The Most Important Decision You’ll Ever Make

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The Most Important Decision You’ll Ever Make

I know I share a lot of thoughts in this space, and most of them are echoes reiterating the same message, because it’s a message that is the very reason I write the words I share.

My words are fueled by my faith. They start and end there, and Lord willing, they will always echo my heart’s prayer…

Father, thank you for loving me, and thank you for saving me. Draw me closer to you that I may see you more clearly, love you more dearly, and walk with you more nearly as I seek to know you more and share your love with others. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

And God keeps answering that prayer through the ups, downs, twists, and turns of the life lessons I continue to learn. It’s actually through those lessons that the complexities of Christianity become a simpler reality for me because the Holy Spirit helps me see them through the lens of my personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

In this world, there are a lot of decisions vying for our immediate attention, but there is one decision, I believe, that’s the most important decision we’ll ever make.

So, I’m inviting you to simply push pause in your day, stop scrolling, and give me just a few minutes to tell you about this life changing decision that requires your undivided attention.

First of all, God loves you (us).

The creator of the universe created it all with you (humanity) in mind. He loves us, and He desires a relationship with us, but when He created us, He gave us the free will to choose to love Him or not. And it’s because of that free will that we sometimes choose to go our own way which is called “sin” because we miss the mark of the standard set by Holy God.

Secondly, sin separates us from God.

You see, we “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). We literally, because of our sin, are separated from Him...spiritually dead. And as long as we go our own way, do our own thing, live by our own standards, we stay separated from God.

But...

“The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” ~ 2 Peter 3:9

A price had to be paid because a way had to be made.

“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” ~ Romans 6:23

God loved us so much that He sent his son Jesus to pay the penalty for our sin and reconcile us back to Him.

“but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God...” ~ Isaiah 59:2

“but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” ~ Romans 5:8

Jesus’s death was the price that had to be paid, and His resurrection was the way that was made.

“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” ~ John 14:6

His great love was manifested in His amazing grace.

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” ~ 1 John 1:9

If you’ve never accepted God’s free gift of salvation through confession and repentance of your sins and trusting God’s forgiveness and righteousness to cleanse you from them and reconcile you back to Him, would you do that today?

It is the most important decision you’ll ever make.

“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” ~ Romans 10:13

If you have called on the name of the Lord for your salvation, join me in the same prayer with which I started this post. May it be our prayer from now until eternity…

Father, thank you for loving me, and thank you for saving me. Draw me closer to you that I may see you more clearly, love you more dearly, and walk with you more nearly as I seek to know you more and share your love with others. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

“For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,” ~ 2 Timothy 1:6-10

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Simple Reminders. Powerful Truths.

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Simple Reminders. Powerful Truths.

As I spent time today meeting upcoming writing deadlines and preparing for a speaking event I have this weekend, I was reminded that the truths I share with you are also true for me, too.

Sometimes, when I put on the writer/speaker hat, I can quickly forget that I don’t just share words to be seen or heard. It’s actually quite the contrary.

My words will always fall short, but His Word will never return void (Isaiah 55:11). Nothing I write or say has the power to change anything, but my words can point other others to His Word. And His Word is where the power is.

In my time of writing and preparing today, I experienced that firsthand. I did for myself what I encourage others to do. I memorized scripture. I meditated on it. And now I want to share that passage with you in hopes that your heart will be encouraged, too.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians‬ ‭2‬:‭8‬-‭10‬, ‭ESV‬‬)

By grace alone. Through faith alone. In Christ alone. Because of His Word alone. All for the glory of God alone.

Period. Full stop. Nothing more and nothing less, because Christ is enough, and that frees me to not have to be.

And true to God’s character, He didn’t stop there (because He’s an Ephesians 3:20 God, always doing more than we can ask or imagine).

As I was wrapping up my writing time, a new song started playing from my Spotify smart shuffle. I have several songs by Leanna Crawford in my playlists, but this was a new one to me, and the perfectly timed power of the Holy Spirit used it to purposely refine my heart even more.

Maybe your heart could use the reminder, too…

🎶There’s no such thing as too far gone with God

Nothing you can do to earn your spot

Nowhere you can go where He is not

I know it all sounds unbelievable

But believe me it’s that simple🎶

I’m not sure where your heart is today, but wherever it is, I pray these simple reminders can speak profound truths to you and your heart, too.

