Author: Bre

the light of the world

“Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, 
“I am the light of the world.
Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness,
but will have the light of life.”
– John 8:12

Did you dread the dark as a child?? I did. I hated the dark . . . .

What is it about the dark that we find fearful?? There are layers of answers, but some of them, I believe, is that we often fear what we cannot see and we are scared of what the dark can hide. As a child, the imagination of what COULD be hiding in the dark is what I feared most (no matter how unreasonable it sounded, there could be a monster under the bed, a robber downstairs, or a ghost in the closet. . . you know how it goes)

While I am no longer a little girl afraid of the dark, I still find myself fearful of what I cannot see, what could be hiding, and what could be.

In the light we are able to see what IS, what is NOT, and things can be easily identified. But at night?? We are no longer able to distinguish or discern because the darkness blinds our eyes and distorts our ability to judge.

It is the same spiritually — in the Bible, God speaks to us over and over about the effects of sin, living in this dark world, and the contrast between light and darkness.

Before sin, there was nothing to fear in the darkness, but when sin entered so did spiritual death and blindness. We are born into sin and enter a world that is dark and broken because of sin.

What happens as we grow in this sinful world? We discover that the darkness that we once feared can be used as a cover to hide what we do not want to be known. We become comfortable in the darkness. God says that what is done in darkness is fruitless and that people love the darkness over the light:

“Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness,
but rather expose them.”
– Ephesians 5:11

“And this is the condemnation,
that the Light has come into the world,
& men loved darkness rather than light,
because their deeds were evil.”
– John 3:19

When we recognize our spiritual darkness, acknowledge and confess our sin, and accept Jesus’ death as the sacrifice for our sin we are moved from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light. Jesus came, lived a perfect life, died, and rose again so we could be saved from the darkness of sin and death. That good news will never grow old!!!

“He has delivered us from the power of darkness
& conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love”
– Colossians 1:13

“for at one time you were darkness,
but now you are light in the Lord.
Walk as children of light“
– Ephesians 5:11

“The night is far spent, the day is at hand. 
Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness,
and let us put on the armor of light.”
– Romans 13:12

To me, one of the most beautiful and comforting names that Jesus calls Himself is: “THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD” (John 9:5 & 18:12)

That means there is nothing to fear in Jesus.

“The Lord is my helper; I will not fear…” Hebrews 13:6

He has nothing to hide.

“He [Jesus] is the image of the invisible God” Colossians 1:15
“Anyone who has seen Me [Jesus] has seen the Father.” John 14:9

He can be fully trusted.

“God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all.” 1 John 1:5
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding” Proverbs 3:5

While there are things that I may never understand because His ways and thoughts are higher (Isaiah 55:8-9), I know that I can trust Him because He sees what I cannot and He knows what I do not know.

The Bible says that we walk by FAITH and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7) — so we cannot be dependent on our eyes or reasoning to determine where the Lord is guiding and leading. We must depend on Him, follow Him, and trust Him by faith.

Even while all around us is darkness, and we may not be able see where the next step will lead, we do not have to stumble in the darkness, full of fear, because He is the light.

I do not have to know the way,
because I’m following THE ONE who DOES.

When a child is fearful, the one thing that can immediately dispel any worry is the presence of a parent, grandparent, or someone trusted. The security of having someone by their side, protecting them, and comforting them far outweighs what was previously causing fear, even if the darkness doesn’t change. Jesus is with you and He has promised to never leave or forsake you. (Hebrews 13:5)

He is our light in this dark world.
He is the One we can trust when we can’t see the way.
He is the One we can follow because He knows the way.
He is the One who will walk with you through the dark.

Let Him dispel your fear with His marvelous light.


“You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation,
God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts
of Him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light”
– 1 Peter 2:9

“The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness has not overcome it.”
– 1 John 1:5

“For you are all children of light, children of the day.
We are not of the night or of the darkness.”
– 1 Thessalonians 5:5

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above,
coming down from the Father of lights,
with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.”
– James 1:7


“I have come as a light into the world,
that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness.”
John 12:46

And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.
And God saw that the light was good,
– Genesis 1:3

bullet • journaling

my bullet journal!

