Choosing your friends is choosing your future

“He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.”

Proverbs 13:20

This scripture encourages us to choose our friends wisely. The people we surround ourselves with influence our thoughts, our decisions, and ultimately the direction of our lives.

I have two women whom I consider my closest friends, both of whom I have known for more than twenty years. These women are part of my inner circle, something that took years to build. They have walked with me through different seasons of life—the good times, the difficult times, and everything in between. Our friendship is built on history, character, and trust, not merely convenience.

Friendships Often Begin Through Similarities

Many friendships begin because of common ground. We may share similar interests, life experiences, goals, or belief systems. Personalities do not have to be identical. One friend may be outgoing while another is more reserved. One may be spontaneous while another is highly organized.

What matters most is often a shared foundation of values. Qualities such as honesty, integrity, loyalty, kindness, and a strong work ethic create the kind of connection that can endure through the years.

Friendship Is More Than Convenience

True friendship is not based on what someone can do for you. It is not a relationship that exists only when circumstances are favorable.

Real friends remain friends through both joy and hardship. They celebrate your victories and support you during your struggles. They do not disappear when life becomes difficult or when there is nothing to gain. Genuine friendship is rooted in mutual care, not selfish ambition.

Friendships Should Not Be Rushed

One mistake many people make is rushing friendships. Trust takes time to build. Character reveals itself over time. Before allowing someone into your inner circle, it is wise to observe how they treat others, handle conflict, and conduct themselves in everyday life.

Choosing friends is an important decision because the people closest to us often have the greatest influence on us. For that reason, friendships should be developed thoughtfully rather than hastily.

Friendship Is Tested by Time

Time has a way of revealing the strength of a friendship. Many relationships come and go, but true friendships endure.

You may not talk every day. Life may take you in different directions. Careers, marriages, children, and responsibilities may limit how often you connect. Yet when you do speak, it feels natural to pick up right where you left off.

That is one of the beautiful characteristics of lasting friendship. It is not measured by the number of conversations you have, but by the depth of trust, respect, and affection that has been built over the years.

Wise friendships are one of God's greatest blessings. They encourage us, challenge us, and help us become better people. Proverbs reminds us that the company we keep matters. When we walk with wise people, we gain wisdom ourselves. Therefore, choose your friends carefully, nurture those relationships faithfully, and treasure the friends who have proven themselves through the test of time.

God's voice does not compete with fear

Fear is loud.

It demands attention. It rushes us. It presents worst-case scenarios and insists we solve them immediately. Fear fills our minds with questions, doubts, and endless "what ifs." The more afraid we become, the louder its voice seems to get.

God, however, is different.

One of the most surprising things I have learned in my walk with God is that He does not compete with fear by getting louder. He does not shout over our anxiety or overpower our worries. Instead, His voice is often softer. Calmer. Steadier.

In my experience, God's voice is rarely the one screaming for my attention. It is the calm, still voice in the background; the gentle thought I almost overlook, the quiet nudge, the simple solution that crosses my mind and patiently waits while fear continues making noise.

And if I am honest, sometimes I ignore that voice because it is not what I want to hear.

The older I get, the more I realize that discerning God's voice is less about waiting for Him to speak louder and more about becoming quiet enough to listen.

"Be still, and know that I am God." (Psalm 46:10)

Perhaps that is why God so often speaks in a still, small voice. Not because He is weak, but because He is inviting us into a deeper trust, one that listens beyond the noise of fear and follows Him even when His whisper calls us to do the harder thing.

The Revolving Door of Teachers: What Does It Mean for Our Children?

I am going into my fifth year of teaching, and I have noticed an alarming trend. Teachers do not stay very long anymore. It feels like a revolving door. People come in, stay for a year or two, and then leave. Some leave the profession altogether. Others move to different districts, careers, or opportunities.

What I do not see as often are the teachers who stay for decades.

When I was growing up, it was common to have teachers who spent twenty, thirty, or even forty years in the classroom. They became part of the community. Parents knew them. Former students came back to visit them. They built years of experience and relationships.

Now, that seems increasingly rare.

When I talk to veteran teachers, many tell me this trend accelerated after COVID-19. The warning signs were there before, but the pandemic was the tipping point. Teachers had to adapt overnight, learn new technology, teach virtually, and help students recover from learning gaps while managing unprecedented stress themselves.

Even now, schools are still dealing with the aftermath.

I understand why teachers burn out. Today's educators are expected to be teachers, counselors, behavior specialists, mentors, and sometimes even substitute parents. We are expected to raise test scores, manage behavior, complete endless paperwork, attend meetings, and communicate constantly with families.

The expectations keep growing.

