Digging Deeper: Make Heaven Crowded

Avatar photo Kelly Skelton on July 12, 2024

 

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.”

Matthew 5:14 (ESV)


MAKE HEAVEN CROWDED

 

Abraham boldly asked God, pleaded with God for the community of Sodom. He didn’t just ask for God to spare his family; he asked Him to spare more. He knew their judgment was coming, and he was pleading for more time.

Who do you need to pray for? Has God laid someone on your heart? If we want to impact our community, we need to start at home, raising our children to know and show how to be an example. We need to be the light in the darkness. We need to show up differently when we are in grocery lines, sitting in traffic, sweating at the ballparks, and holding doors. We need to show who Jesus is by our actions and our words. Even in the mundane, we should consistently show kindness and offer grace. If we truly want to pass on our faith to the next generation and change our community, we need to show them what they are missing. We need to tell them how we would have never made it through without Jesus. Tell them how Jesus changed your story for the good. We need to pray for opportunities, pray for our neighbors, and then pray for God to use us in big, BIG ways.

I pray as you end your work week that you are able to walk confidently through this day, certain that God can and will use you to bring others to Him. Together, we can make heaven more crowded.

 

Kelly Skelton is a Georgia native, raised in the south on Jesus, Georgia football and sweet tea.  She is her husbands’ biggest fan and her two daughters’ loudest cheerleaders.  She recently published her first children’s book titled, But God Had a Plan.  She stays active in the Dallas area as a  photographer, videographer, writer, and middle school teacher.

 

Digging Deeper: Passing Your Faith to the Next Generation

Avatar photo Kelly Skelton on July 11, 2024

 

We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord , and his might, and the wonders that he has done.

Psalm 78:4 (ESV)


PASSING YOUR FAITH TO THE NEXT GENERATION

 

How can you make an impact in your community just by being you? How do you find moments to share your story with others?

The simple answer: slow down and pay attention. Listen when God nudges you to speak.

My mom was amazing at this. She told me this story several times, and it never got old. One day, when she was checking out at the grocery store, she felt God press on her heart that she needed to ask the boy bagging her groceries if he knew Jesus. She would say, “As crazy as it sounds, I did it.” She didn’t understand the urgency, but she was not going to be the one that didn’t listen when God spoke to her.

As she was checking out, she simply walked over to the boy and asked him if he knew Jesus. She started the conversation and eventually led him in a prayer. There are dozens of other stories similar to this one about my mom’s faith and persistence when she felt led to do something.

If we know our end goal is for everyone to know Jesus, we have to start in our community. We have to share our stories, our testimonies. We have to show others how different we are because of whose we are.

Today, I pray that you are vividly aware of your surroundings and that God would use a piece of your story to start a conversation. I pray that you would be bold to share what God has done through you.

 

Kelly Skelton is a Georgia native, raised in the south on Jesus, Georgia football and sweet tea.  She is her husbands’ biggest fan and her two daughters’ loudest cheerleaders.  She recently published her first children’s book titled, But God Had a Plan.  She stays active in the Dallas area as a  photographer, videographer, writer, and middle school teacher.

 

Digging Deeper: Pleading Bold Prayers

Avatar photo Kelly Skelton on July 10, 2024


Then he said, “Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak again but this once. Suppose ten are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of ten I will not destroy it.”

Genesis 18:32 (ESV)


PLEADING BOLD PRAYERS

 

Have you ever pleaded with God for something? Have you ever laid out insanely specific prayers, cries of your own heart, in desperation for an answer?

Several times in my life, I have found myself physically crying out to God. When I was 16, my dad was diagnosed with lung and liver cancer. I only had six days with him from diagnosis to heaven. I begged God to heal him, to give him a miraculous comeback, one that I was certain would be an amazing testimony, only helping further His kingdom. When His answer was to heal him in heaven, my heart was broken. I remember those prayers like I just prayed them yesterday. They were specific, bold, and raw.

In Genesis chapter 18, Abraham could have easily and boldly asked God to spare just his nephew’s family. He could have dismissed the rest of the city and only pleaded on behalf of his family members, but he didn’t. Instead, he pleaded on behalf of the wicked as well.

How’s your heart? When you think about your community, are you more worried about what not to do or where not to go, rather than how you can make an impact and change the story? How do you feel about praying for strangers that you don’t even know?

If you were in Abraham’s shoes, would you selfishly only ask to save your family, or would you be bold and dare to pray for all of your community to be spared?

I pray as you tackle this day that you have a heart that is burdened for others. I pray for the community that you affect and the community that directly affects you, that you would have a fire to make a difference.

