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The Carpenter

Hayley T Williams

This is an original post from December 2023, but I felt like sharing it again. It was a good reminder for myself, and I hope it will be for you as well.

It is hard to believe that we are already at the end of 2025. Where did this year go? We are now in full swing of one of my favorite holidays, Christmas! I made a vow to myself this year to not rush through this season and be stressed out by worrying about this gift or trying to attend that event. Regardless of if I get all the boxes checked off my list, or perhaps I miss some of the festive gatherings, you know what? It will be okay. We get our tinsel in a tizzy so many times during this holiday season. Let’s face it, most of the times it is because we are afraid to say no or let people down. This season is about the birth of the one who brought us peace, not chaos, busyness and stress. God never intended for us to live our lives with such demanding schedules. He never meant for Christmas to become such a burden. It should be quite the opposite. A time where we simplify our schedules and to do lists, so we can really zero in our focus on him, and why he came and the great sacrifice he made for you and for me. He came to free us from the bondage of our sin nature and to give us true peace. How is it that we have managed to turn the celebration of the Prince of Peace’s arrival into quite the opposite of the very reason he came? No doubt, he knew we would need saving from ourselves.

So many times, the theme of this season is focused on the babe lying in the manger. You will see this image in cards, movies, Christmas plays, and signs. After all, Christmas is a time we set apart to celebrate the birth of Jesus. I am forever grateful that he came to give me life, not just an abundant life here on earth, but also eternal life with him in heaven one day.

But this year, for whatever reason, God has really impressed on me his possible trade as a carpenter. Sounds silly I know. There was a period of Jesus’ life that we do not know much about. It all started when I heard it mentioned in a quick video that I watched. It really made me start to wonder what his job was like. What did he build? Who did he help? Is there significance to the carpentry work he went into? Did he ever use his trade as a way to explain his purpose in coming here on earth to his local coworkers? His earthly dad, Joseph, was also a carpenter so I am sure that was a factor.

What do carpenters do? They build and construct. They also repair and renovate. They are detail oriented and strive for accuracy. They always follow a plan, could be a sketch or a blueprint. They know the different types of wood or building materials, and which would be better suited for certain projects. They also are aware that a solid foundation is vital to the project’s durability.

Does any of this strike a chord within you like it did me? With each thought I had, it redirected me back to my life and what Jesus has done for me. He has a blueprint for my life. He has tried his best to guide me along the paths he has for me, but I do have free will to choose so there has been quite a few times he has had to come repair places in my life that I carelessly tore down. There have been times where I made poor choices, and I didn’t put God first in my life. The result is a heart more tuned into worldly things. One filled with selfishness, jealously, worry, fear and anxiety. When I finally acknowledge my sins and ask for forgiveness, he will come in and “renovate” my heart. He knows each of us so well, down to the numbers of hair we have. He knows our weaknesses and strengths and that is why he has placed a unique purpose and journey in front of each of us. No two are the same. We each have certain gifts we can offer for his glory. Before the earth was even formed, God had a plan. By sending Jesus to this earth to ultimately pay our sin price on the cross, he set up a foundation for us to stand on and build from. God is our solid rock foundation. The Bible is our “blueprint” to live by. Jesus is the one who can construct or rebuild our lives to set us on the right paths that would lead to him.

What have you built your life on? Do you look to the Carpenter for guidance and help? If not, I pray you truly get to know him this Christmas season. It is why he came for you and for me. He loves you and he wants to help build you a life full of joy and peace, all you have to do is ask him and trust in him.

Wishing you a Merry Christmas,

Hayley W

Pillars of the Faith

Hayley T Williams
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I have been in church my whole life. Forest Mill Baptist Church is the place I call home. I went there as a child, but when my dad was called to preach, we would go wherever God called him to go. I visited many smaller, country churches. When my sister and I started driving, our dad let us choose where we wanted to go. It was hard to not be with my parents, but we both wanted to be back at our home church. Over the years, I have seen people come and go for various reasons, but there have been a few that I refer to as pillars of our church. Those who always were bold about their faith, encouraging others in their walk with Christ. Their servanthood and faithfulness to the church and to God was visible to those who crossed their paths.

For me, a few that come to mind that are no longer here with us are Billy, Jerry, and David. Just recently though another one went home to be with the Lord, sweet Ms. Linda. She was a bright light radiating Christ’s love to those she met. She was so good at making sure to greet any new people that would come in the door at Forest Mill. Over the years she spoke often of the goodness of God and how he is so faithful. I remember her always saying that we need to fill in the gap when our loved ones go home. I will be honest, it will be hard to fill in her gap, she left a mighty one. She was faced with hard times in this life, times of being a widow for several years and being the social personality she was, I imagine the loneliness got heavy at times but she knew God was with her every step of the way. She made that known. She was a devoted church member and a prayer warrior indeed. Her laughter was contagious, and she had a sweet spirit. She will be greatly missed. I am sure she heard the words, “Well done, my good and faithful servant”, as she took her last breath here, and took her first step into heaven. I can only imagine how noisy heaven must have gotten!

