22. It was in the parking lot. I was lost. I couldn't find my car and it seemed impossible to find my white Honda. Or rather, it would have been… if I didn't have my partner with me. My husband, Travis, directed me on where I needed to go.
I thought about how God leads us. He will not leave us without answers or solutions to help us. He is the true Partner!
Hebrews 13:6: So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear."
Psalm 118:7: The Lord is on my side as my helper; I shall look in triumph.
Jeremiah 32:17: ‘Ah, Lord God! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you.
Psalm 22:19: You, Lord, do not be far from me.
You are my strength; come quickly to help me.
If you need prayer for anything, let me know. I would love to pray for you!
#11. Travis and I are "back" from our 21-day hiatus with the Lord, and it was truly a wonderful time of interceding for others while seeking the will of God for our lives.
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I became a Brand Ambassador five years ago. I started with 3 companies; I have since signed with 28. I now partner with some of the world's largest brands (Domestic and International). I recently made the difficult decision to release myself from one of the original companies that signed me back in 2020.
The truth was, that partnership was not working anymore, though I had been with this company for all those years. What worked then was not working in my favor now.
I had to have these deep conversations. I needed to be truthful about the situation. I needed to realize what was no longer fruitful... to cut it off, so that I can move on and progress forward.
Just a reminder today: There is nothing wrong if you need to uproot and replant.
If you need prayer for anything, let me know. I would love to pray for you!
#1. I often take peaceful walks at night, and I bring my trusty flashlight with me. Until… the light in my flashlight grew dim. I could hardly see!
I equate this to our spiritual walk. If we are not reading our Bible, spending time with the Lord and praying… our lights can grow dim.
And it can be confusing, frustrating and difficult to navigate our next steps in the dark.
God, I pray that we will not neglect the importance of time with you. I pray God that we will prioritize our relationship with you. Thank you, God, for drawing close to us as we draw close to you. I pray God that you will light up these dark areas, and we will be able to see clearly. We want the glow of Heaven - the beauty of the Almighty - to shine on us today. In the name of Jesus Christ!
If you need prayer for anything, let me know. I would love to pray for you.
#13. It's the contemporary version. The characters are all too familiar. I've seen those villains before. I can predict what's going to happen. It's a story I know all too well. And as great as the remake is… the original is always better.
When I think of the original stories... I think of the Bible. The David and Goliath type endings. The resurrection story lines. The romances. The drama. The redemption…. all started in this one book.
If I want to read something impactful and truly life changing, I dive into the wonders from the Word of God.
Hebrews 4:12: For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
2 Timothy 3:16-17: All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
If you need prayer for anything, let me know. I would love to pray for you!
#3. "When you feel yourself starting to lose courage, talk to yourself! Tell yourself that you have made it through difficulties in the past and you will make it again. Remind yourself of past victories. Make a list of your blessings and read them out loud anytime you feel yourself starting to sink emotionally."
- Joyce Meyer (Book: The Confident Woman)
This passage made me think about how often we forget God's blessings towards us. We need to remind ourselves how God got us through personal storms in the past and how we can overcome again by His help and grace. We need to rehearse past breakthroughs and how God answered our prayers and how miracles took place on our behalf.
God, I pray that we will remember your faithfulness, your goodness, your uncanny ability to come through at just the right time. I pray God that we will applaud the good works you have shown us. I pray God that we will humble ourselves, highly aware of the breakthroughs and victories from yesterday and that God will certainly be with us today.
If you need prayer for anything, let me know. I would love to pray for you.
25. My husband and I love watching the TV show, The Great British Bake Off.
And there's always that one baker who is freaking out… over everything! The time. The underbake. The over-bake. Too much color. The lack of color. It's too wet. It's too dry. (Trust me, if I was on that show - I would be emotional, too!)
But Travis is quick to make this statement: "That person is not going to make it."
To win, stay calm and focused. Remain steadfast and long-suffering. Because this is one day. This is one bake. This is one step. This is a marathon, not a sprint. Though I do my best, I stay resilient. I can't lose my nerve. Not now. I have plenty of track left to run!
Harry Vardon, British professional golfer, offered this piece of advice, "There are only two types of player - those who keep their nerves under control and win championships, and those who do not."
If you need prayer for anything, let me know. I would love to pray for you!
#6. I used to run Track and Field in Middle and High School.
In school, I was a sprinter. I ran the 4 × 400-meter relay. I can take life like this sometimes, thinking I need to quickly get to the finish line. Let's try my absolute hardest and faint at the end. I recall when I first started writing in my younger years and I had something to prove... and once that metaphorical gun went off in my mind, I was working hard and publishing oftentimes 2-3 books a year. I wanted to run my race with vigor and passion.
