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Fully Persuaded Faith & Hope- Like Abraham
I’ve been reading through the New Testament book of Romans recently. Chapter 4 deals with Abraham’s faith and how his faith was credited to him as righteousness (Rom. 4: 9b). He came long before Jesus came with a new covenant to make a way for sinful man to have eternal life and relationship with God again. Restored relationship. Redeemed relationship- with the Father who loved us so greatly (Read how greatly in John 3:16 and consider what that would be like). Abraham’s faith astounds me. Humbles me. Makes me want to aspire to it. God brought forth a miracle in the lives of Abraham and Sarah when they had no…
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Both. And. Acknowledging Thanksgiving & Pain Simultaneously
Did you know that thanksgiving and pain can be present at the same time? Both. And. As I look back on the painful and difficult circumstances of my life, I am aware of God in the midst. The God who sees me. The God who redeems the broken and the painful things. The God, who brings newness of life to death. He is the God of hope. I am thankful for how God is using the stories and difficult circumstances in my life for His glory. I am also able to be honest about the reality of life—The brokenness, the painful circumstances. Both. And. They can both be present at…
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God’s Unfailing Love & Goodness in My Life
But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing the Lord’s praise, for he has been good to me (Psalm 13:5-6) These words wash over me. I trust in your unfailing love. The truth of them settles in my heart. Unfailing love— meaning not running out, doesn’t give up, secure love, never leaving love. I am comforted. Quieted in my spirit. A calm peace settles as I begin to have knowledge of what it means. “I trust in your unfailing love”… I choose to depend on you, God. You can be counted on. You will always show up. You will be there for…
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Everyone Has a Story: The Power of Asking and Truly Wanting to Know
Being intentional with the people you meet… I was eating at a restaurant after a powerful conference this weekend where God moved in my life and heart and so many other people’s. A weekend of hearing, responding, receiving. We chose to bless the server with a larger tip, and I felt led to say some words to her about God and how He loves her and knows the circumstances of her life and cares about her or write a note to her with similar words. The timing felt odd. It felt awkward. To go up to her after paying already at the table. To go up to her, get her…
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The Ultimate Gardener, Transplanter, Hope Giver!
As spring has sprung I am thankful. The Lord is doing new things within me, within my heart also, uprooting what is not of Him, beginning to transplant into my own garden heart His plants of righteousness, His plants of forgiveness, His plants of compassion…. These plants will flourish in my heart, not because of anything within me, but because of Him, because of who He is, and because of what He does in each of our hearts, bringing beauty, bringing healing, bringing redemption, grace, and joy. Praise God I am not the one who has to uproot and try to transplant what is not of Him… I don’t like…
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You are a conqueror through Christ- God cares for you in the storms!
I’ve been singing and meditating on the song “ Gonna Be Alright” by Ryan Ellis the past couple days & some of the words that resonated are “Everything’s gonna be alright… You hold me in your arms until my storm is calm.” I don’t know what you are walking through today friend, what storm in your life is brewing or full on trying to knock you down, but I know some of my own storms… If I set my eyes on Jesus for His help, His strength, His guidance, His protection during the trials, the storms, the pain, the hurt, the problems in this life, I know I will be…
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Be Obedient, Trust God, & Be brave!
What can I be obedient in next Lord? This has been the question on my heart the last 7 days. It is a pivotal question, and each day I have asked myself for the Lord to truly lead and help me to be open to saying yes to what He is telling me to do, to be obedient in it, to be brave. I have been intentional and woken up early, though not rested, and I’ve tried to start each day in His word, praying, writing, reading His word. I have taken tangible steps in my writing desires this week toward believing that God has called me to this, and…
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God is faithful & cares for you today
As I awake this morning, my thoughts are drawn to familiar words of a song, Faithful, by Eric Nieder. “Lord you search me, how you know me. You perceive my every thought from afar”… The chorus goes on to to say “Even when I’m not, you’re faithful. Even when I doubt your truth holds. Even when I’m lost you won’t let me go. When my heart is dry your grace flows. No matter where I run I’m not far from home. Yea, I may be weak but you’re able. Even when I’m not, you’re faithful.” I’m exhausted as I begin my day. The night was not restful with my youngest…
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God has redeemed you, fights for you, & calls you by your name!
Do not fear for I have redeemed you. You are mine. I will be with you. When you walk through difficult and dangerous situations, I will protect you. I am the Lord your God. Your Savior. You are precious and honored in my sight. I love you. Because of that, I will fight for you if you are taken or in trouble and go to every length to bring you back. As you read these bits of this passage from Isaiah 43, I hope you, like me, can’t help but be struck by how comforting and safe these words feel. That the God of the universe, the one who created…
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You know me completely Lord!
…We run after human love to be fully known, accepted, loved, delighted in... and yet, any human love or relationship can never come close to the God of the universe's love and intimate desire to know us. He doesn't even have to work or try to know us because He already does. What lavish love from the creator- to love us and be loved, especially after such intimate knowledge of each one of us- all our thoughts, all our actions. Sit and consider that for a moment, friend…Read the rest of my post below!
