Real, Inside and Out

To be real in a world full of need, whether it is spiritually, physically or emotionally is always important. Christmas is coming soon and we all have things that we deal with and sometimes this time of year doesn’t make it any less difficult. Many of us love to give and receive gifts and sometimes the joy of that overshadows what we are going through and the bottom line is that inside we might be crushed and working through some of the same things. They don’t seem to go away just like that. We need a strength that is other than our own, but where will we find it, how can we gain it? How will we get through the pain, sorrow, desperation, and disappointments? Is there someone who will understand and listen? We live in a fallen world, people are searching for the next best answer, it gets confusing ….who do we trust, what can we believe? The economy is hurting which is affecting everything we do, how can we manage? Will this all just go away so that we can live a comfortable life again? There are so many unanswered questions. What about faith, hope and love? What do they mean in a world that seems to be drifting away from all that we once held dear? We have lost our way, we have made wrong decisions, we have tried on our own with only human effort. We have failed miserably. How can we ever get back on the right track?

We all want to experience authenticity and see it lived out daily in people’s lives. Is it possible to live with authenticity when the things of life come at us so unexpectedly? Will we live with integrity or will we let the pressures of this world shape and change our values and beliefs? We all have a story to tell…..we are all a work in progress. So the question is, are willing to let change take place in our lives?

There is a realization that begins to happen when after all you have done that you find that you are still in desperate need of something more. We all need God who is stronger and mightier, who knows us from the inside out. His plans for us are far greater than we could ever imagine. God has created each one of us uniquely and only He can change us from the inside out when we allow His son Jesus, our Savior to live in us.

When we ask Jesus to come live in our lives, faith, hope and love become real in our lives, mostly His Spirit of love starts to shine through our hearts. The way that we live, the way that we think begins to change because of the faith and hope that we have in the one who gave His life for us and showed us what it means to love others.

My desire is to make a difference even though I may not be perfect. It’s so important to not only tell people but to let our actions show them what we believe. To share with them the joy, peace and hope that can be found. Even through the tough things that take place in life. I want to be real and not ashamed, to live my life from the inside out and reflect Jesus’s love to a world that seems so fabricated.

My producer and I co-wrote the song “Inside Out” which is a reflection of these thoughts I hope this song will encourage you to join me as we walk out our faith authentically and with boldness in a world that so desperately needs to see the real love of Jesus in us!



Shine On!




"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 5:14-16