tense (although it was present then and will be until the end). It is PRESENT. Right here and right now. DARKNESS. As in pure evil. Vile. I think there’s a reason evil and vile are made up of the same letters. It doesn’t matter how you try to change it, rearrange it, or explain it, evil is evil, vile is vile, and both are wicked and sick and lead to destruction and death. I’ve been thinking about this present darkness quite a bit lately. I know that probably seems pretty morbid, but I think my mind goes there because this darkness is so evidently here. THIS DARKNESS is PRESENTLY PRESENT. Here and now. Not a thing of the past or a future threat. And it is trying to not only dim the Light, but to diminish it altogether. Yes, the presence of darkness is all around us, and this present darkness is trying to confound us.

Are you weary from the war of words in today’s world? Are you confused by the chaos in the words you read and hear (and maybe even repeat and share) from so many news sources and popular opinions? Are you saddened (and sometimes sickened) by the downward spiral these words start in your heart and the vicious cycle they perpetuate in your mind? Me, too. So, ya know what? I’m at war against them. I’d love to have you join me in battle. The war that’s waging in our heads and hearts (and in the world at large) is not a war we can fight with weak words, because it’s not a battle against flesh and blood... “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Ephesians 6:12 And in order to battle this “war of words” and defeat the ones that twist & turn the truth and confuse & confound the confident, we must use different words, better words. We must wield THE ONLY WORD, because other words must yield to God’s Word. God’s Word speaks A BETTER WORD. DO YOU KNOW THAT BETTER WORD? Does it ring true in your heart among ideologies that try to influence it? Does it hold steady in spite of the opinions that try to confuse it? Does it stand defiant against the condemnation that tries to persuade it? Does it speak confidently over the lies that try to silence it? God’s Word is the BETTER WORD. “The precious blood of Christ speaks a BETTER WORD.” The Gospel Truth is the BEST WORD, and praise God, it’s THE FINAL WORD.

Can you feel it? The weight of sin weighing more and more heavily on this world we live in. What used to seem subtle now feels flagrant. Pure evil is on display in blatantly obvious ways. It is wearying, because it is so weighty. But take heart, heaviness leads to holiness. Those who cried of “Hosanna,” which literally means “save us,” on Palm Sunday, shouted “Crucify Him” days later. It’s a heaviness too hard to explain, and yet it leads to a holiness that will forever remain. He sealed the deal with a empty tomb at the end of a heavy, Holy Week. The weight of the wait during Holy Week leads to the weight of Glory when our joy will be made complete. Jesus waited through the last week of His earthly life with the weight of His Father’s plan so heavy on His heart because it was all in His hands. The triumphal entry on Palm Sunday led to the triumphal victory on Resurrection Sunday. Jesus’s final days. His cruel journey to the cross. His passionate plea with his final breath, “Father, forgive them.” His temporary time in the tomb giving way to eternal life because He triumphed over it all, once and for all, to deliver us all from sin, forgiving us for what had been harshly put on Him, reconciling us to the Father once again. A story so heavy. A story so Holy. A story our finite minds will never fully comprehend, and yet our heavy hearts experience the weight of the wait again and again. His sacrifice paid the ultimate price to lift that eternal weight off you and me. He set us free, if we just believe. Same story. Same outcome. Same power. Same HOPE. A story that was foretold, fulfilled, retold, and revealed — giving NEW LIFE & HOPE to all who believe and are set free from sin. Heavy and Holy. A wait in which the weight of our sin gives way to the weight of Glory.

The world is heavy, but God still holds it. Remember the song “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands”? Well, I’m here to testify, that He does in fact have the whole world in His hands even if it seems too heavy for anyone to hold. And no matter how heavy it gets, he can handle it. He can hold it. He will always uphold it. And we, well, we get to behold it. His arms and hands are big enough to hold this crazy heavy world, and still have room and strength to hold you, too. He is mighty to save. Mighty to heal. Mighty to redeem. Mighty to set free. No matter how heavy the world gets. In this heavy world, we must lay down our heavy hearts, and lift up holy hands. Praise Him. Testify to His Sovereignty and Might. Nothing and no one will thwart His plan. Nothing and no one will remove the world from His hands. He made it. He sustains it. And while it may be heavy, He still holds it. “For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods. In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land.” ~ Psalm 95:3-5 “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” ~ Isaiah 41:10 The world is heavy, but God still holds it.

