Guys, this week is loaded! From Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday, scripture takes us on a roller coaster of events, emotions, and encouragement, knowing we’re imperfect humans who can relate all too well to the various people included in this world-changing story. (So this is my shameless plug to go watch The Chosen series once again.)

While I have tons of favorite stories within this ultimate story (hey there, torn veil!), Hebrews 12:1-2 always captures my attention. I’d love for you to worship with me, move in love, and make time to join this Holy Barre workout on YouTube linked above. And I encourage you to read this passage of scripture below out loud, pausing after each phrase because these two verses are rich and powerful, ya’ll!

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting Him, He endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now He is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.

Hebrews 12:1-2 NLT

Few things:

• ‘let us strip off every weight . . . ‘ – what is weighing you down? What sin, shame, and/or lie just seem super heavy right now? You aren’t meant to carry it. Again, that is not yours to carry as a child of God. Repent, release, and find restoration in Jesus. He didn’t die a tortuous death on the cross for you to fight your battles on your own.
• ‘let us run with endurance . . . ‘ – I’ll say it again and again: slow and steady wins the race. Our time on earth is not a sprint but a marathon. Some stretches are going to be way more challenging than others. But He is faithful, active, and with us. Take care of yourself, slow down, rest as needed, and keep moving forward in hope, peace, and joy beyond understanding.
• ‘keeping our eyes on Jesus . . . ‘ – Eyes up! Gaze heavenward! ‘Those who look to Him are radiant; their faces are not covered with shame.’ (Psalm 34:5). Seek Him first . . . it’s that simple.
• ‘Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.’ Seriously, Friends. Just let that phrase resonate. He’s a champion over death, and all this Holy Week stuff was our Father’s idea! Jesus initiated it all . . . to perfect (make whole) our faith.
• ‘Because of the joy awaiting Him, He endured the cross, disregarding its shame.’ – *sigh* *mic drop* *(something cool & trendy)* Yet in all honesty, I pray this statement stirs your soul. While we’ve all experienced joy, enduring, and shame, the power of this statement cannot be contained. Literally and figuratively. Even a tomb couldn’t contain Him. Yet His sacrifice was for JOY?! Even when He experienced shame, hurt, fear, and pain as a human?! He was still King! He is still King! It was for the joy of our salvation and FREEDOM in Him alone!
• ‘Now He is seated . . . ‘ Let’s live in all He died for. Let’s not let shame, insecurities, pain, arrogance, comparison, unforgiveness, denial, etc hinder our joy in Him. Call out to Him. Call out to His people. He still reigns in power and love! We still worship in spirit and truth!

Enjoy the rest of this week, Friends. He is doing something new. Strip off the weight of this world. Run with endurance. Discover His joy. Release and heal from the shame. Experience His forgiveness and freedom. And burn brighter together than ever before!

Candace Woolard led Holy Barre this morning in Edmond, OK, and I was so grateful to participate and ‘worship it out’ with the full room of beautiful souls. Her words and song playlist were exactly what my heart needed this morning, and I play they bless you as well . . .

Every new season is a new territory of parenting for us. I’ve had to think through God’s character in each, reminding myself of His abounding love and faithfulness.

And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness,“

Exodus 34:6 NIV

God is compassionate in the complexities of our child’s lives.

I am in awe when I reflect on His intimate involvement in the development and care of our children. Like how their brains works, how they grow, when they stray…. He is their Shepherd.

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me,is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.””

John 10:27-30 ESV

He’s got a plan. He’s still writing their stories. And NO ONE WILL SNATCH THEM OUT OF HIS HAND.

So ultimately, I pray that my kids will know their Shepherd’s voice. Not mine, but His. He’s got them. I will trust and not live in fear. 

I will remember God’s hands are bigger than mine!

”Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.“

Psalms 62:8 NIV

We’ve likely all heard the phrase ‘feelings are meant to be felt’ or its shorten version ‘feel the feelings.’ Though it seems basic and pretty straightforward, its truth is super powerful. Yet super challenging at the same time.

