tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40278707196671254402024-03-18T15:58:38.132-04:00Hungry for God5-Minute devotions for busy womenLori Hatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11675180460653949981noreply@blogger.comBlogger1012125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4027870719667125440.post-7627749246719438192021-06-18T21:00:00.018-04:002021-09-05T14:11:54.510-04:00Breaking the Silence with Exciting News!<p> <span style="font-size: large;">Greetings, Hungry for God readers,</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0CW3dDW7msbFuP-UAJkuFYDem4Bm6Z3YoJCv4ih_UUMAb6NJcD03FYQL2dhthkKobq28X65RwZ1e-5JjTr6lSGfjNJE5G_0zb-9quEt2b0F0yAe1jAFTsx_6RtBzxivN3Tx04il9QOdJS/s640/Lori+Excited.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a></div><span style="font-size: large;">I have exciting news to share! <o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">You may have noticed I’ve been a little quiet on the blog
recently. Now it’s time to break the silence. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpjH7wDCgcIqQ3oXY_mDMaDP1Vj7pTXbdv7eO02-ha_j8Xe7dEogHUx7_af1xEEvctVMLnETAyOB0GUglsTKRU-S5bEmShmaZnNmLfP_5nMA9RzvMfnwtPeE7ta46MOeW_qfJZB_YJ3yo3/s2448/Refresh+Blog+Cover+Image.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1052" data-original-width="2448" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpjH7wDCgcIqQ3oXY_mDMaDP1Vj7pTXbdv7eO02-ha_j8Xe7dEogHUx7_af1xEEvctVMLnETAyOB0GUglsTKRU-S5bEmShmaZnNmLfP_5nMA9RzvMfnwtPeE7ta46MOeW_qfJZB_YJ3yo3/w539-h233/Refresh+Blog+Cover+Image.jpg" width="539" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>First, I’ve been designing a new website,</b> one better
equipped to handle the growing needs of the Hungry for God family. I’d love for
you to click over and take a peek (<a href="http://www.lorihatcher.com/">http://www.lorihatcher.com</a>).
It’s so pretty! On it you'll find a whole page dedicated to some of the most popular blog posts from Hungry for God. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">You'll also find an About Lori page where I share quirky things you'd never know otherwise, a Speaking Ministry page (I'd love to come to your women's ministry event and encourage you and your friends) and a book page. Click over and check it out. Remember to leave a comment and tell me what you think.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Second, I’ve implemented a new email provider. </b>As of June 30,
Google will no longer email out blog posts, so I’ve switched services. This is
the last you’ll receive from Feedburner. The only difference you’ll see is that
the posts will come from a different address. I plan to continue emailing weekly (Sunday evening) five-minute devotions to encourage you in your faith and keep us connected. Thank
you for being part of the Hungry for God family.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">To ensure my emails don't go to your Spam or Junk folder, please add feedblitz@mail.feedblitz.com to your address book or approved sender list.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span style="clear: right; float: right; font-size: large; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="462" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0CW3dDW7msbFuP-UAJkuFYDem4Bm6Z3YoJCv4ih_UUMAb6NJcD03FYQL2dhthkKobq28X65RwZ1e-5JjTr6lSGfjNJE5G_0zb-9quEt2b0F0yAe1jAFTsx_6RtBzxivN3Tx04il9QOdJS/w289-h400/Lori+Excited.jpg" width="289" /></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Lastly, I’ve been hard at work on TWO writing projects.</b> I
just completed edits on the follow up book to Refresh Your Faith, <i>Refresh
Your Prayers, Uncommon Devotions to Restore Power and Praise.</i> This
companion volume will release on March 1, 2022.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Here’s a description:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;"><b><i>Refresh Your Prayers,</i></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;"><b><i> Uncommon
Devotions to Restore Power and Praise</i></b><b><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">Are you struggling in your prayer
life? When you talk to God, do you come away with more questions than answers?
Do you long for the intimacy you once had or the closeness and power you see in
others? <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">What if you could sit across the table
from a wise friend and sort through the questions you have about prayer?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">Questions like:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">Why does God answer some prayers, but
not others?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">What’s the secret to effective prayer?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">If God is sovereign, why pray at all?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">Lori Hatcher is that wise friend. In 60
story-driven devotions, she explores the mysterious gift of prayer, wrestles
with the questions that plague us, and showcases some of the most beautiful
prayers in the Bible. She’ll take you from where you are to where you want to
be in your prayer life.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The second writing project</b> that has my
heart beating hard is a THIRD volume in the<i> Refresh</i> series, <i>Refresh Your
Hope, 60 Unshakeable Reasons Not to Lose Heart.</i> Now more than ever we need
to be reminded of the solid and unfailing hope only God can give us. Please pray
for me as I write. Only God can enable me to write a book that will strengthen
your faith and grow your hope.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">If you're visiting for the first time, please <a href="http://www.lorihatcher.com" target="_blank">follow THIS LINK</a> over to the new website and subscribe so I can share weekly five-minute blog posts to refresh your faith and nourish your soul. <a href="http://Www.LoriHatcher.com">Www.LoriHatcher.com</a>. See you there!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="background-color: #fefdfa; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoFzwtYN2OP2YICv1lWIW3QVnYy0J4OUHfYdC9Geiu7z2J9nVqsdnLMrRiBPV2WBiX8xC6cJ8_I3bSQBt0TD7jH5ioOQNGABPR27_-a_SNa7e4Sb7jDC2V950qdp3OjspkHiTe8AdsSCkz/s1600/Lori+RYF+promo.jpg" style="clear: right; color: #d52a33; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoFzwtYN2OP2YICv1lWIW3QVnYy0J4OUHfYdC9Geiu7z2J9nVqsdnLMrRiBPV2WBiX8xC6cJ8_I3bSQBt0TD7jH5ioOQNGABPR27_-a_SNa7e4Sb7jDC2V950qdp3OjspkHiTe8AdsSCkz/s400/Lori+RYF+promo.jpg" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(213, 42, 51); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="300" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Does Your Faith Need Refreshing?</span></b><br style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;"></span><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>That's in the Bible? I've never noticed that before!</i></span></span><br style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-size: large;"><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; text-align: right;"><br /></span><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; text-align: right;">It's probably been too long since you've newly discovered a story that speaks to your soul or a verse that pops with truth. But that's about to change!</span></span><br style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-size: large;"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=hunforgodstaf-20&language=en_US&l=li2&o=1&a=1640700072" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 5px; border: none; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 8px;" width="1" /><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; text-align: right;"><br /></span></span><br style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Refresh-Your-Faith-Uncommon-Devotions/dp/1640700072/ref=as_li_ss_il?crid=14NG6B0KUBCJO&dchild=1&keywords=refresh+your+faith+uncommon+devotions&qid=1586202483&sprefix=refresh+your+faith,aps,153&sr=8-1&linkCode=li2&tag=hunforgodstaf-20&linkId=d89de2370aee42c600232c31ec61130c&language=en_US" style="background-color: #fefdfa; clear: right; color: #d52a33; float: right; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></a><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-size: large;"><i style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3iTnV1P" style="color: #d52a33; text-decoration-line: none;">Refresh Your Faith</a> </i><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">contains 66 culturally relevant, story-driven devotions, one from each book of the Bible. Each real-life story spotlights an unusual verse or Bible passage that you may have overlooked in your usual Bible reading. Lori Hatcher challenges you with additional features like an </span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">uncommon thought</i><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white;"> to ponder; an </span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">unusual faith</i><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white;"> action step; and an </span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">unfamiliar passage</i><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white;"> suggestion for additional Bible reading.</span></span><br style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;"></span><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: large;">When the fabulous has become familiar and your quiet times are more like nap times, it's time to step out of spiritual boredom and ignite the spark that will keep you growing. No matter where you are on your faith journey, Lori's conversational and engaging style will challenge you to think about things you've never thought about before.</span><br style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-size: large;"><br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /></span><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;"></span><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: large;"><b>“Real-life inspiration and candid wit. These 5-minute devotions will change your life.” —Psychologist and best-selling author Dr. Kevin Leman</b>, commenting on Lori Hatcher's devotional style</span></span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">If this post was meaningful to you, would you consider sharing it with a friend by clicking on one of the buttons below? Did you know you can receive bi-weekly Hungry for God posts sent directly to your email inbox? Visit http://www.lori-benotweary.blogspot.com and click on the link in the right hand corner to Subscribe Via Email.
