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Suffering at Christmas? 5 Insights to Give You Hope
Snow falls heavily like flour through a sifter, and I’m alone with only my thoughts and the hushed whisper of flakes gathering on frozen earth. As I sit beneath the hemlocks, I’m reminded of a season years ago when our family was suffering at Christmas. It was a year filled with illness, disappointment, and deep grief. We’d just watched a lifelong dream go up in smoke, and we weren’t sure where to turn next. We were grieving, and we were having a hard time embracing the Christmas season. I wonder if you’ve walked through a similar season of your own. Maybe it was a long time ago, or you might…
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What Is God Doing in My Life? 4 Truths About Trials
This morning, I was startled to find the wood line painted grey. Nevertheless, the bleak scene matched the state of my soul. I sat by the window and wondered, What is God doing in my life? Above the hardwoods, a lavender cloud arched its back into the shape of a question mark. Perhaps the heavens were questioning God’s purposes as well. Later in the day, I took a walk beneath the naked arms of the maples, oaks, and sycamores. I let my mind trace the footprints of a handful of recent disappointments—disappointments that felt far heavier than a dismal shift of seasons. I counted the losses, stared down some shattered…
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God Cares About You: 10 Bible Verses to Stand on in Tough Times
Yesterday, I spent what felt like wasted time trying to find a metaphor for the blue sky that opened wide all around us when we traveled to Wyoming. I even searched for a fitting simile online. Sadly, comparisons to robins’ eggs and soldiers’ uniforms didn’t capture what happened in my heart when the clouds opened wide, Elk Mountain smiled down on us with snowy slopes, and the cold springtime wind sent us hustling to find our jackets. This morning, I opened Luci Shaw’s book of poetry, and today’s poem caught my breath. It was called “God speaks in blue.” God Cares About You Luci offered every metaphor I could have…
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15 Scriptures to Destroy the Works of the Enemy
Are you searching for powerful Scriptures to destroy the works of the enemy? Let’s dig into God’s Word for 15 powerful Bible verses to help you overcome spiritual attacks. Speak these verses out loud when you sense you are under attack. Satan cannot read our minds, but he submits to the authority of God’s Word. Scriptures to Destroy the Works of the Enemy The year I started writing words for the world to read, things began falling to pieces all around us. The kids were constantly rundown with various viruses. There were financial strains, serious health scares, and much more. We faced spiritual attacks without reprieve, and we were worn…
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Give It to God: 5 Ways to Give God Control
A midsummer drought slows the creek to a trickle and darkens it to the color of black tea. I sit by the water with a friend, and we talk about hopes, dreams, and the prayers we desperately want God to answer. We talk about how hard it can be to surrender control—to “give it to God” and trust him with the outcomes in our lives. I wonder if you can relate. Maybe you’ve been chasing a dream that hasn’t come to fruition, and you’re not sure how to embrace your calling while trustfully giving it to God at the same time. Perhaps you’ve been asking God to mend a broken…
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When God Closes a Door, He Opens a Window—or Does He?
A scrim of periwinkle clouds hangs low in the morning blue. I stand at the window and admire the scene with an aching heart. The thrum of disappointment beats in cadence with my pulse, and I think of an often-repeated adage: “When God closes a door, he opens a window.” I’m not sure who said this first, but in my experience, it’s not always how life works out. When God closes a door, it often feels like being locked in a dark room with no clue of where to turn next. I’ve experienced this more than a few times, and I suspect you have, too. We set our goals and…
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Permission to Be Where You Are
I didn’t think I needed to read a book called Growing Slow. If you’ve been reading my words for any amount of time, you know how often I write about slowing down and cultivating rhythms of rest. I thought I was an expert at slowing down. But then I picked up Jennifer Dukes Lee’s book, and her words stopped me in my tracks: “We need permission to be where we are.” I wonder if you need this too: Permission to be where you are. Permission to Be Where You Are “Yes,” I whispered out loud the instant my eyes scanned the words. I do need permission to be here—right here,…
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How to Process Disappointments Biblically
As you know, I love supporting other writers. Today, I’m thrilled to introduce you to one of my close writing friends. Despite the fact that we live on different continents, I consider my friend Hadassah a kindred spirit. We regularly check in with each other on a personal level, pray for each other, and share our hearts. I’m honored to share Hadassah’s words with you today as she writes about how to process disappointments biblically. Here’s my dear friend: How to Process Disappointments Biblically Do you want to know how to process disappointments biblically? Perhaps you had certain goals and dreams this year that didn’t come to fulfillment. Life is…
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Cast All Your Burdens on God: 4 Practical Ways
Do you want to learn to cast all your burdens on the Lord? I invite you to join me in the woods, and we’ll talk about practical ways to cast our cares on Jesus. Cast All Your Burdens on God: 4 Insights The forest is silent this morning. Shrouded in a fresh cloak of frozen ivory, every fallen log and standing hemlock dozes beneath the weight of winter’s breath. Suddenly, a rustle behind me catches my attention. I turn, startled, expecting a deer or coyote. The forest sleeps. I hear it again and realize the noise is coming from somewhere closer than I first realized. Looking at the ground just…
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Nine Comforting Bible Verses for Worry (and a Plan for Peace!)
The winter wind writes its story in flourishes of ivory. As I stare out the window, I feel consumed by worries, and I open my Bible in search of comforting Bible verses for worry. Perhaps you need this Truth to stand on in challenging times, too. Let’s look at what the Bible says about worry, and then we will explore three practical ways to overcome worries with God’s help. 9 Comforting Bible Verses for Worry 1. Matthew 6:25 Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the…