Devotions

[Forgotten Mother]

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Running Past Snakes: What To Do When You Face a Distraction
January 13, 2023
by Dorina Lazo Gilmore-Young

?Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.? Proverbs 4:27 (ESV)

A few months ago, I ran in the Diamond 13K race in Central California. The out-and-back course included a mix of shade and sun and a view of the majestic Sierra Nevada in the distance.  Taking off from the start, I found myself running next to my friend Sunny. We were chatting away as we started to ascend the first hill, named The Corkscrew. Then I saw it.  On the side of the trail, just a few steps away, was a coiled black-and-white snake. Did I mention I hate snakes?

I tried to stay calm and do the only thing I knew to do: keep running. ?Did you see that?? I asked Sunny next to me. ?A snake!?

?I missed it!? she exclaimed, wide-eyed.

I kept thinking about that snake for the next mile, feeling distracted and unsure of my steps.  Was it dangerous?

Should I have stopped to take a picture?

Would it be there on my way back down the hill to the finish line?

It was then that a proverb I had read came to mind:  ?Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil? (Proverbs 4:26-27, ESV).

The book of Proverbs provides for believers wisdom that King Solomon collected for a young man in his day.  The word ?ponder? in Proverbs 4:26 means ?to consider well.? In life (and while trail running), it?s important to consider well where we are going. This proverb reminded me to keep my eyes forward and my feet on the path.  After I reached the top of The Corkscrew, I made a decision to stop thinking about that snake. With 7 miles ahead of me, I needed to refocus on my race. If I continued to keep dwelling on the snake, I could get distracted, lose my footing and fall potentially causing myself injury or ruining my running time.  In putting the snake from my mind, I chose to dwell on other things. (Philippians 4:8) That?s when I started to enjoy my run. The sky was an azure blue, and the trail was lit up with greens and golds. I turned on my worship music and found the cadence of breath and steps again.  By the time I crossed the finish line, I had completely forgotten about that snake.  Later, I realized how much this experience was a mirror for life.  Sometimes as we go along, we encounter a ?snake? on the side of the trail. Perhaps it's a simple distraction, like a social media notification during our quiet time, a questionable television show we know we shouldn?t watch, or a task left unfinished that calls to us when we need rest. Maybe it's the enemy himself trying to lead us astray, to discourage us from pursuing our calling or to cause a misunderstanding in our relationship with God.  Many times in long-distance races, a runner called a ?pacer? will lead the rest of the runners. The pacer sets the pace for the other runners, but the other runners have to keep the pacer in view, making sure not to speed ahead or lag too far behind.  Friends, these are the moments when we have to make a decision to let Jesus be our Pacer in life and to keep running. When our eyes are focused forward on Jesus and where He?s headed, it?s easier to pivot away from distractions.  And when our minds simply won?t cooperate in the face of distractions, we can remember it was God Himself who created our minds. Let?s ask Him for the perseverance to focus on Him as we take each and every thought captive throughout our days.

[Forgotten Mother]

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We Can Stop Being So Afraid of Conflict
January 19, 2023
by Lysa TerKeurst

?As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.? John 15:9 (NIV)

hen I was in my early 20s, there was nothing I disliked more than conflict.  I didn?t vocalize my opinion even when I felt strongly. I danced around needed conversations or boundaries because of fear surrounding what would happen to the relationship or what someone would think of me. I became a ?stuff it and smile? kind of girl.  What I didn?t know then, which I have learned now, is this: The problem with pretending to be fine when we're really not is that all that pent-up steam will eventually come out. And if you've ever held your hand too close to steam, you know how it can burn.  On the outside it may have looked like I was just conflict averse, but on the inside there was a deep-rooted people-pleasing trap I had stepped into.  Years later, I still fumble through this. I still don?t enjoy conflict by any means. I still struggle with wanting to please people more than I should. And as I?ve examined this, I?ve asked myself over and over: What am I truly wrestling with?

What am I so unsure of?

What is the great dread in my soul?