I’m beyond grateful that our gracious God has provided me some safe space to feel the feelings in this season, but I need to be honest in that I’m truly FEELING ALL the feelings! When we ignore feelings for a long time rather than ride their natural waves, we end up with a tsunami of emotions that is tough to contain. At least that’s how it’s been for me – just ask my husband. Ha! And feeling all the feelings (as well as not allowing yourself to feel the feelings) is exhausting!!!

Speaking of, go ahead and preorder Jess Connelly’s newest book, Tired of Being Tired. It’ll be available in about a month, and I got an early edition. I’ll share more about her book later on, but it’s a game changer, ladies! So many of us are tired of being tired – spiritually, physically, emotionally, and mentally.

Our feelings can show up in our bodies and can also be processed through our bodies. Grounding can help fear and anxiety. Cuddles provide safety as you process hurt. And I’ve recently learned getting big in our bodies helps process anger.

I don’t have a very healthy relationship with anger as I’ve always viewed it as a ‘bad emotion’ and have been hurt deeply by others’ anger and shame tied to it. Not to mention the silly checklist for ‘being a good Godly woman’ doesn’t include the freedom to get pissed. But anger is also super uncomfortable for me as I don’t know how to handle it in a healthy way. So I do the least healthy thing and stuff it down. Eeeek!

The irony is one of my favorite stories of Jesus is when He gets frustrated entering the temple courts and tosses tables in frustration and righteous anger. I’m predicting this scene will be included in season five of The Chosen, and I can’t wait. If you haven’t yet watch The Chosen, PLEASE do so ASAP. You can thank me later as it’ll deepen your relationship with Jesus for the better!

Upon entering Jerusalem, Jesus went directly into the temple area and drove away all the merchants who were buying and selling their goods. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the stands of those selling doves.  And he said to them, “My dwelling place will be known as a house of prayer, but you have made it into a hangout for thieves!” 

Matthew 21:12-13 TPT

I find it freeing to know Jesus had all the emotions too. Yet He handled them way better of course. This Bible story also fires me up as now that our bodies are His temple and dwelling place, the evil thief of this world tries to sell us lies and set up idols to clutter our souls. But that’s for another post . . .

My counselor shared this week how moving big in our bodies – spreading our arms and legs and moving in big gestures (like overturning tables) – is super valuable for processing anger. We must create space – physically, mentally, and emotionally – to get big and bold with ourselves. And truly process and heal.

His love broke open the way,

and he brought me into a beautiful, broad place. 

He rescued me—because his delight is in me! 

Psalm 18:19 TPT

Keep standing on truth as you create space and move. How beautiful that His love breaks open the way and provides the space. He is our Rescuer and delights in us! While feelings are important, we must stand firm on the Rock of our salvation.

“Stand firm with patient endurance and you will find your souls’ deliverance.” – Jesus

Luke 21:19 TPT

Getting outside is also an amazing and beautiful way to get big! Much of our activity outdoors brings endurance of many kinds. Walking is therapeutic and valuable to our heart, soul, strength, and mind. John Eldredge of Wild at Heart is a big advocate for the outdoors and meeting with Jesus. Revelation Wellness even has a Rev Wild Instructor track to take others beyond our confined spaces and places to worship, workout, and explore true wellness. Rev Well also provides awesome podcast episodes that are my constant companions on walks. Holy Barre workouts are designed to give you space to process and move your bodies in big ways of worship!

So whatever and however you’re feeling, let’s create space, get outside, and move big.

And if you’re in Central Oklahoma, mark your calendars for the morning of March 16 to do just that! (We’re planning for April 6 and May 11 as well!)

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Romans 12:1-2 NIV

I find it comforting when I sense the Lord revealing His love and truth to me in themes. He knows I’m a sucker for imagery, symbolism and connectedness. He’s so sweet and kind to speak to the uniqueness of our hearts and happenings, and I try to capture His loving guidance in writing for reference as we go.

The words of the prayer in this post are a combination of phrases from Alisa Keeton, John Eldridge, scripture. My own thoughts are mixed in and inspired by current studies, my husband’s latest love of candle-lit lanterns and the beautiful warm sunshine Oklahoma has received lately. Regardless the source, I firmly believe this is a Spirit-led message that not only stirs my soul but prayerfully yours! But we’ve got to lay a few things down at the altar first. 

