Shellie Rushing Tomlinson's Blog: Shellie Rushing Tomlinson's Blog, page 19

Finding a Deep and Wide Christmas Advent – Dec. 3rd

The goal of walking through Christmas with our eyes trained on Jesus isn’t to make it through the holidays without going straight running crazy (although much can be said for being sane come January). The goal is nothing short of knowing the transformative presence of the Savior the baby was born to be!

God won’t drag us into the deep and wide life, and we can’t find it by trying harder to do better. That’s religion, man meeting the bar man sets so man feels good about man. Living life...

Finding a Deep and Wide Christmas Advent – Dec. 2nd

It’s impossible not to recognize the increasing commercialism of Christmas, and it’s a good and necessary idea to ask the Holy Spirit to help us stay focused on its true meaning. But as we walk through this season, let’s make sure our observations don’t lead to communication that alienates those who most need to hear the good news of Jesus!

Super-abounding grace in the face of very real sin was the glorious reality presented in the garden at sin’s initial strike. Promise given even as...

Finding a Deep and Wide Christmas Advent – Dec. 1st

For believers, the Christmas holiday holds meaning far beyond feel-good movies and familiar carols. We can wring our hands over those around us who are missing the glorious message, or we can choose to let our lives spread the message. This world is bloated with religion but starved for Jesus.The good news is that by continually beholding Him, we can share the Bread of Life with our world. We can’t give another person the joy of the Lord, but we can live magnifying Him. We can’t hand them...

Carrot Souffle with Candied Pecan Topping

Recipe cred for this delicious Carrot Soufflé goes to my hairdresser, Lisa Hattaway. Of course, I added a candied pecan topping because that’s just how the women in my family role. We are genetically bound to tweak a dish. I wanted to give this dish a trial run before Thanksgiving, and y’all, have mercy! Phil and I gave it an A+ and we would grade it higher if we could! Note, it could easily live on the dessert table! No joke. I told the beloved farmer I thought the sugar could be halved and...

I don’t want to trigger you, but…

Hi, I’m Shellie. Everything reminds me of a story, and I believe life is better when you’re laughing. Hit subscribe and stick around. We need to chat…

I stand amazed at the ever-increasing list of things offending my fellow Americans. Every day reveals a new trigger, defined as anything that reminds someone of a previous trauma and causes them to have an intense emotional or physical reaction. At the risk of sounding insensitive, we all have triggers, a.k.a. painful memories. Some are worse than o...

Because I want to be a real girl

Revelation 4:1 tells us “There is a door standing open in heaven.”

I want to spend the last few moments communicating as openly as I can about that wonderful door. No filters. No pretense. Here’s the unvarnished truth. I wish I could tell you that every morning when I set out to pray, the heavens part and communion with the One my soul loves is immediate.

But I want to be a real girl so I can be of help to you.

Rarely does the veil between heaven and earth thin so quickly. Most mornings my thoughts have to be corr...

Grab your new FREEBIE and meet Marisa!

The beloved farmer says a person starts reading at one end of our house, and reads straight through to the other. The man has a point. I do so love words!  I told you about a host of free Thanksgiving printables here and I’ve already heard from so many of you who printed them and are enjoying them. And well, you know that spurs me on, right? Here’s another gift to help you cover your home in gratitude without denting the bank account one itty bit.

I found this 8×10 frame in a closet, created and...

The Miracle of Any Given Day

Have you ever been in a conversation that was surface level and comfortable, until someone asked a deeper question that changed everything? I have. We’re going to see something like this happen in Matthew 16:13-17. Let’s read the passage together first.

13 When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” 14 So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He...

Thanksgiving kicks off with FREE Printables!

Thanksgiving! It’s long been one of my hands-down favorite holidays, and I’m so grateful, no pun intended, that this season of gratitude has proven more resistant to the trappings of commercialism than our other celebrations.  May it always be, right?! So, in the spirit of the season, I’ve created y’all a little Thanksgiving gift! PRINTABLES!

I printed the ones you see here in heavy cardstock with a pretty shiny beige finish on my home computer. You can find cardstock at crafts centers, office supply s...

So you like chilly bump stories? Read on!

I hear you like a story that gives you chill bumps. Okay, I’ve got some potentially creepy words for you today.  We’ll be reading straight from the fifth chapter of Daniel if you want to open your Word. However, I’m going to be sharing it in storytelling style. Now, I know this next admission will also be shocking, but I’m aiming to add some commentary here and there, so I’ll put my thoughts in italics to make double dog sure there’s no mistaking my words from the holy ones.

Once upon a time in a...