The Lord Weighs the Heart:

Finding Grace in the Midst of Disagreement 

How a devotional reminded me that conviction and compassion can live side by side 

Today’s reflection was sparked by a devotional reading from Joshua Dubois’ The President’s Devotional. His words presented me with both a challenge and an invitation to reconsider how I approach disagreement in my own life. 

In his devotional, Dubois reflected on a heated policy debate and realized something vital: 

“You can question policy decisions. You can disagree with people—even vehemently. But you should be very, very careful before you question others’ motives…The Lord weighs the heart—not me, not anyone else but God.”
 

— Joshua Dubois, The President’s Devotional. 

That struck me. 

Too often, especially in our political climate, we turn disagreements into character assassinations. We make people who see things differently into our enemies. But what if, like Dubois, we chose another way? What if we fought passionately for what we believe, but also recognized that others are doing the same from their vantage point? 

This landed deeply because I know what it’s like to live on the vulnerable side of policy. 

Years ago, I received a small raise, just one dollar more than the income threshold for state health coverage. That “extra” dollar disqualified my children from medical care, but it wasn’t nearly enough for me to afford private insurance. I was a working mother, stretched thin, and my kids went without consistent healthcare for a season. Bills piled up. The stress was heavy.

That experience solidified my conviction in health equity, particularly for women, children, the elderly, veterans, and other vulnerable populations. 

So yes, I hold strong convictions. I know the stakes of policy decisions because I’ve lived them. But Dubois’ reminder helped me see something crucial: my convictions don’t give me the right to judge someone else’s heart. 

Proverbs 21:2 says, “Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the heart.” God alone sees the inner landscape of a person’s intentions. 

As I reflect, I realize that perhaps our true “enemies” aren’t other people at all, but our unchecked egos, our fear, and our unwillingness to listen. 

What might change if we approached political, personal, or even family disagreements with humility: seeking not just to win, but to understand? 

My hope is that we can begin to find middle ground. Not a ground where everyone gets everything they want, but one where human dignity and care are safeguarded on all sides. A ground where we argue policy hard and fair, but resist the temptation to call someone’s heart corrupt simply because it beats differently from our own. 

Reflection Questions: 

1. Where have your personal experiences shaped your convictions?
    
2. Can you recall a time when you assumed someone’s motives instead of listening to their perspective? 
   
   
3. What would it look like to “fight hard and fair” in your own context: at work, at home, or in the community? 

With thoughtful reflection, 

Stacie J. 

 

60 Day Countdown To 50!

Miles, Milestones, and Memories

  

This is my golden year of turning 50! I am super excited and feel absolutely delighted that today marks the 2-month countdown to my birthday! 

This year has been filled with more self-reflection than I think I've done all my life. I feel that I've changed in such deep and divine ways. 

For those of you who have been following the journey, you've witnessed a remarkable transformation. 

I have literally been running races, not fainting or giving in...and trust me, sometimes I wanted to. Like when my body tried to throw me off with an uninvited cyst this year. 

I'm shedding weight and pounds (literally and figuratively). 

Overcoming fears, challenges, and setbacks like they were unwanted guests, I finally dared to kick out. Pressing forward towards the mark of the higher calling within me...I mean, because when you live for half a century, your perspective doesn't just shift, it deepens. 

You put on internal glasses, flex the muscles you've worked hard to build while simultaneously developing new ones you never imagined could blossom. And, suddenly, so much of what you carried in the first half of your life seems completely unimportant. 

People may not always understand me, and that's okay. Sometimes they judge what they see and often what they don't see, and that's okay too, because I am focused on continuing to grow. I'm starting to develop a love for reading things that are not academically inclined. 

I am reengineering my life, rewiring old circuits, tossing out the tangled cords of past trauma, and still keeping my heart intact (even while lending it out to support others). As my good Sis, Ubani always says, multiple things can be true at the same time. 

I am super grateful for all the people who have given to my 50/50/50 Campaign for my wellness and coaching business. 

And now, here's how you can celebrate with me:

From October 24th - November 24th, I'll be walking and running 50 miles in 30 days while raising $50,000 to expand my coaching and wellness services for women.