It’s time we burn great amounts of spiritual calories because, in Scripture, fire is always involved when something is sacrificed or sanctified.

Alisa Keeton

The missions of Holy Barre & Deeper Wells, ‘burning brighter together’ and ‘worshipping in Spirit & in Truth in all we do’, are expressions of His love, His all consuming fire. The more we surrender, lay down, and let go of or ‘sacrifice’, the brighter our flame. The more consumed we are with Him, the less room we have for fear, anxiety, hurt and worries of the world. We all need hope and healing, which ultimately can only be found in His love and power. Worship reminds us of His love and power, stirs us with awe and wonder, and fills us with His Spirit and truth. Let the prayer further down in this post burn within as you breathe deeply.

Take some time now to reflect on this truth: If you want to become a wholehearted person, you must reach the point where happily, lovingly, you give absolutely everything over to God in order to have Him. You make Jesus your everything. Not only is this the fulfillment of your heart’s created destiny, it is the source of all recover and resilience.

John Eldredge

I’m personally experiencing the value of slowing down to fully process each thought and feeling and put them under His loving reign. This need for renewal does often come with pain, but His power and His presence are steady and ready for us! 

Let us pray . . .

Jesus, fill me with Your glory, Your beauty, Your love, Your power. I am Your temple. May I feel Your love for me abundantly today. I need You. I love You.

I need you, Jesus, to love the hell out of me because my flesh is exhausting me and I’m trying again and again. Blessed are the poor in Spirit. At times, I don’t have anything left.  I fall into Your lap and let You love me. Burn away the things I’m running from.  You are saying come to me, and I’ll never hunger or thirst!  I’ve got to heal!  Yet even how we heal is different from the world!  I am different in a holy, whole, and healthy way.  I come to You!  I worship – don’t work harder.  Just worship.  I’ve been saved by grace.

My body is for ability, not vanity. My body is to make You known!  I’m a living sacrifice. May my life reflect Your sacrifice. I desire to keep the altar burning . . . burning so brightly that others come to experience His consuming fire.

The world needs people who love God so much the fruit just falls off of them. Not people who look down on or judge others.  Help me speak life over myself and others and have compassion towards us all.

Truth’s shining light guides me in my choices and decisions; the revelation of your Word makes my pathway clear. Everything you speak to me is like joyous treasure, filling my life with gladness.

Psalm 119:105, 111 TPT

Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit – I pray that your Glory would fill my heart and soul, my mind and strength. May the River of Life flow into every barren place in my heart and soul. May your springs flow into every valley. Turn the desert places in me into Eden. Give me wisdom that comes from You. Fill me again with your Eden Glory.  May I burn bright with your glory!

And, Father, may your Eden Glory shield me from all desolations coming over my life. I renounce every agreement I might have made with Desolation. I pray your Glory would fill my life – restoring me, renewing me, giving me supernatural resilience, empowerment and protection. I also invoke your Glory over my life as a shield, over my household and domain.  

Those who are wise will shine radiantly as the sky at midday. And those who turn many to the way of righteousness will shine brightly as stars for all eternity.

Daniel 12:3 TPT

Come and fill my heart with Your Glory. Fill my heart with Your beauty, power, and love.   I trust You, Lord. I trust You with it all, everyone and everything. In the name of Lord Jesus Christ, ruler of heaven and earth. Thank you, Lord! Amen.

Beloved friends, what should be our proper response to God’s marvelous mercies? To surrender yourselves to God to be his sacred, living sacrifices. And live in holiness, experiencing all that delights his heart. For this becomes your genuine expression of worship. Stop imitating the ideals and opinions of the culture around you, but be inwardly transformed by the Holy Spirit through a total reformation of how you think. This will empower you to discern God’s will as you live a beautiful life, satisfying and perfect in his eyes.

Romans 12:1-2 TPT

This week’s update is written by Holy Barre Instructor Candace Woolard and begins with content from a previous post in January 2023. Enjoy!

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Galatians 5:22-23 ESV

Hope you all had a wonderful Valentine’s Day! As we continue to celebrate all kinds of love and move into the season of Lent, we pray HIS LOVE remains the most life-giving force in your life!

“The order in which the fruit are listed has purpose. Starting with love communicates the foundational truth that God is love. Jesus’s ministry, life, death, resurrection, etc. all center around His love.

