Grace 'n Grounds

Encouragement Grounded in His Truth

Encouragement grounded in Scripture
Rooted in truth. Anchored in Christ.
New reflections weekly.

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  • TikTok Truths

     Each day proclaim the good news that he saves.
    Publish his glorious deeds among the nations.
        Tell everyone about the amazing things he does. Psalm 96: 2-3, NLT

    Last year when I began to embrace the girl God created, the one I knew I always was, but had forgotten for a time, I also began to embrace old dreams. Dreams others told me were stupid. Dreams I had convinced I was not good enough to pursue. Dreams taken. Dreams I didn’t think I was capable or even qualified to dream, let alone actually see come to fruition.

    Once I began to reflect on God’s real love for me, and all that it truly meant, I realized those dreams were the ones He had placed there to build His kingdom. The only reason they were left dead, was because the enemy wanted them to remain that way. So…I began to write them down. Visions of things I wanted to accomplish. Visions of ways I felt God was leading me to serve Him.

    Some I completed. Some I added to this years vision board. One included a daily video devotional. On TikTok of all places.

    So why am I doing it? I don’t really like TikTok. Mainly because over the last 3 years I have heard about it from impressionable young teens, who see the questionable content and imitate it. Who take its advice as the gospel.

    Because my overall goal and desire has been to spread truth. And though I have not always gotten it right, I pray that in my life I am able to show the people I encounter a person of integrity, and how one can be this person even in the midst of so much darkness and half truths. Some just plain UN-truths. And ultimately, this would be God’s desire as well. So, why not on a platform where most of what I have seen has not shown the way of Christ? Has had me muting my phone so when I open it around my kids the f-bomb doesn’t explode from my speaker (among some other unmentionable things)?

    If we are light in the darkness, perhaps this is a dark place that needs some of His light, so I’ll be sharing a passage of Scripture each day, and some thoughts about how this applies to our daily lives. How to live it out practically and walk in the way God desires. You can follow along for your daily truth here, as well as on my YouTube channel. These are the only places this content will be available.

    https://www.tiktok.com/@straightupjanuary/video/7049698725567941894?is_copy_url=1&is_from_webapp=v1

    I pray they encourage you as you seek to find the straight up truth from the Word and not from the world!

    Links to both platforms are here!

  • Trust in the One

    Trust. A loaded word.

    One word that requires surrender in any kind of relationship. In our personal relationships, and especially in our relationship with God.

    Trust. Also the number one reason relationships fail, according to Psychology Today. Or lack of trust, actually. I could go into all the reasons this is, but I have an analogy, or a story instead: Learning to swim.

    When I first learned to swim it was one summer when I was maybe 7 or 8. We used to spend summers in Colonial Beach, which is a bit past Fredricksburg, VA; on the Northern Neck Pennisula. Anyway, I remember spending a week on the boardwalk, and also in the deep end of the pool, learning to doggy paddle and swim underwater.

    This later transitioned to swimming with reckless abandon in the water with my brother…the river really-with countless jellyfish. And once we upgraded, in the ocean.

    No worries about what dangers lurked underneath. No fear. Trusting our legs would carry us back to the surface, and the waves would not take us under.

    But now? Oh…I still enjoy the pool. Because I can see what’s under my feet. And, I enjoy the ocean. The sound. The sun. The feel of the breeze as it blows over it. But, I ain’t getting in it. Because I know what lurks in those waters. My youngest has watched enough shark week to keep me from EVER jumping in those waves again! I got trust issues when it comes to the ocean. Irrational fears of sharks, and other things under my feet that may get me, and take me out.

    Nah, I will stay put in the sand, where it is nice and safe. Because, out there in the deep end, where I can’t see what lies ahead. That is scary. Unpredictable. I don’t trust that if I stick my toe in those deep, scary waters something won’t bite me-and then I will sink.

    Trust in the unknown is scary, now. But why did it seem so easy then?