Copyright 2018 by Lori Hatcher</div>Lori Hatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11675180460653949981noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4027870719667125440.post-75969039065855356442021-05-16T19:14:00.001-04:002021-05-16T19:14:00.171-04:00The Quiche that Makes Friends (Recipe Included)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgarAiYka6rtqxsdHMxeVcv4-yiJNwCicWpvks9PR1jR-S_bacpKbglaLDTtSyv1CbItI6iw-jaI0UWH_KEDN9cHr-gq_1JAzRUejnobklX6Kyo2uSMeQzSLijad6tSTtHcxEIMnMYyLbui/s1600/The+Quiche+that+Makes+Friends+FB.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgarAiYka6rtqxsdHMxeVcv4-yiJNwCicWpvks9PR1jR-S_bacpKbglaLDTtSyv1CbItI6iw-jaI0UWH_KEDN9cHr-gq_1JAzRUejnobklX6Kyo2uSMeQzSLijad6tSTtHcxEIMnMYyLbui/w640-h320/The+Quiche+that+Makes+Friends+FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>If I asked you for five well-loved recipes that have been part of your family for years, what would you list?</b> Grandma’s pot roast? Aunt Nenie’s jello salad? Cousin Jane’s chocolate gravy and biscuits?
My list would include Linnea’s Baked Beans, Mom’s Potato Salad, and several crock pot staples: Cranberry Chicken, No-Peekie Stew, and Spicy Beef Dip. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">One recipe in my file, however, has done more than feed my hungry family. It’s helped me make friends. <b>I call it <i>Lori’s Quiche. </i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I discovered the magic of Lori’s Quiche decades ago when I wanted to invite a new gal I’d met at church over for lunch. I was in the throes of mothering young children, and a normal lunch usually consisted of PB&J or mac and cheese. Not wanting to serve either to my (hopefully) new friend, I leafed through my collection of recipes looking for something nicer. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>To further complicate matters, it was the day before pay day. </b>A run to the grocery store to pick up unusual ingredients was out of the question. I’d have to pull something together with items from my fridge and pantry.
That’s when I remembered the quiche recipe I’d scribbled down. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">It wasn’t called Lori’s Quiche then. That came later. As I scanned the list of ingredients, I realized I had everything I needed to throw it together. Eggs, milk, flour, cheese, mayonnaise, and a frozen pie crust. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">That day I made a broccoli and cheddar quiche. My new friend loved it. A young mom herself, she was thrilled to have something hot, savory, and adult. In the years since, I’ve tried a dozen variations—ham, veggie, shrimp, seafood. I’ve even made a Mexican version with hamburger and tomatoes. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBnfRqdsv_qRIMe_1wAFq3eiAi6lZmYgMuZephzQiHEFq94hujvNsOn2teYxK0qdSTQYieO5wTKm1VPdCjjjh7Om830APP1lRVzV3ikufxiNv_wRDwfFfsv7tTR-vQXm3XLEzbQp0ylJVR/s1600/Lori%2527s+Quiche.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBnfRqdsv_qRIMe_1wAFq3eiAi6lZmYgMuZephzQiHEFq94hujvNsOn2teYxK0qdSTQYieO5wTKm1VPdCjjjh7Om830APP1lRVzV3ikufxiNv_wRDwfFfsv7tTR-vQXm3XLEzbQp0ylJVR/s640/Lori%2527s+Quiche.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Because the recipe calls for mayonnaise instead of heavy cream like most quiches, I don’t have to plan ahead to make it. </b>I can pull staples from my fridge and have it in the oven in less than 15 minutes. It’s perfect for the spur of the moment opportunity to extend hospitality, take a meal to a sick neighbor, or bring a dish to a luncheon or potluck. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">It even freezes beautifully. Many times I’ll make two. We eat one and stick the other in the freezer, ready and waiting for the next outreach opportunity. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Since its debut with the gal from church, Lori’s quiche has opened the door to many other friendships. </b>About ten years ago a lady who’d been visiting our Sunday school class had knee surgery. I offered to bring lunch. My quiche and the accompanying visit launched a friendship we continue to enjoy today. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I’ve served my quiche at ladies’ brunches, baby showers, and church potlucks. I’ve delivered it to new mothers and sick neighbors. As I type this post, I’m looking forward to having lunch with a neighbor who’s recovering from cancer treatment. She’s been the willing guinea pig for several variations.
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">One day I invited her over for lunch and realized I’d used the last frozen pie crust and hadn’t replaced it. Since I’d already promised to make quiche, I tried yet another variation—crustless quiche.
