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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
Beautifully Illogical
When it comes to prayer, we’ve all been struck by hardballs of disappointment. And when we don’t see results, we’re tempted to lower our expectations, hopes, and dreams. After all, what if God doesn’t come through the next time? I’d better protect my heart and accept my circumstances the way they are. Do you hear that whisper? Where does it come from? It comes from the spirit of fear who wants to keep us from believing the God of miracles. God is bigger than our disappointments, fears, and present situations. IF God can do anything, he can surely move …
Help, I’m Dying!
In speaking of Ema McKinley’s amazing modern day miracle, people ask, “Why did God wait eight long hours before appearing to Ema to heal her? For that matter, why did he wait eighteen years?” Who knows… The point is, Jesus showed up and healed her crippled body from head to toe. After hours on the floor, I’m sure she wondered if she might be dying. Then Jesus suddenly showed up and stood over her helpless body, saying, “Ema, give me your hand.” With her hands in his, He raised her to her feet. Rivers of love passed between them. Just …
What is the Object of Your Courage?
[box] Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. Luke 9:26[/box] What in the world doesn’t take courage? You need courage to get up in the morning. You may even need it to look in the mirror. But what do we really know about courage? When was the last time you told a stranger about Jesus, faced an angry mob, got arrested for your faith? The disciples faced death and persecution daily, but …
Don’t Go Green
Has it happened to you lately? The moment your joy meets another person’s envy? The time your happy heart collides with someone’s self-pity? A friend waxes green behind a tight-lipped smile and a reluctant shake of the head… “Must be nice…” She may even toss God into it. “Boy, I sure wish God would do that for me…” Self-pity, self-seeking, comparison-making, false-fronts. Yuck, yuck, double yuck. But who hasn’t tasted the sour-stomaching fruity effects of the flesh? So we ask God for more love! Indeed, our flesh screams in protest when we work to attain something, only to watch it …
Love to the Brim
In Home with a Heart, James Dobson tells a story of a mother who got the flu. The woman’s little girl, in an effort to play nurse, fluffed mom’s pillows, brought her a magazine, and surprised her with a cup of tea. “I didn’t know you knew how to make tea,” said the mother, taking a sip. “Oh, yes,” said the little girl, sweetly. “I learned by watching you. I put the tea leaves in the pan. Then I put in the water, and I boiled it. Then I strained it into a cup. But I couldn’t find a strainer, …
Peace of My Mind
Like all couples, my husband and I disagree on various issues, but God in his goodness has been coaching us about keeping the peace, no matter what we believe. Peace is the oil in my day. When I feel it, it makes me a whole less squeaky. Peace Depends on Me Even if someone acts like a doofus, I can always choose inner peace, while at the same time praying and seeking outer peace with that other individual as well. [box] If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Romans 12:18 [/box] …
Secret Treasures
[box] Lord, so many pursuits are steeped in self-interest and sin, but You teach and model the power and glory of humility’s story. Rather than fluffing our feathers, You want us to dive into Your secret place where highest treasures wait. Where food is the pleasure of being like You. So here we go… shredding our gritty bits of self to plunge and truly freely find… we’re less attached to everything but You. [/box] [box] “Watch out! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in …
Depositing in Dreamers
“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.” Matthew 5:14
“In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16
Wake Up Call
[box] “Sing joyfully to the Lord, you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise him.” Psalm 33:1 NIV[/box] So your alarm clock goes off. It feels like the middle of the night. But your pastor challenged you to start your day with joyful praise. Before saying anything else, (“Honey, you stole the sheets!”) you want to say, “Good morning, Jesus!” At least you thought you wanted to say it (the night before); but now that you’ve finally pried open your eyes, (and yawned so loud that you woke up your husband beneath all those sheets), you think, “who’s …