Fear and panic are two kissing cousins I’ve wrestled with long and hard. But God. Jesus whispers… I’m with you as you turn your back on fear and panic. I know the junk that flies your way. Nothing slips by me. That’s why I’m here to settle you as you turn from life’s heart-racing pace that fires up raw emotions in you. Let’s catch those joy-thieves and stop fear in its tracks! Let my Holy Spirit envelop you and replace the raging tide with my peace that passes understanding. Watch me settle over your soul and bring rest like I’ve …
Our Glorious Obsession
Hi, beloved! It’s been eons since we connected. We’ve been through some crazy battles since then. All of us. In the middle of the mess, God has continued to show up as only he can do. He graciously gave me an opportunity to write sixty devotionals for The Masterpiece Edition of The Passion Translation. This Bible is already on sale on Amazon, releasing this November in perfect time for Christmas. Combined with sixty breathtaking paintings by world-renown artist, Ron DiCianni, these devotionals help people feel loved by God in a whole new way. I asked the Lord what he wanted …
Storm-stepping
I’m now home from our 25th anniversary celebration in Clearwater Beach. Pondering storms and focus. Three of us four Rickers have been long-battling a fairly serious physical storm, even as we intentionally focus on the Son. Storms feel confusing. They don’t make sense. They’re a test. How do we get to the other side? What should we do? What now, what next? The list goes on. Here are a few short lessons I’ve learned from our storms. As always, I pray you’re somehow encouraged and blessed. When you start to feel overwhelmed, meditate on the Word and the good that …
Selfless Example
The fact that Jesus emptied and limited Himself when He came to earth, makes me wonder exactly how much the human part of Him grasped the extent of His imminent suffering. Jesus eagerly desired to save the world, but as the end drew near, as Jesus talked to His Father in a garden reminiscent of the one where the first Adam hid from His Father, as Jesus prepared to absorb in His sinless body all the sins of the world, all the wrath of His Father… His heart picked up, His hands trembled, blood-red beads of sweat awakened the raw …
Sore Spot
The Lord gives me tons of these phrases which I promptly post on Facebook to encourage people. Every now and again, it does the opposite and hits a sore spot. After a positive outpouring, I read this comment a woman named Angela posted: Why do I doubt this? 2 guys tried to break into my home 7 times… I chased after them once, they continued to harass me, I couldn’t sleep for a year and my nerves took years to recoup and only now do I feel a little better. Tonight I spend the night alone and ain’t going to lie, …
Personal Powerful Love
As I lay in bed with my iPhone, I asked the Lord what He wanted to say through me today, and this is what rolled in and out of my spirit: Rest in My unconditional love that speaks louder than your grief and trials. My love for you is personal, endued with power, lacking nothing. I pursued you from your youth, even before you chose to look My way. Make Me number one today. Taste and see that I, your Redeemer, am good, and My faithfulness and mercies shall endure forever.
Ego, Identity, Humility
Ego. Identity. Humility. Three small words that potentially spark big thought. The world embraces ego. Even gives it special meaning by sticking the word “male” in front of it, making it a thing. Ego is to be no more an excuse than a pursuit. If you want more confidence, pursue identity. When you know who you are and whose you are, you are more grounded, stable, and secure. Identity takes care of pride and its cronies. To grow in identity is to know you are uber-loved as God’s child. Such knowledge swallows up a myriad of uglies and helps shrivel …
Unity
Unity is as important to God as ever, but often a downer when we stare at the church’s apparent lack of it. Even the word “unity” strikes a barrage of thoughts and questions. What does it mean? What does God want? After all, He made us all different, right? Let’s cut to the chase. He wants us all to seek His face. The more we spend time with Him, the more we become like Him. The more we become like Him, the more we become unified in our hearts. Dwight and I have matching wedding rings to signify this. The …
Seeing and Hearing
Hey everybody. I’m back!! I’ve decided not to let the spasms in my back, neck, arms, and shoulders keep me from talking to you here anymore. Sound good? Yeah, I’ll take it slow; but the blogosphere is calling me. Plus God and I had a little talk this morning, and I trust Him to lead the way. Sometimes obstacles look like giants obstructing our vision. But God says, “I am the way.” Next to the One who is inside us, what really is a giant anyway? God has been challenging me to keep my Jesus-lenses on. This is where we …
Missing Peace?
