Tag: God

The Life I Live

That Church Feeling: If You Know, You Know

I didn’t go to church last Sunday or this morning. You’re like oh, hello, you haven’t written in like a year!? (Sorry and hi, again!)

Anyhow..haha.. I scheduled a grocery pickup about 15 minutes after it started last weekend. What the devil LOL

That church feeling though. Do you know what I’m talking about? When you walk in, you’re suddenly filled with love that bursts at the seams. Literally for me…mine comes out of my eyes haha. I don’t cry at every service..well it’s not always sad tears at least and they don’t always fall out of my eyes. 

So anyhow, I’ve been reflecting on pastor’s message from that weekend prior, and it was definitely good enough for weeks worth of thinking on it.

Pray peace over it, he said. 

Or you know, that’s my short and sweet version of his sermon:) But my friend Jess and I went to church together that day and she said that it really resonated with her, too, and that she was putting it into practice throughout the week as well. 

I pray peace over my thoughts. WOW. That’s good, right? Who doesn’t need more peaceful thoughts?

I pray peace over my sweet Daddy, my day and my relationship. 

I pray peace over my brother’s death. Whew… heavy. Still so very heavy. Typing in this moment even gets me, my heart in my throat, eyes welling up. So raw and so very real. 

But sometimes when I pray peace over it, it does.. something. I can’t explain that something, I don’t have the words yet.

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. 

Even if you’re not there yet, keep praying peace over your situation, no matter what it is. You might choke/cry through it, it hurts that much sometimes. But keep saying it, keep doing it, and keep fighting for it. Pray peace over your life and pray peace into your life. 

Matthew 21:22 If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.

Continue to pray for peace and believe that you will have it. If you are reading this today, please allow me pray for you:

Dear God,

I pray peace over my reader, that they hear Your message and begin to pray peace over their situations. I pray that they walk through their day with a heart full of Your word, believing they are worthy of Your peace and love. I pray that they lean on You and lean into You. Please lead them and remind them of Your peace.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

About

Iwantwellness.co, Soon-to-be, ledtoshare.com

So here we are, 2021 and I feel like I haven’t written a blog in years. Lucky for you, it hasn’t been that long. Lucky for me, y’all are still here. (Thanks!)

So first things first, the name change. I’ve realized that as much as I don’t want to get rid of iwantwellness.co and everything that comes with it, that I do want to change it all, at least to a point.

Yes, I still want wellness. Always.

But I want to share what’s on my heart, more. You will still see food posts as I cannot resist. You will see lots of God, my favorite verses and songs, books of faith, and anything else I feel ledtoshare. See where I’m going with this?

You will still hear my stories, and struggles. I’ve bared my soul more than once on this blog and I will only continue to.

When I share the deep and dirty, it allows others to relate. If this isn’t connection in the world, (especially as we know it right now,) I don’t know what is. I chose to be publicly vulnerable and not because it’s easy (and sometimes it’s not fun either) but if I help one person, it’s worth it to me.

If I remind one person that God is always with them and it helps them through that minute, hour or day, it’s worth it. If I share my (new to me) workout struggles and it gets one person to relate and inspires them to get back into activity, it’s worth it.

If I write something and no one reads it, no one comments or posts, it’s still worth it to me.

Because I am ledtoshare. I pray that God blesses ledtoshare.com to whatever He inspired me to do it for. If nothing more than to share His word, His love, and my delicious food, then so be it=)

I’ve missed y’all and I’m glad to be back. (I know, back again HA.) Have a blessed Monday and expect to hear from me soon, and a lot more frequently.

