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10 Life-Changing Bible Verses About Being Transformed
For years, I kept a photo of a monarch butterfly on my mirror. Beneath the photo, the following words offered a daily reminder: “You are a new creation in Christ.” These words, from 2 Corinthians 5:17, make up one of many life-altering Bible verses about being transformed. A friend gave me the photo shortly after I decided to follow Jesus. It was a reminder that my old life was behind me. Every time I looked at the card, I reminded myself that I was a new creation in Christ, and the sins of my past were washed away by the blood of Christ. More than a decade later, I became…
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Live in the Now: 7 Ways to Walk It Out
Before we talk about how to “live in the now,” I invite you to join me as I prepare to release a new book. On November 3, I will release a new book for teens. It’s called Anchored: A Teen Devotional for Understanding the Old Testament and Applying It to Your Life. My vision is to teach teens the key narratives from the Old Testament while helping them see that all of Scripture is relevant to our everyday lives. These devotions delve into everything from anxiety to sexuality, all drawn from the truth of God’s Word. Watch for it to release soon or preorder the Kindle Version on Amazon here!…
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Meekness in the Bible: Strength Under Control
Years ago, a wise older woman offered a definition of biblical meekness that has stayed with me. She said, “Meekness is essentially teachability.” Today, we’ll dive into Scripture for a deeper understanding of meekness in the Bible, exploring how we can live with strength under control while exuding patience and gentleness. Jesus declared, “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5, NIV). Let’s consider what it means to be meek as we aim to embody this often-misunderstood characteristic. Meekness in the Bible The Bible helps us understand meekness and offers examples of how to embrace it in our daily lives. The Greek word for meek in…
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15 Bible Verses for Teachers This School Year
During my years as a teacher, I kept a framed card with a Bible verse on my desk. It read, “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9, ESV). This verse encouraged me on tough days and reminded me to persevere. Today, we’ll look at 15 Bible verses for teachers. If you are a teacher, I invite you to soak in these truths. Let them remind you of why God called you to be a teacher and renew your mind. Maybe you’re not a teacher, but you want to encourage a teacher you care…
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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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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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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,…
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Why Did God Make Me? 10 Reasons You Are Here
At some point, most of us will step back to look at our lives and ask hard questions, including: Why am I here? Do I have a purpose? Why did God make me? Today, we’ll consider these questions by looking at a list of life-changing truths about God’s purpose for us. I’ll also share a list of 11 questions to help you find God’s purpose for your life. First, I invite you to travel back in time with me as we reflect on God’s design. Also, be sure to read to the end of today’s post for a free devotional eBook to help you grow closer to God as you…
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Hearing From God: 7 Keys to Discerning God’s Voice
A few weeks ago, I met with a younger friend who was trying to decide what to do after graduating from college. “Why is hearing from God so hard?” she asked in frustration. “I’m so confused. At times, I sense that God is giving me signs about what to do next, but the next day, I wonder if maybe it’s actually the devil trying to confuse me. How can I be so messed up that I can’t tell if it’s the devil or God speaking to me?” My heart went out to my friend because I’ve been in her place. It can be hard to tell whether we’re hearing from God,…