This morning while reading an email from a friend, the Lord distinctly dropped these words into my heart. I believe they’re also for you. “When I say ‘do not be anxious about anything,’ I mean anything. You need to cast aside regret about things you wish you had done differently. To regret something in the past is to be anxious about it. Instead, you need to commit those unnecessary burdens to Me so I can take care of them. As you pray and petition Me with thanksgiving, fully entrusting your burdens and requests to Me, I will establish peace in …
5 Heart-Softening Words
Little Josiah, from my recent book, Josiah’s Fire: Autism Stole His Words, God Gave Him a Voice, inspires thousands with his great wisdom. I especially love one of the things Josiah shared with his mom, my coauthor, Tahni: “If you love the child you have, you’ll have the child you love.” The more I considered it, the more I realized this same truth truth could also apply to marriage. If you love the spouse you have, you’ll have the spouse you love. Dwight and I recently had an opportunity to give marriage counseling to a guy on the phone who was at the …
Swing Wide
We look for God to open doors for us, and so we should, but let’s not forget how God wants us to open each door of our heart to Him! What door does He want you to swing open today? Listen and discern the knocks. Open wider and wider to His Kingdom ways. [box] Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. Revelation 3:20[/box] [box] Lift up your heads, you gates; be lifted up, you ancient …
Happy Thanksgiving
Shining Among Christians
Today I read an awesome and vulnerable blog post by author and speaker, Michele Cushatt, who shares about shining her faith to those who don’t yet believe. Yesterday, my husband told me he heard Dave Ramsey shine on his radio show that reaches a large secular audience. Ramsey recently interviewed an actor friend who played in the new box office hit, War Room. (Awesome movie, by the way. It shines!) [box] Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever. Daniel 12:3[/box] Christians …
The Freedom Challenge
What do wayward children, difficult coworkers, and emotionally distant relatives have in common? The true simple answer: Each one of these needs our prayers, understanding, and kindness. (But the true simple fact is: we can’t love one of them even one iota without God’s help.) Our freedom cost Christ His life. Doesn’t it make sense that we now follow the call and bring freedom to others? That’s why I invite you to join me in taking the freedom challenge. I promise it’s better than the coca-cola challenge and the ice bucket challenge, and you’ll feel a lot warmer. To be …
Complicated Simplicity
My boys often hear me say: “Sin always takes you farther than you want to go and keeps you longer than you want to stay.” “Yeah, we know, Mom,” says one of my sons as he plays his video game. “Sin is gross. Yuck. ” “I know you know this,” I say. “But it’s true. So you’re welcome for the reminder.” “Thanks.” “Sure. You betcha. Sin spins a web of deceit; and the longer we stay, the more we become entangled. That’s why I like to talk about love more than sin. Sin makes me itch.” Without looking up, he …
He Knows Better
Ask “I LOVE when you ask me questions.” God slips this in my spirit like sweet chocolate; and for a second, I wish my husband would say this too, but oh well. He isn’t God, my first love, and I’m glad. “Asking questions shows you trust Me with answers. It keeps us close.” Father, you’re as refreshing as a glass of ice water. You know I want to be close. “Drink deep of My wisdom. It’s your open invitation.” Lord, I love Your wisdom. May my family and I never be like Eve who saw the dangling fruit as a …
Spiritual Caulking
Ooo… Ahh… We have a brand spanking new bathroom. After gutting our old one, we put in a new one with the most beautiful floor to ceiling tiles and clean white vanity. That’s probably why our hearts hit the floor this morning when our son took a shower, went downstairs, and discovered a major leak from the new bathroom above. “No!!!” Morning Surprise We opened the closet, shone a flashlight on and around the pipes behind the new tub, and everything was drenched, especially our new so-called “drywall.” How could this be, Lord? Don’t we have enough fires to put …
Reconciled
Isn’t that what it’s all about—being reconciled to God and living as if we truly are? Jesus is all about reconciliation. Bridging the gap between the Father and us. “It is finished.” The curtain tore in two. We can enter a meaningful life of intimacy with Jesus. Christ the King lives within! The same Spirit that raised Christ from the death lives in us! [box] “But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.” 2 Corinthians 4:7[/box] Merry Christmas! In the comment section, name one thing you …
Rush of Heaven
One crippled woman. One astounding Christmas Eve Miracle. Thousands of lives changed. Two years ago this January I started interviewing Ema McKinley to write her amazing true miracle story, Rush of Heaven: One Woman’s Miraculous Encounter with Jesus. Many of you graciously prayed me through this long writing labor. Thank you! The baby arrived in October and I’m pleased to say Rush of Heaven is alive and well, scoring high on the Apgar scale. Smile. Without doubt, God is all the wow in this book. He has been my teacher, helper, and counselor from day one. And every day, he …