*song referenced is Simple by Leanna Crawford

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Why Stumble in Darkness when We Can Walk in the Light

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Why Stumble in Darkness when We Can Walk in the Light

One of my favorite verses in the Bible is John 8:12, “Jesus, spoke to the people once more, and said, ‘I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.’”

A life in Christ gives us clarity of sight, because when we walk with Christ, we are walking in the light.

This truth becomes powerful and transformational when we are fully convinced that we GET to walk in the light (that leads to life) so we won’t HAVE to walk in darkness (that leads to death).

Why stumble our way through, when we can stand firm on God’s truth?

The free gift of salvation, given to us by God through His Son, Jesus Christ, is just that – it is a gift! It was freely given, and we can fully receive it, and boldly walk in it.

We WON’T HAVE to walk in darkness, because we literally HAVE the light that leads to life living inside us! We GET to walk in the LIGHT! We GET to turn to the LIGHT and allow Him to shed light on our sin, so we can repent and be born again, saying no to sin (death and darkness) and yes to Him (life and light)!

“This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” (‭‭1 John‬ ‭1‬:‭5‬-‭10‬, ‭ESV‬‬)

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Divine Delays are just God’s Love on Display

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Divine Delays are just God’s Love on Display

A divine delay is the necessary space and time needed for God to make a way.

Because He always does.

He is truly a “waymaker, miracle worker, promise keeper, and light in the darkness.”

And the way is made clear, the miracle worked out, the promise kept, and the darkness made light oftentimes in the midst of waiting.

I can think of several examples in the Bible, and in my own life, where specific prayers were prayed, and requests made, but the answers were delayed.

Quite often the answers and outcome are far different (and far better) than we can imagine or fathom.

I think of Esther’s delay in presenting her request to the king. It was during that divine delay that she fasted, prayed, and asked her people to do the same. In that timely space of waiting from banquet to banquet, an evil plot to kill the king was uncovered. Had it not been, Esther wouldn’t have gained the favor needed for her request to be heeded. Her life, the life of those she loved, and generations to come were spared that day because she simply fasted and prayed during a divine delay.

I think of Jesus’s delay in showing up when his dear friend, Lazarus, was very sick. His sisters, Mary and Martha, were distraught and confused as to why Jesus would not come and heal their brother right away. But he didn’t. He delayed. For two days. He promised that “Lazarus sickness would not end in death,” and yet the miracle was more than a mere healing. A resurrection took place that day as a result of a divine delay.

Like Esther, the wait may be the space we need to fast and pray in order to trust and obey.

Like Mary and Martha, the wait may be the space we need to mourn and grieve in order to believe and receive.

His ways are always higher, because He always knows best.

He is the way, the truth, and the life, and He uses divine delays to give us the space and time necessary to see His love on display.

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A Perspective that Points Us to the Promise

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A Perspective that Points Us to the Promise

I’m fifty-nine days into reading through the Bible this year with The Bible Recap.

Today we ended in Numbers 13, and the last seven verses were a sweet reminder to me of why we named our first two sons Joshua and Caleb.

I was also reminded that God‘s promises go far beyond names and places, because they stand the test of time throughout the ages.

At the very center of those last seven verses, we hear from Caleb, as he stands up to silence the crowd and remind them of God’s promise.

“Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, ‘We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.’” (Numbers‬ ‭13‬:‭30‬, NIV)

The three verses prior, and the three after are full of grumbling and complaining fueled by a focus on the immediate obstacles instead of the eventual promise.

We must have a perspective that points us to the promise, and that perspective is not possible if we don’t continually remind ourselves (and each other) of the truth.

Hebrews 12:1-2 says, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith…”

Joshua and Caleb may have been in the minority among the spies, but they made trusting God a priority, and that trust helped them maintain a perspective that pointed them to the promise.

If our eyes are fixed on anything or anyone other than Jesus, we have a skewed perspective of the Gospel — so skewed that it leads us astray.

We must have a perspective that points us to the promise. Eyes that see Jesus. Eyes that see sin and those things that hinder us from seeing Him.