Besides just fearing other people will walk away from me, what is the deeper fear driving all of this?

Maybe it?s deeper than just my fear of someone rejecting me because of a conflict that didn?t go well. Maybe I fear I must get from people what I am unsure God will provide for me. And if I fear God?s provision is incomplete, I must fill in that gap with other people or I won?t make it in this big, sometimes scary, often threatening and always chaotic world.  Therefore, I?ve made people the answer to my security rather than God Himself. I?ve made rationalizations to avoid conflict and upsetting others, hoping this will bring me the peace I really long for.  Yikes.  It?s an inverted security that only makes us more and more insecure with every realization that people aren?t designed for or capable of filling in the gaps of our doubts about God. The smoke screen is ?I don?t want to appear unkind or unchristian by stirring up conflict with my ?no? or setting a necessary boundary.?

But the raw truth is we will always desperately want from other people what we fear we will never get from God.  Trying to please people won?t ultimately satisfy us or the other person, and it certainly doesn?t please God.  Even when we look at the life of Jesus, He did so many amazing and sacrificial acts of love for others. He fed people, washed their feet, taught them, comforted them, and modeled a different way to act and think. But He didn?t do it so people would fill a need in Him. He served from a place of fullness, not for a feeling of fullness. (Matthew 20:28)  Jesus was obedient to God and loved people well. He didn?t people-please, hoping to be well liked and accepted by everyone. And when people didn?t like what He had to say and they walked away from Him and many people did He didn?t drop His boundaries, chase the people down, and beg them to take Him back. Jesus loved people enough to give them the choice to walk away.  What does all of this have to do with our own fear of conflict?

 Everything.  God calls us to obey Him. God does not call us to obey every wish and whim of other people and keep them happy at all costs. God calls us to love other people. God does not call us to demand that they love us back and meet every need we have.  If we are afraid someone will think poorly of us, potentially abandon us or try to make us feel crazy when we speak up about something, chances are that, without wise boundaries, they will eventually do all three of these things to us.  So how can we stop being afraid of conflict and step away from unhealthy people-pleasing?

We can start by breathing in the words of Jesus in John 15:9: ?As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.?

When we remember we are loved by God, we can remain in His love. We can allow this truth to inform our thoughts and actions. Knowing we?re loved, we can prayerfully consider needed conversations or necessary boundaries in our relationships. We can pursue a healthier approach to inevitable conflicts we all deal with, facing issues with grace and humility. Knowing we?re loved, we can release the fear and anxiety people-pleasing breeds in us.  Ultimately, knowing we?re loved by God allows us to live without carrying the weight of what others think of us.  I don?t know about you, but I nt to live like I?m loved today. Will you join me, friend?

[Forgotten Mother]

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Learning To Chase God?s Glory Through Each Day
April 21, 2023
by Dorina Lazo Gilmore-Young

"Moses said, 'Please show me your glory.' And [God] said, 'I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name "The LORD." And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.'" Exodus 33:18-19 (ESV)

When I was a little girl, my mama used to sing this little chorus to help me wake up in the morning: ?Rise and shine, and give God the glory, glory ??

I was never an ?early bird.? I more often dragged myself out of bed than I jumped up with energy. Mama?s song was a cheerful welcome to a new day. She invited me to start with God?s glory.  I chose the word ?glory? as my annual theme word several years ago.That sent me on a treasure hunt through Scripture and everyday life in search of glory. That year, my husband died of cancer at age 40, just four short months after his diagnosis. I was left a widow with three young daughters. I had no idea how God would use that theme of glory to challenge, inspire and lift me during the darkest year of my life.  We talk and sing about it at church and find the word mentioned more than 500 times in Scripture, but what exactly is glory?

If we study the scriptures that mention it, we discover God?s glory is the very essence of who God is, His character. Glory is what sets God apart. It?s the way God reveals Himself to us.  In the book of Exodus, Moses was discovering God?s glory. He wrote this book to help highlight the fulfillment of God?s promises, and through Moses, the Lord revealed His purposes to Israel. Over time, Moses recognized that he didn't want to make decisions or move anywhere without God?s presence. He begged God to show Himself:  ?Moses said, ?Please show me your glory.? And [God] said, ?I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name ?The LORD.? And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy?? (Exodus 33:18-19).

