You are a miracle
A beautiful reflection of God’s glory
See what the Lord has done
Look
“This is the LORD’s doing, and it is wonderful to see.” -Psalms 118:23 NLT
“I will praise you because I have been remarkably and wondrously made. , Your works are wondrous, and I know this very well.” -Psalms 139:14 CSB
🎶I have made You too small in my eyes
Oh Lord, forgive me
And I have believed in a lie
That You were unable to help me.
But now, Oh Lord, I see my wrong
Heal my heart and show Yourself strong
And in my eyes and with my song
Oh Lord, be magnified
Be magnified, Oh Lord
You are highly exalted
And there is nothing You can’t do
Oh Lord, my eyes are on You
Be magnified,
Oh Lord, be magnified
I have leaned on a wisdom of men
Oh Lord, forgive me
And I have responded to them
Instead of Your light and Your mercy
But now, Oh Lord, I see my wrong
Heal my heart and show yourself strong
And in my eyes and in my song
Oh Lord be magnified
Be magnified, Oh Lord
You are highly exalted
And there is nothing You can’t do
Oh Lord, my eyes are on You
Be magnified,
Oh Lord, be magnified🎶
This song comes to mind whenever I need a perspective shift…when my mind wants to settle on “should have”, “could have”, “would have”, the “have nots” and the “whys”…when I want to fiercely hold onto my right to be offended or angry. I’m reminded I’m magnifying the wrong things.
I remember who GOD IS. I’m reminded to rehearse His goodness, recount His faithfulness and rest in His power. I recognize how much I need Him to rightly focus my mind and posture my heart. I’m challenged and corrected. I’m encouraged and empowered. I am grateful.
What are you magnifying today?
“Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together!”
Psalm 34:3 ESV
“I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify him with thanksgiving.”
Psalm 69:30 ESV
In 2024, I reflected on what I was releasing ( The Release). The most significant was releasing my son into adulthood as he turned 18 and prepared to go away to college.
In 2025, life pivots brought him home to work and continue his schooling.
He returned home different. He had new perspectives and new habits. He was experienced yet still had much to learn.
He returned to a different home. Our perspectives and our family rhythm had been shaped by his absence.
It was a challenging adjustment. Each of us wrestled with the grief of unmet expectations. We balanced hard conversations with space and grace. We opened ourselves to rediscovering what was possible.
His return triggered another release. In trying to respect my young adult, I quickly realized- it’s one thing to pray and release from afar but something entirely different to pray and release up close, in real time.
I had to
ask questions,
set & respect healthy boundaries,
choose to hear what wasn’t being said,
and recognize where I was projecting my issues instead of acknowledging his.
It’s been a continual exercise in
encouraging,
affirming,
challenging,
advising,
and sometimes stepping aside to let him feel the full weight of his “adult” decisions.
Parenting in this season of life has stretched me in ways I didn’t know I needed. Some days I feel like I’m fighting for my life in the trenches but I’m grateful for the ways God continually shows himself strong, whispering grace where I see missteps.
My second born (the grand finale) is a teenager coming into her own. She’s watching and taking notes. I know her release will look different from her brother’s .
Our children may resemble us, but they are not us. They have a story, a place and a purpose all their own. We can’t negate the free-will God has given them nor underestimate His grace and transformative power at work in their lives. We can’t know all the future holds for them but we can trust and surrender it all to the One who does.
“Keeping our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfector of our (and our children’s) faith.” – Hebrews 12:2
Grateful for… The honor of nurturing the future. (Gratitude in Six Words)
Hey You,
multi-tasking extraordinaire with that never-ending checklist,
always seeing a need to meet,
always finding something to do,
Yes, You!
Step back. Sit down. Take a breath.
It will get done.
(but maybe this time, you’re not the one to do it)
Daily Thanks (Gratitude in Six Words)
Grateful for…reminders of God’s grace and care.
“…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.
Join me? What are you grateful for?
I’ll start.
Grateful for…“The gift of life and perspective”
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.”
“We disabled your account.”
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.
RELEVANT
Likes & loves
Clicks & shares
Fans & followers
This became the value of their life
Perfectly lit selfies
Outrageous opinions
Shameless self-promotion
Platforms built on illusions & lies
Identities lost
Souls sold for relevance
-LAS
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.”
-LAS
