Welcome to the Art of a Messy House

I left a 17-year teaching career, went to grad school, and paused my podcast. Why? Because God was reshaping my rhythm.

Pray. Step. Believe.

Through this transition and all the shifts, I am continuously reminded that how we view people shapes how we lead them. Our perspective matters. Are we leading with love or limitations? Curiosity or assumptions?

Whether you are leading in a classroom, workplace, church, or at your own kitchen table, we can shift our focus, ask questions, and see through the lens of love.

✨ Pull up a chair and join me at the table for the full update on the blog!

The days of refreshment are here, but we need to recognize our need for them, and the Source of all true refreshment. Do you nap? I rarely do, but when I think about how restorative naps are for infants and toddlers, it's such a beautiful image of rest. My toddler, bless his heart, has been resisting naps lately, always wanting to play and be around the excitement. Maybe a bit of fear of missing out! But you know what? There's a clear difference in her nature when he does nap versus when he doesn't. We don't even need studies to tell us how beneficial naps are for learning, emotional regulation, and memory. And we're the same! Perhaps it's not an actual nap for us, but it serves as a powerful reminder to rest.

Sometimes you're invited to the table—other times, you're called to build it.

In a world more “connected” than ever, loneliness is still gripping hearts at an alarming rate. But what if God is inviting you to be the bridge between isolation and community? What if the gap you see isn’t just a problem—it’s your invitation to create, connect, and build?

Season 3 of The Art of a Messy House podcast, “At the Table,” dives deep into what it means to show up, create safe spaces, and partner with God in restoring what’s been broken. Through Scripture, stories, and spirit-led reflection—from Nehemiah to modern-day family struggles with social media—we explore how to replace lies with truth, stand in the gap, and ignite conversations that bring healing.

Some tables come with invitations. Others, we are anointed to create.

Will you follow His lead? Will you build? Will you seek Him through it all?

May we look TO God and FOR Him in the mundane, the daily needs, the deep longing of our souls, and the pauses, too. The more I slow down, the more I see the beauty of the present season instead of asking the infamous question of children on car rides: “Are we there yet?” 

How often can we be like that? How frequently can our vision become foggy if we do not intentionally slow down to defrost our windshields?

Testimonies are everywhere, but do we walk in them? Hearing and receiving are different, yet both yield to a posture. Our willingness to pause and be present in the midst of our “ordinary” is key. It is often where purpose unfolds. In Luke 2, the shepherds paint a picture of how to embrace the moments entrusted to us. 

In the face of hurt, look to the Healer.

In the face of the hard, He is there.

Faithful every moment, cast Him every care.

While we cannot see everything, God does. In the midst of our own limited sight, we must lean onto the One who sees and knows it all. From our own blind spots to the times we are blindsided by another person, God is not. He sees. He knows and He loves us through it.

In the clutter of what we carry, we may miss the beauty in the surrender. We may simply forget to look or we may become blinded by the excuses. Still, excuses do not eliminate the true Truth; they often avoid it. However, there is a better way…

Look to God and for Him.

Sometimes, the answer we are longing for is in the change we are resisting.

Change is not easy…

While change is normal, it is often uncomfortable and challenging. Therefore, our perception matters and our focus does too. We are not meant to stay the same. Evolving and growing is a beautiful gift. That is also true with relationships too.

We must not stay in our Egypt when God calls us out. We must also not go back…

How do we take those negative ruminating thoughts and running routines and turn them into REST?

Ruminating to rest

Running to rest

It sounds contradictory and yet, it is quite the opposite. It is about that firm foundation we must sit on, stand on and walk from, remembering to always go back to it too. So let’s run back now and begin here…

Where are we running? Where are we resting? And what does that have to do with the Book of Jonah?

When we think of the Book of Jonah, we probably think of a fish. However, there is so much more to learn from these pages. We must be careful to not become so fascinated by a fish that will lose sight of the foundation, and a message for all ages. And yes, that does have to do with our focus as well as our running and resting routines and rhythms…

“Don’t wait for the blessing, be the blessing”

Those were the first words I heard on my heart as my eyes greeted 2024. It is also what prompted this message.

It is a message encouraging us all to walk in love, to be bold in prayer and to approach each day not just with a list of resolutions…

but instead with a resolute heart.

Lord, please fill my cup

with what I need.

Soften my heart to hear,

to live in love, and not greed.

Can you relate?

Recently, I had a week of feeling frustrated and drained about a few things in my life. In recognizing them, I knew it was either an opportunity to sit in frustrating emotions or to use those emotions as opportunities and necessities to lean into God.

In asking Him what to do, I heard Him tell me…

“Love Louder.”