When our perspective is aligned with the truth of God’s Word, we can firmly stand on the foundation of His promises — steadfast and secure.

If our view of the truth is skewed ever so slightly at the source, it will be way off in the distance, leading us further away from where God intends for us to be.

We have to see past the obstacles in front of us so we don’t miss the promises beyond us.

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Prayer > Worry

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Prayer > Worry

I don’t need to weigh in on it all, especially when I feel weighed down by it all, but this quote I read today from @hertrueworth rings true everyday, so this is where I’ll stay…

and if you’re feeling the weight of it all, I pray it encourages you, too…

“Worry is a conversation you have with yourself about things you cannot change. Prayer is a conversation you have with God about things He can change.”

Prayer lifts my eyes off myself and all the things I can’t control and puts them on my Savior and what He alone can and always will control. It also lifts the weight of the world off me, where it was never intended to be in light of eternity, and places that burden on the only One who has the power and authority to bear it all, once and for all, and will always reign over it all.

While prayer does not absolve me of my personal responsibility, it does remind me of His sovereignty. I will always strive to do what I can to do the best I can to love others well. I’ll do my part to echo His heart in a world that needs His love — a love that leads to humility, repentance, and the realization that it is not about us, and all about Him and His perfect plan of redemption.

“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” John‬ ‭14‬:‭27‬

“So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world.” 1 Peter‬ ‭1‬:‭13‬

“Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.” ‭‭1 John‬ ‭3‬:‭18‬

“And we know that the Son of God has come, and he has given us understanding so that we can know the true God. And now we live in fellowship with the true God because we live in fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ. He is the only true God, and he is eternal life. Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts.” 1 John‬ ‭5‬:‭20‬-‭21‬

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So Long, Shame

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So Long, Shame

Shame tries hard to get the best of me

Hiding in the shadows of my insecurity

Shouting insults and threats at my identity

Playing mind games with my sanity

But I’m a child of God you see

And shame no longer has authority

In my head, my heart, or any part of me

Because condemnation is from the enemy

From sin and shame, I have been set free

To love and trust my God completely

So, father of lies, get away from me

In the name of Jesus, you must flee

No more wrestling with shame in obscurity

The light of God’s truth will forever be

My steadfast hope and victory

Over shame or any other weapon formed against me

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His voice silences the noise, settles my mind, and steadies my heart.

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His voice silences the noise, settles my mind, and steadies my heart.

His voice silences the noise, settles my mind, and steadies my heart.

For someone who is rarely short on words, I find myself a little quieter these days, especially in this online space. I’m longing for more face-to-face and heart-to-heart conversations, and that doesn’t happen in comment sections or by knee jerk reactions.

The chaos of the online noise is creating a chasm in real life relationships, and for one who craves connection, watching the bantering become bickering because of all the misunderstanding is just exhausting!

So, while I’m not loosing my voice, per se, I am finding my “inside voice” and learning how to use it in hopefully a God honoring, respectful, and effective way.

The external chaos and chatter has definitely influenced my internal dialogue and gray matter, but it has not silenced God’s voice in my heart. In fact, the more I press in to Him, through prayer and praise and opening His Word before opening an app on my phone, the louder and clearer his voice becomes.

His voice silences the noise, settles my mind, and steadies my heart.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭6‬-‭7‬, ‭ESV‬‬)

His voice is way more powerful than mine, or any other one out there online.

So, instead of contributing to the chatter by weighing in on every matter, I’m posturing myself for prayer.

I’m kneeling so I won’t be controlled by what I’m feeling. I’m praying so the Holy Spirit can control what I’m saying.

“Those who guard their mouths and their tongues keep themselves from calamity.” (Proverbs‬ ‭21:23‬, NIV)

“My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,” (James‬ ‭1:19‬, NIV)

My words to Him in prayer are far more powerful than any words online I share.

So, I’ll pray them before I say them, and trust His voice to silence the noise, settle my mind, and steady my heart.

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Oh Lord, You’re Beautiful

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Oh Lord, You’re Beautiful

A month into 2025, and I am still seeking beauty at every turn. Even in the midst of some pretty rocky roads and rough terrain, there’s beauty to behold. In fact, the most beautiful views are often achieved after a hard trek up a mountain, usually while carrying a heavy load, and by trusting God every step of the way.