Disparity is not a rarity among the children of God, because our humanity continually disrupts our unity this side of eternity. Sanctification, not unification, is the work of the Gospel. Unity is for eternity. In Ecclesiastes, the wise King Solomon reminds us “there is nothing new under the sun.” We’ve always dealt with disparity in the Church — differences that stem from our inferences within. We read, we reason, we respond, and, inevitably our response differs from those who have also read, reasoned, and responded. Why is that?!? And why can this age old problem not be solved by the timeless truth of the Word of God? When God’s infinite wisdom and timeless truths are entrusted to the finite reasoning and limited understanding of mere mortals and immoral people, disparity is inevitable. And yet, we can still praise God because no matter how much we disagree, and how wearying that can be, it is not new, and He will always see us through, because He is still the God who is making all things new. We must cling to Him, His Word, and His truth. Disparity is not a rarity. But God’s Word gives us clarity. And His love is greater than our disparity. “Everything is wearisome beyond description. No matter how much we see, we are never satisfied. No matter how much we hear, we are not content. History merely repeats itself. It has all been done before. Nothing under the sun is truly new.” ~ Ecclesiastes‬ ‭1:8-9‬ ‭NLT‬‬ Nothing is new “under the sun” (or shall we say “in this world”). Worldly wisdom is meaningless, but Godly wisdom settles for nothing less than His holiness and righteousness.

I’m going to be honest with you. I’m not going into 2023 with some grand plan. Five days in, and I haven’t chosen my “one word,” nor do I feel confident right now with any of my words. As a writer and a wordy girl, it’s an uncomfortable place to be, but it’s where God has me now. Wrestling. Wondering why. Why is life so hard? Why is pain so deep? So, here’s to a little vulnerability in 2023. I’m struggling. Struggling to focus. Struggling to fix my eyes on Jesus. Struggling to find the right words. Struggling to find any words. Not just for this post, but in response to people’s pain, in response to lots of change, and in response to a myriad of things. 2023 is a BIG year for our family. It’s a year I’ve been excited about — joyful and expectant in regards to ALL it holds, but now I’m ALL tied up in the tension of the expectation of it ALL coupled with the guilt of even having the expectation in the midst of ALL the pain and suffering and loss for so many so close to me. This year, we celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary, and we’ll celebrate two graduations — one from college, one from high school. The high school grad will be moving 200 miles away to attend college in the fall in another state, so we’ll have three in college at some point this year in three different states. The youngest turns 16 which means ALL will be on the road, and the oldest, who has already been “on his own” for quite some time, will be officially a full time mechanical engineer. It’s ALL a bit much for the momma heart, and yet, I’m holding the excitement and expectation of it ALL with some sadness, grief, and pain knowing what some so dear to me are experiencing.

Another post…another poem about truth. I hope that’s ok. Since this is what’s been heavy on my heart, I might as well “practice what I preach” or more accurately, “post what I speak.” To see the poem I posted prior to this one, click here. And now, without further adieu, another poem I wrote just for you (and for me, too)… We will go the way of what we’re willing to say…

