Fixing our thoughts on Jesus, on what the Holy Spirit is doing in and around you, on God’s word, plans and purposes, is how we navigate the anxiety and troubles we face minute by minute. The guys in the Bible dealt with the same feelings we do, and they gave us directions for how to overcome it. We don’t have to figure it all out for ourselves - we just need to choose where we are focusing our thoughts and our energy. This is the secret to peace and happiness. #peace #dontworrybehappy #controlyourthoughts #shalom #yourjourneytobeingwhole #dailydevotional ..read more

We are people who naturally look for the “easy button.” I know I am! But the truth is, anything that is valuable doesn’t come easy. It requires refinement, going through the fire. Value comes from being able to withstand and survive storms. Value comes from being able to make it to the finish line without giving up. We are SO valuable to the Lord, that He helps us through everything. He doesn’t ask or require us to do any of it on our own. The Lord is always with us, helping us, comforting us, giving us wisdom, loving us and showering His grace and mercy on us. He never gives up and He never ..read more

I know how it feels when you think God has abandoned you. Many others know that feeling too. But even though we felt that way, it was not true. The Lord never left, He never abandoned and He never stopped His plans for your hopeful, purposeful, future. Joseph, Jacob, David and even Jesus all had to go though that feeling. But those feelings, even overwhelming anxiety or despair, don’t change God’s plans. They don’t change His faithful and steadfast love for you. It is up to you to choose to believe God instead of your feelings - this is the walk of faith. Sometimes, these trials and hard tim ..read more

Life in this broken world is not easy. We all get hurt, betrayed, and wounded - some worse than others. The answer for all of us, in every situation, is forgiveness. We must forgive those who are guilty and those who hurt us, even if they don’t deserve it and aren’t sorry - especially then - because when we forgive we begin to heal. Healing those wounds, forgiving others protects us from the devils plans to hurt us more. The devil doesn’t want you to heal. He will do anything to keep you from forgiving someone. Unforgiveness is his way. The Jesus Way is forgiveness and grace, love and hope a ..read more

Waiting on God is not passive! Our impatience can sabotage the sacred activity of waiting on the Lord. The Bible instructs us to wait on the Lord more than 100 times - so it must be important! This verse in Psalm 27 doesn’t just tell us to wait, but to do so with patience AND that it will take courage to do so. Waiting is an activity that requires us to be brave…? What kind of bravery is this? It’s the courage not to take matters into your own hands; not to focus on what you don’t have or haven’t yet achieved and focus on what God has done for you already; it’s the courage to trust in the wis ..read more

As children of God, our success in following Him and fulfilling the call with which He has called us doesn’t rely on our strength or wisdom. HE is the one who is faithful and will take care of the details. We just need to obey, to actually follow. And when we trip up or fall down, it’s up to us to reach for Him and receive His grace to keep going. But He provides that grace freely to those who ask. AND our Father God will also protect us from the evil one and all his schemes and strategies to hurt us. His faithfulness endures forever! #godisfaithful #jesuslovesyou #createdonpurposeforapurpose ..read more

I can think of so many times in my life when I’ve experienced this. Impatiently waiting for God to do what He said He would do. I’m not just talking about my hopes and dreams or aspirations. Even the ones I think God planted in my soul, I’m talking about the things He told me to do. Like, writing my books or that I would have a loyal and Godly husband. I remember vividly after I’d finished my first book, I was working hard to get it published, after all that was why a person write, right? But every door was closed to me. I cried in frustration and sought God and do you know what He told me ..read more

This is a filter for us to use when we are making decisions and choices in life. It’s not about romance, it’s about commitment. Not just our commitment to our spouse, family and friends, but to the Lord too. The Lord loves us like this. He commands us to love Him and others like this too. The opposite of love is selfishness. Love lifts up others, not yourself. But love does not include abuse. When you’re getting ready to say or do something, run it through this filter first. #simplebutnoteasy #loveispatient #loveiskind #theywillknowusbyourlove #BEthechurch #shalom #discipleship #yourjourneyt ..read more

Our loving Father God has given us the immense privilege of 24/7 access to Him through prayer. This is power that I don’t think we really understand… We have the ear of the Creator of the Universe and He is looking forward to speaking with us. This is why Jesus taught us to pray and Paul taught to pray constantly. David was after God’s own heart because of his honest and passionate prayer life. I definitely am a work in progress for prayer. Lord, teach me and lead me how to pray. #amen #teachmehowtopray #discipleship #christianliving #prayer #godlovesme #shalom #yourjourneytobeingwhole #dail ..read more

Let the peace of Christ rule in your heart and in your church because you are called to peace. You’re not called by God to a political party or to a candidate. ”Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.“ Romans‬ ‭13‬:‭1‬ ‭in fact, you ARE called to be obedient to, and even to honor, the government even when you don’t like or agree with them. You’re not called by God to a particular pastor or teacher - unless you’re called to be someone’s Timothy. I do believe ..read more