I combined the ingredients, sprayed a generous coating of Pam on a pie plate, and poured it in. The result was a delicious, gluten-free version I now call <i>Lori’s Frittata. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>If you’re looking for a way to make friends, minister to others, and enjoy delicious food, give my recipe a try.</b> Then prayerfully look for someone to share it with. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">"Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sin. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling" (1 Peter 4:8-9).</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Now it’s your turn.</b> What’s your friend-making, ministry-minded go-to recipe? Leave a comment (and share the recipe if you’d like) in the comments below. If you’re reading by email, <a href="http://www.lorihatcher.com/">CLICK HERE to visit Hungry for God online</a> to leave a comment. </span><br />
<br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br style="text-align: left;" /><br style="text-align: left;" /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoFzwtYN2OP2YICv1lWIW3QVnYy0J4OUHfYdC9Geiu7z2J9nVqsdnLMrRiBPV2WBiX8xC6cJ8_I3bSQBt0TD7jH5ioOQNGABPR27_-a_SNa7e4Sb7jDC2V950qdp3OjspkHiTe8AdsSCkz/s1600/Lori+RYF+promo.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoFzwtYN2OP2YICv1lWIW3QVnYy0J4OUHfYdC9Geiu7z2J9nVqsdnLMrRiBPV2WBiX8xC6cJ8_I3bSQBt0TD7jH5ioOQNGABPR27_-a_SNa7e4Sb7jDC2V950qdp3OjspkHiTe8AdsSCkz/s400/Lori+RYF+promo.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Does Your Faith Need Refreshing?</span></b><br style="text-align: left;" /><b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><span style="text-align: left;"></span><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>That's in the Bible? I've never noticed that before!</i></span></span><br style="text-align: left;" /><span style="font-size: large; text-align: left;"><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: right;"><br /></span><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: right;">It's probably been too long since you've newly discovered a story that speaks to your soul or a verse that pops with truth. But that's about to change!</span></span><br style="text-align: left;" /><span style="font-size: large; text-align: left;"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=hunforgodstaf-20&language=en_US&l=li2&o=1&a=1640700072" style="border: none; margin: 0px;" width="1" /><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: right;"><br /></span></span><br style="text-align: left;" /><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Refresh-Your-Faith-Uncommon-Devotions/dp/1640700072/ref=as_li_ss_il?crid=14NG6B0KUBCJO&dchild=1&keywords=refresh+your+faith+uncommon+devotions&qid=1586202483&sprefix=refresh+your+faith,aps,153&sr=8-1&linkCode=li2&tag=hunforgodstaf-20&linkId=d89de2370aee42c600232c31ec61130c&language=en_US" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: left;" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></a><span style="font-size: large; text-align: left;"><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3iTnV1P">Refresh Your Faith</a> </i><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">contains 66 culturally relevant, story-driven devotions, one from each book of the Bible. Each real-life story spotlights an unusual verse or Bible passage that you may have overlooked in your usual Bible reading. Lori Hatcher challenges you with additional features like an </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">uncommon thought</i><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"> to ponder; an </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">unusual faith</i><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"> action step; and an </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">unfamiliar passage</i><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"> suggestion for additional Bible reading.</span></span><br style="text-align: left;" /><span style="font-size: large; text-align: left;"><br /></span><span style="text-align: left;"></span><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: large; text-align: left;">When the fabulous has become familiar and your quiet times are more like nap times, it's time to step out of spiritual boredom and ignite the spark that will keep you growing. No matter where you are on your faith journey, Lori's conversational and engaging style will challenge you to think about things you've never thought about before.</span><br style="text-align: left;" /><span style="font-size: large; text-align: left;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /></span><span style="text-align: left;"></span><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: large; text-align: left;"><b>“Real-life inspiration and candid wit. These 5-minute devotions will change your life.” —Psychologist and best-selling author Dr. Kevin Leman</b>, commenting on Lori Hatcher's devotional style</span><br style="text-align: left;" /><span style="font-size: large; text-align: left;"></span><br style="text-align: left;" /><br style="text-align: left;" /><br style="text-align: left;" /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg35AEIVN5j9XkDXOD3drHDi4uL4qmfGh2SNLE7PQVMuSOP-i7Bi1Q_Lpb0sdrkf9lddNKGGDsP23yl62Nt2JGoVCpG8A0IUqt5jaYDYc5zdIEME3bpzACMha0H-lUEuLZUBpEpQRLtZ3ZZ/s1600/HFG+CLOCK.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="275" data-original-width="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg35AEIVN5j9XkDXOD3drHDi4uL4qmfGh2SNLE7PQVMuSOP-i7Bi1Q_Lpb0sdrkf9lddNKGGDsP23yl62Nt2JGoVCpG8A0IUqt5jaYDYc5zdIEME3bpzACMha0H-lUEuLZUBpEpQRLtZ3ZZ/s1600/HFG+CLOCK.jpg" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large; text-align: left;"></span><br style="text-align: left;" /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Are you hungry for God, but starving for time? </b></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>I’d love to send you a 5-minute e-mail devotion <span style="color: red;">twice a week </span>to start your day off with the Lord. </b></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">Sign up for a free subscription to Hungry for God by <a href="https://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=blogspot/VJOsH&loc=en_US">CLICKING HERE.</a></span></b></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Then, be sure to VALIDATE the confirmation email you receive. </b></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">Note: I promise never to spam you or share your email address.</span></b></span></div><span style="font-size: large; text-align: left;"></span><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><b style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Because busy women need to connect with God in the craziness of everyday life.</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghQX6C51dubhnbqfZEUOcJ6g5tRAvL1MnB0ep6bDmlY-SGcF6yTNA72QczMZY-i5eGBqKMRYc5nCwiaED4QBOpExzZA6N3xdbCNMxRyWBkwUu04uiyOXlJ2dUGoyq2yXTf5F6E5Yal9fD9/s1600/The+Quiche+that+Makes+FriendsPIN.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="800" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghQX6C51dubhnbqfZEUOcJ6g5tRAvL1MnB0ep6bDmlY-SGcF6yTNA72QczMZY-i5eGBqKMRYc5nCwiaED4QBOpExzZA6N3xdbCNMxRyWBkwUu04uiyOXlJ2dUGoyq2yXTf5F6E5Yal9fD9/w320-h640/The+Quiche+that+Makes+FriendsPIN.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">If this post was meaningful to you, would you consider sharing it with a friend by clicking on one of the buttons below? Did you know you can receive bi-weekly Hungry for God posts sent directly to your email inbox? Visit http://www.lori-benotweary.blogspot.com and click on the link in the right hand corner to Subscribe Via Email.
