Tag: god

Gratitude, healing, Trust God

When Life Doesn’t Go as Planned: A Journey to Contentment

The Kedge Anchor

Sometimes disappointment doesn’t come because something went wrong; it comes because life didn’t turn out the way we imagined. We make plans, imagine our future, and settle into what feels comfortable, only to find ourselves in circumstances we never expected. We wonder how we can find peace when the place, season, or situation we are in doesn’t look anything like what we hoped for.

Recently, I read an article by Karen DelTatto in an email from iBelieve.com that reminded me of my own struggle. Through her own experience of moving into a home and neighborhood that wasn’t what she originally envisioned, she discovered that God’s blessings were not limited to the place she thought she wanted to be. Her story caused me to reflect on my own journey and the places God has planted me along the way.

My husband and I have moved several times throughout our marriage, but Virginia was never a place we imagined calling home. After spending more than 30 years in Florida, leaving was a much bigger adjustment than I expected. It wasn’t because I didn’t appreciate what we had there. I knew how blessed we were. I treasured the warmth, the ocean, the familiar places, the memories we had built, and the life God had given us. That was part of what made the transition so difficult. I wasn’t leaving something I disliked; I was leaving a place that had become home.

I tried to make Virginia feel like home, but there were many moments when I wondered, “Will this ever feel like home?”

But God.

God began to show me blessings I wasn’t always looking for. He provided a wonderful church family and placed people around me who have encouraged me, served alongside me, and reminded me that home is not just a location. He blessed us with great neighbors, and He provided a job for my husband where he is valued and encouraged.

I still miss Florida. I still miss the ocean, the warmth, and the familiarity of a place where we had built so many memories. If I am being honest, I can’t say I love Virginia the way I loved Florida. But God is teaching me that contentment does not mean we love every circumstance we are in. Contentment means trusting that God is present in every circumstance.

As I reflected on Karen’s story, I was reminded that sometimes the place we don’t choose is the very place where God is working. She discovered blessings in the neighborhood she didn’t originally want, and I am learning to recognize blessings in the place God has brought us.

This also made me think about Paul. His circumstances were far beyond anything I have experienced. Prison was not where Paul planned to be, yet from that place he wrote words that continue to challenge us today:

“I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.” — Philippians 4:11

Paul didn’t find contentment because his circumstances were easy. He found contentment because he knew God was with him.

I am still learning contentment. I still miss Florida, but I am learning that my peace cannot be anchored in a location. My peace is anchored in Christ.

What about you? Have you ever found yourself in a place or season you didn’t choose, but God showed you blessings you didn’t expect? I’d love to hear what He taught you. Leave a comment below.

anxiety, Fear, Uncategorized

Back to School – Part 2

The Kedge Anchor
Photo by Pavel Danilyuk on Pexels.com

In Part 1, I shared my memories of the first day of school and how much anxiety came with it. I worried about making a mistake, breaking a rule, or disappointing my teacher.

Looking back, I realize I sometimes approached my relationship with God the same way. I wanted to please Him, but I was afraid of getting it wrong.

But God doesn’t leave us guessing. He has given us His Word to teach us, guide us, and help us understand what pleases Him.

So the question is: What does it really look like to live a life that pleases God?.

I believe a lot of times we are looking for something specific. We seek God’s will for our lives. What does He want me to do specifically? While I do believe He a permissive will for us and a perfect will for us, I tend to think we can get too caught up in that. I know there have been times where I didn’t take a step or do anything because I was a afraid it would be the wrong thing. We make plans, but God directs our steps, Proverbs 16:9. If we have a pure heart about a decision, if it’s not where God wants us, He will direct us on the right path.

Our faith is what pleases God. Faith comes by the word of God. I thinks it’s so easy to get wrapped up in God’s plan. Living in fear of doing the wrong thing, worrying about the consequences. I think it was Charles Stanley who said, “Obey God and leave the consequences to Him.” God will direct our steps, He’s got our backs if we are truly following Him.

Mike Donehey wrote a book, Finding My Life for God’s Will, he says that maybe God isn’t giving us specifics of the plans for us, because He is the plan. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life…!” Highly recommend this book! (and I’m not getting paid to say that)

So unlike those first days of school when I worried about making a mistake and ending up in trouble, I don’t have to walk through life afraid of getting everything wrong with God.