As I was praying this morning, God brought this old song to mind. I’m not sure when I last heard it, but I remember hearing it for the first time in college when I first started walking with the Lord and understanding what it meant to have a relationship with Him.

As I prayed this morning, I started to sing the lyrics I remembered, hummed the rest, and cried through it all as the message pierced my heart.

I then looked the song up and realized how many Christian artists have sung it throughout the years. From Keith Green, its original writer, to Michael W. Smith, Chris Tomlin, Shane and Shane, and new worship bands, dozens of renditions of it have been sung since its origin in 1980.

Throughout the decades, the declaration still holds true. It was true for Keith Green when he penned it. It was true for me this morning as I remembered it, and it’s true for you, too.

He is beautiful, and when He is our focus, the things of this world grow dimmer, and the light of His truth grows brighter in our hearts.

So, keep fighting for beauty by seeking His face.

His eyes are on you, and His grace abounds to you.

Never withhold that beauty and grace from others around you who desperately need it, too.

🎶Oh Lord, You’re beautiful

Your face is all I seek

And when Your eyes are on this child

Your grace abounds to me

I wanna take Your word

And shine it all around

But first help me just to live it Lord

And when I’m doing well

Help me to never seek a crown

For my reward is giving glory to You

Oh Lord, please light the fire

That once burned bright and clear

Replace the lamp of my first love

That burns with holy fear

And when I’m doing well

Help me to never seek a crown

For my reward is giving glory to You

Oh Lord, You’re beautiful

Your face is all I seek

And when Your eyes are on this child

Your grace abounds to me🎶

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Look Up

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Look Up

They were once little boys

Who looked up to you

Now they’re grown men

You quite literally look up to

You raised them well

One day at a time

Now you raise your gaze

To look into their eyes

They say hard times

Make the strongest of men

And I’d say that’s true

Seeing their strength come from within

Within the protection

Of a life kept in Christ

Within God’s perfect love

Strengthened by His sacrifice

That unconditional love

Will continue to strengthen you

As you all cling to Him

And He gets you all through

Whatever trials come

Because they inevitably will

Keep your eyes fixed on Him

He’ll keep your heart still

Because if those little boys

Who once looked up to you

Are now men looking up to God

And you’re looking up to Him, too

That gaze will steady you all

As His love holds you tight

With a bond that can’t be broken

Keeping you all in His sight

Look up to Him

He’ll look out for you

Look up to Him

He’ll see you through

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Home for the Holidays

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Home for the Holidays

There’s no place like home

For the holidays

Especially when we’re scattered

All over the place

So my prayer for us all

This time each year

Is to treasure home

As we all draw near

Near to the Savior

Who drew near to you and me

And near to family and friends

Regardless of proximity

Home is far more

Than a mere dwelling place

It’s where the heart is

a treasured, sacred space

So let’s treasure home

Both near and far

And make our home

Right where we are

By loving God

Who loved us first

And loving others

Even at their worst

This is the Gospel

The greatest gift, the best news

It keeps us home

Keeps us grounded and true

And since it is better

To give than to receive

Let’s give others the gift of home

By living what we believe

And we’ll experience home

Like never before

This Christmas and beyond

Simply by loving even more

There’s no place like home

For the holidays

So make Christ your home

Now and always

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Advent Through the Lens of Motherhood

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Advent Through the Lens of Motherhood

This past Sunday, on the first day of Advent, my pastor said, “Advent is as simple as ABC. It means Arrival, Beginning and Coming.” That little acronym got me thinking about Advent through the lens of motherhood and how arrivals, firsts and future, are all a part of God’s plan for us.

Now I am not comparing my children or yours to Jesus, nor am I comparing myself or you to Mary, but as I ponder the meaning of Advent mixed with the emotions of motherhood, some similarities definitely jump out at me.

We wait for the arrival of the children we carry in our womb, and then we wait for their arrival into adulthood.

We anticipate their firsts — first smile, first steps, first word, and the firsts become lasts and we anticipate those, too — last day of school, last game, last dance, and there’s no going back for a second chance.