XOXO, Emily

Real Life The Life I Live

2019: The Year That Should Have Broke Me

I just refused to let it.
I thought this would be my best year yet.
I started out 2019 traveling the US with my husband, a dream we had made a reality. When our marriage fell apart in early March, I shared about my separation and pending divorce. And as if that weren’t heart-wrenching enough for one year..
I didn’t share that my younger, older brother, was released from prison for maybe the fifth time..? I’ve honestly lost count. (And well hoping for the best, I prayed not to have to live through the worst, again.)
I didn’t share that I had a friendship-ending falling out with my “forever” best friend of 20 years in April.
Or that my step-dad was diagnosed with cancer just before Father’s day.
Or they my mom was diagnosed with cancer in August.
These things shattered my world, one by one, seemingly again and again.
So I did what I do, and I cried. I cried the tears and I felt the feels.
Then, I pulled myself together, and found strength through it all.
I cannot say the whole year was a bust. That brother I talked about is the strongest, most resilient version of himself that I have ever known, and we are closer than ever.
And that friendship I lost in April was superseded by meeting, online and then in person, the most faith-filled, beautiful inside and out, loving and caring girl that I have ever met in my entire life the month before that, and I joyously call her best friend.

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My parents are still not 100%, but are both cancer-free, praise God!
And while I don’t know where I want to live or what I want to do with my life entirely, I completed training for my new career in September and have been a flight attendant ever since, a job that I love even more than I thought I would.
In 2019, I kept select people close and I kept God closer. I put my life 100% into His hands, like never before.
I was scared and felt lost, had no idea where to live, what to do, how to feel..or how to do it all earlier this year. So I let go, and I let God.
This isn’t some miraculous turn around story and I can honestly say I’m SO happy this year is almost over.
I can also say that my work life is pretty fantastic but the rest of my life is still messy, and it still hurts.
My parents are on the mend, and I’m beyond thankful for that. My ex BFF and I have completely severed ties but I know that the people I do have in my corner are my people, my family, and my heart. I’m so blessed to have them.
And no matter what, I choose happy everyday. I choose laughing and making new IMG_20191128_130023memories to crying and replaying old ones. I choose joy and excited anticipation for the future.
I know next year won’t be perfect, and I have no false hope about creating a life without ups and downs. But at the end of this year, I find myself with a new sense of calm, a reclaimed joy, and the ability to fully-focus on the good, beautiful, and abundant blessings around me.
I didn’t write this as a pity post, or to brag on how I came out on the other side but yet to share this very real and very raw side of me as this year comes to a close. We all struggle, and we all go through hard things, whether we talk about them, or not.
If you want to share or talk through anything, please reach out to me. I will be more than happy to listen, and show you love, to pray, and be an ear for you to talk to.
And please, give yourself to God, so that He can guide you. I promise you, you can get through the hard stuff. Always believe and stay full of faith, and happy almost 2020 friends=)
Scripture Sunday The Life I Live

Scripture Sunday: Calling All Prayer Requests

Hi Friends, and Happy Sunday. Today I want to allow you to give me your prayer requests so that I can pray for you!

In fact, this is something I want to ask for more because, let’s be honest, we all have things we need to pray about. And how GREAT does it feel when people rally around us or pray with us and FOR us?

God loves to see us loving on each other. He wants us to care for everyone equally.god-1772560__340

Love your neighbor as yourself. Matthew 22:39

This means to care for, reach out, and pray for them, too. So, without further ado, what can I pray about for you? Send an email to emily.rokke@gmail.com or reply in the comments!

If you’re reading this, I want to pray for you.

Dear God, Never let us forget to love and pray for others! You take care of us, so we are able to put ourselves aside, and care for others. We know that You want us to love, pray for, and treat others as we would treat ourselves. Always remind us to put others first and to come to You with everything. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Scripture Sunday The Life I Live

Scripture Sunday: Be Thankful Out Loud and Intentionally

Last week Sunday I went to a church that was recommended to my by the AirBnb hosts I am staying with. I loved it, as I knew I would, and it was such a great message.

The service after Thanksgiving and leading into Christmas pointed out that gratitude is not something that is inherently known, but taught. As children, or now as parents, we are always reminding kids to say thank you, to show thankfulness, and to have gratitude.

Pastor talked of gratitude and that it is not always felt. Throughout life it must be practiced to be learned and truly felt. Do you practice gratitude? I love that it can be learned because that just means everyone has to potential for gratitude, and that it can be a part of your life, even if it isn’t in the present moment.

We were reminded to be thankful, in the good times, and the bad.

Give thanks in all things. 1 Thessalonians 5:18

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We were reminded that giving thanks invites God in and that we didn’t get where we are without Him.