My job is not to figure out every detail of the plan before I take a step. My job is to trust Him, seek Him, obey His Word, and follow where He leads.

The Teacher has given us the syllabus. The lessons are right there in His Word. We just need to show up, listen, and be willing to learn.

And thankfully, we don’t have to learn alone. God is with us every step of the way.

anxiety, Fear, Obedience

How to Please God: Lessons from the First Day of School – Part 1

The Kedge Anchor

Photo by Atlantic Ambience on Pexels.com

There was always a feeling of anxiousness going back to school. That first day was always rough. Sometimes I’d hear rumors of how hard my homeroom teacher was going to be and stories from other students the nightmare that homeroom class was for them the year before.

It was always nice to be a little early and see some old friends and kids I hadn’t seen all summer, for a brief moment I would forget about being anxious. Then the bell would ring and all the students would walk into their classrooms. I’d be anticipating the teacher walking in or if the teacher was already there, I’d be accessing his or her mood.

I was always afraid that I would accidentally break a rule, make the teacher mad and send me to the principal’s office get detention and then when I got home, be reprimanded again. But isn’t that just like us humans to catastrophize everything, even as kids.

My goal was to do well in school, make my teacher and parents happy, make some friends and have some fun. But I still had this fear and worry I would do something wrong. I didn’t want to make my teacher mad or break a rule. I lived in fear those first few days of a new school year.

As a Christian, now, all I want to do is love God and obey His word. But I have to admit if I have the wrong perspective, I can live in fear of God. We are to have a reverent fear, an awe of God. Proverbs 1:7 – “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” I do have a reverent fear of God. He is in control, He is omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent. He is sovereign and righteous. Jeremiah 32:17 – “Ah, Sovereign LORD, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.”

All I want to do is please God, every day. But I know I am a sinner and I can’t be perfect. God sacrificed His Son to die for us and pay the penalty of sin, so that we can live with Him forever in eternity. Now if someone saved me from a burning building, rescued my from a sinking ship, whatever, I would be forever grateful to that person. I would welcome that person into my life as part of my family, I would stay in contact and give back however I could. The same is for me with God. He saved me from death and gave me eternal life and all I had to do was accept Him and receive the gift of salvation. He is my life, I stay in constant contact and try to give back when I can however I can.

So how do I please God? What can I do to make Him happy? After all it’s only His approval I seek. It’s only His approval that matters. Like the first day of school, I live in awe of God and sovereignty. Unlike the first day of school, I don’t have any anxiety about making a mistake or making God mad. But I began to think, what does make God happy? What do I do to please Him?

I want to obey His word, His commandments. God gave us His word, the Bible. It contains everything we need to know about Him and how to live for Him. But what is that exactly?

The Ten Commandments were the first set of guidelines to live by. After Jesus came to the earth, He narrowed those down to two. Matthew 22:37-40, “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.“ Ok so there’s two. That’s not all.
Here are some other things I have found.

Philippians 4:6-7 – “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Outside of the fact God is telling us not to be anxious (Do not be anxious, I believe that is in command form, He’s not suggesting, He’s telling us not to be anxious. Easier said than done, that’s a discussion for another time). So God wants us to communicate with Him about everything always.

Hebrews 11:6 – “ And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.” and faith cometh by hearing and hearing the word of God, Romans 10:17

1 Thessalonians 5:17 – “Pray without ceasing.” Just exactly what that means. But prayer and talking to God isn’t always bowing our heads and folding our hands. (Another discussion for anther time).

1 Peter 4:9 – “Be hospitable to one another without complaint.” Being hospitable, that’s easy, without complaint, not always easy.

Proverbs 3:9 – “Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops;” Your wealth may not be thousands of dollars in the bank. God just wants you give back and mange what He has given you.

James 4:8 – “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”

Romans 14:17-18 – “for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. For he who in this way serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men.

There are so many more ways we can please God, and this post is already getting long. I think this is a topic I will continue exploring.

Looking back, I realize I spent so much time worrying about disappointing my teachers, breaking a rule, or making a mistake. But God is not waiting for us to mess up so He can punish us. He wants us to learn, grow, and draw closer to Him.

