Spiritual Practices to Help You Connect With God, What the Bible Says About Art, and Other Resources
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Your monthly round up of resources to help you connect with God, make a difference, and live with joy.
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Do You Wonder If You're Growing Spiritually?
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Some kids don’t want to grow up, but when I was a kid, I wanted to grow up as quickly as possible. I loved celebrating birthdays and starting new grades—undeniable signs that I was moving closer to the freedom of adulthood.
Though I’m a full-fledged adult now, I still long to grow up. Only instead of pining for physical independence, I’m longing for spiritual maturity. I yearn to experience more of God’s presence, to better understand His love and wisdom, and to touch more lives through my ministry. And sometimes, just as when I was a kid, I want to hurry the process...
Read MoreIf I Could Tell My 18-Year-Old Self One Thing, It Would Be This (It's The Same Thing I'm Telling My 35-Year-Old-Self)
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When I graduated from high school, I had high hopes—and a lot to learn about how to let God guide me into His plans for me. As I reflect on how my path has meandered over the last 17 years from high school graduate to professional counselor-turned-writer, I’ve been wondering: What advice would I give the 2003 version of myself?
Read MoreAre You Holding Onto Something That’s Holding You Back From Your Purpose?
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Recently, I dreamed I was sitting in a comfortable living room. Seated on an adjacent couch was woman. Without any preamble, the woman said, “That was 1998—don’t you think it’s time to let it go?”
As happens in dreams, I knew exactly what she was talking about without her saying another word. While the woman looked on with a benign smile planted on her face, I spent the several minutes defending my grudge, trying my best to convince her why what happened in 1998 was actually a really big deal...⠀
Praying This Bible Verse Transformed My Experience Of God's Love
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Do you know God loves you but struggle to feel it?
I can relate.
I remember driving home from church one dark winter night in my twenties, my heart troubled by my lack of experience of God’s love on an emotional level. I knew God loved me, but sometimes, inside, I felt as cold as the shimmering snowbanks flying by my car. I longed to actually feel, warmly and deeply, God’s love…
I Long To Be Loved And Enjoyed. Jesus Used These 3 Verses To Show Me That He Does Too.
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We all want to be loved.
I think the popularity of Valentine’s Day (I hope you had a great one, by the way!) is a testament to our intense desire to belong to a special someone who will love us unconditionally and make our hearts complete.
I’m well acquainted with that longing for love, and I’ve tried for years to fill my heart with the of love friends, family, and my husband. But as wonderful as these relationships are…
The Animal That Most Inspires Me to Run the Race of Life With Passion and Purpose
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Do you want to run the race of life to the best of your abilities? When you get to the end, do you want to hear, “Well done!”?
I know I do, and I’m guessing you do too! Today I'm sharing a devotion* I wrote that I hope encourages you as you push forward in passionately pursing your purpose…
Read MoreIs God Listening??
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Have you ever dared to pray a small prayer? So small, that if it were to be answered, you would know without a doubt God was listening?
I want to share a time this happened for me, all through the visit of a humble groundhog…
The Key to Making Sense of Your Life
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Last week I shared about how God has been giving me an extra strong reminder of the importance of relationship with Him. One of the reasons relationship with God is so vital is that it’s only through Him that we can find our true identity and purpose…
Read MoreWondering What God Really Wants?
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In recent weeks I’ve felt an extra strong impression from God about the importance of spending time with Him. One of the coolest things about this has been that, though I certainly have a role to play in setting aside time for God and developing our relationship, a big part of what He’s been revealing is how much He wants to spend time with me…
Read MoreFeeling Distressed, Distracted, or Stretched Thin by the Demands of Life? Here’s One Spiritual Practice that Can Help You Refresh and Reconnect to what Matters Most.
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To connect to the internet at my house, I use an old-fashioned Ethernet cable. One perk of this arrangement is that when I have a project that requires high concentration, such as writing a blog post, I can unplug the cord. Without access to the internet and its myriad distractions…
Read MoreWhat God Showed Me when I was Feeling Weary, Dry, and Weak
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My soul was thirsty, dry, and weak. I felt like I’d been put through a wringer and every last molecule of moisture had been wicked away.
For years I struggled with a chronic condition, and for years I ached for a breakthrough. After yet another disappointment, I was weary from the effort, the wondering, and the waiting…
How Jesus Really Feels When You're Upset
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I somehow have this subconscious perception of God as stoic, serious, and stern. Thankfully, God has done a lot over the years to change this perception, but sometimes I still find that when I’m in emotional pain or am struggling with a problem, I feel guilty. Deep down, I think I should be stronger and I fear God is displeased with me…
Read MoreMore Important Than Breakfast
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Life is busy. The list of of every day commitments and necessities goes on and on: phone calls to make, clothes to launder, church events to attend. There are baby showers, doctor appointments, and birthday parties. Dishes to wash, snow to shovel, groceries to buy…
Still, in midst of it all, I rarely miss a meal…
Read MoreOne Secret to Connecting with God in a Deeper Way
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I’ve always loved journaling. I’ve been immortalizing my thoughts in notebooks since the tender age of nine and have found it to be a great way to sort my feelings, clarify my thoughts, and process my experiences.
As a young adult, I noticed something. Whenever I went through a phase where I wasn’t journaling much, I didn’t feel as close to God…
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