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itsheatherreese

Look, I know it’s obvious- I can’t do it all.

Look, I know it’s obvious- I can’t do it all. But one of my greatest internal motivators is to not be a bother. So even though I know it’s more than I can handle, I will try to do it myself. Despite having a husband who gives me wings- I never want to overuse that generosity. I’m still over here trying to stay out of the way and not be a bother. I can’t image who I’d be with a different kind of husband. One who doesn’t encourage me to be me. Wow, I would be a mouse in the corner. Because even being married to an awesome man like Brad, I still don’t like asking for help. I’m a real work in progress y’all, and I’m far from arriving!
But a thing I’m starting to learn is that good people want to help. At least to some degree. And my independent little spirit is sometimes keeping them from it. It’s maybe a selfish pride on my part of thinking I can do it all. Yipes. Selfish pride. That’s not who I want to be. You know they say the best way to help yourself is to help someone else- so maybe a little more symbiotic helping out is better than all of us over here just trying to do it ourselves. Because people are the point, remember?
And we all need community. So wow, I’m preaching to myself but maybe there’s another miss independent out there who needs to hear it, too. It’s okay to admit you can’t do it all. Because the people already know you can’t and they’re just being nice to you by letting you think they don’t notice. Did I actually just type that? If my brain knows this, why is it so hard for me? Okay there are a lot of layers to this life, and we all have our reasons. That’s for another day. For now, I just want to encourage the tough little nuts like me that it’s okay to ask for help. And for those of you looking on- thank you for your graciousness! Maybe instead of waiting for us to ask you could just jump in there when you see us awkwardly trying to load that 100# cooler into the truck by ourselves. Somehow the weight of the ask just feels like too much, but we’re working on it 🙂
“Now the body is not made up of one part but of many.” 1 Corinthians 12:14
“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up.” 1 Thessalonians 5:11
#thedailydevos

Where’s your passion? “So whether we live or

Where’s your passion?

“So whether we live or die we make it our life’s passion to live our lives pleasing to him… Since we are those who stand in holy awe of the Lord, we make it our passion to pursuade others to turn to him… For it is Christ’s love that fuels our passion and motivates us, because we are absolutely convinced that he has given his life for all of us. “ 2 Corinthians 5:9, 11, 14
Okay, so you got an idea of finding your personal passion yesterday. In each of us I believe God placed not only a desire that can only be filled by him, but also our own individual passions and desires that we are meant to discover and to use in our efforts to follow him- our ultimate passion.
“Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him” Psalm 37:4-5
Isn’t it cool that each of us is an individual- meant to be different, and we each have our own passions and desires?! While we may share some passions and desires with others- no two of us are exactly the same! Our unique mix gives us different abilities, different ways of interacting with others that are only found in us. So your voice is meant to be heard and while it may not resonate with everyone- there is someone who needs what only you can give. So I would encourage you again to find your individual passion! And make Jesus your ultimate passion and when you mix the two, I think you’ll be amazed at where God leads you 🙂
#thedailydevos

I wanna be like Brad- he gave me wings! I would n

I wanna be like Brad- he gave me wings!

I would not be the person I am today without the unwavering support of my man! He has a passion for helping others find and live out their passions and it is pretty incredible being on the receiving end of such a generous human! He does not shove people in boxes and expect them to comply- he seeks out what is best for a person- even at the expense of himself. It is a wonder to see. And even more to experience.

I have had many interests and hobbies over the years and Brad has never hesitated in helping me find what I really love- whether it meant hauling horses, milk goats or cows around, building a barn or cheese press, grinding bison liver, sawing bones or hauling home some beautiful lumber for my next project- the man never hesitates.
Long ago I was actually afraid of power tools- Brad was the woodworker and builder of all things. I wondered if I could actually build myself and before he left for a hunting trip I asked if I could use his tools. Of course he said yes! I also asked if all that lumber in the shed was saved for a special purpose. His response- “You are the special purpose- use whatever you want!” Wings baby. That man gave me wings!
He was amazed to come home and find I’d used nearly all of that lumber up and so much more since then. I know that if he believes I can do something, then I certainly can- even if it scares me! I can only hope to be that sort of person for others. To see the potential lying under the fear, lack of confidence, or just not wanting to be in the way- and encourage that dormant passion to come out! To encourage and enable others to find and live out their passions, to pass on wings that have been so generously given to me. Thanks Brad! I’ll never stop appreciating and being amazed by you!!
So what about you? What are you passionate about? Brad often asks people what they loved when they were 10. That’s usually a clue. Who did you want to be before life told you you couldn’t? I dare to to wake that version of you back up a little and find your passion 🙂

“Let love and kindness be the motivation behind all that you do.” 1 Corinthians 16:14
#thedailydevos