 

Kelly Skelton is a Georgia native, raised in the south on Jesus, Georgia football and sweet tea.  She is her husbands’ biggest fan and her two daughters’ loudest cheerleaders.  She recently published her first children’s book titled, But God Had a Plan.  She stays active in the Dallas area as a  photographer, videographer, writer, and middle school teacher.

 

Digging Deeper: Having a Heart for Your Community

Avatar photo Kelly Skelton on July 9, 2024

He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.”

Mark 16:15 (NIV)


HAVING A HEART FOR YOUR COMMUNITY

 

I was raised in church. I was there nearly every time the doors were open, every time there was an event, and every time there was a prayer gathering. I was even there on days we woke up late and only made it for the last 20 minutes of the sermon. I lived and breathed church. In my house, nothing was ever more important than being present on Sundays. My church foundation is a gift I don’t take for granted. It’s something that, as a child, I ignorantly thought everyone experienced.

After being in the classroom for more than a decade, I can tell you the sad truth is that many, many kids grow up not hearing the truth about Jesus. There are some who have never visited a church, spent time listening to worship music, or even know anything about the Bible other than what 7th-grade Social Studies standards have ensured them it is.

When I entered the classroom, this is what I envisioned: tiny God-sized moments where I can answer a question and maybe spark a brief conversation that may one day lead to something greater. I pray over those rosters, the seats my students sit in, and I pray over my own thoughts and words constantly. I know my influence in the classroom can directly impact my community, so I find myself constantly looking for those moments.

Have you ever thought about where you can make a difference? A place where you can step in and shine a light, start a spark? If we know our goal is to shamelessly share the gospel, how are you doing?

I pray, as you take on this day, that you listen when God wants you to speak and that you pray for the community you are directly impacting. I pray that you plant some seeds that later reap God-sized moments.

 

Kelly Skelton is a Georgia native, raised in the south on Jesus, Georgia football and sweet tea.  She is her husbands’ biggest fan and her two daughters’ loudest cheerleaders.  She recently published her first children’s book titled, But God Had a Plan.  She stays active in the Dallas area as a  photographer, videographer, writer, and middle school teacher.

 

Digging Deeper: Raising Kids in a Sin-Soaked World

Avatar photo Kelly Skelton on July 8, 2024

Train up a child in the way he should go, and even when he is old he will not depart from it.

Proverbs 22:6 (ESV)


RAISING KIDS IN A SIN-SOAKED WORLD

 

Being a mom is one of my most treasured titles. Having the responsibility to teach two little growing girls about Jesus is something that I do not take lightly. When they were young, it seemed easy. It was all picture books, Bible stories, and coloring sheets. Now, as they have entered their teens, helping them chase after Jesus looks drastically different. It has now become more intentional conversations about how the world says one thing, but we believe another. It’s telling them, “I don’t know how to explain to you that bad things happen to good people. I don’t know how to explain to you why cancer can come back. I don’t understand why people are trafficked. I don’t understand how drugs can be so prevalent, how so many inappropriate things can just be looming outside our four walls.”

When you truly look at the state of the world we are raising our children in, it’s heartbreaking. I miss my childhood days when we fearlessly stayed outside playing capture the flag until the street lights came on and it was time for dinner. I miss the days when we could ride our bikes to school and didn’t fear locking the door right behind us. Now, I find myself constantly trying to lock out and block out the world. From the internet to social media, video games, and books, the world is chasing after our time, our minds, and our souls, and it is saturated in sin.

I want better for my children, for my future grandchildren, and for your children. In order for us to change the community around us, God tells us to train up our own children. Help set their firm foundation in Him. Lead by example; let them see us searching for the answers to life’s problems in the Bible. Let them hear us praying for help, guidance, and protection. Show them what it looks like to exude kindness to others, to be intently present. Show them how to be the light in the middle of the darkness.

If we want to change the current state of our world, a great place to start is by showing our kids how to be like Jesus in our community.

I pray, as you take on this Monday and start your week, that you think about your community. That you pray intently for God to give you wisdom on how you can make an impact and change the story.

 

Kelly Skelton is a Georgia native, raised in the south on Jesus, Georgia football and sweet tea.  She is her husbands’ biggest fan and her two daughters’ loudest cheerleaders.  She recently published her first children’s book titled, But God Had a Plan.  She stays active in the Dallas area as a  photographer, videographer, writer, and middle school teacher.

 

Digging Deeper: Change the Story

Avatar photo Kelly Skelton on April 19, 2024

Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 

Colossians 3:14 (ESV)


CHANGE THE STORY

 

Closing out this week, I want to circle back to the words from Monday, the kindness of my mom. 

 

My mom’s kindness in her hospital bed impacted those who cared for her.

