Life Unscripted Ministries

This day started on the wrong foot. It’s like a continuation from yesterday. And the day before. And the week before. Yeah. It’s been a rough few weeks. I woke up this morning exhausted from one kid coughing all night long, my throat scratchy, a junked up nose, and a kid who needs at least 10 hours of sleep or they’re a monster and they barely got 8. (If we cross paths today, excuse my little monster’s actions. This little person still has my heart, even in their bad days.)

Spiritual warfare. Something I don’t remember hearing much about growing up but I’ve learned first hand since I’ve graduated high school. The enemy hates you. He despises your mere existence. He wants to destroy every fiber of your being just because you’re breathing and have a desire to serve your Savior. His favorite image of you is when you’re on the floor in a dark room shaking in the fetal position. Sounds like we’re set up to fail, doesn’t it?

John 10:10 tells us, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy..” 1 Peter 5:8 warns us, “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.” We’re introduced to spiritual warfare in Ephesians 6:12. “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

Sorry for the scripture overload. Well, scratch that actually. I don’t apologize. We have to know the enemy’s battle plan. The Word makes it clear to us that the devil isn’t our friend. He wants to see us curse God, our plans fail, and us feel isolated from those we love and from God. He wants our blood to boil when we see a whole bowl of soggy cereal wasted on the kitchen table. Or for us to throw our hands in the air when our kids wake up at the crack of dawn after going to bed super late the night before and being up crazy early that previous morning. They need sleep. I need sleep. Nobody got much sleep. It may sound stupid to fret over this mess, but welcome to my morning. That’s just where I am today. Tiny mine fields are hidden everywhere.

If we don’t know what our adversary’s game plan is, we have no hope of victory. We have to familiarize ourselves with them. We need to get our hands on his treasured play book. We need to know what moves they’re going to make before they make them. The more we know about them, the better equipped we’ll be to fight back. I don’t know about you, but I’m not going to lay down in defeat. I’m going down swinging, baby!

I may get knocked down, but I’m fighting back. I know the other half of John 10:10 gives me hope, “but I come to give life, and life more abundantly”. I know that Philippians 4:13 tells me, “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” We are over-comers, not underachievers. Not failures. We’re not worthless. God hasn’t given up on us. He still has a plan for our life. Don’t listen to the lies and taunting from the enemy. You have what it takes. It’s been weaved into the fabric of your soul. “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” Jeremiah 1:5

I hope the amount of truths from the Word has encouraged you like it has me this morning. I pray this day gets better and I’ve begged God for grace to make it through today. But if the punches keep coming, I’ll cling to the armor of God. Ephesians 6:10-18. I’m going to let you go read that one for yourself.

Before we part ways, can I share part of my retaliation efforts with you? Encouragement is so powerful. Sounds impossible when you feel like you’re the one who needs to be on the receiving end. I beg to differ. A few weeks ago, I was having a really rough day. Similar to today, actually. History repeats itself, I guess. Everything that could go wrong went wrong. Most of it before lunch time. I decided I would make a change. Make a difference. I paid it forward and encouraged someone. I honestly can’t remember for the life of me what I did; mommy brain and sleep deprivation currently prohibits my recollection of details. But I do remember how it changed my day. Knowing that I helped better someone else’s day uplifted my spirits at the same time. Encourage someone. It’s powerful! And a great way to remind them they’re not alone in this journey. And neither are you. Grab a battle buddy.

There’s one thing about spiritual warfare. The more you’re in the enemy’s crosshairs (that’s the little thing on a gun, right? That’s what I’m referring to. lol), the more you learn how to guard yourself. Don’t step in the battlefield without arming yourself. The Bible is filled with wisdom on how to be prepared when the heat gets cranked up. Don’t cave under pressure. Think positive. You are what you think. If you think you don’t have a chance in the world, you probably don’t.

Let the words from Philippians 4:8 marinade your worn out heart today. Take off those boxing gloves for just a minute. The world can wait a few minutes so you can get yourself back together. I’m praying for you. And I would love your prayers. “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.”

