God
Pursue Him!
Every time we feel like God is far away we have a choice to either believe His truth or continue to suffer under the shadow of lies.
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On Walking and Praying
Do you like to walk? To pray? Does your prayer life feel stymied? If you answered "yes!" to any of these questions, you'll enjoy this really practical conversation.
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How to Hear God's Voice, Part 2
Here are two more ways the Bible teaches we can hear from God.
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How to Hear God's Voice
Most of us don't hear from God with our physical ears. So how can we hear from God? How can we make sure that we are hearing from Him and not listening to our own voice or the voices of others around us?
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God & The Prince of Persia
How often do you secretly question His reasons for not answering your prayers the way that you'd like them answered? How often are you frustrated with His sovereignty?
How often do you doubt whether God's doing the right thing?
How often do you fear that if you trust God with your life, He'll mess it up?
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How to Know if You've Been Saved?
When I was about ten or eleven years old, I stopped being able to fall asleep easily at night. I’d on my bunk-bed instead, staring at the ceiling and thinking about hell. Where would I go when I died? I said my own version of ‘the sinner’s prayer’ every night, but it didn’t shake my fear. Maybe you can relate.
Many of you have raised questions about your own salvation. How can you tell if you’ve been saved?
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Why you don't have to quit
Do you feel like “throwing in the towel” at school, in your faith walk with Jesus, in life in general? You’re not the first who’s felt like that!
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What Are You Waiting For?
What are you waiting for God to do?
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Is it TIme to See a Counselor?
I think it’s time you seek a counselor. Don’t freak out. We all have issues, and I know just who we can turn to when we need some extra help.
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You Don't Know What You're Asking
We ask things from God in prayer--and that's not a bad thing. He tells us to pray. He tells us to ask, in faith, for Him to provide. At the same time, I'm realizing that I need to hold on to my prayer requests with open hands, willing to hear God say "no" if that's His choice.
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Has Life Stolen Your Dance?
Today is my birthday. It’s weird to think about, but I was born on this exact date 30 years ago (that’s right, today I’m the big three-o!). It’s hard to imagine it now but I once weighed little more than five pounds and fit snuggly into the arms of my mom and dad. I don’t remember those baby days, but I do know that soon after that first birthday, I started to dance.
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Tell Me About Him!
For a long time now, I’ve wanted to sit down and write out things that are true of my Lover. Not just so I can brag on Him to others, but so when I’m feeling unloved and unpursued by other men, I can remind myself that I have the love of Someone who’s infinitely better!
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Does Everything Happen for a Reason?
When faced with difficult circumstances, I often hear people say, “Everything happens for a reason.” I can understand why we want that to be true. In the midst of relationship problems, illness, death, and disappointment we want to believe that what’s happening to us has great meaning and will ultimately work out for our good. But does this belief line up with the Word of God?
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Does the Bible Really Say That?
This week, I’d like to tackle three ideas that I hear often on the blog and in my interactions with other believers. I want to know if they are affirmed or contradicted by what we find in God’s Word. I don’t have all the answers, but I am hoping we can dig up some serious truth together.
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Don't Roll Back the Stone
I realize that we all struggle to be holy. But, this Easter, I don’t want you to miss out on the freedom Christ came to give. Jesus’ death and resurrection paved the way for your freedom, but it’s as if you’d rather stay in the tomb.
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The Gospel & Me
As I’ve been taking the time to be quiet before God yesterday and today, the motives I’ve had behind many things are being exposed. Even while I’m praising Him in words, I’m often so much more concerned with making my name look good than Christ’s
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Are Your Palms Up or Down?
The first session of the True Woman Conference has barely begun and already I’m encouraged. Nancy led thousands of us in prayer a moment ago to open the conference. She asked us to participate with our hands.
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Is God a good King?
You may realize that God is capable of changing your circumstances, but when He doesn't, do you ever secretly doubt that He's a good King?
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He Can Handle It
I don't know about you, but sometimes—especially when life gets tough—it is hard for me to remember what a capable King we serve.
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A Different Kind of Kingdom
Tomorrow we will worship our baby King. We will celebrate the fact that He was born of a virgin and born in a manger. We will reflect on the fact that His birth was announced by a host of angels and a bright shining star that only add to the mystery of wonder of His humble arrival. When we think about Jesus' birth, one thing is clear—we don't serve an ordinary King.