Copyright 2018 by Lori Hatcher</div>Lori Hatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11675180460653949981noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4027870719667125440.post-1217113374916263962021-05-09T19:56:00.001-04:002021-05-09T19:56:00.191-04:00God is Nigh --24 Notes of Comfort<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn2U8YGOP2dUQioGtiFSEBfHNFMgkzp5t9kMRgcoA0Bl_O5zm8OJc83lO337R15hBm1xun6QrdV3a5VJqVMWth-6nbr9K1Hv5GQFUxEOvaJ8VUyVaiNuEr6yLF1b_niuko7_ND1G-5nc4d/s1600/God+is+NighFB.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn2U8YGOP2dUQioGtiFSEBfHNFMgkzp5t9kMRgcoA0Bl_O5zm8OJc83lO337R15hBm1xun6QrdV3a5VJqVMWth-6nbr9K1Hv5GQFUxEOvaJ8VUyVaiNuEr6yLF1b_niuko7_ND1G-5nc4d/w640-h320/God+is+NighFB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>All eyes were on the casket, but I saw the soldier in the distance — a solitary figure on the hill. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Wearing full dress uniform and holding an instrument, the man waited, eyes glued to the flag that draped the coffin. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">He raised the trumpet to his lips, breathing gently on the mouthpiece. Cold instruments produce sour notes, and that wouldn’t do for this World War II veteran’s funeral. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">“As we commit the body of Lawrence Goodwin to the ground and commend his soul to heaven,” the minister said, <b>“I invite you to stand for the presentation of the flag.” </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Heads that had bowed in reverence lifted. Stooping shoulders and bent knees straightened. Right hands raised and settled over aching hearts. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Two men gently lifted the flag from its sacred place. No longer would it serve as a shroud for the dead. Now it would function as a comfort for the living. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSQMNuRIDxd7e8Zd6ws9HuDkc6B8yKbxPl8VkTpFSUpI4R2pvxO7E-eOBWSqPVG1eY1Dq1eKOtYKZQ57LyenJeCcgzTCQrJIXAodnX0Gw8jTRP8a67YknHpYUH74r2vIFfeMvd95UcnuUv/s1600/flag.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1060" data-original-width="1600" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSQMNuRIDxd7e8Zd6ws9HuDkc6B8yKbxPl8VkTpFSUpI4R2pvxO7E-eOBWSqPVG1eY1Dq1eKOtYKZQ57LyenJeCcgzTCQrJIXAodnX0Gw8jTRP8a67YknHpYUH74r2vIFfeMvd95UcnuUv/s400/flag.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Clear and mournful, the first notes of <i>Taps</i> slipped from the trumpet and into the hush that cradled the mourners.</span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<i><span style="font-size: large;">Day is done. </span></i><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Like a sleeper awakening from the darkest night, the widow raised her head. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<i><span style="font-size: large;">Gone the sun. </span></i><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">She turned toward the sound. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<i><span style="font-size: large;">From the lake. </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i>
<i><span style="font-size: large;">From the hills. </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i>
<i><span style="font-size: large;">From the sky. </span></i><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">She spotted the lone musician. Made eye contact. Blinked. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<i><span style="font-size: large;">All is well. </span></i><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">She bowed her head again. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<i><span style="font-size: large;">Safely rest. </span></i><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Eyes closed in faith and arms open to receive the flag, she released the breath she’d been holding since her husband took sick. </span><br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>
God is nigh.</i>
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoFzwtYN2OP2YICv1lWIW3QVnYy0J4OUHfYdC9Geiu7z2J9nVqsdnLMrRiBPV2WBiX8xC6cJ8_I3bSQBt0TD7jH5ioOQNGABPR27_-a_SNa7e4Sb7jDC2V950qdp3OjspkHiTe8AdsSCkz/s1600/Lori+RYF+promo.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoFzwtYN2OP2YICv1lWIW3QVnYy0J4OUHfYdC9Geiu7z2J9nVqsdnLMrRiBPV2WBiX8xC6cJ8_I3bSQBt0TD7jH5ioOQNGABPR27_-a_SNa7e4Sb7jDC2V950qdp3OjspkHiTe8AdsSCkz/s400/Lori+RYF+promo.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Does Your Faith Need Refreshing?</span></b><br /><b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>That's in the Bible? I've never noticed that before!</i></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: right;"><br /></span><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: right;">It's probably been too long since you've newly discovered a story that speaks to your soul or a verse that pops with truth. But that's about to change!</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=hunforgodstaf-20&language=en_US&l=li2&o=1&a=1640700072" style="border: none; margin: 0px;" width="1" /><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: right;"><br /></span></span><br /><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Refresh-Your-Faith-Uncommon-Devotions/dp/1640700072/ref=as_li_ss_il?crid=14NG6B0KUBCJO&dchild=1&keywords=refresh+your+faith+uncommon+devotions&qid=1586202483&sprefix=refresh+your+faith,aps,153&sr=8-1&linkCode=li2&tag=hunforgodstaf-20&linkId=d89de2370aee42c600232c31ec61130c&language=en_US" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></a><span style="font-size: large;"><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3iTnV1P">Refresh Your Faith</a> </i><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">contains 66 culturally relevant, story-driven devotions, one from each book of the Bible. Each real-life story spotlights an unusual verse or Bible passage that you may have overlooked in your usual Bible reading. Lori Hatcher challenges you with additional features like an </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">uncommon thought</i><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"> to ponder; an </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">unusual faith</i><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"> action step; and an </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">unfamiliar passage</i><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"> suggestion for additional Bible reading.</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: large;">When the fabulous has become familiar and your quiet times are more like nap times, it's time to step out of spiritual boredom and ignite the spark that will keep you growing. No matter where you are on your faith journey, Lori's conversational and engaging style will challenge you to think about things you've never thought about before.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /></span><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: large;"><b>“Real-life inspiration and candid wit. These 5-minute devotions will change your life.” —Psychologist and best-selling author Dr. Kevin Leman</b>, commenting on Lori Hatcher's devotional style</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg35AEIVN5j9XkDXOD3drHDi4uL4qmfGh2SNLE7PQVMuSOP-i7Bi1Q_Lpb0sdrkf9lddNKGGDsP23yl62Nt2JGoVCpG8A0IUqt5jaYDYc5zdIEME3bpzACMha0H-lUEuLZUBpEpQRLtZ3ZZ/s1600/HFG+CLOCK.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="275" data-original-width="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg35AEIVN5j9XkDXOD3drHDi4uL4qmfGh2SNLE7PQVMuSOP-i7Bi1Q_Lpb0sdrkf9lddNKGGDsP23yl62Nt2JGoVCpG8A0IUqt5jaYDYc5zdIEME3bpzACMha0H-lUEuLZUBpEpQRLtZ3ZZ/s1600/HFG+CLOCK.jpg" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Are you hungry for God, but starving for time? </b></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>I’d love to send you a 5-minute e-mail devotion <span style="color: red;">twice a week </span>to start your day off with the Lord. </b></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">Sign up for a free subscription to Hungry for God by <a href="https://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=blogspot/VJOsH&loc=en_US">CLICKING HERE.</a></span></b></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Then, be sure to VALIDATE the confirmation email you receive. </b></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">Note: I promise never to spam you or share your email address.</span></b></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Because busy women need to connect with God in the craziness of everyday life.</span></b></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<i><br /></i>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFBh9_jMklw2ovLWTbTPXnSggvme5IFGnh5DUZc1bkmYud-VF3QaxjGHwUeriFUZTcqstn9K6ZEB9kyoXmNNBZH4dPPlRw05v2SKvr21mKMP6oHd6ZigsFWFSjwfadndxd61EGLT56FdTX/s1600/God+Is+Nigh+PIN.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="800" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFBh9_jMklw2ovLWTbTPXnSggvme5IFGnh5DUZc1bkmYud-VF3QaxjGHwUeriFUZTcqstn9K6ZEB9kyoXmNNBZH4dPPlRw05v2SKvr21mKMP6oHd6ZigsFWFSjwfadndxd61EGLT56FdTX/s640/God+Is+Nigh+PIN.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<i><br /></i><div class="blogger-post-footer">If this post was meaningful to you, would you consider sharing it with a friend by clicking on one of the buttons below? Did you know you can receive bi-weekly Hungry for God posts sent directly to your email inbox? Visit http://www.lori-benotweary.blogspot.com and click on the link in the right hand corner to Subscribe Via Email.
