Dear Church that meets in America, We are a people of prayer and praise! We rejoice always (Philippians 4:4)! Every circumstance, whether good or bad, just or unjust, edifying or demeaning is met with praise. We are spiritual heirs of Paul and Silas. When unfairly imprisoned, they did not spend the night complaining about the unfairness of their situation. They did not speak harshly of their jailers, mocking them and...
The Debate
Before reading my Bible this morning, I scrolled through Facebook. (I’ll pause so all of my pious readers can give a collective gasp.) But I quickly grew weary of the current debate on Facebook: Open up the Government vs. The Risk of the virus is still great. So I opened my bible app and it went directly to Psalm 107. If you read Psalm 107, two themes are repeated throughout:...
Before
Before the crowds gathered Palm Branches to lay at His feet. Before the crowds recognized His majesty. Before everyone yelled, “Hosanna, Glory to God in the Highest.” Before His triumphant entrance. Before… There was a private party, away from the crowds, where the Guest of Honor was Jesus and a young woman worshipped. Mary loved Jesus. She loved Him before He raised her brother from the dead. But now her...
New Normal
🎶 As the deer panteth for the water So my soul longeth after Thee You alone are my heart’s desire And I long to worship Thee You alone are my strength, my shield To You alone may my spirit yield You alone are my heart’s desire And I long to worship Thee🎶 I don’t know about you, but this truth is being tested within my heart during this isolation. Is...
Worship
I’ve done it again. I have overbooked my life. Last night, I was sitting in the middle of the chaos preparing for my upcoming weekend event. My husband asked, “Why do you do this to yourself?” It’s simple. This is what I was born to do. This is my worship. We have relegated worship to a song. To thirty minutes on Sunday before a great sermon. To a dance with...
Nobody Said It Would Be Easy
My life is not always easy. There are promises I have been waiting over 20 years to see fulfilled. Even today, I’m dealing with rejection. I’ve had my share of disappointments and epic fails. I have doubted, cried, and wanted to give up. I have had to fight fear, anxiousness, and hopelessness. I’m not sharing this because I want your pity or your prayers. I just want you to know...
Fight
Last night I found out some pretty devastating news. I was distraught. Worry filled my heart. I didn’t know what to do. (My family is fine.) So I lay in bed tossing and turning. Even an over-the-counter sleep aid could not calm my anxious mind. Then the Holy Spirit asked me, “What would you tell a friend to do if they were in this situation?” “Take their eyes off their...
Worship
My heart is heavy this morning. Mississippi. Texas. Ohio. I’m speechless. I’m angry. I’m saddened. I’m scared. I don’t know what to do. I don’t know how to be a solution to the anger, racism, violence that seems to characterize our nation, today. When King Jehoshaphat’s nation was threatened, the Lord said to him: Worship. God is speaking the same thing to me this morning – worship. I’m reluctant. “Lord,...
Soar into Your Blessing
Yesterday, I watched this video of a little league baseball game. A player was attempting to steal home. The pitcher noticed it, threw the ball to the catcher perfectly. By all accounts, the runner should have been out. But neither the catcher nor the pitcher could have anticipated what came next. The runner, as he approached home, literally jumps in the air and soared over the catcher and landed on...
Worship Extravagantly
He had affirmed her. When others told her no, when her sister said it wasn’t proper, when society said you can’t, Jesus welcomed her to sit at His feet, learn from Him. She was grateful. He had rescued her. She and her sister loss their brother, their provider. They mourned. They thought all hope was gone and Jesus came, raised her brother from the dead and restored their family. So...