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The World We Live In
I’ve watched from a distance the culture of anger we see all around us today. Painful as that is, seeing it in the community where I live brings it close to home and breaks my heart. Especially when Christians are angry and violent for a “christian” reason. Seeking justice, but in an un-Christlike manner. A hateful and even threatening manner. But it’s a picture of what we’ve all witnessed across the nation. A hint of truth, a huge dose of untruth, then attacks on social media platforms that are aimed at destroying people. Watching attacks on people they don’t know at all. They believe lies they see or hear from…
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A Podcast To Listen To: The Forgotten Jesus
If I haven’t convinced you yet (PLEASE see last weeks post The Scarlet Thread if you missed it!), then I want to recommend a podcast series that I’ve been listening to. The Forgotten Jesus Podcast, with my pastor Robby Gallaty, Andrew Bolton and Collin Wood, explains more deeply the connection between the Old and New Testaments and why we MUST read all the Bible to get the depth of the message of the Gospel. You will not be sorry you take the time to listen to these podcasts. You will have access to the episode notes on each one as well! Banner photo by Austin Distel on Unsplash
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The Scarlet Thread
Read this quote three times. If this is a new thought to you, I get it. The author, R. T. Kendall, says it so beautifully. I found it in one of his books I am currently reading, God Meant It For Good, and was reminded of not understanding this in the past. Years ago I only wanted to read the New Testament, you know, because it made more sense than all the kings, pagan nations, and prophets found in the Old Testament. In fact, when I first began serving at LifeWay Beth Moore’s first study, A Woman’s Heart: God’s Dwelling Place, was about to be released. I couldn’t understand why…
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Everything?
How many days a week do you feel blessed? 5 out of 7? 2 out of 7? 7 out of 7? Something new stood out for me as I read (AGAIN) the story of Abraham’s life. It’s a simple verse in Genesis 24. “Abraham was now old, getting on in years, and the LORD had blessed him in everything.” Genesis 24:1 At first glance, it doesn’t appear to be more than a simple comment about Abraham, but something stood out to me that hadn’t before. As I reflected on what he had already experienced as he followed God in obedience, I thought, “EVERYTHING?” What about leaving his homeland and family…
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A Breath of Fresh Air
For summer gals like me, winter is long and oh so cold, and my skin oh so dry! So, when I get a day here and there during winter months with sunshine and warmer weather, the kind where I get to go sit (often with #MoDawg) on our deck and look for animals in the woods, I’m there! It reminds me that spring will come, even if not yet! It gives me a moment to just catch my breath, feel the warmth on my face, and breath deeply. At times, I need this reminder of spring. Kind of like in the middle of a long season of strife or just…
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Mysterious Purpose
Why does it sometimes take pain to push us to grow deeper in Christ? If I could answer I’d be really brilliant. I can’t even explain it to myself in a way that totally makes sense because I could never fully explain God’s ways. Why? Because He’s so much wiser than I am and well, you know…He’s so much more in every way than we are. But we do not have to understand Him or fully explain Him to know Him! As I’ve continued reading chronologically, I am studying Job and although he was a righteous man, the devil was allowed to test him by destroying what was important to…
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Genesis…Again?
Yes, again. But I’ve read it multiple times, why again? I just started my 5th D-Group. Each group has lasted a year to a year and a half. Each group reads through the Bible chronologically using Foundations: F-260, New Testament 260, Old Testament 260 or The Bible in a Year. This new group This is using The Bible in a Year by Kandi Gallaty. And guess what, each time we begin in the beginning because, well, chronologically, it teaches about the beginning of time! I know, not a shock to you who know scripture! (insert smile here) So, this week I’m reading through part of Genesis and Job. What in…
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Posts for the Leader
Sometimes I’ve struggled with how much or how little to share personal as I’ve led. Whether we are using social media, sharing one-on-one or in a group setting, we need to be wise. I’ve always been a pretty transparent person, sharing what is going on in my life as I’ve led. But I also have tried to use discretion, wanting to be sure I didn’t hurt another person by what I shared. I didn’t always get it right. This is a great post by Carey Nieuwhof you must read: The Fine Line Between Oversharing and Undershare as a Leader. LifeWay Research provides many helpful posts for leaders. This one refers…
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Discipleship For Women
If you’ve read my blog in the past, you are probably aware of my love for discipling women. It challenges me to keep learning and growing in my own walk with Christ, and to learn from the women I disciple. Their hunger keeps my own hunger for the Word fueled and my walk with Jesus strong. This week I am linking you to a post I wrote for Get Strong Ministries as a part of their Discipleship Leader Training. On this page (under video session 3) click Leading a Women’s Discipleship Group to read. If you have a heart for discipling women, I pray this will encourage and strengthen your…
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A “Don’t Worry” Reminder
At the end of 2022, I got a call from my doctor’s office about needing some follow-up scans to ones I’d had a few days prior. Not a call you want to get right before Christmas…or anytime really. Unfortunately, they couldn’t schedule the scans until after the first week of January. My first thought was, “I have to go through the holidays with this on my mind? Wondering if there is an unexpected something that will change my life in 2023.” Yes, I would have to go through Christmas and New Year’s celebrations without knowing if something was wrong. Then, I remembered another time, years ago, when I got a…