The pay often does not.

As a result, many talented educators are asking whether the workload and stress are worth it.

But my biggest concern is not about the adults.

My biggest concern are the children.

Children thrive on consistency and relationships. They benefit from experienced educators who understand their needs and know how to help them grow.

What happens when students experience a constant cycle of new teachers?

What happens when schools lose experienced educators year after year?

What happens when teachers leave before reaching their full potential?

I do not have all the answers, but I believe these are questions we should be asking.

Teaching is a profession that grows stronger with experience. There are things I know in my fifth year that I did not know in my first. Veteran teachers carry knowledge that cannot be learned from a textbook. They mentor younger teachers, strengthen school culture, and provide stability for students.

When they leave, schools lose something valuable.

I do not blame teachers for making decisions that are best for their families, finances, or mental health. However, if we want experienced educators in our classrooms, we must create conditions that encourage them to stay.

Every profession begins with a teacher.

As I prepare for another year in the classroom, I find myself wondering less about why teachers are leaving and more about what we can do to keep them.

Because at the end of the day, the students are the ones who will feel the impact of whatever happens next.

Don't let Prayer Replace Action

There is a difference between praying in faith and praying passively.

Sometimes, people use prayer as a replacement for action instead of allowing prayer to fuel action. But many things in life require both faith and movement.

There are situations where the equation may be 20% prayer and 80% action.

For example, becoming a teacher was not something I could achieve by prayer alone. I prayed for direction, favor, strength, and opportunity, but then I had to move. I had to enroll in a teacher preparation program, complete coursework, take licensing exams, student teach, submit applications, interview for positions, and continue growing professionally. Prayer opened my heart and gave me endurance, but action carried me through the process.

Yet one area where I often see a “pray and wait” mentality is marriage.

For years, I simply hoped and believed that one day I would get married. I prayed constantly, and many well-meaning women in the Body of Christ would tell me, “Just wait on the Lord. Your season will come.” While I understand the heart behind those words, I also witnessed some women spend their entire lives waiting. Some of them grew old and passed away still “waiting on the Lord.”

That reality deeply affected me.

I did not want to grow old and die waiting for something I never took practical steps toward.

So one day, I simply took action. I asked my male cousin if he knew any eligible men. He introduced me to the man who would later become my husband, and it did not even take a full month for us to connect.

That experience made me reflect deeply.

What if I had opened my mouth years earlier? What if I had simply asked someone if they knew anyone? Would I have spent so many years waiting unnecessarily?

The Bible says:

“Faith without works is dead.” — James 2:26

Faith was never meant to eliminate action. Faith should inspire action.

Noah still had to build the ark.
Nehemiah still had to rebuild the wall.
Esther still had to approach the king.
David still had to pick up the stone.

Prayer is powerful, but prayer is not always a substitute for participation.

Sometimes we pray for opportunities while refusing to network.
We pray for financial breakthroughs while refusing to budget or learn new skills.
We pray for healing while neglecting rest, nutrition, or medical guidance.
We pray for relationships while isolating ourselves from people.

Our prayers should empower movement, not replace movement.

Yes, there are seasons of waiting. Yes, timing matters. But wisdom also matters. Initiative matters. Obedience matters.

God often works through action, not apart from it.

Sometimes the breakthrough is waiting on the other side of one conversation, one application, one introduction, one class, one phone call, or one courageous step forward.

Pray.
Believe.
Trust God.

But also move.

AI Can Analyze, But Only God Reveals

I love using AI to learn about different topics, though everything still needs to be fact-checked. It gives language to things I’ve observed in everyday life. When something has a name, it validates the experience. It helps you realize, “Oh, this is a recognized concept, I’m not just overanalyzing.”

However, I’ve noticed that when conversations move into religious territory, especially around certainty, prophecy, or foresight, ChatGPT tends to steer things toward rational explanations. I understand that this is because of built-in guardrails meant to protect people’s mental well-being.

For example, rather than affirming that the Bible describes people hearing the voice of God regarding childbearing, marriage, or major life decisions, responses may shift toward explanations like humans being primed for pattern recognition or psychological perception. And I understand why that happens.

There are people who struggle with mental instability, and if someone tells AI they are having prophetic visions of the future that are certain to come to pass, and AI fully validates that certainty, it could reinforce delusions. In extreme cases, that kind of reinforcement could push someone toward harmful decisions, possibly even crimes, in an attempt to “prevent” or “fulfill” what they believe they’ve foreseen.

So I understand the caution. I just recognize when the conversation subtly shifts.

