We often tell our kids and teens to be careful who they hang out with.
Ladies… this is also true for us!!
In our Bible study this past week we were talking about who you surround yourself with matters.
*Your marriage may be perfectly fine until you start hanging out with other ladies who are single or not happily married and constantly talk negatively about their husbands/men. Then you start questioning your own marriage.
*You may never have alcohol until you start hanging out with a group…and that’s what they do to have fun. Then the temptation is always there.
*You may be raising your kids in church and with biblical guidance and then start hanging out with others who let their children do their own thing, etc. Then you start questioning everything you are doing as a mom.
*You may be a joyful, positive, encouraging person until you start hanging out with Negative Nancy.
…. I could go on…and I think you get the idea.
My point is this. Who you hang out with matters. It’s so easy for us to get sucked into the lives and lifestyles of those around us. Your CLOSEST friends should be those that love Jesus and want to follow Him. Your friends should be those that help draw you closer to Christ and His Word and not pull you away.
WHO YOU HANG OUT WITH MATTERS!!
Are your friends helping or hurting you? Are there changes that need to be made??
It’s funny how God can use situations in your life to see things differently.
A few months back, Kylie had rescued a couple of tiny turtles in our yard. That’s a whole other story in itself but only one ended up surviving for a while. She kept it in a little metal tub by our back porch. She loved that little turtle and even named it, Squirt. She would give that turtle baths, feed it, and loved seeing it before, and after school. One day on her way to school, she discovered that she could not find Squirt.🥺. We assumed that a raccoon or something got it in the middle of the night. She was devastated.😩
Fast forward…
I was out for a jog🏃🏼♀️, (which don’t have five me yet… I haven’t jogged in forever, but I’m trying to start again😉.)… anyway, I was on my jog when I looked down and saw another tiny little turtle🙌🏻. I thought to myself, I should probably pick that little turtle up because that would make Kylie so happy…But I decided to keep jogging because I definitely did not want to run with a tiny turtle (aka Squirt #2) and decided that I would pick it up on my way back. As I started on my jog back home I knew exactly where that little turtle was going to be so I started looking for it. Sure enough..there it was. I saw the tiny turtle🤗….
smashed. 😩😩😩 Oh, did I forget to mention that two cars passed me on my way back?? You guessed it, one of those cars had ran over it. I felt terrible. I knew I should’ve picked it up the first time I saw it, but I didn’t. I said I would do it later but that opportunity was over…with a smash.  I shared this story with my ladies Bible study group that I teach on Sunday Nights and asked them how many times has God nudged us to do something and yet we choose to ignore Him….or we tell Him that we will do it later? Often times that later never comes again. 🥴
Let me encourage you in this… Next time you feel God leading you to do something… Maybe it’s to share Christ with someone, maybe it’s to take a meal to someone, maybe it’s to pray for someone, maybe it’s to introduce yourself to someone, maybe it’s …. something… Don’t ignore him. Don’t put it off. You never know if that opportunity will ever be there again.  Just do it as soon as you feel God speaking to you.
I’m pretty sure on this joyful pursuit you’ll find more joy when you….
JUST PICK UP THE TURTLE!!!
AKA… do what He is leading you to do!!!
(Oh. And PS… we did find another turtle that she has now named, Duck… and another friend bought her one that she has now named, Dog. 🤪… wish them luck…lol)
The other day, I was at school teaching. I had been teaching for a little while when I finally became really annoyed by this tiny irritating rock in my shoe. It had been there for a while but yet it didn’t seem to bother me at first. Then it was like all of a sudden this tiny little pebble in my shoe became really annoying and bothersome. But did I take the time to take it out of my shoe? No. In fact, I kept walking around with this tiny little annoyance in my shoe for quite some time.