Most of us are like Moses. We want to feel God?s presence in our chaos, our crises and our casual conversations. We would like to see and experience God?s glory but we are not sure how to pursue it.  The Hebrew word for ?glory? is kabod, meaning someone or something heavy in weight, wealth, abundance, importance or respect. Does that sound like God?

We can experience glimpses of God?s glory all around us, but we have to lift our eyes to notice them and respond.  God always makes Himself known through His Word that comforts us during trials. Sometimes, He may also show His glory through a sense of peace gifted to us while we wait for a diagnosis or a breakthrough in a strained relationship. I?ve tasted His glory in a delectable meal prepared by a friend and seen it in the unique pattern of a snowflake or a baby?s eyelashes, all carefully created by Him.  Friends, let?s not miss the examples of God?s glory right in our midst. Let?s call out the glory we see so that others might experience His presence too.

[Forgotten Mother]

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Lonely Hurts, But God Can Redeem It
May 1, 2023
by Jessica Manfre

?But Ruth said, ?Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God.?? Ruth 1:16 (ESV)

As a military spouse, I?ve become deeply familiar with embracing hard things, purposefully leaning into grace and navigating challenges well.  But sometimes even the strongest of foundations develop cracks. Holding it all together with Band-Aids of positivity doesn?t work long term; it?s just not strong enough and is simply a quick coping mechanism.  Can I make a confession?

In my mind, I?m not supposed to feel lonely or struggle with mental health issues. As a therapist, I have helpful knowledge and tools swirling inside my brain, ready to be utilized. How dare I submit to something I know how to combat! But loneliness, and the basket of negative symptoms it brings, has reared its ugly head and held on to me with a fierceness I wasn?t prepared for.  The book of Ruth was the light in the dark, the scripture I desperately needed to break the grip of loneliness. Though I've always loved the rich narration of the story, reading it during a desperately lonely season of my life was revolutionary. I saw myself in both Ruth and Naomi in so many ways as a military spouse leaving home for a foreign land with no support, experiencing what felt like continual loss, and finding myself questioning my faith.  God doesn?t always prevent us from experiencing life stressors and working through the very real emotions that accompany them. But when we feel lonely, God is standing ready to love us through it while His Word gently reminds us that we?re never truly alone.  Sometimes it takes working through something really hard to reawaken the truth and bring back the good.  ?But Ruth said, ?Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God.?? (Ruth 1:16)

This pagan woman was so sure in her convictions and faith in a God she?d only just begun to love and worship! Here?s what I personally take from Ruth?s incredible story:  God doesn?t always prevent us from feeling pain or experiencing hardship. But that doesn?t mean He?s forsaken us. When I lost my grandmother in 2019, my heart shattered into a million irreparable pieces. It would take a stranger sharing my grandmother?s last words in the hospital room to give me the reminder I so desperately needed: ?I?m going home.?

I?d carried such immense guilt because of all the time I?d missed with her due to this military-led life. But it washed away in an instant as I read God?s Word and heard His gift in my grandmother?s final words. He is our home and sanctuary in the midst of hurt.  With God, our trials, hurts and lonely seasons can be used for good. There?s such a redemptive blessing in sharing your deepest struggles out loud. Not only does it remove them from the box you?re so frantically trying to hide them in, but I promise your pain is a shared one. Lean into your Bible, community, family and friends. We have a tendency to act like bitter Naomi in Ruth 1:20-21, pushing away support as we navigate the waves of the bad things drowning us.  I like to believe I hear God whispering this when I feel lonely: Where you go, I go. But it isn?t only imagined He is always with us. We just have to be ready and willing to hear Him.