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What happens when a King walks among us?
God had a plan all along to save the citizens of His kingdom, but when it came time to put that plan into action, He didn't just send a messenger. He didn't announce a royal edict. He became the message.
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Our Approachable King
We serve a King who is simultaneously powerful and accessible.
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Christ Our Coming King
The story of Jesus Christ is an incomplete picture if we stop at the manger. We must move beyond His first visit to earth to His second coming.
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Bored With Christ
Do your eyelids have a tendency to grow heavy during church or maybe your prayers have been drying up if they last longer than a few minutes? As I remember falling asleep in His presence, I'm forced to ask myself: What's going on here? How do we become so bored with Christ?
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Don't Miss the Real Meal
How often do I lose sight of the miracle that is Christmas? I may get a little mushy inside when I hear sleigh bells or see Christmas lights, but that's like digging into chips and salsa appetizers while the real meal is on its way.
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Eating Mud and the Holiness of God
After reading through a passage in the book of Numbers, it hit me that if God is that holy, how can we expect to talk, pray, and worship Him with sin still hidden in our hearts?
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Celebrating Christ Our King
Christ is a King, and He is worthy of great celebration! And I think it is in the celebration that the rest of the world is able to see Him in us.
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What kind of King do we serve?
I'm learning that ignoring God's role as King means missing a huge part of who He is. More importantly, when I forget that God is the One who sits on the throne, my focus tends to become all about me when it should be all about Him.
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Jesus Your King is Knocking at Your Door
I recently had this crazy word picture of how I treat God. It really changed the way I approach Him, so I thought I'd share it with you.
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Defining Holiness
Does being holy mean following the rules?
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3 Things God Can't Do
Did you know there are 3 things God can't do?
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Love Versus Fear
Does love have the power to conquer fear?
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Write Your Own Psalm
What would your psalms be? What words would you use to express who God is?
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Is God Really Good?
Does the turbulence of this world ever make you wonder if God is really good?
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The Hit Song that Got Me Thinking
Do you ever feel like God created the World but now stands aloof from it?
When the going gets really tough are you tempted to believe that God is not really involved in your life?
If you ran into God on the corner, would you follow The Fray’s lead and by asking Him where He’s been?
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Meet Joe
Are you stressed out trying to control your job, your grades, your friendships, your family, your future, your current needs, your past regrets? I have good news for you today.
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Why We Must Think Rightly About God
Is what we think about God the most important thing about us?
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What’s Your Favorite Thing About God?
What are your top 10 favorite things about God?
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Who Do You Really Love?
Who or what is competing with God for first place in your life? Dr.
David Powlison’s questions will help you find the answer—if you’re
brave and committed enough to probe the depths of your heart for the
answers.
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What to do when God feels far away
Do you ever feel like God has moved away? Do you find yourself
wondering what happened to the closeness you once felt with Him or feel
like somehow your connection to Him has been, well…disconnected?
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7 More Truths to Counteract Deceptive Emotions
Emotions can be decieving. God's Word offers powerful Truth to counteract deceptive emotions.
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10 Powerful Truths to Counteract Deceptive Emotions
When it comes to God, can our feelings be trusted?
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Youth Workers Only—Your Chance to Win a Free Copy of LYWB!
Getting Into the Word and Getting the Word Into You
Do you hear others talk about all that God is teaching them in Bible
study, and feel like you’re missing the boat? Do you sit down to read
your Bible but find yourself easily distracted? Do you wonder if it is
possible to have consistent, meaningful quiet time?
Me too!
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Thirty-Day Challenge With a Twist
Several months ago, I challenged you to commit to read your Bible every
day for thirty days. Several of you agreed to do so. In fact, since the
arrival of the New Year some of you have re-committed to this challenge
as part of your resolutions.
What a great idea! In fact, I think we should join you. We could all
benefit from laying a solid foundation for 2009 by jump-starting our
prayer and devotional lives.
And, I’m willing to sweeten the deal.
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Learning to discern—how does it impact the way that we act?
Here’s another segment from Nancy’s series on A New Earth. Pay close attention to how Dr. Whitney encourages us to respond when we discern an imposter of Truth.