I wasn’t even wearing “complicated shoes”… You know, the kind of shoes that you have to take the time to tie and untie and loosen before you can get them on and off. Nope. I was just wearing little ol’ flats. Easy slip on and off flats. It would have taken me just a few seconds to take off my shoe and get rid of the tiny rock but I didn’t do it. I just kept walking around absolutely irritated and annoyed.
Finally, after a few hours, I decided I’d had enough. I took off my shoe and by this time expected to find a decent size rock but found a teeny tiny speck of a rock. That teeny tiny thing caused so much irritation and made things so uncomfortable. And yes…it literally took me a few tiny seconds to get rid of it.
Awwww…relief!!!
That’s when it came to me. Have you ever had anything show up in your life that just really irritated and bothered you? (And no I’m not talking about your spouse or kids…lol) I’m talking about a situation that has shown up and has just really been bothering you? Maybe it was a comment from someone that really hurt deep. Maybe it was something you felt like you did or didn’t do but you know you should or shouldn’t have done. Maybe it’s that friendship that took a wrong turn. Maybe it’s a disagreement with your spouse or child. Maybe it’s the coworker that you just can’t seem to please no matter how hard you try. Maybe it’s the negative self talk that you just can’t seem to shake in your own head. Maybe it’s the sin habit you feel like you just can’t get rid of. Maybe its…. (You fill in the blank).
There are many things that can show up in our life that we just feel like “irritate” or “annoy” us. Some we have created and some have been caused by others. But here’s the thing. We don’t have to keep letting them bother us or take hold of us. We simply need to find a way to get rid of those tiny annoyances. Problems. Even sins that keep “irritating” us.
How? I’m glad you asked.
We lay them at the feet of Jesus through the power of prayer. We ask Him to help remove the tiny “rock” from our life. To help us overcome that sin that just won’t go away. We ask Him to help us mend relationships that need to be mended. To forgive. To renew our mindset. To help us let go of anything that keeps holding us back.
Once we get rid of the irritating “rocks” in our life, we will find that there is huge relief and freedom to keep going and doing all that God has called us to do.
You have a choice. You can get rid of the tiny irritating “rock” in your life or you can keep walking around pretending that it’s not there or annoying you. It’s a choice. Just like I had a choice to allow that tiny pebble to keep irritating me or to finally get rid of it. Once we get rid of it, there’s so much peace and comfort that will come our way!! Will you join me on this “Joyful Pursuit” and help get rid of these tiny “rocks” that keep holding us back?
Hospice? Really? Are those the words that I’m reading? Isn’t that just for older people? But he is so young…he has so much more on this earth to do…his family needs him…and the continuous thoughts pile up in my head.
I guess it was a couple of years after we moved from FW when we found out that our friend had cancer. Yes, that news was hard but at the same time a lot of cancer nowadays is curable, right? …so there was hope. Surely our friend, would be one of the survivors. God wouldn’t allow this beautiful family…this God-fearing, wonderful, loving family to have to go through this. But then… “There’s nothing more they can do,” said the doctors. Hospice. So I weep. I weep for this family…our friends.
I weep for the family of my friend that lost her life at such a young age just a couple of months ago. I just saw her down the hallway. But now I walk that same hallway and she’s not there. The only thing I have left is her sweater and the memories we shared from college when she came and stayed at our house for a few days.
I weep for two of my students that have lost parents this year. One lost his mom this summer and the other her dad during this fall semester.
I weep for the single moms and dads…and their families. Some, not by choice while others by choice.
I weep for those that have to sit in hospital rooms or nursing homes.
I weep for those that have lost a child at any age. I weep for those that have lost their husband. Their wife. Their mom. Their dad. Their best friend. Their coworker. Their…
Where is the joy in all of this? My friend, the joy is still there. Yes, it’s definitely harder to find… But it’s still there. Sadness overcomes the happiness. Laughter turns to tears …but there is still joy.
God is still in the midst of the hard times. Selfishly we don’t want to go through hard times or see our loved ones go through hard times but the reality is that hard times come. …and joy is still there…even if we have to look for it a little harder. When the joyful pursuit is tougher…joy is still there. He is still there.
