When The Doctor Broke My Arm

We will all face the pain of suffering, but our response to that suffering is a choice.
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What's The Big Deal About Sunday?

Being familiar with the Easter story makes it easy to go on autopilot. But that day changes everything ...
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Take Time. Count The Cost.

Following Jesus affects all of life. Usually we don't include that when we discuss the gospel, but Jesus does.
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The Good Shaman Dilemma, Part 2

God is not concerned with what we do alone. He cares about why we do good.
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The High Cost Of Treasure

It's lovely to think of being a Christian is like striking it rich, but don't miss the rest of the story.
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Good Shamans, Atheists, and Mormons

What do we have, as disciples of Jesus, to offer the world that is different and separate and more?
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God Is Good: A Dog Tale

Trusting God is good doesn’t mean He’s a genie in a bottle. But He is good. It’s a promise we can cling to.
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God's Garage Sale

My friend Autumn Smith just had a garage sale—and not your typical garage sale. Read her cool story here.
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Hope For Broken Hearts

I was a college senior finishing my student teaching and engaged to my best friend and the love of my life. The wedding was only three months away when one day my phone buzzed with a text message. "We need to talk. I can't honestly say I am in love with you—I haven't been for quite some time. I can't do this ..." This had to be a cruel joke by one of his friends. But it was no joke.
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Preaching To The Choir

Have you ever thought about how important it is to preach the gospel to yourself every day? Even as Christians, our hearts need to be reminded of the message of the gospel daily. Why? Because our minds are easily diluted.
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Psst . . . We're Giving Away Free Books Again!

As much as I love all of the supplies in your backpack, they aren't the most important thing you'll be toting to school this year. Nope. Your biggest accessory is God's truth.
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Only A Boy Named David

At the beginning of my missions trip, Dannah Gresh talked about how God had a divine appointment for each of us on the trip. Someone He wanted us to meet and talk to. Turns out you don't have to go romping through the jungles to find the person God wants you to reach.
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Twenty Minutes To God's Heart

Today I spent the afternoon with men in loincloths. Not something I do on a typical Thursday. Then again, there's not much typical about going on a Never the Same missions trip!
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How God Is Working In The Wake Of Aurora

There has been such a great outpouring of love! It shows that light is more powerful than darkness, that love is stronger than hate, and that He who is in me is greater than he who is in the world.

So You Still Believe In A Merciful God?

We all watched in horror three weeks ago as news reports of an attack by a single gunman in a movie theater poured into our TVs, radio waves, and Twitter feeds. While searching the news hoping hope will float up, I found this post by Aurora shooting survivor Marie. Marie was in the theater with her two daughters when the shooting started. What's been her takeaway? God is merciful.

Keep On Prayin'!

It takes work to persevere in prayer. It requires effort to continue to pray day after day and determination to continue to believe that God will keep His promises to work on our behalf. But while we are busy with that busyness, God is still working, asking us to keep praying.

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Gap T-Shirts, Water, And Bed Bugs

We live in Disney World. Not literally, but figuratively. Our plasticized perfect world leaves us no room to trust, thank, lean upon, and expect God to show up. And that's really the main reason I believe wholeheartedly that you should one day go on a mission trip if you never have.

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Waiting For Good News

From a public park in your neighborhood to the grocery store to your next family gathering, you are encouraged by Jesus to share His Good News. It's supposed to be a daily lifestyle for us, but I've learned that sometimes we have to get out of our comfort zone to learn to do it well.

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Can I Trust God When Life Is Really Hard?

There is no doubt that we will go through hard times in our life. (The Bible guarantees that we will!) What will we do when those hard times happen? Will we doubt God or will we trust that He is perfect and in control of all things?

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I'd Like Off This Ride Please!

