Spiritual Nuggets

"Sic 'Em Jesus" and 5 Truths You Need for Spiritual Warfare

Last week I visited a Catholic shrine up in Green Bay, Wisconsin. I drove through rain, sleet, and snow to get there. It was a spiritual pilgrimage of sorts. I'm not Catholic. I don't understand a lot of things they do. I’m the odd looking one at mass who doesn't know when to sit, stand, kneel or how to cross myself. But, I think there are strengths in every denomination. Someone told me about this place, and I was compelled to go and pray; to meet with Jesus; to experience God in a new way...

When Christmas Is Gray

On this blog today:

#1 Spiritual Nugget: When Christmas is Gray...Four things I know when life gets confusing.

#2 SPOTIFY CHRISTMAS PLAYLIST: Some of my favorites this year - Check it out!

All His Benefits

As I've continued in my healing journey this month, the Lord brought an interesting memory to mind.

 

When I went to Azusa Pacific University, I was in two different choirs during my time there. I played piano and accompanied the 100-person ladies choir, Bel Canto. I also sang in the University Choir and Orchestra for a year. During both of those years, we sang a song called, "All His Benefits." Something about that song resonated so deeply in me, even back then. The lyrics are taken directly from Psalm 103.

31 Days of Prayer in December

I decided to make a simple prayer guide for us through the month of December. 31 days. Specific people to pray for each day. Before I dive in, let me give you three pointers for prayer.

 

1.  Put yourself in these situations and ask: What would I want someone to pray for if I was in this situation? Then pray that.

 

2. If you think of any verses or Scriptures specific to these situations; if any verses come to your mind as you are praying, put your finger on that verse while you pray and boldly proclaim that promise of God in prayer.

 

3. Pray in a command form. Like this: "Lord, give us this day our daily bread!" That's how Jesus taught us to pray. Not like this:  "Lord, if it's okay with you, would you please think about maybe providing for us?" Pray boldly. Intercede. Press in for each of these daily needs. Tell God exactly what you need and what you want in each of these scenarios. This is how He teaches us to pray.

 

Okay. Are you ready? Feel free to print this out and post it somewhere to remind you each day.

Healing Has Launched!

Hello my friends! Healing has begun! This is a longer post. When you have a few extra minutes, I encourage you to sit down and soak this up.  This is one post you don't want to miss! 

 

It is with great excitement, astonishment, and elation that I tell you Jesus has begun His supernatural, physical, healing work in my life!! After 23 years of Lyme Disease, here's the rest of the story...

A Prayer for Your Inner Procrastinator

Hi God. Here I am.

I know.

Sometimes I chase squirrels.

Sometimes I am the squirrel.

Please forgive me for my lack of focus,

and my silly distractions that send me in circles.

 

But can I be honest?

Success or Significance?

"Sometimes the will of God is scary because He is asking us to choose between a life that looks successful and a life that is actually significant, between a life that wins the applause of our peers and life that actually transforms lives through love."

-Gary A. Haugen, from Just Courage: God's Great Expedition for the Restless Christian

 

Sometimes it's difficult to wrestle between success and significance. Often we want both...

A Prayer for a Weary Body

I come to You, my body, aching and weak.

Your yoke is light and easy.

O Lord, strengthen every place that's frail.

Align every place that's crooked.

Calm every place that's inflamed.

Speak Your peace to every pain signal.

I will wait on You.

Selah...

Able...but Willing?

Most of us believe God is able. But is He willing? We know He is powerful. We fully believe He healed diseases, raised the dead, and brought dignity back to a bleeding woman and untouchable lepers. We read those words in Scripture and think, "Yes! That's my God." But in the same breath, we don't believe He would do that for us. We think, "He wouldn't do that for me. " Not true. God was active then. He is active now. We don't worship a passive, distant God. If that's the God you are worshipping, you need to exchange Him for the real One...

A Prayer To Remember the Goodness of God

I declare Your goodness on the peaks.

I declare Your goodness in the pit.

You are still good.

In the moments of heartache,

In the miles of wilderness,

In the marrow of the unknown,

You are still good.