In school, the coach also allowed me to run a cross-country event. We basically started the race on one side of the woods and didn't finish until we exited on the other side. I loved the change of scenery and the change of pace. I didn't have to use up all my energy; quite the opposite, I needed to reserve my energy for the duration of the journey. Now, as a more mature writer, I have this mindset. I am enjoying the experience more. I am going slower but still progressing. I can relax a little, just do my best, and leave the results up to God.
Which race are you running?
If you need prayer for anything, let me know. I would love to pray for you.
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26. I love watching the TV show, The Great British Bake Off.
And I have learned a few things while watching the show. No, not about baking… but rather, about life.
I am someone who can pour everything into my work. And I can admittedly feel highly emotional when something doesn't work out as planned.
I am watching these bakers compete in this highly stressful environment, but they are laughing and smiling. They care just as deeply and work just as hard, but they also realize that there are more important things in life than a botched cake.
I need to remember not to take life - not to take work - not to take my assignments or my failures or my successes too seriously!
"Learn to separate your "who" from your "do." Making mistakes is something we do as human beings, but we are still God's children, and He has a good plan for our lives. He is long-suffering, plenteous in mercy and filled with loving kindness."
Book: The Confident Woman
By: Joyce Meyer
If you need prayer for anything, let me know. I would love to pray for you.
#10. I've been recognized in public... but probably not for the reasons you would think.
One young lady says to me, "I know who you are. You ate at First Watch. I was your server."
One young associate waves at me. "Hello Sunshine Rodgers!" as I walk into Culver's.
One waitress recognizes me. "I remember you. You ate at McAlister's all the time."
I am happy to know that I am *that girl* who eats at these great restaurants!
But, more seriously… more importantly, I want to be known as the girl who loves Jesus Christ. I want my name to be associated with light and love and empowerment and inspiration. I want people to know my faith and my beliefs. I want people to recognize the power of God from my life. I want people to stop and look up as I point to Heaven.
What do you want to be known for?
This is my last weekly blog post for a while. My husband and I are taking a 21-day hiatus with the Lord. During that time, we will intercede for people and seek His will for our lives. Let me know if you have any prayer requests and we’d love to pray for you!
#8. "Just look up. There is something better for you."
I said this to a cardinal eating in the dirt when there was a bowl of fresh seeds mere feet from her.
How many times have we done this? Settled for less when we could be enjoying the best? Let's embrace God's goodness. Let's receive His pleasant blessings. Strip away the old. He is bringing us into a newness. Look up and see the feast God has prepared!
Psalm 34:8: Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!
Psalm 135:3: Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good; sing to his name, for it is pleasant!
Deuteronomy 8:7: For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, flowing out in the valleys and hills…
If you need prayer for anything, let me know. I would love to pray for you.
Cannot Fast-forward. Nov. 5
I can sense it coming. The music gets louder. The character takes a wrongful turn. And I wrap my fingers around the remote, quickly pushing the fast-forward button, skipping through the parts of the movie I don't want to watch.
I wish there was a button for when I want to avoid certain times in my life. But alas, I have to move straight through the transitions, the stressful times, the uncertainties of life, and the hardships.
When this part of your journey is a little too emotional, cling to the Lord. He will help you get through it, get past it, and return you to the good parts of your story!
Isaiah 41:10: Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.
Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you.
I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.
Hebrews 4:16: Let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.
Philippians 4:13: For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.
2 Thessalonians 3:3: The Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one.
This is my last weekly blog post for a while. My husband and I are taking a 21-day hiatus with the Lord. During that time, we will intercede for people and seek His will for our lives. Let me know if you have any prayer requests. I'd love to pray for you!
#15. I was watching the Hallmark Channel Christmas movie #Xmas starring Clare Bowen and Brant Daugherty.
In one scene the main character, Jen, was anxious about how to manage things moving forward. Her sister motions her hands like, Poof! and responds quickly, "Problem for future us."
A few days later, I open a Dove chocolate and the text on the wrapper reads: "Sounds like a problem for Monday."
Telling this to present-day me: I do not need to have all the answers right now. I will not have everything figured out exactly and I am okay with that! I maintain the mindset of contentment, and I practice being in the moment. Tomorrow will take care of itself. Future me will have concerns. Monday will contain its own set of problems. And I do what I can today. This day is all I have. I will do my best right here right now without the pressures and stress of the future weighing me down.
If you need prayer for anything, let me know. I would love to pray for you!
