You’ve heard me suggest focusing on loving well instead of sinning less. When you’re loving well, you quite literally cannot sin. I relate to Paul in so many ways, and I’m grateful God chose to expose Paul’s struggles. I’m thankful Paul demonstrated authenticity when begging God to remove the thorn from his side, and lamenting […]
Shaming into action
It can’t be done. I mean, it can, but it’s not effective long-term and in the end everyone loses. The desired behavior may be demonstrated for a while, but eventually the shamed individual will exhaust themselves in all the striving, or perhaps never try to begin with, the shame being so heavy. You don’t know […]
Where are you really?
Last night I had this image in my head as I fell asleep. The Lord graciously allowed for me to recall it, unpacking during prayer time this morning. I’d laid there fretting over my present challenges, attempting to convince myself there was nothing to do about any of these things before morning. I one million […]
Try Harder v. Try Again
Falling. An inevitable and critical aspect of “trying”. So many have fallen after making great efforts, and are so discouraged, they never get up and try again. Yet falling is a part of the process. If it weren’t an expected part of the human experience, God wouldn’t have had to send Jesus. The world might, […]
Don’t sweat it
I’ve talked before about King David, and that despite being described as “a man after God’s heart”, one of the mightiest kings in scripture was also an adulterer and a murderer. But it didn’t change his place in God’s sight. I’ve written before about focusing on the good, the love, serving well, because if you’re […]
Words
The Sovereign LORD has given me a well-instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary. He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being instructed. The Sovereign LORD has opened my ears; I have not been rebellious, I have not turned away. Because the Sovereign LORD helps me, I will not […]
No Qualifiers
If we’re completely honest, we don’t know what we don’t know. And we don’t know a lot so we have to rely heavily on the Holy Spirit and sheer humility to guide our hearts toward complete truth and love. I often find myself thinking on John 8, a section of the Bible where a woman […]
Can I abuse His grace?
I don’t want to abuse your grace, Lord I need it everyday. It’s the only thing that really ever makes me want to change. -We The Kingdom True faith begins with salvation, the acceptance of His grace. It’s offered freely. In Christ everything is now permissible for me, but not everything is beneficial. (1 Cor 10:23) My challenge […]
Something to Say
My pastor talked on the woman at the well at church Sunday. It was compelling and I felt SO very validated in my desire to authentically share my heart for Him. I felt like it was affirmation and permission, not a command, even though He’d have every right to command it. Fast forward to this […]