Yes, we should have a reverent fear of God because He is holy and sovereign. But we also have the incredible privilege of knowing Him as our loving Father.

Just like the first day of school, we may feel nervous stepping into a new season. But unlike those first days in the classroom, we don’t have to walk in afraid. God walks with us, teaches us, and guides us.

What are some things you have found in Scripture that show us how to please God? I’d love for you to share in the comments.

Stay tuned for Part 2 tomorrow.

encouragement, Stewardship, Uncategorized

The Master Artist Isn’t Finished Yet

The Kedge Anchor
Photo by Antoni Gonzalez on Pexels.com

In last week’s post, Don’t Waste the Blessing, I wrote about not wasting our blessings. We need to be good stewards of our resources. Proverbs 12:27 says “Lazy people don’t even cook the game they catch, but the diligent make use of everything they find.” (NLT). After all the work of catching their game, they don’t even bother to cook it and it goes to waste.

I think we are all guilty of this at times. I know I am. When dealing with chronic migraines and the nausea that usually goes with it, food tends to go to waste. I try to plan and freeze food when I can. I’m not always successful. I feel just as guilty about not using some of my art supplies. Having too many supplies can actually be overwhleming and can limit my creativity because there are too many choices. 

I don’t like to waste food or art supplies. Sometimes, I don’t always finish or like what I make, so I try to recycle it make it into something else. 

As I meditated on this and on Proverbs 12:27 another verse came to mind. Philippians 1:6 “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” God finishes what He starts. He redeems us, transforms our lives, makes us new. He does this because He loves us and He sees value in us, in our lives. 

Genesis 1:27 says He created us in His own image. This verse reveals that being made in God’s image gives every person inherent value and dignity.

Matthew 10:31: “Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.” This verse shows us of our worth in God’s eyes, highlighting that we are cherished and cared for.

And His ultimate expression of His love for us, He sacrificed His only Son to die for us so that we can be cleansed from sin and live with Him for all eternity, John 3:16.

  He won’t stop working in us. He is always shaping us, molding us into His image, and completing the work He began.

Just like an artist looks at a messy experiment and sees possibility, God looks at us and sees the person He is creating us to be. He doesn’t discard us because we are imperfect, unfinished, or still growing. He sees the value He placed within us when He created us in His image.

The same God who calls us to be good stewards of the blessings in our hands is the God who lovingly tends to our hearts and our lives. He restores what is broken, redeems what seems wasted, and transforms what is unfinished into something beautiful for His purpose.

So as we look at the things God has entrusted to us — our time, our resources, our gifts, and even ourselves — may we remember that nothing He creates is without value.

We are His workmanship, Ephesians 2:10 and the One who began the work is faithful to complete it.

Gratitude, Stewardship, Wisdom

Don’t Waste the Blessing

The Kedge Anchor

Proverbs 12:27

“Lazy people don’t even cook the game they catch, but the diligent make use of everything they find.” (NLT)

As some you know I am chronologically reading through the Bible and creating a junk journal of sorts; collecting and treasuring scripture as I go. I am taking my time, I am not on a time table trying to get through it in a year. It may be a few years and I am ok with that. 

When I read this verse, it hurt, OUCH! And of course I had to dig a little deeper into this verse and this is where it really hurt.

Proverbs contrasts laziness with diligence by showing that failing to finish what we begin wastes the blessings God has already provided. Like game left uncooked, neglected opportunities, gifts, and responsibilities can be lost through inaction or laziness. A diligent person, however, recognizes God’s provisions as valuable and practices careful stewardship of time, skills, relationships, and resources. Diligence is an expression of gratitude, honoring God by faithfully completing the work He has entrusted to us.

This verse reminds me to follow through on what I begin, faithfully manage what God has entrusted to me, and recognize every blessing as something worth cultivating, putting in the effort needed to transform potential into purpose, fruitfulness, and lasting joy.