#7. I stare at the ice cream pouring over, the candy decorations and the layers of chocolate. And I think to myself, "That's not a dessert. That's an Instagram post!"
And such novelties like the chocolate explosion dessert is just that... something gone viral. Here today, gone tomorrow. Boasting about yet another boyfriend. Bragging about a new job every single year... well, you can post about these experiences, but it's short-lived. The newness fades. And just as quickly as it is attained - it's now on to something else.
What I am looking for is not something new to post… or a trend to follow... but something real to live. I experience this when I applaud a couple who's been married for 50 years. I feel encouraged when someone retires from a career after lifelong loyalty to the same profession. The motto of my Church, Faith Assembly, is: Find Something Real. I would say the beauty of Christian fellowship and the faith of a Savior falls into the category of something that is lasting and genuine.
I don't want just another novelty, another fad, another thing trending. I relate to Jane Hayes in this scene from the movie: Austenland.
Mr. Henry Nobley: What do you want?
Jane Hayes: I want something real.
If you need prayer for anything, let me know. I would love to pray for you.
24. Travis and I are "back" from our 21-day hiatus with the Lord, and it was truly a wonderful time of interceding for others while seeking the will of God for our lives.
And I will admit to you... I like this actor. I admire this actress. But that doesn't mean the movie they star in is any good. I had high hopes. I anticipated a good story, but I was sadly let down. Maybe it was the acting. Maybe it was feeling underwhelmed. Either case, I can't always trust that my favorite actor guarantees my next favorite movie.
If I look upwards though, I realize that if Jesus Christ is the star, I will never be disappointed. I invite Him into the story of my life. I give Him the script of each day. I allow Him to have creative control. And when I am discouraged by the storylines of the secular, I turn to the greatest love story ever told and get reaffirmed and renewed. My joy and delight and inspiration come from on High.
If you need prayer for anything, let me know. I would love to pray for you.
#2. I am emotional looking at the empty shelves and store closures. What once held party supplies and cosmetics, and snack treats just show space and sale signs.
Walking through Big Lots and Party City, I hate to see a store I had shopped at so many times now at its last leg… its final days. It's hard to say good-bye.
All the more reason why I am happy I can cling to a God who is never failing, always stable, never going to shut His doors on me. I depend on the Almighty. He is my Rock.
Psalm 18:2: The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
Psalm 61:2: I call to You when my heart is faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
Proverbs 18:10: The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe.
If you need prayer for anything, let me know. I would love to pray for you.
18. Those pesky bugs were everywhere!
I had to cover up my food and cups with a napkin! I was so annoyed, and they bothered me so much! I took out the trash, cleaned any remaining dishes in the sink, took all the necessary steps to maintain a clean house and suddenly… the gnats disappeared.
It made me think of a Biblical truth.
If I take the necessary steps to clean up my life… if I focus on God's Word… and stand on God's promises... and discipline my spiritual walk… what is bothering me today will be gone tomorrow.
What I told myself just recently: I am not going to allow the demons of 2024 to follow me into 2025!
If you need prayer for anything, let me know. I would love to pray for you!
20. Are you sure about that? Nope!
The truth is, I will never be 100% sure about anything. As an Author, I have this thought process when I am submitting final pages to my editor: This may not be perfect. But if I fall into the trap of perfectionism, I will never progress, always critiquing, always scrutinizing and thus, living in fear.
I live by an 80/20 principle. If I feel 80% confident with my work, then I turn it in. Because truth is, there may be a comma misplaced, or a paragraph not indented. At the end of the day, it's okay! Life cannot and will not always be perfect.
The important thing is to just go for it! Start something new. Challenge yourself. Don't let fear or bondage or the struggle to be perfect keep you from trying your best and reaching personal success in new ways!
If you need prayer for anything, let me know. I would love to pray for you!
23. There is a scene in the movie Ice Princess that really resonated with me. Coach Tina is prepping Casey before she gets out on the ice for a Tournament. But Tina warns Casey not to be reactive to the other skaters.
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Tina: Put these (headphones) in.
Casey: Why?
Tina: (referring to the other skaters) lf they fall, you'll get cocky. If they bring the crowd to its feet, you'll feel pressure. No one else exists. It's not about her. This is about you. Go into the bubble. One more thing.
Casey: What?
Tina: Skate with your heart.
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I want to be someone who keeps my head down… who stays in my lane… who expresses creativity because it's my passion to do so. I don't want to compare myself with anyone else. I need to focus on my work, perfect my skills and become the best version of myself. I need to put on my metaphorical headphones, keep in my bubble and write from the heart.