[Forgotten Mother]

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When Worst-Case Scenarios Want To Write the Story
October 12, 2023
by Lysa TerKeurst

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)

There’s something I’ve learned about myself recently: Sometimes what’s really overwhelming me isn’t that I have too much to do or too much to process. It’s that I’ve allowed too much fear into the mix of it all.  Fear of the unknown.  Fear of what crazy thing is going to hit me next.  Fear of not being able to know when or if “normal” will ever return.  Can you relate?

Sometimes what is really causing me to be afraid isn’t what’s actually in front of me it’s me projecting fearful possibilities onto what I’m facing today. I have a habit of mentally running into the future, painting pictures of all the worst-case scenarios, and then running back to today and pinning those pictures all over the walls in my mind. But as God is my witness, no worst-case-scenario thinking has ever protected me. It’s only projected the possible pain of tomorrow onto today and fed more fear.  Today, I’m asking God to help me know the difference between wise discernment and fear. And there is a big difference: One prompts me to remember God. The other prompts me to panic.  And we can’t live in panic and peace at the same time.  Instead of trying to figure out the future and panicking because of worst-case scenarios, I can intentionally look back at all the places in my life where I can clearly see that God had a good plan He provided for me, He came through for me, and He helped me through whatever I faced.  Taking the time to trace God’s hand of faithfulness from the past is so much more calming than trying to predict the future.  And when I lay down my worst-case scenarios, I also pray differently, as our key verse for today instructs us to do:  “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).

These verses show me that I’m just one prayer away from experiencing the peace of God and so are you.  Even when we’re crippled with fear and don’t understand what’s in front of us, we can whisper a simple prayer: God, please help me. Be with me. Lead me. Hold me. Show me the next step.  Often, our next step isn’t walking forward; it’s remembering who God is.  God is loving. God is kind. God is patient. God is just. God is all-capable and all-knowing. God is forgiving. God is generous. God is good. Praying these truths about who God is will comfort us in our panic.  Then after we pray, we can take a moment and glance outside. Look at the sky. Acknowledge that it’s not falling. We don’t have to live in fear. We don’t have to worry about what’s ahead. The same God who keeps all the galaxies in place will be right there to greet us and lead us into the days to come.  Friend, this truth is the safest place for us to land.

[Forgotten Mother]

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What We Fear, We Will Avoid
February 22, 2024
by Lysa TerKeurst

“The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.” Psalm 34:7 (NIV)

A few years ago, one of my back teeth started hurting. It wasn’t the first time that tooth had given me trouble, but quite honestly, I just didn’t want to deal with it.  I’d had not one, not two, but three crowns done on that same tooth. The first one broke. The second one broke. And though the third one seemed like it would finally work, the tooth started aching again. Ugh!  The dentist informed me the only thing to do was to have a root canal.  But fear overcame my heart, and I just couldn’t bring myself to schedule it.  So I dealt with the throbbing pain for a full year. I didn’t chew on that side of my mouth. I didn’t let cold drinks leak over to that side. And I took ibuprofen when the throbbing got the best of me.  Finally I’d had enough. The pain overrode the fear, and I made the dreaded appointment.  And you know what?

I survived! Actually, the fear of the root canal was so much worse than having the procedure done.  I think fear often plays out that way. Sometimes living in fear of what might be causes more stress and anxiety than actually facing what we fear.  Maybe you can relate. Is there something you’re avoiding because you’re afraid?

Psalm 34:7 reminds us, “The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them” (NIV). To fear the Lord means to honor Him and magnify Him in our hearts more than anyone or anything else. But when I focus on or magnify my lesser, anxious fears, they become all I can think about.

Instead, here are three things we can do to focus on God today:

    Cry out to Him with honest prayers. Verbalize to God what you’re afraid of and how paralyzing the fear is. Ask Him to help you discern if there is any truth to this fear.

    Open your Bible, and look for verses that show you what He wants you to do in that moment of fear. Write down truths, and then align your next thoughts and actions with His Word.

    Move forward. We may not always live fear-free, but we can choose not to let fears about tomorrow steal our joy for today.

