Tag: prayer

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And that friendship I lost in April was superseded by meeting, online and then in person, the most faith-filled, beautiful inside and out, loving and caring girl that I have ever met in my entire life the month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: 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: When You Don’t Know What To Do, Pray

 

(Yes, it’s Monday, but better late than never!)

I love that about prayer, it’s not biased.

Whether you’re ecstatically happy or devastatingly upset, you can always pray.

And we have all been in those situations, the situations that made us glad, or sad, or somewhere in between, and we just didn’t know what to do.

And in those situations, the best thing to do is pray. sunset-1873050__340.jpg

Praise Him when you are happy, feeling lucky, and reminded how blessed you are. Cry it out if you have to and wait for calm and peace from Him, when the world around you is causing you anything but. (I read a meme this weekend that said our tears are prayers for when we cannot speak, and I LOVE that.)

Whatever it is and whatever you feel, know that it’s always a good time for prayer.

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

Dear God, Please remind us that anytime is a good time to come into prayer. We are so lucky to have You to come to, to help us get through anything, and everything tough in this world. We are so happy to praise You in the good times. We want to be reminded that You have a plan for us, and to pray always, no matter what the circumstances are. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Scripture Sunday The Life I Live

Scripture Sunday: Why Are You A Christian?

I’m a Christian because I want to be.pexels-photo-267559

I want to believe, and I have faith in God. I want a relationship with Him.

I am blessed and happy to know that there is already a completed and divine plan for my life.

I want to sit in peace and live with joy, everyday. I don’t want to spend my life worrying, stressed, and unable to see the beauty all around us.

That’s what’s available to us as Christians, believing in God, and having a relationship with Him. We get peace, contentment, joy, and everything amazing that He has created for us.

How lucky are we? How blessed are we?

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

Dear God, Thank you for giving us so many amazing reasons to be a Christian. Thank You for being our God and all of the promises You have made to us. We are so blessed to have you. We are so blessed to have all that you have created for us. Please remind us that everything is this life is of You and it is all meant to be. In Jesus’name, Amen.

Scripture Sunday The Life I Live

Scripture Saturday: Pray For Someone Else

This week, I have a challenge for you.

Pray. Pray hard. But pray for someone else. study-862994__340

I heard this challenge and I want to give it to you. Pray for someone else, for a whole week, and watch God work in their life.

Do it!

If you’re reading this, I want to pray for you. (See, I’m already doing it, HAHA)

Dear God, Thank You for all You do in our lives. Remind us to come into prayer for others. Show us what can happen when we pray for others. Remind us to keep our lives in Your hands and pray for others as hard as we would for ourselves. Remind us to act like Jesus and put others first. In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.

Scripture Sunday The Life I Live

Scripture Sunday: Ask God Where to Go

I don’t feel lost but I do wonder.

I wonder “where” I should be going. I also think about what I should be doing. I love to do lots of things, and I always have. But I think about if I should be doing more of one thing, and less of all of the things? Or if I’m doing what I “should” be.

Do you wonder about that?

For me, I love knowing that God has a plan for me.  I love knowing that even if I stray a bit, God will bring me back to where I should be. But I also get that feeling, that ‘déjà vu’ or instinctive knowing, that I am exactly where I’m supposed to be.

It’s Him telling me that I am where I should be and I’m doing it right. And I’m so thankful for each time I hear it.

I’m so thankful and grateful that there is a plan for my life and all I have to do is live it. I encourage you to talk to Him about it all and stay in peace that everything is as it should be.

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

Dear God, We thank You for having a plan for our lives. We are so thankful that we can come to You with our wonders, doubts, and questions about ourselves. We thank You for reminding us that we are on the right path. We are so lucky to live in the peace You provide to us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Scripture Sunday The Life I Live

Scripture Sunday: Give Away Your Negatives So You Can Live Out Your Positives

A bad minute doesn’t make a bad day. Spilling water on yourself doesn’t ruin the whole day. And one argument doesn’t make the whole day bad. I could go on and on.

But who finds themselves feeling like this? Or acting this out? One bad thing happens, and instead of moving on and letting it go, we harp on it, continue to feel bad about it, and we let that one thing literally ruin our whole day.

Our attitude is our choice and better than that, it doesn’t have to be! Give it all to God. All the mistakes, the negative, the fights, the misunderstandings, the troubles, the problems, the fears, and worries, and anxiousness. He wants us to give it all to Him.

He wants to shoulder all of it for us so that we can live in joy, peace, contentment, and love. How awesome is our God?

When I am afraid, I put my trust in You.  Psalm 56:3

Cast your burden on the Lord, and He will sustain you. Psalm 55:22

Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7

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

Dear God, Remind us to live each day with joy. Whether we are hurting or sad or happy or having a bad day, please remind us to come to You. Please remind us to give our cares and worries to You. Please talk to us so loudly that we cannot not hear You. Thank You for the Word and Your promises. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Scripture Sunday The Life I Live

Scripture Sunday: Stay in Peace

This is what God wants us to do. He wants us to be happy, at peace, full of joy, and enjoying this life. (And remember, we cannot hear Him if we aren’t at peace. We cannot hear Him if we are sad, dwelling on our problems or focusing on the negative.)

He doesn’t want us to worry, to hem and haw, to feel anxious, nervous, sad, mad, or anything negative. He wants us to give all these feelings, thoughts, and problems to Him.

God wants us to know that He has a plan for us. He wants us to know that He is taking care of us and that He will provide us anything we need.

We must remember that things happen in His time and according to His plan. We must hold onto faith and patience. We must go to Him with everything and stand firm.

The Lord will fight for you, you need only stand still. Exodus 14:14

I love this scripture because it reminds me that He is always fighting for me. All I need to do is love God, love people, and take care of a stranger like I would my best friend.

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

Dear God, Thank You for taking care of us. Thank You for taking on all of our burdens, sadnesses, hurts, and negatives so that we can be left with only the positives. Thank You for all Your promises and for loving us. We are so blessed to have You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

 

Scripture Sunday The Life I Live

Scripture Sunday: Let Him Give You The Words

I cannot say how many times (ok, prob only a few, usually I know what I want to say) I’ve sat down to write this segment and not knew what I wanted to write about. But then, just a short while later, and I found myself finished with the post I didn’t even know how to start.

This is because these posts are only coming through me as a vehicle because really, they are coming from Him. And literally, thank God for that! After all, He is our strength, our protector, and our Heavenly Father, why shouldn’t our words come from Him?

So today, I give you this, let Him give you the words. Follow His plan and if you need to, ask questions! I am always asking Him everything, all day long. From small to tall, I talk to Him about everything. And I encourage you to as well.

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

Dear God, Thank you for always giving us the words. Thank you for guiding us to Your will and always protecting us and advising us in this life. We are so blessed to have you to come to for questions, advice, and strength. Like it says in Philippians 4:13, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Whether it’s getting the words on the page, taking time to keep and maintain health in our lives, or by sharing You with the world, we are so blessed to have You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.