Rub Dirt on It

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

— John 16:33 (NIV)

“Rub dirt on it.” If you’ve ever been around baseball, you’ve heard that phrase. My husband played college and professional baseball when we were dating and first married, and now all three of our boys have played college ball. Needless to say, that phrase has been spoken in our household more times than I can count.

At first, I’ll admit—I had to learn to embrace it. Growing up, I was the baby of the family, the only girl with a brother and all boy cousins. I wasn’t exactly raised to be the toughest one in the room. But life has a way of teaching you toughness, doesn’t it? And for me, raising three boys was God’s way of saying, “Wait a minute—you’re going to need to learn how to rub dirt on it.”

But I’ve also learned that “rub dirt on it” isn’t just about being tough—it’s about getting back up, keeping your head in the game, and not letting life knock you out completely. It’s about being present in the game of life, even when it hurts.

“We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.”

— 2 Corinthians 4:8–9 (NIV)

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Life Isn’t Easy

I’ve lived long enough to know that life is not easy. I’m a wife of 33 years to my college sweetheart, a mom of three sons (28, 25, and 20), a breast cancer survivor, and someone who has faced financial struggles and buried multiple family members I loved dearly. Life hurts. Sometimes it knocks the wind out of you.

Through those tough times, I cried a lot. There were even moments I yelled at God, asking Him where He was. But looking back, I realize those seasons taught me that He was right there. Always. Those times shaped me, stretched me, and taught me to trust Him.

It didn’t happen overnight. It took time. But the more I walked through the pain with God, the more I got to know Him and see how He works. Nothing we go through is meaningless—He uses it.

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

— Romans 8:28 (NIV)

Finding Clarity

One of the ways I’ve learned to process the chaos in my head is by writing letters to God. Have you ever tried that? To just sit down and tell Him exactly how you feel? He already knows, but something happens when you pour it out on paper. Writing helps me make sense of what’s going on in my mind. It brings clarity.

Prayer and staying in God’s Word also bring clarity. But I’ve learned that I can’t do that alone—I need accountability. That’s why I intentionally put myself in Bible studies.

And let me tell you—don’t sit back and wait for someone to invite you in. People aren’t ignoring you. They’re just busy surviving this broken world too. They may not think to ask, but that doesn’t mean they don’t want you there. First, pray about it—God wants you to find a group to dig into His Word with. Then, take the step. Look at your church’s website. Search online. The groups are out there. And when you’re ready, don’t be shy—say you’re interested. You might be surprised what God can do when you tell Him you’re ready.

Bible study groups have also given me prayer warriors—people who will walk this life with me, lift me up when I’m weary, and remind me of truth when I forget it. Don’t do this life alone. If you’ve been waiting for a sign to find your people—this is it.

“For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”

— Matthew 18:20 (NIV)

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Your Turn to Rub Dirt on It

Now it’s your turn. Grab a pen and a piece of paper and write a letter to God. Lay it all out—your fears, your hurts, your questions, even your anger. Tell Him exactly what’s going on in your life. Ask for His help. Tell Him you want to “rub dirt on it,” but be honest if you don’t know what that looks like in your life right now.

This is your invitation to take the first step toward getting back up. God is already there, waiting for you to open your heart. He will give you the strength, clarity, and courage to move forward, one step at a time.

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”

— 1 Peter 5:7 (NIV)

Don’t wait. Start writing. Start praying. And let Him guide your next inning.

From Cookie Cravings to Spiritual Crumbles

From Cookie Cravings to Spiritual Crumbles

“Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers…”

— Psalm 1:1

I remember a moment from childhood that now makes me laugh—but it also reminds me of something deeper.

It started with a smell. A fresh batch of chocolate chip cookies cooling on the counter. I wasn’t supposed to have one. Mom was saving them for guests. But I thought, what’s the harm in just looking?

So I walked into the kitchen, casually, like I was just passing through.

Then I stood right next to the counter, pretending to admire the wallpaper or the toaster or literally anything other than the gooey, warm cookies in front of me.

And before I knew it, I had pulled out a chair and sat down. Game over. One cookie in my mouth, two in my hand, chocolate on my face, and Mom walking in right on cue.

What started as an innocent walk turned into a full-blown sit—in the wrong place, doing the wrong thing.

The Subtle Slide: Walking, Standing, Sitting

Psalm 1:1 outlines this exact progression. Only it’s not about cookies—it’s about sin. And there’s a real warning in how it happens.

• Walking in the counsel of the wicked — entertaining ungodly ideas and advice.
• Standing in the way of sinners — lingering in environments and habits that lead us away from God.
• Sitting in the seat of mockers — embracing a life and mindset that rejects God’s truth altogether.

Sin rarely barges in loudly. It usually starts quietly. A small compromise. A little curiosity. Then, before you realize it, you’re not just near sin—you’re comfortable in it.

What begins with a walk ends in a sit. . . A life that stales out and becomes passive towards a life of prosperity. 

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The Escape Plan: Loving God’s Word

Psalm 1 doesn’t just expose the problem. It points to the solution:

“But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.” (Psalm 1:2)

The person who avoids this slow slide into destruction isn’t just self-controlled—they’re anchored. Anchored in God’s Word. Not occasionally, but daily. They find delight in Scripture—not because it’s a rulebook, but because it’s the life-giving voice of their Father.

Studying God’s Word isn’t about earning righteousness. It’s about staying rooted. It’s how we keep our eyes open and our hearts from drifting.

A Life That Truly Prospers

“He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers.” (Psalm 1:3)

True prosperity, according to the Bible, isn’t about money, popularity, or ease. It’s about stability. Fruitfulness. Eternal impact.

When our lives are rooted in God’s Word, we grow—even in dry seasons. We bear fruit that matters. We don’t get swept away by every storm or trend. We thrive not because life is easy, but because we are planted deep in the right place.

The wicked, Psalm 1 says, are like chaff—weightless, rootless, blown away by the wind.

Final Thoughts on My Love for Fresh Baked Cookies

I still love cookies. But I’ve learned to stay out of the kitchen when I’m not supposed to be there.

Psalm 1 reminds us to be intentional with where we walk, where we stand, and where we sit—because these choices shape the direction of our lives.

So today, check your steps. What voices are you listening to? Where are you lingering? Who are you getting comfortable with?

Then open your Bible. A life anchored in God’s Word is the life that will truly prosper—not just for today, but for eternity. Also, don’t get confused with prosper or success in the worldview terms, it’s the success of being planted and rooted for eternity!

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Reflection & Pause for Some Journaling

Take a few quiet minutes to reflect and journal your thoughts. Let this be a moment between you and God.

Reflection Questions:

1. Where am I walking right now?
   Are there influences in my life that subtly pull me away from God’s truth—media, conversations, relationships, or inner thought patterns?
2. Where am I standing?
   Are there places or behaviors I’ve grown comfortable with that don’t honor God?
3. Where am I sitting?
   Have I begun to adopt attitudes that resist correction, mock truth, or dismiss God’s Word?
4. Am I delighting in God’s Word?
   What does my relationship with Scripture look like right now? Is it a duty, a habit, or a true delight?
5. What’s one step I can take today to root myself more deeply in God’s Word?
   (This could be starting a reading plan, joining a Bible study group, memorizing a verse, or just spending quiet time in a Psalm.)

Pause from the distractions  and take time to Write. Pray. Listen. Sometimes God speaks loudest in stillness.

Lord, show me where I’ve drifted, even subtly. Give me a hunger for Your Word and a heart that delights in Your truth. Keep me rooted in You, so I can live a life that honors You and bears fruit for eternity. Amen.

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