-
Finding God in the Chaos
I’ve been following a series for Lent called “Finding God in the Chaos.” I don’t remember how I found out about it, but an ad came up somewhere and I signed up. It comes to my inbox every day. I do remember that I was drawn to the series’ title, because for a period of…
-
God’s Presence & His Voice
Picture by Matheus Bertelli Elijah was a mighty prophet during the reign of King Ahab, a wicked king of Israel who actively promoted and engaged in Baal worship. He is well known for His miraculous exploits for the Lord. He is mentioned in the book of James as an example of powerful prayer. He is…
-
God Calls Unexpected People
The women fled from the tomb, trembling and bewildered, and they said nothing to anyone because they were too frightened. Mark 16:8 NLT This is the shorter ending of the Gospel of Mark based on the most ancient manuscripts. Does this surprise you? It lacks faith and falls short of what we’d expect of people…
-
Seven Tips for Restoring Relationships
When God saves us, He never leaves us where He finds us. He provides for our transformation and healing by the Holy Spirit. Often it is a messy process. Full disclosure: My healing process has been messy, and I have hurt others dear to me in my attempt to find wholeness. The last ten years…
-
Walk in Faith, Not Fear
It was a perfect day for a hike. My husband picked out the trail, a 31-minute drive from our house. The rock pathway stretched out before us, inviting us to enjoy the beauty of nature. The sheered basalt cliffs framed the area on both sides. The trees, bushes, and flowers burst forth with the colors…
-
The Trust that Gets God’s Attention
His name was Jonathan. We were in the same first grade class. One day I made him angry by winning a race in PE, dethroning him as the fastest runner in first grade. Jonathan threatened to beat me up after school. Every day as soon as the dismissal bell rang, I shot out of the…
-
A Lesson from Bike Riding
My husband and I love bike riding together. We aren’t experienced bicyclists, but it is fun to enjoy the great outdoors. On Memorial Day, we loaded up our bikes and rode on a path lined with orchards, blackberry vines, and wildflowers. The air was fresh with a hint of rain that waited until we were…
-
The Beauty of Diversity
For the last few weeks, I have been listening to a fabulous sermon series on diversity. It has expressed what I have experienced throughout my lifetime. Yes, diversity is important, but it is deeper than making sure that we are politically and socially correct. This goes beyond hiring different ethnicities and genders to ensure there…
-
Mental Health & Jesus
The month of May has been designated for Mental Health Awareness since 1949. I am grateful that the subject of mental health is increasingly part of the public conversation. According to the National Association of Mental Illness (NAMI), one in five adults and one in six youth (ages six to seventeen) experience mental illness. These…
-
When God’s people obey, God shows up in a big way.
Joshua led the Israelite army to march around the formidable city of Jericho. The Lord had instructed him to place seven priests and the Ark of the Covenant at the front of the line. Nobody was to make a sound for six days. On the seventh day, seven priests were to blow the trumpets. Only…
-
(Re)acquaint yourself with God’s grace
Resurrection Sunday is here! We put to rest the Lenten season of preparation and focus on the culmination of God’s plan to redeem humanity. The long-awaited and hoped for deliverance, the final blow in the battle against sin, they have been ushered in by the New Covenant of grace and faith in the risen Jesus.…
-
One Word for the Year…With a Twist
In 2014, I added a meaningful activity to my soul preparation for the new year. It involves prayer, asking the Lord to direct me to one word for the year. That one word becomes a source of inspiration and encouragement in the weeks and months ahead. At first, the word might feel uncomfortable or it…
-
More About Words…
There is an old story about an elderly couple who was approaching their 50th wedding anniversary. They had planned a small celebration with family and close friends. As the special day approached, the wife ventured to share a concern she had about the relationship with her husband. “You know, dear, it has been a very…
-
Four Questions to Guide our Words
Words are powerful. The LORD God brought creation into being through words. “Let there be______. And it was so.” (Genesis 1). We have the ability to speak life or death into situations (Proverbs 18:21). Therefore, we must keep a tight rein on our tongues (James 1:26). Nicky Gumbel, pioneer of The Alpha Course and Vicar…
-
Blessed are the Peacemakers
For most of my life, I believed that conflict was negative. I dreaded the tension that filled the room when two people I cared about disagreed. I longed to run away, to find a place to breathe. The message came through loud and clear: Conflict is dangerous, disagreements are harmful, and differences ruin relationships. I…
-
Where Has All the Integrity Gone?
“What is truth?” Pontius Pilate asked Jesus the question in a dismissive manner during their encounter (John 18:38, NIV). Jesus had appeared before Pilate for sentencing. During their brief conversation, Jesus declared, “The reason I was born and came into the word is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens…
-
ALL Human Life is Sacred: The Leader’s Call
Since 1984 the month of January has been set aside to promote the Sanctity of Human Life. President Ronald Reagan established January 22 as the official day, and churches observe it on the Sunday closest to that. However, as time has gone on, the entire month of January is dedicated to focusing on the sacredness…
-
One Word for the Year
Welcome to 2021. For many people, the passing of 2020 brings a sense of relief, not because the new year magically rid the world of all its problem, but because we have successfully lived through a year considered the most difficult one in recent history. When the clock struck midnight, the weariness of the past…
-
Working Together with Jesus
I called Aimee* to check on her. As the newly appointed pastor of a church, I like to connect with my congregation and see how they’re doing. Toward the end of the call, I asked if there was anything I could pray about. Aimee asked me to pray for God to heal her eye. Several…
joddi-jay
thrive in life + leadership
joddi-jay 