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God is not enough
God promises to satisfy our needs (Philippians 4:19). Even so, 88% of the Christian girls we interviewed agreed with the statement “God is not enough.”
Three main things consistently rivaled God for being enough to satisfy. They were:
1. Friends
2. Material objects
3. Accomplishments
What are your top three?
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Is there evidence of God's hand in your life?
In the shadow of a major election that brought issues like economic crisis, war, and terrorism right into the center of my living room, I am feeling a little…insignificant. More specifically, I woke up this morning feeling slightly anxious and out of control, and I wondered, “God, are you watching all of this?”
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The Most Important Thing
I just got back from the funeral of a very good friend of mine. He was a youth pastor, a teacher, a counselor, a father, a husband, and a trustworthy friend. He leaves behind a wife and five kids. He was thirty-three.
Tragedies like this one have a way of bringing clarity into our lives. My friend was well accomplished. He had several degrees and an important career. But as we remembered him today, very little of that mattered. What does matter is the relationship he had with Jesus Christ.
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“ I am with you” (Lessons Learned from Church Camp, part 2)
I am wondering where you are looking for satisfaction?
Do you feel like if you can just get a boyfriend, then you will be satisfied? God promises that He will be with you.
Do you feel like if your family situation changes, then you will be satisfied? God promises that He will be with you.
Do you feel like if you can be a star volleyball player, first chair musician, or straight A student, then you will be satisfied? God promises that He will be with you.
Do you feel like if you can just be good enough, smart enough, thin enough, or pretty enough, then you will be satisfied? God promises to be with you.
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Lessons Learned at Church Camp
This week I am blogging from church camp. I am tagging along with a group of 7-12-graders from my church as they spend the week at our local associational camp (think bugs, bunk beds, uncomfortable mattresses and cafeteria food!).
Last night the camp pastor preached from the story of Nicodemus found in John chapter 3. Nicodemus was a Pharisee, a.k.a a religious leader. One night he snuck away to ask Jesus some pretty tough questions. The truth is, I want to ask the same question Nicodemus did...what are the steps necessary to become a Christian? In other words, what does it take to be saved?
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“God is just like my father”
No matter what your experience with your earthly dad has been, you can trust that God is a good Father. In Lies, Dannah writes, “ God is a father, but He is not like any many you have ever known. The wisest, kindest earthly father is only a pale reflection of our heavenly Father. The God of the Bible is infinitely more wonderful and pure and loving than even the most wonderful father. God our Father is perfect (Matthew 5:48) and unchanging (James 1:17). Our earthly fathers cannot be those things (Matthew 7:11). Regardless of how you may think or feel, God is a good Father who dearly loves His children—including you. He can be trusted.”
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Another Dose of Truth
In our newsletter, we promised to address 17 freeing truths here on the site. Check back in the archives to read the first 10 truths along with the honest comments girls have left about the power of those truths in their lives. This week, we are going to address seven more important truths relating to issues like sin, authority, and the church. These truths are the antidote to many specific lies we encountered during our research for the book.
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5 More Truths to Set You Free
Lies lead to bondage. Truth leads to freedom. In our newsletter we promised to post 17 truths to set you free here on the website. Last week we tackled five important truths straight out of God’s Word. Be sure to check it out and join the discussion about the power of those specific truths. This week, we will examine five more truths. God’s Word provides the truth we need to combat lies in our lives. Check it out.
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Thoughts on motherhood (from a new mommy)
I had a baby this week. His name is Elisha and he is perfect. His little fingers and toes make me weak and I am frequently moved to tears over the miracle of his life. I am in full-on mommy mode. My days are now spent burping, changing, cuddling and feeding this adorable bundle and I’m tickled pink. But, if you had caught me a few short years ago, I would have assured you that a baby was not in the cards for me. If you had asked me about my purpose on the planet, I would have responded with an answer that centered around my career instead of my home and family. I misunderstood God’s design for me as a woman. I am not alone.
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Five truths to set you free
In our newsletter we promised to post seventeen truths to set you free here on the website. This is the beginning of the fulfillment of that promise. This week, we will examine five truths taken from God's Word that have the power to challenge, heal, and deliver you.
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