Come To the Table Ministry

In Paul’s letter to Titus, he begins by reminding him the qualities of a church elder, the characteristics of a Christian leader.

Titus 1:9
“He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.”

We may not all be elders in a church, but God is calling each of us to hold firm to His gospel. Do you feel like life’s circumstances have you loosening your grip? Do you feel distanced from God?

Hold FIRM! Go to God. Whatever you have for Him, He can handle it.

Why hold firm?

Continue reading Hold Firm

5 Places NOT To Place Our Hope:

1. Our accomplishments

Do you find yourself striving to get to the top as fast as you can, only to find yourself exhausted, disappointed, or asking what now?  Maybe you thought, “If only I can get this promotion, THEN my life will be easier.”  If you are placing your hope in this life on your own works, you will be left with a void….no matter how many accolades you accumulate.  Why?  Because the world says its never enough.

Many times in life, I’ve been so focused on the hope of a future accomplishment or recognition, that I lost sight of what was right in front of me.

Proverbs 21:30

“There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord.”

Continue reading 5 Places NOT To Put Our Hope

Matthew 28:19-20

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

(Photo cred:  Allef Vinicius on Unsplash

While I have worked to create an inviting space for us to gather and encourage each other, I’m still not sure where God wants all of this to go. I feel a stirring and passion in my heart so I have to believe that I am moving in a direction confirmed by God…..

Continue reading Which Voice Will You Listen To?

Christ is Risen!  At the cross Christ died for you and for me. In His resurrection, He defeated death in final victory.

What now?

(photo cred:  Jon Tyson on Unsplash)

Jesus gave us our life’s purpose in Mathew 28:19:

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”

Our purpose beyond the cross, our life’s meaning, is this….

Continue reading What Now?: Beyond the Cross

I think it’s safe to say the novelty of quarantine has worn off, and the reality of our circumstances is taking root in our hearts and minds.

Last week was hard for so many reasons. How can I focus on my kids’ education when I’m overwhelmed with the realities of everything else? How do I admit that I can’t manage teaching three children simultaneously (and ALL the logins)? How do I process the uncertainty of it all?

There are moments of such preciousness being home with family, and then, without warning, a dark cloud of anxiety consumes me.

Enough. Be still. This burden is far too great for you to carry, so bring it to Me.

Continue reading Meet Me at the Cross

At the start of our quarantine, we pulled out a new puzzle with 1,000 pieces. Day by day we have been adding a few more pieces to our masterpiece. Then one day, I was reminded just how important perspective can be.

Let me back up for a minute. BQ (Before quarantine), I sat down to plan out our summer, already overwhelmed at the many activities and sports calendared for the spring. It felt as if my puzzle of life had all of these pieces that I was trying to cram together, hoping they would fit.

In my mind, I knew how I wanted the picture to be, but in reality I was only becoming more overwhelmed by the day.

BQ, had you been in a state of constant GO, too?

Continue reading Perspective in a Puzzle

Do you feel like you awoke one morning to an all out war…a war in which the battlefield is invisible? Do you find your mind wandering into a deep, black hole? Friend, if you answered yes to either of these questions, rest assured you are not alone. But I do not want you to feel hopeless, either.

I want to share a defense that will assure victory. Ready? Let’s go!

Continue reading Which Armor Will You Choose?

Y’all, I need you to know that the circumstances of this past week have drawn me toward media and away from His Word. This is not a good place to be. Today, I was able to reconnect with Scripture at a time I needed it most.

I opened up to Psalm 55, and I think it’s important to read through the entire passage. Tonight, I will share some highlights with you….

Vs 1-2: “Listen to my prayer, O God, do not ignore my plea; hear me and answer me. My thoughts trouble me and I am distraught…”

Vs 4-5: “My heart is in anguish within me; the terrors of death have fallen on me. Fear and trembling have beset me; horror as overwhelmed me.”

Vs 9: “Lord, confuse the wicked, confound their words..”

Vs 16: “As for me, I call to God, and the Lord saves me.”

Vs 18: “He rescues me unharmed from the battle waged against me, even though many oppose me.”

Vs 22: “Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.”

Vs 23b: “But as for me, I trust in you.”

The first part is David sharing his utter despair and fears of the evil he is facing. The second part is his acknowledgement of God’s provision, safety, and steadfastness in his life.

God IS in control. We are called to TRUST and not worry. The circumstances we face must not overwhelm us because faith is more powerful than fear.

Ashley

”This is the day the Lord hath made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

~Psalm 118:24