God's amazement isn't based on our performance. Amazing good news, right? As I said in my devotion, "How to Amaze Jesus," our state of being is what amazes God, not our state of doing. The inner characteristics of humility, selflessness, and faith are what God delights to see in us, but how do we attain these simple but hard-to-develop … [Read more...] about What It Takes to Amaze God
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For Those Who Are Waiting
The countdown is on... only 6 days until Christmas! Since I'm still childlike, the wait seems long. I can only imagine what it felt like for the Israelites. The wait for the Messiah much have seemed endless, but the promises they were given are for us today. No waiting required! What an amazing miracle. As I've been studying Isaiah through the … [Read more...] about For Those Who Are Waiting
Connecting Our Emotions to the Heart of God
Happy Christmas season, friends! I know you're in the thick of things, and I am too. Still, I want to invite you to spend 14 minutes with me as I interview my friends Beth Griffiths and Karen McNary about the trip that they took with The Repentance Project. I was teary from almost the beginning of this interview, and there are several powerful … [Read more...] about Connecting Our Emotions to the Heart of God
How to Defy the Dreadful Danger of Dulling
The emotional dam finally broke, and I let my tears flow. It was long past time. Day after day I'd read a Lenten devotional that should have broken my heart. Though I felt pangs of sorrow, there was no breakthrough. No lament. Certainly American racism is a reason to weep, but I've been immersed in it my entire life. I've grown dull to it … [Read more...] about How to Defy the Dreadful Danger of Dulling
Is God Really Jealous?
In high school, I was jealous when the guy I liked decided that he preferred my best friend. [Sad confession alert...] As an adult woman, I've been jealous when a friend spent more time with another friend than with me. Jealousy has been personified as the "Green-Eyed Monster," and it's a really icky emotion when a human experiences it. Its root … [Read more...] about Is God Really Jealous?
The Things that Make God Angry
Since I was a little girl, I've been uncomfortable with negative emotions. Don't get me wrong, I've expressed plenty of negative emotions-- tantrums, meltdowns, down days that I wanted to stay in bed-- but they've always felt bad or wrong. For example, I would shut out God if I couldn't bring my sunny self. I'm gaining a healthier view, but for a … [Read more...] about The Things that Make God Angry
Complete Joy
Today, surrounded by warm sunshine, towering palms, and blue water, I feel a rush of joy that seems like it will last forever. Moments later, my mood is interrupted by a frisson of anxiety over my son's interview, and less than a half an hour more finds me wrestling with confusion over what to write here. Our days are like that, aren't they? … [Read more...] about Complete Joy
Immeasurable Love
May 25th was the day we all waited for, counting down the months and then the days. The time seemed immeasurable, unbearable even, but the date finally arrived. Wedding day! The previous October, my youngest son, Nolan, and his beloved, Madison, got engaged, and everyone was thrilled. Nolan and Madison had dated for almost 2 years, and both … [Read more...] about Immeasurable Love
One Last Gasp… and an Exhale
I need to confess. I hear it's good for the soul. You know all those other bloggers you follow? The ones who write mind-blowing, heart-changing content every week? I love those bloggers. I really do, and I follow them too. But true confessions... I'm not that blogger. Whew! Sure glad I got THAT off my chest. Ok. Maybe since you're laughing … [Read more...] about One Last Gasp… and an Exhale
One Powerful Source of Strength in Weakness
Welcome y'all! Please watch the short video below that contains some additional thoughts from Where to Find Strength When You Feel Weak along with all the details of this week's fabulous giveaway. Pro-Tip: Watch to find out how to have TWO chances to win! (Subscribers, click here to watch the video on the website. I want you in on this giveaway … [Read more...] about One Powerful Source of Strength in Weakness
Only Two More Days for the Big Giveaway
Because I'm so excited about this BIG GIVEAWAY, I'm sending one extra email this week as a reminder to enter by Thursday, July 11th at midnight. If you've already entered, I'm cheering for you to win! If you haven't, here's our prize: TEN copies of Exhale Group Study (for a participant) Leader Guide Here's how you enter: … [Read more...] about Only Two More Days for the Big Giveaway
What Happens When You Step Into Your Highest Calling
"The very word 'calling' is fraught, isn’t it? It feels like a word saved only for special people and those paid to do ministry." That's a line from my Encouragement for Today devotion, "Your Highest Calling Isn't What You Think." It's true, isn't it? So many of us struggle with the idea of calling, but ultimately I believe that it's not as … [Read more...] about What Happens When You Step Into Your Highest Calling
Numbed Out
At no additional expense to you, this post contains affiliate links to defray the cost of website maintenance. Click here for full disclosures. Have you ever caught yourself saying or thinking things like this? The news stresses me out too much. I'm not going to watch it anymore. I can't think about that problem. It's too big for me, and I've … [Read more...] about Numbed Out
All Your Beautiful Seeds
Oh my heavens... I've spent the morning reading back through all your comments, and my heart is overflowing. Although I'm unable to write a response for each one, I've been thanking God for all the seeds He's sending into the world through you. You're sending seeds of care-taking, encouragement, the arts, giggles, and even grief. The last one … [Read more...] about All Your Beautiful Seeds
The Powerful Beauty of Something Tiny
You know the saying... "Great things come in small packages." That saying may be truest of one of the tiniest things I can think of-- a seed. Years ago when the boys were small, we moved into a new house with a barren yard. Even though I love landscaping, there was no budget for it that year, so I hesitantly bought a packet of zinnia seeds. … [Read more...] about The Powerful Beauty of Something Tiny