 

The nurses, doctors and caretakers would each tell my sister and me what a kind woman my mom was, how brave she was, how sweet her soul was. Every time they spoke of her kindness it melted our hearts, but nothing melted it more than the love of her nurse on the second day of her stay.  

 

That nurse became attached to my mom. They shared stories, they laughed and cried over pictures.  My mom knew things about her life that even I was surprised she shared.  This nurse came back to the hospital hours before her shift started just because she knew my mom was being discharged on hospice care. She came back to tell my mom good-bye, to hug her neck and to tell her that she loved her.  It’s a moment I will never forget.  Out of such darkness that hung over us, my mom’s kindness and the nurse’s kindness is what helped carry us through. The kindness that she had was what I imagine Jesus was like.  In the midst of a battle, in the middle of fighting for her final days, she chose kindness, compassion and love.

 

I pray as you end your week, you reflect back on the kindness you were able to offer, and see the kindness that was given to you.

 

I pray that the kindness you shared helped change someone else’s story too. 

 

Kelly Skelton is a Georgia native, raised in the south on Jesus, Georgia football and sweet tea.  She is her husbands’ biggest fan and her two daughters’ loudest cheerleaders.  She recently published her first children’s book titled, But God Had a Plan.  She stays active in the Dallas area as a  photographer, videographer, writer, and middle school teacher.

 

Digging Deeper: Plant Seeds of Kindness

Avatar photo Kelly Skelton on April 18, 2024

But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control.

Galatians 5:22 (ESV)


PLANT SEEDS OF KINDNESS

 

Seeds of kindness can harvest into something bigger than you could have imagined. God can use even the tiniest of moments of kindness to change someone’s heart, someone’s day, someone’s life, even someone’s eternity.

 

My grandmother was the epitome of kindness. In fact, even into her late 80’s before she went into assisted living, she was constantly inviting people into her home. It was not uncommon to show up for Sunday dinner and see a set of complete strangers that she had invited in, shared a Coke, a cookie and fellowshipped with. She was one that was never in a hurry, always paused to listen and always had the perfect scripture or example tucked away in her back pocket. She never missed an opportunity to be the hands and feet of Jesus. When reading through her old journals I read one example after another of people who stepped in to whom she offered the kindness of Jesus in ways she would have never boasted about or even shared.

 

One thing I’ve learned over and over in life, is that people will never forget how you made them feel. Lets make that memory something good, leaving behind a legacy of kindness.

 

I pray today, as you take on new and planned things, that you remember to plant seeds of kindness. And I pray that as your day goes on, God waters those and turns them into something so much more.

 

Kelly Skelton is a Georgia native, raised in the south on Jesus, Georgia football and sweet tea.  She is her husbands’ biggest fan and her two daughters’ loudest cheerleaders.  She recently published her first children’s book titled, But God Had a Plan.  She stays active in the Dallas area as a  photographer, videographer, writer, and middle school teacher.

 

Digging Deeper: Some Things are Unforgettable

Avatar photo Kelly Skelton on April 17, 2024

…”and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, charity.”

2 Peter 1:7 (ESV)


SOME THINGS ARE UNFORGETTABLE

 

The most impactful moment of kindness in my life hit me in 2020. My family was frantic, scared and in quarantine.  The isolation was nothing short of traumatic.  It was so hard to celebrate the littlest of things, but I will never forget my birthday that year. I’ll never forget the image of my precious mother-in-law pulling into my driveway.  She walked up the stairs of my porch with groceries in her hands, flowers in a vase and birthday cookies peeking out of a bag.  I watched her walk up those stairs with gifts, tangible items that just ooze her kindness. We tried talking through the windows for a few minutes, we reached our hands out to each other, desperately wishing they could touch.  We poured tears together without saying a word.  We just stared through the glass, and the feeling of uncertainty hung thick in the air as she left my sweet birthday gifts on the porch and waved good-bye. 

 

I’ll never forget that act of kindness.  How she showed up for me and my family, because that’s who she is.  When my world felt like it was breaking, she brought me hope in the form of kindness.

 

Kindness should come natural to us. It should just pour out of us like it does my mother-in-law. As Christians, our actions should be different.  Our kindness should make us stand out.  It should make others wonder and want the joy that we harvest inside us.

 

I pray as you go through today, God reminds you of some of the kind moments that have been gifted to you. I pray those memories inspire you to offer kindness so freely to others today.

 

Kelly Skelton is a Georgia native, raised in the south on Jesus, Georgia football and sweet tea.  She is her husbands’ biggest fan and her two daughters’ loudest cheerleaders.  She recently published her first children’s book titled, But God Had a Plan.  She stays active in the Dallas area as a  photographer, videographer, writer, and middle school teacher.