I pray that her life and the other pillars we each have had in our lives will continue to be an example to us all. They each faced difficulty but they never gave up on their faith and the promises of God. They are all living out those promises as we speak. I can only hope that more of us can step up and fill the gaps left behind of these devout Christians. The church needs us. May we try to do better. Love deeper. Be bold and courageous. Give grace. Live humbly. Spread kindness and encouragement. Stand firm in the faith and scatter seeds of God’s love where ever we go. Our lives matter. What we do matters. Not just here on earth but in eternity.

Reflecting on her life makes me ponder on the question of how are we using the time God has given us and are we filling in the gaps?

Until we meet again,

Hayley W

To the One Struggling

Hayley T Williams
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To the one who is exhausted from trying to keep it all together and make sure everything gets done – I see you. I know that look in your eyes because I have been there too. Take a moment and breathe. You were never meant to do it all. Surrender your tasks over to God and let him help you carry them. Take some time to rest, it is crucial. If needed ask for help. That isn’t a sign of weakness. Don’t forget just how strong you are. Even God took a day to rest.

To the one whose finances are stretched so thin that it is almost suffocating – I feel you. I have been there too. Keep working hard and doing the best you can with what you have. Your identity does not come from what you own no matter how much the world will try to convince you of this. If you believe in God, you are a child of the king. Keep pressing on.

To the one who has hit that wall of burnout – I can tell you from experience burnout is a real thing. You keep going and pushing yourself to a point of exhaustion. Because you choose to just keep going, you are just going through the motions with no passion or zeal. Somehow in all the busyness, you lost that spark that helped ignite that energy that propelled you in motion to be active in what drives you. It gets hard but you must choose to step back and take time and just be still. Take a break. Nurture your body physically and spiritually.

To one who has strayed from God or just doesn’t feel as close to him – I understand. I have been there several times. I feel like it is just a part of our Christian journey. There have been times when it was my poor decisions that led me to feel so distant, but then other times when I never could figure out why I felt the way I did. I just learned to keep seeking him in prayer and reading the Bible even when I didn’t feel like it. No matter what, just keep moving forward in pursuing God. I promise you; He is not the one who has moved. He is still there.

To the one who is facing some major life changes and you may be drowning in the fear of the unknown – I can relate to you. I am sure my situations are different than yours, but I have had moments in my life where the future was so uncertain that fear had paralyzed me. It is scary. It can feel very isolating. But God. He has a plan for each of us. He isn’t surprised by what happens to our lives. Trust him with it all. Completely. Take it one day at a time if you must. Don’t give in to the fear.

To the one who has prayed relentlessly for certain things, yet they seem to go unanswered – I encourage you to just keep praying. It is hard to keep lifting up the same prayers when we feel like they are not being heard, but they are. Even if we cannot see the evidence, he is always at work behind the scenes. He doesn’t work on our sense of time. I believe in the goodness of God and I know, in his timing, things will work out according to his will. His plans > our plans. Do not underestimate the power of prayer.

To the one stuck who feels stuck in a waiting season – I get it, it is hard. Being patient has never been one of my strong traits. I want to remind you that God has not forgotten your story. You see those around you who seem to be moving forward with life and you feel like you aren’t making any progress, you are just left behind. May I encourage you to just keep putting one foot in front of the other. Turn your focus on your life, and do not get caught up in the lives of others. Stop comparing. Believe better days are coming. Do not give up hope. God loves you. His plan is already in motion in your life, so while you wait, learn to be joyful in your present circumstances.

To the one in a season of loneliness – God is there with you. I pray you feel his presence and his comfort. I pray he will send the right people into your lives at the moment you need them. Please know you are not alone. Reach out to someone if you need to. You probably have more people in your life that care about you than you realize. Isolation and loneliness are two of our enemy’s greatest weapons. He knows we are an easy target when we feel alone.

To the one who feels like they have no purpose – I think we all struggle with this feeling. If you are alive and breathing, you have a purpose being here on this earth. God is not done with you. There is always something we can do in our lives to give him glory. Loving others. Helping others. Encouraging others. It may seem like mundane work to you, but to his kingdom it is very important work. That is why we are here to tell people about Jesus! Remember God is in the small deeds just as much as he is in the big deeds.

To the one struggling with their self-worth or body image – listen to me, this is one of the biggest ways the enemy used to distract me from doing what God wanted me to do. He loves to whisper those lies of being too fat, too thin, too tall, too short, too shy, too talkative…..the list could be a mile long, so fill in the blank with whatever your struggle is. Embrace who you are in Christ. You were created in God’s image. He doesn’t make junk. Learn to love the one looking back at you in the mirror. God does.

Just know you are not alone. I believe in you. God believes in you. Don’t let the hard days overshadow the good ones. We all have things we are struggling with. We are all carrying around burdens. I think if we could see the mental loads, we each are hauling around, we would have a different perspective on how we treat those we encounter. We need to lean on each other and help encourage one another. And no matter what, keep moving forward!

Hayley W

The Waiting Room

Hayley T Williams
Photo by Paula Schmidt on Pexels.com
Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord.  Psalm 27:14

Impatient. Is that a word that would describe you? I will be the first to answer that question with a big ol’ yes! I think most of us would agree that as a society in whole, it seems we are getting more and more impatient and when we want things, we want them now!! We tend to thrive and even demand instant gratification.