Mountaintop syndrome is a common condition. It happens when we gorge ourselves on Jesus/the Bible/worship/Christian fellowship once or twice a year and then starve ourselves of those things during the fifty-one weeks between camp experiences. God seems so close to use during camp, but we just can't seem to keep it that way. 
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Why You Can't Stay At Church Camp Forever

Mountaintop syndrome is a common condition. It happens when we gorge ourselves on Jesus/the Bible/worship/Christian fellowship once or twice a year and then starve ourselves of those things during the fifty-one weeks between camp experiences. God seems so close to use during camp, but we just can't seem to keep it that way. 
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True Service In Desperate Circumstances

Because of the previous persecution of Christians, the churches were small but the people in them were very dedicated. They sang in worship with all their hearts, and even though there were only ten or twelve people in the congregation, they were louder than all fifteen of us Americans combined. This is because they know what it is to risk everything to follow Christ.
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Why You Can't White-Knuckle Your Way Into Holiness

Though we may pay lip-service to the idea of asking God for a hand of assistance, we typically feel the bulk of responsibility. We're left to deal with the day-to-day business of attacking our indwelling sin—and that business gets frustrating pretty fast as we keep falling back on our face in the same ugly sins. It's a constantly discouraging task. But praise God—white-knuckling our way into holiness isn't the way of the gospel.

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Duh! He's In the Boat

Are you reading The Jesus Storybook Bible with us? This week we see why the antidote to our worry is closer than we might think! Will you let your story whisper His name this week?
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Turn Whining Into Worship

Have ever said something like this to God: "If I only had ___________, then I'd be happy." In essence, we're telling God that He is not enough and we need something else besides Him in order to be happy. When we say those "if only" words, we are choosing to please ourselves rather than choosing to please God.
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The Brain Tumor That Led To Gratitude

God's promise to me wasn't the perfect life I had envisioned as a teenager. God's promise to me is a perfected life. One where He brings people, circumstances, and trials to make me more like Him.
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The Brain Tumor That Led To Joy

I was getting the chance to share my journey with others and that my hope was resting in Christ through it. I realized how carefully the Lord had planned this tumor, and I actually felt humbled that He had entrusted it to me.
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The Brain Tumor That Led To Radical Peace

The life and events God had planned for me wasn't the idyllic, picture-perfect progression of marriage, career, home, and children. I have experienced all those things, but not exactly in the way I dreamt about.
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Should You Be Worshiping In Secret?

In Lindsey's first ever video blog she asks if secrecy should be a critical element in our life with Christ.
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Race Running 101

You want to run fast and finish strong in the race of your spiritual life, right? But you've slowed to a walk because of your weights.
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Two Sumo Wrestlers

I think a lot of Christians are like me and my GMC Envoy. We make all the right stops for fuel—church, Christian school, volunteering—but we don’t really get spiritually filled up . . .
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I Wouldn't Have Chosen This, But ...

No one likes to go through hard times, rough patches, or difficult circumstances. None of us would choose pain, suffering, rejection, or loss. But ... God is in the business of taking those things that we would never choose and turning them into something for our good.
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Spiders, Public Speaking, And My Greatest Fear

While some people are deathly afraid of spiders and others of public speaking, I'm terrified to share the good news of Jesus Christ with people who don't yet know Him. Can you relate?
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Let's Do Something BIG!

The new year is a good reminder to set our sights on big goals, but the reality is that God is in the business of challenging us to do big things 365 days a year. In fact, God loves to stretch His people to do bigger tasks than they ever could have imagined, and the result is often a God-sized victory for the Kingdom.
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Work Out, Don't Wimp Out

If we never extend our spiritual lives past our comfort level, past prayer rituals, one-chapter-daily Bible reading, or semi-consistent church attendance, our souls won't grow in maturity and they certainly won't grow more in love with God.
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Lessons Learned From A Canceled Wedding

"With a sorrowful heart and deep pain, I must announce that my wedding has been canceled."