This year I started bullet journaling! Prior to 2018 I had never stayed consistent with using a paper planner, although I had tried — I would start the year organized and ready to go with the best of intentions but by April or May all the momentum would be gone. That was until I got my Passion Planner in 2018 and actually used it the whole year! Now, I don’t think I’ll ever go back!

So, from 2018-2020 I used the Passion Planner and in 2021 I thought it was time for the start of something new *HSM song break; if you know, you know.* There were things about the Passion Planner I didn’t like and after hearing about bullet journaling over the years I decided to give it a go!

What I’ve enjoyed most about bullet journaling is that it gives you the flexibility and freedom to create your own layout and only use what you find most helpful! Using a paper planner has helped me be a better steward of my time, prioritize tasks, stay organized, track and start new habits, and be more aware of how I spend my time.

On insta I took a poll and asked if people were interested in learning more and I got a lot of “yes-es” so I figured I would share more about it here — what has worked for me and the resources that have helped me!

SO . . . Here’s what I’ve learned since starting my bullet journal!!

First, let’s get into what supplies I’m loving!

— SUPPLIES — 

• a journal – I’m using the 6×8 inch dot journal – I found it at Barnes & Noble and love the compact size! You also can find similar journals at Michaels for around $6.99!
• pens – my favorite pens right now are the ZEBRA gel pens; they literally write sssoooo smooth and effortlessly. MICRON pens sizes 05 and 08 are also great for writing headings and bolder fonts.
• a ruler – for keepin’ those lines straight!
• white out / correction tape – this one is my favorite

Secondly, before I started my journal, I watched a lot of videos on other’s bullet journal set ups which helped give me an idea for what is possible, what I wanted, and what I didn’t want. I’ve linked those videos at the bottom of this post.

Now, here’s a look inside my bullet journal and the spreads I’m currently using!

— Key & Grid Spacing Pages — 

bullet journal – key

In the picture above you can see my key and the symbols I’ve incorporated in my bullet journal. What makes the method of bullet journaling unique is how it uses symbols to identify, organize, and move tasks and events. The “key” is where you identify what each symbol stands for. You can find all the details about the bullet journaling method HERE.

With that, let me preface by saying that I do not follow the “official rules” of bullet journaling. I’ve simply chosen the symbols that work best for me that are easiest to incorporate in my day-to-day planning.

I suggest finding what works for you and don’t feel overwhelmed! Just keep it simple and utilize what will benefit you most!

— Year Spread — 

bullet journal – year spread

The picture above shows my year spread where I can see all the months at a glance. It is great for referencing and is where I add holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, or events that will happen in the future.

On the pages after this I have 3 spreads *not shown* called: “Places I want to Travel,” “Books I want to Read,” and “Goals I Have this Year” . . . I’ve also seen people divide their “year goals” into subcategories like Health, Growth/Relationships, Financial, and Business/Work, which I think is a great idea!

Another layout that is VERY helpful to have is a grid-spacing spread which makes it easy to divide your page into half, thirds, and fourths without having to count the spaces each time. This video explains grid-spacing better than I ever could . . . 🙂

— Monthly Spread — 

bullet journal – monthly spread

Next, let’s look at the month spread, pictured above! This spread is a great way to get an overview of the month ahead. Below are the categories that I have found most helpful to have each month:

• goals for the month (I like to look back at my goals for the year and break them into smaller, more realistic/attainable goals. That way, each month I am working towards my big “year goals.”)
• book to read (my goal is to read 1 book a month, so I put the title of the book I’m reading here)
• habits to track (examples – water intake, movement/exercise, taking vitamins, reading, practicing guitar, journaling, etc – really just anything you want to be more consistent at and track your progress!)
• savings & budgeting (where I track financial goals for saving & budgeting)
• birthdays (birthdays occurring that month!)
• notes (here I add any additional miscellaneous notes like errands I’ll need to run, bills I’ll need to pay, or things like car maintenance, etc)

Like I said, I’m a beginner so this is likely to change, but that’s what I’ve found most useful so far!