Along with Him, who are the people who have held you up, during good times and bad? Who has been there for you, no matter the circumstance?

It is so easy and loving to thank the people in your life. It’s free and quick, too. So really, what is there stopping you from loving those in your life and thanking them?

And to wrap it up, he told us that we are our story and what we make of it.

I am constantly saying, “Speak life,” and I love that as a thought process. Speak the good, what you want to happen, and the positive you foresee for yourself and your future. There is negative all around you but you don’t have to focus on that, or let that be a part of your day.

You are your thoughts. If you change everything from “have to” to “get to,” how will that positively impact your day? How will that change your mood?

Being thankful in everything we have is something so many take for granted. Not everyone has a car to drive, fresh water to drink, a safe place to live, or a job to go to. Turn having to drive into getting to drive. Be thankful for the water bill you pay that ensures you have running water to use. Have a grateful heart for the house you get to clean and the bed you get to make. And you get to go to work, to a job that you worked hard for and chose. If you don’t like it, work hard, and choose something else. These are all things we get to do.

But in the meantime, be thankful for what you get, all that you are blessed with, and the people all around you. There is always something to be thankful for!

If you’re reading this, I want to pray for you:

Dear God, Thank You for everything You have done and everything You will do for us. We know we are not here because of what we ourselves did, but because of the grace and opportunities You have given to us. We thank You for the people in our lives. We praise You in the good and the bad. We will remember to be thankful today and everyday, and turn what we “have” to do, into what we “get” to do. In Jesus’ name, Amen

Scripture Sunday The Life I Live

Scripture Sunday: The Best Way To Spend Your December

I shared this meme on my Facebook page and I wanted to share it with you, too. What better way to spend part of your prayer time in December than to learn Jesus’ story before his birthday?

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I hope this inspires you to dig deeper into the Bible and more specifically, into Jesus’ life, this December.

Today is the first day of December, so it’s the perfect day to get started=) Happy Sunday and God Bless.

 

Scripture Sunday The Life I Live

Scripture Sunday: Calling All Prayer Requests

Hi Friends, and Happy Sunday. Today I want to allow you to give me your prayer requests so that I can pray for you!

In fact, this is something I want to ask for more because, let’s be honest, we all have things we need to pray about. And how GREAT does it feel when people rally around us and pray with us or FOR us?

God loves to see us loving on each other. He wants us to care for everyone equally.

Love your neighbor as yourself. Matthew 22:39

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This means to care for, reach out, and pray for them, too. So, without further ado, what can I pray about for you? Send an email to emily.rokke@gmail.com or reply in the comments!

If you’re reading this, I want to pray for you.

Dear God, Never let us forget to love and pray for others! You take care of us, so we are able to put ourselves aside, and care for others. We know that You want us to love, pray for, and treat others as we would treat ourselves. Always remind us to put others first and to come to You with everything. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Scripture Sunday The Life I Live

Scripture Sunday: Do You Podcast?

They’re people who love podcasts and people who don’t. I am the latter and in fact, I would rather tear my ears off than listen to someone talk at me.

But then there was this: Elevation Church podcasts with Pastor Steven Furtick.

And I was hooked. Not to the podcast life, but to this podcast specifically. To me, hearing him speak via podcast is like hearing him speak at church, and I cannot get enough.

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Elevation Church is based out of North Carolina but it’s broadcasted in a number of ways throughout the world. Steven Furtick is relatable, funny, and a loyal man of God. His sermons touch everyone who hears them and are just great.

Sometimes guest pastors come in, too, and while they’re no Steven Furtick, they’re also pretty phenomenal.

My friend told me about this church and the podcasts within the last couple months, but I really only started listening to them within the last couple of weeks. And guess what?

God is so good. He was like, “Oh yeah? You like this Steven Furtick guy? Well, good. I have put you in a place and time where he will be a part of a conference, where you can go and see him. Oh, and it’s free.” Thank you God, you are so good.

If you haven’t heard of him or checked it out, you should. It’s good stuff.

If you’re reading this, I want to pray for you.