This isn't just a birthday; it's a movement of healing, legacy, and joy in motion. Whether you join the 50-mile challenge, donate, or simply cheer me on, you are part of this journey. Every mile, every milestone, every memory counts...yes, even the sweaty ones! 

Ways to get involved:

👟 If you would like to join the Virtual Walk/Run Challenge, click here: 50/50/50 Virtual Walk/Run Registration Form

🧧 If you would like to give, click here: 50/50/50 Campaign Donation

🎉 If you would like to send a message of encouragement, support, or early birthday greetings, email me at GodsGiftLLC@gmail.com 

With Joy, Excitement, and a Touch of Sweat,  

Stacie J. 

Finding Balance in the Everyday: Movement, Nourishment, and Creativity

Movement, Nourishment, and Creativity

This morning I chose balance.
Not the frantic kind that demands perfection,
but the gentle kind that whispers, “Here; start here.”

I laced my shoes, leashed the dogs, and stepped into the fresh air.

For an hour, we walked...not rushing, not dragging, just enough to feel my heart beating in a mild, steady rhythm. The breeze brushed my cheeks, the sun reached between the trees, and for a while, I was part of the quiet dance of the morning.

Back home, I turned to nourishment. Garlic, kale, onions, turmeric, red and yellow peppers met the sizzle of olive oil, releasing aromas that felt like medicine. I folded them into an omelet, crowned it with creamy slices of avocado, and added a pinch of salt. Food as fuel, yes, but also food as a gesture of gratitude.

With my body moved and nourished, I turned to creativity. A few moments with my pen and notebook. Some colors on a page. Space to let my mind wander into possibilities.

This, I’m learning, is balance:

Movement that energizes, food that heals, and creativity that replenishes.
It’s not about rigid schedules; it’s about weaving together small choices that let you feel whole.

Reflection

Balance is not a fixed destination; it’s a series of gentle adjustments. It’s the way you choose to pause when life tries to rush you, nourish when the day demands more of you, and create when your soul craves expression.

Journaling Prompt

Where in your daily life could you add a small moment of movement, nourishment, or creativity to bring yourself closer to balance?

With thoughtful reflection,  

Stacie J. 

When Heaven Says Yes:

 Speaking Life into Your Healing

How do you use your words and the power of God's written Word to speak healing into your life?

For me, I've learned that what we speak inwardly and outwardly shapes our reality. I didn't always know this. There were seasons when my thoughts ran unchecked, my words carried more fear than faith, and my body felt the weight of it. But over time, God showed me that my voice is not just sound, it is power!

"Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit."

(Proverbs 18:21)

That verse isn't just poetry. It's a law of life. What we say matters. Our words build or break, heal or harm, uplift or undo. When I began practicing speaking life over myself, God's Word, affirmations of truth, and declarations of faith, I noticed something shift. My mind became calmer. My body carried less stress. My spirit felt nourished. 

One of the voices that inspired me along the way was Florence Scovel Shinn, an early 20th-century teacher who believed in the power of words, faith, and divine order. Her affirmations remind me of biblical truth: that God is not a God of confusion but of order (1 Corinthians 14:33), and that when we align with the word, we walk in clarity, peace, and power. I often take her affirmations and repurpose them through the lens of scripture, creating declarations that feel like a conversation between my soul and the Spirit of God. 

For example, instead of rushing through my morning in worry, I pause and declare:

• God has ordered my steps today (Psalm 37:23).
• I trust that what is for me cannot pass me by (Romans 8:28).
• Every detour is preparation, not punishment (Jeremiah 29:11)

When I begin my day this way, I feel anchored. I know I am walking in divine flow. Even delays and disruptions no longer shake me because I believe God is orchestrating all things for my good. 

                                       

"You will also decree a thing, and it will be established for you; and light will shine on your ways." (Job 22:28)

That's why I speak boldly, because faith is not silent. Faith has a voice. And when I speak what God says about me, that I am beloved, chosen, healed, whole, prosperous...Heaven responds with yes. 