There are different types of love.

We have what we call ‘friend love’ or ‘PHILOS’. Yes, this is how Philadelphia got its name as the ‘city of brotherly love’. You’ll see this kind of love when reading about the churches in Act 2 and in Galations 6:10 

Then there is ‘romantic love’ or ‘EROS’. This is a little deeper, more intimate love that can be expressed physically, mentally, and emotionally.

The best kind AGAPE love. This is the love of God. The 1 Corinthians 13 kind of love. It’s the love WE ARE INCAPABLE OF! Our action is to respond to this type of amazing love! We have a tough time believing in this agape love because God’s love surpasses knowledge and understanding (Eph 3:19). But just as love is a choice, we just chose to believe in love!”

The greatest love ever shown was demonstrated at the cross, as Jesus died with prayers of forgiveness on His lips.

He is our Savior, our Redeemer, our King. His love fulfills us, ensures us, and motivates us to serve. His love is our life’s pursuit, our goal and our reward. There is no greater love.

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Ephesians 3:16-19

Prayer
(taken from the Pause App’s 30 Days to Resilient)

Jesus, come into all of my emotions around the story of love in my life. Come into my ability to receive love, to believe your love for me. I need your healing presence in the function of love within me; come and unite yourself with me here, in the place of love. I ask you, Holy Spirit, for a revelation of the love of God for me.

I am known.
I am wanted.
I am chosen.
I am understood.
I am deeply and completely loved.

Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. . . And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. . . Our love for others is our grateful response to the love God first demonstrated to us.

I John 4:11-12,16,19 NIV

Pour out all your worries and stress upon Him and leave them there, for He always tenderly cares for you.

I Peter 5:7 TPT

In last week’s update, I mentioned allowing the Lord and others to take care of you. In light of Valentine’s Day and this ‘month of love’, let’s explore this further. I think we all could use a little more true TLC.

It’s easy for us to forget that Jesus came so we could live life to the fullest, in abundance and freedom! Our day-to-day tasks and the unexpected demands of the day can quickly steal our joy and sense of a full life. This is why we’re called to REMAIN in Him, not just stay close and reach out as needed. We need to REMAIN in Him, like a branch attached to the Vine.

John Eldridge in his 30 Days to Resilient program within the Pause App states our need for ‘union with God’. He goes further to present practicing the regular rhythm of ‘benevolent detachment’, which involves giving everyone and everything to Jesus throughout our day. Why? To create space for our soul to breathe, rest, and be taken care of.

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

Matthew 11:28-30 MSG

Regardless what season I’m in, this passage above always resonates with my soul. This world around us continues to battle for our lives, our rhythms, our company and our rest. But Jesus changes everything.

Let’s stop carrying the burdens of this world in our own strength. We can’t cling to bitterness or anxiety. Release resentment and release ourselves from others and their own burdens. Let’s acknowledge our feelings and hurts and give them to Him. Let’s remain in His love, His joy, and His peace, ‘pouring out all our worries and stress upon Him and leave them there, for He always tenderly cares for us’.

God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit are LOVE, and in this love, they can take better care of us than we can ask, think, or imagine. We must first give ourselves some tender loving care, and the best way we can care for ourselves is stepping into His love triangle. Then we get to take care of those around us, but we should only do so from a place of abundance, freely and lightly. We can admit that we only want to be cared for by someone doing so out of abundance and freedom, not judgment, negativity, or guilt. We CAN carry one another burdens in a healthy way but only because He is carrying us. Create some soul space today and rest in His truth, mercy, and grace.

I realize some of this sounds vague and is content you’ve likely heard before. I pray that you can personalize it with Him and experience His love for you today. Here are a few ideas:

• Song of Songs 2:10-15 TPT: I love this passage from Song of Songs in The Passion Translation, and I encourage you to make some soul space and slowly read through it as the Jesus, the Shepherd King, speaks directly to you.
• No One Ever Cared for Me Like Jesus by Steffany Gretzinger: Below the scripture is a link to a beautiful song as well. May you experience His tender loving care in a new way.
• The Wellness Revelation Bible Plan: Those beginning the Holy Barre Instructor Training program will begin this 40-Day YouVersion plan this Wednesday, Feb 7. We’d love for you to join us as we explore how we can truly take care of ourselves. Click HERE to join.
• Deeper Wells: For more opportunities and ways to discover deeper wells of His Living Water for our thirsty souls, visit the Deeper Wells website and follow up on Instagram: @deeperwellsok

The Shepherd-King

The one I love calls to me:

Arise,  my dearest. Hurry, my darling. 