Copyright 2018 by Lori Hatcher</div>Lori Hatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11675180460653949981noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4027870719667125440.post-18278797405790910482021-05-02T19:00:00.002-04:002022-01-25T12:46:30.097-05:00 5 Things You Need to Know about Gossip<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEGT3BAyWVbKXXdmtvH4KPNShGMnbKUQNwLwP86Cbzq8El1GU33EeAKDQOfPbfX_aT69MM_kzZcVsOrPLj22UePFUhqrSs39Uj1Wwko_0m0csc3m3KHGj_0a1xwNTbigCky42BTYQ9jCA/s1600/whispering.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEGT3BAyWVbKXXdmtvH4KPNShGMnbKUQNwLwP86Cbzq8El1GU33EeAKDQOfPbfX_aT69MM_kzZcVsOrPLj22UePFUhqrSs39Uj1Wwko_0m0csc3m3KHGj_0a1xwNTbigCky42BTYQ9jCA/s320/whispering.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">“Did you hear what happened with the Fredricksons? I suspected something was going on, but I never imagined it was this bad.”</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Gossip is everywhere</b>—break rooms, coffee shops, the gym, and, sadly, even in the church. Sometimes it’s obvious, like the example above. Other times it’s much more subtle.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>This post has been moved. We're sorry for the extra step. Please click here to read:</b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://lorihatcher.com/?p=726">5 Things You Need to Know about Gossip</a></b></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">If this post was meaningful to you, would you consider sharing it with a friend by clicking on one of the buttons below? Did you know you can receive bi-weekly Hungry for God posts sent directly to your email inbox? Visit http://www.lori-benotweary.blogspot.com and click on the link in the right hand corner to Subscribe Via Email.
Copyright 2018 by Lori Hatcher</div>Lori Hatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11675180460653949981noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4027870719667125440.post-11915275649771960162021-04-18T20:31:00.018-04:002021-04-25T08:58:06.293-04:00Random or God-Sent? How Kindness Changes Everything<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaCBEOHF4_n0O8PU9ju_45Wbc-oRSyhvkmVXvyjS9ZjFUN-9Kk7I36b-Fx7QPSb9guPLjVJj3b1qStX5CLuUzMDs_ym7NnBI5tYwpQetkL8CZD4dyPPhJrl9rKxkq1YZ3nyYEq4h4UMBcY/s1200/Random+or+God+Sent+How+Kindness+Changes+Everything.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="628" data-original-width="1200" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaCBEOHF4_n0O8PU9ju_45Wbc-oRSyhvkmVXvyjS9ZjFUN-9Kk7I36b-Fx7QPSb9guPLjVJj3b1qStX5CLuUzMDs_ym7NnBI5tYwpQetkL8CZD4dyPPhJrl9rKxkq1YZ3nyYEq4h4UMBcY/w640-h334/Random+or+God+Sent+How+Kindness+Changes+Everything.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>I was feeling overwhelmed. </b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I was trying to be all things to all people—people I love and consider it an honor to serve. The fact that I was running behind didn't help my angst. On the way to bring food and supplies to my dad and my mom, who’d just gotten out of the hospital, nothing had gone as planned that morning.</span></p><div><span style="font-size: large;">The grand boys and I decided to stop at Krispy Kreme Doughnuts to pick up a dozen doughnuts, <b>because doughnuts fix everything, right?</b> The drive thru line was a mile long, so I parked, unstrapped both boys from their car seats, and headed in. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Just grab a dozen doughnuts and get back on the interstate for the 30-mile drive to Mom and Dad's.
While we waited for our doughnuts, a young guy with a huge smile struck up a conversation with Andrew, the three year old, who had his nose pressed up against the doughnut case. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">When I pulled out my card to pay for the doughnuts, the guy said to the cashier, <b>“I got this,”</b> and handed her his card..
When I protested, he insisted. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">“I do this about once a month,” he said. “I wait for a group to walk in and take care of their order. <b>It brings me joy.</b> I work as a mentor to youth and help them get on the right path.” </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">These doughnuts are for my mom and dad," I told him. "Mom was just released from the hospital. So you’re not just blessing us, you’re blessing them, too.” </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">He smiled even bigger. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">"May I take your picture?" I asked. "People post pictures on social media of people doing bad stuff all the time. I’d like to post a picture of someone doing something good for a change.” </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">We posed. He smiled. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">And then he was gone.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>You can’t see my smile behind my mask, but you can probably see the tears that sprang to my eyes. </b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">That young man had no idea what my week had been like, but God did. He moved him to be the hands and feet of Jesus to me. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Sometimes God moves mountains and parts seas. Other times He buys doughnuts for an overwhelmed woman trying to love and care for her famil</b>y. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Thank you, kind stranger, for blessing us with your random act of kindness.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights," (James 1:17).</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Have you ever been the recipient of a random act of kindness? Have you ever performed one? Leave a comment and share your story.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;">Do you live within driving distance of South Carolina?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;">Are you ready to gather with sisters in Christ for fellowship, games, door prizes, an amazing lunch, and spiritual encouragement?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4yFrWrCBo1V-AW2WhY_b6FteGcfj2t7_OM0DEfpR53WfZxkIJGgvILXy4Xbo4hCDwkRjLuMIzxy329ie05WcBpBqdB5zYnTjlRpF62G_blQxfAv2mnh0NGj37Dh-jeTtjEHfi6VtmNsDE/s640/tea+cup.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4yFrWrCBo1V-AW2WhY_b6FteGcfj2t7_OM0DEfpR53WfZxkIJGgvILXy4Xbo4hCDwkRjLuMIzxy329ie05WcBpBqdB5zYnTjlRpF62G_blQxfAv2mnh0NGj37Dh-jeTtjEHfi6VtmNsDE/w300-h400/tea+cup.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;">Please join me at the</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Princeton Baptist Church Ladies' Spring Luncheon</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Princeton Baptist Church, Honea Path, SC</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Saturday, May 8</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;">I'll be sharing the message, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;">"Uncommon Hope -- Four Reasons Not to Lose Heart."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The event is free, and childcare is provided, but you must REGISTER.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">For more information, contact </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Debbie at ddeciantis57@gmail.com</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">or phone Irene at 864-369-2275.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWjLkeUkxoQMWh4uhzUkeeKxSWcUulPe8DrzyapS3iO-e0zwLba8uy8qDE4elkpD-8gVlDGboxLvff9cCZYWaLygtd_OWuzlWnTYPwma5xbM2EZ3gMSVadcTx-6G6fXqDpTO0fgaaQARF_/s2508/Random+or+God+Sent+How+Kindness+Changes+Everything+PIN.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2508" data-original-width="1254" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWjLkeUkxoQMWh4uhzUkeeKxSWcUulPe8DrzyapS3iO-e0zwLba8uy8qDE4elkpD-8gVlDGboxLvff9cCZYWaLygtd_OWuzlWnTYPwma5xbM2EZ3gMSVadcTx-6G6fXqDpTO0fgaaQARF_/w320-h640/Random+or+God+Sent+How+Kindness+Changes+Everything+PIN.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoFzwtYN2OP2YICv1lWIW3QVnYy0J4OUHfYdC9Geiu7z2J9nVqsdnLMrRiBPV2WBiX8xC6cJ8_I3bSQBt0TD7jH5ioOQNGABPR27_-a_SNa7e4Sb7jDC2V950qdp3OjspkHiTe8AdsSCkz/s1600/Lori+RYF+promo.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoFzwtYN2OP2YICv1lWIW3QVnYy0J4OUHfYdC9Geiu7z2J9nVqsdnLMrRiBPV2WBiX8xC6cJ8_I3bSQBt0TD7jH5ioOQNGABPR27_-a_SNa7e4Sb7jDC2V950qdp3OjspkHiTe8AdsSCkz/s400/Lori+RYF+promo.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Does Your Faith Need Refreshing?</span></b><br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>That's in the Bible? I've never noticed that before!</i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: right;"><br /></span>
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: right;">It's probably been too long since you've newly discovered a story that speaks to your soul or a verse that pops with truth. But that's about to change!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=hunforgodstaf-20&language=en_US&l=li2&o=1&a=1640700072" style="border: none; margin: 0px;" width="1" />