I hate even implying that there’s an “us” and “them,” but it seems to be true everywhere we turn — politically, socially, and even spiritually. But lest you believe all hope is lost, let me assure you, it is not. The key is to recognize the real enemy and turn our fight against him, not them. The Gospel of Jesus offers hope that frees us — frees us from being “us” and “them” as it reconciles us all to Him — all who believe and receive His free gift of salvation. My broken heart longs for true reconciliation and restoration in this broken world, but I know the only way that mend will be sustainable is if we are first reconciled to God and restored back to a right relationship with Him. His unchangeability has the supernatural ability to change us sincerely, so our hearts can long for true unity. Just because there’s a “them,” God continues to remind me “they” are not the enemy. “They” are merely the ones who just disagree with me. The enemy is the enemy, and fighting him through prayer is the only way to victory. Victory over our real enemy is the key. We’re not going to achieve perfect unity as we try to mesh conflicting ideologies. A self-centered, worldly ideology will not enhance a Christ-centered Biblical theology. Perfect unity is for Eternity and can only be achieved through embracing the grace in the victory that took place for you and me — the victory Jesus won by defeating death to give us life. The most effective way to fight from that position of victory is to continually fight this battle on our knees. So when emotions are high, and the words wanna fly because they’ve been brewin’ and you‘re ‘bout ready to spew them... Remember these wise words from His Word...

“Deep is calling out to deep, and it’s calling out to those who want to go deep.” I recently heard this quote, and like a few others I’ve heard from Pastor Joe Green, it resonated deeply. Now y’all know, I love a good quote. The catchier, the better, right? But more than tickle my ears, this one touched my spirit. It stuck in a way I can’t quite explain. I promise I’ll try for the sake of this post, but more than my feeble attempt to dive deeper into the meaning of Pastor Green’s words with my words, I’m praying for us all to have a passion and desire to dive deeper into God’s Word.It is only in His Word we will find the only truth in which to trust, the only depth in which to delve, and the only hope in which to hope. Nothing else will satisfy. This is not something new, it is an age old truth, and it is truly calling out to me and you... “Deep is calling out to deep, and it’s calling out to those who want to go deep.” “Deep calls to deep at the roar of your waterfalls; all your breakers and your waves have gone over me.” ~ Psalm‬ ‭42:7‬ ‭ESV‬‬ God’s desire for His people is not that we would pick and choose the truths that are easy to use. In fact, when we do that, we often misuse and abuse God’s truth and its original intent to not only inform us, but transform us. We cheapen grace every time we justify sin. Sin was evil then, and it’s evil now. Yes, those in Christ are covered by His blood, and His grace is powerful and sufficient enough to cover our sin and make us right with Him. But Paul says in the New Testament, “What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?” ~ Romans‬ ‭6:1-2‬ ‭ESV‬‬ What was evil then, is evil now. Just because God loved us so much to make a way through His son, Jesus, to save us from sin, does not mean He suddenly changed His mind in regard to how He feels about sin or what He defines as sin. If it was an abomination to the God of all creation, then who are we to think just because He set us free from the bondage of that sin, we are free to continue in that sin? The perpetuation of any abomination grieves the heart of the Father who sent His son for our sanctification. Like Paul said, “By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?” ~ Romans 6:2 “Deep is calling out to deep, and it’s calling out to those who want to go deep.”

Shame tries hard to get the best of me Hiding in the shadows of my insecurity Shouting insults and threats at my identity Playing mind games with my sanity But I’m a child of God you see And shame no longer has authority In my head, my heart, or any part of me Because condemnation is from the enemy From sin and shame, I have been set free To love and trust my God completely So, father of lies, get away from me In the name of Jesus, you must flee No more wrestling with shame in obscurity The light of God’s truth will forever be My steadfast hope and victory Over shame or any other weapon formed against me