    Jumping into the deep end, and expecting to just know how to doggy paddle. Swimming with jelly fish, getting stung, slapping some sand on the sting, and jumping back in for more. Jumping in with the waves and expecting to come back up without shark bites, seemed easy as a kid. We were fearless. Brave.

    The world had not tainted me. Yet.

    No one had failed me. Yet.

    No one had disappointed me. Yet.

    Broken my trust. Yet.

    Fed me a big fat lie. Yet.

    Taught me that life was dark, and scary. That no one was throwing me a life preserver, and that no one could be trusted. Yet.

    I was hopeful. Full of faith. Until I wasn’t. Until I put my hope and faith in people.

    Isaiah 43:2 gives us a different hope: When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.

    It is the people, and the world. The weight of it all that have drowned me. That have taken away the reckless abandon I had as a kid. That keep me worried about the darkness that lurks, or the things that may reach out, and bite me or consume me.

    It is God who tells me He has got me. Nothing is going to overtake me. There is no darkness out in those waters that I should fear. Nothing too murky for Him to see, and even if I can’t see what is underneath my feet-He does.

    Yet, we continue to put our hope in people. Things. Institutions. Wealth. These things that tell us who to be. That are all too unpredictable. That don’t catch us if we drown. Those that convince us we are not good enough, and that we will fall. Until we are too fearful to jump into the deep end. Just to see if we can actually swim out there in the unknown.

    We are fearful of all the things we can’t even see.

    Trust. What exactly is it?

    Merriam-Webster defines it as a “firm belief in the character, strength, or truth of someone or something; or a person or thing in which confidence is placed.”

    In Hebrew the word trust translates to “batach,” which also means “reliability or confidence.”

    In terms of God, it means to rely on His protection even when we can’t see good in our situation. To have confidence that the outcome will be pleasant, and purposeful.

    It’s like the words of this song…it’s been out for while, and every time I hear it, I think of my need to surrender my worries and fears over to Him again and again…

    Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders
    Let me walk upon the waters
    Wherever You would call me
    Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander
    And my faith will be made stronger
    In the presence of my Savior. -Hillsong

    Wherever He would call me. Even if it means jumping in the deep end. With reckless abandon, as if I were a kid again. Because His presence is with me now, as surely as it was with me then.

    I don’t have to fear what lurks ahead. He knows. He knows where my feet will wander, and He won’t let me fall. He knows the waves may get rough. There may be darkness. But His presence is before me, beside me, helping me to stay above the waves, and to see light through it all.

    To keep my faith strong when it starts to waver. To trust in Him when people in this world just disappoint.

    Trust even in the unknown. Unpredictable. Scary. Confidence that His plan is oh so good. That He is for me!

    In the waves and on the shore. In the deep, He won’t let me be taken under. I can keep jumping in as long as I put my trust and hope in Him.

    Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
    do not depend on your own understanding.
    Seek his will in all you do,
    and he will show you which path to take. Proverbs 3:5-6, NLT

    I do not own rights to song, music, or video.

  • It’s OK, God Knows

    We were on our way to church. I was in the passenger seat. A rarity on this morning since both my husband and I are moving in different directions and towards church at different times on most Sundays. Behind one of those loud cars. A souped-up version of a car of old I once had.

    And it began a conversation about that car. About the ways I used to make mine “race-car” like. Modify it so it was loud. And then the conversation turned to what happened to that car. A memory long forgotten. One of injustice.

    It’s interesting the things people forget about the role they played in your story.

    This is what I said at the end of that conversation. But I also thought of this: Before that ride to church, I may have forgotten all the details. Those people who played a part in that story may have forgotten, or simply may leave certain parts out, but God knows.

    God only knows what you’ve been through
    God only knows what they say about you
    God only knows how it’s killing you
    But there’s a kind of love that God only knows. (Source: for King and Country)

    It’s not just those material things we remember being mishandled, it’s the mishandling of our hearts as well. You have likely been hurt. You have likely suffered things you don’t talk about. Maybe you feel a loss you just still don’t understand. You were never given closure. Able to defend yourself. Tell all you know to be true.