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: right;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Refresh-Your-Faith-Uncommon-Devotions/dp/1640700072/ref=as_li_ss_il?crid=14NG6B0KUBCJO&dchild=1&keywords=refresh+your+faith+uncommon+devotions&qid=1586202483&sprefix=refresh+your+faith,aps,153&sr=8-1&linkCode=li2&tag=hunforgodstaf-20&linkId=d89de2370aee42c600232c31ec61130c&language=en_US" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></a><span style="font-size: large;"><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3iTnV1P">Refresh Your Faith</a> </i><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">contains 66 culturally relevant, story-driven devotions, one from each book of the Bible. Each real-life story spotlights an unusual verse or Bible passage that you may have overlooked in your usual Bible reading. Lori Hatcher challenges you with additional features like an </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">uncommon thought</i><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"> to ponder; an </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">unusual faith</i><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"> action step; and an </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">unfamiliar passage</i><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"> suggestion for additional Bible reading.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: large;">When the fabulous has become familiar and your quiet times are more like nap times, it's time to step out of spiritual boredom and ignite the spark that will keep you growing. No matter where you are on your faith journey, Lori's conversational and engaging style will challenge you to think about things you've never thought about before.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /></span>
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: large;"><b>“Real-life inspiration and candid wit. These 5-minute devotions will change your life.” —Psychologist and best-selling author Dr. Kevin Leman</b>, commenting on Lori Hatcher's devotional style</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg35AEIVN5j9XkDXOD3drHDi4uL4qmfGh2SNLE7PQVMuSOP-i7Bi1Q_Lpb0sdrkf9lddNKGGDsP23yl62Nt2JGoVCpG8A0IUqt5jaYDYc5zdIEME3bpzACMha0H-lUEuLZUBpEpQRLtZ3ZZ/s1600/HFG+CLOCK.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="275" data-original-width="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg35AEIVN5j9XkDXOD3drHDi4uL4qmfGh2SNLE7PQVMuSOP-i7Bi1Q_Lpb0sdrkf9lddNKGGDsP23yl62Nt2JGoVCpG8A0IUqt5jaYDYc5zdIEME3bpzACMha0H-lUEuLZUBpEpQRLtZ3ZZ/s1600/HFG+CLOCK.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Are you hungry for God, but starving for time? </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>I’d love to send you a 5-minute e-mail devotion <span style="color: red;">twice a week </span>to start your day off with the Lord. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">Sign up for a free subscription to Hungry for God by <a href="https://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=blogspot/VJOsH&loc=en_US">CLICKING HERE.</a></span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Then, be sure to VALIDATE the confirmation email you receive. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">Note: I promise never to spam you or share your email address.</span></b></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Because busy women need to connect with God in the craziness of everyday life.</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></div>
<br />
<div class="blogger-post-footer">If this post was meaningful to you, would you consider sharing it with a friend by clicking on one of the buttons below? Did you know you can receive bi-weekly Hungry for God posts sent directly to your email inbox? Visit http://www.lori-benotweary.blogspot.com and click on the link in the right hand corner to Subscribe Via Email.
Copyright 2018 by Lori Hatcher</div>Lori Hatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11675180460653949981noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4027870719667125440.post-90329177002970116512021-04-04T22:11:00.001-04:002021-04-04T22:11:18.149-04:00Why You Are Where You Are<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitcjIbZ_h8zGGVJpUCFJNPwP91OjfqmPFDYGTqmL7CKv0SPBZUI0ShPRya23w2ItHzBD07v3BO4HmnK_ai2-4J6cjAxPFqA0RHtrxJB-uzVFwOyKMneUag6SPkmui5tXrhF-iIwMaGRgLu/s1600/Why+You+Are+Where+You+Are+FB.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="628" data-original-width="1256" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitcjIbZ_h8zGGVJpUCFJNPwP91OjfqmPFDYGTqmL7CKv0SPBZUI0ShPRya23w2ItHzBD07v3BO4HmnK_ai2-4J6cjAxPFqA0RHtrxJB-uzVFwOyKMneUag6SPkmui5tXrhF-iIwMaGRgLu/s400/Why+You+Are+Where+You+Are+FB.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Last year I visited <a href="https://downtownbaptist.org/">Downtown Baptist Church</a> in Alexandria, Virginia. To be honest, what attracted me to the church wasn’t its sanctuary (although it’s lovely) or the upcoming sermon topic (the Apostles’ Creed). It was the sign that stood like a sentinel near the entrance to the church’s parking lot.<i> <b>Church Parking</b> <b>Only</b></i><b>,</b> it said. <i><b>Violators</b></i><b><i> will be baptized. </i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">When I mentioned the sign to my daughter, who lives nearby, she said, “Oh yeah. We’ve visited there before. It’s a good church.” So that’s where I went for Sunday worship. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I appreciated the church’s tongue-in-cheek, somewhat snarky humor. The church was laughing at itself, and that’s a good thing. <b>We’d all be happier if we'd laugh more. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr2SpYyWXEmZ8oju9F2SL2WhGUfihQ55E7h97saSPcl3PAMp28R82FqbJLM0xfUDkST1b345fKPQTjXFn8ZhX9DPVCtXRKN4oh-0RElBjJ8Wk_uOdKstJcbWTswnKJj8Cky68CtdrN_zYH/s1600/Downtown+Baptist+Church.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="562" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr2SpYyWXEmZ8oju9F2SL2WhGUfihQ55E7h97saSPcl3PAMp28R82FqbJLM0xfUDkST1b345fKPQTjXFn8ZhX9DPVCtXRKN4oh-0RElBjJ8Wk_uOdKstJcbWTswnKJj8Cky68CtdrN_zYH/s400/Downtown+Baptist+Church.jpg" width="298" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The pastor, Phil Faig, said something more profound than the church's clever parking lot sign. His words continued to resonate with me long after I drove my legally-parked, non-baptized car from their parking lot: </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">“Our jobs are our platforms to do missions in the world around us.” </span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Consider this for a minute. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Our jobs (think beyond what we do to earn money, although this is part of it. Think about the circumstances and situations in which we find ourselves in our everyday lives) are our platforms to do missions in the world around us. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Many of us assume our jobs are our first priority. Then, once our work is done, if we have time (energy, money, desire) left over, we squeeze in a little Jesus. Like the butter beans we forgot in the microwave until dinner was almost over. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">But Pastor Phil’s sermon makes me think perhaps we’ve got it backwards. </span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">That maybe we need to look at life like this instead: </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I work at __________(fill in the blank) because this is the best platform to help others around me see Jesus. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I’m in the ____________ (doctor’s office, grocery store, class room, drive through) because this is the best platform to help someone here know God better. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I am where I am because this is the best platform to fulfill God’s command to share Christ with those I encounter. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">This perspective could revolutionize our daily living. </span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">What if I live in my neighborhood/apartment/dorm because it best positions me to do missions? </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">What if I’m eating in this particular restaurant being served by this particular waitress because it best positions me to do missions? </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">What if I’m in this traffic jam because it best positions me to do missions to the drivers around me? </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">What if I’m on this plane/bus/train/sidewalk because it best positions me to do missions to the people I encounter? </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>When I adopt this perspective, I find myself seeing – really seeing – the people around me.</b> Not as inconveniences, hindrances, distractions, or (worse) invisible, but as people with eternal souls that God wants to minister to – through me. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>That kind woman who noticed my backpack was unzipped in the boarding line at the airport?</b> Maybe God had positioned me in front of her (and across the aisle on the plane) so I could do missions in her life. So instead of plugging in my ear buds and zoning out, I smiled and asked her where she was going. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">“To Hartford. To visit my family and interview for a graduate program,” she said.
