Prodigal Confessions: 10 Principles that Lead Us Back to the Father
From my childhood, I have had a little bit of a Cinderella complex. It took me a long time to learn that the hero I had waited for my whole life, He gave His life for me before I was born. As long as I can remember, I have been filled with such a sense of longing.
I craved escape from lonely feelings that would sneak up on me when I least expected them. I wanted to know what it meant to really feel a secure sense of belonging, one that could not be shaken.
I didn’t know how to hold on to my identity in Christ: beloved, redeemed, forgiven, adopted…I was easily discouraged when I looked at my mistakes. I didn’t realize how often I took my eyes off of Jesus and put them on myself. I didn’t realize I was doubting Him. I didn’t realize that: doubt of His love for me + doubt of His forgiveness of me = doubt of His Word.
But we were made for so much more. We were made to enjoy relationship with God. Maintaining reconciliation with Him is easy, when we walk in His promises.
You can read more in Prodigal Confessions: 10 Principles That Lead Us Back to the Father, available on Amazon in Kindle or paperback formats.
- Find simple truths written in a how-to format that will enrich your relationship with God and others.
- Learn how to turn from sin, make peace with God, and find freedom from guilt.
- Practice walking in reconciliation according to God’s Word, so you can experience wholeness in the midst of a broken world.
- Embrace your purpose as an Ambassador for Christ.
Curating the Good: Collecting & Displaying Evidence of God’s Goodness
What do you do when the good gets lost in all the other stuff?
Sometimes, life’s circumstances just don’t feel good.
When we have a bad day, our joy might flee. When we get bad news, our faith can falter. When someone we love gets a bad diagnosis, our hope may evaporate. Sometimes, difficulties take us by surprise. Sometimes, we wonder, Where is God in all of this? Does He see me? Does He love me?
The Bible tells us there is no good thing, apart from God. Scripture says God is good, He does is good, He makes good, and He is making us good. But what do you do when you can’t even begin to find the good?
If you’ve lost sight of (or you’ve never truly seen) the goodness of God, this book will teach you how to recognize it. If you’ve ever wondered if God’s goodness has passed you by, this 4-week devotional was written with you in mind. If you just want to enter into and understand God’s goodness towards you, you will love learning to Curate the Good.
This is your choice. Curating the Good is a practice. And this 4-week devotional explores deep, beautiful truths that God has prepared for you to enjoy. These truths are not head knowledge to contemplate, but are the kind of goodness you can taste, see, hear, and feel. Learn to experience the goodness the Lord has prepared for you, from the beginning of time.
Start now! Find Curating the Good: Collecting & Displaying Evidence of God’s Goodness at Amazon, today (Kindle or paperback).
Growing Hope: Celebrating Advent Traditions at Home
The heart of Advent is hope. It is important to remember—when our minds wander to fearful, anxious, grumpy, insecure or ungrateful places—we must remember that Advent is the season of hope. And we are to be a people of hope!
Exalt Him as Lord in your heart. Always be ready to offer a defense, humbly and respectfully, when someone asks why you live in hope. Keep your conscience clear so that those who ridicule your good conduct in the Anointed and say bad things about you will be put to shame (1 Peter 3:15 VOICE).
We should ask ourselves: Does my life evidence the HOPE that is within me?
My hope is not in my ability, or my health, or my happiness—all of these disappoint me, regularly. People disappoint. Circumstances disappoint. But He does not disappoint. He is faithful. He shows up. He stays. He loves. Always.
In Advent, we see the THREE comings of Jesus. We hear about baby Jesus at coming into the world at Christmas. We look forward to His Second Coming, too. But Jesus Advents—He arrives—in our heart of hearts to save us from slavery to sin and death. Our Redeemer brings freedom. His Spirit is deposited as to guarantee our HOPE, in Jesus. Jesus said:
The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life (John 10:10 NLT).
Isn’t it about time for us to live up to Jesus’ purpose for us. So many people—Christians, too—are missing Jesus’ gift of a rich and satisfying life. Hope is what brings us to that rich and satisfying place.
- Hope is knowing that God is in charge, and being glad that we are not.
- Hope is knowing that God is good, even if life isn’t.
- Hope is knowing that God is enough, when we are not.
- Hope is knowing that God’s plan WILL prevail, even when all seems lost.
Sometimes hope is just a glimmer of light in this dark world. Sometimes hope is a blinding burst of light, like the sun at high noon. But all of our hope comes from the very real presence of the Spirit of God, within us. The Spirit comes to us to renew us and repurpose our lives. The Spirit is deposited within our hearts as a promise, a guarantee, that we will always be in God’s presence, both now and for eternity.
Celebrate hope in your home, share it with your family, get the 4-week devotional, Growing Hope: Celebrating Advent Traditions at Home (Kindle format).
A Moment to Breathe: 365 Devotions that Meet You in Your Everyday Mess
From the Amazon description:
When the rush of regular life leaves you breathless by day’s end, this collection of everyday stories becomes the place where you can come as you are, and find yourself among friends. Friends who have been there. Friends who’ll lean in close and say, “Me too!” Through our stories the bonds of friendship deepen as we listen to each other, laugh with each other, and learn from each other. Because we’re better when we’re living this one beautiful life together.
With stories from 80 writers, these pages become the very place your soul can exhale, where you can:
- Connect with the hearts of women through stories that echo your own.
- Find beauty in the ordinary and sometimes messy moments of your everyday life.
- See your own stories as an offering of hope to those around you.
- Treasure the unseen ways God moves through even your most regular days.
With 365 readings, each day begins with a passage of Scripture, tells a story of everyday faith, and encourages you to take a moment to breathe with a simple but fun way to complete your day. So kick off your shoes and join us for a relaxing but special time, where friends come together and share the real stuff of everyday faith.
I was blessed to be able to contribute several devotions to this beautifully edited collection. You can find A Moment to Breathe: 365 Devotions that Meet You in Your Everyday Mess on Amazon or at your favorite bookseller.
A Good Confession: Daily Reflections on the Westminster Shorter Catechism
From the Amazon Description:
A Good Confession, Daily Reflections on the Westminster Shorter Catechism gives individual readers, families, small groups, and even congregations the opportunity to study and ponder the rich truths stated in fifty-two of the questions and answers of the catechism. Each week’s pages include a story relatable to readers and to which the truth is applicable. Daily scripture passages to study are provided along with thought-provoking quotes from a variety of sources to solidify the truths in readers’ minds. Readers also are given a small part of a scripture passage to memorize each day as part of their reflection and an encouragement to hide the Word in their hearts.
As part of the Oak Mountain Presbyterian Church congregation, I enjoyed contributing to this devotional, published in 2019. You can find A Good Confession: Daily Reflections on the Westminster Shorter Catechism on Amazon or at your favorite bookseller.
