When I look at my circumstances, I’ve been fearful and worried; but when I turn my eyes to Jesus, when I remember His faithful promises, when I trust Him again and again, my faith grows stronger. Paul talks about Abraham’s faith. He pens his letter emphatically assuring his audience of new believers (both Jew andContinue reading “Scary circumstances?”
Tag Archives: spiritual warfare
My heart is heavy for them… Is yours?
Over the years, God has allowed me to travel to many churches to share about His goodness and hope. And because of that, I’ve met many pastors and many, many pastor’s wives, and my heart is heavy for them. Ministry is hard.Ministry is lonely. The weeks I go and speak I notice our family isContinue reading “My heart is heavy for them… Is yours?”
What would you do?
What would you do?What would you choose?Could you stand strong? It’s famous. We know the story. And we are tempted to breeze right through it. But slow down… This dilemma, (listen, that we may all face sooner, rather than later, the way our world is headed), is sobering and makes for far greater than aContinue reading “What would you do?”
Trying Harder? Frustrated with your own sin?
I think it’s HUGE that we understand this! What exactly does Jesus mean when He says, “When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none. Then he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when he comes, he finds itContinue reading “Trying Harder? Frustrated with your own sin?”
God, I don’t understand
It is not popular to say, but God will do things we don’t like or understand. In Luke 6, Jesus heals a man on the Sabbath and the religious leaders were filled with rage. Rage. Not awe and adoration that a miracle had been performed right before their eyes. Not celebration for the man whoseContinue reading “God, I don’t understand”
These are not the days not to do your homework!
I was worried and teary-eyed. I remember looking at my wise, older friend who had faced so much heartache, but had so much joy, and said, “But, what do I do?” She looked at me and smiled and said, “You keep seeking Jesus through His Word. You diligently guard your heart and mind in Him,Continue reading “These are not the days not to do your homework!”
When Your Problems Seem Bigger Than Your Faith
There are THOSE moments when the stuff of this life simply sucks you dry. And you are a Christian. There are days where the problems scream, and everything in you has to fight to remember truth. There are days the battle seems great and the blessings feel, well, small. Real small. And stress, and worry,Continue reading “When Your Problems Seem Bigger Than Your Faith”
The enemy won’t make it easy. This will help you.
Those who were made new by the blood of Christ, will never live content in their old ways. Though we may try to hold on to certain sins, downplaying their dangers, our hearts will never find peace there. As we daily surrender our will to the way of the Lord, we are refreshed to walkContinue reading “The enemy won’t make it easy. This will help you.”
Words on a page. Hope in my heart.
Words on a page.Hope in my heart. These words weren’t meant to be put on a shelf after Easter. I need to remember again. Maybe you do, too? As His blood flowed down, and the human heart of my Savior stopped , the curtain separating men from a Holy God was torn in two. (LukeContinue reading “Words on a page. Hope in my heart.”
Here’s how I study the Word to find HOPE. —a few tips
(My tips are at the end) Nothing has changed my life more than God’s Word and a desire to know Him better through it. Peter tells us it is how we grow: “Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word,Continue reading “Here’s how I study the Word to find HOPE. —a few tips”
Consumed? Or at PEACE?
Most of you who follow this page aren’t caught up in carousing and drunkenness (see Luke 21:34; NKJV) but there’s this other thing… This other, sneaky thing. Did you read the verse referenced above ? Did you see it? The evil one seems to use IT so effectively against us, and its effects are oftenContinue reading “Consumed? Or at PEACE?”
Too hard for God?
We’ve probably all seen, or experienced ourselves, the effects of trauma, especially childhood trauma. Those wounds are deep and sometimes, it seems, the effects are insurmountable. Or, are they? The powerful words below are not mine but from one who has suffered as a child but wishes to remain anonymous (for obvious reasons)— HaveContinue reading “Too hard for God?”
The devil doesn’t care about THIS.
“The devil doesn’t care at all if you know Jesus or love Jesus or pray to Jesus – as long as it is a false Jesus, a make-believe Jesus, a Jesus who is not there, and who therefore cannot save.” – David Guzik, Enduring Word App John says in his letter, “Beloved, do not believeContinue reading “The devil doesn’t care about THIS.”
Are the hard days worth it?
If I’m honest, some days I wonder if the really hard days are worth it. I’ve uttered, more than once, when the trouble around me feels deep, “Oh Lord, won’t you just come on and get us.” But then, as He does so often, at just the right time, right when I need it, GodContinue reading “Are the hard days worth it?”
We see the trouble. We can’t see this.
I couldn’t sleep. I woke up early thinking about this world (and, to be honest, my own little world and some things heavy on my heart). I was reminded again of my study of Daniel— Daniel is praying fervently as the Lord, through Gabriel, explains the things which are to come— the destruction of Jerusalem,Continue reading “We see the trouble. We can’t see this.”
When we are tempted to fear…
I can’t remember what had caused me to fear way back then, I just remember her response. Oh, how I miss my wise friend. She’s with Jesus now. She told me, “When the world is crazy, when you don’t know what to do, draw closer to Jesus. Be prepared to give an answer for theContinue reading “When we are tempted to fear…”
The thing about hanging out with sinners…
When people spend time with you, do they see Jesus in you and desire to follow Him more? Zacchaeus, that wee little man, who climbed the Sycamore tree and invited Jesus to dine with him, was well known for his sins (Luke 19:7). But after spending time with Jesus, he repented of his sins andContinue reading “The thing about hanging out with sinners…”
Because of Jesus, we really can face tomorrow.
We all mourn things. Life includes hard, tragic, disappointing, and sad moments. No one is immune. You can’t wrap yourself up in a bubble and avoid it. You’re going to miss out on the best of life if you try to do so. What’s crazy is that as I walk this life, I continue toContinue reading “Because of Jesus, we really can face tomorrow.”
Not every situation ends in disappointment
Not every situation ends in disappointment. Those of us who are eternally minded, especially those with hearts for others to truly know the life and peace found in Christ, need to remember this. Yes, we live in a spiritual war zone, and we have seen those we desperately want to walk toward Jesus, walk away.Continue reading “Not every situation ends in disappointment”
When those we thought godly, walk away.
I’m not sure if anything comes as close to rattling my faith as when people, I thought godly, walk away from Jesus and do ungodly things. This was exactly what was happening in the church in Corinth. We see it today as some continue to choose the praise of men and compromise with the worldContinue reading “When those we thought godly, walk away.”