The anticipation of what is to come is often met with mixed emotions, and the mixed emotions are met with the decision to trust God with the plan and purpose He has for our children or doubt His faithfulness and fear the worse.

Like Mary, we have a choice. Will we trust the Father’s plan? Will we partner with Him by praying for them? Or will follow fear which leads us to worry and doubt?

“But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.” (Luke 2:19, ESV)

Like Mary, let’s treasure the arrivals, beginning and coming, and the uncertainty they carry, by pondering them in our heart, and surrendering them to God.

Instead of allowing the uncertainty to cause anxiety, let’s rest is the safe and sacred space of God’s grace. He loves our children far more than we can fathom, and His plan will prevail in the beauty of His sovereignty.

Praise God for that first Christmas when He brought hope to the world in the gift of a baby boy.

Praise God that thirty-three years later that child, who became an adult, took His final breath so we could be born again.

Jesus, through His arrival, beginning and coming, infuses purpose into the first, future, and final moments of motherhood as we guide our kids from childhood to adulthood.

It may be as simple as ABC, but it’s as profound as anything could ever be!

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Missing Peace Can Be Puzzling Indeed

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Missing Peace Can Be Puzzling Indeed

We can try to muster it up or manufacture it, but peace can’t be produced by physical means.

Peace is a person we pursue, not a posture we assume.

Peace is found in presence of God, not in the absence of trouble. (John 16:33)

Peace is made perfect in the person of Christ, and apart from Him, true peace will always be the missing piece.

“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.” (Isaiah‬ ‭26‬:‭3‬, NIV)

“For He Himself is our peace,” (Ephesians 2:14a)

“Oh, what peace we often forfeit” is a line from an old hymn, “What a Friend we have in Jesus” — a line that is far more than a song lyric, it’s a lifeline that literally has the power to lift our spirit.

We forfeit peace when we forget the source of peace. Peace cannot be found where human efforts abound. Jesus is the true source of peace, and the peace He gives is perfect and complete.

We live in a puzzling world, constantly searching for that missing “peace.”

But just like that missing piece makes a puzzle complete, God’s perfect peace makes us complete.

I have been praying for mental clarity and emotional stability quite a bit lately. My mind and heart have been all over the place, just trying to keep the pace in this daily rat race, and it can be exhausting!

But what I’m finding in my search for peace is this:

Peace is not found in a completed to do list, an aesthetically pleasing home, or a picture perfect day.

Three translations of this one verse reminded me that peace is possible when I pursue the source of peace.

“When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul.” (Psalm‬ ‭94‬:‭19‬, ‭ESV‬‬)

“When doubts filled my mind, your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer.” (Psalms‬ ‭94‬:‭19‬, ‭NLT‬‬)

“When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.” (Psalms‬ ‭94‬:‭19‬, ‭NIV‬‬)

Cares, doubts, and anxiety will forever plague me this side of Eternity. They are “great within me” and they are “many,” and they will continually rob me of joy and hope if I allow them to dictate my disposition instead of standing firm in my position (in Christ).

He is the missing peace.

In Him our peace is indeed complete.

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Call to Him. Come to Him. He came to you. He called you, too.

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Call to Him. Come to Him. He came to you. He called you, too.

Call to Him.

“Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.” (Jeremiah‬ ‭33:3‬, ESV)

This was the word of the Lord that came to the prophet Jeremiah while he was in prison. It was an encouragement to continually seek the Lord, cry out to Him, call out in hopes that He will answer and reveal truth, knowing He is the only real source of truth.

Come to Him.

“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” (John‬ ‭14:6‬, ESV)

From the words of Jeremiah the prophet to the words of Jesus our promised Savior, we are encouraged to call to Him and to come to Him. There is no other way to truth and life.

He came to you.

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” (John‬ ‭10‬:‭10,‬ ‭ESV‬‬)

Jesus’ words in the Gospel of John remind us that our enemy is trying to take life from us every single day. Satan has one goal — destruction. However, the sole reason God came to us through Jesus was that we might have life and have it abundantly. He came to give life.

He called you, too.

