We are each in a different place on our journey in life, on our journey to God. If we truly want to have a grateful heart, part of that includes thanksgiving for our individual journey.
Read MoreMost of us are not fascinated with the ordinary. We desire to experience (at least once) the grandeur of breathtaking beauty, overwhelming riches, and delicious feasts. We don't usually find frozen chicken, dirty baby diapers, or our spouse's bedhead something to talk about. Yet if our lives are inarguably going to be full of the ordinary much more often than the extra-ordinary, are we doomed to live a life dulled by routine and habit? Just, normalcy?
Read MoreBeing grateful when it doesn't feel like there's much to be thankful for is hard. When life is going well and we are in a time of spiritual consolation with the Lord, it's natural to express gratitude! But when we identify with the person in Psalms, when we feel distant and forgotten by God, that's when it's hardest to thank for Him for what He's done for us.
Read MoreCultivating a heart of gratitude is really about love. Or maybe I should say that love requires cultivating gratitude.
Read MoreBefore you skip through this set of posts because you think it's going to be another "Be grateful for what you have - lots of people are dying from hunger" reprimand, stop. That's not what this is.
This is about being a woman of gratitude.
Read MoreWhen God tests us is when He’s preparing us for something extraordinary.
We’re all called to build the Kingdom of God.
When God appeared to Moses in a fiery bush, He placed a task on his heart so great that Moses at first resisted. He doubted his own abilities and asked God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh?"
Read MoreIf you had told me last year that I would come to love the desert, I would’ve laughed.
But it’s true. There is great mystery, deep passion, and exquisite beauty in what was once, millions and millions of years ago, a vast ocean.
I’ve admired the sides of mountains where traces of strong ocean currents once flowed. To think that giant sea creatures frolicked in waves that have now dried and left the earth cracked and scorched in the hot sun — it’s truly humbling to see that the Lord gives and takes away.
Read MoreSo far in our Lenten series, the desert has been nothing but scorching torture. Where we're stranded, tested, and forced to wait.
But the Holy Spirit is very much alive and present in the desert. There is grace and mercy and forgiveness in seasons of extreme droughts in our lives. It's in the fires that He is glorified.
Read MoreI’ve always believed that God gives His strongest soldiers the most difficult battles.
When you’re going through a challenge, a trial, or burden — and you’re left with absolutely nothing, it’s a sign that God has something extraordinary for you.
You don’t have to take my word for this — ask anyone who’s ever suffered and now shines for the Lord.
Read MoreWhether you’ve actually lived in the desert or you’re experiencing a dry season in your life, these empty, trying times force us to wait on the Lord.
Throughout the Bible, we see the desert as a setting that God uses to test the faith of His most faithful servants. Moses, Abraham, and Jesus Himself were all tested in the desert. It’s where they waited on the Lord.
And that’s what the desert is — waiting.
Read MoreLooking deeper into our hearts, the desert is a reflection of our own lives. Just like nothing can survive in the desert, we cannot live life apart from God in the seasons of our lives that are cracked, barren, and dry.
Read MoreThis is THE #1 motto, heart song, mantra of every military spouse —
Bloom where you’re planted.
It’s what gets us through deployments, separations, cross-country moves, overseas moves, too many moves in 4 years, all kinds of moves.
Read MoreWhen my husband received military orders to change duty stations from home sweet home San Diego to the fiery dunes of Arizona, I wanted to scream. Throw a fit. Die.
WHYYYYYYYY….
Why, dear God, would You ever send us out of this lush, green, vibrant beach of endless sunshine to the scorching, unforgiving desert?
Read MoreGod wants us for himself right now. There is a time to go into the jungle and the forest and fight the good fight but sometimes, like now, the Lord calls us to regroup, to see clearly again who the goal is and what love means.
I recently heard a talk that Mark Hart was giving. It was entertaining and deep and he made a point that I never really thought of.
Read MoreBeing comfortable isn’t a bad thing. Actually its kinda nice! I recently just ordered a mattress. I did SOO much research before I bought one. Sometimes I’m indecisive but whatever, I did my due diligence ;). So I didn’t want to pay a ton for it. I mean, I saw some really really nice ones for $2,000 and I was tempted to pay payments but I was like, nah, maybe when I’m married. But I really love a good bed. I mean, I can appreciate the comfort and styles of one and to a certain degree tell the difference. Well, I ended up buying a spa sensations memory foam and gel mattress. Oh Yea! I did, I went for it!
Read MoreHow do we know if Christ calls us specifically? How do we know we are one of his chosen Ones?
In the bible, God called Samuel verbally 4 times. Samuel was sleeping next to the arc of the covenant, where God’s presence was. Samuel responded to God with guidance from Eli. Eli helped Samuel listen to God when he was calling him. Do you notice that God doesn’t stop calling Samuel until he understands what’s going on?
Read MoreOne day at a time, ladies, one day at a time. This can be a rough day. 5th day in. We are talking about this love of Christ and freedom and facing our sins and that is overwhelming. That is hard. But remember, baby steps. This is worth it. We have a goal in mind and lets keep our eye on the prize of living this freedom with Christ.
Read MoreYesterday we saw how it can be difficult to come to Christ in prayer because we see more of who we are in his great light. But this is a great thing! By this we know we are actually closer to Christ and not further from him. It’s so important to have that deep center of prayer life within.
Read MoreWe know we want that next big thing that we talked about yesterday. We also talked about that next big thing being Jesus, so that whatever is in our lives, can all fall into place. Say you have a great prayer life or you have a regular prayer life and you’re getting closer to Jesus and your life is pretty good and your following him the best you can. That’s Amazing! Keep going! If not, keep inviting God into your life and yes, keep going! We can do this!
Read MoreYou are walking along and you are in the forest, you are coming to a clearing and that clearing is a desert. You start to walk into it, not thinking anything of it. All of a sudden you see a girl. She is wearing a dress, but a dress that has been worn for a very long time and now looks like rags. Dirty rags. The dress has holes in it but the girl is not dirty and she’s covered enough. She is actually healthy and her skin is glowing.
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