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Top 10 Posts of 2022

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Top 10 Posts of 2022

“Remember the wondrous works that he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he uttered” Psalms 105:5 (ESV)

I hope your new year is off to a good start! This week I’m sharing the Top 10 Posts of 2022.  I sometimes like to take the first of the year to recount some of the top or most popular posts of the previous year.  I like to share them for a few reasons…

First, there are some new subscribers/followers who may not have seen or read these posts and might find some of them to be helpful.

Secondly, looking back also helps me to remember what God has done and is still doing through this website. I continue to hope and pray that I am making an impact with what I write and share. My hope is that looking back might help and remind you as well.

Lastly, it helps me (and hopefully you too) have ideas of how to pray based on what the current need or demand is, and when I know that I know how to continue to pray for others.  I pray very fervently over this blog, its content, and the readers. What people are frequently searching or clicking on can be an indicator of some of their needs. Whether it’s a need for spiritual growth, leading others to Christ or overcoming personal struggles, I can pray more specifically based on these posts and their popularity.

Take Some Practical Steps:

  • First, as you look through this list of most popular posts, please stop and take a minute to pray for one or more of the topics that stand out to you.
  • Next, please click on and read or re-read one or more of the posts from which you feel you may be able to receive some benefit or of which you might need some reminding.
  • Then take some time to remember and contemplate what God has done for you in these various areas of your life over this past year or previous years. Remembering what God has done can be an incredible motivator and wonderful gratitude prompt!
  • Pay it forward…if one or more of the following posts has benefited you, please consider sharing the post on your social media channels (sharing links are available at the end of each post). You can also forward posts to specific people you know who might benefit (you might prayerfully consider who to share them with).
  • Lastly, please pray for me this year to #1-continue to write content that will help others, #2-for me to have to right words at the right time, and #3-for the right people to be directed to my site for God to help them.

Here are the Top 10 Posts of 2022: Continue reading →

Merry Christmas 2022!

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The Christmas Story

Merry Christmas 2022!

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas this year! Watching this telling of The Christmas Story (video below) is an annual tradition for our family. I hope you enjoy it too!

Additionally, below is another video of one of my favorite illustrations of the story of Christmas: The Christmas Geese. Several years ago I heard this story as an analogy of why Jesus came to earth. I thought it was a perfect explanation that makes Jesus’ incarnation (becoming human) easier to understand. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do as well.

Christmas Geese Story

Here is a longer, written version of the story that I found–the author is unknown:

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Whether Happy or Hurting Remember Immanuel

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Whether Happy or Hurting Remember Immanuel

Whether Happy or Hurting Remember Immanuel

This week I would just like to share with you a short and sweet post and a reminder that Jesus is Immanuel, God with us.

Several years ago, I learned of some very sad news just a couple of weeks before Christmas. The wife of Joe McGee had passed away. Joe is one of my favorite Christian teachers/speakers who I’ve referred to here on the blog on a number of occasions. My heart just broke and grieved for Joe and their 6 children and grandchildren—especially at Christmastime.

I’ve thought of other families that have suffered losses, of various kinds, at this time of year and how difficult this must be. I was thinking, “How hard it must be to suffer a loss at this time of year. Will every Christmas be a negative trigger for them now?” However, one morning as I was doing my daily quiet time and devotions, I was reminded of something. Part of Christmas, the celebration of Jesus’ birth, should not only be to celebrate the human birth of Christ but to recognize and remember his deity as well.

Immanuel means “God with us”

We need to remember that one of his names is “Immanuel” which means “God with us”. God came to be with us. We are not isolated and alone. In a lonely, hurting, and isolated world God said, “I want to come be with you. I want to help you. You’re not alone.”

God is Immanuel to families in their time of hurting. God is with them. So maybe Christmastime can be less painful with that in mind. God knows they are hurting and what a good time of year to remember that Jesus is Immanuel; God is with us. Maybe He will say to them and remind them this year and every Christmas hereafter, “I am with you. I am here.”