I love Sundays. Time for church days. Family meeting days to hear the Word preached days. Time to worship together in spirit and truth days. Take authority against the enemy days as we come together and pray with power days. Time for the family of God to gather days, so the enemies of God can scatter days. Oh how I love Sundays. “Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” ~ Hebrews 10:19-25 ESV “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” ~ Ephesians 6:12 ESV It’s time to go to church, so we can be the Church because without church, the world can not see the Church. C’mon Church. Now is not the time to idly sit by, withdraw, or retreat. Now is the time to rise, come alive, and remind the enemy of his defeat. We have work to do, and although it may not all be done in a church pew, I’m convinced that the beauty of the bride of Christ grows deeper and fuller, and her call becomes clearer and louder as she comes together and gathers. We gather for our marching orders — straight from the uncompromising Truth of the very Word of God. We gather to prepare for battle — fully equipped and armored up so God can send us out to take back what the god of this world has run amok. We don’t gather to hear a word just to scratch our itching ears. We don’t gather to receive a pat on the back and then walk away still gripped by fear. Sundays aren’t some social club to puff us up as we pay our dues. Sundays can build us up, yes, but Sundays need to rebuke us, too. God’s Truth transforms us beyond societal norms. It disrupts the evils allowed by cultural reforms. When we stand up for God’s Truth, we must not yield. And when that Truth seems a little rough around the edges, It’s merely the sharpness of the Sword we wield. “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword , piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” ~ Hebrews 4:12 As Pastor Joe Green of St. Paul’s Missionary Baptist Church in Harrisburg, PA said on Sunday, “The more dangerous the situation, the sharper the Sword,” and I completely agree, the more evil our iniquity, the sharper the Sword must be!

It is not wise to compromise when you trade the truth of God’s Word for a world full of lies. Yeah, I know, we are called to live in it, but we are also called to stand out, be set apart, not just comfortably fit. It takes bravery to go against the grain and perseverance in the times we feel like we’re going insane. Since when has being proud of sin become our go to response in hopes not to offend? Christians, God’s standard is sweetened by His grace, and to continue in sin, is like spitting in His face Mocking the one who went to the cross, He paid the penalty for our sins, our gain was His loss. This isn’t some game where we’re keeping the score. Wear your mask and shut up because those that do love more. This is a matter of life and death, not just physical, but eternal, beyond our last breath. It’s spiritual, folks. We must open our eyes. The enemy’s at work with all this compromise. We’re confused and hurt and we’re losing our minds. But God is still God, complete and divine. We can tiptoe around words trying to be politically correct, Or we can open the Word, and receive a Word we must never forget, never neglect, and will never ever regret. When we compromise, we perpetuate lies, staying hidden in disguise, while others chastise, and please hear me when I say, this is not wise, it will lead to our demise. It’s dangerous. It’s deadly. It’s time to stop the insanity. It is not wise to compromise when you trade the truth of God’s Word for a world full of lies.

The gap between the woke and the awake is getting greater and greater while the cost to stay awake is getting higher and higher. The more aware of the difference between the Word and the world I become, the more evident the distance between those who are woke and those who are awake becomes. The gap is growing greater because the two are going in opposite directions. Let me take a moment to define the two terms I’m using (as I understand their meaning and as I am using them in this post): Woke — those who are aware of and actively attentive to important facts and issues (especially issues of racial and social justice). They typically advocate for reconciliation by extra-Biblical and anti-Biblical means using the framework of ideologies such as Critical Theory and Critical Race Theory, and in my opinion, defeat the purpose of reconciliation by further dividing people by intersectionality (or the interconnected nature of social categorizations such as race, class, and gender as they apply to a given individual or group, regarded as creating overlapping and interdependent systems of discrimination or disadvantage). Two quotes I recently read that sum up wokeness pretty well: Wokeness is today’s religion. Cancel culture is it’s sacrament. — David Benham Wokeness is a graceless religion. It never forgives past missteps. Its mission is to kill, steal, and destroy. It wants destruction and not restoration. As you stand for Biblical truth, wokeness will criticize you, demonize you, terrorize you, and someday soon, criminalize you. But love... Love keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not dishonor others. Choose love, not hate. Reject cancel culture. — Brian J. Dixon And now, my take on being awake… Awake — those who are aware of the enemy’s deception and use of these worldly ideologies to try to confuse Biblical Truth. Those who hold fast to sound doctrinal theology and see things through the lens of a Biblical Worldview realizing God does not show partiality, nor does He want His people to show partiality. (James 2:1, Acts 10:34-35, Romans 2:11, Galatians 3:28, 1 Timothy 5:21, Proverbs 28:21) Those who are awake, in my opinion, are wide awake and well aware of the deception and want to stand up for the Truth they know is the only way to true reconciliation. The woke want to right the wrongs of the world by their own means and with their own terms and conditions while the awake know only God can right the wrongs, in fact, He already did, and it has NOTHING to do with us and what we do or don’t do and EVERYTHING to do with Him and what He has already done on our behalf.

