I asked the Lord three times to take it away from me. He answered me, “I am all you need. I give you My loving-favor. My power works best in weak people.” I am happy to be weak and have troubles so I can have Christ’s power in me. I receive joy when I am weak. I receive joy […]
Being Light in Darkness
The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today is Christians who acknowledge Jesus with their lips and walk out the door and deny Him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable. – Brennan Manning I heard a sermon series several years ago, created by Andy Stanley, proclaiming Jesus to be irresistible (truth). It’s humanity’s actions, specifically those of believers, that […]
“Who told you that?”
Speaking with a new artsy friend recently, I said I could NOT draw. Her eyes got big and she intently noted that many people believed things about themselves because someone TOLD them a lie about themselves that they then unfortunately choose to believe. She’s not wrong. I pondered what she’d said for several days, knowing […]
Defense
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no account of wrongs. Love takes no pleasure in evil, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, […]
Resurrection
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. -Colossians 3:1 It’s Sunday. He is risen indeed! There is MUCH to be celebrated today. Even as I anticipate the celebration I’ll be attending, I recognize that many don’t celebrate for […]
Highly Qualified
I was thinking about how to reframe my mistakes so they didn’t pack such a shameful punch. What did I come up with? My mistakes are learning certificates, not condemnations. And this life thing? I’m HIGHLY QUALIFIED. I have many learning experiences I want on one hand to forget and bury, and yet I also […]
Protecting Pearls
“Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs.” -Matthew 7:6 Pearls before swine: on its face, it sounds judgmental and harsh, huh. It’s not though. It’s discerning. And it’s God breathed. Commanded, even. Case-in-point: I’ve been asked by unbelievers to defend my love of Christ. They insist on an […]
Panning for gold
As I prayed through the fact that God doesn’t see our sin (Psalm 103:12), I tried to conceptualize how, being omnipotent, He could possibly “not see” my human distractions and missteps when He was literally inside this vessel with me, experiencing the same things I was. I think it’s kind of like an e-store filter. […]
Refuge
…How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn’t let me! -Matthew 23:37 This morning I was praying for my community; that I might love it well, however and whomever presented. I asked The Lord to show me my place in seeking […]
Taking the reins
In prayer recently ,I once again claimed my surrender to Christ, asking Him to “take the reins” of my life. I thanked Him for the lessons I’ve learned when I’d tried to steer the horse of my life without His direction, thanked my vessel for being such a trooper in what I’d put her through. […]