Those were the shocking words I read on my soon-to-be-married friend's Facebook status. What was going on?!
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Keeping Your Prayer Train On Track

If you're like me, your prayer life can be a lot like a train. You chug along really well for a while, remembering to praise God, to confess your sin, and to wait quietly while you listen for Him to speak to your heart. But then, before you know it, you're off the track, talking to Jesus like He's a genie or a vending machine where you can plug in your requests and have Him spit out the answers you want.
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The Difference Between Your Bible And Your Science Homework

God doesn't want you to just check Bible reading off your to-do list. He wants you to be changed by it. Here's a prayer to help you get there.
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Girls Helping Girls Realize Their Worth

I'd like to introduce you to three girls who run the website We Are Jewels. News of their project came across my desk several months ago, and I thought it was so cool I wanted to pass it on to you.
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From The Archives: Not Feeling It

Some years I get all caught up in the warm fuzzies of Christmas. My eyes tear up during candlelight service on Christmas Eve. I read the Christmas story with wonder. But some years the story seems too familiar. My to-do list seems too important. I want to get caught up in Christmas cheer, but I find myself thinking, I'm just not feeling it.
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What's The Big Deal About Giving Thanks?

Over and over again, the Bible encourages us to be thankful. But why? Why does it matter if we thank God or not?
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Reasons Not To Fast

Fasting is a theme we find woven throughout the entire Bible, and there are good reasons to do it. But there are also plenty of wrong reasons to take a break from food.
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A Crash Course On Fasting

Several months ago, one of you left me a comment asking for my advice about how to deal with a difficult situation. My response was to set aside some time to fast and pray. Your reaction surprised me. Many of you left comments saying that you wanted to know more about fasting ...
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Calling All Princess Warriors!

You're in the middle of warfare, and the devil's not lounging in his La-Z-Boy while you obey God!
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Coasting Continued

King David, the "man after God's own heart," ended up having sex with another man's wife, tried to cover his tracks, and then had her husband killed. And do you know how the tragic tale begins?
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The Fire Hose

There are two sides to Christianity. Think of it like two parts of a fire hose—the spout and the knob you turn to get the water flowing. Both parts must exist for the hose to work correctly.
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Trust

Your salvation doesn't depend on the strength of your faith; it depends on the strength of God's faithfulness to His promises.
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Two More Reasons To Pass On Halloween

It's hard to completely gloss over the fact that Halloween brings with it plenty of focus on unholy things and we tend to vote to keep those things coming back year after year with the way we spend our money and time around this holiday.
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Something Other Than Candy To Chew On

Let's take a minute to put Halloween through the filter of God's Word and see if we can come up with some answers for how, as women committed to living out God's truth, we should respond to this holiday.
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My Sack Lunch

The preacher asked if we would give our "sack lunch" to Jesus. Right away, I knew my "sack lunch" was my favorite dress--the maxi dress that pooled at my feet and made me feel tall, slender, and beautiful . . .
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Hope For Those Who Doubt

I don't know if I've ever met a believer who hasn't struggled with it at some point. Like the father of the boy with an unclean spirit, we exclaim, "I believe; help my unbelief!" (Mark 9:24)
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Uncompromising: Ignition

The book club is almost over. In fact, this is the last installment. Don't miss this final video, as we talk about where to go from here—and how God is calling you individually to live out His Word.
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From Tragic Loss To Fully Rooted Faith

Many of you responded last month to our interview with Kim Jaggers, whose husband committed suicide fifteen years ago. This month, Kim's son Will opens up to us about how his dad's suicide impacted his life.
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9-11, Old Blue Jeans, And Some Thread

This Sunday marks the tenth anniversary of 9-11. Not that it's something we're all looking forward to. Still, I wanted to take advantage of the anniversary to share an incredible story about a young teenager, Vanessa, who made a difference in the days after 9-11.
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How To Figure Out God's Will: ESPPP

How do you know if you should date that guy? Take that class? Join that team? This acronym I learned a while ago might help—ESPPP. Each letter represents a specific key to unlocking the will of God.
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How Was Our World Made?

The reality is that evolution is not a proven fact, but in order to stand up for what you believe in in your science classrooms this school year, you do need to know what the facts are

You're A Powerhouse

I relate a whole lot to Peter. On his own, he was a fearsome mess. Matthew 26 shows him so knock-knee scared he's cussing and lying through his teeth saying he never even knew this Jesus-dude. And yet just weeks later, 3,000 souls are saved after he preaches one power-packed sermon. What caused this dramatic difference in Peter?

