Tag: beencouraged

Posted on

When Our Witness Brings Healing and Persecution

Holy Spirit

On the evening of my husband’s death, one pastor helping me inquired about what I wanted him to tell my coworkers the next day.

After a brief pause of utter silence, I looked him in the eye with intensity and said, “The truth. There’s nothing to hide here. And I did not see this coming.”

The next morning, this same pastor called to check on me and to tell me he was about to email all the staff to gather in the youth space to inform them what had happened. He wanted to make sure the email did not surprise me in the event I was checking my work email.

I thanked him and then told him I wanted him to stress to the staff that if any of them were struggling, to please seek help because that is what my husband failed to do. And he was wrong to not seek help.

Later that same day, I shared Psalm 77 on my blog and also posted on my social media that I desired to bring God Glory out of this situation.

  • How was I able to respond in this manner within less than twenty-four hours of learning what my husband had done?
  • And how does it connect with the title of this post?

Let me prepare my answer to these two questions with a brief study from Acts 4:1-13.

Continue reading “When Our Witness Brings Healing and Persecution”
Posted on

Why Did God Choose Gideon?

wheat

I have fond memories of the wheat fields in Kansas.

Watching the swaying of the stalks in the wind is quite mesmerizing.

Although I spent time on my grandparent’s farm, I have never harvested wheat.

I recall a picture taken of me with my grandfather on his combine, but I never actually did any farming work.

Why am I talking about harvesting wheat?

It is what Gideon was doing when God called him to lead the Israelites.

What was it about Gideon that made him the right choice?

Continue reading “Why Did God Choose Gideon?”
Posted on

Resolving Miscommunication in Worship

communication

Have you ever misunderstood another person’s actions?

I know I have.

Conversely, has anyone ever misunderstood your actions?

Yep, I have experienced this too.

These situations can cause brokenness in our interpersonal relationships.

On a much larger scale, it can cause rifts between larger people groups and even nations.

Worse yet, miscommunication has the potential to destroy unity in worship.

Joshua 22 helps us understand the importance of communicating clearly with each other.

Continue reading “Resolving Miscommunication in Worship”
Posted on

A Common Communion Liturgy

communion

Growing up, the windows of my childhood home’s family room were in direct line of sight of our neighbor’s bedroom windows.

If we both had the curtains open, we could easily see into each other’s homes.

My mother told me that our neighbor once shared that my sister and I had caught her eye one day when she was opening her curtains. We were taking turns standing and reading from a small red book in front of our fireplace. She observed we would also sometimes sing and then bow our heads with our hands folded in front of us.

Intrigued, she wanted to know what my sister and I were doing.

My mother replied that my sister and I were playing church. The book we were reading was called The Common Book of Prayer. The songs we were singing were hymns. And the bowing of our heads and folding of our hands were prayers to the Lord.

What does this have to do with my title, A Common Communion Liturgy and 1 Corinthians 11:23-26?

Continue reading “A Common Communion Liturgy”
Posted on

Worship in Response to Your Calling

kneeling prayer and worship

When you were a young child, did people ask you what you wanted to be when you grew up?

My answer to this question changed frequently as I grew.

I remember being interested in driving a semi for a brief period.

Another strong interest at one point was interior decorating.

But by the time I was in eighth grade, music had captured my attention above all other potential vocational pursuits.

Then, after fifteen-plus years of a music career, I transitioned into administrative work.

Although I believe I am talented and gifted in the vocations I have pursued, I believe my calling from God is to write Bible studies. (See my About page for a few more details.)

This is why I write this blog. And it is a part of my worship of God.

I am thinking about all of this today because of Joshua 5:13-15.

Continue reading “Worship in Response to Your Calling”
Posted on

Are You Letting the Spirit Lead?

Fruit of the Spirit

Look closely at the picture above.

Do you know the name of each apple variety pictured?

I recognize Red Delicious, Granny Smith, and Green Delicious.

The pale green with the flecks I am uncertain about.

The lighter red one could be a Gala, or possibly an Ambrosia, my favorite.

The opening sentence in Food & Wine’s The Ultimate Apple Guide to 85 Varieties, From Heirlooms to Hybrids published on October 9, 2023 states, “There are over 7,500 apple varieties around the world (and counting)…”

Wow!

The multiple apple varieties look and taste different from each other.

They also have different uses, such as snacking, saucing, baking, or cider.

Yet they are all apples.

What does this discussion of the vast world of apple varieties have to do with this post’s title, “Are You Letting the Spirit Lead?”

Continue reading “Are You Letting the Spirit Lead?”
Posted on

Leading Hearts to Worship | Dt 30:15-20

leading hearts to worship

Who would you say is the most effective leader of our day?

What makes that person stand out from other leaders?

Centuries ago, God called Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt and traverse the desert for forty years to prepare for entering the land promised to their ancestors, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Moses was not a perfect leader.

Yet, with the help of the LORD, Moses transformed into a leader whom both Jews and Christians revere.

What does this have to do with leading hearts to worship?

Continue reading “Leading Hearts to Worship | Dt 30:15-20”
Privacy Policy Proudly powered by WordPress