Live. Love. Lead.

     Faith. Why is it such a difficult word to understand? I have heard the word many times lately and it seems like a common definition of it is to "think hard enough that something will happen." Perhaps that's part of it; but definitely not the entirety.      This morning as I was studying Matthew 15, the Lord struck me with a statement I know I have read dozens of times, "Then Jesus said to her, 'O woman, your faith is great...'"      How did Yeshua know this woman's faith was great? Did other people (the disciples) recognize her for having great faith? What was it about this woman that demonstrated great faith? So I re-read.      According to Matthew 15, this woman approached Yeshua. She was intentional. She asked for mercy. She was humble to know this task was beyond her capabilities. She had all the right ingredients to prayer. But check out vs. 23, "Yeshua did not answer her a word." Wait, I know I have read in the Wo...

     Surely I cannot be the only one who has seriously tried to pray someone out of my life. You know those "thorn in the flesh" kind of people. The kind of people you pray Psalm 35 over like "may their way be slippery..." The kind of people that look for you to fail and when you do (because you're human) they are right there jubilant and ready to remind you of your shortcomings.      Recently, I was studying 1 Samuel 1, which recounts this courageous woman of faith named Hannah. She had one of these kind of people in her life. A hater.  Hannah was barren. Hannah would go to the house of God and be bullied and ridiculed time and time again by Peninnah about her barrenness. This woman made it her aim to poke fun and consistently bring to Hannah's mind that for which she deeply hoped for--a child. This woman threw this in Hannah's face consistently.  I think we all know what that's like at some level.     What was fascinating to me is th...

     Growing up in church, teaching about God's love was limited. I believe, there could have been a fear of speaking about God's love because some thought it might somehow diminish His grandiosity, His otherness, & perhaps make Him too human. Or maybe teaching about His love was limited because we, the humans, could not wrap our minds around it especially in a world that has so misused so rich of a word--love.      I struggle trying to comprehend God's love because my sight is often made cloudy by my sin, my all-too-often smallness of faith, & honestly a perspective that limits who God is because it's so focused on my shortcomings.      Recently, the Lord has been working on my heart specifically regarding His love. It started as I was reading through I John.  John writes "We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us" (4:16). As I read through the entire epistle, I was struck by the notion of "coming to...

     In my last post I wrote about how we can easily place so much emotional energy into asking the question of "how do I know if he likes me."  The post centered on how we should respond when we find that this particular man for which we prayed does not have those feelings for us.  It is incredibly simple for us as women to deposit so much emotional energy into the potential of a relationship.  You know what I mean...when in our daydreams we imagine perfect dates, sharing dreams with him, what type of tux he may look best in, and we find nervous anticipating delight thinking this man might truly be the one we have sought God's heart for.      The previous post focused on responding to the deferred hope of when we find that he does not have romantic feelings for us.  The thesis essentially was that we must press ourselves into uncovering what it means to be God's workmanship and in so doing find our true and complete worth as a woman in...

     This week was filled with challenges to overcome...and the biggest challenge was quieting the busyness around me enough to hear Him.  Too often I get caught in the pace of my career and I let the immense speed of it climb into my soul. Whenever this happens my ears and my heart become dull in listening for and hearing His voice.      This week the Lord laid it on my heart to slow myself down.  The pace of the work may not change; but by His grace I can change my speed...and I did.  Here's how: I prayed and I prayed out loud.  Instead of allowing the silent anxious thoughts to race and re-race in my mind I prayed...out loud.  In my office I prayed out loud for wisdom on decisions that I had no idea how to handle.  While baking, I prayed out loud for the courage to say what needed to be said.  On the way to a meeting while walking outside I prayed...out loud for the ability not to succumb to the defeat that relentlessl...

