With one word, he declared the gospel, comforted our restless hearts, and silenced the threat of death. With one word he defeated our fears of inadequacy, of never being enough, of hopelessness and of eternal separation. He ushered in life and offered freedom. As he was dying, he knew exactly what he was doing and exactly what he was saying.
Sometimes I wonder if in our deep desire to live a life of purpose and depth and meaning, we complicate obedience. What if we sat quietly before the Lord and whispered, “Here I am.” Willing availability. Unwavering trust in a God who prepares us and positions us to step into assignment with feet fitted with the readiness of the gospel of peace.
It’s a truth I hope to cultivate in my daughter as she grows into a woman who will eventually be prompted to evaluate what she sees. She will eventually order her loves in such a way that what she believes is lovely will be the backdrop to the way she evaluates beauty.
As children of the King, we were made for what is coming. We sure don’t have to celebrate when our hip starts hurting after a run, or our smile lines get deeper… but we can reframe it. We can shape our response with the truth that we are a little closer to the forevers we are promised with the One who loves us deepest.
Shaping loves isn’t always fancy. It can take lots of raw, unimpressive moments that cumulatively do foundational work.
When 72 years of marriage “sure did fly by,” you know this life is quick. So within this love story is a prompt. What story do you tell?
Recovery is more than just taking a break. It’s not zoning out or scrolling social. Recovery is pouring life back into your heart, preparing you to run again.
The people we journey with matters. Isn’t it true that our traveling companions flavor and even shape our lives with the outpourings of their hearts?! Reading through Pilgrim’s Progress with my kids has recently compelled a belief that we all need a Faithful and a Hopeful to journey with.
We’ve developed a few favorite phrases that we say a lot. This is especially helpful when you have boys that don’t have capacity to listen to mom offer a sermon… My word capacity is not their word capacity.
We are a people who are invited to encounter God. Available here the STAR resource; to prompt intentional & strategic engagement with truth.