by | Faith Lived Out
You have to admit there are some stories in the Bible that take your breath away and wonder how it’s possible those things really happened.
I mean… Noah built a ginormous boat and it had never rained a drop. Jonah was spit out by a fish who’d swallowed more from than ocean than you and I probably ever want to know. God showed up to speak to Moses in a burning bush. Gideon kicked the Midianites’ butts with 300 men. Oh… and don’t forget about the donkey who talked.
Is God still capable of doing those things today or is that just a bunch of Old Testament stories?
(more…)
by | Faith Lived Out
Update on March 22: My friend Mindy was 5 days away from getting a new kidney. Her aunt was a match. Then she received devastating news. The Transplant Team called to say the final crossmatch blood work did not pass the necessary criteria – indicating a great potential for rejection. This was a simple repeat of an earlier test, but it gave a devastating blow to the family.
My friend Mindy needs a kidney. She’s been on the waiting list for years, and twice now she’s been called to the hospital with a possible match, only to find out the kidney went to another patient in need.
My heart aches for her. She’s an amazing wife and mother, but these last few months she hasn’t been able to muster up the energy to do much except dialysis.
Just today she received an iron infusion, followed by an MRI, followed by more doctor’s appointments. She’s worn out and I’m worn out for her.
(more…)
by | Book Reviews, Faith Lived Out
Have you ever heard God whisper to you? Maybe it sounded quietly, or maybe it was so loud in the depths of your soul you knew without a doubt He was clearly leading you to do something crazy BIG!
Here’s a disclaimer: When you decide to follow that whisper, some people are going to think you’re crazy. Shoot, you’re going to think you’re crazy half the time, too. Are you ready for that?
Mark Batterson writes in his new book, Whisper, “When you take your cues from the Holy Spirit, you’ll do some things what will make people think you’re crazy. So be it. Obey the whisper and see what God does.”
(more…)
by | Faith Lived Out
I have a bucket list of things I’d love to do in life. I hope you have one as well, which causes dreams to stir up in you about doing amazing things!
Perhaps you want to hand glide over the Grand Canyon. Not me, but hey, if it’s your dream, go for it. Maybe you want to swim with dolphins. That’s probably way safer than hand gliding, but I digress.
There are many things I desire to do before I kick the ole bucket.
I want to write a song with Dolly Parton, go on an African Safari, take part in an underground church service in China, and run a 1/2 marathon. I want to go deep sea fishing, ride through the rainforest, and speak at a Joyce Meyer conference. Those are just a few things.
(more…)
by | Faith Lived Out, Vlog/Facebook Live
What dream have you let go of?
Jeff Goins says in his new book, Real Artists Don’t Starve, “Eventually, you have to decide who you are. You have to choose your role and own that identity. We don’t fake it till we make it. We believe it till we become it.”
There’s no time like the present to decide who you are, my friend. God has ignited a passion in your heart. Embrace the gift He’s given you. He will honor your decision.
Join me for #coffeewithsj episode 9: how to stop dreaming and start becoming
Below are the links I shared in this episode:
Set Me Free
Real Artists Don’t Starve
Song Playlist
Becoming God’s Best
(more…)
by | Faith Lived Out
The more I interact with people in this messy, beautiful, crazy journey called life, the more I experience heartbreak. The more I feel pain and sorrow for those who are hurting.
I sit with women at Esther’s House as they process trauma from their childhood, the broken relationships they’ve endured, the countless nights they spent trying to get high to avoid the pain, never wanting to be known as an addict. My heart hurts.
I sit on the porch with one of my dearest friends, who happens to be my next door neighbor, almost every morning as we have coffee together and solve the world’s problems. Sometimes we talk about how amazing God is. Sometimes we watch the rabbits chasing each other in the yard and laugh. Sometimes we dream about the future. Sometimes we cry as we talk about the hurts from our past and the struggles in our present. Oh.. if I had a penny for every tear that’s been shed on her back porch, I’d be a rich woman.
I get the phone call from a friend who says her loved one has died and my heart hurts again. I hear of another friend who has relapsed. And another who’s left her boyfriend and sits in her heartbreak wondering if she’ll spend the rest of her life alone.
My heart hurts and I say the only thing I think I can say in the moment….
(more…)
