Have You Caught Up with Jesus Today?
How a Birthday Gift from My Fiancé Became One of God’s Sweetest Reminders to Me This Summer
“Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.” — Psalm 37:4 (NKJV)
There are some gifts that make you smile the moment you open them.
Then there are gifts that continue teaching you long after the wrapping paper is gone.
Last month, on July 7th, I celebrated my 31st birthday.
Birthdays have always been a time of reflection for me. I naturally find myself looking back over the previous year and thanking God for everything He has done. Some years are full of mountaintop moments. Others are filled with valleys that stretch our faith in ways we never expected. Most years, if we’re honest, are a mixture of both.
As I celebrated turning thirty-one, I found myself overwhelmed—not because life has been perfect, but because God has been faithful.
When I think about where I was a few years ago compared to where I am today, I can’t help but praise Him.
He has walked beside me through heartbreak.
He has strengthened me through health challenges.
He has opened doors for ministry that I never dreamed possible.
He has given me opportunities to write stories that point people toward Christ.
He has called me into pastoral ministry.
He has allowed me to build a ministry for people with disabilities.
He has surrounded me with incredible family and friends.
And He brought someone into my life that I prayed for during many lonely years—my fiancé, Cody.
Every birthday reminds me that another year of my life has been written by God’s hand.
As Psalm 139 reminds us, every one of our days was known by Him before we ever lived even one of them.
That thought never gets old.
A Gift That Fit Me Perfectly
One of my favorite birthday gifts this year came from Cody.
If you’ve ever received a gift from someone who truly knows you, then you understand how special that feels.
The best gifts aren’t always the biggest or the most expensive.
Sometimes they’re the ones that make you laugh because they’re so “you.”
When I opened Cody’s gift, I immediately laughed.
It was a bright red T-shirt that said:
“Catch Up with Jesus…”
And underneath it read:
“‘Cuz He Blesses Me From My Head To-Ma-Toes.”
I absolutely loved it.
If you know me, you know why.
I love Jesus.
I love encouraging people.
I love Christian apparel that starts conversations.
And yes…
I love a good cheesy pun.
I looked at Cody and smiled because I knew exactly why he picked it out for me.
He knows that if something makes people smile while also pointing them toward Jesus, I’m probably going to wear it every chance I get.
I folded the shirt, thanked him, and honestly didn’t think much more about it.
At least…not yet.
Because God wasn’t finished with that gift.
A Simple Shirt with a Powerful Message
A few days later, I decided to wear it while I was out.
Throughout the day, people noticed it.
Some laughed.
Some smiled.
One person simply pointed at it and gave me a thumbs-up.
Others quietly read it as I passed by.
I love moments like that because they remind me that even the smallest things can become opportunities to share Christ.
Not every witness has to begin with a sermon.
Sometimes it begins with kindness.
Sometimes it begins with a smile.
Sometimes…
It begins with a T-shirt.
But while everyone else was reading my shirt…
I kept reading it too.
Every time I happened to glance down…
There it was.
“Catch Up with Jesus.”
Those words followed me throughout the day.
Not in a condemning way.
Not in a guilt-filled way.
But in the gentle way the Holy Spirit often speaks to our hearts.
It was almost as if the Lord was asking me,
“Tylia… you’ve been catching up with your writing.”
“You’ve been catching up with ministry.”
“You’ve been catching up with projects.”
“You’ve been catching up with emails.”
“But have you caught up with Me today?”
That question stayed with me.
And honestly…
I needed it.
Even Good Things Can Become Distractions
One thing I’ve learned over the years is that not every distraction is sinful.
Sometimes our distractions are actually good things.
Ministry is a good thing.
Writing Christian books is a good thing.
Serving people is a good thing.
Helping others is a good thing.
Building a church is a good thing.
Creating Bible studies is a good thing.
Answering prayer requests is a good thing.
The danger comes when we become so busy doing things for Jesus that we stop spending time with Jesus.
That has convicted me more than once.
I can spend hours writing about God.
I can spend hours studying Scripture for a lesson.
I can spend hours planning ministry.
Yet none of those things should ever replace simply sitting quietly in God’s presence as His daughter.
