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God Is With Us: How Noticing God’s Presence Changes Us
I stumble upon the words on a Montana morning, sitting beneath towering conifers as they watch over our small campsite: “For the Lord your God is living among you” (Zephaniah 3:17, NLT). God is with us. We know this. I know this. But on this morning, I receive the words differently. Maybe the scenery of a different place has awakened something within me, sharpened me. I think of the 35-hour drive across the country to reach this place. I reflect on the past four days spent in this quiet camping spot. Most of our moments were good. But there were also moments in which kids threw punches, and parents snapped…
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Living Purposefully: 7 Ways to Make a Difference
Our family recently returned from a memorable road trip from our home in western Pennsylvania to the mountains of northwestern Montana. As I reflect on our time away, one interaction reminds me of the importance of living purposefully. Today, I’ll share my experience. Then, we’ll look at seven ways to live more purposefully. Be sure to read to the end of today’s post for a free devotional eBook to help you embrace God’s purpose for you. Living Purposefully Our horses plodded in a steady procession beneath the endless western sky. As we rode through meadows of late-summer wildflowers, the scene reminded me of the years when I hiked through the…
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Living in Expectation: 20 Bible Verses About Jesus Coming Back
When our oldest two kids were young enough to fit into a double stroller—before our third child came along—I took them for long stroller walks almost every day. Sometimes, our oldest child would look at the cloud formations and say, “Mom, when Jesus comes back, I think he’ll be riding on clouds that look these ones.” Today, we’ll look at 20 Bible verses about Jesus coming back as we aim to become more aware of this reality. I loved our daughter’s sense of expectancy. Her anticipation reminded me not to be lulled to complacency or so consumed by daily life that stopped expecting Jesus’ return. We are all susceptible to…
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9 Empowering Benefits of Fasting and Prayer
Fasting is one of the most overlooked spiritual practices in many contemporary Christian circles, but there are many benefits of fasting and prayer. The Bible describes different kinds of fasts for different lengths of time. Most often, fasting involves abstaining from food, but we can abstain from anything that brings comfort. We’ll look at more examples in today’s post. I’ll be the first to admit that fasting doesn’t come naturally or easily to me. Especially as someone who has struggled with unhealthy deprivation when it comes to eating, I’ve wrestled with fasting from food. Nevertheless, I haven’t given up on this discipline. I’ve also learned to fast from other comforts,…
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Why Did God Make Me? 10 Reasons You Are Here
At some point, most of us will step back to look at our lives and ask hard questions, including: Why am I here? Do I have a purpose? Why did God make me? Today, we’ll consider these questions by looking at a list of life-changing truths about God’s purpose for us. I’ll also share a list of 11 questions to help you find God’s purpose for your life. First, I invite you to travel back in time with me as we reflect on God’s design. Also, be sure to read to the end of today’s post for a free devotional eBook to help you grow closer to God as you…
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Hearing From God: 7 Keys to Discerning God’s Voice
A few weeks ago, I met with a younger friend who was trying to decide what to do after graduating from college. “Why is hearing from God so hard?” she asked in frustration. “I’m so confused. At times, I sense that God is giving me signs about what to do next, but the next day, I wonder if maybe it’s actually the devil trying to confuse me. How can I be so messed up that I can’t tell if it’s the devil or God speaking to me?” My heart went out to my friend because I’ve been in her place. It can be hard to tell whether we’re hearing from God,…
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What Does the Book of Proverbs Say about Hospitality? 12 Verses to Guide Our Hospitality with Wisdom
Today, I’m excited to share a guest post from my friend Desiree Talbert. Desiree will be unpacking a list of insights from Proverbs on hospitality. These words blessed and challenged me, and I pray they will bless you richly as well! Rethinking Biblical Hospitality When we think about biblical hospitality, we often picture meals shared with friends and neighbors, homes full of welcome, and caring for those in need. We can see commands for hospitality in the Bible, stories that show the importance of hospitality in the Old Testament, and the teachings of the New Testament for how Christians ought to care for others. What Does Proverbs Say about Hospitality?…
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12 Questions for God to Help You Walk With Him
At times, most of us have questions for God. We want to know why he permits suffering, and we seek him for purpose and direction. When I think of questions for God, the book of Habakkuk comes to mind. The book of Habakkuk is unique because it takes the form of a dialogue between Habakkuk and God. Habakkuk asks questions. God answers. Most of us won’t hear God’s audible voice when we approach him with questions, but this doesn’t mean we shouldn’t turn to God with our questions. Today, we’ll explore 12 questions for God that can help us walk with him and live in alignment with him. First, let’s…
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18 Bible Verses to Start the Day With God
When our youngest child was an infant, getting out of bed became more difficult than ever. After restless nights spent tending to him, I was rarely eager to start the day. During that time, I decided to speak the words of Psalm 118:24 first thing every morning. This simple practice helped me align myself with God in my exhaustion. Today, we’ll explore 18 Bible verses to start the day with our focus on Jesus. First, I invite you to join me as I recently returned to the practice of speaking Psalm 118:24 each morning. Be sure to read to the end of today’s post for a free devotional eBook that…
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15 Bible Verses for Athletes Who Want to Glorify God
God calls us to give our best effort in everything we do, and sports can teach us about character and hard work. Today, we’ll explore 15 Bible verses for athletes who want to glorify God. As a life-long athlete, I have memorized many of these verses and spoken them over my athletic endeavors. Now that I am also a coach, I believe these truths can help other athletes by teaching them important lessons about life. If you are an athlete, I encourage you to read these Scriptures often and commit them to memory. God wants you to glorify him in all you do, and this includes giving your best effort…