Unity centered around you and me is not true unity as God intended it to be. Actually, it’s a form of idolatry. Any “unity” that calls for coming together while leaving God out will fail. It will fall. God will have no other gods before Him. Man made unity held together by worldly ideologies is a false god. It will will unravel at the seams, because it is far more destructive than it seems. Disobeying God’s instruction always leads to destruction. Just look at the Tower of Babel in Genesis 11. In verse 4 we see the very reason for their construction of the tower was to protect or control their unity “lest they be dispersed over the face of the earth.” They sought man made unity by “making a name for themselves.” Man made unity will always give a false sense of security. What they created God frustrated. He confused their language and dispersed them. When we do things our way, we will always be led astray, but when we do things God’s way, He will protect and bless as we obey. Pastor Joe Green brought a WORD today on UNITY in the first of a two part sermon series centered around Pentecost. Pastors, your people need you to boldly proclaim God’s truth in a world that is constantly feeding them lies. Today’s Godless culture is nothing new. It’s reminiscent of others that have made brick and mortar towers and golden calves, and more recently, these graven images appear in the form of Godless ideologies and man made philosophies. Collin Hansen said “Many pastors are trying to have the “both and” mentality in an “either or” world and it’s pulling their churches at the seams.” We are either for God or we are against Him. There is no “both and” in His “either or” call for devotion and loyalty. He requires an undivided heart. Hot or cold. Not lukewarm. We must choose between God’s way and the world’s. We cannot do both. When we choose one, we must reject the other. “You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” ~ James 4:4 ESV So, in the words of Pastor Green, let’s remember these 5 things…

Disappointments can be divine appointments if you don’t let them define you, but rather let them remind you of what you’re made of. “I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.” (Psalm‬ ‭139‬:‭14‬, ESV‬‬) You are who you are because of whose you are. God loves you. He is in control. Nothing happens outside of His sovereignty, so let disappointments direct you right back to Him. Again and again. Yield and surrender your will to His. When (not if) disappointments come, because they will, learn to view them as divine detours and delays that provide the space and time to determine the dedication and commitment you have to reaching the destination. You may be going a different way than you had planned. You may even have to slow the pace. But as long as God is leading the way, these divine detours and delays will have you arriving right on time, right where He wants you, with the character necessary to recognize every blessing that wore the disguise of disappointment. So hang in there. Stay the course. Show up for every divine appointment on every detour and delay along the way. And pray. Ask God to help you. He will. “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.” (Proverbs‬ ‭16‬:‭9,‬ ‭ESV‬‬)

Fact. Faith. Feeling. What’s drivin’ your train? Let’s face it, feelings are fickle. On any given day, we can be up or we can be down. While our feelings are real, they are not always right. And if we allow those real, but sometimes wrong, feelings to rule our wayward hearts and fuel our forward motion, we may very well be headed for derailment! That’s why I love this illustration I learned in college when I was involved with Cru. A train has an engine, freight cars, and a caboose. The engine, the one driving the train, must be fueled by FACT. As a Christian, a follower of Christ, who holds fast to a Biblical Worldview, FACT (Absolute and Objective Truth) comes from the Word of God. Period. There is no other substitute for truth. That fact must be followed by FAITH (the freight cars), close behind the engine (FACT), Our faith must be pulled and drawn by the Word of God. There must be something to have “faith in” before faith can by attached to and led by that fact. And finally, FEELINGS. Ah, those fickle FEELINGS. Sometimes I wish we could simply uncouple them and leave them in the train yard, but remember, they’re real...and as long as they are in their proper place, behind the FACT of God’s Word that drives the train and our FAITH in that truth that allows it to reign, then those FEELINGS can remain. As the caboose. The end. They are just along for the ride. We must have a high view of God and a humble view of ourselves by believing what His Word says about His holy, righteous, and unchanging character as it relates to our sinful, fickle, and forever changing nature. When we do, we can let Him lead us, and that frees us to simply follow, without fear because He will never fail us or derail us.