Living Life Unscripted,
❤ Brittany

Digging through my makeup bag, I pick up three old mascaras before I finally find my brand new Cover Girl one. The others haven’t made their way to the trash yet. I’m always scared one will get jacked up and not go on right so I’ve kept the others as backups. Just in case. Can’t be having no lack of makeup emergency. Naw girl.

Kind of makes me think of how we like to hold to on things. People from our past. Friends from middle school we should’ve parted ways with. Notes from old boyfriends. (Don’t worry Gary, you’re the only one I have notes from! All the rest are long gone!)

2 Corinthians 5:17 says that once we begin our life in Christ, our old life is gone and a new life has begun. The person we were before is dead and gone. Sianara. Adios. Don’t let the door hit ya where the good Lord split ya. You can giggle. I did too.

Let me ask you something. How’s that road kill smell? You know, the possum that stared at you with its beady little eyes before you punched him in the face with your car? Would you pick him up, brush that possum’s hair, put a VA Tech jersey on him and bring him to dinner? Oh gosh no. Sorry. I just threw up in my mouth a little. The thought of road kill makes my stomach turn.

Let the dead be dead. If God has delivered you from it – leave it. If someone or something hasn’t made its way to your present, maybe that’s your gift. Sometimes God tries to gently lead us away from things but He has to pry them out of our hands because we just cant let it go. Loosen your grip, baby. Some people never come back knocking on your door. Others don’t seem to get the hint. And sometimes you will have to man up and decide who makes the cut.

I’m not saying we won’t have our struggles. Paul admits he had his Achiles heel. Romans 7:15 tells us, “I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate.” I don’t know about you, but I can totally relate to Paul. I love how God used a man who was so completely jacked up to do His will. One who killed Christians, had a God encounter, then suddenly becomes a representative for Christ. Wow. Talk about an interesting story for his class reunion.

The thing is, we can’t do what God has called us to do if we’re holding on to the old, dead things from our past. Mark 2:22 says, “And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. For the wine would burst the wineskins, and the wine and the skins would both be lost. New wine calls for new wineskins.” We are supposed to be transformed by Him. If we aren’t transformed and have hope to make it through this messy life and encourage others in the process, what’s the point? It’s a waste of time.

Thankfully, God knew we were messed up long before He sent His son to rescue us from ourselves. We do a pretty crummy job on our own. I know I do. We have the power to change. He has given us everything we need to make it through this life. It’s locked inside of us. We just have to go to a His word and seek Him to find the key.

And my friend, one of those keys involves getting lost. Get lost in Him. Drown in His endless ocean of grace. Submerge yourself in His love. He has a plan for you, darling. And it may just be on the other side of the trash can. Maybe that’s why you haven’t had your break through. It’s time to chunk those old mascaras in the garbage. Don’t settle and run back to the old clumpy mess. He has greater things in store for you! Don’t go digging through the trash. Leave it there and move forward.

Living Live Unscripted,
❤ Brittany

I’m on my 30 minute lunch from working a promo event at Walmart. Man, this Subway cookie is off the chain. No, the promo isn’t for Subway. It’s actually for Magnum ice cream bars.

A few minutes ago I watched the Triscuit vender stock product in front of me. He moved the cracker boxes around, oldest in front and newest in the back. FIFO. A technique I learned back at Chick-Fil-A. First In, First Out. I just confirmed that acronym with the guy sweeping next to me. He scratched his head and laughed and actually confirmed it with the manager. Haha. Life is fun. I live messing with people’s heads.

Back to the Triscuit man. This guy wanted to make sure he made his company look good. He took a minute to make sure the boxes all lined up and the labels faced the front. It’s a good idea to have a detail oriented individual on the front lines of your business to make it look great. No extra charge for that tidbit. You’re welcome.

The same goes for us. We are ambassadors for Christ. Daughters of the King. Princes and princesses. But we are not called live the royal life just yet. Oh no, my friend. We are called to serve the least of these. Not kiss butt with the fancy smansy fluffy dress people. And we are called to represent Him.

It’s hard to represent a holy God and help in the repentance process when we’re not properly uniformed. I’m not saying we all need to dress like Catholic school girls, but we don’t need our lady parts hanging out either. The Bible says we are all brothers and sisters in Christ, and it also says we battle with our flesh. Would you wear a hoochie mama dress or short shorts to go hang out with your little brother? If your answer is yes, text me. We need to talk. But no! You wouldn’t!