“But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: ‘Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.’” (Isaiah‬ ‭43‬:‭1‬, ESV‬‬)

Just as the Lord called His people in the Old Testament, His calls His children today — those He has adopted and redeemed in His family, through His son, Jesus.

God loves you. He has a plan and purpose for you. You are not a mistake. You are a miracle. His great love for you is what gives your life great value. Stop chasing dreams and lesser things that may temporarily pacify, but never truly satisfy your deepest longing.

God lavishly loves you, and He wants to lavish His love on you. His plan and purpose is so much bigger than anything this world can offer.

Ask Him the hard questions. Seek Him with your whole heart. Look to Him and His Word and His truth to satisfy, sanctify, and defeat the lies that keep you from being all that He created you to be.

@tabdeller

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Lord, Teach Us to Pray

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Lord, Teach Us to Pray

“Lord, teach us to pray…”

Wise words in the cry heard by Jesus from one unnamed disciple in the following verse.

“Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.’” (Luke‬ ‭11‬:‭1‬, ESV‬‬)

The plea was “teach us to pray,” not teach us to influence, or teach us to grow a business or brand, or teach us to market or network, or even teach us to preach or teach or speak.

Sure, we can do all those things, and we can do them all for God, but what resonated with me as I read this familiar verse is that the cry of this disciple’s heart was…

“Lord, teach us to pray…”

Plain and simple, yet powerfully profound. He displayed wisdom beyond his years by simply wanting to bend Jesus’ ear to hear the burdens of his heart.

Prayer is talking to Jesus, and yet this disciple knew, just as Jesus modeled the way to do many things, He also modeled prayer by the way He prayed to the Father.

And in the next three verses that follow, Jesus answers him this way…

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Return to Me

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Return to Me

“Return to Me.”

God spoke these words throughout the Old Testament to His people when they strayed, and He still speaks them, through His Holy Spirit, to His people falling away today.

Turning or returning to the Lord has always been the cry of the Father’s heart for His children because He alone knows what is best for us.

He made us.

He made us for relationship with Him.

Our sin severed it.

His Son mended it.

He made a way to return to Him.

He saved us.

Without Him, we are nothing, we have nothing, and we can do nothing (of any value, worth, or eternal significance), but in Him…

“we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28)

“are glorious riches” (Ephesians 1:18)

“all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26)

It’s a chide we’ve heard throughout time.

“Return to Me.”

And it’s time, once again, to turn to Him, turn away from sin, return to Him, because His great love is more than enough to cover it all, carry it all, and take care of it all.

He loves us so much. Always has. Always will. His love knows no end, which is why He asks us again and again to return to Him.

“I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.” (Jeremiah 31:3, ESV)

“That is why the Lord says, “Turn to me now, while there is time. Give me your hearts...” (Joel 2:12 , NLT)

“‘O Israel,’ says the Lord, “if you wanted to return to me, you could. You could throw away your detestable idols and stray away no more.” (Jeremiah 4:1, NLT)

“I will give them hearts that recognize me as the Lord. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me wholeheartedly.” (Jeremiah 24:7, NLT)

“Therefore, say to the people, ‘This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.’” (Zechariah 1:3, NLT)

“Return to Me.”

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Heavenly Hoarder

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Heavenly Hoarder

All this packing and purging recently has me thinking about Kingdom things. Where should we be “storing up” our treasures? Here on earth or there in Heaven?

Jesus, in the Sermon on the Mount, answers this question for us…

“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.” (Matthew 6:19-21, NLT)

And then Paul urges Timothy to act and teach others to act similarly, concluding his charge in 1 Timothy, much like Jesus did in Matthew, with the reason why…

“Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others. By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may experience true life.” (1 Timothy 6:17-19, NLT)

Storing up treasures in a worldly economy will not only one day end, but will continue to disappoint and fall short of true joy and fulfillment because storing up treasures on earth is unreliable, unwise, an unproductive in light of Eternity.

Storing up treasures in a heavenly economy will last forever, and will always please and supersede any earthly goal or dream because storing up treasures in Heaven is building on the best foundation for a blessed future and joy that goes beyond anything this world can offer.

So, if you’re anything like me, and hold on to earthly things a little too tightly, let’s get our priorities in order, and become a Heavenly hoarder!

