Coty Terry

 Trying even when it’s hard  When I was in middle school, I worked hard to get straight A’s. I wanted to get as high as grades as I could, even adding on extra credit where possible, because, at the time, I thought doing well in middle school would get me into a good college. Though that wasn’t exactly true, it did help me get into the honors classes in high school, which helped me get into college.  However, high school was a lot harder than middle school. No more were the 3-page chapters with big fonts in our textbooks. No more did my notes alone suffice enough to get the near 100% score I was used to. I had reached a new level of difficulty, and I actually had to pay full attention in class and take more time to do my homework and study. But soon I got used to it. It became my norm, and I regained confidence that I could still get the good grades. By the time I graduated, I was ranked number two in the classes and off to a top university. I had worked just hard enough ...

I’m hopeful for a better tomorrow A healed heart from all the rejections A healed mind from every lie of the enemy A healed soul from all the torture I put it through A healed body from every sickness and inflammation To fully receive the love of Christ To not rely on the love of others to feel secure and whole To walk in my freed identity in Christ To believe I’m redeemed and not just know it I’m hopeful for a better tomorrow A renewed sense of knowing who I am  Where I’m not afraid of what’s next  When worry doesn’t consume me And fear does not dictate my actions  I’m hopeful for a better tomorrow  When the LORD will work a miracle  In my heart My mind My soul So that I can better show up  For my husband My future children My family My friends I’m hopeful for a better tomorrow When the LORD says it is finished And I then spend eternity with Him I’m hopeful  And I know it’ll be worth Every hurt Every pain  Every tear Every reopening of wounds so ...

I used to have a formula for peace based on Philippians 4: rejoice in the Lord and worship Him, pray and present all your requests to Him, thank Him, and read His Word, thinking on what is true and righteous and noble, etc. So, essentially, it was to pray, to worship, and to read the Bible. As long as I did those three things, my day would be more peaceful than anxious. I’ve tried to keep that discipline up because, as you may know from my last post or even previous posts/communications, peace is something I deeply desire and often ask from God. But I think I’ve been slacking.  My worship has been sometimes, in the background, or for a purpose like YouTube or the worship team at church. My prayers have been frequent, though mostly for others as I try not to worry about them, and not as much all of my feelings laid at His feet. My Bible-reading, by the grace of God and the help of The One Year Bible put together by Jack Hibbs’ ministry, has been consistent, though God still often ha...

When I asked God what to write about, “peace offering” (Leviticus 3:1) came to mind and the thought of Jesus taking on the “punishment for our peace” (Isaiah 53:5) and being the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6).  My husband and I have been praying to God for peace lately. That’s what He’s been bringing to mind for us, to be people of peace, to have peace, to remember peace. If Jesus was our peace offering, reconciling us back to God, took on our punishment so that we may have peace, and abides in us by His Holy Spirit who is of peace, then certainly we have peace. Just as He’s given us the Holy Spirit, He’s given us peace. So why can it be so hard to feel it sometimes? God, I ask for your peace, for everyone reading, for my husband and me, that we may know what it feels like to walk in step with You, to walk with the peace of Christ ruling in our hearts (Colossians 3:15) and to know that You are Lord. I receive Your peace, and I ask that You help my husband and every reader receive You...