Let’s say you’re the male owner of a restaurant. A line of girls is forming outside and they’re anxiously awaiting interviews. Some are twirling their hair, others are popping gum. Some have a 4 page resume. Others are lucky to have shoes without holes in them. You have a wide variety of girls to choose from. The first girl sits down with a low cut shirt and skin tight pants showing every curve and dimple. Where are your eyes? Be honest.

People generally want to buy into what’s being advertised. If you’re hanging out strutting your stuff like a pink flamingo on a hot summer day during mating season, what do you expect? Expect a bunch of losers trying to hit you up for your number. And know what they’re expecting. If you’re willing to show it off at the mall, they’ll expect you’re easy in the back seat. Oh no she didn’t go there… Oh yes. I did.

Embrace the royalty you’ve been born into. If you’ve asked Jesus into your life, you are a daughter of the most High King, baby! Act like it! Talk like it and dress like it. Do everything you do with excellence. Someone is always watching you. Maybe it’s the obnoxious 7 year old that lives next door. She sees how her cool 16 year old neighbor loves the Beibs and One Direction. How pure are their song lyrics? Or are they compromising your values?

“And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?” Matthew 16:26 offers us so much wisdom! There isn’t one single thing the world can offer you. You can’t turn on the radio or tv without sex before marriage looking normal and glamorous, alcohol being the key to having a good time, and drugs giving you a release to your problems. The more we give into the enemy’s lies, the more he feeds us the same lines of junk. And when we stop believing him, he alters his plan of attack and goes to the back door knocking.

Turn off MTV. Change radio stations. Fill your mind with pure things instead of the filth the world has delivered on a silver platter. Dare to be different. Philippians 4:8 gives us a great reminder. “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.” Think on the pure things. When a negative, funky thought invades your mind, cast it out! Get rid of it and replace it with God’s word!

People take notice of how you carry yourself. If you claim to be a Christian, you need to act like it. You need to be separated and different from the rest of the world. The world should know you’re not one of them. We’re not created to fit in, beautiful. We’re created to stand out instead of settling for blending in.

Do everything you do with excellence. Do it for God. Regardless of who’s watching. Straighten up those boxes and make sure they’re presentable when others come desperately seeking to be filled. Payday is coming and all eyes are on you, babe.

Living life unscripted,
Brittany ❤

You’ve been their biggest fan since their first album was released. The moment you heard their voice, you were hooked. You’ve had a few back stage moments snagging autographs and pictures with them at concerts, and you own every t-shirt and arm band they’ve come out with.

It’s Friday morning. Your phone rings. Omg. It’s them. They want you to come to Nashville. To record. With them. Omg omg omg!!! You never thought this moment would come around, even in your wildest dreams. And now they want you to be one of their backup singers in their latest album!

You’d be tripping out, wouldn’t you? I know I would be! Excitement, fear, happy dance, snot running down your face.. It’s a huge mix of emotions running up one side and down the other. What an honor that you would be chosen!

Would you be shocked if I told you that you have already been chosen? Someone greater than any singer, hot guy, actor, or Grammy award winning face has chosen you. You have the most amazing adventure waiting at your front door! The question is, are you going to accept it?

James 1:22 instructs us, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” There are so many out there who warm a church pew once a week and hear a suited up guy with a tie preach the word. But so many times it doesn’t penetrate their hearts and take up residence. How do I know that? Well are they bearing fruit? Are you bearing fruit? According to Galatians 5:22-23, we should stand apart from the rest with our “love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”

God has an incredible plan designed specifically for you. Take an inventory of yourself for a minute. What are you good at? What do you like to do? What moves you? God wouldn’t call you to do something you hate. Your calling will be something you enjoy and brings life and joy to others. You may be stretched out of your comfort zone with where He calls you, but He will give you the tools you need to get this thing accomplished.

He has called us to be His backup singers. If we’re in His Word, we know the words. We can hum the tune. He has called us to proclaim His goodness and bring hope to this jacked up place. But I can assure you, if you don’t step up to the mic, He will call someone else who is willing. Don’t let fear wrap its cold, boney fingers around your neck. It will do nothing but suck the life out of you and strip you away from where God is calling you.

