So many people think that because we are Christians we no longer face things that bother us. That couldn’t be further from the truth. We still have things (and people) that hurt us, or tick us off! The difference is how we respond to these situations or people. So many of my friends are hurting because of something or someone that we have no control over. We have to fight the good fight, as hard as it is, because honestly punching someone in the throat is just not received very well!
“Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” (1 Timothy 6:12 ESV)

I used to be that kid that did exciting, dangerous, adrenaline fueled things. Jumped off some bridges (Alecia), walked down the spill way of a dam, drove too fast, bungee jumping, repelling, stayed out too late. I was fearless. I knew my parents loved me unconditionally and that Jesus loved me too, for the Bible told me so…didn’t grasp that until later, but it was still rooted in my heart.
Today I’m a little more fearful of the rush you get when you do risky stuff, but I am so thankful that I have full and complete trust in my Lord which allows me to take leaps of faith that some people are paralyzed in fear about. I choose life! I may have to pray and give myself a pep talk from time to time, but I love the thrill of being free to be me! I’m free to love, to laugh and to embrace being fearfully and wonderfully made.

You’ve been given life, live it!

Psalm 16:11
Verse Concepts
You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.

Luke 6:38
“Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure–pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.”

James 1:17
Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.

One of the biggest testaments of my faith journey happened after a great disappointment. A time when I thought I had my life path all figured out, and in writing…literally. I had signed up for 4 years of the US Army with a plan to retire at 37. I was a natural on the range, I aced all my academic challenges, even the physical challenges until my legs decided not to play along. I ended up with stress fractures in both of my femur bones. I passed my final run in basic, but once I got to AIT I could not hit the mark on the run time. I was given many chances after months of healing time. I would write letters home and beg my family to pray for me to pass that rest so I could move on to my permanent duty station. I received a letter from a lady I had never met. It was a friend of my mom’s mother. She told me it was time for me to pray for what God wanted for me, not what I wanted for myself. To pray to accept failure as a path to what God has called me to. So I did. I prayed that if I didn’t pass the final test that I could learn from the experience and trust that God had something different, and better for me.
I missed it by seconds. My Drill Sargent had gotten to know me because I had been a holdover for months and that meant I didn’t leave the barracks very often and did a lot of admin work in his office. He told me he could pass me and I would move along, but he wasn’t going to because even though I had the heart of a soldier, my body (and mind) would suffer in the long term. So I went home. It was the end of a dream. I was disappointed and discouraged, but I was also on the path to discover who God is and what He has done for me. I haven’t talked about that much in my lifetime but knowing people I love may be discouraged because something didn’t go as they had hoped or planned, it makes me want to share that part of my story. Stop praying for what you want for yourself and pray for what the Lord has for you. He is trustworthy!

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”
‭‭James‬ ‭1‬:‭2‬-‭4‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Psalm 3:3

You oh Lord are a shield about me.   

I seem to have cycles of seasons.  Which I suppose is normal for us exiles, or sojourners.    In one season I’m obedient in reading the word.   I listen to my daily reading plan, prayer and scripture are on the forefront of my mind.   Then I seem to get complacent and slack off of my reading or studying.   I drift off into a season of overthinking, panic, worry, trying to find fulfillment in worldly or fleshly things.  I don’t sleep well in this season.  Tonight this thought dawned on me.   I have not been in a place of righteousness the past week or so.   I have just gone through the work motions right away rather than starting my day with scripture.   I just woke up at 3 am with panicked thoughts and in my stooper the words and tune to a 90’s worship song came in my head.  

“You oh Lord are a shield about me, you oh Lord are my strength” it’s scripture.  Psalm 3 to be exact.  I instantly realized I had put my shield down somewhere in the last week or so.  I left myself vulnerable to the attacks of my enemy.  Wide open to worry and compromise on the things that satan knows he can tempt me with.   

I repent, I’m picking up my shield and my sword.  I pray that once I stop typing this thought out that I can close my eyes and drift off to sleep, knowing that I am safe and protected, no matter what things of this world bring at me.   Lord I give to you my anxious sinful thoughts and trade them for your peace and protection.  I realized tonight that spiritual warfare is constant and the only way to combat it is to be in the word.   Not out of legalism, but out of obedience and discipline.  I used to think we bring on spiritual warfare by doing good, tonight I see it a little differently.   We are in a world where we are foreigners, in a battle.  Our only hope is the Lord.   

