“…And all of you, dress yourselves in humility as you relate to one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.” 1 Peter 5:5-7 NLT
As much as I like to think of myself as a cup half full optimist, I recognize a tendency, at times, to see an empty cup. In those moments, my prayer is “Lord, let gratitude supersede any complaint.” Gratitude invites us to shift our perspective and it can literally rewire our brains.
“Rejoice always. Pray continually. Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” –1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
“Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”- Ephesians 5:20
Like a muscle, gratitude must be exercised to become our dominant response. It’s not about denying the realities of our personal circumstances or the state of our world. It’s remembering to look for God’s goodness in the midst of it all.
“Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift.”- 2 Corinthians 9:15
“I will give thanks to you, LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.”- Psalm 9:1
I invite you to exercise gratitude and a little creative writing with me as we express what we’re grateful for in six words. Why six words? I stumbled upon Six Word Memoirs years ago and was intrigued by the challenge.
Whoever you are and however you’ve come to this space,..Welcome to Barnabas Blessings. I pray here your heart is encouraged and your hope is renewed.
You may ask…Why Barnabas Blessings? Let me explain.
Who is Barnabas?
Acts 4:36 introduces Joseph, nicknamed by the apostles, Barnabas, meaning Son of Encouragement. He was known for his service to others, a good man, full of the Holy Sprit and full of faith. He gave generously of his resources. He encouraged those around him in their life and faith. He cheered for the underdog and offered acceptance to the outsider. He was a grace giver. He didn’t just talk the talk, he walked the walk. Read more about Barnabas here.
Who is Jesus?
Just in case there was any question…Jesus is the reason for everything. I am who I am and this space exists because of my faith; a personal, committed relationship with Jesus Christ that I pray informs every expression of my being. Some would have you believe you have to jump through hoops and make yourself worthy to come to Jesus, but He says simply, “Come.”
“Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” -Matthew 11:28 NLT
“However, those the Father has given me will come to me, and I will never reject them.” -John 6:37 NLT
“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” -John 3:16 NLT
“If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved.” -Romans 10:9-10 NLT
No matter who you are, no matter what you’ve done, He loves you and invites you…baggage and all. You are welcome here!
The changing of seasons is a reminder that sometimes what looks dead is just dormant. Restoration, renewal and regrowth are just beneath the surface. Keep watching for signs of life.
“For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.” Isaiah 43:19 NLT
Holley Gerth’s Your Introvert Coach newsletter blesses my inbox every month. Her book, The Powerful Purpose of Introverts, explores the science of introversion and sheds light on the psychological, relational and spiritual wiring of introverts. It sits on my bookshelf highlighted and well worn.
Her recent newsletter was so rich with gems, I had to share. Whether you’re an introvert, extrovert, or somewhere in between, I hope her wisdom resonates.
“…In seasons of intensity, the loudest voices often dominate the room. Urgency rises. Opinions sharpen. Everything feels immediate. And in that kind of environment, introverts can start to question themselves.
Should I be more outspoken? Should I be more visible? Am I doing enough?”
“…The world needs people who don’t just react—but respond. People who don’t amplify noise—but offer clarity. People who don’t chase attention—but cultivate wisdom.”
“…Your ability to sit with complexity matters. Your empathy matters. Your thoughtful emails, your quiet conversations, your steady presence in your family, workplace, church, or community matters.
“…You don’t have to be famous to be faithful. You don’t have to exhaust yourself to prove you care. You don’t have to become someone else to make a difference.”
With that, Meta permanently disabled my social media presence. And though it would be nice to clear my name of the bogus charge of violating community standards (Meta AI’s limitations and margin for error is a discussion for another day), I think Meta has actually done me a favor.
I’ve always had a complicated relationship with social media. Facebook, Instagram, Threads…It often felt like opening a fire hose as I was deluged with images, information, opinions and rants. I regularly deleted and reinstalled my apps during self-imposed breaks. Of course it wasn’t all bad. There were the memories that often reminded me of random thoughts and moments I’d forgotten. I was encouraged by communities that shared my values, interests and quirks. Most importantly, I kept up with the happenings of family and friends, near and far.
So what now? I see opportunities for more thoughtful connection and intentional engagement. I see invitations to explore new communities and platforms. I see the possibilities of redeemed time and energy. I see a life without Meta.
I wrote this poem almost 7 years ago, but the sentiment still rings true.
As we sorted through our tree ornaments, this one made me pause:
“PRAY ABOUT EVERYTHING. WORRY ABOUT NOTHING. Philippians 4:6-7”
I thought of how often I chose prayer over worry this year. There were many invitations to stress over what was wrong. In some cases, I chose the weight of worry; more often, I chose the posture of prayer. This is an answered prayer and I am grateful.
“I am standing in the answered prayers
Of those who spoke to my existence before they even knew my name
Crying out to God on my behalf for promises they would not see
Speaking blessings and wisdom for generations to come
Planting seeds of faith with every step of obedience
I am walking in answered prayers
Persisting in intercession for those who will come after.”
Just a reminder to take time to enjoy the beauty of nature. Slow down. Breathe deep. Marvel at the detail of the Creator’s handiwork. The God of creation is the same God orchestrating the details of our lives- for our good and His glory.
“Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”- Revelation 4:11 ESV
The past few weeks have been full of teachable moments, crash courses and sweet reminders. Sharing is caring so here are a few of my takeaways:
The world still turns. I don’t keep the world or my world on its axis. Only God can do that.
People want to help if you let them. Let your people show their love.
To do or to be? That is the question. Being and receiving are hard when you’re wired to do and give but one can’t survive without the other.
There is a fine line between helping and hindering. Am I cultivating dependence on me or God? Am I enabling stagnation and fear or encouraging growth and confidence?
Don’t be afraid to adjust the plan. It’s never to late to go back and reset your expectations.
Don’t let your message get lost in your delivery.
Here’s to uncomfortable growth spurts, complete healing, resilient joy and unexplainable peace.
“Poetry is when an emotion has found its thought and the thought has found words.” – Robert Frost
April has been a blur but I couldn’t let it end without paying homage to the rhythmic beauty that is poetry. Check out the Academy of American Poets to learn about the celebration. On this final day of the month, I celebrate with a poem of my own.
Barnabas Blessings 