Is there an everyday fear holding you back? Is it a fear of confronting an issue with a friend? Is it a fear of stepping out in obedience to God?

Is there fear surrounding a medical diagnosis you just received?

Oh friend, if I were with you right now, I would totally hold your hand. But better yet, God is with you. And when you know He is with you and His angels are encamped around you, you can face your fears.

[Forgotten Mother]

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Fear Not: I Will Help You
February 26, 2024
by Kori de Leon

“fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10 (ESV)

Have you ever found yourself, amid life’s challenges, feeling as though the weight of the world is pressing down upon you?

In today’s world, marked by uncertainties, unrest and persecution, it’s easy to become burdened by concerns. When you add your personal struggles financial pressures, the demands of parenthood, caregiving for aging loved ones, and health issues it often seems like there's no end in sight.  It’s precisely during these trying times that God steadies our hearts. He is a strong and loving Father who tells His children not to worry or anxiously look about but to call out to Him and wait with humble expectation for the help He provides.  When you were a child, maybe you witnessed your earthly parents’ desire for you to grow up confident and secure. But even so, parents often experience the frustration of being unable to provide the specific help their children need. This is where God distinguishes Himself remarkably and gloriously, as often repeated throughout Isaiah:  “... For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me” (Isaiah 46:9, ESV).

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you …” (Isaiah 41:10).

God assures us of His boundless capacity and joy in helping us! The above scriptures brim with divine “I wills,” and it’s truly remarkable to understand that God doesn’t want us to be consumed by fear. Instead, He urges us to shed the weighty cloak of fear and dread, much like discarding yesterday’s worn-out clothes.  But how do we do this?

When we look at the troubling things all around us in the world, how do we exchange fear for faith in our invisible Father?

God encourages us to meditate on the image of being held by His hand:  “... I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10).

When life gets chaotic and we’re teetering on the edge, let's picture God right there with us, a caring Father steadying His child as she navigates rough and uncertain terrain. Instead of giving in to despair or frantically searching for help, let’s remember the promise that God is present, ready to help and support us. Then we can pray, calling out to our Father and waiting with humble expectation for the help He’ll provide.  As we read Isaiah 41:10 and so many other parts of God’s Word, we uncover the countless beautiful ways in which God supports His people. Let’s walk together in the hope and comfort of God’s upholding love today.

[Forgotten Mother]

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What To Do When You Don’t Know What To Do
March 12, 2024
by Nicki Koziarz

“But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.” James 3:17 (ESV)

A few months ago, after five persistent years, our family welcomed three boys through international adoption.  The wait was hard, brutal at times, and filled with complications that caused multiple delays. It seemed so unfair to everyone involved, especially the boys.    One of our boys has a significant medical issue, and the older he grew, the more complicated the healing process would be. Each year that passed, we held that reality.  Adopting older children can be challenging, so we prepared our minds with books, videos, podcasts and therapy. We did the work.  We prepared our home, finances and lives to add three more children to the mix. We did everything we could to get ready.  But sometimes, no matter how much you prepare for something, you cannot prepare for what the thing will actually be like. Which is why, after a long, sleepless week of navigating a surgery and complicated recovery process with our son, I found myself on the bathroom floor, crying and asking, “What do I do now?”

Nothing was like we thought it would be.  Things were way more complicated than we were prepared for.  I was getting to the point where I felt like I was in way over my head.  Maybe you’ve been there too. The email that leaves you wordless, the text update you couldn’t have imagined, or the phone call that leaves your emotions tangled in a knot. Sometimes when we’re asking the question, What do I do now? we need something tangible to hold on to.  That day, I recalled James 3:17. And I knew I had a choice: Have a pity party or declare the power of God’s wisdom. I choose the latter.  I began making biblical declarations over my situation, and instead of asking God why, I shifted to, What does this mean?

I proclaimed James 3:17 over this situation, and within a few hours, I had some clarity on what our next steps could be.  But more than anything, my soul had peace. This is the promise James 3:17 offers us when we choose to seek wisdom from above:  “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.”