I’ve always been confused by the name given to this day — GOOD Friday. Really? What’s so good about the devastating, unfair, cruel act we remember on this day? Jesus was mocked and scorned, beaten beyond recognition, and crucified as a criminal when the only thing He was guilty of was loving those who hated him and forgiving those who hurt him. Why then do we call it GOOD? Well, the longer I walk with Jesus, the more I’m seeing the GOOD in this day. And to sum up several years of searching scripture and a plethora of journal pages of processing through it all... There can be no resurrection without death. There can be no victory without a battle. There can be no growth without growing pains. GOOD is made better on the other side of the bad. GOOD Friday set the stage for the GOOD News that was coming. Jesus said, “It is finished,” and breathed his last human breath (John 19:30). Many that day thought those final words and that final breath would be the final act, and the curtain would close. Three days later, however, that curtain would re-open, because, literally, the curtain of the temple had been torn in two at the very moment of Jesus’ death (Mark 15:38). And when that curtain re-opened, it was a “curtain call” that moved all of Heaven and earth to applause as it revealed the BEST version of GOOD we will ever experience — death defeated that we might have life! Jesus lived, died, and rose again so that we might live abundantly and eternally with Him! And that’s the very best kind of GOOD there could ever be if you ask me!

“too” — a tiny word carrying a lot of weight. A superlative adverb of sorts indicating a higher degree, and excessive amount, a little more than before. Ironically, as a child, I always remembered how to spell this form of the word because it had an extra “o” — ya know, the overachiever of the homophone. And just like that little word, I “too” can become an overachiever by doing too much too often, becoming too busy too fast, and before I know it, I “too” am wearing overachievement like it’s some badge of honor. I’m learning, though, if not worn properly, it really just covers up the deeper issues of pride and perfection. I saw a post circulating on social media. You may have seen it, too. It was an image of a letterboard. On the letterboard was a prayer, but the only words that were recognizable were “Dear God,” at the beginning, and “Amen,” at the end. The middle of the prayer consisted of all the other letters just being spilled out and mixed together — all jumbled up. This image and the message it (ironically) so clearly communicates likely resonates with all of us at times, especially when we may be battling the terrible toos! When I’m too busy, too stressed, too this, or too that, my natural response is initially to double down, which usually leads to meltdown, and eventually and inevitably leads to shutdown. In my world, it can manifest as writer’s block, creative constipation that leads to verbal vomiting. No matter how you say it (or not say it if the words will not come to express it), it’s a frustrating feeling for a person who is rarely short on words. And I want to do more than just whip words out, I want to wield them well. My words just get mixed up when they aren’t filtered through His Word, and they can’t be filtered through His Word, if I’m not spending time in His Word daily, because I can’t spend time in His Word daily when my daily schedule has me doing way too much! Jumbled letters and mixed up words (for me) are indicators of a jumbled life and mixed up priorities. They scream at me like a bad case of the “terrible toos.” The saying “too many irons in the fire” dates back to the 1600s when a blacksmith would keep irons in the fire while he worked shaping them into what they needed to be. If there were too many irons in the fire, the fire would get too hot and the blacksmith would be too busy to keep up with the work before the irons would melt and disintegrate in the intense heat. So, what once was well on its way to becoming something beautiful burns out and burns up before beauty is beheld. I don’t know about you, but I can tell very quickly when I have too many irons in the fire. The overachieving makes me underproductive, and doubling down leads to meltdown. Too many irons in the fire. Too many letters on a board. Too many or too much really equals too little and not enough. We are overloading our schedules, our lists, and our lives without undergirding any of it with prayer. Just like a toddler with a bad case of the terrible twos needs correction, this momma with a bad case of the terrible “toos” needs to heed some correction, too! “It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep.” ~ Psalms‬ ‭127:2‬