Hello! Bonjour! Hola!
My name is Brandi Shigley. For far too long, I have had my faith in my back pocket, in the ol’ pair of jeans hidden in a box in the back of my closet. I realized a couple of years ago that I am not being true to who I am by hiding my love of God. I took that part of my heart out of the closet and now wear it on my sleeve, walking with Jesus, diving into the Word and loving freely.
This website is designed to share my walk and journey along this sometimes difficult path. Eventually, I want it to be a platform for many to share their journeys. But for now, I’ll share interviews with others, thoughts in my mind, and what I continue to learn.
Brandi Shigley
Founder
Luke 1: 39-56
Luke 1:44 As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Today, after working a few hours from home, I took Olive Dog out to Boulder for a little adventure out in nature. As I listened to the story of The Birth of Jesus foretold (Luke 1:25-56), my heart felt the pitter patter of joy as I heard the words "The baby in my womb leaped for joy." To imagine the loving presence of the Lord that baby John the Baptist can feel in the womb, leaves me with a big smile on my face. The more that I have faith, the more that I feel this loving presence and I am overflowing with joy. I felt that joy on our walk today watching Olive play, being outside in the fresh air. I am so grateful to live so close to a beautiful and serene place, to be quiet and sit in peace. In between work, I took a much needed adventure and was inspired and my soul refreshed. I felt wrapped up in God's joy, peace and love. While I was sitting here, I imagined sitting on the shore...
Why does God allow suffering?
This morning I watched a video of Stephen Fry bashing the heck out of God. The old me would have turned it off, but I listened to what he had to say. He talked a lot about God being a maniac for creating suffering. This morning at Highlands Church, hospice chaplain Tim Pynes, shared a message about suffering. For me, Tim's sermon was the perfect thing to hear after listening to Fry's message. Listen here... it's EXCELLENT! Being a Christian, my view of suffering is not a "why does kind of thing happen?" but more of knowing that through the suffering, there is always Love. I do believe in heaven and I do trust God. This week, I'll sit down with my friends and discuss suffering and post our thoughts here. My mind is racing and it's late and I need to try to get some sleep right now... I was looking for a good video clip of Stephen Fry's interview but found this... I really appreciate everything that Russell Brand is saying in this. PS.. I found this article that I like...
2 Random things I heard this week that bring a smile to my face….
There are 5 gospels in the Bible... Matthew, Mark, Luke, John... and YOU! How are you bringing the Good news through your actions and words? It's one thing to believe, but it's another thing to act on your beliefs. I could say that I'm a Christian and go to church every Sunday, but is that really being a Christian? Am I really following in the footsteps of Jesus just by giving myself a label? Jesus put together a banquet in the snap of his fingers! (Referring to of course, the "Feeding of the multitude"). When we are feeling like we need help, sometimes the last person that we think of to help us is God! Duh!!!! I'm going to start writing down what I pray about. My worries, concerns, gratitudes. When I think about my worries and concerns, looking back, my prayers have always been answered. It might not be on MY timing, but in His timing.
Following Jesus isn’t always comfortable
One night while standing at the bar waiting for a cocktail, a young man in his leather jacket and beard looked down at me and saw the cross around my neck. "You're not a f'ckin Christian, are you?" he asked surprised. "I am. Are you judging me?" I said jokingly. "Yes, I am," he replied "Let's talk about it." We got into a conversation about faith, but mostly church. He grew up in a church that turned him away from God, made him feel like like he wasn't accepted, and it has scarred him. I shared my story with him, my family leaving the church we grew up in only to come back to God and a new church 20+ years later when I began to see that God's love is so much more about a relationship and not rules and regulations. I felt a little nervous about stepping out in my faith in the moment. It's uncomfortable because there can be judgement. But as soon as we began to talk about it and relate to each other, a new friendship opened up. Even if it was a brief conversation one night in a bar, it...