— Weekly Spread — 

bullet journal weekly spread

Finally, here is the weekly spread! This is the spread I utilize and reference most during the week. Each day and date is labeled and I use the top half of the page to write my tasks for the day. This is also where I use the “key” to identify each task. Whether it’s personal, work related, errands, a birthday, a holiday, or simply something I don’t want to forget, I write that on top.

Then, on the bottom half of the page, I have 14 lines labeled from 8am to 9pm. This is where I schedule appointments, meetings, and commitments that have a specific time associated with them.

Below is an example of what my week may look like at the end, when it’s filled out (they’ve been made blurry on purpose).

— VIDEOS — 

Lastly, there are so many videos on the numerous ways you can bullet journal and different spreads you can use. It’s fun finding what will work best for you and having the flexibility to change as you go!

Here are a couple videos of others sharing about their bullet journals that I’ve found helpful:

• simple & minimal style bullet journal – Pick Up Limes *she inspired the way I do my weekly layout*
• Bullet journal planner – AmandaRachLee
• Minimalist Bullet Journal Planner set up – Ashlynne Eaton

One of the biggest things to remind yourself, especially when starting, is that SIMPLE is best! Don’t feel like you have to implement everything. Start small and grow from there.

I hope you found this post helpful no matter where you are in the process!

Happy journaling!

“A man’s heart plans his way,
but the Lord directs his steps.”
– Proverbs 16:9

where is my mind?

“If then you were raised with Christ,
seek those things which are above, where Christ is,
sitting at the right hand of God.
SET YOUR MIND ON THINGS ABOVE,
not on things on the earth.”
– Colossians 3:1-2

God’s Word guides and instructs us to SET our minds on things above — but, honestly, it is so easy for my mind to be focused on the things of this earth . . . things that are temporary, ever-changing, and chaotic. Things we chase like success, independence, status, social media, relationships, collecting stamps in a passport or tacks on a map . . . they are things that are not bad in themselves, but when they are idolized or become the goal of our pursuits, they cause our eyes to turn from Christ and onto focus on earthly things.

Seeking and setting our minds on things above it is not a “one-and-done” thing — it’s a daily, hourly, and moment-by-moment thing.

When I am focused on the things of earth, things going on around me *or emotions going on inside of me,* I will be tossed to and fro (Eph 4:14), consumed with myself, and unstable in all my ways (James 1:7-8). But when I SET my mind on the things above – where Christ is – then I have a steady, faithful, and stable foundation for all my thoughts and emotions to land. Everything gets filtered through a heavenly and eternal perspective.

Sometimes God allows our external circumstances to remain the same so He can change us internally. HE can transform everything inside of us, while nothing around us is different.

But is it enough to just “discipline ourselves into” setting our minds on things above? Or is it something that we are left to do on our own? In our own strength?
Thankfully, and by God’s grace, no! God’s Word tells us that He TRANSFORMS and RENEWS our hearts and minds through the power of His Holy Spirit and by His Word.

“And do not be conformed to this world, 
but be transformed by the renewing of your mind,
that you may prove what is that
good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
Romans 12:2

“I will give you a new heart
and put a new spirit in you;
I will remove from you
your heart of stone
and give you a heart of flesh.”
Ezekiel 36:26 

Apart from Jesus, I am helpless to love Him with all my mind. He must give me the love because I am incapable of producing His agape love on my own — it only comes from Him.

“You shall love the Lord your God
with all your heart,
with all your soul,
with all your strength,
and with all your mind.”
– Deuteronomy 6:5

There are also some very practical & deliberate choices we can make to fix our minds on things above…

As an example — when I find myself struggling with comparison, wrestling with being content, focusing on myself, dwelling on insecurities, replaying a past hurt or memory, complaining, feeling anxious, worried, frustrated, or spiritually empty or drained *the list can go on and on!* I go before the Lord, examine my heart, and ask myself the questions below:

– What have I been listening to?
– What have I been watching?
– What have I been reading?
– What have I found my mind dwelling on in moments of stillness?