Dear God, thank You for always showing us ways to come closer to You. We are so grateful to know we are always in the right place and time according to Your plan. How lucky are we that You take anyone, whether a pastor, friend, or stranger, to show us Your love. We thank You for all that you do. You are such an amazing God. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Scripture Sunday The Life I Live

Scripture Sunday: Take Today (And Every Sunday) To Rest

In a past bible study, our group talked about Sabbath and how important it is to take Sundays off. This is to be the day of God, rest, family, and friends.

But is that what we do? Do we take this day for God and our people? Or is it our only day off and so we squeeze everything into this day?

For most of us, we prepare for the next week on Sundays. We meal prep, schedule our life, and clean the house. We take kids to this sport, that sport, birthday parties, and play dates. We work and run errands.

Sunday has become the busiest day of the week and not the rest day that He wants for us.

Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy, as the Lord your God has commanded you. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your ox, your donkey or any of your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns, so that your male and female servants may rest, as you do.

Deuteronomy 5:12-14

I work a 4 days on/2 days off schedule, so work on Sundays is a part of my life.

But a couple of weeks ago, I really prayed on this. I asked God to show me a way to not work on Sundays, to rest, to have time for my people, and Him.

Ask and you shall receive. study-862994__340

Work was very slow for one of my working weekends, I literally did not have any work come into my bin. So that Sunday was freed up for what He wanted me to be doing, resting.

Last weekend was a scheduled weekend off for me, so more rest on Sunday. (And if you saw my Facebook/Instagram post, I completely unlpugged last Sunday, for the whole day. No phone. It was great.)

And now this Sunday is an editing holiday for me. What should have been my “Day 1” is now a day off.

Now, I’m not saying every Sunday I won’t work. And this last Sunday I did spend about 30 minutes at the end of my day thinking, and planning for the next week. But I also rested and stayed 100% present in the day.

I went to church. I cuddled kiddos. I spent time talking with my BFF. And you should find a way to do this, too.

So for this Easter Sunday, do what you can to slow down. Pray extra and rest. Praise God and go to church. After all, it’s Easter and you never know what miracles may come of it.

If you’re reading this, I want to pray for you.

Dear God, Thank You for Your word. All we have to do is read the bible to see all that You have for us. Thank You for giving us a day of rest and urging us to take it. Thank You for giving us a day for You, us, and our family and friends. We are so thankful for You! In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Happy Easter Sunday friends=)

Scripture Sunday The Life I Live

Scripture Sunday: Make God a To-Do List

I heard this recently and I just had to pass it on.

We all know that God wants us to have joy, be happy, and give love to others. What does God not want us to do? He doesn’t want us to worry, be sad, be negative, be anxious, cry, or really anything negative. So what do we do then?

Because this life is hard. Things break our hearts, cause us pain, and sometimes it feels like it will never end. But it will, and this is how to stop it right now. Give it to God.

Write God a to-do list. Tell Him all the things you want Him to do for you, so that you don’t have to. He wants us to come to Him. He wants us to give Him all the bad stuff, so we can hold on to the good stuff, and only the good stuff.

Make His to-do list, and be real with Him. Tell Him you want Him to have your sadness, you worry, and your hurt. If something is breaking your heart, put in on His to-do list. If something is making you anxious, add it to the list. If you want to change but your’re struggling, add that to the list, too.

We know that everything happens according to God’s plan. That we need to share Him and share love, and that ultimately that’s all He wants from us. But that doesn’t mean we aren’t human and that we won’t feel these feelings.

It’s ok, and He understands. But He also wants us to remember that we don’t have to shoulder it, not any of it. He wants us to give it to Him. He wants to take all of it so that we can stop and smell the roses, slow down, be happy, and enjoy this life.

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So, make Him a to-do list. Give him all of the bad stuff. And only keep the good stuff.

If you’re reading this, I want to pray for you.

Dear God, Thank you for allowing us to give You all the bad stuff. We are so thankful to give You a to-do list of the hard things that make us hurt. We want to always remember that we can come to You with anything, no matter what it is. And we want to live with love and happiness in our hearts, even if we’re feeling all the humans hurts of this life. God, you are so good. We praise You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.