Here’s the church, here’s the steeple…
Oh good ol' church... The word "religion" and even "church" has had a negative affect on so many. Back in the day my family left our church that we went to for years after feeling like it was more about judgment and less about Love. Rules, regulations, judgement, telling other people that they are wrong...all of these things have given so many of us a negative view on God. I've come to learn that to me, God is not about the rules and regulations but about Relationship. God is LOVE. God is accepting of who we are, even in our sinful nature, even in our imperfections. He's right there, waiting for us to open up to him. There have been a few occasions where I said, "Lord! If you are real, give me a sign! Show me that you are real!" In one of those instances of needing proof, minutes later I came back to my car, only to find a yellow sticky note laying next to my car door. I turned it over and it said "I Love You". Another occasion, just last summer actually, feeling defeated, I asked...
Be doers of the word
"Be doers of the word not hearers only" James 1:22... I've been thinking a lot about our beliefs really only ring true if we take action on them. More and more I gain courage to step out in my faith and not hide my heart out of fear of being judged. I experience true peace and joy in God's love, feeling more free than I ever have. So grateful for this gift of freedom in faith. Brandi S. Shigley
My thoughts on Love
Love. For as long as I can remember, I have always been a lover of loving love. I used to be the girl that falls in love on a whim, enjoying the beautiful spontaneity and excitement of the butterflies and newness that often come along with meeting somebody new, starting a new relationship, or even just having a brief love affair. I am in a very quiet season with my heart these days, keeping it for myself and sharing it with God. There is a new power that I've been discovering in not giving away my heart. I am content and undistracted, focussed and feel strong (at least today, it's not easy). My 20's and 30's, I've always had a boyfriend, maybe taking a few months off in between. It was as though I was looking for a relationship to complete me. But now, I begin to truly feel complete on my own (with God taking up much of that heart space). On this Valentines week, I feel my heart overflowing with joy, with love and with peace. <3 Enjoy this week o' Love! Above all else, guard your...
Thoughts at the moment in this crazy whirlwind of news.
CHRISTIANITY: the religion based on the person and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth, or its beliefs and practices. My name is Brandi Shigley. I am a Christian. I love the Lord God with all of my heart and soul and am a follower of Jesus. Jesus abhorred religion and wanted to bring peace upon the nations through Love, acceptance of all people and helping those in need, while countless times showing us how we destroy ourselves through rules and regulations, greed and corruption, and building barriers that separate us. It makes me sad to see Christians using "Christianity" to do exactly opposite of that, judging others, creating rules and regulations and a false barrier of being with God. Hating others and NOT showing love and compassion for our brothers and sisters. I believe in a God who truly loves us all, right where we are. We don't have to work to earn his love, we don't have to make ourselves perfect to be with Him. We are with Him and He with us. I'm unlearning much of what...
LUNCH PLANS TAKE A DIFFERENT TURN
My tummy was rumbling and I couldn't get into the zone unless I was nourished so I decided to take a little walk down the block to eat. On the corner, standing in the rain, was a homeless man asking for any spare change. I reached into my wallet and gave him $1.50. "Thank you. I am going to get something to eat." Out of nowhere, I said, "Come on! Let's go get you some food. I'll buy you lunch!" I took him to Billy's Gourmet Hot Dogs and bought him a hot dog and drink. I had other plans to eat elsewhere, but as i began crossing the street, my heart just turned me back around and decided to eat lunch with him instead. "Why are you doing this miss?" I thought about that... Why wouldn't I do that? If we have the ability to help somebody, to feed somebody when they are unable to feed themselves in their current situation, why would we NOT help? "Corky" told me about his life growing up in Colorado, losing his mom when he was 10 and his older brother dying. He's 64 and has never been...
Me, myself… And God
I keep seeing and hearing things about doing what makes you happy, being self-satisfied, putting yourself first... But lately, that doesn't feel satisfying to me. I want to do what makes God happy. And in doing so, my heart feels a joy like I've never felt.