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Giving Thanks to God for Everything: Short Prayers of Gratitude
One of the sweetest and most unexpected gifts of a camping vacation is returning home. Everyday conveniences that were once taken for granted become reminders of the importance of giving thanks to God for everything. Giving Thanks to God for Everything First Thessalonians 5:17 tells us to give thanks in all situations. When the monotony of daily life drones on, we can become numb to the blessings surrounding us. After two weeks away from home, spent mostly in a tent, the comforts of home have been surprisingly amazing: Hot, running water with the turn of a knob. A full four-burner stove, including an actual oven! The ease of an electric…
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God Is With Us: How Noticing God’s Presence Changes Us
I stumble upon the words on a Montana morning, sitting beneath towering conifers as they watch over our small campsite: “For the Lord your God is living among you” (Zephaniah 3:17, NLT). God is with us. We know this. I know this. But on this morning, I receive the words differently. Maybe the scenery of a different place has awakened something within me, sharpened me. I think of the 35-hour drive across the country to reach this place. I reflect on the past four days spent in this quiet camping spot. Most of our moments were good. But there were also moments in which kids threw punches, and parents snapped…
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Living Purposefully: 7 Ways to Make a Difference
Our family recently returned from a memorable road trip from our home in western Pennsylvania to the mountains of northwestern Montana. As I reflect on our time away, one interaction reminds me of the importance of living purposefully. Today, I’ll share my experience. Then, we’ll look at seven ways to live more purposefully. Be sure to read to the end of today’s post for a free devotional eBook to help you embrace God’s purpose for you. Living Purposefully Our horses plodded in a steady procession beneath the endless western sky. As we rode through meadows of late-summer wildflowers, the scene reminded me of the years when I hiked through the…
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The Rebellion of Korah: Choosing Surrender Over Pride
The rebellion of Korah was a dramatic uprising against Moses. Led by Levites named Korah, Dathan, Abiram, and 250 leaders in the wilderness, these rebels challenged Moses’ leadership, a decision that would cost them everything. Today, we’ll take a closer look at this event and reflect on the messages is carries for us today. Be sure to read to the end of today’s post for a free devotional eBook to help you draw near to God and connect with him in deeper ways. Let’s enter into Numbers 16 and begin by imagining how it must have felt to experience the rebellion of Korah firsthand. The Rebellion of Korah The afternoon…
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God Uses the Unqualified: 7 Reasons Why God Chooses the Weak
I recently met with a friend who has been telling a relative about Jesus. Her family member doesn’t know much about God and has been grappling with the message of the gospel. My friend shared how unqualified she feels to be teaching anyone about Jesus. I gently reminded her that God uses the unqualified to fulfill his purpose. God Uses the Unqualified It has been said that God doesn’t call the equipped; he equips the called. Scripture reinforces this truth. Today, we’ll explore Paul’s first letter to the Corinthian church as we discuss seven reasons why God uses the unqualified and weak for his purposes. Be sure to read to…
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18 Encouraging Bible Verses for Women to Grow in Faith
As I write to you today, our daughter is nearing her sixteenth birthday. Lately, we’ve been talking about how to find God’s vision for her future and what it means to be called by God. These conversations have led me into Scripture, seeking God’s Truth about faith, strength, and calling. Today, I’m sharing a list of encouraging Bible verses for women of all ages as we aim to walk in alignment with God and grow deeper in faith. I encourage you to share these Scriptures with the women you care about and take time soaking in them for yourself. We’ll explore some of the common Scriptures addressing women, such as…
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Joshua and Caleb: When the Giants Look Bigger Than God
Thought the past several Fridays, we’ve been learning to look for signs of Jesus in the Old Testament. The story of Joshua and Caleb (Numbers 13-14) is one of the clearest places where the Old Testament points to Christ. Today, we’ll revisit the story of Joshua and Caleb as they explored the Promised Land with the spies. Then, we’ll look at how this narrative points to the gospel. Be sure to read to the end of today’s post for a free devotional eBook to help you connect with God in deeper ways. Let’s start with a quick recap of the story of Joshua and Caleb. Joshua and Caleb: The Spies…
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Living in Expectation: 20 Bible Verses About Jesus Coming Back
When our oldest two kids were young enough to fit into a double stroller—before our third child came along—I took them for long stroller walks almost every day. Sometimes, our oldest child would look at the cloud formations and say, “Mom, when Jesus comes back, I think he’ll be riding on clouds that look these ones.” Today, we’ll look at 20 Bible verses about Jesus coming back as we aim to become more aware of this reality. I loved our daughter’s sense of expectancy. Her anticipation reminded me not to be lulled to complacency or so consumed by daily life that stopped expecting Jesus’ return. We are all susceptible to…
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For When You Need God’s Guidance: The Pillar of Cloud and Fire
“I wish God would make the way clear like he did with the pillar cloud of fire,” I said to a friend as we talked about finding God’s direction. “I’ve had the same thought,” she agreed. “But I’ve also realized he’s given us something better. The pillar of fire didn’t go away. It came to dwell within us.” “That’s a remarkable way of looking at it,” I reacted. When God’s people wandered in the wilderness on their journey to the Promised Land, God led them with a pillar cloud of fire. The fire guided them at night, and a cloud guided them by day. God’s guidance was unmistakable and straightforward. …
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9 Empowering Benefits of Fasting and Prayer
Fasting is one of the most overlooked spiritual practices in many contemporary Christian circles, but there are many benefits of fasting and prayer. The Bible describes different kinds of fasts for different lengths of time. Most often, fasting involves abstaining from food, but we can abstain from anything that brings comfort. We’ll look at more examples in today’s post. I’ll be the first to admit that fasting doesn’t come naturally or easily to me. Especially as someone who has struggled with unhealthy deprivation when it comes to eating, I’ve wrestled with fasting from food. Nevertheless, I haven’t given up on this discipline. I’ve also learned to fast from other comforts,…
