God’s Law

On following God’s law, not man’s

I’ve been learning the difference between man’s timeline and God’s. Man runs on night — hurry, fear, control. God moves in the day — light, truth, provision. Genesis shows us that from the beginning. I read the NIV because the language meets me where I am, and I pay attention to the signs — earthquakes, droughts, the way Oregon hasn’t seen rain in a while. It makes you pause.

When I first came to Oregon it rained. I took the bus. We didn’t flat iron our hair every day and we saved MAC for special occasions. I learned to go to beauty school, to the Dollar Tree, to make something beautiful out of less. I create rooms wherever I live. I multiply what I have.

Because Scripture says we are wonderfully made. That’s not just poetry — it’s instruction. God doesn’t call us to be dependent on another person to define us or provide for us. Some of us were taught to wait on a man to do everything. That’s not godly. That’s not freedom. We are called to steward what we have, to work, to build, to love unconditionally.

And can I say this with love: has anyone asked, “How are you doing?” instead of digging through my background? Poking around someone’s past will leave you delusional and angry. It won’t give you peace.

I’ve seen how people can use “mental health” as a way to disconnect from themselves instead of doing the real work of healing. I’ve had deputies tell me one thing and do another. I’ve felt stared at in Linn County, felt out of place, had my purse in someone else’s hands, and still had to find my way back to my car. Those moments teach you who you are when no one is clapping.

So here’s where I land: We follow God’s law. We look for Him in the day. We take care of ourselves, we create beauty with what we have, and we ask each other better questions. Not “What did you do?” but “Who are you?” and “How are you, really?”

We are wonderfully made. Let’s live like it.