We didn’t talk long, but as we gathered our luggage and prepared to part, I handed her my ministry card. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">“I’ll say a special prayer for your interview,” I said, and I did. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>The aesthetician who coached me through my first ever head and foot massage (a birthday gift from my daughter and son-in-law)? </b>Perhaps the purpose of this special treat wasn’t just to bless me. Maybe God was positioning me to do missions in this woman’s life. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">“Sometimes when I’m quiet and relaxed,” I told her. “I pray. Is there anything I can pray for you about?” Her answer told me volumes (and gave me lots to pray about while she rubbed my feet with orange-scented oil). </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>That challenging child/adult/parent/customer/patient? </b>Maybe God has positioned me in their life to do the mission he’s called me to do as a disciple of Christ. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">How often do we see our work, our circumstances, our responsibilities, and our recreation as separate from our spiritual callings? What if, instead, we realized one enables the other? </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Imagine the possibilities. </span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Now it’s your turn. How has your work, circumstances, or responsibilities positioned you to do God’s mission in the lives of those around you? Leave a comment below and share your story. IF you’re reading by email, <a href="http://www.lorihatcher.com/">CLICK HERE to visit Hungry for God online</a> and join the conversation.
</span><br /><br /><br /><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoFzwtYN2OP2YICv1lWIW3QVnYy0J4OUHfYdC9Geiu7z2J9nVqsdnLMrRiBPV2WBiX8xC6cJ8_I3bSQBt0TD7jH5ioOQNGABPR27_-a_SNa7e4Sb7jDC2V950qdp3OjspkHiTe8AdsSCkz/s1600/Lori+RYF+promo.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoFzwtYN2OP2YICv1lWIW3QVnYy0J4OUHfYdC9Geiu7z2J9nVqsdnLMrRiBPV2WBiX8xC6cJ8_I3bSQBt0TD7jH5ioOQNGABPR27_-a_SNa7e4Sb7jDC2V950qdp3OjspkHiTe8AdsSCkz/s400/Lori+RYF+promo.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Does Your Faith Need Refreshing?</span></b><div><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-size: large;">Did you make a commitment to read the Bible this year, but now you're struggling? </span></div><div><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-size: large;">Do you need a resource to take you through each book of the Bible?<br /></span>
<b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>That's in the Bible? I've never noticed that before!</i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: right;"><br /></span>
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: right;">It's probably been too long since you've newly discovered a story that speaks to your soul or a verse that pops with truth. But that's about to change!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=hunforgodstaf-20&language=en_US&l=li2&o=1&a=1640700072" style="border: none; margin: 0px;" width="1" />
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: right;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Refresh-Your-Faith-Uncommon-Devotions/dp/1640700072/ref=as_li_ss_il?crid=14NG6B0KUBCJO&dchild=1&keywords=refresh+your+faith+uncommon+devotions&qid=1586202483&sprefix=refresh+your+faith,aps,153&sr=8-1&linkCode=li2&tag=hunforgodstaf-20&linkId=d89de2370aee42c600232c31ec61130c&language=en_US" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></a><span style="font-size: large;"><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3iTnV1P">Refresh Your Faith</a> </i><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">contains 66 culturally relevant, story-driven devotions, one from each book of the Bible. Each real-life story spotlights an unusual verse or Bible passage that you may have overlooked in your usual Bible reading. Lori Hatcher challenges you with additional features like an </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">uncommon thought</i><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"> to ponder; an </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">unusual faith</i><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"> action step; and an </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">unfamiliar passage</i><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"> suggestion for additional Bible reading.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: large;">When the fabulous has become familiar and your quiet times are more like nap times, it's time to step out of spiritual boredom and ignite the spark that will keep you growing. No matter where you are on your faith journey, Lori's conversational and engaging style will challenge you to think about things you've never thought about before.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /></span>
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: large;"><b>“Real-life inspiration and candid wit. These 5-minute devotions will change your life.” —Psychologist and best-selling author Dr. Kevin Leman</b>, commenting on Lori Hatcher's devotional style</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg35AEIVN5j9XkDXOD3drHDi4uL4qmfGh2SNLE7PQVMuSOP-i7Bi1Q_Lpb0sdrkf9lddNKGGDsP23yl62Nt2JGoVCpG8A0IUqt5jaYDYc5zdIEME3bpzACMha0H-lUEuLZUBpEpQRLtZ3ZZ/s1600/HFG+CLOCK.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="275" data-original-width="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg35AEIVN5j9XkDXOD3drHDi4uL4qmfGh2SNLE7PQVMuSOP-i7Bi1Q_Lpb0sdrkf9lddNKGGDsP23yl62Nt2JGoVCpG8A0IUqt5jaYDYc5zdIEME3bpzACMha0H-lUEuLZUBpEpQRLtZ3ZZ/s1600/HFG+CLOCK.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Are you hungry for God, but starving for time? </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>I’d love to send you a 5-minute e-mail devotion <span style="color: red;">twice a week </span>to start your day off with the Lord. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">Sign up for a free subscription to Hungry for God by <a href="https://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=blogspot/VJOsH&loc=en_US">CLICKING HERE.</a></span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Then, be sure to VALIDATE the confirmation email you receive. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">Note: I promise never to spam you or share your email address.</span></b></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Because busy women need to connect with God in the craziness of everyday life.</span></b></span></div><br />
</div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwdp7yp6VrRS5xbE5cRAwRVhTzdCv2c4r9XzuKqtNFIKoTme68Tx4qbMWpKPcY1CzfyGjABgBfMRJUsCANku7NKw_F7YqwMrcI_fM9dJd5aPICqymXH6fRL3Yz6msZTBROATzwb4oDlUa_/s1600/Why+You+Are+Where+You+Are+PINTEREST.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="800" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwdp7yp6VrRS5xbE5cRAwRVhTzdCv2c4r9XzuKqtNFIKoTme68Tx4qbMWpKPcY1CzfyGjABgBfMRJUsCANku7NKw_F7YqwMrcI_fM9dJd5aPICqymXH6fRL3Yz6msZTBROATzwb4oDlUa_/w320-h640/Why+You+Are+Where+You+Are+PINTEREST.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">If this post was meaningful to you, would you consider sharing it with a friend by clicking on one of the buttons below? Did you know you can receive bi-weekly Hungry for God posts sent directly to your email inbox? Visit http://www.lori-benotweary.blogspot.com and click on the link in the right hand corner to Subscribe Via Email.