I was at a worship night recently and the song “The blessing” was sang. I love that song and the Scripture that comes out of it, but there was a part of that song that really stood out to me, so I will leave you with this…
In the morning, in the evening In your coming, and your going In your WEEPING AND REJOICING He is for you. He is for you. He is for you. He is for you. He is for YOU.
Today, I was scrolling through Facebook and came across three friends writing about being “stuck”. It made me think of the times that I have felt “stuck”.
There have been times I have felt stuck as a mom… not knowing if I’m doing this whole mom thing correctly (which many days I’m not…can I get a witness???).
I have felt stuck as a wife…the “passion” fades at times and sometimes we are just going about the day to day tasks, forgetting that we should still be “dating” each other (can I get another witness???).
Many days I feel “stuck” in my job. I feel like I’m overwhelmed and not enjoying it has much as I should. Some days I feel like I should be doing more but just stuck with what I’m doing…the 8-4 job. (And don’t get me wrong…I love my students to pieces but sometimes even teaching can feel very monotonous).
But let me talk about the “stuck” I have felt most often. I have many times felt stuck in my walk with the Lord. Do you ever feel this way? There are days I feel like no matter what I read in His Word, no matter the worship music I hear, no matter the prayers I say… I feel like I’m not growing closer or falling away. It’s as though there’s this steady line of complacency in my walk. I feel STUCK.
So what do you do when you feel stuck? Do you keep going? Do you give up? Do you stay where you are and just learn to be content with that? There are choices to make when we feel stuck. Here’s what I do…I crank up the worship music a little louder. I get on my knees a little harder. And I read His Word a little longer. You WILL get through your “stuck”-ness. You (and I ) just have to keep pressing forward and be reminded that His Word is LIVING and BREATHING and ACTIVE (Check out Hebrews 4:12). Remember He will never leave or forsake you ( Hebrews 13:5) no matter how “stuck” you feel. I love that once I do get through the funky “stuck” times, I see His Word with new eyes; with a new excitement; with a new mindset and heart. There’s an eagerness to draw closer to Him and to tell others about Him.
So my dear friend, if you are feeling stuck in your walk, hang on. Don’t give up. Keep pressing through. Keep praying. Keep worshiping. Keep reading. You can only be stuck for so long and I know by Gods great and awesome power, He will draw you closer to Him and pull you out of the “stickiness” and help you get unstuck!!
Now as far as the other parts of life when we feel “stuck”…well good luck. I’m just kidding. I would just say, pray through those times. Find a fun outing or activity you can do with your child(ren) (Hello, Pinterest). Or maybe you need to grab your girlfriends and go to dinner and take a break from mommying. Look up a great date idea for you and your spouse. Pray for God to help you enjoy your job more or to guide you to a new opportunity. Just commit to Him whatever area in your life that you feel “stuck” in. Again, just like gum on the bottom of your shoe… It can only last for so long. Praying for you and whatever season of “stuck” you are in.
Until next time, keep pursuing Him in your joyful pursuit!
So if you see one of these…holler!!! (No. For real…get it…I’ll pay you back!🤪)
The other day I was at one of my favorite stores, Marshall’s. We happened to be looking for an outfit for family picture day for my middle, which is a whole other issue that deserves a blog post all on its own…but that’s for another day.
Anyway, I wandered over to the Christmas section and saw this super cute vintage pink truck with a Christmas tree in the back. It was absolutely perfect for my daughters’ upstairs hang out room. They have this color pink as part of their decór… including a pink couch. (I think sometimes that space upstairs is more for me than for them since I absolutely love PINK and would decorate the whole house this way but the Hubby says No. 😕) Anyway, back to the truck. I loved it. I wanted it. But yet I didn’t get it. We are trying to be very careful with our budget right now and so I knew it wasn’t exactly what I needed to do at that moment.