I am so guilty of this. It’s easy for food to go bad in our house because it’s hard to eat anything when your eyes see food and your stomach says; “Nope.” Dust piles up, the house gets a little messier and dirtier until one of us can clean it. However, with a chronic illness like migraines and many times with those migraines comes nausea and thus food goes to waste because there have beens many days where I eat very little. I’m not being lazy. If you’re like me there are days lifting my head off the pillow takes so much energy to take care of anything else, it’s just not a priority. That’s not an excuse, that’s just an explanation. I want to be sensitive to those of us with chronic illness and find it hard to be consistent when some days you’re in survival mode. I can honestly say that the migraines are becoming fewer and I am able to be more attentive and consistent with things. It does bother me that food gets wasted. I am working on that. God understands I am not lazy. Sometimes I am a little lazy I’ll admit, but many days I’m in survival mode. 

When it comes to my art supplies; I have lots. Many I don’t use sometimes because I forget I have them because they are stashed somewhere in a draw. Kinda outta sight outta mind. I try to use what I have before I go out and spend money on something I am likely not to use or end up not liking. If whatever hasn’t been used in a while, I’ll donate it and bless someone else with it. 

Then there’s the actual pieces of art that go left unfinished. I get to a point where I either lose interest or deem it not worth finishing because of a mistake or I just don’t like how it turned out. I have lots of those pieces. So I am trying to recycle them and reused them somehow, maybe try and fix them or finish them. There have been times I am just playing and experimenting and I come up with something really I really like and then sometimes it’s just a mess. But I don’t have to toss the whole thing out, there may be parts that can be used.

The image at the top are attempts of me just playing and experimenting . Some are messy, and some just ok. I can cut out the things I like and use them as ephemera in my junk journal. I can also reuse the back and paint on it. And the scraps I can use to make a color palette and test colors and even those can be used for something.  I am human I do make mistakes but I can still be a good steward of the resources God has provided.

As I continued reflecting on Proverbs 12:27, another verse came to mind — Philippians 1:6.

I think there is another layer to this verse that God is revealing to me, one that goes beyond what we do with the things He has placed in our hands.

If this encouraged you today, consider subscribing so you don’t miss Part Two. Also look for me on substack, Facebook and Instagram, Until then Anchor in Hope.

encouragement, hope, rest, Uncategorized

Anchored Between Silence and Sound

The Kedge Anchor
Rusty anchor partially buried in pebbled beach with ocean waves and a colorful sunset sky
Maybe peace isn’t found when the noise disappears.
Maybe peace is found when we know what holds us steady while the noise continues. ⚓

Shortly after writing this blog post about being still I went over to IG since I hadn’t been there in while. I came across a post by Dave Adamson a.k.a. Aussie Dave. In his IG post on June 29th he talks about how the Western Wall changed his perspective about “quiet time” with God. And after reading his post and reviewing what I wrote – we’re both not wrong or right. He always thought quiet time was just that and what many of us envision it to be. Silently praying,  silently reading and perhaps silently journaling. And he brings up a good point, perhaps quiet isn’t how it’s thought to be. It was when he visited the Western Wall Jewish men and boys weren’t reading silently. They were reading the Torah aloud and discussing it, he says even wrestling with it – together. The Hebrew word we translate as “read” actually means to call out or proclaim. 

He points out that Jesus read scripture in publicly in the Synagogue. And Paul told Timothy to devote himself to read scripture in public. He points out that ‘faith comes by hearing” in Romans 10:17. Scripture is meant to be read quietly as well as be spoken out loud. 

Aussie Dave ain’t wrong and I’m not right. Honestly it’s when I am sharing and living out  my faith that the words I have read become real and anchored. 

Maybe the invitation isn’t to choose between silence and sound, but to recognize that God meets us in both. There are moments when we need to be still enough to listen, to sit with His Word, and allow it to take root in our hearts. And there are moments when we need to speak it, share it, wrestle with it, and live it out among others.

Perhaps stillness isn’t about the absence of noise. Perhaps it’s about creating space for God’s voice to become clearer — whether that happens in the quiet of a room, the conversation around a table, or the faithful act of proclaiming what He has placed on our hearts.

The words we read are not meant to remain on a page. They are meant to transform us. They are meant to be carried, spoken, and lived.

So maybe the question isn’t, “Am I doing quiet time the right way?” Maybe the better question is, “Am I making room for God to meet me — and am I allowing His Word to work in me and transform me be it in the sounds or in silence?