    But He knows.

    He protects you. He defends you. He sees you. He hears you. He loves you.

    God knows.

    I do not own rights to video or music.

  • Taming Your Thoughts with Truth

    Our thoughts can hold us captive. Especially if we are among those who suffer with anxiety. Even if you don’t, Satan often attacks us by placing negative thoughts in our minds. Thoughts that are far from God’s truth. 

    What are we to do about them? 

    Paul gives us instructions in a couple places in Scripture about what to do with our wayward thoughts. First, in 2 Corinthians 10:5, he instructs that in our war against Satan, “we destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.” Second, he reminds us in Ephesians 6, just who our enemy is, and where we find our truth:

    A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Ephesians 6:10-17, NLT

    I am a follower of Christ, and I am a pastor; but I am most certainly NOT immune to the attacks of Satan. In fact, I am probably more susceptible to his schemes because I am a servant for Christ. Something he can’t stand. Satan’s game he plays with me happens to be in my head. 

    So, I devised a plan some time ago to suit up with God’s word daily. So I could combat the lies the devil tried to throw at me so frequently. 

    Below you will find a tool for you to use with some common lies Satan tells me, and the truth straight from His Word that God wants me to know instead. Place this where you can be reminded of the truth about you daily. Where you can go to war, and be ready for battle each and every day and defeat the enemy who wants you to believe otherwise!!

    The Truth About Me (1)Download

    To hear more about taming your thoughts listen to the newest podcast episode here!

  • Not By My Strength, But His

    Ever heard of a life verse? It’s a verse from the Bible that speaks to you and usually defines the way in which you walk in your daily life with Christ. 

    Do you have one? I do. One I even decided to tattoo on my arm as a reminder to live out its truth daily:

    For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13

    It’s what has kept me going on the days when I didn’t think I could do anything. And this day was no different. 

    This day was supposed to be a day of rest. 

    It had been a long, trying, emotional week prior to the holiday break. Mental health crises tend to spike at this time, as many kids are anticipating an extended period in places they may not feel safe. My heart and mind were heavy, and I was just ready to shut the impact of trying to meet all these needs off.

    Knowing that at times we have to do this, to ever meet these needs in the first place. 

    This day was supposed to consist of hot coffee, book fairs, and wrapping gifts. Not navigating the healthcare system with a 6 month old. Not waiting for hours for tests to come back. Not trying to muster the ability to just get past the check-in desk without losing it, since I had lost my wallet. Had no ID. No cash. No card. Nothing but the two Starbucks I had brought in with me. 

    As I looked down I saw it. The tattoo. My first. To commemorate my life verse. Phil 4:13. And so if I believed it, how was I going to apply it here?

    I remembered back to a time I used up all MY strength to do what I could with all the things. And it depleted me. Made me physically, emotionally, and spiritually sick. I stepped out of God’s will, which was the exact opposite of His strength. It was during that time I found this in a book I read, an explanation of what that strength meant. Its source.

    Source

    I had enough of the other way. I knew if I walked in MY strength, I would fail. I would get in the way, and mess things up. So I got on that elevator, work ID on to replace my actual ID, pushed that button and prayed. 

    God…I can’t do this without you. Send me your strength. Give me your power to push through this day. Give me your words, give me your patience to deal with the medical staff. I need you, because without you I don’t have the strength to make it through this day.

    That’s what it means to live out a life verse. To do more than just slap it on an arm, a mug, a post, whatever. But to know what it means in the context of your relationship with God and live it. 

    Are you living out your life verse? 

About Me

I am January! Wife, mother, meemaw, pastor, and mental health provider who makes it through the day with my coffee, my journal, and my God. A simple human, navigating life through the messy and sometimes chaotic. All focused on Him.

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