With all the new technology, one area I find myself with less patience in is watching TV. I have gotten so accustomed to streaming my favorite shows and in doing so that means I can fast forward through all the commercials. When I sit down and watch a live show with commercials that I cannot speed through, well my impatient side tends to show its ugly head. How about you? What is that one thing that can make you irritable if you have to wait? Don’t get me wrong, I am sure I could make a list of stuff that tests my patience but the TV is just the one that came to mind at this moment.

In our lives, each one of us will face moments of waiting. It may be waiting on test results from a doctor visit. Waiting on God to open a door to a new career path. Waiting on that answer to a prayer that you have been praying for months, maybe even years. We pray. We wait. We pray some more. We look for any signs that God may be moving on our behalf and we continue to wait. Sometimes we may get restless and try to take matters into our own hands but more times than not, the outcome will be a disaster because we chose not to wait. We are called to wait upon the Lord but that concept is so hard or is it just me?

What if we looked at those seasons of waiting as opportunities to grow and be polished up by our Creator. What if those moments are actually for our benefit if we allow them? In waiting, I always see it as an occasion to grow in patience. Do I enjoy it? Nope, but patience is a Fruit of the Spirit, so it has to be good for me to gain more of it. But what if there is more to it? What if these waiting periods are a chance for me to surrender the weight that I didn’t even realize I had been carrying around whether it be my concerns about the present or my desires for the future. We all have expectations of how we want our lives to pan out. You know, those plans we have put in place in our minds that we want to see carried out in a specific way. But what if the process is more about letting go of that detailed timeline of the life we have all planned out in our heads, and fully surrendering it over to God?

Listen, there are going to be times in your life when you may feel so behind in your journey. This may occur in your teens, twenties or thirties. I fall into the forties group and I can tell you, it happens there too. You may currently feel like you are in the waiting room of life where everyone around you seems to be moving forward and you are just stuck. Waiting. May I just encourage you to hang on a little longer because one day the tide will turn for you. Circumstances will get better and your day will come when the sun shines a little brighter for you. Do not get discouraged and listen to the lies of your enemy. Oftentimes in the waiting rooms of our lives, we feel alone so you better believe the enemy is going to come at you. He knows when we feel isolated, we are an easier target. Do not listen to him. God cares for you. He loves you. He is working on your story. He hasn’t forgotten you or your dreams. He has good plans for you, so just hang tight and remember God is not bound by our timeline. We can get so wrapped in what we think our future plans should be and how our dreams should unfold that instead of leaning on God and his will for our lives, we try to force it to happen all on our own. It never works out well when we try to take the reins. We must learn to surrender our wants, desires and dreams over to our Creator for he knows what is best for us. We also need to ask for his help in aligning our will with his will.

His ways > Our ways

Around eighteen years ago, my family was looking for a newer home with more space for our growing family. God ended up putting us in a nice house in a subdivision. To be honest, we really didn’t want to move there but I knew in my heart it was where God wanted us to go at that time. During the eight years we lived there our hope and dream was to one day be back out in the country with a few acres. We discussed it from time to time and I knew that if that was what was best for us then God would open a door for us one day, so we had to learn to wait. That day came about and was in a period when we weren’t even looking to move. I had a friend tell me about a house and I casually looked it up online and we discussed going to look at it. From there it all just fell into place very quickly. God’s hand was in the whole process. The new house and property checked so many boxes we had when it came to our ideal home. It has become our little sanctuary here on Earth. I do feel like if we wouldn’t have waited on God those years we lived in the subdivision, who knows where we would have ended up and we would have missed what God had planned for us.

I tell you this to encourage you that God sees you and He knows your hearts desires. Trust him. His ways are always better and can outshine your wildest dreams if you will surrender them over to him and yes, WAIT UPON HIM.

Whatever you do, keep moving forward!

Hayley W

Be Confident

Hayley T Williams
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There will be many occasions in our lives when we forget who we are and what we are capable of and we need to be reminded. So here is a little reminder for you today 🙂

Be confident in the fact that you have a God who loves you more than you will ever know.

Be confident that no matter what sins you may have committed, if you go to him and ask for forgiveness with a repented heart, he will forgive you.

Be confident in who you are in Christ. In the calling he has put on your heart.

Be confident that he is always working on your story and sometimes it may just be behind the scenes.

Be confident that you will have different seasons in your Christian walk. But know he still cares for you and is always waiting for you to find your way back to him.

Be confident that God will give you what you need to fulfill the purpose he has for your life. He will equip you with the needs for the assignment.

Be confident that when you are obedient to his calling, you will face resistance. You will face push back and negativity. But God will have your back.

Be confident that the journey will be lonely at times, but God is with you every step of the way.

Be confident in the fact that you have an enemy and whenever you send out arrows as a testimony of God’s goodness, the enemy will be firing his own right back at you. Suit up with the armor of God.

Be confident in knowing that you will experience times when you don’t feel like you are good enough, worthy enough to be used by God. Maybe you even convince yourself that you have misheard his calling. You have had thoughts of how can God use someone like me? But he can, and he does. His strength is magnified through our weaknesses.

