A refuge, by itself, is a place that offers sanctuary and safety. It is a figurative expression in Scripture describing God as our security. He offers us a place that we can retreat to for peace, quiet, and renewal. God also says He is our stronghold. “THE LORD IS GOOD, A STRONGHOLD IN THE DAY OF TROUBLE, AND HE KNOWS THOSE WHO TAKE REFUGE IN HIM.” –NAHUM 1:7 A stronghold is a type of refuge, and it's designed for times of war. When we retreat to our stronghold, we go to this one true Continue Reading
God Erases Our Regrets {Recharge Wednesday Linkup}
I’m a know-needer. It’s not that I think I know it all, but that I want to know it all. The “what-ifs” of life are maddening to me. When they come up, I tend to identify every possibility and follow it to its end. At least that way I feel that I’ll know what to do with whichever option comes true. And at least then I won’t have to live with regrets…right? No matter how much we try to know, we don’t know it all. There are always opportunities we can’t see. The Lord is always at work on Continue Reading
The Nuts and Bolts of Faith {Recharge Wednesday LINKUP}
You remember the monumental moments of your faith. When you take the first step of faith and your foundation is laid in Christ, it's memorable. Days, months, even years later when crucial decisions arise and you find that you indeed want to live with Him as your cornerstone, it’s big. There are moments of obvious growth and transformation as piece by piece you’re built, a temple to glorify God. The moment when you gave up on a certain sin and it stuck. That time when the Lord provided Continue Reading
The Blessing of Endurance {Recharge Wednesday LINKUP}
Isn’t it interesting that we tend to count our blessings most when hard things happen? It is after a major accident that we are glad to be alive, or post-loss that we are grateful for those who truly love us. It seems that we need disruptions to remind us that life isn’t actually in our control and that there is something more important “out there”. Yet the faster we get over things, the sooner we tend to forget lessons learned. Reminders seem fleeting and unable to impact us in a way Continue Reading
What is Ruthless in Your Life? {Recharge Wednesday LINKUP}
The headache that comes back again and again. A chronic illness that knocks you off your feet without regard for where you’re headed or how much pain you’re already in. The thought in your head that you are not good enough, no matter how hard you’ve tried. A lie, on repeat, that you can’t ever measure up or be worthy of love. Guilt that won’t subside. The boss that never respects your time or how much has already been put on your plate on a tight deadline. A person who continues to abuse, Continue Reading
Keep Praying When It’s “Over” {Recharge Wednesday LINKUP}
We pray before we eat. Before our days begin. Before we go to sleep. Often, we pray before big events and decisions. We pray as loved ones face difficulties. But we don’t have to stop there. We can keep praying after. God doesn't say "cease praying" after the test results suggest the worst or the conversation ends terribly or the morning rush causes us to forget what we even read in the Bible that morning. In our limited sense of time, praying after things seem "finished" can feel Continue Reading