Because whether whispered in stillness or spoken out loud publicaly, His Word is alive.

encouragement, hope, prayer, Uncategorized

Anchored in the Silence

The Kedge Anchor

Silence. It can be deafening sometimes. It can be uncomfortable. Many times in conversation we feel the need to fill the pauses. Many times silence speaks louder than words. 

Psalm 46:10  – “…Be still and know that I am God…” In Hebrew,  according to biblehub.com “Be still” means sink, relax. Sometimes that can be the hardest and the last thing I want to do. 

Yet, it’s in the chaos, in the storm I need to be still. Jesus isn’t always going to calm the waters, maybe not right away, maybe in a while – in His time.

Most times, even when I am choosing to be still, shutting out the wandering thoughts, the to do list, the what if’s, the noise of the day – it’s hard. Focusing is hard especially after a migraine my brain is foggy and tired. All I can think about is what I need to catch up on.

Being still and sitting in silence to me is like staring at a blank canvas or a blank page in a journal. It can be paralyzing and scary. Why is it my mind can blank at that but in silence I can come up with the worstest (it’s a word, I just made it up) scenarios. But that is neither what I want to write about, paint on a canvas or think about. Philippians 4:8 – “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” 

“Meditate on these things.” Prayer is a form of meditation, just remember to leave some space for God to respond. Recalling scripture and God’s faithfulness are always a good things to meditate on. 

Maybe silence isn’t meant to be filled. Maybe it is meant to be surrendered. (There’s that word again).

The blank space that feels uncomfortable, the pause that feels awkward, the stillness that makes our minds race,  those are often the very places where God invites us to meet Him.

An anchor does not prove its strength when the waters are calm. It proves its strength when the storm comes and the waves are pulling hard. Maybe being still is not about having a quiet life or a quiet mind. Maybe it is about knowing where we are anchored when life is anything but quiet.

So today, I want to practice sitting in the silence,  not because I have everything figured out, not because the noise has disappeared, but because I know Who is there with me.

“Be still and know…”

Not be still and understand everything.
Not be still and have all the answers.
Just be still and know.

Know that He is God.
Know that He is faithful.
Know that even in the silence, He is near.

hope, Uncategorized

Intentional Living, One Step at a Time

The Kedge Anchor
Open door leading to a cozy living room with an armchair, bookshelf, lamp, and fireplace

I used to think showing up was the win. Now I think it’s just the doorway.

Since my last post, I have been intentional about showing up. And as usual, when I do that, when I sit down to do anything I need to do, especially creative work or time with God, voices enter the scene.

I hear: “You shouldn’t be doing this… what about laundry?” Like Lisa Simpson having to organize her CDs first. IYKYK. Or “Why bother, no one cares.” And the classic: “You’re not good enough.”

All distractions. All lies.

Showing up requires intention and preparation. My corner of our shared office, or really my little studio corner, needed organization. I didn’t want to work in a space where I couldn’t access my art supplies. There was no room to spread out, and it became frustrating.

So I changed it.

One day while my husband was at work (he had to be for me to do this, his allergies… OY!), I rearranged the layout and organized my supplies. It’s still a work in progress, but I have to admit, it is so much better. (I have a few photos I’ll share in another post.)

Once things were more organized and accessible, I felt more encouraged to actually go in there and create.

Some days I have a specific project in mind. Other days, I just make marks on paper—paint, markers, or hand-letter a verse of Scripture. And there are days when a migraine shows up, and that’s when I give myself grace. Pushing through migraine pain has never benefitted me, or anyone else, for that matter.

I used to think showing up was the win. Now I think it’s just the doorway.

I’ve started applying the same mindset to my time with God. I’m not just “showing up” – I come prepared, usually with my Bible and a favorite pen. There was a time I would simply open Scripture anywhere and read whatever landed in front of me. But now I have a plan.

One of my goals was to read the Bible all the way through. My mom gave me a chronological Bible a few years ago for my birthday, and I only made it halfway through.

Now I’m more intentional. In January, I bought a journal and decided I wanted to create a kind of junk journal as I read. I write notes on passages that speak to me, not as a theology student or someone in seminary, but simply as someone listening for God along the way. I add notes, doodles, and small decorations to the pages. It helps me remember, and it draws me back in later.