But then came the next day. I looked over our budget and saw that I had some extra wiggle room and really wanted that pink truck. So I went back. Literally, not even 24 hours…but they were gone. I searched high and low because after all, surely they didn’t sell both trucks in less than 24 hours. But no luck. I even had the workers help me look because stores like that people move things around but in the end they were gone. They were both sold. And yes, after many friends’ advices …at stores like Marshall’s you buy now and then contemplate and then return if necessary later. I know now. 🤪Haha.
I still wanted that pink truck so I posted it on Facebook just in case some of my friends happen to be going to Marshall’s, T.J.Maxx, or anywhere else that would have this pink truck. I had several responses from my friends saying they would keep an eye out. I also had several that responded with pictures from other places that were not quite the same but similar.
And this is where the lesson comes in. I missed out on that pink truck. It was right before me but yet I walked away. How many times have we seen the Lord handing something to us and yet we still walk away. There’s so many lost people that have been handed “the pink truck”…the True Gospel… yet they walk away. Some will return and find that “pink truck” but others will be frantically searching and asking people where to find the “pink truck” and totally miss it. It will be too late.
And then what about all of the other posts that people shared of “other” pink trucks? They were not the same. They were smaller. Some were not even pink trucks but rather pink cars. That’s just like us. We try to “substitute” the TRUE Gospel with other things. Or maybe we know The Gospel but yet we try to fill our lives with these “other” pink trucks/cars. …with other things. Maybe we try to fill our lives with success, popularity, busyness, even other stuff like laziness, gossip, alcohol, sexual sin, and so on.
All of this to say is that as you think back on your life, will you see missed opportunities? Opportunities that you should have taken? Opportunities that you should have shared the Gospel? Opportunities that someone shared the Gospel to you but you missed it? Are you substituting for “other” things? Other “pink trucks”?
Today, I want you to be looking for those original pink trucks. Not just the one I want (although if you see one send it my way…I’ll pay you back. LOL) … but seriously. What opportunities is the Lord giving to you that you are missing out on? When you walk away from those opportunities it could be gone forever. And what are you substituting in your life? What is it that you missed out on but are now trying to fill it with other “pink trucks/cars”. … other things that just aren’t the same as what God has for you?
Today, is the day. Seek Him FIRST (Matthew 6:33). Know that what He offers is far better than anything else this world has to offer (1 John 3:16-17). Stop trying to substitute things of this world for things God has offered you. This world is not our home. Things we hold onto will fade away. Even that super cute pink truck will not last…but God (and His Word) endures forever!!
I feel like God has been leading me on this “joyful pursuit” journey and has called me to share it with others but I’ve got to be honest… I’m chicken!!
I constantly have in the back of my head thoughts like…”How can God use this girl?”, “What will others think?”, “Do they even care what I have to say?”, “Are people going to be mean?” (Flashback to High School and JH days!) “Will they say something negative? Hurtful? Inappropriate?”…
I even have silly thoughts like…”What if I have a spelling error?”, “What if they read my stuff and it’s boring?”, “What if I’m too “extra” for them?”… and on and on…
But, I have to just put myself and my thoughts aside and trust that God has called me to speak Truth and to enjoy sharing this Joyful Pursuit, and the ones that need the laughter, the encouragement, the TRUTH, and even the tears will find this page and that God will use this journey to bring all of us closer to Him.
So. If you are also “chicken”, and you feel that the Lord is leading you to do something, then just do it! No really. DO IT! Jump out there with me. Put those silly thoughts aside and trust what He has placed on your heart. Maybe it’s starting a blog like this. Maybe it’s starting a new career. Maybe it is going back to school. Maybe it’s even something simple like getting a new haircut. Maybe it is getting married to the man you are sitting next to…Unless it’s a complete stranger and you don’t totally know him yet …that may be weird…although, I have heard some crazy love stories, so who knows. 😬 …
…but seriously. Let’s stop being chicken. Let’s stop worrying about what others think. Let’s keep trusting what God has placed on our hearts. As long as you know it is from the Lord, you cannot fail!! I love that God reminds us that He goes before us and He is always with us (check out Deuteronomy 31 and also Joshua 1).