“But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it–not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it–they will be blessed in what they do.” James 1:25 tells us we will be blessed in what we’re doing for God. If He has given you long fingers that can tear up a grand piano, play that thing for Him! If you can hit a softball out of the park and k of the game like the back of your glove, use it to teach others confidence in the game! There is ministry that is braided into every strand of everything we do, and God put it there!

It’s so awesome to me that God wants to use us. I mean, heck, He’s God! He has every resource at His fingertips, yet He chooses to use us. Imperfect, messed up, addicted, self conscious, us. You’re part of His plan! He doesn’t want to walk by You to go to the more talented girl on the front row. He wants you. All of you. Just as you are. No strings attached.

Embrace the road is is calling you to walk with Him. There is so much power in His name and through Him you can do anything! If He has placed a desire in your heart, He is going to introduce you to the right people at the right time in the right place and make it happen. “And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.” Philippians 1:6

Don’t walk in fear, tilt your head back and belt out the sing He has placed in your heart! The world is waiting to hear it!

Living Life Unscripted,
❤ Brittany

My kids could probably eat their weight in pancakes.   Landon could care less about syrup, thank God!  His 15-month hands would be a hot mess!   But Kendyl, on the other hand, pours on the sticky maple goodness before she digs in.    I have to pull up her hair before she eats because if not, her gorgeous blonde curls become a sticky, icky mess.   

Reading in Exodus this morning, I instantly fell in love with a verse and concept in chapter 33.  In verse 11, it says that God spoke with Moses, get ready now, face-to-face like a man does with his friend.    What an honor and amazing experience this must have been for Moses!   Could you imagine?  It just gives me chills all over!

When Moses went up on Mount Sinai a second time to receive the commandments from The Lord, he basked in the presence of the Almighty.    The cool thing about it, well other than the obvious – hanging out with the Creator of the Universe – is that when Moses came back down the mountain, his face glowed.   Because he spent time with the One who hung the stars, the Alpha and Omega, his face was shining from being in the presence of God.   And boy, were the children of Israel frightened by this.  Well think about it!   Man goes up mountain, man comes down mountain looking like a glow stick.   It’s not natural!

But my darling, that’s where God has called us.   To experience the supernatural on the mountain of God so that we can share our “glow” with this dark world.   The people didn’t have to wonder if Moses had spent time with God.   His face and demeanor made it bright and clear. He was changed.   Different.  Enlightened.

When we become satisfied, we become stagnant.  Fast.   And I’m not sure if you’re ever been around stagnant pond water, but it stinks!   Literally!   When the movement ceases, algae and other pond scum begins to grow on the surface.    Likewise, in our walk with God, when we stop seeking Him and walking with Him, we accumulate funk that gives off an awful stench to bystanders.   When we become satisfied with “religious” practices like just going to Sunday morning church to show off our new kicks, or just going to socialize in the lobby or roam the halls during service, we’re a prime target for pond scum accumulation.

There was an old cartoon I used to watch with my papa called Popeye the Sailor Man.   Popeye fans unite!   Anyway, Popeye was a sailor with his heart throbbing for this goofy looking girl, Olive Oyl.   Well this guy Bruto also crushed on the same girl and often would try to pick fights with Popeye, who would pull out a can of spinach, down it, and beat the crap out of him. But until he fueled up with that green leafy veggie, he wasn’t much good to anybody.  (I’m thinking this cartoon was created by a health nut who couldn’t get their kids to eat their vegetables.)  When we neglect, or may I go as far as saying when we avoid, spending time in the presence of God, we have nothing to offer those we come in contact with.  We’re like Popeye without his spinach.   Superman with cryptonite.   Wolverine after being declawed.   Not sure where the fascination with super heroes and old cartoons is coming  from this morning.   Hang in there with me a little bit longer.

One of the biggest tools of the enemy is overcrowding our plates.    When our schedules are overcrowded, we rush through our days checking off things on our to-do list making very little time for anything or anyone else.   So many times, the greatest ministry is right in front of our eyes needing to be fulfilled in our daily lives rather than church pews.   Not because it can’t happen in church, because there is so much strength found in being around fellow believers.  But because there are so many people around us who will unfortunately never walk through the doors of a church, but are dying inside to be shown kindness and love by someone.  Anyone.  Anyone who cares.   We are called to be the salt and light.  But to be these things, we must spend some time with the Son and be exposed to the Light.