Come away with me! 

I have come as you have asked

to draw you to my heart and lead you out.

For now is the time, my beautiful one.

The season has changed,

the bondage of your barren winter has ended,

and the season of hiding is over and gone.

The rains have soaked the earth 

and left it bright with blossoming flowers. 

The season for singing and pruning the vines has arrived. 

I hear the cooing of doves in our land, 

filling the air with songs to awaken you

and guide you forth.

Can you not discern this new day of destiny

breaking forth around you?

The early signs of my purposes and plans

are bursting forth. 

The budding vines of new life

are now blooming everywhere.

The fragrance of their flowers whispers,

“There is change in the air.”

Arise, my love, my beautiful companion,

and run with me to the higher place.

For now is the time to arise and come away with me.

For you are my dove, hidden in the split-open rock. 

It was I who took you and hid you up high

in the secret stairway of the sky.

Let me see your radiant face and hear your sweet voice. 

How beautiful your eyes of worship

and lovely your voice in prayer.

You must catch the troubling foxes,

those sly little foxes  that hinder our relationship.

For they raid our budding vineyard of love

to ruin what I’ve planted within you.

Will you catch them and remove them for me?

We will do it together.

Song of Songs 2:10-15 TPT

Joy, not grit, is the hallmark of holy obedience. We need to be light-hearted in what we do to avoid taking ourselves too seriously. It is a cheerful revolt against self and pride.

Richard Foster

As a barre instructor, I try to incorporate moving our hips side to side in every class. Why? To get us all to giggle a little. We naturally take ourselves too seriously, and a fitness class is no exception. I want to make you smile and laugh and actually have a little fun.

We spend lots of energy on our bodies – lunging, lifting, walking, measuring, evaluating – but do we ENJOY them? We spend lots of energy taking care of our families and home, but do we ENJOY time with them? We spend lots of energy working and serving, but do we ENJOY the fruits of our labor? Is it just me? Or do some of you take yourself (and how you spend your time and energy) too seriously as well?

My dear friend, Karlie Scharrer, is a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner and let me be a guinea pig for an assessment she offers as part of her services. By taking a hair clipping and submitting it for analysis, one can get a more accurate assessment of mineral and nutrient absorption and other health stats. My results were interestingly accurate as they not only gave me values and ratios of my body absorption and physical health, they also reported significant stress. While her complete follow up was comprehensive, detailed, and super valuable, with suggested next steps, one keep take away was my need to ‘rest and digest’.

Why is it tough for me to rest and digest? Because I take myself too seriously! Which in turn steals nutrients from my body! And steals joy and peace as well . . .

A thief comes to only steal and kill and destroy. I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance.

John 10:10

Have you taken time recently to reflect on the ‘abundant life’ the Lord desires for us? The life He gave His own life for? The joy and peace beyond understanding He freely gives? How He can and will do more than we ask, think or imagine? I don’t ask this to stir guilt but to stir up the freedom to ‘rest and digest’ and enjoy!

Because of You, I know the path of life, as I taste the fullness of joy in Your presence. At Your right side I experience divine pleasures forevermore!

Psalm 16:11 TPT

We tend to focus on taking care of all the people and things around us while neglecting to take care of ourselves. This also applies to experiencing, feeling, and healing. While I don’t want to get on a self-care soapbox as I don’t necessarily agree with all the world offers on this topic, I do want us to consider how we can let the Lord and others take care of us. To clarify, the Lord and others taking care of us is a both/and reality. The Lord takes care of us. Others take care of us. The Lord uses others to take care of us. Life is relational, and in a relationship, we ideally give AND receive. But do we let the Lord and others take care of us?