More importantly, be confident in God and his love for you. Stand on his word and his promises. We were called to do so much more in this life than to live for ourselves. We have a God given purpose and it’s when we let go of our desires and align our hearts with his will for our lives, that then we can begin to start to live with true joy and intent.

Keep moving forward,

Hayley W

Hope is Our Anchor Through the Difficult Seasons

Hayley T Williams 
Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;  (Hebrews 6:19)

In 2024, I turned my vegetable garden into a pollinator garden. I had help from a neighbor who is very knowledgeable in all types of gardening. He helped me get the plants I needed that would provide host plants for the caterpillars, but then also plants that would provide the nectar that the butterflies would feed on. I ended up being able to watch the whole transformation process of several Black Swallowtails. The life cycle of these little guys is nothing short of a miracle to witness. I had a second batch in late August and since we were going out of town, I asked one of my daughter’s friends if she would like to keep them so she could witness the transformation. I informed her of what she would need to do and I believe all the chrysalises hatched except one or two.

I had let her borrow my butterfly box and when I got it back, I just set it out on the hot water heater in my garage. This is the box I use where the caterpillars stay until they enter the chrysalis stage and eventually hatch out. I never thought about cleaning it out. This was around mid- to late September.

It was November 22 and I was trying to pack up and get ready to go on a weekend trip with my mom, sister, and my daughter. It was a much needed get away as November had been a pretty stressful month. I went out in my garage and was coming in when something caught my eye. I stepped back out of the door into the garage and looked to my right and couldn’t believe my eyes. There was a Black Swallowtail that had emerged in my box. Since I had never cleaned the butterfly box out from its prior use that one unhatched chrysalis had stayed in there. It had been at least 2 months since the last batch of butterflies had hatched. I was so surprised and excited to see that butterfly.

It was at that moment that God gave me a overwhelming sense of hope for the season I was in. It was a season of constant stress and worry. I felt as if God whispered to my heart to hang on because change was coming so just be patient. He knew I needed that encouragement and that boost of hope.

Sometimes the seasons we go through can be dark and painful, but I was reminded in that moment of the butterfly. That little one that had just emerged had been tucked away in that dark chrysalis for 2 months. I am sure the process was long and sometimes painful but look at the beauty that was a result from it. God can also bring beauty to us at the end of those weary seasons. Sometimes it can show up right in the middle of the darkest moments. I knew I had to release that butterfly and I was concerned because of the cold temperatures and the gusty winds. I wondered if it would survive, but then I reminded myself that God already knew the moment it would hatch. He cares about his creation and prepared that butterfly for that moment. The same goes for our lives. Nothing that happens in our lives catches God by surprise. He is all knowing and he is with us always.

I pray that if you are in a difficult season right now, God would send some hope and encouragement your way. He loves you. Don’t give up and don’t stop praying.

Keep moving forward,

Hayley W

Starting Your Day With Gratitude

Hayley T Williams
Photo by Brett Jordan on Pexels.com

In the past recent weeks I have started a new habit each morning. Before my feet ever hit the floor and I get out of bed, I start thanking God for the blessings he has given me. It could be anything: my salvation, my health, my family, my home, or my job. I really do try to think of new things each morning and sometimes that can be difficult. Some mornings are harder for my brain to wake up and think clearly. I don’t want it to be a habit of the same old repetitive stuff, but be intentional about focusing in on all the many blessings I have, big or small. If you think about, we are all abundantly blessed by a loving God. Do we deserve the gifts he gives? I do not, but yet he continues to work good in my life.


Practicing gratitude has a significant impact on our lives if we will let it. I get it, it is hard to be grateful every single day. But when I put the effort in to intentionally focusing on having a thankful heart, it truly makes a difference in my outlook and how I approach each day. When I think back on all the blessings and gifts I have been given, it also serves as a reminder of where I have come from. How he has made a way when I couldn’t see one. How he brought me through hard seasons and my faith grew stronger for it. This helps fan the flame of hope I have inside. I know God is at work even if it is behind the scenes.

When we live with thankful hearts, that gratitude can ripple out and have a positive effect on those we engage with. We tend to be more kind and encouraging and let’s face it, the communities we live in are struggling right now. We need more of God’s love being shared. This world needs hope, not in humanity because we are fallen, but in the One who created it all.

When you have God in your life, you have HOPE. I have mentioned before how grace is a word that has become very significant to my Christian walk, but I will tell you hope isn’t too far behind. Oh the hope we can have because of Christ! It doesn’t matter how dark the storm clouds may be, we can always cling to the hope we have in HIM!

We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. Hebrews 6:19-20.

If you are in a season of hopelessness, I would encourage you to take time each day focusing on things you are grateful for. Maybe your season is so dark that you can only come up with one or two things the first few days but don’t give up on it. Continue each day by being intentional about reminding yourself of your blessings. Write them down if you need to. But I do think that after you get into a habit of doing this, you will start to see a change in your attitude and how your days progress. I dare say you may start to feel your hope being revived. You may find some joy rising back up in your heart. I pray you do. The hope we have in Christ is a gift in itself and it is one we should share with those around us.

