#peace – IN/EX Women https://exhalepeace.org Let God meet you in the chaos Fri, 17 Jun 2022 14:02:52 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.3 https://exhalepeace.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/cropped-JulieinexlogoPURPLE-32x32.png #peace – IN/EX Women https://exhalepeace.org 32 32 Toxic https://exhalepeace.org/toxic/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=toxic Tue, 17 May 2022 13:55:00 +0000 https://exhalepeace.org/?p=1529

“You cannot spend the majority of your life with toxic people and expect to be happy.” ― David Goggins.

Friendship should be a two-way road of giving and receiving with respect and healthy boundaries. We should be able to take correction from a friend and understand they are speaking in truth, and it’s meant to help us, not harm us.

However, not all friendships are created equal. We can also have friends that manipulate and accuse us. Take us for granted and give nothing in return except pain or frustration.Yet even in those toxic relationships, we find ourselves trying at all costs to make that friendship work.

         Why?   Is it because we hope to change their circumstances? (helping them in time of need which never ends) Is it because we feel we have no other options? Or maybe because we don’t want to let them down as others have? When a “friendship” becomes more of a burden than a blessing, it is time to move on.

Surrounding ourselves with toxic people does nothing but drain us and eventually makes us bitter. Likewise, constantly being surrounded by negativity and problems does nothing but rob our peace.

1 Corinthians 15:33 says, “Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals” (ESV)

In other words, if we continue to surround ourselves with bad company, we will become like them. (bitter, complainers, negative, & faultfinders) We can’t expect to breathe in toxic fumes for an extended time and remain in good health. The same holds true for our mental and spiritual well-being.  

Friendships are important; they have value and are an extension of your family more often than not. So choose them wisely and release the toxic ones from your life; you owe no one anything.

]]> Dad’s Legacy https://exhalepeace.org/dads-legacy/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=dads-legacy Wed, 07 Apr 2021 10:00:00 +0000 https://exhalepeace.org/?p=1233 Some of the most powerful thoughts we have are memories.  They can take us back to the most painful times of our life or some of the most beautiful ones.  Memories serve to remind us of the places we overcame and show us how much we have grown. But most importantly, It is a reminder of all God has done for us and builds our faith for future obstacles. 

Recently I have been thinking about my dad’s favorite scripture verse. Maybe it’s because he dropped it on me one day when he overheard me on a call with my mentor. We had just finished praying that God would reveal clear plans for my next steps in some big decisions I needed to make.  I was stressed and tired, and my dad said 

“Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will hold on to you with my righteous right hand “~ Isa 41:10 CSB

I instantly had peace, and tears streamed down my face. I knew things would be ok.

My dad always had a way of making things better when growing up and still does today. 

Memories flood my head of my childhood years. My siblings and I would hide as my dad excused himself from the restaurant table to speak to a stranger about Jesus.

When we were teenagers, he would stop people in the parking lot and say, 

“This may sound strange, but Jesus wants you to know he loves you.”

We would look for a place to hide our faces, yet the people he spoke with never seemed to mind. I never understood the “prompting” he was referring to as a child.  But I do now as an adult.

About a month ago, while on the phone with him, God had prompted me to remind him of his favorite verse. At this time, he had been in the hospital for weeks struggling in health. Afraid he would not make it, he began to express his fears and confess his love for me.  As his daughter, my heart broke, and I wanted to cry.  But as a woman of God, I followed the prompting of the holy spirit. 

I said, “dad, don’t be afraid… What’s your favorite scripture.”

He replied, “Isiah 41:10.”

“exactly; why is it your favorite scripture?”

Without hesitation, he explains, “because God has me share it with people at just the right time in their life.”

I reflected on his words, took a deep breath in, and spoke. “Now it’s your turn to remember… don’t be afraid, dad God has a plan; he is not finished with you yet.”

Just like that, I saw peace wash over him.  

Looking back, I am grateful that my dad made me feel uncomfortable as a child to show me what it meant to stand for Jesus.  I am thankful to have been raised by a man that loved God and showed it in his walk and action daily.  And no, he was not perfect; no man or family is. But because of his obedience, I am grounded in truth and can teach my children.  

I can honor my father in action and pray he is blessed to see how his obedience impacted his children and his children’s children.

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