God doesn’t love me because I’m productive.
He loves me because I belong to Him.
That’s something I constantly have to remind myself.
My Disability Has Taught Me This Lesson
Living with cerebral palsy has shaped the way I see life.
Growing up, there were many moments when I wished I could move faster.
I wanted to keep up with everyone else.
I wanted my body to cooperate.
I wanted simple tasks to feel simple.
For years, I viewed slowing down as something frustrating.
But as I’ve grown older, I’ve realized that slowing down has often become one of God’s greatest gifts in my life.
Because when life slows down…
I notice Him more.
I hear Him more clearly.
I depend on Him more deeply.
Some of my most meaningful conversations with God haven’t happened during exciting ministry events.
They’ve happened during ordinary afternoons.
While sitting quietly with my Bible.
While listening to worship music.
While watching the rain fall outside.
While thanking Him for another day.
Stillness has become one of the places where my faith grows the most.
No wonder Scripture tells us,
“Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)
Stillness isn’t empty.
It’s often where God fills us the most.
The World Wants Our Attention
Have you noticed how hard the world fights for our attention?
Every app wants us to stay longer.
Every notification wants us to click.
Every news story tells us it’s urgent.
Every social media platform promises we’ll miss something if we don’t keep scrolling.
We are constantly told to stay connected.
But connected to what?
To endless opinions?
To fear?
To outrage?
To comparison?
To people who don’t even know us?
Meanwhile, Jesus quietly says,
“Come to Me.”
He isn’t shouting over the noise.
He’s inviting us into peace.
And somehow…
Peace always sounds quieter than chaos.
Delight Yourself in the Lord
The verse on my shirt comes from Psalm 37:4.
For years, people have quoted this verse as if it means God promises to give us everything we ask for.
But I think it’s much more beautiful than that.
When we delight ourselves in the Lord…
Our hearts begin to change.
The things that once seemed so important suddenly become less important.
Our priorities shift.
Our fears shrink.
Our confidence grows.
Our love for Christ deepens.
The more time I spend with Jesus, the less anxious I become about everything else.
That doesn’t mean life’s problems disappear.
It means I’m no longer facing them alone.
A Shirt I’ll Never Look at the Same Way Again
Now, every time I pull that bright red birthday shirt out of my closet, I smile.
Not just because Cody gave it to me.
Although that alone makes it special.
I smile because God used something so ordinary to teach me something extraordinary.
Every time I wear it, I’ll remember my thirty-first birthday.
I’ll remember Cody’s thoughtfulness.
I’ll remember how deeply loved I am—not only by the man I’m going to marry, but by the Savior who loved me first.
And I’ll remember the quiet lesson God whispered into my heart through four simple words.
“Catch Up with Jesus.”
Before You Catch Up with the World…
Tomorrow morning…
Before you check Facebook…
Before you watch the news…
Before you answer emails…
Before you scroll through Instagram…
Before you worry about everything waiting on your schedule…
Pause.
Open your Bible.
Spend a few minutes with Jesus.
Not because you have to.
Because you get to.
There is no better way to begin your day than by spending time with the One who created you, saved you, walks beside you, and promises never to leave you.
I still think Cody bought me a funny birthday shirt.
But now I know God turned it into something much more.
A reminder that I hope I’ll carry with me for the rest of my life.
Before you catch up with the world…
Catch up with Jesus.
A Prayer
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for always inviting us into Your presence. Forgive us for the times we become so busy catching up with the world that we neglect spending time with You. Help us to make You our first priority each day. Fill our hearts with Your peace, guide our steps with Your wisdom, and remind us that true joy is found in walking closely with You. May our lives reflect Your love in everything we do.
Thank You for the people You place in our lives who encourage our faith, even through simple gifts that point our hearts back to You. Thank You for Cody and for the thoughtful reminder he gave me through a simple birthday gift. Help us all to recognize Your voice in the ordinary moments of life and to treasure every opportunity to grow closer to You.
May we never become so busy serving You that we forget to simply sit at Your feet. Teach us to delight ourselves in You each day, trusting that Your presence is the greatest blessing we could ever receive.
In the precious name of Jesus,
Amen.
