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The Presence of Jesus: 10 Ways to Connect With Him
The maples stood barren—as if they were waiting for a fresh breath from heaven. Gazing into their spindly arms, I realized my soul felt much the same. I wanted nothing more than a sense of the presence of Jesus. “Lord, why do you seem so distant? Why don’t I sense your presence?” I prayed. Today, I share the revelation I had as I prayed about encountering the presence of Jesus that day. Then, we’ll look at 10 practical ways to become more aware of his presence. Be sure to read to the end of today’s post for a free devotional eBook to help you connect with the Lord in fresh…
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10 Bible Verses About Overcoming Challenges
When challenging times arise, we face various options. We can run from challenges, face them head-on in our human strength, or turn to God to help us overcome them. Today, we’ll look at 10 Bible verses about overcoming challenges as we turn to God for help. I’ll also share some practical insights for overcoming challenges with God’s help. Be sure to read to the end of today’s post for a free devotional eBook to help you rise above challenges by turning to God. Let’s begin by turning to Scripture. 10 Bible Verses About Overcoming Challenges God is with us and wants to help us through the challenges of life. When…
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5 Uplifting Prayers for Joy and Peace
The box elder by the creek adorns herself in summer vestments before her taller cousins. I rest in her shade while the little one collects the wispy seedlings and sends them racing down the river. As I watch him play, I talk to God, praying through a series of prayers for joy and peace. Prayers for Joy and Peace I’ve been on a journey of slowing down to be more engaged in the quiet moments of our days. The following prayers flow from me as I watch the clear water flow past, cleansing the sandstone and washing away my cares in the process. If praying for joy and peace sounds…
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6 Miscarriage Prayers for a Friend or Loved One
Several years ago, our family walked through one of the most difficult losses we’d ever faced. We lost a baby through a miscarriage. Today, I want to encourage you as you support a loved one or navigate your own loss. The following miscarriage prayers for a friend (or for yourself) can help you find healing in the arms of our heavenly Father. 6 Miscarriage Prayers for a Friend or Loved One Parts of this post are taken from my book, Lean Into Grace, where I share the full story of my miscarriage. I’ll invite you to read the entire chapter for free at the end of this post. First, let’s…
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10 Scriptures About Trusting God in Difficult Times
I slip into the woods on a Saturday evening as the golden sun kisses the horizon. Sitting on a rock at my turn-around point, I stare at the still water and pull out my Bible in search of Scriptures about trusting God in difficult times. I feel like I’ve slipped into a bit of a valley lately. There aren’t any life-shattering losses unfolding. Our little family hasn’t huddled over the freshly broken earth of a gravesite lately, but there have been challenges. 10 Scriptures About Trusting God in Difficult Times There are always challenges. You have them, too. They might be so huge you can’t miss them. Or they might…
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5 Lessons From the Samaritan Woman at the Well
The dust from the road sticks to the roof of her mouth as she forces her feet to carry her heavy jar just a few more steps. Rather than visiting the well in the cooler evening hours, she chooses to come in the middle of the day because she is avoiding other people. Today, we’ll take a closer look at this story as we glean five lessons from the Samaritan woman at the well. Be sure to read to the end of today’s post for a free devotional eBook to help you establish a rhythm of encountering the life-giving presence of God daily. Now, let’s return to this narrative. Lessons…
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Only God Can Satisfy Your Emptiness: 3 Ways to Be Filled
We were just starting to believe we’d made it through the worst of the blustery winter days when the cold weather returned like a tempest fighting for one last victory. As I stared at the daffodils, crushed beneath the weight of the snow, a gentle invitation beckoned me, whispering, Only God can satisfy your emptiness; turn to him and be filled today. Winter had worn on me, and another grey day felt nothing short of defeating. Nevertheless, I knew that my emptiness could be satisfied by God alone. Mostly, I knew this because nothing else had been working. Only God Can Satisfy Your Emptiness Perhaps this invitation to let God…
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7 Practical Ways to Show Grace to Others
Dawn came too early today—like an interruption to a night that went too fast. As the first rays of light poured through the windowpane, I asked God to fill me with his grace for the day ahead. Showing grace is never easy when we’re weary and on the brink of burnout. I went to bed late thinking about writing projects, our child’s science fair project, and what I was going to send to school for snack day. My mind raced for hours. When dawn came too soon, I had no desire to race into anything. I brushed my teeth thoughtlessly, and the impending nature of my to-do list weighed me…
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What Does God Say About Making Decisions?
When it comes to walking by faith, there’s one question I’ve grappled with more than any other: What does God say about making decisions? I want to follow God and honor him with my choices. Yet, at times, I’ve struggled to find his direction. The summer after my junior year of college, I found a job working in a deli thousands of miles from my home in Pennsylvania. For three months, I lived outside Denali National Park, Alaska. In some ways, I was running from the life I’d created for myself at home. On a different level, I was searching for direction from God. I invite you to return with…
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5 Things to Do When You Feel Stuck in Life
There’s just something about the long walk through winter. There’s something about the piles of muddied snow, the grey days, and the darkness falling early. It all makes me feel more than just a little bit stuck in life. What to Do When You Feel Stuck in Life It doesn’t have to be winter in your world for you to feel stuck in life. There are about a million ways to fall into a pit and find yourself clawing at the walls with no worldly clue of how to climb out. I know because I’ve been there. One thing I’ve learned is that the worst thing I can do is…
