living loved

If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. – 1 John 1:6-7

What a week. . . From our youngest Stankan baby having strep and high fevers for most of the week to the eldest Stankan baby turning 15, to smiles and fun to frowns and disappointments, from sick pet babies (yes, lots of poop – again) to just as toxic word vomit, this has been a week.

And I could get caught up in all those details, but instead I choose Him. Him – the author and perfecter of our faith. Him – the God of mercy and love. Him – who is light and and in Him is no darkness at all. Him. I choose Him. Did I have my moments of quick worries? Yes. Quick anger? Yes. Quick sadness and disappointment? Yes. Yes to all the things that could have led me to worry, stress, sadness, anger, disappointment, and a whole lot of garbage spewing from my heart and out of my mouth, but instead, God’s good and perfect peace kept drawing me back to Him.

• God: Do I have Sukey, always?
• Me: Yes.
• God: Do I see you through all things? Even the hard things? Even when hurt people, hurt people?
• Me: Yes.
• God: Do you trust that I have a good and perfect plan for Rourie?
• Me: Yes.
• God: Do you need to protect your heart because what flows from your mouth comes from your heart?
• Me: Yes.

It’s like The Croods – keep chasing the light. The Croods is a Stankan favorite. This movie played in our house many times this week and unbeknownst to me – just what we needed. Don’t stay in the dark, live in the dark, allow others or fear to keep you in the dark. Chase the light.

The light is love, joy, peace, kindness and not as the world can give, but the kind that surpasses all understanding. The kind that withstands the chaos and struggles and worries of this life – His light.

And chasing the light is really a matter of the heart. We can mask, pretend, and control our behaviors, but we can’t control the heart. What flows from the mouth is really from the heart. We need to monitor our hearts. We need to monitor what we allow to pass through our hearts. I read this week that “Everything passes through the heart on its way to wherever it is going.” Our hearts impact every aspect of our lives.

Protect your hearts, friends. Choose joy. Choose love. Choose light. Choose Him.

XOXO, Loni