Struggles are real. Heartaches are real. Disappointments are real. Fear is real. Life is hard. Troubles happen. Finances get tight. Friendships fail. Marriages end. Death finds its way into our lives and families. Life is a battle—it is not a game, as some might believe. Some think life is supposed to be, as they say, all sunshine and sprinkles, but it’s not. When life falls apart, many people fall away from the Lord, the very keeper of their souls. Amen!

Some distance themselves from everyone and everything that once held meaning in their lives. They lose the hope they once had. They grow hard-hearted, stop the good things they once did, stop helping, stop caring—they just give up. And sadly, this happens around us every day, if only we opened our eyes long enough to see it. Amen!

If we could only take our eyes off our own lives and focus on the bigger picture around us. Amen. I don’t know what has happened to life, to people, and to the way things used to be. Somehow, we may have given up like others have, or we’ve let selfishness take over. Instead of walking in the Spirit, we walk in the flesh. We act as the flesh acts, letting things, people, family, and friends slip away. Before long, we’ve let everything go, only to find ourselves in a sad, lonely place, wondering, “How did we get here? How did we let everything fall by the wayside?” (Matthew 13:4, Mark 4:15, and Luke 8:12) speaks of this to us. Amen!

We have one life to live—just one chance. Love, family, and friends are essential to survive. We all need one another. We all have something rare and unique to offer. God created us to be together, not apart. There is strength in unity. We laugh together, love together, and stand firm together. Scripture says, “A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken” (Ecclesiastes 4:12). Amen!

No life or family is perfect. People disagree and fuss, but at the end of the day, love wins and love prevails. We don’t throw everything away over one or two disagreements. We agree to disagree, live in the present, and enjoy the moment. Life ends, and there are no do-overs. So, we choose how we live. We choose to reach out. We choose to forgive. We choose to help, care, and be different. We choose to laugh, to let go of grudges, and to love—not just a few, but all. We choose to get our hands dirty, walking and living where Jesus desires us to be. Amen!

As Jesus said, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me” (Matthew 16:24-26). We choose His will and His way for our lives. We choose to say yes, to live well, and to walk in all the Lord has prepared for us. Amen!”

“For it is in His name, Jesus’ name, that I do ask and pray. Amen and amen. Be blessed today my dear friends and remember wherever you go and whatever you do, Be a light for our Father, Much love to you all, Mandi ❤️