Favorite Quotes
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God’s Pruning: Painful but Purposeful
How much of your life do you really control? Maybe you take pride in your ability to plan, organize, and make things happen. I admit, I love it when my plans unfold perfectly. As someone wired administratively, I find great satisfaction in seeing the details come together. But God often reminds me that His plan is always better. Before retirement, I frequently coordinated multiple women’s training events at the same time. More than once, my “perfect” plans unraveled. Sound system fails. Trainers get sick on site and can’t teach. Flights get cancelled. During one West Coast event, an ice storm caused the coordinator to have an accident, and our shipment…
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Just a Word
I want to share two scripture passages that have been especially meaningful to me lately. My prayer is that they encourage you as well. Paul spoke truth with both authority and love to the Corinthian church. We, too, are called to speak with love and the authority of Christ. Yet there are times when we don’t know what to do or say. Sometimes pain clouds our thoughts. As someone wisely observed… Allow the Lord to shape your thoughts as you trust Him to guide your responses. Submit every thought to Christ and obey Him. St. Francis de Sales once wrote: I close with this prayer from Psalm 139:23–24: Lord, You…
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Beyond Better: A New Creation
We’re constantly bombarded with messages about self-improvement: better health, a better job, better relationships, a better home. But when is “better” ever enough? Perhaps we’re looking at it the wrong way. The Christian journey isn’t about becoming “better” versions of ourselves; it’s about becoming something entirely new. Romans 6:4 says, “We were buried with him through baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” This new life isn’t something we earn. Jesus doesn’t improve us—He makes us new. As author Chris Tiegreen put it: There’s nothing we can do to become…
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As I Wake
At daybreak, Lord, You hear my voice; at daybreak I plead my case to You and watch expectantly. Psalm 5:3 Last week I shared a link to a post I wrote for Encouraging.com. One was titled In the In the First Waking Moments. Check it out and then read another favorite quote that fits well with this thought. This is the quote that adds support my original post: The men who have done the most for God in this world have been early on their knees. He who fritters away the early morning, its opportunity and freshness, in other pursuits than seeking God will make poor headway seeking Him the rest of the day. If…
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Bitter Grip: The Cost of Unforgiveness
Have you ever thought, I just cannot forgive that person? The pain they caused feels too big, too evil. Forgiving them seems impossible. Does God really expect us to forgive in such cases? Charles Swindoll said… He’s right. When we refuse to forgive, we suffer more than they do. The person who hurt you may be unaware of your feelings, but you carry the burden every day. You have a right to be angry, but you don’t have to carry that weight. Hebrews 12:14-15 warns: Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness—without it no one will see the Lord. Make sure that no one falls short of the grace of God…
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A Candle or a Lighthouse?
Does your light shine like a lighthouse, or more like a candle? Do you use a large platform to share your faith, or do you quietly shine into the life of a neighbor? Many times while I was serving at LifeWay—a publisher of authors who often spoke on large platforms—women would ask me how to get on that platform. My question back was, “What are you doing now to share Jesus with women?” Their answer often revealed a glimpse of their heart—whether for the Lord or for themselves. Someone once said, “Don’t expect God to make you a lighthouse somewhere else if you can’t be a candle where you are.”…
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I CAN’T!
I CAN’T! How many times have you woken up in the morning and just wanted to tell God, “I just can’t”? Some days, and seasons, truly feel impossible to manage from a human standpoint. But as believers in Christ, we have access to a supernatural power that enables us to face anything the Lord allows into our lives. This truth is beautifully captured by Bill Bright, founder of Campus Crusade for Christ (now Cru), who said: This resonates deeply with 1 Corinthians 15:57, which declares, “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!” It’s not our own strength, but Jesus’ power that allows…
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Facing Your “What-Ifs”
Kay Arthur was one of the most influential Bible teachers of our time—especially for women. For years, she stood out as one of the few who not only taught Scripture deeply but also equipped women to study the Bible inductively for themselves. Her impact is still being felt, and with her recent passing, many are reflecting on how her teaching shaped their spiritual journeys. One of Kay’s most memorable quotes has stayed with me: Wise words—but easier said than done, right? I’d hate to count how many times a day I worry first and then remember that the Lord is with me and promises to meet my needs. Still, there…
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The Challenge of a Complaint-Free Life
Complaining is the absolute worst possible thing you could do for your health. The worst!… For the next 7 days, I challenge you not to complain at all. Every time I read that quote from T. Harv Eker, I feel a pang of conviction. I wish I’d never read it! He challenges us to go seven days without a single complaint. It sounds so simple, yet why is it so incredibly hard? The Apostle Paul gives us a powerful reminder in Philippians 2. Do everything without grumbling and arguing, so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God who are faultless in a crooked and perverted generation, among…
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A Candle or a Lighthouse?
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What Spiritual Maturity Looks Like
When you got up today, what was your plan? Did you have a personal agenda in place? At the end of this day, what if your plan doesn’t look anything like what actually happened? Will you feel like a failure? Or do you trust God worked it out according to His plan? Do you believe what 2 Timothy 6:16 says: …God, who is the blessed controller of all things…” Someone once said: One of the marks of spiritual maturity is the quiet confidence that God is in control, without the need to understand why He does what He does. (anonymous) Oops, well, my response many days proves my level of…