Following When We Can't See

I don't know why God sometimes chooses to lead us to places where we can't see, but I suppose part of the answer is in the question—He wants us there because we can't see. He wants to bring us to a place where we will obey Him out of trust and love.
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Understanding the World's Greatest Trade-Off

Understanding our union with Jesus motivates holiness and dispels guilt. It's also the only answer to any questions about how the gospel saves us.

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The Innocent for the Guilty

You know the basic plotline of salvation. God becomes a man. He lives a sinless life, teaches and performs miracles, is hung on a cross, dies in the place of sinners, and is raised to life three days later. The Bible informs us that He bore the wrath of God so we could become one with Christ-God's own children.

So how does the innocent Man's death make us righteous before the Father? Jesus is punished instead of me—and I'm somehow forgiven. God dies so we can live with Him. How is that even ... right?

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Bilingual Lessons in a Bathroom

While leading the LYWB Bible study, I realized that I had not yet fully accepted a very basic principal in my own Christian walk ... Satan is not bilingual! Only God speaks truth to us. Anything else is simply a lie from the Liar.

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What does surfing have to do with life in the Spirit?

I used to think being a good Christian meant acting like one, striving to be one. I'm slowly learning that it's letting the very-alive Spirit of God take over every part of me and do what's natural for Him (and absolutely unnatural for me!).

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The Power of a Kiss

Psychologists and scientists are discovering that when we have intimate contact with another person even through kissing, our brains have a chemical reaction that causes a bond to seal.

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LYWB Goes Dutch

Several months ago I was contacted by a young woman named Nadine de Goede about how the book Lies Young Women Believe and this site have impacted her in the Netherlands. I interviewed Nadine about the role of LYWB in her life and her ministry to young women half a world away. I hope her answers inspire and encourage you to know that there are young women everywhere choosing to grab hold of God's truth and that you will become as passionate as Nadine has about sharing that truth with others.


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I wouldn't tell God, "No" . . . would I?

I've known something for a while now that has had me really scared, and it's this: I'm terrified of sharing the Gospel with unbelievers. So terrified that I've started telling God "No, I won't—I can't—tell them about You."

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From Striving to . . . Soul Rest

I realized I had a problem. My experience didn't line up with this promised peace and rest. I had only known the hard, heavy burden of Christianity. I found myself asking a question I never imagined I would ask, "Do I really even know Jesus? Am I truly a Christ-follower?"
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Tornados and Theology

This is why theology matters. This is why we all need to know what we believe about God and build a foundation of faith straight from His Word. Hard times will come. Circumstances we didn't expect will take things we didn't want to lose. Storms will roll in, winds will blow, and we will suffer loss. But you don't have to feel hopeless. You don't have to wrestle with disillusionment or fractured faith when life doesn't turn out like you've planned. If you know who God is, you can face the storm knowing that you serve a good God who is always working for your good and His glory.
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Hilarious Giving, Three Lists, and an Opportunity

Why on earth do I hang on to my money (make that His money) so tightly when God makes such grand promises about how He'll provide everything I need when I give cheerfully and generously to others?
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How to Spot an Idol

As Christians we need to be careful not to offer our extreme devotion to anything but Jesus. But doing so isn't always automatic.
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How should we respond to the death of Osama bin Laden?

Since this is a blog about lies and truth, I wanted to take the time to address Osama's death in light of God's Word. As you consider the world event, I want to urge you to keep God's Word in mind. More importantly, as you talk about the death of Osama Bin Laden with your family, in your classes, and among your friends, I hope you will seize the opportunity to point others toward God's truth.
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Why This is the Most Important Week of the Year

Something huge and important happened every day this week more than 2,000 years ago, and all of it pointed to the two most significant events in all of history—Jesus' death and resurrection. As believers, this should be the most important week on our calendars.
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Who is praying with you?

I don't know about you, but I want a prayer life that has the power to shake walls and save lives. That means I have to be serious about genuinely praying with other believers.
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What To Do With Your Doubt

There are constructive and destructive ways to deal with doubt. You can dwell on it, look to unwise sources for affirmation, choose to ignore them, or walk away from your faith entirely simply because you have some big questions. Or you can own up to your doubts and think critically about what questions you're really asking. More importantly, you can take your doubts to Jesus.

