Who Will Roll Away Your Stone?

March 25, 2013

 

 

Do you have stones stuck in deep ruts at the entrance of your heart—stones of fear, rebellion, despair, or discouragement? Do they loom so large, you surrender at the thought of even trying to remove them?

Easter is about removing stones.

When Mary and the other women approached the tomb after Jesus’ death, Read more

Five Ways to Handle Irrational Fear

February 25, 2013

Mind-crippling, spine-tingling, heart-stomping fear–we’ve all experienced it at one time or another. Fears of several varieties took hold of my heart early on as a young adult, but through the years God has brought amazing freedom.

We’re not talking about the good kind of fear that alerts your spirit to an approaching enemy,  that moves you into action to protect the ones you love, or that promotes a healthy respect for God. Those fears are healthy. And not all fears are irrational. Some move in and out quickly without disrupting our lives.

But what about the other kind? Where does irrational fear originate? And how do you keep those fears from taking permanent residence in your life? Here are five ways to handle irrational fear: Read more

25 Christmas Prayers – Day 21

December 21, 2011

Day 21 – Jehovah-Sabaoth, The Lord of Hosts

Lord, in your strength nothing is impossible. At Your command, a thousand angels would rush to our defense if You so desired to send them. You are Jehovah-Sabaoth, the Lord of hosts. Read more

25 Christmas Prayers – Day 7

December 7, 2011

Day 7 – Savior

Lord, I can only imagine the shepherd’s fear that night as Your angel surrounded them in full 3D technicolor, bearing the good news for which so many had waited. For centuries, prophets foretold Your coming.

A simple birth. A simple manger. An extravagant plan, conceived in Your mind long ago because of Your love for us.

You Were Born to Die Read more

25 Christmas Prayers– Day 5

December 5, 2011

Day 5 – Immanuel – God with Us

Lord, how is it that a righteous God could be “with us?” We are sinful. You are holy. You are in heaven. We live on earth.

Yet the very essence of Christmas is rooted in an eternal, loving plan that brought You here to live in us, with us, and through us.

Because of Christmas, You are now “with us.” Long ago men housed Your “presence” in a tabernacle made by human hands with supernatural instructions. But Christmas ushered in Your presence here on earth, walking among us, living with us.

You no longer live in columns of clouds or pillars of fire. Read more

Promise for Today:Job Completion

June 7, 2011

He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:6 NIV

I love this promise. My greatest fear used to be that somehow I would reach the end of my life and not have fulfilled God‘s purpose for me–that I would miss too many opportunities to serve Him, or that I would fail to reach His potential for my life. Read more

Promise for Today: Courage

May 27, 2011

“For God hath not give us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7 KJV

Our convictions will be tested, and our faith will be sifted in times of difficulty. But God wants to help us reach beyond ourselves to a strength that is greater than our own–moving from fear to faith.

Because of God’s promise, we no longer need to be tossed back and forth with indecisiveness and timidity. Because He is always with us, we can choose to act courageously with conviction and faith.

I see this happening with the victims of all the tornadoes and disasters in this past year. So many are moving from confusion to courage as people reach up for heaven’s help and reach out to one another. And we observe it in the courageous lives of those who serve our country so faithfully, as well as those who are being persecuted for their Christian faith.

God can and will do that for us as we look to Him. He is the only One who can fill us with true courage–the ability to determine what is valued.

Courage always begins with the first step.

My Prayer for You

Lord, any time we are afraid, we will trust in You. Fill us with the spirit of love, power, and a sound mind. Give us the courage to move when You say move; wait when You say wait; and faith out every day in the midst of doubt and testing. Above all, help us to give You the glory in everything.

What about you? How has God filled you with courage? Please share with us in the comments below. You will not be hounded, prodded, or automatically added to my mailing list if you do so. Feel free to email this blog to someone or to repost on social media, using  the buttons below. If you want to repost any of my blogs on your own blog or website, please contact me for permission first.

Four Deadly Habits That Can Paralyze Your Time and Energy

February 8, 2011

Years ago when I was going through a difficult time, a counselor warned me about four deadly habits that can paralyze your time and energy.

She called them time wasters. But they have the potential to destroy more than our time. They can render us useless, ineffective, and depressed. I can testify. Been there, done that.

We could list a dozen, but what are the top four deadly habits? 

Is there hope to overcome them?  Read more

In the Wilderness? Words of Encouragement for You

October 18, 2010

I asked the Lord this morning to show me some words that might encourage others, but as I journaled, He first reminded me of those who might need those words of encouragment the most, the ones still walking in their own “wilderness”:

Are you one of these?

• The one whose heart is broken by another’s cruelty and refusal to stay in the marriage.
• The one who is searching for something–or someone–to ease the pain of loneliness.
• The mom who struggles to find the balance between working at home and ministering and caring for her kids.
• The one who cannot work from home and whose heart is paralyzed with fear for the children’s’ protection.
• The father whose job is on the line and who lives with fear of a pink slip. Read more