spend this year with Jesus

[cross-posted to www.stepforwardtoday.com] This is not the typical goal-setting, list-making, organizing-your-life type of stuff that you normally read at the beginning of a new year. Whether you’re at the top of the mountain anticipating all that 2019 has waiting for you, or you’re trying to lift your hands in worship from the trenches of brokenness, …

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a tapestry of hope

September 9, 2018 was the day individual accounts of broken stories of restoration multiplied exponentially through the body of Christ and became 1,000+ touchpoints of conversation as Heartland opened its first-ever creative arts exhibition, “Broken Pieces.” Displayed on panels and tables throughout the lobby, more than 30 works were presented in poetic form, captured on …

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unpack your bags

[cross-posted to www.stepforwardtoday.com] As part of my fun and curious quest to read the Bible chronologically, I recently read through the book of Leviticus. Quite honestly, I slogged through the book of Leviticus. The entire book is about all of the rules, sacrifices and procedures required to be clean before God — or make atonement …

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unraveling = freedom

[cross-posted to www.stepforwardtoday.com] The song starts, “You unravel me with a melody…” While singing those words during worship last month, the word “unraveled” stuck with me. Various images came to my mind like when a hanging thread gets pulled and an entire seam comes apart, or when soft threads start to separate and create a …

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did God make you a musketeer?

Last fall, I did the unthinkable: I became a binge-TV-watching couch potato, diving into all three seasons of the BBC adaptation of “The Musketeers” – and my newfound habit was supported by an entire global community of Twitter peeps hashtagging the same series. I was not looking for “God moments.” My only aim was to …

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the shoreline of perspective

[cross-posted to www.stepforwardtoday.com] [VIDEO CLIP] Standing on the shore, looking out at the expanse of water and sky – nothing but water…sun…clouds…and the whooshing sound of the waves as the tide goes in…and out. Breathing in salty air…breathing out life. Clearing my mind. Clearing my soul. Gaining perspective. Sometimes God places us on the shore …

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#endhumantrafficking

[cross-posted from my facebook page] “What’s on your mind?” facebook asks me, inviting me to update my status even when I need to finish a project right now. Well, friends and “facebook” I’ve had a really heavy subject on my heart for a few days now, and it’s one that I’ve posted about before. It’s …

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I glimpsed the heart of God

I caught a glimpse of my mom earlier. She went home to be with the Lord three years ago and there are so many little circumstances and random things that happen that remind me of her. Earlier tonight I was tucking in our youngest, who is 6 years old going on 20. She was all …

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forward in love and worship

worship

[cross-posted to www.stepforwardtoday.com] We step forward in love …Our hearts overflowing in thankfulness for the mercy and grace we’ve been given. Rescued from the pit of death we deserved, we have no choice but to say, “Yes God. Use me.” We step forward with our gifts and talents …Using everything we’ve been given to point …

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YOU are a Disciple

[cross-posted to www.stepforwardtoday.com] Whatever your age, circumstances, etc., if Jesus is your Savior, you are the next generation of Apostles. You are a Disciple of Christ. Just as Jesus prayed for all Believers in John 17 (reference below), He has prayed for you now: Verse 20 “I pray also for those who will believe in …

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