Penciled in the Margins

November 14, 2011 | Encouragement for Today, Faith: Knowing Christ

If you came over from Encouragement for Today, welcome! In the devo today I shared how God pencils in the margins of our lives. He changes us!

Recently I was picked up at the airport by a woman. She had a frazzled day. She raced through traffic to pick me up. She apologized for the cleanliness of her car (which resembled mine at home, exactly!), and then we zoomed into city traffic.

“Tell me about you,” I said, hoping to put her at ease.

And for the next half hour, she did.

When we made it to the hotel she apologized again. This time for taking the entire time to talk about herself.

“I loved hearing your story,” I told her. And I did. Her story filled me with encouragement. It showed me all over again who Jesus was, and is. (more…)

Where do I start?

November 10, 2011 | Faith: Knowing Christ

I have tried so many times to start a prayer journal; however, I feel so inadequate.

I don’t know what to say. I don’t know what I am supposed to write down. Most of all, I don’t know where to start in the Bible. I feel like I am a “clanging bell”. I say I know the Word but I only know a few verses and sometimes I have a hard time finding time for Him.

I want so much for what you talk about….a relationship with God. I pray and I ask you to pray for me to begin today.

Where do you start? What a great question! (more…)

Dear friend: When you want more. . .

November 9, 2011 | Faith: Knowing Christ

Kelley commented on my blog on Friday. She said:

Wow, this is deep for me!! As a child my parents were divorced at a young age. Time and time again my father didn’t show up. Growing up in church I would watch families, and think I want that which included a close walk with God. Everyone says just talk to God like a friend. It’s hard for me as my earthly father abandoned me, so how am I supposed to accept my heavenly father?

I’ve been feeling in my heart the last several weeks that I need and want more than just reading the Proverbs 31 devotions that from time and time again I step away from due to not knowing “how to do it”. Is this the more I’m looking for?

I really hope that you’ll email me as I’d like to know exactly how to do this. How much do you read in the Bible etc.? What do you write about exactly? I am totally interested in this. Help me to do this.

(more…)

When a prayer journal doesn’t work. . .

November 8, 2011 | Faith: Knowing Christ, Feelings: Intentional freedom

A few of you said things like this on Friday after reading my Encouragement for Today devotion Love Letter and then my blog on Friday over prayer journaling. . .

I’ve tried, but I give up.

I started and I liked it, but it phased out.

I don’t know what to write.

I keep getting caught up in little details, like how to do it the “right” way.

I hear you. But let’s look at what a prayer journal isn’t:

1. It’s not homework
2. It’s not a duty
3. It’s not a formula

It’s simply putting your prayers on paper. Today this is my prayer on paper:

Father, this weekend blew me away. I’m amazed at what you can do. There was a moment when I was anxious as I stepped up to the podium, but then I realized all over again that this wasn’t about me. It was about Your Word, and the heart that you have for those sitting in the auditorium. Thank you for meeting me in that anxious moment.

Thank you for touching the hearts of women who were hurting. Thank you for challenging women to know you more. Thank you for healing relationships, and for speaking through Your Word to a church who wants to make a difference. I love watching you work.

Another day, it might look like this:

Father, I am hurting and I do not have all the answers. For today I trust You. I know that You see me, and for that I’m grateful. Show me what you desire in this situation, rather than respond with my feelings. (more…)

a love letter

November 4, 2011 | Faith: Knowing Christ

If you came over from Encouragement for Today, welcome!

In today’s devo I shared how a love letter from my dad was rare and precious, and how I still have the tattered pieces of that letter with me today.

But also that there’s a love letter written just for you and me in the Bible.

For some, it’s hard to start that conversation.

A few years ago I sat with a group of students in a discipleship class and I issued a challenge: to begin a very personal journey spiritually with God in prayer and Bible study.

I handed out a black notebook and markers.

And then we opened the notebooks. “This is where you have an opportunity to share everything you’ve ever wanted to share with God,” I said, “but to also hear from Him.” (more…)

Fill me up, please

November 1, 2011 | Faith: Knowing Christ

My mom has a panic attack when she gets in my car and the gauge says “almost empty”. She has a hard and fast rule that you keep at least a half a tank or more always.

But I know exactly how many miles I can go once that light starts flashing. In fact, I know how many miles I can go past the “beyond empty” gauge.

It was a habit I started in college when I was broke. It’s a habit I still have because I just don’t like stopping and filling up with gas. I don’t claim that it’s a good one. I’m just being honest.

But it’s not a habit I want in my spiritual walk with Christ. I truly do want to walk around on “full”. Is that possible? I don’t know, but I know that its far greater than walking around on empty.

This morning I opened my devotional and my Bible. The words were exactly what I needed to hear:

Your desire is to be with me. Don’t worry that you are often distracted. I see beyond that. I see your heart and I know that you long for the deeper things, that you long for relationship with me.

And those words alone filled me up. They hit the exact gap that rested inside my heart. Sometimes it’s less about what we do (okay, all the time) and Who He is and what He has already accomplished.

Fill me up, please.

Romans 8:33-37

Who will bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is the one who will condemn? Christ is the one who died (and more than that, he was raised), who is at the right hand of God, and who also is interceding for us.