“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”- Proverbs 4: 23 “As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart.”- Proverbs 27: 19 In Chapter 2 (“The Battleground of the Gods”) of Gods at War, Pastor Kyle Idleman notes that our modern society tends to see personality more […]
In his Introduction to Gods at War, author Kyle Idleman relates a late-night conversation with his eight-year-old daughter Morgan that changed his life and his church. During their nightly prayer time, Morgan surprised her father by announcing that she could recite all Ten Commandments. As Morgan finished her recitation, Pastor Idleman sensed a teachable moment. […]
“I waited patiently for the Lord,; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, . . . he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God.”- […]
Walking down the street, Jesus saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked, “Rabbi, who sinned: this man or his parents, causing him to be born blind?” Jesus said, “You’re asking the wrong question. You’re looking for someone to blame. There is no cause-effect here. Look instead for what God can do.”- John 9: […]
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”- Galatians 6: 9 (NIV) “By perseverance the snail reached the ark.”- C. H. Spurgeon Laura Story begins Chapter 27 (“Why Not Give Up?”) of Blessings by noting that most of us have […]
“Faith looks back and draws courage; hope looks ahead and keeps desire alive.”- John Eldredge In Chapter 24 (“Finding Peace Amid the Thorns”) of Blessings, Laura Story remarks that it has taken a long time for her ( as well as husband Martin) to be thankful for the thorn (Martin’s brain tumor”) God allowed into […]
When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Your consolations delight my soul.”- Psalm 94: 19 (New American Study Bible) In Chapter 22 (“Beyond Worry”) of Blessings, Laura Story speaks to our human condition when she notes that deep down in our hearts we know that God will provide and we should trust Him completely, yet […]
“No matter how crazy or nutty your life has seemed, God can make something good and strong out of it. He can help you grow wide branches for others to use as shelter.”- Barbara Johnson In Chapter 19 (“The Hidden Blessing of Affliction”) of Blessings, Laura Story states that when we are devastated by adversity, […]
“Refrain from anger and turn away from wrath; do not fret- it leads only to evil.”- Psalm 37: 8 (NIV) When we ruminate on our ministry downsizing or position loss, it’s very easy to become angry with: (1) ourselves for our response to our position loss or for our failure to see that loss coming: […]
“Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your […]
“Our valleys may be filled with foes and tears, but we can lift our eyes to the hills to see God and the angels.”- Billy Graham Following our ministry downsizing or position loss, we’re likely to feel isolated from friends/colleagues and that we’ll never recover from our devastation. In Chapter 16 (“What If Healing Comes […]
“God, who foresaw your tribulation, has specifically armed you to go through it, not without pain, but without stain.”- C. S. Lewis “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.”- James 1: 2-3 As Laura Story astutely observes in […]