At Christmas and all year, Jesus is Immanuel

“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” Isaiah 7:14 (NIV)

“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).” Matthew 1:23 (NIV) 

In a lonely, hurting world God said, “I want to come be with you. You’re not alone.” #Immanuel

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Take Some Practical Steps To Remember Immanuel:

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What Are You Thankful For?

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What Are You Thankful For?

“I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.” Psalm 9:1 (ESV)

The holidays, Thanksgiving in particular, are a good time to reflect on what God has done for us. We can spend time contemplating positive memories, blessings, and just things in general for which we’re thankful. With Thanksgiving being celebrated in the United States next week, it’s a time to be reminded to be thankful for all the blessings and good things we have. We’ve even discussed before that thankful people are happier people.

Gratitude has an effect on our hearts and our perspectives. When we can turn our minds from the negative things around us and intentionally focus on what we have to be thankful for, a positive internal shift and change happen. When we think about what we are thankful for, things around us can seem brighter, and we start to focus less on what’s wrong and more on what’s good and right. Additionally, when we choose to see God’s provision, it makes it hard to be frustrated by all the ways we feel like we’re lacking something in the moment.

“Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NLT)

“Remember the wonders he has performed, his miracles, and the rulings he has given” Psalm 105:5 (NLT) 

Take Some Practical Steps to Note What You Are Thankful For:

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How a Christian is Like a Pumpkin

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How a Christian is Like a Pumpkin

My family and I love carving pumpkins every fall. I’m not completely sure if this is just an American tradition or not. If you are one of my international readers you’ll have to enlighten me! I think I read somewhere that this tradition started in Ireland?? Anyhow, in case you’re not familiar with the tradition, in the fall typically around Halloween, we carve pumpkins, put a light inside of them, and then display them as a festive decoration. They are sometimes called jack-o’-lanterns.

I have often heard the analogy of how a Christian is like a pumpkin. My mom even passes out little cards along with candy explaining this analogy to Halloween trick-or-treaters. I thought this same analogy would make a timely post for this fall season!

So here is how a Christian is like a pumpkin….

Like a pumpkin, we have to be chosen

Just like I choose a special pumpkin to carve, God has chosen us. We are chosen and special to God, adopted into his own family.

“Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.” Ephesians 1:4-5 (NLT)

“For you are a holy people, who belong to the LORD your God. Of all the people on earth, the LORD your God has chosen you to be his own special treasure.” Deuteronomy 7:6 (NLT)

“You have been set apart as holy to the LORD your God, and he has chosen you from all the nations of the earth to be his own special treasure.” Deuteronomy 14:2 (NLT)

“You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name.” John 15:16 (NLT)

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” 1 Peter 2:9 (NIV)

Like a pumpkin, we have to be open

Just like I first have to cut an opening in the top of the pumpkin to carve it, I first have to be open to God and to receiving him.

“Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.” Revelation 3:20 (NLT)

“But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” John 1:12 (ESV)

Like a pumpkin, we have to clean out the yucky insides

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Being a Christian is More Than Just Going to Church

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Being a Christian is More Than Just Going to Church

I recently received an email from a reader asking a question about going to church and whether or not that affected their salvation. This reader basically wanted to know whether or not they would go to hell if they didn’t attend church. This week I thought I would share my response with you since others out there may have the same or similar questions.

Email from reader

I have a job working at a restaurant on the weekends, and I work almost every Saturday and Sunday. I know it says in the Bible to remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy. Also, I know some people say the Sabbath is Saturday and not Sunday and that some Christians have been confused by this. Will I be going to hell, in your opinion, for not keeping the Sabbath since I work a lot on the weekends?

My response (headings added for easier reading)

It is not my place to say if you will be going to hell because I am not God, and I do not know your heart as He does. However, my initial reaction is that, no, God will not send people to hell if they do not go to church on Sunday (or Saturday). People who say this are operating in what’s called “legalism” (rule-keeping). Jesus, and later Paul through his writings, firmly corrected people in the New Testament for legalistic attitudes and behaviors. Keeping the rules isn’t enough to make us holy or wipe our sins clean. Only Jesus’ sacrifice and resurrection can do that.

