Bible study · podcast · spiritual growth

Throw Out the Welcome Mat, Part 1

Listen to the podcast here.

How much fun is it to receive a much-loved guest? This week of Thanksgiving, many homes will be opening their doors to do just that. Have you ever thought that we should welcome God’s Word into our lives each day in the same way we would welcome a guest into our home?

Continue reading “Throw Out the Welcome Mat, Part 1”
home · serving

God, Why Have You Blessed Us?

You can listen to this post on Refresh Her podcast.

Have you ever looked around and really noticed how much God has blessed you? The homes we have, the material blessings that He gives are all gifts from His loving, generous hands. How can we use them to serve the Lord?

Listen to what the psalmist said – Psalm 67: 1 God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us; Selah.
2 That thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations.

T
his was a request for blessing.

This psalm comes from the Aaronic Blessing of Numbers 6:24-26, where the High Priest of Israel would pronounce this beautiful blessing upon the people.

1 Peter 2:9-10 tells us that all believers are also a priesthood. We offer a priestly service to the world, and we primarily do it through evangelism.

“God be merciful.”
“The best saints and the worst sinners may unite in this petition.” (Spurgeon)
It would be quite a sight to see a guilty criminal before a judge, pleading for mercy, and receiving it – and then asking for a blessing! But God’s love toward us is that great!


And cause His face to shine upon us: To have the glorious, happy face of God shining upon us is the greatest gift we could have. To know that as God looks upon you, He is well pleased – not because of who you are, or what you have done, but because you are in Jesus Christ – there is no greater source of peace and power in life.

Bless us.

Then we read why he is asking this:

That Your way may be known on earth,
Your salvation among all nations.

The psalmist had a beautiful scope in mind: not just Jerusalem, not just Judea, not just all of Israel, not just all the Middle East, not just all the Mediterranean world, not just his continent or hemisphere, but all the earth.

God wants us to have the same heart and the same vision – for all the earth.

We are blessed in Christ.  We have been saved.
Then beyond that, God blesses us in so many other ways with His grace blessings – things He gives that we don’t deserve. It reminds us of His great love for us, but why else does God bless us. 

Let me ask you – Why do you have a home?  Oh sure, for shelter and rest, but why did God give you the home you’re living in? 

Continue reading “God, Why Have You Blessed Us?”
podcast · trials

Running From God, Part 2

You can listen to this post on Refresh Her Podcast.

What difference would come to your situation if you stood face to face with Christ and talked with Him about it? Hagar was a woman who was desperate and alone, and decided that the best thing to do was to leave – to flee! She ran away from Sarai and Abram into the wilderness. This is where He often finds many of us – alone and in the wilderness. But rest assured, He will find you. He knows all about our past as well as our future.

How many of us are running away and have “run into God”? (Nahum 1:7) We run from:

  • Unfair treatment or words
  • Hardships
  • Difficult marriage – Sometimes just in our spirits, but we’re “absent”
  • People that disagree with us
  • Bad memories
  • Reality
  • Church
Continue reading “Running From God, Part 2”
Motherhood

Ten Things This Mom Would Do Again

You can listen to this post on Refresh Her podcast.

My mommy days are behind me now, and as I’m watching others in this special, yet demanding role, I have done some reminiscing over the years when my girls were young.  I have plenty of regrets, as all moms do, but I’m not going to dwell on those, because I can’t change them, and because doing so would not fall under the Philippians 4:8 things I should think about!  It’s in the past. But there are things that were so good about those days.  As I think back, I remember things that we did that I would definitely do again, if I had the chance.

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Marriage · podcast

Packing for the Journey of Marriage, Part 3

As we continue packing for the journey of marriage, it’s time to tuck away four more essentials into our suitcase – qualities that will not only make the trip smoother, but full of joy! You can listen to this post here on Refresh Her podcast.

7. The seventh item we need to pack away is a good disposition – Why do you need this? Because a spirit can drive our husband away. Here’s what Scripture says:

Continue reading “Packing for the Journey of Marriage, Part 3”