At church this past Sunday, the worship pastor made a statement about Mary and Martha. And while we’ve likely heard all kinds of teachings and interpretations about these two wonderful women, we women can often just find the story convicting. Yet I loved this pastor’s simple yet powerful statement:

‘If you don’t have Mary moments, you can’t be a Martha.’

Jason White

This is another both/and reality. Both Mary and Martha add value and are key players in this Biblical story. And we can’t just decide to be one or the other – life requires both. If we are like Martha and take ourselves too seriously, giving giving giving, we’ll end up running on fumes. But when we make time to sit at the feet of Jesus like Mary, receiving receiving receiving, we’ll gain the fuel we need to burn bright!

Yet even in our burning bright, we can take ourselves too seriously! Being a light is an overflow of what the Lord is doing in our own souls, not a result of our striving. When we let Him, He fills us abundantly and then some. We can’t help but bless others and burn bright when we allow His consuming fire to burn within us.

As we continue our focus on joy, I encourage you to identify ways you can add some fun and laughter into your day! Shake those hips side to side. Laugh at yourself being silly. Laugh at yourself making mistakes. Take some time to dance. Look up funny memes. Pause to rest and sit and just connect with your family. Play some board games. Take a long indulgent shower. Bake a yummy dessert and savor it. Make a fun playlist of happy music. Move in love AND joy!

When I saw this quote below on Instagram, it quickly got my attention and stuck with me. And true to my nature, I now want to share it with all of you. Keep trying in His care, don’t take yourself too seriously, move in love, and live in His abundance.

Can we get real for a bit?

Do you agree with what I share here on holybarre.org? 

Do you believe these scriptures and faith-filled statements to be true? 

Do you think what you’ve been taught truly reflects the heart and mission of Jesus? 

Do you consider it joy when you face trials? 

Is the joy of the Lord your strength? 

Do you trust Him? 

Do you believe He can do more than you ask, think, or imagine? 

Can you weather ANY storm if you have deep roots in His love? And are connected to the Vine?

Do you believe you can worship in Spirit and in Truth in all that we do? Do you believe He provides deep wells of Living Water so we thirst no more?

Do you believe we’re better together?

These are important questions. Ones that only you can answer. But you need to answer them honestly. (And you don’t have to answer ‘yes’ to every one.) Answering honestly based upon what you actually think and feel is better than answering any of these based upon how you think you should answer. Trust me – these are the exact questions I’ve been asking myself lately.

As someone who is known for staying steady, controlled and stable in many situations, I’ve been on quite a roller coaster of a storm over the past several months. And on this ride, I’ve been challenged to walk my talk. Do I really believe all I write and say about Him, His Word, His Love, and His Power? Can I answer yes to each question above? Do I even want to keep believing it all when faced with continuous storms? 

The Lord gives us the choice . . . To rely on deep roots in His love. To cling to, not just remain in, the Vine. To test the deep wells and see if they’re real. To get real with ourselves – our thoughts, our feelings, our doubts, our fears, our sensations, our hurt. To be honest and feel and name all the good, the bad, and the ugly. To let our guard down, settle into weakness, wrestle with doubt, and ultimately trust His Spirit within us while considering all the books, resources, and therapists recommend. But do we chose to do so?

Recently, I pressed pause on my search for knowledge and understanding and hit play on what was really going on within me. It wasn’t pretty, but it was real and raw and refreshing. And you know what, the Lord was there for it all! Active, near, and engaged. 

God, you’re such a safe and powerful place to find refuge! You’re a proven help in time of trouble— more than enough and always available whenever I need you. For the raging roar of stormy winds and crashing waves cannot erode our faith in you. God has a constantly flowing river whose sparkling streams bring joy and delight to his people. His river flows right through the city of God Most High, into his holy dwelling places.

Psalm 46:1, 3-4 TPT

My experience of His truth in this storm, rather than just reading about it in scripture, has brought more depth and power to the words of this psalm above. He IS safe and powerful and my refuge. He proves it time and time again. More than enough. Storms can’t erode my faith. He constantly brings joy and delight, even when it doesn’t make sense. Thanks to the Spirit, my body and being is His holy dwelling place. AND it’s also okay to doubt, fear, wonder, cry, breakdown, get real and keep moving forward with Him.

