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Striving or Thriving?
The Christian life is a call to thrive, not a life sentence to strive. We often misunderstand the “work” or “service” of a Christian as a command to try harder, or a contract to do more. We tend to qualify our sainthood in terms of effort, performance, and achievement. Yet the abundant life is so…
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Life Saving Symptoms
What are your symptoms? Perhaps it’s a question you’ve only heard your doctor ask. But maybe today it’s the question the Great Physician wants to hear you answer. What are your symptoms? Physically speaking, it was double vision that sent a family member to the Emergency Department. For a close friend’s son, it was increasing…
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Be The Message
While it’s comprised of 66 books and hundreds of pages of small print, God’s message is simple: Love and be loved. Yet as humans, this Love is one we do not possess naturally. It’s a Love begotten of the Father, made flesh in the Son, indwelled by the Holy Spirit, and manifest in the natural…
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Gift Seeds
Last week my family and I celebrated the completion of a seven year journey, as well as the beginning of a new one, with the release of my first book When Only Faith Remains. It’s hard to believe that what started with a few devotional writings evolved into fifteen chapters of Mary’s journey, my journey, and…
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What’s In Your Cup?
Isn’t this a pretty image of an inspirational cup full of tea proclaiming a sweet message of loving kindness? I don’t usually drink tea, but this particular herbal tea was much needed for its special ingredient. I’m more of a Jesus and coffee kind of girl, thus the sign on my desk. As I gazed…
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Just Say the Word
One of my favorite Christian bands is Mercy Me and one of my favorite songs they sing is “Even If”. It’s a song addressing God as Lord and Savior with the transparency of a struggling soul full of sorrow and hurt. The lyrics describe someone who admits being “ye of little faith” as they are held…
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Reversal of Nature
Isaiah 43 in the NIV is entitled “Israel’s Only Savior”. While chapter titles and headings were not part of the original biblical text, their inclusion serves to provide a broad perspective on the verses they encapsulate. Verses like the following found in the heart of Isaiah 43: “‘Forget the former things; do not dwell on…
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Holy Rooster!
We all have people in the Bible with whom we can identify and relate. God made sure of this. He’s a people person. Perhaps of all the possible biblical personas, Peter is the most relatable to anyone from the newly converted discipline to the seasoned follower of Christ. We’ve all been a Peter at some…
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What Difference Does It Make?
Last week I shared a question from God’s Best For My Life by Lloyd John Ogilvie. On March 21st Ogilvie asks, “What difference does it make to you that Christ was crucified?” In other words, how would you put into words what the cross means to you? I hope you’ve had an opportunity to ponder this powerful…
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The Power of the Question
Have you ever pondered the power of the question? Since I asked, perhaps you just did. The question is a small but mighty grammatical tool that beckons a response anywhere from the simplest layer of thought to the most profound depths of the soul. Questions daily take aim at our listening ears and if you…
When Only Faith Remains
Encouraging and equipping believers to live immersed in God's choicest graces.