      Lately, I have added a new way to study the Word each day.  I daily journal what the Lord is teaching me by categories.  The categories are: Questions, Woman, Dating, Wife, Mama, and Leader. Each time I read the Word or the Holy Spirit brings something to my heart in any of these aspects I write it down.  This has totally revolutionized and revived my daily quiet time with the Lord because it provides a practical lens through which to seek God's face.  Isn't that what the Word is for--to be applied to the day to day things? "Whatever you do; do ALL to the glory of God..."      I have been studying Numbers 25.  The context is so real. Some of the sons of Israel, leaders, went for the wrong type of women and started totally and brazenly disobeying God. People were distraught, but there was one man who "saw and rose up from among the midst..." Check it out: "When Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest SAW...

     In this series of posts there will be prayers from the Word that can be applied to our lives as single women who have the goal of preparing for the man God will lovingly provide.   I am continuously intrigued by the "Eshet Chayil" as many would call "The Proverbs 31 Woman."  Verse 12 states, "She bestows goodness upon him, never evil, all the days of her life."      Part of this passage is about preparation being more than just a "waiting room" before Mr. Right Fit comes.  Preparation is active participation in growing into all the woman God intends us to be! Prayer is the means by which God sovereignly chooses to execute His plans.  Essentially, prayer is a strong part in actively participating in God bringing this aspect of our life to fruition.       This first prayer is from a portion I have been studying recently. Numbers 27:15-18. The context is a change in leadership and Moses is praying for the right ...

     Recently, I had decided to read through the gospels again.  How blessed are we to be able to read the Words of our Messiah Yeshua! The other morning I was struck with an encouragement and exhortation that I cannot ignore.  Currently I am in the book of Luke.       The beginning of Luke 18 starts out like this: "He then told them a parable on the need for them to pray always and not become discouraged..."  Wow! I could have just camped right there! So often our Heavenly Father gifts us with a "load" to carry that at times feels too heavy.  Daily we confront situations that grant us the humble realization that we are just human and the battles we must fight are beyond the scope of our aptitude. So what do we do?-We pray.  Too often prayer is a last resort when it should always be our first.       Right here in the Scripture that the L-RD graciously preserved for us so that we could be "equipped for ever...

     It's getting that time of year where I acutely feel there is wayyyyy more to do than seemingly time to do it.  This morning I was reminded by an amazing teacher that G-D is often building patience in us when we are in positions where we are carrying what feels like much more than we can bear.  It is during these times of carrying much that we want to stop...we want to put the carried items down...our arms and legs are shaking under the weight (so to speak)...and we're exhausted.  But, these are also the times where we CAN'T STOP! We cannot stop and run away.  HaShem is making us stronger.  Essentially, He's putting us through "cross fit" for our spirit.  When we, by His grace, keep going and refuse to stop, He is building endurance in us.        We must draw on His strength every day because this journey is more than our strength alone can endure. How do we draw on His strength?--start getting into the Word more, se...

     Every year about this time I read the book of Deuteronomy about the children of Israel finally going into the land that God promised. This is the time of year that many are beginning new things as a new school year quickly approaches. And new beginnings often carry with it a unique sense of fear or anxiousness.        When reading Deuteronomy, I cannot help but to think about the constant command that God gives in this passage of "not being afraid." The children of Israel were in a delicate place in Deuteronomy. They had experienced God's provision in the wilderness and seen the results of refusing to live life believing that God works for our benefit. But, where God was calling them to was a huge challenge. There were giants in the land, there were a lot of people who would need to be conquered, and so much more. There was the potential for a huge crisis of faith here. So it appears that Moses works really hard to make sure the people remember w...

   Most of us do not like processes.  We don't like them in airports, grocery stores, college admission offices, and especially not exercise and fitness. Much of the reason we don't like processes is because we have to wait.     Recently, I re-heard something that I have been hearing my whole life, but now with new ears. Check it out,           "G-D created the world in 6 days and then He rested." Life changing right?  Since G-D is absolutely amazing and can do anything, why did He not create the world in a millisecond or even a hour? Why 6 days? Why did the most powerful G-D in the universe take 6 days to create the world?    Answer: to teach us the value of the process.     So many times, we get frustrated when G-D does not create what we need immediately.  We wrestle with Him on why He takes so long to bring our soul mates, provide us clarity in career or college choices, heal a family...