Tag: christianity
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Peace In the Wild
When I think about the phrase “peace in the wild,” I picture a leopardess in the middle of a jungle. I imagine the sound of monkeys hooting in the background while she cleans her paws. She’s laying down, feeling peaceful, she’s not worried about where her next meal will come from. She’s not anxious about…
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When the Rains Delay: Lessons from a Spiritual Drought
My family and I used to live in the Gulf Coast area, where it would rain almost every day. Just last year, we moved to a small town in Columbus, Texas. We live in the middle of nowhere. Our neighbor has his own little farm where he raises these beautiful milk cows. It’s breathtaking when…
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When the Harvest Hasn’t Come—Joy in the Waiting
Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. James 5:7-8 I can’t count how many times I have stood…
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God Brings the Harvest
Mark 4:26-29 The Parable of the Seed Growing 26 And he said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. 27 He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how. 28 The earth produces by itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in…
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Fear of Rejection
I’m used to not belonging. As a child, my family moved six times before I turned seven. We would go on to move two more times—once when I was 14 and again at 18. I felt like the perpetual new girl, always stepping into new places and trying to find my way into new friend…
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The Call That Fear Couldn’t Cancel
If I close my eyes, I can still picture that night, the night I knew God had called me into ministry. I remember where our youth group was sitting, toward the top of the San Antonio Convention Center. I remember the testimony of a missionary from Vietnam who spoke at that Mighty Warriors Conference. For…
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Fear is in the Eye of the Beholder
I had been dating my now husband for about a year when I called him forty-five minutes from midnight to come rescue me. “Bring help! And a weapon!” was most of what I said before I hung up. This was out of character for me because asking for help has never been one of my…
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Rest > Rush– The Slow Dance
Living in SE Asia for ten years has changed me. I came overseas in typical fast-paced American style. I was used to an agenda, an itinerary, a schedule, a checklist, a drive-thru and express lane kind of life. Here I’m living the polar opposite of that seemingly distant memory of my American life. Asia has made me come…
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Finding True Rest: Embracing God’s Presence
Last week, I went to a ministry meeting with other local church leaders and the question was asked, “What do you do for peace, quiet, and rest?” I knew immediately what I was going to say. Only when it was my turn, I began to feel embarrassed. Perhaps, I misunderstood the question, because my answer…
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The Lesson That Changed Everything: Grace
Can I be honest? Of course, I can; I’m writing this and don’t have to wait for a response. The question I’m really asking is, will you think less of me when I share what I’m about to share? Even that isn’t entirely fair. How can you possibly answer without knowing what it is that…
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