God interrupted their plans. Big time, yes? Joseph and Mary were ordinary people living a simple life doing normal things. They had normal plans. Get married. Start a family. Carve out the best possible existence with the resources they had. … Continue reading
You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. Psalm 139:5 (ESV) God, who created all things, is with you every step of the way. Not only is He with you, but He is behind you, … Continue reading
2 Timothy 2:26 “…and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.” I assume you want to come to your senses. To live honorably before … Continue reading
We cannot rely on anyone but God alone. God alone is all we need. If you place your trust in humans, you will be disappointed. Bitterly. But God will never disappoint you. Yes, He won’t always do what you want. … Continue reading
How do you have faith when God allows things you wish He wouldn’t? What then? God is sovereign over all. Yes, our world is broken. But nothing happens in this life without first filtering through God’s hands. God’s hands hold … Continue reading
For God alone my soul waits in silence; from Him comes my salvation. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken. Psalm 62:1-2 Don’t hesitate. Don’t stop and think. Don’t be afraid … Continue reading
Do we have to know? Do we have to know everything about our future? How this decision will affect that one later on? No, we do not. In fact, we can not. It’s impossible. We can plan, but ultimately God … Continue reading
What are you hiding? A secret? What is your deepest fear? What are you hiding behind? Job status? A relationship? Sin? Do you subscribe to the notion that no one would like you if they really knew the whole you? … Continue reading
Joseph and Mary had big plans. They were simple folk with regular plans. Get married and build a life, working hard to produce an honorable Jewish family. Probably were going to stay in town, as folks didn’t regularly move … Continue reading
What watered wood do you have on your alter? What? You heard me. What wet, un-burnable wood do you have on your alter? Meaning, what unbelievably impossible burdens do you carry? What disastrous situations are you declaring unsolvable today? That’s … Continue reading
How is God known? Through the things that don’t make sense in our lives. Through the trust we show when the next step we cannot see. Through His grace demonstrated in us each and every day. Through His love poured … Continue reading
How do you resist God? With what words or actions do you tell Him no? He will never insist. He will never beg. He simply tells you His truth and waits. Waits for you to come to Him. No manipulation. … Continue reading
Ever heard the phrase “He is already there?” Meaning, Jesus is already there. He’s in the past. He’s here now. And He’s in the future. He is already there. Already preparing for you. Ready and calm. It’s comforting, but only … Continue reading
Sometimes God allows something to occur we simply cannot figure out. Something unbelievable, even in-explainable. Take Job for instance. He was an upstanding citizen. He was a regular sinful man, but he was righteous before God. Doing all the … Continue reading
What if I told you there is a Friend who knows your name? Not only your name, but every thought you’ve had, every tear you’ve shed, every smile you’ve given? Who longs to be your first confidant and constant … Continue reading
Faith. What exactly is faith? Believing. Faith in God is believing in Him. Believing He will do what He says. That He knows best. Believing He has our back. That He is leading us down paths of goodness. Abraham had … Continue reading
He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he causes me to stand on the heights. Deer are so nimble. Unlike us. We tend to fall. A lot. But deer rarely stumble. God made them that way. When … Continue reading
Walking in life-giving steps requires daily effort. Deliberately stepping into what God has for you is a choice. It’s rather easy to stumble, falling into death. Death? Walking into self-pity. Agreeing with rejection. Joining with unloving. Listening to fear. Satan … Continue reading
Is it hard to trust God when things look dark? When life seems to be hanging by a thread, and you cannot do a darn thing about it, is it harder to trust Him? Although you could argue, what else … Continue reading
Sometimes I say, “Really, God?” “Really?” Sometimes I wonder just what He’s thinking. Sometimes, I say, “Don’t you want to try this instead?” “Seriously, don’t you?” Sometimes I wonder just what He’s doing. Sometimes, I throw up my … Continue reading
Been reading about Abraham lately. Like so many of you, I’ve decided to read through the Bible yet again this year. So, I’ve come to Abraham. Abraham’s sacrifice of Isaac, more specifically. Can you even possibly imagine simply obeying … Continue reading
Are you securely loved? By anyone here on earth? Have you the pleasure of knowing you are completely surrounded by that love? Completely safe through the knowledge you are absolutely securely loved? Do you have that from your folks? From … Continue reading
What is hope, really? Knowing the situation will improve. Seeing signs of improvement. Signs of hope. The dictionary defines hope as believing, desiring, or trusting. Do you have hope? Doesn’t matter what situation you are thinking of. Can be big … Continue reading
Lord, what are Your thoughts this morning? Be still. Be still and know that I am God. I am above it all. Everything, big or small. I am above your children. I am above your husband. I am above your … Continue reading
Will you keep trusting God when all looks wrong? Will you keep your faith as it looks like God has turned His back on you? Remember Job? Job kept his faith even as his entire life fell apart. Life as … Continue reading
When did You know? When did You know how You would ultimately die? How were You not completely overcome with anxiety at almost every moment after? When did You know You were the Son of God? When did You grow … Continue reading
Uncertainty filling you up? Brain overwhelmed with what ifs? Good. What? Yes. It’s good. Why is it good that I am filled with angst? Because you are human. Not capable of knowing the future. It’s good to be reminded of … Continue reading
God has promised to never leave us. Never. Flip that. God has promised to always stay right by our side. With us. Right there. Literally. Deuteronomy 31:6 reminds us to be strong and of good courage…to fear not, nor be … Continue reading
We all know what to do. What God wants us to do. We are supposed to give Him our burden and trust He will take care of everything. That’s easy for the first second. Alright, maybe for the first few … Continue reading
What happens when God closes a door or when He allows it to close? When it’s slammed in front of you? He opens a window. But where’s the window? Which one do we look through? Which window will give us … Continue reading
1 John 1:5 says, “…that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.” No darkness in Him, period. No worry. No fear. No ugly attitudes. No selfish me monsters. No self-hatred. No pain. God is light … Continue reading
Satan wants us to reject ourselves. He will desperately try to confirm the lies he places in our head. Allow me to say that again: Satan will desperately try to confirm the lies he places in our heads. He won’t … Continue reading
God is waiting to walk you into your beautiful life. Already there? That’s awesome. Truly a gift. Some of us aren’t. We want to, but we can’t. Why? Because we are holding onto remnants of the past. Ashes. Broken pieces … Continue reading
What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear. And what a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer. Friends bear each other’s griefs. Yes, we excitedly share our joys, too; however, when … Continue reading
I have a question. Why would Eve believe Satan over God? Back in the garden. At the very beginning of life. Satan asked Eve if God had really said they could eat from every tree in the garden, except one. … Continue reading
I see you. I saw you yesterday. When a situation arose, I got your attention. I was hoping you would react how we’ve practiced. When the moment came, you did well. You were momentarily upset, but quickly changed to anticipation. … Continue reading
God asked Mary to do something for Him. When God asked her, she responded with grace. When God asked Mary to completely change her life and give up everything she knew, she said not my will but Your will be … Continue reading
Ever wonder why all of heaven decided to announce the greatly anticipated Savior’s birth to lowly shepherds? Shepherds were simple. Lower than low. They brought the lamb to the high priest for the sacrifice. Shepherds served others. They were usually … Continue reading
We must continue to surrender. Surrender to God afresh moment by moment if that’s what it takes. And trust that He will, in His time, defend you, righting the wrong. Or, in the mean time, provide you armfuls of grace. … Continue reading
Do you see God walking on the sea with you.. Through all the waves and rolling thunder.. And splashes of rain.. Unconcerned and certain all is well? Even if you cannot see the seashore, nor know which way is … Continue reading
