“But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed to Tarshish.” Jonah 1:3a Have you ever “run away” from the Lord? Maybe God was leading you to a different geographical location, but you didn’t want to uproot yourself or your family. Maybe He was not leading you into something in particular, but you reasoned yourself…
Author: stefanielynn3@gmail.com
The Heart, Part III, Treasuring God
“Where your treasure is, there will be your heart also.” Matthew 6:21; Luke 12:34 The heart. A simple five letter word. But I bet most of us don’t see our own hearts as quite so simple. What are the desires of your heart? What is really, truly important to you? Do you struggle with placing…
The Heart, Part II: “Our Hearts Melted”
“When we heard of it our hearts melted and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below.” Joshua 2:11 What has happened to you in your life that melted your heart in fear? If you have ever had your life threatened, you…
The Heart, Part I: Where Do You Hang Your Heart?
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and all your strength.” Deuteronomy 6:5 The other day I had an interesting conversation with our ten-year-old daughter. She was talking about what is important to her and she used the phrase, “I hang my heart on it.” I immediately received a…
Prayer: Praying Like Jesus, Part III
“Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.’” Luke 23:34 As we have spent a few weeks on prayer, we have highlighted a few ways in which Jesus prayed. This week, let’s see what Jesus prayed in His final hours, while enduring great physical pain and deep emotional distress….
Prayer: Praying like Jesus, Part II
“For your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.” Matthew 6:8b Last week we began exploring how Jesus prepared himself for prayer. He often would go off alone, away from the noise and the distractions and he focused on his father. In Matthew 26, we read the account of Jesus in the garden…
Prayer: Praying Like Jesus, Part I
“But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” Luke 5:16 When you reflect on Jesus’ time on earth, how do you picture him? Calling His disciples? Performing miracles in common place moments? Loving the unlovely? When you consider his life, living as a Christian, or Christ-like, believer is rather overwhelming! Yet Christ left us many instructions…
Refresh and Renew
“But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31 Last week, I went with my family on vacation. It was the first week-long vacation we have taken in years. Prior…
Obedience, Part III, How Good is Good Enough?
“If you love me, you will obey what I command” John 14:15 I was asked a very interesting question this week. One I think most of us have entertained: If all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, how much is enough? How obedient do I need to be? Accepting Jesus is…
Obedience Part II, Disobedience Defined
“I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving kindness, I will build you up again and you will be rebuilt, O Virgin Israel.” Jeremiah 31:3-4a Last week we began examining obedience. Sometimes we can learn more about a subject by studying its’ direct opposite. Disobedience is a subject most…