Grief and Joy-Christmas 2025

You can experience grief and joy at the same time. Those words have been swirling in my head for a couple of weeks while thinking about the gatherings Christmas brings. It’s been hard for me to prepare for those gatherings this year. Grief sometimes tells us that we shouldn’t feel joy, sometimes feeling joy while grieving makes us feel guilty. I’m not writing from a perspective of a chaplain that has had many hours of training in grief care and loss. I’m speaking from a place of personal experience. Many of you know I have dealt with a lot of loss in my life. Everyone deals with loss at some point, but there are certain times that make you hyper aware of the family and friends that are no longer around to share joyous occasions with.
Christmas is a season of Joy! Our Savior was born and this is the season we celebrate the little baby born in a manger. His birth was a very important part of His gift of our ability to be with Him, the triune God, and join the friends and family that have gone before us in Him.
So this morning I’m giving myself this pep talk. Allow yourself to experience the Joy this Christmas brings, embrace the people you get to be with today. Thank God for the gift of the birth of Jesus.

Don’t be alone today , if you’re with in driving distance of 37931 come hang out with us and we will spark up some joy.
Merry Christmas!

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭9‬:‭6‬ ‭ESV‬‬

When I think about my childhood and religion, the words “don’t ruin your witness” come to mind. My parents didn’t say those things to me, it was well meaning people from the church. This may surprise you, but I was a bit of a wild one. I always loved people well. I never did anything to harm people on purpose. I was just a little feral. I remember feeling guilt and shame for things that I did and sin that I chose as a teenager and young adult. The condemnation never felt like it came from the Lord, it came from churchy folks. I remember thinking how much He loved me while I was smack dab in the middle of my sin. I remember thinking when Jeremy (my first husband that passed away) and I lived together, that once we got married, I would finally be able to be the Christian that I knew I was supposed to be because I would no longer be “living in sin”. That was true for about 2.5 seconds until my Aunt Becky said something smart-mouthed at my wedding. Then, in an instant, my sin of choice was the thoughts I had towards her. It didn’t take me long into my sanctification process to realize that in my human nature, sin is gonna be a part of life. That doesn’t mean that I want it to be that way, it doesn’t mean that I strive for that. It just means  that it is a reality. Grace covers me every day, in ways I don’t even realize. 

I pray for my kids. We have four. I see the things that they do, and the struggles they have. I see the struggles that are out on full display and I also know that there are hidden sins and struggles they deal with. 

This morning, as I was praying for my boys, asking the Lord to protect them, I suddenly remembered all the churchy sayings. Sometimes those things come to mind and I want to say them to my kids,  then I remember His grace. I remember that through all of the things that I did, and sometimes still do…Jesus has always been there with me. I prayed out loud “Lord help me with this kid!”, and very quickly, as if He were speaking to me I was reminded of the very same things that I was guilty of when I was his age. I’m not condoning anything, I’m not thinking that it is OK, I’m just remembering how He loved me through my different seasons in life. That was a comfort to me because I do get panicked when I think about our kids and how they live their lives and how they may “ruin their witness” so to speak, but the truth is, if it wasn’t for my sin I wouldn’t understand Grace, if it wasn’t for forgiveness, if it wasn’t for Jesus, paying for my sin, I would not have a witness. I cannot witness to being The good girl all the time, I cannot be a witness that I always made the right choices, I cannot be a witness that all the things religious folks considered “good”was ever in my nature. What I can be a witness to is that Jesus Carried me through all of it, He loved me through all of it and He still does. He never left me even when I was consciously making sin choices and He never denied my forgiveness when I asked Him to forgive me with a sincere repentant heart. 

So I may not pass down generational wealth, I probably won’t even pass down good genetics, but what I can tell you is that I will pass down generational grace. I will tell my kids, and apparently anyone who will listen, that because of His sacrifice on the cross and His grace, I am forgiven, chosen, and deeply loved.

