The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him. Psalm 28:7 I began praying last April that the Lord would give me a word or theme for 2018. A word that would give me resolve in difficult times, a word that would motivate me to run my race well, a word that would encourage me. In December, I found myself daily pouring over Psalm 37. As I put it to memory, a word jumped off the page at me, and the day after that word came to light, it also flashed across the screen in large letters at a church plant we happened to be visiting. This particular Sunday I was feeling a bit out of my element and a bit emotional, like I was on the verge of tears, not because of sadness, but because my heart was full. God had recently called Mark and I to plant a church in Ridgefield, Washington. It was so hard to step away from all we had at First Baptist Church, Longview. It was our second Sunday since st...
" You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all of your heart." Jeremiah 29:13 What an incredible joy it was to see so many women Tuesday night so excited about getting into God's Word! There was a palpable buzz in the air. I saw women across all decades from young mamas to the faithful pillars of FBC. I saw women of diverse backgrounds and some of you even brought new friends. If you are new, we are so thankful you joined us! It was a thrill to see so many women connecting in the name of Jesus. He's our common denominator. He's always pursuing us and He is going to meet us as we pursue Him. He's already begun! I just want to brag on the Lord for a moment. The last 10 days have been such an exciting ride! I went from hoping to find at least 15 women to huddle up with me in Bible Study at the fireplace, all the way to realizing that our group of seventy-some women would best be housed in the sanctuary! As numbers grew, so did questions...
I was out for a mid-morning jog the other day. Taking it slow, taking in the beauty of the lake, the ducks nestled in the grass, the wind rustling through thousands of tree leaves exposing their paler green side, the over-cast sky and the interrupted still surface of the lake giving evidence of a fresh, gentle rainfall. As I rounded the lake, a bright blue van drove by with a business advertised on the side of it in capital letters. It read, "RECLAIM". I smiled as I read the word. It's a good word. A positive word. I think of things that can be reclaimed. Reclaimed wood brings old dingy furniture to vibrant new life and elongates the life cycle and purpose of a piece. In movies, kings reclaim their thrones and return nations to their former glory. Lost luggage can be reclaimed, and what woman isn’t happy to get her luggage back? Yep, it's a g...
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