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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…
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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…
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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…
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And Then There’s Ruth!
The reason we read the Bible over and over is because it’s living and active (Hebrews 4:12) and it always teaches us new things. I experienced this again recently in my chronological reading plan that I have now done multiple times. This is what we use in the D-Group I lead to study scripture. Most of my groups have never read the whole Bible chronologically so it’s very eye-opening for them…and for me! Almost all my D-Group gals begin seeing the thread of the Gospel early in our reading and almost all get bogged down once in a while as we look at laws and repeated disobedience of the Israelites…
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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.…
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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…
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Blog Share
First I want to share such a timely and helpful post from LifeWay Women: Leading Women in Prayer by Kelly King. Kelly is Manager of Magazines/Devotional Publishing and Women’s Ministry Training for Lifeway Christian Resources and one super lady leading women across the country during this difficult pandemic season. I know this will encourage you. Then, I want to share this second blog because I believe that many leaders have doubted their ability to continue serving during this last 12+ months. I know you will be blessed by reading 5 Leadership Lessons From Gideon from LifeWay Voices by Chuck Peters. No matter where you serve, remember that God is still…
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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…
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The Aroma of Sacrifice
Many of you know I read scripture chronologically year after year. The beauty of repeatedly reading the Bible this way is that there are always new revelations, new principles I’d not seen before, and many new connections I see throughout scripture between the Old and New Testaments. The thread of the Gospel all the way through from Genesis to Revelation becomes much more obvious to me year by year. As I was recently reading Exodus 30 one morning, something struck me that I’d not noticed previously. Verses 34-38 tell us God gave very exact details for the formula of the incense that would be used in worship within the tabernacle…
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Discipleship Today
Last week I shared a post (read What Now? here) asking what you are hearing from women you serve and lead. Many are ready to take a deeper dive into knowing and growing in Christ. Are you ready to lead them well? I am currently leading my 4th D-Group at church since retirement in 2017. Discipleship has always been the core of women’s ministry as far as I am concerned. Of course, the first step is salvation, but that is NOT the final step in a woman’s spiritual journey. She needs women who will shepherd her through the next steps. This was not my experience as a new believer when…