Keep moving forward,

Hayley W

Weathering the Storm

Hayley T Williams

This year I decided not to plant any vegetables in my garden but to plant flowers that would attract pollinators, especially butterflies. It has always been my little escape that I like to wander out to in the early mornings or late evenings. Several days ago I was checking out my flowers and I noticed this butterfly. It looked pretty beaten up as it fluttered from one bloom to another. I thought to myself, I see you little guy all worn from whatever storm you have been through. I feel you. I have been there too. Beat up, wings tattered, but determined to rise up and keep going. My mind thought about different people within in my community who have had to weather some type of storm this year. No doubt, sometimes it could be multiple storms at once. Maybe it is finances, health issues, work/life balance, relationships or the loss of a loved one. Whatever the “storm” may look like to you right now, can I encourage you with some reminders.

But God. Two words with so much power and hope.

But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26 ESV

I am so glad that we do not have to go on this journey alone. God is with us. He is our rock. When circumstances change and things are out of our control, he is our safe place.

He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. Psalm 62:6 ESV

When people hurt or disappoint us, we can lean on him. He is the greatest friend you can have.

Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13 ESV

When we make poor choices and have chosen to wander away from him, he is the Good Shepherd that will lead us back.

I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. John 10: 14-15 ESV

Whatever storm you are facing, don’t let it take your eyes of the One who loves you most.

I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6

Keep your head up,

Hayley W

Wandering in the Wilderness

Hayley T Williams
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Have you ever felt like you are just going the through the motions with no sense of direction or purpose? You may have several paths ahead of you to go down but instead you find yourself wandering in circles getting absolutely nowhere. I have recently found myself there and it is not the first time, nor will it be the last time. I never find the wilderness fun when it comes with a mediocre sense of well being. Like Meh. That is how I feel. June was extremely busy leaving me feeling like I was in survival mode most days. I found myself just wishing the time would pass so I could make it to July in hopes of a slower schedule. But even prior to June, I was just here. Not hot, not cold, just lukewarm. A scary place to encounter at times as even the Bible warns about being lukewarm. I know for a fact that these seasons are part of our Christian walk. I personally don’t think they can be avoided. They just come and then thankfully they go. They usually hang around longer than wanted but I have learned you just have to keep pressing on because as one of our church members has always said, “This too shall pass.”

Several occasions I would get on my blog to try to start a new post only to just stare blankly at the blinking cursor. Nothing. Zilch. Nada. I may could come up with a title but absolutely no words would follow. Maybe I am just not cut out for this anymore? I would take a deep breath, sigh and then close out the screen and shut my laptop. No doubt, I have been in a period of growth but not the exciting or fun kind. I feel like I am in a season of learning to heal. Trying to let go and forgive. Trying not to be offended. Trying to let the truth simmer and settle in my heart over the emotions that are vying to be expressed. Just cause you feel it, it doesn’t mean it is true. When people wrong you or the ones you love it is tough to get over. Our enemy will try to get us to marinate our thoughts on that hurt to a point where we get stuck in our pain. Everything we do will stem from that hurt. How we see things, how we treat others, and how we react to situations. This really isn’t fair to those around us who are innocent and have done nothing wrong. If we are not careful it can cause our hearts to harden and not only to that particular event or circumstance, but our hearts can become completely numb to everything. It will affect who we are. I do not enjoy those seasons but it is just part of the journey we must process and get through.

Lessons I have learned from this is to not become the person or situation that hurt you or your family. Hurt people, hurt people. Healed people, heal people. I do not want to become bitter, but better. I may never understand the “why” behind one’s actions, but I must realize I am not accountable for them. I can only control my actions and my attitude.

Healing is a process. Forgiveness is a process. You can be doing really good with both and then one little thought or incident may arise and knock you back several steps. It is okay. The most important thing is to get back up and keep moving forward. Refocus, regroup and carry on. Remind yourself of the truth of the situation. For me, I know God loves me. He forgives me. He showers me with grace. He gives me peace. Now I am not suppose to keep those to myself but I am to turn around and pay it forward to those around me with his help and guidance. I cannot do this on my own. We can love and forgive others because God has done that for us.

We love because he first loved us. 1 John 4:19 ESV

Keep moving forward,

Hayley W

Give Yourself Some Grace

Hayley T Williams
For grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:8-10

Grace is one word I have come to appreciate, but I honestly cannot fathom the depth of it. To have the grace of God is to have his unmerited favor and love. His grace is freely given and we did nothing to deserve it. I don’t know about you but I need his grace daily. Like just pour it all over me from head to toe! I can’t go a single day without messing up. I could list all the ways I fall short, but I will spare you some time because it could be a very long list. He continues to love me despite my failures and because of his love for us we need to learn to show grace to ourselves. After all we can be our biggest critics.

We all have those bad days where we just can’t seem to get anything right. Usually, it turns into a mental battle against ourselves. What is wrong with me? Why can’t I be like so and so? Why am I so stupid? I mess everything up. Blah, blah, blah. I hope you realize that when you criticize yourself, you are also criticizing your Creator. After all, he made you. Yes, we all have flaws. God knows that. We will make mistakes. God is aware of this as well. We all have things we wish we could change but it’s not healthy to continue with the negative self-talk. It can be audible or internal, either way it does damage and the longer you speak it to yourself the more you start to believe it. You must realize that our enemy loves this act of self- condemnation. He is the one who put it in your mind in the first place. He wants you to doubt your purpose in Christ. He wants you to think that you are worthless and not enough. He wants you to think that you have made too many mistakes to be usable by God. These are nothing but straight up lies!! Think of what God has done for you. Your value and worth meant enough to Jesus that he gave his own life for it so that you may have a chance of redemption and eternal life with him. He loves you not just with words but with his actions.

