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I Surrender All (Sort Of): A Review With Reflections
Daybreak sings a solemn song over a cross-stitched blanket of nutmeg, ash, and ivory. The skeletal arms of the maples still hold their white cloaks, and just a thin strip of charcoal gravel delineates the arched center of the country road. I take it all in from the window as I soak in Michelle Lazurek’s new book I Surrender All (Sort Of). Michelle and I met at a conference a few years ago, and I was drawn to her sweet, sincere spirit immediately. I would have picked up Michelle’s new book even if I didn’t know her because the title feels like a summary of my walk of faith: Surrendering…
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God Will Make a Way: When God’s Ways Don’t Make Sense
A thin band of pale light hovers over the horizon like a breath only partially exhaled. I watch from my window like I’m waiting for the day to exert itself by letting go of the light it holds in restrained lungs. I’ve been wrestling with God lately—the kind of wrestling you do when you begin to doubt the promise that God will make a way. I open the Bible with the turquoise cover, and my eyes fall upon the words: “For the Word of the Lord is right, and all his work is done in faithfulness” (Psalm 33:4). It sure doesn’t feel like God’s faithfulness when the dream you were…
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How Do We Demonstrate Our Love for God? 15 Ways
My little boy comes to me with his shoelaces twisted in knots. I’m soaking in my morning reading and enjoying a hot cup of coffee. I feel like I might be the world’s worst mom, but I don’t really want to set my coffee aside to untangle dirty shoelaces. A fleeting question crosses my mind: How do we demonstrate our love for God? I know the answer. We show God we love him by loving others, especially when we don’t feel like being loving. If I’m being real, I don’t want this interruption to the one part of the day I set aside to center myself. Maybe you’re chasing the…
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A Prayer for God to Take Control in a Situation
Snow falls like a million answers to all the wishes cast on shooting stars. I made a wish while the moon shined white last night. I whispered it in the quiet part of my heart where child-like hopes mingled with prayers. On the surface, it seemed to be a wish for everything to turn out okay. On a deeper level, it was a prayer for God to take control in a situation that was weighing on my heart. I’ll share this story in today’s post. I also encourage you to read to the end of today’s post for a free devotional eBook to help you surrender control to God. A…
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10 Inspiring Scriptures on the Goodness of God
I sit by the window as God infuses the sky with light, and I begin the day in my usual way. I open God’s Word. Today, I’m searching for Scriptures on the goodness of God. 10 Scriptures on the Goodness of God As the lavender glow of dawn washes over me, I soak in the following verses and am filled with peace. When life is challenging, meditating on God’s goodness can change our hearts and lift our heads. I invite you to join me as we soak in these Truths together today. Be sure to read to the end of today’s post for a free devotional eBook to help you…
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Mama, Let Go of Your Desire to Control
I’m so excited to share a guest post from my friend Tabatha today! Tabatha has been an inspiration and encouragement to me time and time again, and I think her words will resonate with every woman who has a hard time with the desire to control the outcomes in her life! Here are Tabatha’s words: As a lover of the outdoors, kayaking has been on my bucket list for quite some time now. For many years I’ve envisioned gliding on the still waters of a serene lake while greeting the morning sun . . . The glorious autumn leaves surrounding me as I listen to the sweet music of birds…
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What Is God’s Will for My Life? (10 Absolutes)
An oak leaf falls to its final resting place on pale grass—russet and scaled with age. I consider the sights it saw from its perch high above and imagine its six short months were filled with wonder. I’m in the woods tonight to pray about God’s will for my life. I’m not trying to discern an impacting career change or a move across the country. I simply want to create space to assess the rhythms of my days and make sure I’m still in step with my Guide. Twenty years ago, I sat in this same span of forest and asked similar questions about God’s will for my life. I…
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How to Hear God’s Voice: 4 Keys
Do you want to learn to hear God’s voice and stay in step with him as you make decisions? God wants to reveal himself to us and teach us how to discern his quiet whispers. How to Hear God’s Voice Today, we’ll begin by discussing the most common ways God speaks to us. Then, we’ll explore a practical way to create space for listening to God. Let’s start with the ways God often speaks. 1. God speaks through his written Word. Most reliably, God speaks through his written Word. Has a Bible verse ever jumped off the page as if it were written just for you? Have you ever felt…
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Scripture About God’s Presence: 7 Verses With Applications
The morning glories are climbing the neighbors’ porch beams when I stop along the road and come to a realization: I have not been attentive to God’s presence lately. I’ve been hustling and striving and failing to stay in step with him. After returning home, I pull out my Bible in search of Scripture about God’s presence. I want to remain attuned to him throughout all my moments. Scripture About God’s Presence: 7 Bible Verses Below are the verses I find, writing them in my journal and soaking in the transformative truth of God’s Word. If you want to become more attuned to God’s presence, I invite you to spend…
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3 Ways to Hold on to God When You’re at the End of Your Rope
Someone tied a ragged rope swing over the creek last summer. I walked by that rope all winter, its frayed edges hanging grey and frozen over icy water. Sometime in the middle of those long winter months, the old rope started to remind me of the truth I needed when the sun hid its face for weeks on end: Sometimes you have to reach the end of your rope and lose your grip before you realize God was holding onto you the whole time. It’s not easy to hold on to God when your life falls apart and your grip loosens. But maybe the best news of all is this:…
