Thank you so much you all!! Here are some reflective questions to consider. Have I invited the Holy Spirit into the spaces that are of concern to me? What person, situation, or threat has been influencing my emotions? Have I been responding to what is actually happening, or to what I fear might happen? Where have I been trying to control someone else instead of exercising self-control? What truth from God's Word do I need to bring back to the forefront of my thinking? What is my next obedient step, even if the circumstances around me do not change?

“Having done all, to stand. Stand therefore…” — Ephesians 6:13–14 Today is a special day of reflection. My big sister is 54 years young, and I find myself deep in my feelings as I reflect on just how much she means to me. ❤️ She is the one person still in my life who was there when our mother first discovered she was pregnant with me. She has been planted in my life like a mountain—a constant presence through the seasons, the changes, and the journey of life. We have shared an incredible journey, from growing up in the '80s watching Good Times, Soul Train, and The Cosby Show to attending church multiple days a week. We have memories that time cannot erase and a bond that distance cannot diminish. There has been profound loss, trauma, and heartbreak. Yet, here we are still walking out our adventures of faith with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Today, I find myself reflecting on the beauty of endurance. There is something powerful about looking back over your life and realizing that what you endured did not have the final say. Life has tested us in ways our younger selves could never have imagined, but we are still standing! Clothed in the armor of God, we have emerged with something more valuable than simply making it through: wisdom, endurance, peace, forgiveness, and love. Our grey strands are reminders that we have lived, learned, and grown. The lines on our faces tell stories that only time and experience could write. We carry a wisdom that our younger selves could never have fully understood. And yet, there is still so much life ahead of us! I EXPECT our latter years to be filled with purpose. I EXPECT us to walk boldly into the destinies God has prepared for us. We have come too far to allow our past to limit what we believe God can do in our future. We are not merely survivors of what we have been through. We are women who are still becoming everything God has called us to be. Galatians 6:9 reminds us not to grow weary in doing good, because in due season we will reap if we do not give up. Our journey has taught us to keep believing, keep growing, and keep walking by faith.

Today, I came across an Instagram post that hit me right in my knower: “When the calling is high, the distractions are many.” And I immediately thought, AHHHHHH! THAT’S WHAT’S GOING ON! I could recognize the delays, disruptions, and distractions, but I couldn’t seem to figure out how to rise above the booby traps of time-nuzzling. Each interruption caught me off guard, and before I knew it, the entire day was gone. I had been praying and declaring, “No more delays, distractions, or setbacks in Jesus’ name!” Yet I needed the wisdom to recognize the traps and the discipline to stop entertaining them. I have the mind of Christ! And Jesus was not moved off course by every demand, interruption, or attempt to divert Him from His purpose. He was intentional about His time, focused on His assignment, and unwavering in His obedience to the Father. “Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children.” — Ephesians 5:1 (KJV) Following God means more than believing His promises. It means learning to walk as He walked, developing the discipline to recognize distractions, and refusing to allow anything to pull us away from what He has called us to do. Sometimes, the breakthrough is not another declaration against the distraction. It is recognizing the distraction for what it is and responding with the authority, wisdom, and focus we already possess in Christ. Jesus knew when to rebuke the enemy, when to withdraw from the crowd, and when to keep moving toward His assignment. He was never controlled by the urgency of everything around Him. And that’s where I’m growing: not merely recognizing that my time is being consumed, but learning to govern my time with the mind of Christ. I can hear it now: “Get thee behind me, Satan!” And keep it moving! I once was blind, but now I see! What I couldn’t identify before, I can now recognize. And what I recognize, I can address with wisdom and intentionality. My calling deserves my attention. My obedience requires my focus. And I refuse to keep losing entire days to distractions I have been given the wisdom to overcome.

OVERCOMING & VICTORY — We are more than conquerors through Him who loves us. No weapon formed against us prospers, and we overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony. (Romans 8:37; Isaiah 54:17; Revelation 12:11)

Back in 2009, about a month before I met Randy, I went out one morning to capture a picture of a sunrise so I could put this scripture on it. It just so happened that I ended up getting this photo about a mile from Randy’s home, and where I now live. Coincidence? I think not! 📸🌅🧡