If you need prayer for anything, let me know. I would love to pray for you.
27. I want to share today's devotional written by Billy Graham. If you need prayer for anything, let me know. I would love to pray for you!
I am he that liveth, and was dead; and behold, I am alive for evermore . . .
—Revelation 1:18
Certain laws of evidence hold in the establishment of any historic event. Documentation of the event in question must be made by reliable contemporary witnesses. There is more evidence that Jesus rose from the dead than there is that Julius Caesar ever lived, or that Alexander the Great died at the age of 33. It is strange that historians will accept thousands of facts for which they can produce only shreds of evidence. But in the face of the overwhelming evidence of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, they cast a skeptical eye and hold intellectual doubts. The trouble with many people is that they do not want to believe. They are so completely prejudiced that they cannot accept the glorious fact of the resurrection of Christ on Bible testimony alone.
Prayer for the day
Lord Jesus, I know You are alive—for You live in the hearts of all those who love You!
#12. My phone battery went out. I didn't even know I had used it, well... to the point where the battery was dead. It needed a charge and quick.
Similarly, we are used up. Our souls need to be plugged back into the True Source.
John 15: 1-2, 4: “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, so that it will be even more fruitful. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
v.5: “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."
God, we come to you today saying, "We need you. Our souls long for you! Renew us and restore us back to your fullness. Like a battery all charged up, let us feel energized and strong to face the day with you by our side."
If you need prayer for anything, let me know. I would love to pray for you.
#4. We left a bowl of seeds out for the cardinals and watched the birds discover the free treat with such delight! I told the cardinals, "It's for you. Eat up. It's all for you!"
There is a passage in my book, God the Father, Jesus the Big Brother, Holy Spirit the Best Friend where Beth Hall shares her testimony.
"Even though anyone else could feel some aggravation and an annoyance to live without a car, Beth keeps a good attitude. “I don’t feel like God is withholding good things from me.” Beth described a personal story where a father held on to a good gift until his child’s birthday. Beth has the perspective that God’s got “her future car” and that He’ll give it to her at the appropriate time, similar to the father in the scene.
Beth feels like she is using her time to experience God’s intimacy with her as His Heavenly daughter. “I am having all of my cares taken care of,” she says. She knows that her Heavenly Dad would give her anything she desired, if that’s what would make her happy. During the time of writing this, Beth saw her miracle happen and after three years, she is a happy owner of a new car."
We serve a good God, and He is celebrated for how He rains down free gifts and personalized blessings just for us!
If you need prayer for anything, let me know. I would love to pray for you.
19. I was reading through Solve the Mystery: 41 Puzzling Cases by A.C. Gordon. At first, I was confused. How could I possibly know who stole the purse from the locked safe? Until I realized… the answers are in the text! And I have to read the mystery with an insightful eye, pondering through what the suspects did or said or wore. I have to seek to find what I am looking for.
I can relate this to Bible reading. I need to seek out the text to receive the Truth. The answers are right there in black and white. If I am not sure how to solve the puzzle or personal mystery in my own life, the Bible shows me all I need to know - right there on the pages.
God, I pray that I will read your Word thoroughly and with understanding. I want to receive from you and hear what you have to say. Thank you, God, for making it clear and obvious on how to solve the confusions and personal entanglements in my own life. I thank you Lord for providing a text so rich with meaning and so full of answers! I pray this in the name of Jesus Christ!
If you need prayer for anything, let me know. I would love to pray for you!
#14. I can feel disappointed, but I cannot… live there. I may feel disappointed, but I am not allowing that outcome to change me into a negative person.
Joyce Meyer speaks more about this in her Christian nonfiction book, The Confident Woman:
"Fear is the dark room where all your negatives are developed, so why not look at the brighter side of life? Why not believe something good is going to happen to you? If you think you are protecting yourself from being disappointed by not expecting anything good, you are mistaken. You are living in disappointment if you are doing that. What is wrong with seeing the glass half full instead of half empty?"
"Recovering from pain or disappointment of any kind is not something that just happens to some people and not to others. It is a decision! You make a decision to let go and go on. You learn from your mistakes. You refuse to think about what you have lost, but instead you inventory what you have left and begin using it. Be a living example of a confident woman who always recovers from setbacks no matter how difficult or frequent they are. I will never quit, because God is on my side."
If you need prayer for anything, let me know. I would love to pray for you!
#16. There is a scene in the 2008 Disney movie,
The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian.
Susan: You always knew we'd be coming back here, didn't you?
Lucy: I hoped so.
Susan: I just got used to the idea of living in England.
Lucy: But you are happy to be here, aren't you?
