The things we are supposed to forget are our failures throughout our Christian experience, but what we are to remember is how the Lord has worked in each and every situation we have experienced. We are to remember His faithfulness.… read more
I have a dear friend, Judi Tillett, who recently shared with me that the Lord had quickened this phrase to her concerning the New Year: “Walk in the wonder of My Word.” In the moment, I wrote back and told her that I would let that sink in. … read more
This question rose from my heart the first day of June this year. I meant it from a personal position as opposed to the general definition of faithfulness. I meant it as “what does me being faithful to You, look like to You, for today?” … read more
2021 has come and with it, all the unknowns of a new year. The world learned in 2020 that things can change very quickly, sometimes without warning. I learned that there are hidden treasures tucked within difficult times, reminding us that God is faithful. What, of all the things we learned in 2020, will we be bringing with us into 2021? … read more
Yes, that is a photo of me from the Spring of 2020. Someone is obviously in transition to a new normal! I recently heard a news commentator say, “I’m so tired of hearing the phrase ‘new normal.’” Nearly everyone in the world (the only exception being Antarctica I read) has been challenged with the need to embrace new normals as we endeavor to protect each other from a disease that surprised us. … read more
The world is right now searching feverishly for a cure for Covid-19, and we pray someone soon is given the wisdom to know what that is. It will be a great day when people will not die from this virus. But I think I may have found a cure for something else that can wreak havoc in our personal lives. … read more
I’m guessing that many mothers of young children are hearing that question hundreds of times a day while our nation and even the world is under the counsel of restricted activity. I know my own “inner child” has asked me that question! It is amazing to all of us how different our life is today compared to a month or two ago. … read more
A few weeks ago, we had the joy of seeing many friends from far and wide during Rhema’s Winter Bible Seminar. I am always reminded how richly blessed Tony and I have been to experience such good friendships throughout our 40-plus years since moving to Oklahoma to attend school. It also reminded me how important it is to nurture those friendships, to spend time and effort to reconnect, and to catch up on each other’s life journeys. … read more
When we find ourselves in a moment that we sense God has ordained, we can trust the Holy Spirit to help us navigate the opportunity so that His presence is accommodated. At the beginning of our conversation, when I first began to realize that the Lord wanted me to talk about Him to this young man, I didn’t know exactly what I would say. … read more
Anyone who knows me knows how much I value journaling. I often recommend it as a therapeutic practice to write out insights, feelings, circumstances and the corresponding prayer requests. I try to write every day at least a little bit and it has been enlightening to go back through a particular year and see how those prayers from that time have been answered. … read more
As we recently toured the country of Israel, in a building honoring Mary Magdalene in the town of Magdala, I saw a beautiful painting of the woman with the issue of blood touching the hem of Jesus’ garment. It was mostly a grouping of dusty men’s feet in sandals, but you can also see a hand reaching through all those feet and touching the hem of Jesus’ robe. … read more
I have been very interested these days in the concept of spiritual journey—the personally unique process that the Holy Spirit leads us through as we live out our lives on this earth. I like Henry’s quote because it expresses the idea that our lives are a road going somewhere, to the place that Jesus went to prepare for us (John 14:2), not just a short existence on this planet. … read more
So many books, articles, and sermons have been written about how God sees us through the blood of Christ, that to Him we are as Christ. Hooker said “Such are we in the sight of God the Father, as is the very Son of God Himself.” We are growing in our comprehension of our righteousness in Christ, but every now and then, we get a deeper glimpse into what that really looks like in the eyes of our God. Doesn’t it seem that our souls long to be beautiful? … read more
So many books, articles, and sermons have been written about how God sees us through the blood of Christ, that to Him we are as Christ. Hooker said “Such are we in the sight of God the Father, as is the very Son of God Himself.” We are growing in our comprehension of our righteousness in Christ, but every now and then, we get a deeper glimpse into what that really looks like in the eyes of our God. Doesn’t it seem that our souls long to be beautiful? … read more
It’s been a battle. The things I was seeing in the natural were frightening and I went to the Lord with my fears and concerns. I would tell myself things like “God’s got this,” and “I love living by faith.” I prayed how I knew to pray, praying by faith His will in the situation by the Spirit. In the middle of the first night I heard the Lord speak to me very clearly, and it set the direction for the rest of this battle. … read more
Jesus was from Nazareth, and the Bible tells us He returned to His hometown after healing the woman with the issue of blood and the daughter of Jairus. These were two wonderful manifestations of God’s will through Jesus’ ministry, and it is likely that Jairus and the woman came to Jesus because of the many reports of healings they had heard. Jesus was known throughout the countryside as a healer. … read more
Proverbs 31:25 in the Passion Translation states, “Bold power and glorious majesty are wrapped around her as she laughs with joy over the latter days.” This verse is part of what is called the Virtuous Woman section of Proverbs 31. But one morning while praying, I saw this in a different light, a new application. I have this verse written on a paper that I’ve attached to the wall in front of where I pray most mornings. … read more
A prayer is forming in my heart as I begin to look at this New Year now upon us. A prayer for the people of God, that they would experience in growing measure the privilege of living “full lives, full in the fullness of God (Ephesians 3:19 The Message Bible).” Many of us will put the desire to grow closer to God on our New Year’s Resolutions list, for we feel His Father’s heart longing for our hearts to be completely His. … read more
Life provides us with many opportunities to choose to let patience, endurance, perseverance have their perfect work. Probably we will get the chance daily to practice our patience in small and large situations. Lately when one of those circumstances pops up in my life, I will make my declaration that I love letting patience have its perfect work … read more
I really like the Passion version of Romans 15:17 where Paul says “Now then, it is through my union with Jesus Christ, that I enjoy an enthusiasm and confidence in my ministry for God.” That same verse in the ESV reads “In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to be proud of my work for God.” … read more
We know we “have not because we ask not” (James 4:2 KJV) so therefore prayer becomes our response to what God has made known to us. What are some things that bring us courage or give us the “heart” to pray, to ask God that His kingdom come and His will be done on earth as it is in Heaven? I have found in my own life that knowing the details of all that God wants in certain circumstances comes progressively. … read more
Taco Tuesday is an outreach to the homeless, who we call our “Street Family,” in downtown Tulsa, every Tuesday evening. We have workers from several different churches who come together to minister to our Street Family. We bring Tacos, Chic-Fil-a or Little Caesars pizza, Coca Cola, water, fruit, chips, donuts, toiletries, Bibles, notebooks, pens, socks, underwear, shoes, clothes and the love of Jesus. We bring the Gospel. … read more
The Westminster Shorter Catechism, completed in 1647, states, “Man’s chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.” To those who love God, this would seem to be a no-brainer. Our flesh, however, seems to have a gravitational pull toward self-aggrandizement, and if unchecked, will tend to seek the admiration of others. Ironically, the root of this desire for fame and social prestige is often insecurity or low self-worth. … read more
In John 8 we have the woman caught in the act of adultery. The scribes and Pharisees brought her to Jesus, accusing her and stating the punishment for adultery, judging and sentencing her for her “crime.” Jesus cleverly turned the spotlight on them by saying “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” In the end, it was just Jesus and the woman left and Jesus said to her “Woman, where are your accusers? … read more
Our God is a God who delights in His people. Many may have difficulty with the scripturally verified concept of God the Father’s delight in us, but what a difference it makes in our self-perception whether we do or don’t live our lives under this truth. Isaiah 62:4 says in the English Standard Version “You shall no more be termed Forsaken, and your land shall no more be termed Desolate, but you shall be called My Delight Is In Her, and your land Married; for the Lord delights in you.” … read more