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Meet Some of My Favorite Doubters

Doubt has a way of isolating us from other believers. That's why when it comes to doubt, I think it's helpful to realize you're not alone. In fact, some of the greatest men and women of the Bible experienced seasons of doubt.
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Is doubting God a sin?

Many of you have commented lately that you are wrestlingwith feelings of doubt and discouragement in the area of faith. Some of youmention doubt casually as if it's a companion you've always known. Others ofyou seem practically panicked when doubts hit you as if your faith has alwaysbeen rock solid and your doubts about God have caught you off guard. One of the most importantquestions to consider when it comes to doubt is, "Is doubt a sin?" Let's seehow God's Word answers that question.
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I Want To Be a Theologian

Girls, we've got to get the facts of our faith right. We have to know that the Bible is trustworthy, and we have to learn to filter everything through it.
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What happens when disaster strikes?

There are so many times where we can feel inadequate and like we don't measure up. But the Word of God tells us that He will make us complete.
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Who measures up?

There are so many times where we can feel inadequate and like we don't measure up. But the Word of God tells us that He will make us complete.
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Of Course I'm a Christian, I . . .

If your life isn't showing any signs of Christ in you, then maybe it is time for you to examine yourself.
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But I'm Just Too Busy

Spending time with God every day is so important. Bible class at school or chapel or church isn't enough. We need to be cultivating our personal relationship with Jesus Christ. How can we expect to grow spiritually if we never even talk to the One who saved us?
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Out of Control in the Mountains of Colorado

Just over a week ago, I left snowy Michigan for the even more snowy Colorado mountains. After investing in the warmest hat and gloves I could find (made of some new thermal technology that reflects your body heat back to you) and borrowing a pair of ski goggles, I signed up for my first ski lesson.

Battling Discouragement and Depression with . . .

Does Scripture memory sound like "just another thing to do" on an already overwhelming to-do list? What if you learned it was one of the greatest weapons you have to battle discouragement and depression in your life? Would that interest you a bit more? 
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The Day of Small Things

The day of small things. It's the day when no progress seems to be made; the day when life knots itself up until the threads seem impossible to untangle. That moment when you struggle alone, and no one but God knows how beaten you feel. No one would notice it. You might not even want to remember it.

But take that same moment, and turn it upside down.
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The Final Push Toward Unblocked Prayer

If we go to God with our hearts out of whack, our pipeline to Him is going to get clogged.
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Why Reconciliation Really Matters

What's another reason why our prayers can sometimes be blocked? The Bible shows that clearly there is a connection between our relationships and the effectiveness of our prayer lives.
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Is God opposing you?

Is it possible that pride has become a prayer blocker in your life? Do you go to God with a list of all that you are doing for Him, expecting Him to do things your way in return? Or do you come to Him with an attitude of repentance and the clear understanding that He is God and you are not?

Prayer Blockers: Sin, Disobedience, and Disregard

We're going to be exploring these "prayer blockers" over the next few days. Today, we are going to focus on three biggies that seem to work together to jam up our prayers: sin, disobedience, and disregard for God's Law.

When Prayer Doesn't Work

Have you ever felt like when you pray, your words get stuck somewhere between your mouth and God's heart?

Start 2011 with a 30-Day Binge

Every New Year starts the same way—with a massive push to purge. Everyone commits to purge their lives of bad habits, bad food choices, or too much stuff. There’s nothing wrong with using a new year to think about what needs to go in your life, but I want to encourage you to start this year with a 30-day binge. What do I want you to feast on? The Word of God.
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Not Feeling It

Some years the Christmas story seems too familiar to me. My to-do list seems too important. I want to get caught up in Christmas cheer, but I find myself thinking, I'm just not feeling it.

God is My Good Luck Charm

Is Jesus your good luck charm or the God you trust in all circumstances?

Do Jehovah's Witnesses really believe the same things we do?

How can you test whether a spirit is from God or not? Let's ask the apostle John.

Cults, Spirits, and . . . You

You and I are not to believe everything we hear. In fact, we're to test it all to see if it's really from God or from man.

