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Echoes of Legacy Part 4-Compelled By Ebenezers
In this Echoes of Legacy series, we have explored how the needs of the world and the mandates of Scripture compel us forward. Today, we add a third catalyst: our Ebenezers. What is an Ebenezer? In his book The Strength You Need, Robert Morgan suggests we should navigate life by raising “stones of help.” This follows the example of the prophet Samuel, who set up a stone between Mizpah and Shen after a victory over the Philistines. He named it Ebenezer, saying, “The Lord has helped us to this point” (1 Samuel 7:12). Ebenezers are memorial stones—physical or spiritual markers of places where God provided specific help for specific needs.…
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Echoes of Legacy Part 3-Compelled by Biblical Examples
We are compelled to echo our legacy not only by the needs of the world around us (see Echoes of Legacy but by the weight of Scripture itself. In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul boldly invites us into this cycle of discipleship, saying, “Imitate me, as I also imitate Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1; see also 1 Corinthians 4:16 and Philippians 3:17). Paul was far from perfect, yet he maintained a clear conscience before God. He shared his testimony—his story—repeatedly to spread the Gospel. He refused to let his past as a persecutor define him; instead, he was defined by his story of salvation. The Great Cloud of Witnesses In…
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Echoes of Legacy Part 2-Compelled By The Needs
The Need for Faithful Echoes In this Echoes of Legacy series (check out Part 1 here), one of our main focuses is a central question: Why are we compelled to echo our legacy? It may take several posts to fully explore this, but today, let’s look at the urgent need for “faithful echoes.” Simply put: look at the world we live in. None of us will get it right all the time. In fact, I often use the subtitle “An imperfect woman in God’s perfect plan.” He is always perfect, but I often fall short even as He works out His purpose in my life—and so do you! The Conclusion…
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Echoes of Legacy Part 1-Series Intro
Last year, I spent a significant amount of time reflecting on the past 40 years of women’s ministry—both from a personal and professional standpoint. In 2025, we celebrated the 30th LifeWay Women’s Forum. This leadership training began in 1996 and continues to thrive today, even if it looks much different now than it did at the start! Through this reflection and the current season of my life, I’ve been thinking deeply about those who impacted my calling. I’ve also been considering what I am leaving behind for those following in my footsteps. To be honest, the older I get, the sweeter heaven becomes! Discipleship has been at the heart of…
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Audience of One: Who Are We Really Trying to Impress?
What compels us to pursue excellence? Why do we feel that relentless pressure to accomplish every task with perfection and maintain the facade that we have it all together? I would love to say the answer is “for the Lord alone,” but I’m afraid that isn’t always true. I suspect I’m not alone in this struggle. I could easily blame my Type A personality, my task-oriented nature, or the fact that I inherited my father’s workaholic tendencies. There is also that undeniable hit of dopamine that comes from checking a task off a list—a small victory for the ego. But if I’m being truthful? The root is often pride. I…
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Deception, Division, Doubt, and Discord
From the Garden of Eden to the present day, the enemy’s strategy remains unchanged. Just as he deceived Eve into believing God wasn’t truly good—insinuating He wouldn’t provide what was best for her and Adam—Satan uses those same tactics on us today. A Moment for Reflection. Think about the last time you felt tempted to doubt, just as Eve did. How did it happen? What sat at the heart of that deception? Did you give in, or did you resist by standing on 1 Corinthians 10:13?: No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what…
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The Living Foundation
Throughout his letters, the Apostle Paul consistently challenges believers to “grow up.” He relentlessly pushes the early church to deepen their faith rather than settling for a shallow, stagnant spiritual life. In a recent study of 1 Corinthians 3 with my discipleship group, we saw Paul addressing the spiritual immaturity within the church at Corinth. The community was fractured by “worldliness, envy, and strife.” Some members had become prideful, centering their identity on which specific leader they followed. Paul corrected this by explaining that while multiple leaders might influence us throughout our lives—each challenging different areas of growth—the focus should never be on the human personality. The point isn’t who…
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One Seed, One Savior, One Story
The more I dive into Scripture—which I believe to be the true Word of God—the more I find confirmation of my faith. I especially love reading the Bible chronologically. Seeing the Old Testament prophecies fulfilled through Christ and reading the Bible as a singular story of redemption proves God’s truth and His eternal purpose for the earth. In Galatians 3, Paul writes to the church in Galatia to remind them that eternal life comes through the work of Jesus, not through adherence to the Law. In verse 16, he writes: “Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed.” Paul emphasizes that the scripture does not say “and…
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A Lesson Relearned: When Doubt Creeps In
You’d think I would know by now. I’ve been there and done that so many times. I know better. Sometimes I forget. I wonder if you do the same thing. Has God asked you to do something lately that felt like a challenge—something for which you felt less than adequate? Did you ask the Lord for the ability to walk through it? Or did you ask Him, and then allow your weaknesses—or the lies of the enemy—to stifle you? Jeremiah faced a moment like that. While Jerusalem was under siege by Babylon, God gave him a prophecy. The message pointed to better days ahead and even hinted at the new…
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Soldier of Grace
If you’re in the midst of a battle—or have just come through one—you’ll be encouraged by this post from guest blogger Alycia Neighbours, my youngest daughter (by only 13 minutes behind her twin “older sister”). She’s a gifted artist and writer, as you’ll soon see. Her message speaks to anyone questioning the purpose behind their struggles. Be encouraged as you read. When people see a veteran with medals across his chest, they stand in quiet awe. They see honor stitched into fabric, courage pressed into metal. They don’t ask for proof of what he’s been through. The weight of what he carries is enough. But what if our battles were…
