Luke 14:26 (NLT) If you want to be my disciple, you must hate everyone else by comparison—your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple.     This makes no sense.  Hate our families?  Jesus tells us to love our neighbors and especially our…

Luke 1:37 For nothing is impossible with God.   God loves the impossible.  That’s when He shines.  When God brings us through an impossible situation, we have no choice but to acknowledge Him.  It is often the turning point in one’s faith.   In early September, I wrote that I felt called to an impossible…

“What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” –A.W. Tozer, The Knowledge of the Holy (New York: HarperCollins, 1961)   I’ve read or heard this quote by A.W. Tozer multiple times in the last month.  Let me just say that God’s most common method of speaking…

Matthew 25:40 (NLT) And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters you were doing it to me!’   I had what I call an ‘ah-ha’ moment yesterday.  You may have seen the light bulb blinking over my head. …

Matthew 6:27-28 Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.   Confession:  I am quick to judge. I have a visceral response to people I don’t like.  It’s a character trait I struggle with.  My roommates used to say they knew within…

Matthew 26:27-28 (paraphrased from the NLT)   He took the cup and gave it to them saying, “Each of you drink from it, for this is my blood which confirms that you are God’s beloved.”   The Women of Faith conference this weekend was amazing.  There were inspiring speakers, plenty of laughter, music and praise…

Philippians 4:13 (NIV)   I can do all this through Him who gives me strength. I’m excited to be heading to Hartford for the Women of Faith conference Believe God Can Do Anything.  I am just beginning to experience the truth of this and know I will be stretched by the speakers.  I announced in September…

Isaiah 33:6 (NLT) In that day He will be your sure foundation, providing a rich store of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge.  The fear of the Lord will be your treasure.     Bible study author, Priscilla Shirer, recommends this exercise as part of Discerning the Voice of God:  Rank the following activities from 1 to…

  Proverbs 2:1-6 (NLT)     My child, listen to what I say,     and treasure my commands. Tune your ears to wisdom,     and concentrate on understanding. Cry out for insight,     and ask for understanding. Search for them as you would for silver;     seek them like hidden treasures. Then you will understand what it means to…

1 Peter 1:24-45 (NLT) – As the Scriptures say, “People are like grass; their beauty is like a flower in the field. The grass withers and the flower fades. But the word of the Lord remains forever.” And that word is the Good News that was preached to you.     Author Francis Chan talks about…