When you have a terrible day, or you have made a mess of things it doesn’t mean you are a bad person. A bad day doesn’t equate to a bad week or a bad life. (Read those first two sentences again if needed) It is just a bad moment or two. Get up, dust yourself off and give yourself grace and carry on with God’s help. Ask him to remind you of his truth. Quite often I pray for encouragement not only for myself but my family too. We need it daily especially in the days we are living in. Everything on any type of media source seems to be so negative and distracting. If you don’t think it is harmful to your mindset, think again. It is necessary to take a break from TV and your phone from time to time. It helps de-clutter our minds from all the information we take in. It really does cloud our thinking. I promise you if you step back and take a break your mindset will gain some clarity and peace.

“Give yourself grace” has become a phrase I use often with my kids. I know too well what it feels like to beat yourself up daily for your shortcomings. It isn’t worth it. It gains nothing. All it does is make the heap of lies you’re carrying around about yourself get heavier. Jesus came to set us free from these thoughts that chain us down, things that imprison us and keep us from being who he created us to be. Do not let the negative thoughts consume you. Do not let the hard days win. Keep on keeping on. If you are breathing then you have a purpose and your life has meaning. Do not let your enemy defeat you with his deceitful whispers. Remind him and yourself of who you belong to and claim the win. Christ is the victor. The battle has been won. Own it and stand on it. Jesus didn’t die on that cross so you would be shackled down by lies. He came to break those chains and set you free. His mercies and grace are new every morning to give you a fresh start. Grab hold of it. Soak it in and rise back up knowing that God is for you and with you.

Keep moving forward,

Hayley W

It Matters Where You Are Planted

Hayley T Williams
Photo by Alejandro Barru00f3n on Pexels.com

Ah, spring has arrived. The season of rebirth and renewal. The anticipation of new things to come. The excitement arises as the appearance of some of God’s prettiest creations awaken from a nice, long winter sleep. In my opinion, this spring has been so beautiful in the display of new colors popping up each week in nature. Y’all know that fall has always been my favorite season, but I will tell you that this spring has captured my attention and my heart. The reds, oranges, pinks, purples, whites, and yellows have been stunning. Then the green comes on scene when all the leaves start to open up and wave amongst the wind. There were times as though I had felt I had walked inside a Bob Ross painting with the dabs of color here and there. God really has given us so much beauty around, I sure hope I always take time to notice and appreciate it.

For some of us, with the spring season here, comes the task of preparing for the planting season. Maybe it is flowers or veggies you prefer to grow. Perhaps you have a couple of pots, or an acre or two, or even a hundred acres you tend to. To be successful one must pay attention to the needs and requirements of the seeds they are planting. What is helpful to them as well as what is harmful. You also want to pay attention to the dirt you are putting the seeds into as well as how much sunlight and precipitation they will get. Certain environments are better suited for specific plants. It takes intentional preparation to grow plants, but even with all the planning you may put into it, sometimes it just doesn’t go as you hoped. There will be circumstances out of our control, for example the weather or uninvited pests. Why we cannot prevent those things from happening, we can choose the environment in which is best suited for the plants to thrive to give them the best chance.

With the thoughts of the current season, my mind has also reflected on how important it is where we plant ourselves. Are we currently planted in conditions favorable for us to thrive in what God has planned for us? Being planted can refer to several things: your home, relationships, workplace, and church are just to name a few. I also think of the influences we allow into our lives: the music we listen to, the books we read, the shows or videos we watch, the people we hang with. These choices matter. They have a greater impact on our lives, probably more so than we realize . They shape our attitudes, perspectives, moods, our faith or lack of, and our relationships. What decisions are you making that are lacking in preparation? Did you end up where you are based on the desires of your flesh? Did you seek God’s counsel in the relationship or job you are currently in? Do you seek out positive, uplifting media to listen to, watch, or engage in? Do not dismiss the effect these factors have on your daily walk. You may think they are trivial, but they can add or subtract to the joy, peace, and productivity of our lives.

We have a God who loves us. He sees us. What we do matters to him. Where we plant ourselves matters to him. It will affect our ability to fulfill our God given purpose while here on this earth. I want to be effective for the Lord. He has proven his faithfulness to me time and time again. He gave his life for me and for you. We do not have to get cleaned up for him to be able to use us. He says to come as you are. He loves to use things that are broken so that his glory can shine through all the cracks. So my question to you would be, where are you planted today? Can you make some improvements so that you can better serve him? Serving God will add a joy to your life that is unspeakable. Plant yourself in his love for you. Plant yourself in his word and find a church you can grow in. There is no greater life to live than to live for the Lord. You have life because of him.

