Abraham was totally convinced that God would fulfill all His promises. Are you? Are you totally convinced that God is going to fulfill His promises to you? When God says, “Yes.” Do you believe Him? All the way?
Or - do you only partially believe that God will fulfill His promises to you? Or do you doubt that He will come through for you? If you’re anything like me, doubt seems easier.
Hoping is hard.
Read MoreHappy Friday! Last week, I posted this ½ hour talk I gave on worthiness.
Since I’m guessing many of you didn’t have a chance to give it a listen, I’m sending it for Round 2!
Here’s the background: I was invited to speak for a women’s event, and I recorded it with my handy iPhone. This talk isn’t perfect, but it’s real and it’s got some good bones. Hit play, get ready for the day, and let some truth soak into your Friday!
Read MoreGals - I’ll be real honest. It is late. I’ve had a long day, followed by a long prayer time with some big battles. God was pulling weeds out of my garden tonight, and I’m sore. Cleaner, better, and freer - but sore.
I don’t know all that He’s doing. I don’t know where we’re going together. I can’t see what’s coming next. But I can see Him. When I close my eyes, I can see His face.
I can’t see the future, but I can see Him.
Read MoreWhat makes someone a good person? I’m sure we’ve all heard a story or two about a person who makes bad decision after bad decision that ends with, “but she’s actually a really good person.” OR - how many times have you heard someone justify their own selfish behavior by saying, “but I’m a good person.”
Let’s be honest, we’ve all heard someone describe a relatively mediocre man (no offense) by saying, “He’s a good guy.”
Read MoreThis line from scripture came at me like a punch in the gut. “They exchanged the truth of God for a lie and revered and worshiped the creature rather than the creator, who is blessed forever.” This verse forced me to consider - what truth do I exchange for a lie? What goodness do I trade?
What truth do I sacrifice for a lie?
For me, this scripture isn’t just about sex - it’s about what I deem to be more important than God - what I’m willing to trade Him for.
Read MoreBelonging looks different for each of us. It means something different for each of us. It’s unique to the person you are and the person you were made to become.
For one, belonging might look like being on a close-knit team, for another having a sunny corner all to herself that roommates don’t invade. It might look like going out with her girlfriends for a drink or two or getting teased about her accent by her closest crew of friends.
Read MoreToday is a little different! Yesterday, I was invited to speak for a women’s event, and I recorded it with my handy iPhone. This talk isn’t perfect, but it’s real and it’s got some good bones. It’s about a ½ hour long, so hit play, get ready for the day, and let some truth soak into your Friday morning!
Read MoreIt is SO tempting to ask this question. If I’m totally honest, there have been plenty of times when I’ve asked Him: what’s the point? God, if following you prevents me from getting what I want - then why do I do it? Why do I bother? What am I doing here? Is it worth it? Are You worth it?
The world is telling me I’m crazy. Today, I feel crazy. If You’re not real, then I actually am crazy. Why am I giving You myself and my time and my energy and my money? If this life is all there is, why don’t I just live it up?
What’s in it for me?
Read MoreFather. When Jesus teaches us to pray, He begins with Father. He doesn’t start with Your Excellency or Your Majesty or Supreme Leader - He begins with Father, and He teaches us to start there.
When we pray, Jesus teaches us that we get to start with relationship. We get to start with belonging. We start with love.
We start with family.
God sent His son to teach us, and His son teaches us to start with Father. If we miss that, we miss the whole point. The Father wants to be our Father first.
Read MoreOnly one thing - Jesus. God’s presence. We have need of only one thing: Him. Our world is messy and broken and hard, and Jesus tells us, ‘there is need of only one thing.’ He gives us the antidote for our fears and our worries, for our anxiety and our stress - Himself.
Read MoreThere are probably lots of very academic answers to explain why the Samaritan traveler was different from the priest and the Levite, but my guess is simple. Scripture says that the Samaritan was moved by his compassion - so that’s my guess.
The Samaritan’s service to this man, his ministry towards this man, and his mission for this man flowed from compassion.
Read MoreDeliver us. What does it mean to be delivered? It’s different from being saved or rescued - it’s more than that. To be delivered is to be set free, to be liberated. Consider the Israelites: God didn’t just rescue them, He delivered them. Deliverance is different than rescue.
If God was going to rescue the Israelites, He could have just scooped them up and plopped them into the promised land. No, He did one better - He delivered them. He liberated them.
Read MoreWhat is your strength? What do you rely on for strength? Coffee? Chocolate? An episode of Friends or a favorite movie? A run? Or a person?
Who do you lean on for strength?
My mom still hears about almost everything, and I bug my brother when I need to rant about politics or want to talk about Star Wars. When I need a handyman or sound advice on work, I reach out to my dad; and I lean on my sisters when I need to remember my silliness and my joy.
Read MoreWhat does it take to be like a child? To be like a kid? In truth, it’s easy to romanticize children. When you think of the children that Jesus picks up, it’s very bucolic - a perfect child on the perfect lap of a perfect Lord. But kids aren’t like that most of the time.
Most of the time, kids are rowdy and rambunctious and creative and messy. Sometimes they’re teachable, sometimes they’re not. Sometimes they’re sweet, sometimes they’re not.
Kids are… well… Kids.
Read MoreWhat would happen if every person we encountered today encountered God through us? What if every person we touched today knew that God was with us? Knew that God found favor with us? Just by the witness of our life?
What if we were THAT good, THAT transformed, THAT in love with Jesus? What if we were THAT Christian? What if we were SO sold out for Jesus, for the Father, and for the Holy Spirit that others couldn't help but encounter Him when they encountered us?
Read MoreDid you know that the Father is just as jealous for you and for your heart as He was for Zion? Just as the Lord longs to dwell in Zion - He longs to dwell within your heart. Just as the Father longs to bring Zion fruitfulness, freedom, and joy - He longs to bring fruitfulness, freedom, and joy to you.
When I think of jealousy, it’s hard to equate that with God. My jealousy is almost always petty and self-serving. But God’s jealousy isn't like mine.
Read MoreWho do you say He is? In your life? In your day to day conversations? Who is He to you?
Today, I’m taking time with Jesus to talk about this. Who do I say He is by my actions? Do I let Him change me? Do I let Him love me? Do I let Him be my shelter, my safety? Do I go to Him first? Before anyone else? Do I run away when I fall? Or do I run to Him?
Do I let Him change my life?
Do I let His victory change my life?
Read MoreIt is hard to allow God to take delight in me when I don’t take delight in myself. When I fall on my face, when I count my sins, when I blame myself - it’s hard for me to be okay with being loved, with being delighted in.
It is hard to let yourself be loved when you don’t love yourself. Have you ever rejected a compliment because you didn’t feel worthy of it? I have. I think, “No, no - I’m not actually good at that.” But that’s wrong because…
God doesn’t let anything define you except His love.
Read MorePaul says, “I am grateful to him who has strengthened me, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he considered me trustworthy in appointing me to the ministry.” He was appointed a ministry - after failure, after sin, after brokenness, God still used him.
Despite Paul’s failings, God still chose redemption. And God chose trust. God trusted Paul with an appointment, with a mission. Paul’s failings didn’t get in God’s way. God chose to trust Paul. And, just like Paul, God trusts you.
Read MoreI love the readings today because they teach us how to disagree. The scriptures tell us today, “Yeah, you’re probably not going to get along perfectly all the time. But here’s what to do about it.”
When I’m frustrated or annoyed or hurt by someone, I tend to villainize them. It’s really hard for me to assume they had good intentions.
Read More