Susan: While it lasts.
Did you know that in September of 2022, I had something seemingly bad and stressful happen to me. And in September of 2023, I had something seemingly bad and stressful happen to me again!
For a while there, I had a very real anxiety against the month of September! And I say the expression "seemingly bad" because it ended up being a good thing; I just didn't know it then.
I don't want to assume the worst. I don't want to be waiting for the other shoe to drop. I want to invite the Lord in. I want to treasure every day. I want to open my eyes to God's blessings and miracles and victories. I am happy to be here! And if this season ends… there is another more beautiful one next. Lord, help me to open my heart in praise as you take me from glory to glory!
#5. I want to share today's devotional written by Billy Graham. If you need prayer for anything, let me know. I would love to pray for you!
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"Those who still reject me are like the restless sea... There is no peace, says my God, for them!"
—Isaiah 57:20,21 (TLB)
"Faith has legs . . . I heard about a man some years ago who was rolling a wheelbarrow back and forth on a tightrope across Niagara River. Thousands of people were shouting him on. He put a 200-pound sack of dirt in the wheelbarrow and rolled it over, and then he rolled it back. He turned to the crowd and asked, “How many of you believe that I can roll a man across?” Everybody shouted! One man in the front row was very excited in his professed belief. The man pointed to this excited professor and said, “You’re next!” You couldn’t see that man for dust! He didn’t actually believe it. He thought he believed it—but he was not willing to get in the wheelbarrow. Just so with Christ. Many people say they believe in Him, they say they follow Him. But they never have stepped into the wheelbarrow. They actually never have committed and surrendered themselves wholly, 100 percent to Christ."
Prayer for the day:
Loving Lord Jesus, it was only when I surrendered everything to You that I knew the ultimate joy and peace that had always escaped me.
-From Day by Day with Billy Graham
21. We all know what it's like to wait on the Promises of God to manifest in our lives.
I have learned that if I focus on other things and remain busy, I won't become so impatient. I am someone who can feel insecure, frustrated, and discouraged if the answers to prayers don't happen right away.
So, I have to keep my attention outwardly focused, as to distract myself from being too inwardly focused on my worries and fears.
What do I do? I try not to make it about myself. I think of creative ways on how I can help and bless others. I pray for people. I interview and feature other authors and entrepreneurs on my website. I promote restaurants on my Food Blog. I read and review Bestselling books. I am involved in the purposes of God right here and right now.
And, more importantly, I use this time to draw closer to God, keeping an ear towards Heaven for any guidance and direction on my next steps.
If I need to wait, then I need to wait. And being impatient and tapping my foot and looking at my watch isn't going to help anything. I can get a lot done… while I am waiting.
If you need prayer for anything, let me know. I would love to pray for you.
Sunshine's Weekly Inspirational Blog Post!
#17. I want to share today's devotional written by Billy Graham. If you need prayer for anything, let me know. I would love to pray for you!
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Let the peace of God rule in your hearts ...
—Colossians 3:15
When we examine the problems that confront us in our world today, we find that every one of them resolves into a problem of “inner space,” a problem of the dark side of the human spirit. From thousands of letters we receive, it is evident that a large proportion of the population is facing deep personal problems. They vary from person to person, but they do exist, and they are all problems of “inner space.”
Yes, we are the people who have been conquering outer space but are in danger of losing the battle of the spirit. But there is a solution—for millions it has already been reached—and that solution is in Jesus Christ. He said, “My peace”—my liberty, my freedom—"I give unto you” (John 14:27).
Today if we will turn the searchlight of truth on the dark side of our human spirits and let Jesus Christ become the Master Control of our lives, a new day will dawn for us. Submit the “inner space” of your life to Him.
Prayer for the day
How often I hurt deep down inside me, Lord, but the knowledge of Your love and compassion brings me hope and peace.
#9. I was watching a baking show on TV. The bakers had six hours to make a showstopper! It could be a giant three-tiered cake or a bread masterpiece or a chocolate crazy explosion.
Whatever this dessert was, after all those hours of investing and stressing and creating, it takes just minutes to eat what took them so long to make.
I thought about how it takes me.... about nine months to a year to write and publish a book... and a reader can devour the text in mere hours.
Whatever you are doing with your time, your energy, your strength… you are going to have to love it! Whatever you are focusing on and creating - it's going to have to be worth it to you. You have to put your heart and soul into your project. It doesn't matter how long it takes or how much it requires to complete, know that it brings a smile to the one who gets to enjoy your personal showstopper.
If you need prayer for anything, let me know. I would love to pray for you.