Showing up in my office/studio space has become more inviting. I’m more prepared to work on projects and to journal.

“The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.” – Proverbs 22:3  To me, this speaks to being intentional and aware with how I use my time, choosing what deserves my attention, instead of moving forward on autopilot.  I’m trying to be more discerning with my time, intentional about when I create, when I rest, and when I simply let an idea come through.

Uncategorized

Showing Up: The First Step to Meaningful Action

The Kedge Anchor
Open journal with handwritten notes and pen beside steaming coffee cup on wooden windowsill overlooking sunrise over countryside.
Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead – James 2:17

There’s a phrase I keep hearing lately: “Just show up.” Apparently it’s the secret to consistency, growth, and success. And yes, showing up matters. But what happens after you arrive? So I show up, now what? Showing up is only half the story. The other half? Courage. Action. Actually doing the thing once you’re there. Showing up without following through, without engaging, can feel…empty, lost. Just showing up to class isn’t going to get you an “A”. You need your books, your notes, a pen. You need to listen to the lecture and engage with the class. Without action, showing up is, well, like I said, empty.

If answered prayers came from simply showing up, faith would be easy. What would I gain each day if I thought that simply showing up with my Bible and journal would make me a Bible scholar—without actually opening my Bible, reading it, or making notes? Where would that take me? Not very far.  I apply the same idea to making art. I make art because I showed up, and now I have a space to act, to create, to reflect what’s inside me. I try to be intentional but sometimes just “playing” is all that’s necessary.  And sometimes it’s messy, many times it’s imperfect—but it’s real. Sometimes I actually have an aha moment.  “Showing up” becomes a small step to being consistent.

And here’s the tricky part: showing up and doing while tired counts even more. But it shouldn’t come at the cost of my mental health. Pushing myself past what’s reasonable, past my bandwidth, doesn’t make me disciplined—it just makes me more tired and drained. God understands when I am tired or struggling with something. He gives me grace.  And I have to give myself grace when I’m too tired to paint or make art. Those are good moments to pray, listen to a sermon or podcast, or hear Scripture read aloud.

For me, showing up has become a practice of balance. I open my Bible. I journal. I grab a few art supplies. I read some commentaries I value. And I shut out all the other voices—the noise, the chaos, the endless “steps” that overwhelm me.

 So yes. Showing up alone isn’t enough. But it’s where it begins. Showing up opens the door. What we do afterward is what changes us.

Uncategorized

The Power of Curated Learning: Less Noise, More Insight

The Kedge Anchor

I’ve been thinking a lot about the noise in learning these days—the endless “how-to” lists, step-by-step guides, and voices telling me what I should read or do. It’s exhausting, and at times, it overwhelmed me.

I have to be honest: a lot of that overwhelm is on me. I fall for the marketing, the shiny promises, and the fear of missing out on what someone else has to say. That’s my responsibility. I have to shut it down and choose what truly deserves my attention.

So I’ve started slowing down. Just me, my Bible, my journal, a few art supplies, and carefully selected commentaries or resources. I’ve had to make choices what to read, who to listen to, which voices actually stick. The ones that don’t add meaningful insight don’t get a seat at the table.

As I read, especially in the Old Testament, I notice things in a new way:

  • I catch verses that cross-reference others, sometimes in ways I’ve never realized even when the margin notes point them out.
  • Familiar stories take on fresh meaning. Take Samson, for instance. Delilah asks him where his strength comes from. Most imagine him as a huge, muscular man. But I can’t help but picture him as tall and lean strong in a different way. That shift changes the story for me.
  • I watch God’s plan unfold in 1 Samuel. I see the Israelites repeating mistakes, yet God remains faithful to provide for them. And sometimes, I see myself in them flawed, forgetful, but loved and guided.

Slowing down like this—curating my inputs, reflecting in my journal, letting the text breathe is opening up insights I’d missed before. Clarity grows in quiet spaces. Depth matters more than breadth. And my pace? It’s enough.

Choosing what and who to let in doesn’t just protect my focus it shapes my learning in a way that’s meaningful and lasting. Growth isn’t about absorbing everything; it’s about absorbing what matters.

Thanks for stopping by and reading, you can follow me on Substack @anchorangel ⚓️😇