Finding Freedom from the Lies

What might have been different had Eve chosen to surrender to the truth? Everything! How might our lives look different if we would surrender to God's ideas rather than our own?

Don't forget!

Here's what I love: Jesus has never let me down. Here's what I hate: Forgetting that fact time and time again.

Are you letting Him be that to you?

Yes, God wants me to know the concepts about Him that He has given us in His Word. But He wants me to take each of those truths and allow Him to be that to me in my personal experience.

Is your light on?

When people look at you, is it obvious that you love Jesus? Can they easily tell that you are a Christian or does your "front porch" look like every one else's on the block?

Two Women, Two Answers

When it comes to prayer, what does it mean to "ask in His name"?
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Prayers God Loves to Say "Yes" To

God's will—every time, in every request—is for you to become like His Son by bearing much fruit.
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Before You Pray

We tend to hone in on the "ask whatever you wish" phrase of John 15:7 first, but we can't even start to think about applying the second part if we're ignoring the first part—the command to abide.

The Hangnail Prayer

What's the point of prayer? Is it to get what we ask for? If not, what is the purpose of making requests?
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Trusting God with the "Small Stuff"

I think I always assumed Philippians 4:6 meant "everything" as in everything spiritual or everything I wouldn't be too embarrassed to mention in my Sunday school class. But everything, everything?
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On the other side of the move . . .

At that moment, in the midst of swirling emotions, I couldn't have imagined what lay on the other side of the move for me. What seemed like a death to my desires was actually the beginning of a beautiful new season of life!
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Saying Goodbye

When everything in me yearns to be deeply rooted and secure . . . I can be. Not in my cute home on the corner, but in Him.
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Goodbye Performance . . . Hello Grace!

Our performance culture tells us that on our good days God smiles on us, and on our bad days he frowns at us. But the gospel tells us something different.
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Is the grass really greener?

Life without Jesus is anything but easy. Appearances deceive us when the lives of unbelievers seem easier and more carefree than our own.
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Sabbath

God is teaching me a new meaning for Sabbath. He is showing me that it's so much more than a day of the week or a routine involving church.
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Learning from Achan

I don't know what God's telling you to do. Whatever it is, please obey Him. Trust that He'll provide more than enough for you in His time—even if He's saying no right now.
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More with Save Our Sisters

Let me tell you more about Save Our Sisters—a cool ministry made even cooler by the fact that it is the dream of a group of passionate teenagers.
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What Four Girls Are Doing to Change the World

I have been dying to introduce you to the ministry of Save Our Sisters. It's an amazing organization dedicated to freeing young women from the international sex trade.
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Weighing the Cost

If you are willing to live like Jesus calls you to live, if you are committed to base your choices on His truth, if you desire to love the world less and love Him more and more, there will be a cost.
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God speaks. Are you listening?

God's voice can be hard to interpret, but it CAN be recognized and interpreted with confidence as you learn how to hear Him.

Guys & Horses

What do horses and guys have in common? For me, it was a matter of surrendering my desires to the Lord . . .
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Focusing on Freedom

What's going on with all this griping and moaning? Why are so many Christians filtering in and out of Bible studies and still feeling defeated by sin day in and out?

Stop Praying Wimpy Prayers

God cares about even the most minor of circumstances. But He teaches us to move beyond the small stuff when we pray.

By Our Love

We often act like people will know we are Christians by what we don't do—drinking and partying for example—rather than by what we do do—love.
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Til I Only Dwell With Thee

This is what I'm learning: Christ, when He's really at the center of our lives, encompasses everything. If we try to schedule Jesus in and "make time" for Bible study, we may actually be living without Him.
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Countdown

What if we lived in imminent expectation and excitement for Jesus' return? What if we said "Come Lord Jesus" every day—and meant it? How would it change the way we spoke and thought and used our time if we were counting down?
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Testify!

Nothing beats a good testimony. Here's mine.
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What Are You Vacationing From?

I want to challenge you to not take a vacation from Christ this summer. Instead, find your own way to vacation with him. I guarantee it will be more refreshing than any other break you’ll take.
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Whose house is it, anyway?