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, Nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; And in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; His leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. Psalm 1:1-3

Keep moving forward,

Hayley W

He Did It Anyway

Hayley T Williams 
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.  John 3:16

He knew he would be rejected. He knew he would have enemies. He knew he would be mocked. He knew he would be beaten and crucified, but he did it anyway. Jesus died my death on the cross. He died your death on the cross. No one is excluded from the greatest sacrifice ever given. His blood was shed for ALL. He didn’t deserve it, but he did it anyway. He knew the pain and suffering that would come, but he did it anyway. I have turned my back on him at times, but he did it anyway. I have gotten angry at him, but he did it anyway. I have mocked him, but he did it anyway. I have not been faithful to him, but he did it anyway. I have failed him countless times, but yet he did it anyway. My mind has trouble comprehending a love so great and deep. As I think about this Easter, God’s love and faithfulness just leave me with few words that can explain how I feel. I am not worthy of a love such as his, but yet it is still offered to me. He had a choice, and he chose to do it anyway. To give us all a chance of redemption and eternal life with him.

We all have a longing to be a part of something or some group. We work hard to fit in and be accepted. Sometimes we even change who we are just to be accepted to a certain crowd. While those people may be holding their arms out to keep you away, Jesus is standing with arms wide open to bring you into his family. If you want to belong, belong to Jesus. He created you. He chose you just as you are. He loves you so much that he paid the price for your sins on that cross.

Talk to him in prayer. It don’t have to be complicated. You don’t have to utter specific words, just speak from the heart. He will guide you, forgive you, and give you peace like no other. I pray that as Easter is approaching, that you will find God in your heart. I pray you can truly celebrate our risen Savior and what he did for you. It is easy for us to forget, but may we remember the depths he went to for you and me. Our lives were never meant to be our own. They were paid for by the blood of Jesus. We are to share the gospel and let his light shine through us. Live in a way that others see Jesus in us. Not just in words, but in actions too. It is up to you on what you do with the greatest gift ever given.

You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13

Keep moving forward,
Hayley W

When A Chapter Closes

Hayley T Williams
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

We all have a beginning and we will have an ending to our stories. In between those two points will be many chapters that will play out. I think one of the struggles of this life are when transitions take place and we try to discern how to properly let go of the past and move forward into the next step of our journey. Things like guilt, shame, anger, bitterness, and hurt can tether us to our past chapters not letting us move forward to brighter days. Most of our stories will include a constant ebb and flow of periods of change. When I think of change, it makes me always reflect on the seasons we have each year. Some more pleasant than others, but each serves a purpose. In our lives, we will have seasons of prosperity and productivity, and seasons of heartache and disappointment. Seasons occur in our marriages, our friendships, our jobs, our parenting, and even our spiritual walk.

Let’s face it, we all like comfort and familiarity. There are seasons that make us feel protected but sometimes we settle in those moments for the sake of security and it really becomes a prison holding us back from our next chapter. A clean slate. A new beginning. The comeback. Our true potential. We were made for more than to sit stuck in our comfy zones because that is where we feel safe.

In those periods when things are smooth sailing, smiles are a blazing, we just want to hold on to that moment and freeze that time of bliss but as we all know change is a constant in our lives. However, God does not change. He remains faithful and consistent, standing firm on his promises no matter the season or chapter we are currently in.

I find it important to remember who has the pen and who is writing each of our stories. We can take the pen and try our best to write how we want to play our lives out, but God knows the beginning from the end. He sees the whole picture, he knows what is best. We have to lean in and surrender troubles, disappointments, fears, and hurts over to him completely so that we can move on to greater things. He doesn’t want us being stuck in a season where his light within us gets overshadowed by our shortcomings. I believe he has good things for us ahead, but we have to be willing to turn the next page which mean letting go of the previous page.

Our choices and actions will affect the words written in our stories. Everything we do has a ripple effect out within our circle of influence. We must choose wisely which is a very challenging thing to do at times. We cannot always base our actions on our emotions as our feelings can be deceitful. I have been guilty of this, have you? Our feelings can cloud our judgement and have strong pull on our thoughts but just because we feel that way, it doesn’t mean it is necessarily true. We react on how we feel versus the truth of the situation. May God help open our eyes and hearts to the truth. His truth.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3:5,6 ESV

Keep moving forward,

Hayley W

I Have Hit the Big 5-0 !

Hayley T Williams
Photo by Cup of Couple on Pexels.com

Some of you read my title and no doubt was thinking what??? Even though I am a few years from hitting the big 5-0 with my time here on this earth, that is not what I am referring to in this post, but I did get your attention! I have published my 50th post on my website. Some of you may be thinking, “Whoop-de-do, what is the big deal?”

Well, if you only knew how many times I wanted to quit and give up on it. I mean I literally debated for days this past month just deleting my website and being done. I have enough to worry with and try to take care, so having one thing taken off that list would be great, right? Here is the thing though, I just cannot quit on God. I’ve seen him do so many miracles in my life. I have seen him make a way when I thought it was impossible. I have seen him create beauty from what was a pile of ashes. I started this blog in February 2021, and I have wrestled with it more than I have been obedient to it. Writing is hard y’all. It takes being vulnerable and a lot of self examination. The time and discipline it requires can be overwhelming and I fall so very short. I tend to be quite selfish with my free time and can think of 10 other things I can go do just so I have an excuse not to sit down and write. I just couldn’t give it up though, not when I was one post away from 50. While I had this mental debate going on in my head, my yearly subscription came due and it was paid, so I guess you people will have to put up with me for another year if the Lord sees fit. If it wasn’t for him giving me the words to write, it would just be a bunch of gibberish anyway.