In this season, I’m learning to rely on the wisdom of God. He is the only One who sees the entire picture. He knows the things I don’t. He understands things doctors cannot.  Yes, sometimes I find myself teetering to a place where the bathroom floor beckons me back. I am human, and so are you. No one expects you to walk through hard times in perfection.  But choose to stay in the process of seeking godly wisdom, and somehow, with the power of God, you’ll know what to do when you don’t know what to do.

[Forgotten Mother]

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Gatekeeping the Love of Jesus
March 25, 2024
by Stacy J. Lowe

“The leading priests and the teachers of religious law saw these wonderful miracles and heard even the children in the Temple shouting, ‘Praise God for the Son of David.’ But the leaders were indignant.” Matthew 21:15 (NLT)

Editor’s Note: Today’s devotion is part of a special series for Holy Week! From March 24 (Palm Sunday) to March 31 (Easter Sunday), each devotion will focus on the events leading up to Jesus’ resurrection. We pray these words will prepare your heart and mind for the celebration of our risen Savior.

Just one day prior, Jesus had entered the city of Jerusalem on a donkey’s back and had been received with much acclaim. But not by everyone. The chief priests and Pharisees had no desire to welcome Jesus. They wanted Him dead.  Why?

Among other things, Jesus claimed to be “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6a, NLT).

The only path to God. The religious leaders believed this to be blasphemous because the only path to God they knew was through keeping the Law. Jesus’ very existence threatened their authority and all the religious rules they loved to lord over other people.  Then we come to this day of Holy Week.  Jesus arrived at the temple and saw the outer courts filled with merchants selling sacrificial animals at prices only the wealthy could afford. Even worse, because the outer courts were the only spaces where gentiles (non-Jews) were allowed to enter and pray, all such opportunities for them to worship God were gone.  In His righteous anger, Jesus overturned the tables and drove the merchants out, declaring, “My Temple will be called a house of prayer” (Matthew 21:13, NLT).

Then we read:  “The blind and the lame came to him in the Temple, and he healed them. The leading priests and the teachers of religious law saw these wonderful miracles and heard even the children in the Temple shouting, ‘Praise God for the Son of David.’ But the leaders were indignant” (Matthew 21:14-15, NLT).

This moment in the temple was a visible representation of everything Jesus had come to do tear down every barrier that exists between us and God so that anyone could approach Him.  But even seeing the healing miracles Jesus performed, the leaders still didn’t get it. Rather than bending to the authority of Jesus, they chose to continue in their way. They were gatekeeping the sacred for purposes of their profit and benefit.  It’s here I pause and reflect: Have I been guilty of gatekeeping Jesus? Deciding (whether consciously or not) who is worthy of His love?

While I’ve never been accused of sacrifice price gouging, I wonder how many people I’ve written off as being “too far gone” for God to save them. How often have I looked the other way instead of acting with compassion? How many opportunities have I missed to remind someone they’re loved by the God of the universe?

How many times have my words or actions unintentionally reconstructed the very barriers Jesus came to demolish?

How many times have yours?

How many times have we decided we’re not enough and discounted God’s love for us?

May this day of Holy Week remind us the love of God is for everyone. No gatekeeping required.

[Forgotten Mother]

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Does Jesus Want To Talk to Me?
April 22, 2024
by Lynn Cowell

“The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.” John 10:3-4 (NIV)

The notification pops up on my phone, and I smile. My friend has left me a voice message. Immediately, I look for an opportunity to slip away and listen.  I love hearing what is happening in my friend’s world, how she’s feeling, or how I can pray for her. Though we haven’t seen each other in years and have, in fact, only met in person a few times, she has become a dear friend and a voice of wisdom in my life.  In John 10, Jesus compared Himself to a good shepherd and described how those who follow Him hear His voice:  “.... The sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice” (John 10:3-4).