People are the point Love God, love people- it re

People are the point

Love God, love people- it really is that simple when you boil it down. I know this in my head, but I don’t always live it out with my heart.
I am a great worker- task oriented. Of course I love people but sometimes I’m so focused on getting the job done efficiently that I forget what really matters. That person who stopped by to chat is not an interruption- they are why we’re here!
Brad has spent over a decade serving on our local school board. There are so many decisions to be made it can be absolutely mind boggling trying to make the right ones all of the time! One thing that stood out to me from the beginning is how Brad decided right away that he would always choose what was best for the kids. After all, aren’t kids the whole point of school? When things get complicated, I think it has helped Brad a lot to dial it back down to the original question- what’s best for the kids?
Life can be a lot more complicated than even the school board- but I think if we can boil it back down to these two things- love God, love people- it is much easier to know what to do in any given situation. Does this decision honor God? And does it exemplify His love for people? If we keep those two things in focus- life gets a lot simpler. I didn’t say easy! Sometimes showing love to others can be so difficult! But knowing we are doing the right thing, living out our purpose- it can make loving those tough people in our lives an easier task to swallow.
“Above all else, let love be the beautiful prize for which you run.” 1 Corinthians 13:13b
#thedailydevos

25 But should you? Brad and I were talking about

25 But should you?

Brad and I were talking about this the other day- when people tell you “you should do this! You should do that!” How does this make you feel? We both agreed that for us, it feels demeaning. Bossy.
I’m not telling you what to do, or knocking you for telling people what they should do, but I’m going to do a little self reflecting here. Sometimes I’ve caught myself saying something to someone else that would absolutely bristle me if the tables were turned. So I had to start thinking back- have I been telling people what they should do? I think people who do this are genuinely trying to help but I’ve been trying to dial my own frequency to come across the right way to others. I’m a really good hermit you guys, and sometimes I’m a little socially awkward, ha! So I’m sorry if I rubbed you wrong that one time or told you what you should do- I didn’t mean it!
“Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” Colossians 4:6
#thedailydevos

24 Own it K, so we know we’re free but I think

23 Don’t overdo it I was shopping with friends

23 Don’t overdo it

I was shopping with friends once- and I am literally so bad at shopping it really was probably the one time in my adult life I was “shopping with friends”. Anyway, we were drawn into one store by the most perfectly dressed mannequins in the window- but stopped dead in our tracks by the killer price tags. Your girl has been shopping Poshmark too long to accept the reality of new clothes prices. Or maybe we were at the expensive mall because no one really bought much of anything and my friends are much more normal than me.
At one point, my wise friend Carolie said of her husband, “You know, Steve would buy me anything, but I don’t want to take advantage of his generosity.” Whoah.
Those words have really stuck with me- not only in my attitude toward my own husband- who I love, like, and respect like crazy- but also in my attitude toward God. He is the God of second chances, the God who gave His only son to die for us so our sins would be forgiven. His mercies are new every morning. So no matter how many times I get it wrong, He keeps giving that grace.
There is no end to that bank account, so why not keep cashing in? Because I love God, I like God, I respect God. And just like Carolie didn’t want to abuse the generosity of her husband- I don’t want to abuse God’s love! I’m going to need those new mercies plenty of mornings despite my best efforts not to. Real love isn’t about what we can get from others- it’s about what we give. So, I’m going to give my best!
“And now out of his fullness we are fulfilled! And from him we receive grace heaped upon more grace!” John 1:16
“The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23
#thedailydevos

22 Transformers It was crazy to grasp when our ki

22 Transformers

It was crazy to grasp when our kids were first born how much there is to learn, to grow and adapt to! We start out so helpless but pretty soon we are walking, talking, and soaking up knowledge like little sponges. Sometimes as life goes on we get to a point where we stop growing, stop changing. We settle in and say “this is how I am.” But I don’t think this is how it’s supposed to be.
“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Romans 12:2
“Now, if anyone is enfolded into Christ, he has become an entirely new creation. All that is related to the old order has vanished. Behold, everything is fresh and new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17
Wow, fresh and new- doesn’t that sound good?!
“God is transforming each of you into the Holy of Holies, his dwelling place, through the power of the Holy Spirit living in you!” Ephesians 2:22
Did you catch that? It doesn’t say “transformed” it says “transforming” - it’s not past tense but still happening! This is encouraging to me! I am not stuck where I am unless I decide to be. I have really been working lately on trying new things, not settling for who I was yesterday. Like my friend Anna says, “Find your edge”. Do things that scare you a little, learn something new. Get out of that comfort zone and continue to be transformed!
“There is a person your soul is waiting for you to become but it will not come easy.” Erwin McManus
My hope is to encourage you today to try something new! Don’t stay in the easy- but get out of your comfort zone and allow God to continually transform you into the person He designed you to be.
#thedailydevos