Can I just encourage you today and say if you are on the verge of quitting in an area that God has called you to keep moving forward in, please do not give up! He has not quit on you. He has not quit on me. He knows our faults and failures, but yet he still loves us. He still wants to use us. As long as we live and breathe we are called to be his vessels to show this dark world his light and share with them the hope and love of Jesus.

Yes it gets hard. Yes it gets heavy. Yes it gets messy. There will be times you may feel alone, but remember he is with you. You do the work he has put on your heart and leave the results up to him. He is worth our time, our love, and our obedience . If we let him work through us, our lives can become so much more fulfilling and purposeful. If he has called you to do something that makes fear rise up inside of you, do it anyway. Do it scared. He will equip you with what you will need.

To my readers and those who encourage me to keep on keeping on, I thank you!

Keep moving forward,

Hayley W

Word for 2024: Thankful

Hayley T Williams
Photo by Magda Ehlers on Pexels.com
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

My goodness, here we are finished with the first month of 2024. Needless to say, I am running a little behind on posting this. This month has just disappeared it seems within a few days of us celebrating the new year. To others it may seem like it has been the longest month ever. I do find the months of January, February, and March to be some of the most challenging when it comes to mental health. I don’t know about where you live, but here, the holidays come to a close in December, so we greet January already somewhat exhausted. The next couple of months the weather seems to lean more on the gloomy side with dark, gray skies. Temps here are cold so I spend more time indoors than I prefer. I don’t know if anyone else struggles with the lack of sunshine, but it is a real challenge of mine. My mood starts to mimic the sky. It seems like negativity just looms like the gray clouds. I crave sunshine. I need it.

Awhile back we had a few days of intense rainfall and there was one day when it was suppose to come to a stop and I actually included in my morning prayer to be able see the sunshine that day. I didn’t care if it was only for a minute, I just needed to see it. It may sound silly, but my prayer was answered that day. I was pulling into my work and the sun’s rays came beaming through the clouds. I stopped my car and got out to snap a picture. It sure did put a smile on my face and I was so THANKFUL! It is amazing how seeing and feeling the sun can just be a big energy boost physically and mentally. At my work, I am blessed to have several big windows out in front of where I spend most of my time. There are days, when I see the sun peeking out of the clouds, that I will go and just stand by those windows with my eyes closed soaking up all that I can. I chuckle when I do this because it makes me feel like a potted plant just basking in the sun.

The past few years I have chosen to pray and think about a word to focus on for the current year. Do you participate in this as well? Here are some of my previous words I have felt impressed on my heart: Perseverance, Surrender, Hope, and for 2024 I chose Thankful.

As many of you know, four days into this year my dad was scheduled for open heart surgery. We had so many lifting prayers up on his behalf and for the surgeon and nurses too. I can gladly report that his surgery went great! No complications. He spent a week in the hospital and the nurses who took care of him were amazing and kept bragging on how well he was doing. We are 3-4 weeks out now in recovery and overall things have been smooth. I give God the glory for all of it. That is actually how the word thankful came upon my mind for this year. I was sitting in the ICU waiting room just pondering different things and it was like boom – THANKFUL, that is where your focus needs to be. This is an area in my life that I need to improve on. I can sometimes get into the mindset of complaining about this or grumbling about that, and guess what? It gets me absolutely no where. That kind of attitude will only leave you stuck in your negative thoughts.

As I was sitting in that waiting room, I wondered the impact it would have on my life if I could truly focus on being more thankful and showing gratitude for ALL things in my life. Every day. Not just when it is smooth sailing either, but when the seas get rough and bumpy. That may sound easy to you, but I know it will be no easy feat to accomplish. Life gets in the way. It seems like we have way more distractions now than ever. I know it will take being intentional in directing my thoughts and that can be challenging on most days. Some days I feel pulled in so many directions that I just don’t know my east from my west. I feel like I am running around in circles, getting no where. There are times when my heart is so heavy with burdens for my loved ones that I just don’t know what to do next so I just pray. But I know that sometimes my prayers match my thoughts and they are like a bunch of scribbling lines making no sense. Have you ever felt that way? What do you do? For me, I just keep moving forward the best I can. Little steps. Reminding myself what God has promised in his word to those who choose to believe on him. He loves us. He is for us. He has done so much more for us than our little minds can comprehend. He is faithful even when I am not. That is what makes it that more special to me. I have given him a million reasons to not love me, but yet he does and he continues to show me that. And so, I am THANKFUL.

Take a moment and think of a ladder. Now at the bottom of that ladder is a place of disappointment, worry, fear, and despair. At the top of the ladder is a place of joy, peace, and contentment. The steps of the ladder are gratitude, thankfulness, grace, and praise. To get from the bottom to the top, be intentional on practicing these steps in your daily walk. It may surprise you how much it can help your mindset. Of course it is easy to say this, harder to actually put it into action.

I would love to hear what word you have chosen for 2024.

Keep moving forward,

Hayley W