We’ve heard how the Lord wants ALL of us, including our heart, soul, strength, and mind, but He wants ALL of us because He desires for us to EXPERIENCE His love. We can keep our faith in a neat, little, scripture-based, quotable instagram-worthy box, or we can challenge and weather and endure and process and EXPERIENCE Him. And I’m afraid our richest experiences come from our greatest storms and pain.

When we EXPERIENCE Him, we are experiencing the Holy Spirit in us. I’m learning more and more about what it means to ’embody’. This therapy term serves as a powerful reminder that our body is intricately connected with every thought, feeling, and sensation (past, present, and future). Even more, I find it describes how the Spirit fills, guides, comforts, and connect with us. He dwells within us and makes us healthy, whole, and holy. It’s our beautiful design and the way our Creator wants us to experience Him!

So yes, I consider it joy when I face trials and when my faith is tested. (Clearly it’s the ‘joy beyond understanding’.) Yes, I’m so grateful for deep roots in His love and deep wells of Living Water. Yes, I am grateful my house is built upon the Rock. I’m armed and dangerous because of the Armor of God I chose to put on each day. The joy of the Lord is my strength, because His power is actually made perfect in my weakness. When I am weak, He is strong. I may endure rough storms and even get pruned in the spring, but I remain connected to the Vine and supported by a trellis of authentic community, powerful prayers, and real emotions. Personally experiencing the One seated on the throne as I am embodied by His Holy Spirit.

Then the one seated on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new.” He also said, “Write, because these words are faithful and true.” Then he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will freely give to the thirsty from the spring of the water of life.

Revelations 21:5-6 CSB

What about you? Do you believe what you read here or have you experienced it? Do you have doubts? Do you wonder if you can keep going? Are you scared? Are you anxious? Get real, process, journal, cry, name, and invite Him into it all . . . He’s near and eager and ready to personalize His love for you in a life-changing experience.

To EXPERIENCE His Spirit and Truth is WAY more powerful than just learning about it. Thank you for reading these posts and being a part of Holy Barre. I may have the opportunity to make your physical and mental muscles burn and even pull some heart strings through my written and spoken words, but ultimately, my prayer is you EXPERIENCE His all consuming fire for yourself so you burn brighter than you ever dreamed.

As seen in our class pic from yesterday, He’s doing a new thing through Holy Barre. He’s doing a new thing in my life. He’s always doing new things. May YOU experience each new thing fully. May we embody all He is and soak up His Living Water, which He freely and graciously gives. May we move in love and burn brighter together.

Here’s a link to a recent YouTube workout focused on storms, trials, and Revelations 21:5-6.

Through our faith, the mighty power of God constantly guards us until our full salvation is ready to be revealed in the last time. May the thought of this cause you to jump for JOY, even though lately you’ve had to put up with the grief of many trials. But these only reveal the sterling core of your faith, which is far more valuable than gold that perishes, for even gold is refined by fire. Your authentic faith will result in even more praise, glory, and honor when Jesus the Anointed One is revealed. You love Him passionately although you have not seen Him, but through believing in Him you are saturated with an ecstatic JOY, indescribably sublime and immersed in glory. For you are reaping the harvest of your faith—the full salvation promised you—your souls’ victory!

I Peter 1:5-9 TPT

I wanted just start this post with the passage above, praying it makes you stop, pause and reread like it did me. I was even going to bold some words and phrases, but I thought the Holy Spirit could do that for you! As we focus on JOY this year, this passage provides lots of content and power. You know what, let’s read it again together . . .

‘Through our faith, the mighty power of God constantly guards us until our full salvation is ready to be revealed in the last time.’

Can we all just take a big sigh of relief that our mighty powerful God is constantly guarding us!? Whew . . . inhale/exhale . . . Yah/weh!

‘May the thought of this cause you to jump for joy, even though lately you’ve had to put up with the grief of many trials.’

Joy and grief. Yup, I can relate. Can you? Joy in Him. Grief in circumstances. Guess which is eternal?! Trials are still super tough though . . . He knows and understands.

‘But these only reveal the sterling core of your faith, which is far more valuable than gold that perishes, for even gold is refined by fire.’

