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
Spiritual Fitness Verses {Recharge Wednesday LINKUP}
Several of my freelance clients are in the fitness industry, so I’ve recently written a lot about workouts and resolutions. It seems “getting in shape” is the goal of many! Debbie Wilson recently wrote here about exercising our souls so we have firm faith instead of fragile faith. She wisely points out: “Because faith is living, it needs constant care. Just as we eat, sleep, exercise, and practice good daily hygiene to enjoy physical health so we must work to maintain vibrant Continue Reading
How Heroes Recharge {Recharge Wednesday LINKUP}
The name of this linkup is Recharge Wednesday. I don’t know about you, but by the middle of the week, I’m starting to wane. I need to refuel because I’m human. Our heroes in the faith were also human, and they needed to recharge too. Here’s how they did it when they were running on empty: NOAH After the flood dried up and everyone exited the ark, Noah sacrificed to the Lord. He built an altar. Then he took some of ALL the clean animals and birds and sacrificed them (presumably the Continue Reading
God Won’t Budge {Recharge Wednesday LINKUP}
“Come oooooonnnn,” is a phrase I mostly use in the kitchen. By the fridge. Holding something with a lid. Twist-off tops and I don’t get along because they will NOT budge. In most cases, being inflexible, stubborn, or unmoving isn’t favorable. So often it seems like if we just grip tighter or twist harder, we’ll have the opportunities we long for. We’ll find satisfaction. We’ll gain the missing ingredient and finally put together that idea we think is best for us. But, if God’s the Continue Reading
When You Think You’re Failing at Faith {Recharge Wednesday Linkup}
He blessed a child and saw God raise him from the dead. He survived and played a leading role in one of God’s big droughts. He stood up to impetuous rulers who were murdering people like him willy-nilly. The man called down fire from heaven effectively! “Failure” is not a word we associate with the prophet Elijah. But Elijah once believed he was failing at faith. After yet another death threat, he fled. The man had seen miracles. He’d played a part. Elijah knew he had been following and Continue Reading
Finding Elim: A Lesson On Chasing Holy Ever After {#RechargeWednesday LINKUP}
"It was there at Marah that the Lord set . . to test their faithfulness to him." - Exodus 15:25 - One of the last statements to reach my ears directly from the mouth of my college sweetheart was: "Now I can finally live happily ever after" - words that would coincide with the marriage to her "new" husband. In the rear view mirror was a 21 year marriage and divorce where quite possibly she was more married to an idea than to a man . . an idea of a kind of life as a Pastor's life that was free Continue Reading