At the same time, the real problem arises when someone begins using AI in the place of God. If a person believes they are receiving prophetic insight, that is something to take to God, not to an algorithm. Prayer, discernment, and seeking the face of God are spiritual processes. AI cannot interpret divine intention. It is designed to keep people grounded and rational, not to validate supernatural certainty or interpret spiritual revelation.

AI can offer vocabulary. It can offer analysis. It can offer frameworks. But it is not a spiritual authority. It is not an oracle. It is not a substitute for divine guidance.

Understanding that boundary is important.

Locked Out, But Not Alone

Since being married, I have grown accustomed to depending on my husband to always be available in case of emergencies. There is comfort in knowing that someone is there, someone who can step in, fix things, and handle the unexpected.

Well, today after a long day at work, I came home as usual and went to unlock the door. As soon as I touched the handle, the entire doorknob fell off. It was barely hanging on by a few loose screws.  My husband had attended a funeral about an hour and a half away and I knew the front door was inaccessible because we always keep it locked from the inside.  

I froze.

I had no idea what to do.

I immediately called my husband, but I couldn’t reach him. I called again and again, but his phone must have been off.

Next, I called the property management. They told me to submit a maintenance request online and that someone would get back to me. I filled out the form, called them back, and was then told maintenance could not come today, so I would need to call a locksmith.

I am new to the area, so I searched for a locksmith. In my haste, I accidentally called one in Georgia, the same city name but a different state. Meanwhile, my husband finally saw my missed calls and returned them. He told me he would be home in about 90 minutes and would get us into the house.

But I couldn’t wait 90 minutes.

So, I decided to go to the nearby Ace Hardware store. I didn’t know exactly what they could do, but I thought maybe someone there would guide me in the right direction. I showed the man at the counter pictures of the broken lock, and he told me he knew someone who could help.

That gentleman lived right around the corner, and he came and got me into my house.

The screws had completely loosened, and the doorknob had fallen off from the other side. He fixed it, and he did not charge me a single dollar.

I arrived home from work at 4:21 p.m., and by 5:00 p.m., the problem was completely resolved.

God is so good.

In that moment, I was reminded me of something important. While my husband is my earthly covering, he cannot be there 24/7. There will be moments when it is just me and God, and in those moments, God will direct my steps.

“The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way.”
— Psalm 37:23

Earlier that very morning, my husband and I prayed that God would order our steps that day. I had no idea I would face an unexpected problem at my own door.

But God knew.

“In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.”
— Proverbs 16:9

What felt like a overwhelming household inconvenience became a reminder that my help does not ultimately come from a person. My help comes from the Lord.

“I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.”
— Psalm 121:1–2

My husband is a blessing, my earthly covering, however; God is my source. And even when earthly help is temporarily unavailable, Heaven is never out of reach.

And that is peace.

Sacred Solitude: Why Even in Marriage, We Still Need Holy Alone Time

Sacred Solitude

This morning, I was washing my hair in the bathroom when my husband came in.

Instantly, the stillness I was enjoying felt interrupted. 

Not because he did anything wrong. He simply came in to retrieve whatever he needed. But in that moment, I realized something: I just wanted to enjoy washing my hair in peace. I wanted to condition it slowly, feel the water, sit with my thoughts. I did not want to feel observed. I did not want to feel like I was performing or “on display.”

I just wanted to exist.

And that is when the thought came to me:

Solitude is sacred, even in marriage.

Marriage is beautiful. It is unity, companionship, and covenant. But covenant does not erase individuality. At the end of the day, we are still God’s unique creations.

Somewhere in Christian culture, many of us absorbed the idea that once we are married, we no longer belong to ourselves. We have taken certain scriptures out of context and concluded that our bodies belong to our spouse in such a way that we must always be “on,” always accessible, always available, always open.

But did the Bible actually say that?

“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.”
— Mark 1:35

Even Jesus sought solitude.

He was not surrounded by disciples 24/7. He did not require constant companionship to function. He withdrew. He prayed. He recalibrated.

If the Son of God needed alone time, how much more do we?

Scripture also tells us:

“Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.”
— Genesis 2:24

Becoming one flesh does not mean becoming one body, one mind, and one uninterrupted presence.

It means covenantal unity, not the erasure of personhood.

Being in covenant does not cancel individuality.

You are still a mind, a body, a spirit, and a soul with your own personal rhythms. Sometimes you simply need to wash your hair in peace. Sometimes you need to pray alone. Sometimes you need to breathe without being perceived.

That is not rejection.
That is not sin.
That is not rebellion.

It is stewardship of self.

And in the end, solitude strengthens unity.

When you take time to recalibrate, to think, to pray, and to simply exist; you return to your spouse whole instead of depleted.

Holy alone time does not weaken marriage.  It preserves it.