Are you tired and worn down? I can say I have felt that way in the last few weeks and I just wanted to lay down and escape reality for a while! I heard a teaching on this passage about Elijah the other day and I just have to share it with you…

At this particular stage in Elijah’s life he had over come some pretty crazy stuff, won battles, lead men in battle and it seemed all the “hard stuff” was done and over with. Then one crazy lady came at him making threats. This by far was nothing in comparison to what he had already over come, but he was tired!! Spent, bankrupt of energy so to speak. He didn’t want to battle anyone or anything. His first reaction was thoughts of a white flag to life. Some may even say he had suicidal thoughts. He asked God to take him out! God, being God knew exactly what Elijah needed and when he needed it. He sent an Angel that told him to eat and take a nap, then eat a good meal when he wakes up and that will give him all the strength he needed to face the next days ahead. So, if you’re struggling with negative thoughts, or thoughts of throwing in the towel because you just don’t know how to face the days ahead, cry out to God ask for help! Eat a healthy meal and get some rest! Take a break, give yourself permission to lay down for a moment, and trust you will get up stronger than you ever thought possible.

“But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he asked that he might die, saying, “It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers.” And he lay down and slept under a broom tree. And behold, an angel touched him and said to him, “Arise and eat.” And he looked, and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on hot stones and a jar of water. And he ate and drank and lay down again. And the angel of the Lord came again a second time and touched him and said, “Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for you.” And he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mount of God.”

1 Kings 19:4-8 ESV

A word on being a Godly leader.

Ever feel like you can take on the world, then once you do you realize it’s not as rewarding as you imagined? Our society teaches us to be cut throat and rise to the top regardless of who you have to step on to get there. Then they portray this as  characteristics of a good leader. The Bible has other things to say about that. The Bible talks about God using foolish or uneducated people to lead things. He will take our experiences over our credentials any day. He is much more interested in spending time with us  than us being in charge of something and taking on too many tasks.

“When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.”

Acts 4:13 NIV

God also teaches us to be content with what we have. Sometimes in our striving to be the biggest, baddest, fastest and strongest we become discontent and unfulfilled. Instead He wants us to be reliant completely on Him, then our ability to lead comes from an over flow of our love and reliance on Him, rather than our own abilities.

“For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

Matthew 6:32-33 NIV

“I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”

Philippians 4:11-13 NIV

We have a clear mapped out instruction in 1 Peter as to how we should lead what God has entrusted us with. This can be our family, our jobs, the children we teach in children’s ministry, the people we lead in ministry.  There is a time and place for everything, and if we take the time to know His word and follow His instruction He will give us a fulfilled life, not free of stress, or pain, but one that are certain and confident that we are serving others out of our love for Him and not out of any selfish gain which will return void.

“To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christʼs sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed: Be shepherds of Godʼs flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away. In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under Godʼs mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.”

1 Peter 5:1-11 NIV

Tara Gibson

How has it been over a year since I wrote a blog post?!?! I used to have such a passion and desire to write, write, write! One thing that God has put on my heart and mind is that I had gotten too busy doing ministry, and forgot to focus on HIM. It could be the same for my writing, I think I was too busy keeping commitments that I lost focus of something I love. It’s easy to do! I’ve often used the quote I heard many many years ago…”If the devil can’t make you bad, he will make you busy” I used to think of that as worldly related things like jobs, sports, commitments that take up all of our time so that we don’t have free moments to spend with Jesus. I never really considered ministry to be a source of busyness, after all, it’s serving God, right?

The truth is Brad and I both had gotten very busy with ministry, so much so that we were leaving our kids at home several evenings a week to fend for themselves for dinner or to wait until after 9pm to wrap up our ministry obligations and bring dinner home from the drive through of our choice. There was a time when I was at my beloved church 5 out of the 7 days in a week! This didn’t even include my chaplain hours that I put in every week!

One of my all time favorite songs is Crowder’s “How He Loves”. The first words of the song say “He is jealous for me”. What does that even mean?!? I think I know now! We had gotten so busy with good things, that we were missing out on the GREAT! He is even jealous of our services FOR Him. If it becomes a bigger focus than He Himself, we are doing it wrong! I don’t regret my years of leading Recovery, or serving in Student ministry, I know that lives were changed and God gets the glory for all of that! I am not saying if you’re serving and committed to showing up for something that you are wrong! I’m just saying don’t let that become your little g god. Don’t let good pull rank on great. God is a jealous God (look it up). He will find a way to make sure that we know He is not going to jockey for position of first place in our life. He is also a gentleman and will not force Himself on us either, He will let us continue in our ways until we find ourselves unfulfilled or maybe even in chaos. Above all He is a loving God and when we come to our senses He is full of grace and meets us right where we are. He shows us the quickest path back to Him and lifts us up and gives us the best gift ever received…HIM.