I can’t wait to hear about what God has placed on your heart. Share with me, you ex-chicken-girl-you!!!
(It still took me a few days to post this…🥴…maybe I’m still chicken. LOL…and PS…Thanks for stopping by. )
Ok… I know this may not be a popular thought but hear me out.
I keep seeing so many people posting about “You are enough” or “I am enough”… I get it. I’m sure I have said and maybe have posted this, too. But as I continue to grow in His Word and in my faith…I have realized that this is an absolutely false statement. A lie that our culture has led us to believe. You (and I) are NOT enough!!
We live in a world that centers  around me, me, me. What makes ME happy. It’s all about ME. What’s in it for ME. The list goes on and on.
Guys, we are NOT enough!! It’s not about us.
You and I can not make it through this world and all of the ups and downs without HIM…God. There’s nothing that I have done to deserve everything God has done for me. There is nothing I can do to earn my way to Him. I am NOT enough. I need HIM. Every. Single. Day. It’s about HIM. GOD. the One and Only! The King of Kings who is STILL on His throne. HE IS ENOUGH!!!! To you it may not be a big deal to say “you are enough” or “I am enough” but think about it. That’s so far from what is true. When we start thinking we are enough we lose sight that we need Him and start believing that we have done all the things we have done. That we “deserve” (and have created) this happiness, this job, this money, this house, this family, this whatever… We start believing that we can make it without Him and that’s a scary place to be.
The point is this. You and I are NOT enough. We need HIM and ONLY HIM. HE IS ENOUGH!!!!
Please see this as an encouragement not as condemnation. Love you, my friend! 💕
“You are the real-est real pastor’s wife I’ve ever known!”
“I love that you are just …YOU!”
“Thanks for being so joyful and real.”
For the longest time I wasn’t sure if these were compliments or concerns🤪… But over time I have come to the understanding that these are truly some of the best compliments I could ever receive.
Hi! I am Rhonda and I am ‘in Joyful Pursuit’ to be the “real-est real” pastor‘s wife, mom, bible teacher, motivational speaker (maybe author one day) and friend God has called me to be. There’s nothing that brings me greater joy than my family and to see others grow in their relationship with Christ through laughter, tears, and TRUTH. The world throws so much at us and I want nothing more than to encourage others to dive deeper in their own joyful pursuit of who God has called them to be and to know the TRUTH that has set each of us free!
I was born and raised in Texas and have a larger than life personality…my husband calls me “EXTRA”… and I’m ok with that. I love leading women of all ages and have had such a joyful journey serving beside my pastor husband, Wes, in ministry for over 20 years. God has blessed us with three beautiful girls. Our first two were 14 months apart and then God, using His sense of humor, gave us another daughter almost 10 years later. So yes… we have teenagers and a toddler. Fun stuff!
I love the color pink and love wearing heels and pearls. Antique shopping and tea rooms are my jam and I have a deep passion for all things Disney (think MAJOR DISNEY-Nerd) but …in all of that…I have an even deeper passion for learning and sharing God’s Word with others. I have had the privilege to lead women in small and large settings and desire to use my good looks, charm, and sense of humor…ok well maybe just my sense of humor (and wit) to draw ladies into a deeper Joyful Pursuit of His Word and understand of who God truly is.
My number one prayer is that God would use me in the most powerful way to lead others …like you… in their own Joyful Pursuit of Him.
So. It’s nice to meet you. Now let’s start that Joyful Pursuit and be the “real-est real” we can be.
Just take yourself and kids to church!! They grow up and become a lot like you. 
in joyful pursuit 