“If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved.” Romans 10:9-10 (NLT)

“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6 (ESV)

“Yet we know that a person is made right with God by faith in Jesus Christ, not by obeying the law. And we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we might be made right with God because of our faith in Christ, not because we have obeyed the law. For no one will ever be made right with God by obeying the law.” Galatians 2:16 (NLT)

Salvation is about your relationship with God, not going to church

Your salvation, and going to heaven, are about your relationship with God, through Jesus Christ. It’s about truly knowing Him and being known by Him. It’s about making HIM your number one priority over all other things, making Him Lord. This means surrendering and submitting to Him as your “master” as your… leader, ruler, guide, boss, etc. Basically, He needs to be the ultimate authority in your life where you trust and obey him completely. Jesus can’t just be your savior—He needs to be your Lord. You need to have a genuine relationship with Him, and this involves more than just going to church.

“And this is the way to have eternal life—to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth.” John 17:3 (NLT)

True disciples

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Funny Friday: An angry sheep and an angry cow

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An Angry sheep and an angry cow meme

Funny Friday: An angry sheep and an angry cow

My cute little niece told me this joke the other day… “What do you get when you cross an angry sheep and an angry cow? ……A Baaaaaaad Moooooood.” 😂

“But Samuel said, “What then is this bleating of sheep in my ears? What is this lowing of cattle that I hear?”” 1 Samuel 15:14 (NIV)

When and Where to Pray

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Get tips here to know when and where to pray...

When and Where to Pray

In a previous post, we talked about the why’s of praying and the many reasons for the importance of prayer.  This week I’d like to share some about when and where to pray.  This by no means is a legalistic list of do’s and don’ts, but rather some food for thought or general guidelines to think about as you establish your own prayer routines.

Pray without ceasing…an ongoing conversation

As far as WHEN to pray, there really are so many options!  You can pray when you wake up, when you go to sleep, before meals, during quiet times, in the shower, in the car, anytime, or all the time.  The important thing is to find time.

I remember having an epiphany or an “aha” moment in college.  I read the scripture 1 Thessalonians 5:17 which states to “pray without ceasing” (some versions say pray continually, pray constantly or never stop praying).  Growing up, my regular (and really only) prayer times were before meals and at bedtime.  This new insight allowed me to realize that there is really no certain or right time to pray.  God wants to talk to me all day!  I just need to pray all the time.

That’s when I started having a daily, ongoing conversation with God.  I still had regular and more formal times to pray, but more often than not I would just talk to God throughout the day.  This idea of an ongoing conversation (kind of like an invisible friend walking beside me all day long) gave me the freedom to have a friendship and real relationship with God.  I didn’t even say “amen”—it was literally an unending conversation all day long (sometimes out loud and sometimes silently in my head).

I often tell people, “if people could see me when I’m alone they’d think I was crazy—talking ‘to myself’ all the time.”  At least nowadays there’s Bluetooth and earbuds, so as far as they know I might just be on the phone! The point is, you don’t always have to be formal in prayer.  Just have an ongoing conversation with God.  You don’t even have to say “Dear God” and “Amen”. 🙂

There is no “right” time to pray. Have an ongoing conversation with God. #praywithoutceasing

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Have a regular prayer time

Aside from ongoing prayer, I think it’s also important to have a regular time to pray.  Having a routine can be helpful.  I heard Beth Jones say once, “You can pray anytime, but HAVE a time.”  A regular, routine time to pray will strengthen your relationship with God.  Morning, noon, or night, God wants to hear from you and connect with you.

“Morning, noon, and night I cry out in my distress, and the LORD hears my voice.” Psalm 55:17 (NLT) 

A regular, routine time to pray will strengthen your relationship with God.

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Pray when situations call for it

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