So I ask you: 

What are you saying to yourself today? Are your words aligned with God's truth, or are they rehearsing old wounds, doubts, and fears?

Every morning, I choose to declare divine order over my mind, body, spirit, and affairs. I affirm that I am in the right place, at the right time, doing the right thing. And when I don't feel it yet, I still say it. Because what begins as faith spoken in hope becomes faith fulfilled in reality.

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." (Hebrews 11:1)

Friend, you have the same authority. Your words are seeds. Plant them well, water them daily, and watch God bring forth the harvest in perfect timing. 

Sacred Soul Work Reflections: Words to Water Your Growth 

1. What words have you been speaking to yourself most often? Do they reflect faith or fear?
   
   
2. Choose one scripture that resonates with you today and rewrite it as a personal affirmation.
   
   
3. Reflect on a past season when your words shaped your outcome for better or worse. What did you learn?
   
   
4. What does "divine order" mean to you, and how can you invite more of it into your daily rhythm?
   
   
5. Write out 3 faith-filled declarations you want to begin speaking over your life each morning.
   
   

Warmly, 

Stacie J. 

The Power to Flourish Is Within You

 Faith, Flourishing, and the Fruit of the Spirit

As I was out walking this morning, I noticed a tree; something about it made me pause. One side of the tree stood bare, its branches stripped, and a few crumbled leaves hung on. But the other side was flourishing, lush, full of bright, vibrant green leaves. It was like looking at two different seasons living in the same tree. And suddenly, I thought, this is life. 

Right now, we are living in a world full of stark contrasts. On one side of the same coin, there's abundance, and on the other, lack. Some are flourishing while others are just surviving. Some have peace, while others wrestle with unrest. Some have more than enough, and others are praying to make it through the day. But then I was reminded, we get to choose what flourishing looks like in our own lives. 

Yes, there are challenges. Yes, there are obstacles, most of them internal. But we still get to choose how we show up. We get to choose what we focus on. 

Do we listen to the noise of the world, or do we go inward?  We get to build ourselves up, mind, body, and spirit. We get to connect with the God within us. 

To hear the still, small voice. To dream, to envision, and then to walk boldly toward the life we know we're capable of living. 

Think it. Dream it. Become it. 

"Be strong and courageous. Overcome evil with good."

God is able to do exceedingly and abundantly above all we can ask or imagine. As mother, Mother Mincy, from Target Word Prayer Ministry would say, "Trust Him." So, who am I trusting? Are you trusting?

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your path." 

We don't talk enough about how God lives within each of us. That divine spark? It's in you. God uses people, ordinary people, to bring about flourishing on this earth. And we each have a role to play. The Word says we are all members of the same body. So if you're the eye, see well. If you're the foot, walk strong. If you're the hand, mold with care. Whatever your role is, show up and serve with excellence.

The Bible also says that we will do even greater things than Jesus did. What are those greater things? What does that look like in a time when faith is being tested from every side? 

We all have some unearthing to do, mind, body, and spirit. There's healing and excavating to be done. God allows the wheat and the tares to grow together, and for a long time, I didn't understand that. But now, I'm grateful. Because without the pruning, the hardship, and the contracts, I wouldn't have this perspective on life, on God, on myself, or on my neighbor. It's easy to get caught up in ourselves. It's harder to walk the righteous path to love God, love ourselves, and love our neighbor as ourselves. 

And here's something important: Some people don't yet know how to love themselves. So they love others the way they love themselves, poorly. But instead of judging, let's extend grace. Let's offer patience, kindness, and compassion. Let's live out the fruits of the Spirit, especially when it's hardest. Don't let someone else's struggle change your heart. Love people through their pain. Love them right where they are. Forgive them whether they understand the hurt or not. 

And remember: Some plant, some water, but God gives the increase. Let God grow the good things that have been planted in you and in others. So today, love your neighbor well. But first, love yourself well. Be kind to you. Be compassionate with yourself. And keep growing. 

I love you with the love of Christ. 

Have a phenomenal day!

Stacie J.