I had woken up to a horrific storm. Wind howling. Sheets of rain. Booming thunder. The storm outside passed, but I couldn’t sleep. Another storm, the one affecting us all, the condition of our world, was on my mind. In Luke 8, Jesus is exhausted from his busy ministry. He tells his disciples to getContinue reading “Peace, be still … for the storms tossing us to and fro!”
Tag Archives: eternal focus
When we don’t understand.
I sat crying yesterday as the news of the Nashville school shooting came, not just from my television, but from family and friends. My brother-in-law grew up with the dad of one of the little girls who was killed. My sister-in-law had gone to college with him when he started a ministry there. My husbandContinue reading “When we don’t understand.”
These people truly love you
I heard a pastor once say, “You can’t preach peace to those who walk in disobedience.” The truth is, as much as we want others to experience the rivers of peace we know because of Christ; those who insist on walking their own way, in disobedience to the ways of God, will never experience theContinue reading “These people truly love you”
If we ignore sin are we truly loving others?
I’m not the sharpest nail in the box, but when God points out things twice, I tend to pay attention! My daughter, Abi, was recounting a dream she had about John 8 and the woman caught in adultery. She talked about how very vivid the dream seemed. Two days later, I “flopped” my Bible openContinue reading “If we ignore sin are we truly loving others?”
When you feel afraid…
Three years ago today, my daughter sent me these words. The world has only gotten scarier but her words are still keep-you-going truth…. Completely and utterly afraid… Overwhelmed, tired, ready to wake up from this bad dream… That’s exactly how I feel. I have this knot in my stomach, and this fear, every time IContinue reading “When you feel afraid…”
Refute the lies. Walk in TRUTH!
A man puts on a dress and is called a woman. Another man stuffs himself in a swimsuit and wins a woman’s swimming championship. Thousands walk across our border and government officials call it “secure”. I could go on and on with lie after lie we’ve been fed this past year —origins of CoVid, effectivenessContinue reading “Refute the lies. Walk in TRUTH!”
It won’t always be this hard
As Christian’s, there is something we have to do that is incredibly hard to do. We have to be okay with not understanding everything. I’ve talked with so many people who are walking through incredibly hard things, or dealing with situations that just make no earthly sense. Something devastating has happened that they don’t understand.Continue reading “It won’t always be this hard”
Unexpected, hard ways…
Matthews gospel records the miraculous birth of the Savior. (Matt 1:18-25) The oh-so familiar story has been the subject of countless movies, books and church programs. And we often, breeze past these verses. But Jesus did come. Prophecy was fulfilled. God sent His Son to us! And if this were not true, there would beContinue reading “Unexpected, hard ways…”
One thing that defeats FEAR!
There are so many things in this world right now, that tempt us to fear. I’m sick of seeing the enemy rob us of peace because we are distracted, discouraged, and gripped by fear. The enemy really uses that. But here’s one thing I’ve learned that has disarmed him time and time again in myContinue reading “One thing that defeats FEAR!”
Stop Praying Safe Momma Prayers!
Jesus is my everything. My satisfaction. I learned to walk in real relationship with Jesus in the midst of intense trial and tragedy in my life. It was through those hard days that God taught me to trust Him for all of my days and where He became my everything—more than enough for whatever lifeContinue reading “Stop Praying Safe Momma Prayers!”
I’m Not Enough For My Kids
I’ll be sharing with young moms this morning and tonight at First Baptist Concord. I’d appreciate your prayers. As I think of that, I’ll share something God laid on my heart several years ago— I’m Not Enough For My Kids What feels like a long time ago now, a squirmy, wet, beautiful, little creature wasContinue reading “I’m Not Enough For My Kids”
Are we sitting by while they are being stoned?
Stephen had just preached the truth (Acts 7). He had meticulously explained how Jesus was prophecy fulfilled, the coming Righteous One, and how the “stiff-necked people” had rejected Him. The people were enraged. But Stephen did not shrink back. And the people, upon hearing truth, “stopped their ears”, and they stoned Stephen to death. And,Continue reading “Are we sitting by while they are being stoned?”
Don’t run ahead in your own strength
His fame grew. The crowds pressed. There was so much ministry to be done. So many lessons for the Savior to teach. And what did He do? He withdrew into the wilderness and prayed. (Luke 5:16). So often, I see needs….So many good things to do. And too often, I run ahead in my ownContinue reading “Don’t run ahead in your own strength”
Hope, when you feel like you have none…
Just over a year ago, an early morning message took my breath away. A mom, who loves Jesus, serves the Lord with her husband in ministry, and who had sat with me at ballgames as we watched our daughters cheer, messaged to let me know her daughter was tragically killed the night before. Tears filledContinue reading “Hope, when you feel like you have none…”
Will you notice the eternal in this day?
Though he was in chains, Paul asked that others would pray for open doors to preach the gospel clearly. “Praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains, that I may make it manifest as IContinue reading “Will you notice the eternal in this day?”
Are you grieving the better days of this country?
This morning, I’m thinking back to words my sister-in-law said to me as we prepared for a baby shower. They are increasingly true. Before all the guests arrived, Shauna, who is a prayer warrior and dear friend to me, talked about all that is going on in our world. She said something that struck meContinue reading “Are you grieving the better days of this country?”
So, how well is your husband measuring up?
Husbands love your wives and do not be bitter towards them. (Col 3:19) And the Greek word Paul used for LOVE here is a really big deal— “Agapao does not denote affection or romantic attachment; it rather denotes caring love, a deliberate attitude of mind that concerns itself with the well-being of the one loved.”Continue reading “So, how well is your husband measuring up?”
Our problems come when we live like this world is all there is.
Temporary problems can get us all down. But we need to have our theology straight in order to not get consumed by them. There have always been those who want to take away from the Bible and those who want to add to it. When Paul wrote his letter, many of the Christians in ColosseContinue reading “Our problems come when we live like this world is all there is.”
Every person you meet today is an immortal being
Paul sat in a Roman prison suffering. Yet, he rejoiced (Col 1:24) because he knew the HOPE of glory (Col 1:27)—Christ in us!! Paul was not only able to rejoice as he focused on Christ in that prison but the work of Christ grew in Paul as he focused on others. Others. Oh, I suspectContinue reading “Every person you meet today is an immortal being”
We aren’t those who shrink back!
The words of Hebrews 10:39 kept coming to me-“But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.” We, who have faith, are not of those who shrink back. We are not of those who draw back. We are those who believe.And keepContinue reading “We aren’t those who shrink back!”