As I answer those questions, He usually reveals what has lead me to that place and reminds me to fix my mind back on Him.

You know what one of the hardest things about our minds & thoughts is? They’re hidden.

Growing up (and even now!), my dad always asked us: “what are you thinking?” instead of “how are you feeling?” because he knew that our emotions change frequently but our thoughts determine what our actions will be. You know what though? When he would ask that question we had the choice to be HONEST about what we were thinking, or to conceal what we were thinking . . . and the same is true today when God asks us, “What are you thinking?” or “What are you fixing your thoughts and setting your mind on?” — we can either hide in shame OR be completely honest.

It’s easy to hide our thoughts and even to deceive ourselves by not acknowledging our own harmful, disobedient, and ungodly thoughts. But we must humbly come before God in and lay our hearts bare. When we do that, we allow His light to shine in the dark, hidden crevices of our minds and His light brings hope and healing.

“The night is far gone; the day is at hand.
So then let us cast off the works of darkness
and put on the armor of light.” – Romans 13:12

We will never be able to fix our minds on things above until we recognize and remove the things that are distracting us from Him and hindering us from seeing Him. As long as we fail to confront and expose the things we’ve allowed to stay hidden, we will remain stuck. Many choose to remain in the darkness and continue to carry shame because they fear being exposed. But the very thing that you’re afraid of is the very thing that can lead to your healing, and as we seek to bring “every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,” our thoughts will begin to reflect His.

“Time itself does not heal, but it does give us opportunity to heal.” –Briana Swann

Did you know that the Bible says that our minds can put us on a path leading to death or on a path leading to LIFE & PEACE?!?! Romans 8:5-6 says: “…those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life & peace.“

What if, at the end of every day, we were able to see a visual (haha – like a pie graph or something) of our thoughts? What percentage would be consumed with things of earth and what percentage on things ABOVE? What we think about ultimately determines our future, and while our thoughts are hidden, WE DO SEE THE ACTIONS & EFFECTS of our thoughts: every word we speak and action we make begins as a thought in our mind. That’s why God cares so deeply and speaks so frequently about our mind and our thoughts in His word.

He cares, and places great importance on our thoughts, and so should we.


“Your mind is the greatest gift God has given you
& it ought to be devoted entirely to Him.”
-OSWALD CHAMBERS


“Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face,
and the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.”

“Let the words of my mouth
& the meditation of my heart
be acceptable in Your sight,
O Lord, my strength & my Redeemer.”
Psalm 19:14 
“You will keep him in perfect peace,
whose mind is stayed on You,
because he trusts in You.
Trust in the Lord forever,
For in Yah, the Lord, is everlasting strength.”
Isaiah 26:3-4

He’s not finished.

The LORD will
PERFECT
that which concerns me.

Jesus WILL perfect—complete, fulfill, finish, accomplish—what is concerning me. What is concerning you. Psalm 138:8 says:

“The Lord will perfect that which concerns me;
Your mercy, O Lord, endures forever;
Do not forsake the works of Your hands.”

Doesn’t that bring such comfort and peace?! What you’re doing may seem insignificant to you. Where you are may feel purposeless; but do not grow weary and don’t be discouraged — nothing is wasted when God is working.

God knows exactly what is concerning you, what is on your mind, and what weighs heavy on your heart. If He knows every single hair on your head and He knows the number of sands on the shore, certainly He is aware and in control of what is troubling you.

He has not forgotten about you.
He is not finished with your story.
When it feels like He’s put the pen down and walked away.
When you don’t know when the next chapter will start. . .
. . . do not lose hope and do not lose heart.

Because He “is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure.” (2 Cor. 4:17) May we be able to say, with the Psalmist: “Our help is in the name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” Psalm 124:8


3He will not let your foot be moved;
 he who keeps you will not slumber.
4 Behold, he who keeps Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The Lord is your keeper;
the Lord is your shade on your right hand.
Psalm 121

“But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect & complete, lacking nothing.”
– James 1:4

“being confident of this very thing: that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ”
-Philippians 1:6