Exodus 34:28 says that, “So he (Moses) was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights. He neither ate bread nor drank water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments.”  He was so committed to his time with God, he refused to fill himself with things the world offered, even food.  He fasted and emptied himself of everything so that he could be totally focused on God.

Is there something that stands in the way of your quiet time with Jesus?   Facebook?  Twitter?  Instagram?  Hitting the ground running at 6am and not hitting the bed until close to midnight?   Somewhere in our crazy schedules, we’re going to have to make time to spend with the One who holds us in the palm of His hand.   We shouldn’t have to, we should want to.   The awesome thing is, the more you’re around the Light, the more light you give off!    Someone desperately needs to see you be His hands and feet right now.   Take a deep breath, focus, and boldly share the gospel and love of God today!

Living life unscripted,
Brittany ❤

I went to bed close to midnight last night because I was trying to get some glitches straight with the website.  I’m one of those, “It has to be done right now and not a minute later” kinds of people.   I get it from my Granny.   When her mind is made up, there’s no changing.   And once she’s set on something, it’s time to get moving to make it happen.  I love that woman.  

There are times when we call out to God and plead with Him to come through for us about certain situations.  Begging Him to heal our bodies, or to give our spouse a raise that we’ve needed desperately for years.   Then there are times when we simply lift a request once or twice to Him and His response falls so sweetly into our hearts.  Like tonight.   His favor is such a sweet fragrance that lingers long after our prayers have been answered.  

God, please help us not to take our children for granted.  Help us to truly cherish each day and not get so caught up in the things that we feel like we “have to” do and just take the time to love our sweet gifts God has given us. 

I don’t know about you, but I struggle SO bad with this.  Instead of spending time with my kids, I get so excited when a show they both want to watch comes on TV and I can clean up for 30 minutes.  I’m not saying I don’t ever spend time with my kids, because I do.  And I enjoy it.  But there are so many times that I let my desire for a clean and orderly house and the deep emotional attachment to social media over rule my inner Mommy.  (Hey, I’m a stay at home mom.  It’s not as easy as you think.  Life changes drastically when you have kids.)  Know what I mean? 

Smart phones and iPads and all this technology we have at our fingertips can be so crippling to us as parents if we’re not careful.  We can either use them to bond with our children or they become wedges that grow larger by the day.  I pin all these cute things on Pinterest that I want to do with my kids but I haven’t actually done many of them. 

Feeding, changing diapers, picking up everyone else’s messes, helping in the bathroom, changing out movies, cleaning up messes (oh wait, did I already say that?), trying to get a shower while their favorite show is on, snacks, trying to get yourself ready while little people keep banging on the door, more snacks, the major crisis’s that only happen during those few minutes when you have to go to the bathroom.. I am mentally and physically exhausted at the end of almost every day just trying to keep up with the kids, but some days I wonder, “Have I really spent time with them today?  Have I really invested myself in them today?”  I mean, I’ve taken care of their needs, but have I been present in their lives and just loved on them? 

Don’t let something major happen before you stop and realize the blessings that you’re surrounded by every day.  We won’t have these little people forever.  They’re going to grow up into teenagers who will hopefully still think we have a little ounce of coolness left and want to hang out with us.  Then they’ll go off to college and start lives of their own and we’ll only be involved on major holidays and special occasions. 

I’m declaring tomorrow a “Technology Free Day.”  It’s NOT going to be easy, I can assure you.  I normally have my iPhone within arms reach at least 12 hours a day just in case another person texts or calls me and helps me come back to reality to realize that I’m  really not on a deserted island with little wild haired people shouting demands at me all day.  Anybody with me here?  Tomorrow I will smell the roses.  I’ll get dirty doing fun projects with the kids.  I’ll enjoy the mess and chaos.  Well maybe not enjoy the mess.  Or at least I’ll try.  I don’t know.. Can’t hurt to try, right?  Let’s do this, mamas!  Enjoy your babies!  We only have one shot at this!  ❤