Are you acting like the owner or the tenant of your house today? Are you letting the Holy Spirit make you over, or are you resisting His transformational touches?  
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Erin Answers a Reader's Question About Drinking

A LYWB.com reader recently asked a great question. 

“ Okay I kinda have a controversial question. Is it okay for Christians to drink alcohol as long as they don't get drunk? Are there any verses that condemn drinking? I know there are some verses that condemn drunkenness but I don't know if it's bad or not to drink a few sips. I'm 15 and I don't drink but someone at my church has a few drinks and doesn't get drunk and I'm wondering if anyone out there has found any verses or anything about this topic.”

Defending 100 Million Girls

In China alone, it's thought that there are 50 million girls missing due to being aborted or left to die, for no other reason except their gender (Amartya Sen, Nobel Prize winning economist).

One in three women in the world have been (or will be) violently abused in their lifetime (U.N. Development Fund for Women).

Eighty percent of trafficking victims are women or girls (U.S. Department of State, via the International Justice Mission).

Is God Dead?

The last time I posted about depression on this blog, you responded with sixty-nine comments. I take that as a sign that it’s is an issue worth discussing. Really, I didn’t need to read sixty-nine comments to know that. All I have to do is look at my own story to know that depression is real. It hurts. It’s confusing. 

Are you Mad at God?

Have you ever prayed for healing that never came?

Have you ever faced a loss that didn’t make sense?

Have you ever desired to serve God but been denied the opportunity?

Have you ever been mad at God?

No Need for Eggs and Chocolate Bunnies

Jesus' death and resurrection are the cornerstone on which our faith and lives are built. Every day this week is representative of a key part of Jesus' life and ministry. And yet, for most of us, Easter will come and go like every other Sunday except for the addition of some new dresses, Easter baskets, and sugary treats.
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Olympic Fever

I have Olympic fever! Since opening night, my family has been working like crazy to get our schedules cleared out to gather around the television to watch the "ending" to great stories ...

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Which came first, the chicken or the egg?

We wait for the passion to read God's Word before we will get serious about reading it often. Maybe a better course of action would be to start reading the Bible regularly and watch what passion God uses His Word to create.

Will you take our 30-day challenge?

You can't be the woman God made you to be without receiving regular doses of truth from His Word. Neither can I. So, I am committing to take a 30-day challenge and asking you to join me.

Does your car have a steering wheel?

Trying to live out your faith without regularly reading God's Word is like trying to drive a car without a steering wheel. Sure, you're in the driver's seat, but it's impossible to control where you're going.

A Change Could Do You Good

Have you ever noticed that being a Christian requires a lot of change? In fact, God calls us to constantly turn away from our old self and to seek to be more like Him.

Be a Shepherd

It is so difficult to keep Jesus as the focus of our lives. Even in December, when all signs should point back to our King, we get wrapped up in a million other things and forget to make Jesus the center of our celebrating.
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Is your throne getting cluttered?

Jesus is certainly worthy of our worship, but so often we put other things on the throne of our hearts.


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What are your good and perfect gifts?

Amid turkeys and trimmings, football and family gatherings, it can be easy to forget to be thankful for the good things God has given us on days like today.

An Unlikely Friendship

I remember the day she told me that in her teen years God was her best friend. I was glad I was sitting down when she told me that, because I could've fallen over backward from surprise.
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Five Ways to Cultivate Authentic Faith

This year, I want you to head back to the halls of your school with a mission to live out your faith in every area of your lives.
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A Change of the Heart

My sister, Autumn, wasn't a Christian. But I thought it would take a few years for her to change her mind about Jesus.
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You Nailed It!

You nailed it. Two weeks ago, I wrote a post applauding Miss California Carrie Prejean for taking a stance for biblical marriage in the Miss USA Pageant. Many of you commented that while you appreciated Miss Cali’s public stand for Truth you couldn’t help but notice a disconnect between her statement and the immodest clothing she sported on stage.

And then . . . Carrie found herself in the center of a new storm.
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Your prayers could unleash a “war” today

Are you ready to give up on prayer? Does it seem like God doesn’t hear, anyway?
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I'll Have Fun First . . .

