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Mary’s Example: When Calling Feels Impossible
Are you ever unsure whether you’re truly qualified to do what God has called you to do? Do you feel confident when you step out to serve Christ—whether it’s a one-time task or part of your daily calling? As I was studying Behold the Savior, a LifeWay Women Advent study, I was reminded of how Mary must have felt when the angel Gabriel announced her assignment: to give birth to the Savior of the world. We know she found peace in God’s presence, yet I can’t imagine she instantly felt “qualified.” In this day’s lesson, author Alena Pitts Franklin shared a quote that resonated deeply with me: I venture to…
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He Throws My Sin Behind
I recently wrote devotionals for encouraging.com. This week I am reposting, He Throws My Sin Behind In a world constantly shifting beneath our feet, where even the most steadfast people, institutions, and laws can prove fallible, what can we truly depend on? While few things are 100% reliable, the Word of God offers an unwavering anchor. Consider salvation. We often question if we’ve “done enough” to secure it. My own certainty was tested during Hurricane Sally. Amidst a night of terror, a powerful truth emerged: if we died, we’d instantly be with Jesus. That undeniable realization solidified an assurance no earthly storm could shake. There are promises you can cling to when…
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He Forgets My Sin
I recently wrote devotionals for encouraging.com. This week I am reposting, He Forgets My Sin. My best friend betrayed me and later apologized, but I could not forget what she did. Even though it’s been years, I still remember the hurt of that betrayal. It threatened to destroy our relationship. It’s understandable to carry the weight of past hurts, especially when they involve someone close. How difficult it is for us to truly forget, even when we forgive. Does God forget our sins? The answer, beautifully articulated in Jeremiah 31:34, offers incredible comfort. This prophecy speaks of a new covenant where God declares, For I will forgive their wickedness and…
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Always in a Hurry
I recently wrote devotionals for encouraging.com. This week I am reposting, Always in a Hurry. Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take up my yoke and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30 Scottish missionary Mary Slessor said, Christ was never in a hurry. There was no rushing forward, no anticipating, no fretting over what might be. Each day’s duties were done as each day brought them, and the rest was left with God. How…
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Celebrating What God Has Done
Having just celebrated 30 years of LifeWay Women’s Leadership Forum, I’ve found myself deeply nostalgic these past few months. It’s been such a sweet season of remembering all the Lord has done—and continues to do—in and through the lives of women. Many may not realize that women’s ministry in the church hasn’t always looked like it does today. In many congregations, it began with a strong missions and service focus. Those early ministries were powerful, teaching us to care for missionaries, pray faithfully, give generously, and participate in missions work ourselves. But around 50 years ago, God began stirring hearts with a longing for a deeper walk with Him. Many…
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The Holiness in the Bending
Are you wrestling with something that seems to have no answer? Something that doesn’t sit right in your spirit? It may be that you’re trying to mold it into your own plan instead of allowing God to shape it into His. This post is by guest blogger Alycia Neighbours, my youngest daughter (by only 13 minutes behind her twin “older sister”). She’s a gifted artist and writer who shares from the heart. Blessings as you read: Have you ever started creating something; an idea, a plan, a prayer and halfway through realized God was quietly redrawing it? That what you thought you were building was only the outline, and His…
- Generations, Knowing God's Will, Leadership Lessons, Lessons, Spiritual Growth, Struggle and Loss, Test, Trial
What If We Don’t Tell It?
Can you imagine what would have happened if generations ago no one had passed down the stories of creation, the flood, or the parting of the Red Sea? How would we know all that God has done? Today, we’re blessed to have the Bible—God’s written record of His power, love, justice, and grace. But what if we fail to pass that story on to those coming behind us? Sure, they can read these truths in Scripture, but what if they could also see them lived out in us? What if we regularly shared stories of God’s faithfulness from our own lives? A heartbreaking thing happened after Joshua’s generation died. These…
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When God Shows Off
How do you pray when life feels overwhelming? Do you ask God to remove the burden—or to give you strength to endure it? Right now, I’m watching a loved one carry an incredibly heavy load. Several major life events have collided, creating a season filled with uncertainty and pain. Many are praying for this person and the family, myself included. I long for them to be free from these struggles, for healing and peace to come. My prayers often sound like, “Lord, give them strength. Give them wisdom. Give them rest.” An Episcopalian preacher once said, Do not pray for easy lives! Pray to be stronger men. Do not pray…
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Staggering, Yet Compelling Statistics
Women have always been a vital part of the ministry of the church—serving, teaching, praying, and leading others toward Christ. Yet recent Barna Research reveals something deeply concerning: Gen Z women, ages 18–24, are leaving the church faster than men, with 38% identifying as agnostic, atheist, or having no faith at all. That statistic makes my heart ache. If you’re in my generation, you’ve likely witnessed the beautiful growth of women’s ministry in the church—from its humble grassroots beginnings to a nationwide movement that helped women grow deeper in their faith. Some of us remember the prayers, the labor, and the passion it took to build those ministries. But for…
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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…