The example of a shepherd and sheep would have been familiar to the people Jesus was originally preaching to. Daily, they would have seen shepherds and sheep in the Israeli countryside.  For me, a city girl living in the United States, I needed to learn a little about shepherds and sheep to understand what Jesus was teaching.  Here’s what I discovered: Using a combination of sounds and words, shepherds lead with their voices. Going ahead of those in their care, a shepherd leads the sheep to bits of greenery, pools of water, and ultimately to a resting place after a long day. Since sheep are in the care of the shepherd day in and day out, they grow familiar with his voice. The sheep expect and anticipate their shepherd’s guidance and feel safe in his care.  Jesus tells us: “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me” (John 10:14, NIV).

Here, Jesus expresses His desire to interact with and lead us.  This passage got me thinking: Do I expect to hear my Shepherd’s voice?

Just like I look for messages from my friend, do I anticipate communication from Jesus?

As followers of Jesus, you and I can expect our Shepherd to speak to us. The Bible is filled with His words, and He may bring to mind scriptures we have read or memorized. A song may bring a reminder of His love. We might sense a nudging in our spirit, or what 1 Kings 19:12 describes as the “still small voice” of God (NKJV).

However He speaks, we can be confident in Jesus’ desire to communicate with us. Just as we wait expectantly for communication in our other relationships, we can wait and expect to hear from our Friend and Shepherd, Jesus.

[Forgotten Mother]

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The Truth About Your Feelings
April 23, 2024
by Jennie Allen

“For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” Hebrews 4:15 (KJV)

Have you ever thought about how God feels about your feelings?

Somewhere along the way in my own life, I picked up the message that emotions weren’t good. I thought that I shouldn’t feel angry or sad or frustrated and that God was maybe even judging my feelings. Deep down, I asked a question that maybe you’ve wondered about, too: Are my emotions sin?

But over the past few years, as I’ve been learning to listen to what my emotions are trying to tell me, I’ve discovered a truth that has shifted everything for me: Feelings were never meant to be fixed; feelings are meant to be felt. More than just a race of adrenaline, feelings point the way for us to connect more deeply with ourselves, others and God than we thought possible.  How do I know this?

Because God has emotions too! Though God’s emotions are different from ours because He is perfect and unchanging, Scripture says He felt happiness about everything He created (Genesis 1:31) and disappointment at His creation’s rebellion (Genesis 3:11-13). He felt anger at people’s continued rebellion (Zephaniah 1:4-6). He felt delight when Abraham, David and others followed Him (Deuteronomy 30:9-10) and sadness when they went their own ways.  Because of this, emotions are a facet of what it means to be made in the image of God. Therefore, emotions are not bad, and emotions are not sin. Emotions aren’t even neutral. When we understand that God has a purpose and plan for them, emotions are actually good and not just some of them, like peace and joy, but all of them.  All emotions are good. Aren’t you just blown away by this?

We have a God who feels emotions yet does not sin; He responds to all His feelings rightly. The author of Hebrews says of Jesus, “We have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15).  Jesus felt His emotions, allowed them to draw people to Himself, and didn’t sin. I believe we can follow His example! We can’t help but feel emotions, and we should allow ourselves to feel them but in a redeemed way, a life-giving way, a way that leads to connection and greater freedom.  So what are you feeling today?

Are you happy, sad, angry or afraid?

And what do you think God is feeling about those feelings?

Take them all to our God, who not only feels for Himself but who also comes close to us when we’re feeling all our feelings too.

[Forgotten Mother]

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Choose Calling Over Comfort
April 25, 2024
by Lysa TerKeurst

“... Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?’” John 21:15a (NIV)

Have you ever felt God stirring you to do something that’s terrifyingly outside of your comfort zone?

I confess that left to my own choosing, I want to take the safe and comfortable route. And then a Bible verse like our verse today marches up to my limited perspective and challenges me. A question forms in my heart. One that forces me to stop and reconsider the path that terrifies me:  Do you love Jesus and want Him more than anything else?

