Come, prized pearls of purpose, who Jesus adores! Dance free with your Lover who wins all your wars. The Bright Star of Heaven came perfect and weak. He died this way too, that His face you might seek. Come praise and proclaim Him who pardons your soul. Who heals and delivers each part of you, whole! Leap high like a child who your Savior pursues. Come boldly embrace Him who walks in your shoes. The Lord seeks and sees you. Find purpose and rest. His Presence proves perfect, amidst every test. poem by Cheryl Ricker Dwight and I began our …
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 …
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 …
Happy Thanksgiving
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 …
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 …
Above the Water
To put it in the words of the great theologian, Commander Duck: “May your Thanksgiving day be happy, happy, HAPPY!” Full of family, fun & snorts (BIG ones!). Full of gobble-gobbled turkey with a touch of stuffing. Full of courage in the face of feisty in-laws. Full of the fresh fragrance of the living God! I just read a testimony in my friend Mike Shreve’s newsletter. While drowning, a Christian man thought of 1 Timothy 2:8 in his last moments: [box] I will therefore that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.[/box] He thought, “What better …
He is Here
[box] Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him. He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” They stood still, their faces downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” “What things?” he asked. “About …
Closer Than You Think
I’m as close as the mention of My name. Not even an inch can separate us. I blanket you with everything in Me and all I want is your love. You don’t have to jump high hoops to reach My approval. I approved you the moment I made you, and I don’t make mistakes. Here’s what I do with mistakes when you slip them in my hand: I turn them into dazzling diamonds—God-glorifying gems in the crown of your tested testimony. The more you see how much I treasure our closeness, the more you’ll treasure Me and rise to the …
However, Whenever
However, Whenever You are My crystal pitcher, pure refreshment, poured out. Depleted, exhausted, spent? Let My Living Water fill your space, richly. Again and again, I satisfy. Making you satisfying to quench. See My sparkling face shining through you, never dulling? You know Me deeper daily, but I know you deeper still. You lived with Me from the beginning, a spirit-seed awaiting place and time. I waited with you before you even knew how to know. I waited to breathe in you and be your love-blood. I waited to get messy for you and raise you …
Raging Seas
Shaken Heart Waves ride high, licking the sides of your boat, toppling inside. Water deepens, clawing tightness in your chest. Jesus had snatched this boat at the end of a long, crowd-saturated day, so he could reach the other side of the sea. With Jesus asleep now, you feel abandoned. Must you and your friends battle this storm by yourselves? In a howling gust, your boat couldn’t be more tossed and you know you’re going to drown. What in the world? Shouldn’t Jesus at least see this mess he threw you into? Winds roar so loud you can hardly hear …
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
Your Blooming Dreams
Dear God-Sized Dreamer, When fear screams as loud as your dreams, drink Him in. He will brighten you. Your Creator is a dreamer too. He “gets” you and He wants to work with you. The soil is tough, but the same Spirit who raised Christ from the dead, breathes in you. He is your whole reason to dream. The One who holds you will bring it to pass in due season. [box] “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” …
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 …
Destiny Song
Hey friend! Every now and then I like to write a random song and pray it blesses you. This one flowed quickly and effortlessly. I simply sang it out and jotted it down. Maybe that’s why I’m a little nervous to share it here right now. When I’m tired. When I’ve already taken a lot of risks this week (already met my risk quota). But amidst the busyness of my new book project, I’ve missed you and I’ve wanted to share at least one new thing God slipped in my heart. So here goes… However this finds …
Happy Light Year!
My candles flicker bits of shadows on my husband and kids around the table. I burst with God-dreams for each of us, hoping our family will spill out and reach more people with the hope that once reached us. Sometimes I think time’s richer than money, and I grieve how it’s stolen and wasted on willy-nilly pursuits. Then I remember how each new year brims with fresh possibility. What will I do differently as I partner with Jesus? Wanting my dreams and passions to match His, I dwell on Matthew 5:14. [box] “You are the light of the world.” [/box] …
My Big, Fat, Powerful Tongue!
My Bible Study leader looked at us. “Ok, so we’re going to share prayer requests and praises. Cheryl?” I began, “Hmm… Well, last week I had a mastectomy….” Everybody gasped. I gasped. Heat rushed to my face. “Ah – you meant to say ‘mammogram,’ right?” The leader glanced at my chest. “Yes, mammogram!” I said, whacking myself on the head. “Well, they both start with m.” I snorted, then everybody lost it. Only Two Kinds of Mistakes The incident reminded me how there are really only two kinds of slips or mistakes: Mistakes of human denseness (innocent blips like my …
Love-Covered
Do you believe that God rejoices over you, watches over you, and secures you and your loved ones ~ in his forever-hands? Show me someone who knows she is love-covered, and I’ll show you someone who knows how to love. People say, “you can’t give what you don’t have,” but neither can you give what you don’t know you have. How free can I be if I don’t know I’m free? How can I experience the fullness of God’s love if I experience it in my heart, but not in my mind? Heart Imagery Jesus wants us to intentionally remember the …
Who’s The Judge?
[box] The Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him. John 5:22-23[/box] The apostle John got me thinking… What could be a better way for the Father to show how much He loves the Son than for Him to give the Son the power to judge the world? Digging into this verse, I saw several things… The Father honors the Son. Love always honors and prefers another. The Father …