 

Digging Deeper: People Never Forget How You Made Them Feel

Avatar photo Kelly Skelton on April 16, 2024

Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.

Proverbs 16:24 (ESV)


PEOPLE NEVER FORGET HOW YOU MADE THEM FEEL

 

I’ve been a teacher for 13 years. I’ve taught kindergarten through 8th grade at any given point during those years. It has been a blessing to listen and engage with students.  I’ve been their voice of reason, their school mom, the one they vent to and even occasionally cry with.  I’ve listened as they have lost puppies, gone through break ups, dealt with mean girls, and even listened as some have struggled with their beliefs. Some days exhaustion hits, lessons need to be completed, and time runs out at the end of the period.  But, there is one thing I have repeatedly learned, being present is often the greatest and most impactful form of kindness to someone else.

 

A decade ago, a student of mine was having a rough day. He had his heart broken and the math lesson was the farthest thing from his cares that day. His face showed all the emotions he was going through. My heart said that I needed to stop and check on him, so I walked away from the board mid lesson.  I sat down beside him and just listened.  But, what he remembered the most was that I told him we weren’t going to let this steal his smile today.

 

Sometimes the most impactful thing you can do is deter from what your plan was, listen to what God is asking you to do, and show kindness before moving forward. That same student a decade later still remembered that tiny moment. When he saw me out he came up to me and told me what an impact those words had on him. He hadn’t forgotten how I paused to make him smile.

 

The Bible says, “Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.”As Christians, kindness should be who we are. We should show kindness in everything we do.  You never know how impactful such a small moment could be.

 

I pray as you take on this day that you stay unhurried and un-rushed. That you can show up with kindness in all the big and small moments headed your way. I pray your kindness makes a bigger impact that you can witness years later.

 

I pray as you walk through your day, in your highs and lows, that you can show kindness.  Be present, listen, show up in the moments that God needs you too.  Wearing a smile on your face in the midst of a battle just may be a shining example that inspires someone else.

 

Kelly Skelton is a Georgia native, raised in the south on Jesus, Georgia football and sweet tea.  She is her husbands’ biggest fan and her two daughters’ loudest cheerleaders.  She recently published her first children’s book titled, But God Had a Plan.  She stays active in the Dallas area as a  photographer, videographer, writer, and middle school teacher.

 

Digging Deeper: How Do You Define Kindness?

Avatar photo Kelly Skelton on April 15, 2024

Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.

Colossians 3:14 (ESV)


HOW DO YOU DEFINE KINDNESS?

 

For me, it is being present, being a listening ear, being a calm voice in the middle of someone’s storm. I think of small gestures, smiles and high fives.  I think of being the one who steps in when it feels like the world has turned its back. 

 

When I imagine kindness that Jesus showed as He walked the earth, I can’t help but picture a man with his hands constantly stretched out, a man that listened intently. I imagine a man that was judgement free as He helped and healed those He encountered.

 

One vivid image I have etched into my memory of kindness happened last summer. I watched as my mom  was given the gut-wrenching news that her breast cancer was back, and this time the prognosis was terminal. She had multiple tumors in her head, and her time here was more limited than we ever imagined. I stared at her  with tears streaming down my face as she lay stagnant in the dark hospital bed. The news of her prognosis was still washing over her, precious doctors and nurses continued to spill in and speak this overwhelming reality to her. All she did for those horrific hours was listen, soak it in and trust. She could have been filled with bitterness and anger.  She could have harvested resentment, lashed out or argued. After all, she’d already fought this fight and won just a few short years before.

But, she didn’t.  That’s not who she was and that was not who God was to her.

 

Instead, in those broken moments she spoke life into her nurses. She exuded joy, she smiled constantly, she inquired about her nurses’ lives.  With every shift change she started her kindness all over again.  She was fully invested in who they were, and less concerned with what she was going through. In those short days we spent in the hospital, my mom was the epitome of kindness to the crew that cared for her. She was a shining example of Jesus to them even in the midst of her darkest hours. After all, isn’t that what the Bible wants us to do? Are we ever really more like Jesus than when we are kind to others? You never know what impact a smile, small gesture, or kind words can have.

 

I pray as you walk through your day, in your highs and lows, that you can show kindness.  Be present, listen, show up in the moments that God needs you too.  Wearing a smile on your face in the midst of a battle just may be a shining example that inspires someone else.

 

Kelly Skelton is a Georgia native, raised in the south on Jesus, Georgia football and sweet tea.  She is her husbands’ biggest fan and her two daughters’ loudest cheerleaders.  She recently published her first children’s book titled, But God Had a Plan.  She stays active in the Dallas area as a  photographer, videographer, writer, and middle school teacher.