Misc
If MY People…
Have you ever noticed how easy it is to see the fault in other people? She is just too demanding, he is needy. If only she didn’t gossip (unfortunately we often gossip when we make this comment). They drink too much, wear the wrong clothes. Those people are not following God. They should get their…
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God is Good…
I prayed that God would use a difficult time in my life to glorify Him. I didn’t want to go through all that YUCK and PAIN for nothing. So I prayed He would use it. I never imagined where that prayer would take me, but let me tell you, I am AMAZED and HUMBLED by…
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Focus…
Focus changes lots of things. When you focus on one part of this optical illusion you see the young woman, but change your focus and an old woman appears. When you lose your focus during a competition, you lose. You don’t get a job done or you fail the test if you can’t stay focused.…
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Approval or Approved?!
Have you ever embarked on a new venture or chapter in your life that you have no doubts God is calling you towards? In this new journey you are a bit fearful and uncertain. You are way out of our comfort zone and you are confident in God if not so much in yourself. As…
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The Word of the Lord…
Ok, so call me slow…I mean it takes me a LONG time to put a few things together and I often find that it was much easier than I think it will be. Seriously, God Himself tells us that He uses the “..foolish things of the world to shame the wise..” 1 Cor 1:27 I…
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His Story!
So the Bible Study I have been attending and enjoying and growing in is taking a break for the summer. Today we listened/watched to Iva May on a DVD tell God’s story in about 45 minutes. Her blog is ivamaystories.blogspot.com I was in awe of God’s design of the world, His constant pointing to and…
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Weary? Heavy Laden? Come!
Matthew 11:28-30 says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” How…
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Misc
EnJOYing Election Season: Cultivating Joy in the Chaos
“Evangelicals for Harris” are all CHINOS — Christians In Name Only. God is not fooled. Neither should we be fooled. My Social Media feeds are full of vitriol…from both sides of the political divide. “How can any Christian vote for a convicted criminal, rapist, insurrectionist, etc.” And it grieves me. The Bible says that all…
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Art and Beauty: How to Embrace Beauty to Change Culture
“I found I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn’t say any other way… things I had no words for.” ― Georgia O’Keeffe Sometimes we forget that God created beauty. At least we evangelicals who value utilitarianism above beauty and art do. We forget that God is the original artist. He paints on canvases…
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A Reason to Go to Church: God’s Presence and Joy
“Silence is the perfectest herald of joy. I were but little happy if I could say how much.” Claudio, Much Ado About Nothing, Shakespeare God does something special when His people come together as a congregation. When we sing, take communion, baptize people, listen to the preaching of God’s Word, His presence comes to us in a special…
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Joy and Presence
Just a note…I have missed sharing this space with you all. So through prayer and planning, my goal is to post here twice a month. I hope you are blessed. Where Joy is Found You [the LORD] reveal the path of life to me;in your presence is abundant joy;at your right hand are eternal pleasures. Psalm…
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Obedience, Running, and Calling
“So don’t throw away your confidence, which has great reward. For you need endurance, so that after you have done God’s will, you may receive what was promised…But we are not those who draw back and are destroyed, but those who have faith and are saved.” Hebrews 10:35-36 and 39 CSB I’ve been silent for…
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A Season of Silence: Experiencing God’s Peace
“Silence is the perfectest herald of joy: I were but little happy, if I could say how much.” -William Shakespeare Much Ado About Nothing Words have been hard for me lately. Silence is easier. I wasn’t so full of joy I could not share like Claudio in the above quote. The big emotions – all of…
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What to Think: How to Boss Around Your Mind
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” Philippians 4:8 ESV God cares about what we think. In fact, He gives us a list of the types…
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Mind Your Mind: Joining the Battle for Joy
This past weekend I had the privilege of leading two break-out sessions at Arkansas Baptist Women’s Inspire Conference. What a blessing it was to see about 900 women from all over Arkansas gather together to receive encouragement, correction, refreshment, and learn to fall more in love with Jesus. The session I led was called Changing…
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The Hope that Does Not Disappoint
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces…
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Sovereignty: Three Ways to Trust God When Failure Looms
Last week I watched Clemson trounce Alabama in the NCAA’s Football National Championship game. Clemson was up 31-16 at halftime and never looked back. After a botched fake field goal at the beginning of the third quarter Alabama’s loss seemed imminent. Failure, at least in that game, was coming. Still Alabama did not walk off…
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