As I read through Chronicles, I’m reminded of something I want to make my default practice:

To inquire of the Lord.

Like Saul, I often neglect that action and rely on my own ability or the voice of another.

I want to ask the Lord first, “What do I need to know?”

Cat invites its stuffed friend to eat.. 😊

The Christian life is a moment by moment life of submission, where you constantly lay down your will for you and willingly and joyfully take up God’s will for you. BTW, there’s empowering and transforming grace for this.

The minute we stop seeing others as

- disagreements to have
- arguments to make
- problems to solve
- or opinions to disregard

is the minute we begin seeing others.

Lord, we confess that all too often we are guilty of making our own plans and then asking You to bless them. We forget that we need to seek You first because Your plans are perfect and You care deeply for us. Remind us it is You alone we need. In Jesus’ name, Amen

Met at Bible College in 81, but he ended up dating my roommate for several months.
Started dating in 84 when I began teaching at his alma mater. His sister was in my class.
Married in 87 - my college roommate was my matron of honor.
Still married for almost 37 years.

“But David found strength in the Lord his God.”—1 Sam 30:6

This is my ongoing lesson: strength in the Lord is the best source of strength. With each changing circumstance, each shifting reality, He remains. There is no turning of shadow with Him. He alone has the words of life.

If I knew back then what I know now, I might never have gone through the pain of learning it.

Foolish counsel leads through immediate joy to lasting sorrow.

Wise counsel leads through immediate sorrow to lasting joy.

My post on FB today...

Repentance means turning away from the harm you’re doing. If you don’t turn from the harm you’re doing: you love the harm more than the people you’re hurting.

“The goal of confrontation is always restoration and repentance. The goal is not for the other person to think you’re so tough - so good at truth telling.”

- E.M. Welcher #SermonNotes

Had a convo at church with a woman who is moving in a few weeks. She was such a huge encouragement because she shared heartaches and how God is faithful even in grief. She reiterated what I've been learning.

One thing that Moses, Elijah, and Peter all have in common: disappointment.

What they thought would be, never materialized.

It’s one thing we have in common with them, too.

Also, a hope that is greater than even the sum of all our dashed dreams.

So many of my friends and family are going through some difficult teen years. I get it. It can be scary. Big kids=big problems. It does get better.

But in the meantime, let me say what has worked the best, though it feels like the hardest. The knee jerk reaction to stuff is…

Too many of us who claim the Name of Jesus are far more upset by what people are doing while on their way to hell than upset that they are on that road at all.

Just blocked a whole bunch of followers that I don't know or who have no posts, turned on protect posts. I have been stalked in the last two days by porn girls who are reposting my tweets on their site. If you are blocked and shouldn't be, I'm sorry...just protecting myself rn