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A Call to Prayer for the Mama Bear

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A Call to Prayer for the Mama Bear

A Call to Prayer for the Mama Bear…

A mama’s work is never done, and although the specific tasks and responsibilities may change, the ultimate goal stays the same.

Protect, provide, prepare.

From toddler to teen, and every stage in between, from the moment we bring them home to the moments they are making homes of their own, we raise them to release them, in the safety of our den, before they encounter the wilderness of this wild world we live in.

While they have been given to us by God, they are ultimately His, and our goal is to steer them back to Him again and again, our role is to guide them as He promises to walk beside them.

But the older I get, the more I realize, my words to Him are more powerful than my words to them…

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A Holy Dichotomy

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A Holy Dichotomy

A Holy Dichotomy?

2/14/24 = Ash Wednesday + Valentine’s Day

Juxtaposition or placing our heart in just the right position?

Two apparently different observances falling on the same day, but more apparent is what they both have to say about the only true love we will ever know — the love of God the Father through Jesus Christ His Son.

And oh how this world desperately needs this love…

The holiest of juxtapositions for sure. The Bible is full of seemingly contradictory concepts, and yet, when we take time to “ponder anew what the Almighty can do,” the dichotomies we see just communicate His great love a little more clearly.

God’s GREAT love for us is just that — it is the GREATest of the loves that we will ever know.

It is a love that cannot be fully realized until we truly realize our GREAT need for this GREAT love.

In my opinion, the dichotomy surrounding love and lent is even more beautiful when the two are blended together.

Strength made perfect and weakness.

Fullness felt only after emptiness is indwelt.

The bondage of sin leading to freedom in Him.

Apparently, you can’t spell vaLENTine without LENT.

True love is experienced only in a relationship with Truth and Love Himself.

“Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” (John‬ ‭14‬:‭6‬, ‭NLT‬‬)

“God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.” (1 John 4:16, NLT)

{And as I just looked up these two verses, the similarities jumped out at me — John and 1 John, 14:6 and 4:16 — transposed numbers highlighting these holy juxtapositions}

Ash Wednesday reminding us as God reminded Adam: “for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” (Genesis‬ ‭3‬:‭19‬b, ‭ESV‬‬)

We are but dust. Our Creator formed us, and He alone can fill us. And when we go straight to the source to receive love, forgiveness, acceptance, grace, mercy, and truth, those are the things we can then give to others.

Valentine’s Day reminding us that Saint Valentine gave his life trying to keep love alive by marrying soldiers in secret since a Roman decree forbade it.

To love others well, we must dwell in Love.

“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.” (John‬ ‭15‬:‭5‬, ‭NLT‬‬)

“Man approaches God most nearly when he is in one sense least like God. For what can be more unlike than fullness and need, sovereignty and humility, righteousness and penitence, limitless power and a cry for help?” (C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves)

A Holy Dichotomy for sure.

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Idols Must Fall

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Idols Must Fall

Idols must fall.

Celebrities intrigue us, don’t they? We entertain ourselves by checking in on the latest tea, while checking out from our own reality.

We put people on pedestals, idolizing what they say, what they wear, what they do, and what they share, and yet, while we continually lift them up, they inevitably let us down. It’s a game we play, watching their life, while neglecting our own.

But the idols must fall, before they suck the life out of us all.

“You shall have no other gods before me.” (Exodus‬ ‭20‬:‭3‬, ‭ESV‬‬)

When our eyes are on others and not on Him, our perspective is skewed, our objective misconstrued, and quite honestly, we get a little confused.

When our gazed is fixed on lesser things that merely entertain us, we miss the greater, life giving things that can actually sustain us.

The enemy deals out distractions by way of idol worship on a daily basis, and instead of having the discernment to overcome it, we find ourselves discontent because fantasy is not reality, and celebrity status doesn’t transfer to eternity.

Yes, the idols must fall, because only God deserves our awe.

“Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts.” (1 John‬ ‭5‬:‭21‬, NLT‬‬)

So, that thing you’ve given too much space (in your day, in your head, and in your heart), it’s time to put it in its proper place.

Knock it down before it lets you down.

Let it fall and let Christ be your all in all.

Idols must fall.

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