One of my friends recently told me that she’s going to have fun while she’s in high school (“Life’s already hard enough, why would I add to the pressure?”), and then she’ll follow God.
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I Am With You

I hope you are participating in our very first LYWB.com Book Club. Together we are exploring the attributes of God using A.W. Tozer’s book, “The Knowledge of the Holy.”

I thought it was important to start with Chapter 14 (sorry to skip ahead if you just started reading) where Tozer talks about God’s Omnipresence. Perhaps this is because the Truth that God is with me and with you at all times is the most difficult and wonderful attribute of God for me to comprehend.
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Which Kind of Bridesmaid Are You?

I know of one thing that God cannot do. (Now, don’t get all heady and start blogging about his omnipotence. Stick with me.) I’m kind of jazzed up about sharing the gospel. It’s not that I didn’t think it was important thirty days ago, but something inside of me has shifted...dramatically!
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The Genie Prayer

I adore the movie Aladdin. I love the romance between the beautiful Jasmine and handsome Aladdin, the setting is mystical and exotic, and Abu keeps me laughing. But my favorite character in that movie is the big, blue genie.

I think there is a part of each of us that would love to discover a genie in a bottle who is willing and able to grant us at least three wishes. It’s fun to think about the ability to have riches or romance or fame by simply asking for it.

It certainly makes for a great Hollywood plot. But it’s a dangerous way to relate to God.
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Do You Ever Feel Like Everyone at Church is Judging You?

Do churches judge more than they love?
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Are You Changed?

At the conclusion of our 30-day challenge, I find myself wondering, are you changed? Has your schedule changed? Has the quality of your time with the Lord changed? Have you spent enough time digging into God’s Word this month to create a radical change of heart?
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The Accusing Voice in my Head

I’ll be honest with you—I failed in prioritizing time with Jesus the first few days of this month. And I struggled intensely with guilt as a result. For some reason, while I was so tuned in to the importance of prioritizing time with Him first thing in the morning (after all, that was the focus of this blog this month!), my body just would not cooperate. I was utterly and emotionally spent. I would wake up, and my first thoughts were, “I can’t wait until I can go to bed again!”
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What's Your Game Plan?

You may already have a regular Bible reading plan, but just in case you don’t, here are several.
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Osmosis: It just ain’t gonna happen

Okay—you’re getting into the Word (which is a huge accomplishment!), but how do you ensure that you don’t walk away from that book without it getting into you?
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Saturate Your Life With Truth

How can you move God's Truth from your head to your heart? Here's one idea. 

A Page from my Journal

Ever want to take a peek into someone's journal? Here's your chance.
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10 Tips for Devotional Reading

Looking for ways to get the most out of your personal Bible study and prayer time? Check out these 10 tips taken from Erin’s book, “Graffiti: Learning to See the Art in Ourselves.”
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Spending a Year Living Like Jesus

What would it be like to spend a year living like Jesus? Would you have to wear a beard and a robe? Would you spend your free time fishing? More importantly, how would it change your relationships, your behavior, your attitude? One man spent 2008 trying to find out.
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Is it Possible to Know God Without Knowing His Word?

Is it possible to know God without knowing His Word?

Is it possible to love God without loving His Word?

Is it possible to obey God without obeying His Word?

A Homework Assignment for the 30-day Challengers

Did you catch Nancy on ROH yesterday? She started a series titled “Getting into the Word and Getting the Word into you.” It’s no coincidence that that is the exact topic we’re tackling all month here on lywb.com.

As part of that broadcast, Nancy gave an assignment to her listeners that couldn’t wait to pass on to you. Check it out.
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Are you willing to take our 30-day challenge?

Will you join me? Will you commit to spending at least some time reading the Bible every day for the next thirty days? I hope so. I’ll be writing about my experience right here on the blog this month, and I want to hear from you. If you’re ready for a heavy dose of life changing, bondage breaking, freedom bringing Truth, join me by spending time reading your Bible every day for the next 30 days. Share you commitment right here so that we can spur each other on!
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