So let’s talk about the value of faith. This passage starts with ‘through faith’, and here it’s mentioned in reference to our sterling core. Lately for me, the Lord has kindly provided lots of sterling ‘silver linings’ in the midst of trials. Why? To keep my faith fire alive . . . He’s our Refiner.

‘Your authentic faith will result in even more praise, glory, and honor when Jesus the Anointed One is revealed.’

Even more praise, glory, and honor?!?! Promise?! Yes please!!!

‘You love Him passionately although you have not seen Him, but through believing in Him you are saturated with an ecstatic joy, indescribably sublime and immersed in glory.’

Aw, the idea of being saturated with ecstatic joy stirs my heart and soul. ’Indescribably sublime and immersed in glory.’ In this season, I’m being faced with the question – do I truly believe all things – trials and triumphs and silver linings – are all for His glory and our joy? And in the midst of what feels like chaos, I feel saturated with His love . . . and joy . . . and peace . . . and strength. It’s crazy, I know.

‘For you are reaping the harvest of your faith—the full salvation promised you—your souls’ victory!’

Harvest and victory . . . those are two joy-filled words! While both may take time to fully bloom and boom, I have faith and joy that they are being realized in this season . . . even though it takes obedient work and Spirit-led effort to taste the sweet fruit!

What about you? Does any of this resonate with you? I’d love to connect . . . truly. Complete the form below, and we’ll reach out. Til then . . . enjoy this Spotify playlist made just for you . . . and for me!

While ‘JOY’ is the focus of Holy Barre in 2024, and we continue to see such beautifully joyful faces join us each week at class, this season personally for me is not one marked by joy. Or is it?

What about you? How is your joy? How’s this season for you?

While I feel like I’ve cried more than laughed and felt more negative feelings than positive ones, the Lord keeps bringing James 1 to my mind. 

Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.

James 1:2-4 CBS

It sure seems easier when we can compartmentalize aspects of life. I’d rather just feel positive feelings rather than acknowledge and process negative ones. I’d rather focus on what’s going well than directly address what’s not. And we’d rather keep our physical health, mental health, emotional health, and relational health in separate buckets, compartmentalized and controlled.

Yet we are wonderfully and fearfully and intricately designed by our incredible Creator and He wants all of us! Heart, soul, strength, and mind. The good, the bad, and the ugly. The trials and the triumphs. The strength and the weaknesses. The sadness and the JOY. 

A quick fix sure sounds nice at times. But like I communicate during a barre routine, slow and steady wins the race. Endurance is what we need. Our time on earth demands endurance. Endurance through Christ. Because Jesus changes everything. Even various trials.

Joy, beyond understanding, the kind that only comes from Him, is experienced when endurance has to be activated. Quick and easy brings happiness (circumstantial). Slow and steady brings joy (eternal). Not only is Jesus with us on the journey, but He himself experienced the ultimate joy through endurance.

Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus, the Pioneer and Perfecter of our faith. For the JOY that lay before him, He ENDURED the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrews 12:1b-2 CSB

Friends, I wish my words of encouragement were ones of ‘just a little bit more, you’re almost there, you’re almost to the happy and easy life . . . ‘. But this life is a marathon, not a sprint. And it has trials and struggles and pain and sadness. But it has triumphs in Christ, freedom in Christ, healing in Christ, and ultimate joy in Jesus. Let’s just keep our eyes on Him! For those who look to HIM are radiant; their faces will not be covered with shame! (Psalm 34:5)

Through Holy Barre, we promise your muscles will burn but pray the Lord ignites a fire in your soul that can’t be put out. Through Deeper Wells, we’re discovering deeper wells of Living Water so we thirst no more. We are growing deep roots in His love to withstand the storms of life. We are seeking JOY in He alone!

My fellow believers, when it seems as though you are facing nothing but difficulties, see it as an invaluable opportunity to experience the greatest joy that you can! For you know that when your faith is tested  it stirs up in you the power of endurance. And then as your endurance grows even stronger, it will release perfection into every part of your being until there is nothing missing and nothing lacking.

James 1:2-4 TPT

We’re better together and Holy Barre is here to weather the storms and stand firm in the trials together. We also love to celebrate the triumphs too! Just keep showing up and join us as we burn brighter together! It’s going to be an amazing year!