Corrie Saunders, a young widow clutching to what little she has left of her life, has retreated to her husband Jarrod’s family home. Though she seems to feel Jarrod’s presence in the house, his cousin, Eli, knows better. It’s only through Eli’s faith that she can find her footing again, and the one she can truly put her faith into.
When Jesus taught his friends to pray, he gave them a new name for God: “Our Father.” Addressing God as a father was a radical departure from Old Testament constructs. The Jews lived with a potent mixture of terror and awe when it came to God, with no such familiarity or warmth. He was called Almighty, the One Who Parted the Red Sea, and Maker of the Cloud by Day and the Pillar of Fire by Night. One could not presume to know him personally.
But Jesus expanded our understanding of God, even referring to him as Abba, meaning “Daddy.” And through Jesus, God demonstrated his Abba love for us. Like a zealous tickler, he wanted us to experience his strong, knowing touch and our joy at the thrill of this contact.
Excerpted from Closer Than Your Skin by Susan [ … ]
…I’m reminded that the strongest dads in the world are the ones who can keep their own anger from kicking out the stalls and stomping around like a wild stallion.
And every time my kids see me step up to the plate, acting like an adult, playing referee to my own anger before I have to get called “out” by an embarrassing display of temper, they see a world-class exhibition of the Holy Spiritthe invisible force of the heavenly Father Himselfat work in my life. That’s when they learn a little self-control themselves, by example.
Excerpted from At the Heart of Every Great Father by Clark Cothern
Daily Reflection:
How has the Holy Spirit guided you through parenting trials?
This image of refinement is something God touches on again and again in His Word. He is the true Refiner. We are His silver.
And the fire is the fire of His making, for through His fire our Refiner will perfect an awesome work, a divine work. He will take what is impure and make it pure. He will take what is dull and make it beautiful. He’ll take what is of potential value and reveal its actual value.
He will transform us into treasure.
He’ll refine us in the crucible so that He can see Himself in the silver in you and me. And so the world, as well as the principalities and powers and hosts of Satan, can behold the triumph of the Redeemer.
Excerpted from As Silver Refined by Kay Arthur
Daily Reflection:
What in [ … ]
Wildflowers from Winter, the debut novel by author Katie Ganshert, received 4 Stars from Night Owl Reviews! “Wildflowers from Winter broke my heart, and stomped on my emotions. I laughed, I cried, and in the end I loved.” Click here to read why!
When you and I ask to be sent by God, we are taking His urgent, heartfelt command and turning it into our urgent, heartfelt request. We are coming all the way over to God’s point of view on what we were born to do. We are declaring to God:
I hear Your command, but I realize that hearing and agreeing are not enough. Therefore, I am sincerely asking, God, please send metoday on a miracle mission. And I’m letting You know in advance, when You send me, I willgo!
When you pray this way, God knows that He can call on you, His highly motivated delivery person, at any time. Whether He reaches into your heart with a nudge or simply puts you at the scene of something He wants done He knows you have already committed to act on His [ … ]
Wildflowers from Winter, the debut novel by author Katie Ganshert, received 4 Stars from Night Owl Reviews! “Wildflowers from Winter broke my heart, and stomped on my emotions. I laughed, I cried, and in the end I loved.” Click 