It’s this question that Jesus asked one of His disciples, Peter, at a crucial crossroad in Peter’s life:  “.... Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?’” (John 21:15a).

Peter had followed Jesus for years, but things got hard. Jesus was crucified, and Peter took his eyes off the path of ministry he’d been called to. In John 21:2-3, Peter went back to what felt safe and comfortable: his original occupation of fishing.  When the resurrected Jesus appeared in the flesh, He ruined Peter’s justifications for playing it safe. Peter’s destiny wasn’t to be a fisherman for the rest of his life. He was to be a shepherd of God’s people.  For Peter, loving Jesus “more than these” (John 21:15) might have meant prioritizing ministry over the large number of fish he’d just caught. Or “these” could have been anything else pulling Peter away from his calling. We all have our own distractions and concerns in life things we sometimes choose over Jesus.  I believe Jesus saw Peter’s potential and wanted to turn Peter from a nitpicky fisherman into a caring shepherd. Fishermen counted and quickly judged the fish they caught. They threw out the small fish because to sell those, they’d have to pay more in taxes than the fish were worth. They would look at the fish and say, “This one’s in this one’s out. This one’s in this one’s out.”

But Jesus was calling Peter to finish his season of being a fisherman of fish and start being a shepherd for people.  In the same way, Jesus is asking us to love Him more than the lives we’ve known. And just like Jesus equipped Peter by sending His Holy Spirit to fill and empower Peter for his calling (Acts 2), Jesus willingly equips us. We have the gift of His Holy Spirit inside us, and we also have His written Word to guide us continually.  Sweet friend, let’s not rush past how amazing it is that the Lord wants to work through us even with all our fears and failings. Let’s not allow love of comfort to convince us to stay stuck in our same old ways. Let’s simply say to Jesus, Yes, Lord. I love You more than these and follow where He’s leading us.

[Forgotten Mother]

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A Beautiful Life Isn’t One-Size-Fits-All
May 3, 2024
by Stephanie May Wilson

“And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love.” Romans 8:38a (NLT)

For most of my life, I’ve been a people-pleasing, rule-following second-guesser.  I’m also at the tail end of what I call the “everything era” the span of years during which we make many of the biggest decisions of our lives, all at the same time, in front of an opinionated audience.  (Yes, Aunt Sharon, I know you had three kids by the time you were my age. Yes, I know I’m not getting any younger.)  Over the last 10 years, I’ve wrestled with so many big decisions:

Is this man going to be my husband?
Where’s home?
Which job should I take?
Are we ready to have kids?
What am I doing with my life?

It felt like there must be a right way to do all of this, and I was certainly getting it all wrong.  I didn’t want to fall short of anyone’s expectations (including my own!). But most of all, I worried about disappointing God. I wanted to make Him proud, to return the love He’s so generously given to me. And without even realizing it, I started writing my definition of what that might look like.   Every time I read a book, listened to a sermon, or saw a post on social media, my list of what I “should” be doing got longer. As you can imagine, this constant striving (and failing) didn’t bring me closer to God.  One day, I was trying to make a big decision running through my pros-and-cons list for the thousandth time with a friend. As I was diving into another round of “what ifs,” my friend looked me in the eye and said, “Stephanie, you get to decide.”

There’s not one right way to build a life. A beautiful life isn’t one-size-fits-all, and that truth has changed everything for me.  I spent years frantically looking for one right answer to questions that didn’t have one. These were my calls to make. They’re your calls to make too.  This is true with who you marry, where your career path leads, whether you have kids, and where you call home. Even the best options have some good and some hard aspects, and it’s up to you what specific combination of good and hard you’re willing to live with.  Yes, sometimes God has one exact answer for us. Sometimes there’s a clear right and wrong.  But the rest of the time, we get to make confident, creative decisions for ourselves and our families not striving to earn God’s love but knowing that we already have it and can never lose it.  As Paul says in Romans 8:38a: “I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love.”

Your life can and should be a beautiful, unique reflection of what’s important to you, the woman who chose it. Your life should look like you. So create a life you love.