-
More Great Reading
1 One of my favorite bloggers has written lots about trends and the future of our churches. Here’s a great post Carey Nieuwhof recently wrote: The Coming Church Split (It’s Not what You Think) 2 And for those just leaving college, this is a helpful post from LifeWay Voices, Keeping Summers Meaningful After College Banner photo by Maarten van den Heuvel on Unsplash
-
Hard Family Convos
Recently I was asked to write a post for LifeWay on a subject that I don’t think I’ve really done very well with: Navigating Theological Differences With Your Adult Children. I’ve needed more grace at times for sure, and maybe even more truth at others. So, I polled a group of moms, friends and colleagues to get their insight as well. This post is the result. I pray you will read Navigating Theological Differences With Your Adult Children prayerfully asking God how you are to approach your adult loved ones in a way that draws them to the Truth of Jesus! Thank you for all who submitted ideas to help…
-
Time for Blog Sharing
Here are a few great posts I wanted to share this week to encourage you to read lots of bloggers’ material. Enjoy! 1. Although I feel all Christians are called to ministry, full time even, I do believe some are called to serve in vocational ministry as a career. Either way, this is a list for all to consider, from LifeWay Voices. Am I Called to Ministry? A Checklist to Consider by Dr. Jason Allen 2. Church is changing at such a fast pace. I love reading Carey’s posts that alert leaders about trends to consider for discovering how God wants our church to reach people in today’s world. 11…
-
Telling Her Story…Look What God’s Done!
Today I want to encourage you to take some time to just sit with the Lord as you read this post and as you worship the Lord. May this encourage and bless you beyond measure. Some of you know a bit of our family story if you’ve read this blog for very long. I recently wrote a post and linked you to a podcast one of my daughter’s and I did, Praying Your Prodigal Home. Here is Sharing Our Prodigal’s Story, along with the podcast link, if you missed it. Today, I am going to link you to this same daughter sharing her testimony video her church showed recently. A…
-
It’s All His Anyway
How do you feel when your pastor talks about tithing, or giving above the tithe? Once, many years ago, I cringed each time our pastor talked about this “sensitive” subject. Today, I feel so different about it. It’s such a joy to give. I’ve seen what a corporate body of Christ can to do together as we give to further the Kingdom and minister to others. Recently I blogged for LifeWay Women on this very subject. So, today I encourage you to bounce over to this link to read this post under the heading of The Reference Desk: Why We Tithe. I pray it encourages you wherever you are about…
-
Whispers and Shouts
What gets your attention more: whispers or shouts? We have a beloved Yorkie which is why I chose this banner photo of this breed of dog standing at full attention to whatever He is hearing! (Isn’t he cute??) Of course, a shout can be heard better, but often it’s a whisper that gets our attention, draws us in. We have to lean in to hear a whisper while, often, shouting makes us want to back away from the shout-er! Recently we took our 10 year old Yorkie Mo (lovingly knowing as #MoDawg on social media!) on our first real walk of the season. He went blind in the last year…
-
Unseen Progress
Remember when you were a kid and you planted a seed in a pot and watched it eventually pop through the soil? It seemed like a long time before seeing any progress, but what you didn’t see was happening below the surface of the dirt. If you watered well and provided a sunny spot to grow, you probably got to see it produce whatever fruit it was…a plant or a flower. It took time, and it took the right environment. The Bible talks quite a lot about seeds and growing plants as related to spiritual growth. The parable of the sower and the seed in Matthew 13, for instance. Luke…
-
God’s Timing
In a daily Scripture writing plan my life group has been challenged to do together, I recently wrote out Galatians 6:7-10. Verses 9-10 were definitely what I needed to hear that day: “Let us not get tired of doing good, for we will reap at the proper time if we don’t give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us work for the good of all, especially for those who belong to the household of faith.“ Anyone else tired of waiting on God? Anyone ready to give up praying for a long time unanswered prayer need? Anyone exhausted from trying to pray for and carry each other’s burdens? I understand.…
-
Sharing Our Prodigal Story
Just a week or so ago, my daughter and I had the privilege to share our “prodigal” story on Leighann McCoy’s new podcast. One thing I’ve experienced over many years of teaching women is how God encourages ME when I get to remember what He has done and tell others of His work. I’ve witnessed His faithfulness in every single tough situation He has allowed into my life. One of those stories was the topic that Leighann asked me to share on this podcast, The Power of Praying Momma’s: Praying your Prodigal Home. I asked her if she would like for me to ask my daughter to also be on…
-
What Do You Idolize?
One of my current reads is The Reason for God: Belief in the Age of Skepticism by Timothy Keller. Although not an easy read, this book is powerful to equip believers in this season of spiritual skepticism. It is also a phenomenal book to help us talk to those who do not believe in Jesus, or for them to read to make a decision about what they will do with Him. Tim Keller quotes Soren Keirkegaard about the issue of sin: “Sin is: in despair not wanting to be oneself before God…Faith is: that the self in being itself and wanting to be itself is grounded transparently in God.” Then…