21 Yield I heard Beth Moore talking once about no

21 Yield

I heard Beth Moore talking once about not needing to have our own way all the time, and what stood out to me most was her repetition of the phrase “just yield.” Someone cuts you off in traffic- just yield, team member takes credit for your hard work- just yield, family member sets the agenda for the holidays again- just yield. I wish I could remember which talk of Beth’s this was, because I need it on repeat.
I like things to be right. I don’t really like being told what to do, and of course I like getting my own way- but it’s not about me, is it?
“As you yield freely and fully to the dynamic life and power of the Holy Spirit, you will abandon the cravings of your self-life. For your self-life craves the things that offend the Holy Spirit and hinder him from living free within you! And the Holy Spirit’s intense cravings hinder your old self-life from dominating you! So then, the two incompatible and conflicting forces within you are your self-life of the flesh and the new creation life of the Spirit. But when you are brought into the full freedom of the Spirit of grace you will no longer be living under the dominion of the law, but soaring above it.” Galatians 5:16-18
So, despite the fact that in the moment, getting my own way feels like exactly what I want- it keeps me trapped. Yielding unlocks the magic- not only of the freedom found in the Holy Spirit life- but so free from the law we’ll be soaring above it!
So, when my self rises up in those moments- instead of pushing for my agenda, I channel my inner Beth Moore and say to myself, “Just yield”. Let’s soar instead, baby!
#thedailydevos

20 Lies It feels like there are so many voices tr

20 Lies

It feels like there are so many voices trying to speak into us these days- it’s hard to discern what is true! Not only the voices from all around, but am I the only one who gets that negative voice in my own head speaking to me? What’s crazy is I have found myself buying into some of those lies even when I know they aren’t true! Especially that negative self talk- you’re not good enough, why do you think you can do that? They don’t like you. Ugh, I put my head down and try to stay out of the way. But in the process I think I water myself down. Don’t stand out, don’t be too much. When I let the lies in, somehow it always muffles down the me. “Don’t you know that when you allow even a little lie into your heart, it can permeate your entire belief system.” Galatians 5:9
But what is the truth? That’s why I love the Bible! This is God’s word to us- the creator of the universe- the creator of you- gave us His word so we would know the truth!
“Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:32
There’s that freedom again! So remember that negative self talk, those voices making you feel less than- they’re not true! You are loved by God! Don’t fall for the lies.
#thedailydevos

19 Eyes on Jesus “We look away from the natural

19 Eyes on Jesus

“We look away from the natural realm and we fasten our gaze onto Jesus who birthed faith within us and who leads us forward into faith’s perfection.” Hebrews 12:2
Okay you got those laces tight and you’re ready to run but now what? Sometimes it’s hard to know what to do next! “Eyes on Jesus” is a phrase I tell myself to keep focused. What does that mean? Seek him. Talk to him. He gave us his word in the form of the Bible. So I would encourage you to open it up and read it! If you do not have a Bible but would like to have one there are tons of great options on Amazon or Christianbook.com. Or send me a DM with your address and I’ll send you one. But getting into the word and talking with God are some really great ways to keep your eyes fixed on Jesus! If you are truly seeking him you can trust he will begin to lead you in the right direction.
Finding a good church that believes in the Bible and loves Jesus is another great way! We need community, and finding a tribe that can help you get to know Jesus more is key. In the meantime, some of my favorite pastors you can listen to anytime, anywhere are Erwin McManus at Mosaic and Craig Groeschel at Life Church.
Keeping Jesus as your focus will help sort out a lot of things automatically, but there are still going to be some confusing times! Keep praying and surround yourself with wise people who love Jesus too. Seeking to please Jesus instead of others is a great focus as well. Not that we are out trying to displease others- but seeking opinions of others will distract you from the goal. Remember Jesus loves people- so pleasing him is not permission to go out offending people on purpose, but sometimes following Jesus is not the popular choice.
“Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.” Galatians 1:10
#thedailydevos

18 Run your race Okay, I know you’ll remember t

18 Run your race

Okay, I know you’ll remember to stay in your lane for this one!
“We must let go of every wound that has pierced us and the sin we so easily fall into. Then we will be able to run life’s marathon race with passion and determination, for the path has already been marked out before us.” Hebrews 12:1
So the reality here that I think we miss sometimes is that we are running a race! We should strive for greatness! We are running for Jesus, our life has purpose, every day matters. It’s easy to get caught up in the mundane or in the every day things that won’t matter in 10 years- but how much more rewarding to get ourselves in check, to make the most of every day, to live with purpose. If you are not living your life for Jesus, I would encourage you to seek him! Invite him to be the Lord of your life and allow his purpose to fill your every day. The God of the universe who created you wants a relationship with you! It’s not about religion. How cool is it that instead of creating a bunch of robots who would follow him unquestionably, God created us with a choice of whether or not we would love him back. Choosing whether or not you will follow Jesus is the most important decision you will ever make.
If you already know him, how’s your relationship? Like, for real. I know life gets tough sometimes. Because people have choices, bad stuff happens and sometimes God takes the blame. But remember he loves you! No matter how many times you’ve messed up, he’s still waiting with love- not a stick to whack you on the head with! So if you’ve let that relationship get stale, give it another go. It’s not just about a ticket into heaven. Jesus died so that you could live fully, now. Every day with purpose. Don’t get caught in the mundane! Your prayers don’t have to be fancy. I literally pray like a 5 year old, but he takes us as we are so just be real and be you and remember Jesus loves you so much!! Lace up those shoes and get back in the race!
#thedailydevos

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