Copyright 2018 by Lori Hatcher</div>Lori Hatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11675180460653949981noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4027870719667125440.post-19479417913336359422021-03-28T19:22:00.016-04:002021-03-28T19:22:01.007-04:00When You Lack Compassion-- A Confession and a Hope<span style="font-size: large;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOIQGtmtgUsh7WKm4kqnlrgYDsQxVaAwsjomqIEIk0eZ0yGKVYWFUFeFJCBv26O90H02AKUpHAOOJy58Dl-MAmiXRY3HIEU7-cuTS8whPQ20FnuD0QzMFrLBIhPRcxVTsXFchSkoryBhT9/s1200/When+You+Lack+Compassion+FB.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="628" data-original-width="1200" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOIQGtmtgUsh7WKm4kqnlrgYDsQxVaAwsjomqIEIk0eZ0yGKVYWFUFeFJCBv26O90H02AKUpHAOOJy58Dl-MAmiXRY3HIEU7-cuTS8whPQ20FnuD0QzMFrLBIhPRcxVTsXFchSkoryBhT9/w640-h334/When+You+Lack+Compassion+FB.png" width="640" /></a></div><br />Those with the gift of mercy may find this post unnecessary, but if you lack compassion or feel overwhelmed in this area, read on. </span><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">One of my strongest spiritual gifts is the gift of administration. (See Romans 12:6–8.) I’m a firstborn go-getter who can take a complex project, break it down into its respective parts, and figure out how to get it done. I work most successfully when I pair up with a visionary who can think up something wonderful or creative (not my strong suit), then hand it off to me to make it happen. </span></div><div><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="font-size: large;">Jesus’ Healing Ministry </span></b></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">If I’d been in charge of Jesus’ healing ministry, I would require everyone to reserve their appointments at least three days in advance, list them on a spreadsheet-style scroll, and you can bet I’d check their synagogue IDs when they arrive. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Like a Chick-Fil-A drive through, I’d have greeters, traffic control officers, and three lines.
-Demoniacs to the right. Don’t shove and please keep the noise down.
-Contagious diseases? Far left.
-Masks on until you approach the front, and please, stay six feet apart at all times.
-Crippled? You and your helper stand (or lie) in the middle line—only one helper allowed per person, please. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><b><span style="font-size: large;">Jesus’ Example </span></b></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Interestingly enough, Jesus operated quite efficiently without an organizer like me. . . </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Today I'm guest posting over at Revive Our Hearts. To read the rest of <a href="https://www.reviveourhearts.com/leaders/blog/when-you-lack-compassion/" target="_blank"><i> When You Lack Compassion</i>, click over to the Revive Our Hearts blog</a></span><p><a href="https://www.reviveourhearts.com/leaders/blog/when-you-lack-compassion/">https://www.reviveourhearts.com/leaders/blog/when-you-lack-compassion/</a> </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoFzwtYN2OP2YICv1lWIW3QVnYy0J4OUHfYdC9Geiu7z2J9nVqsdnLMrRiBPV2WBiX8xC6cJ8_I3bSQBt0TD7jH5ioOQNGABPR27_-a_SNa7e4Sb7jDC2V950qdp3OjspkHiTe8AdsSCkz/s1600/Lori+RYF+promo.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoFzwtYN2OP2YICv1lWIW3QVnYy0J4OUHfYdC9Geiu7z2J9nVqsdnLMrRiBPV2WBiX8xC6cJ8_I3bSQBt0TD7jH5ioOQNGABPR27_-a_SNa7e4Sb7jDC2V950qdp3OjspkHiTe8AdsSCkz/s400/Lori+RYF+promo.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Does Your Faith Need Refreshing?</span></b><div><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-size: large;">Did you make a commitment to read the Bible this year, but now you're struggling? </span></div><div><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-size: large;">Do you need a resource to take you through each book of the Bible?<br /></span>
<b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>That's in the Bible? I've never noticed that before!</i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: right;"><br /></span>
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: right;">It's probably been too long since you've newly discovered a story that speaks to your soul or a verse that pops with truth. But that's about to change!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=hunforgodstaf-20&language=en_US&l=li2&o=1&a=1640700072" style="border: none; margin: 0px;" width="1" />
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: right;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Refresh-Your-Faith-Uncommon-Devotions/dp/1640700072/ref=as_li_ss_il?crid=14NG6B0KUBCJO&dchild=1&keywords=refresh+your+faith+uncommon+devotions&qid=1586202483&sprefix=refresh+your+faith,aps,153&sr=8-1&linkCode=li2&tag=hunforgodstaf-20&linkId=d89de2370aee42c600232c31ec61130c&language=en_US" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></a><span style="font-size: large;"><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3iTnV1P">Refresh Your Faith</a> </i><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">contains 66 culturally relevant, story-driven devotions, one from each book of the Bible. Each real-life story spotlights an unusual verse or Bible passage that you may have overlooked in your usual Bible reading. Lori Hatcher challenges you with additional features like an </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">uncommon thought</i><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"> to ponder; an </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">unusual faith</i><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"> action step; and an </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">unfamiliar passage</i><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"> suggestion for additional Bible reading.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: large;">When the fabulous has become familiar and your quiet times are more like nap times, it's time to step out of spiritual boredom and ignite the spark that will keep you growing. No matter where you are on your faith journey, Lori's conversational and engaging style will challenge you to think about things you've never thought about before.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /></span>
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: large;"><b>“Real-life inspiration and candid wit. These 5-minute devotions will change your life.” —Psychologist and best-selling author Dr. Kevin Leman</b>, commenting on Lori Hatcher's devotional style</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg35AEIVN5j9XkDXOD3drHDi4uL4qmfGh2SNLE7PQVMuSOP-i7Bi1Q_Lpb0sdrkf9lddNKGGDsP23yl62Nt2JGoVCpG8A0IUqt5jaYDYc5zdIEME3bpzACMha0H-lUEuLZUBpEpQRLtZ3ZZ/s1600/HFG+CLOCK.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="275" data-original-width="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg35AEIVN5j9XkDXOD3drHDi4uL4qmfGh2SNLE7PQVMuSOP-i7Bi1Q_Lpb0sdrkf9lddNKGGDsP23yl62Nt2JGoVCpG8A0IUqt5jaYDYc5zdIEME3bpzACMha0H-lUEuLZUBpEpQRLtZ3ZZ/s1600/HFG+CLOCK.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Are you hungry for God, but starving for time? </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>I’d love to send you a 5-minute e-mail devotion <span style="color: red;">twice a week </span>to start your day off with the Lord. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">Sign up for a free subscription to Hungry for God by <a href="https://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=blogspot/VJOsH&loc=en_US">CLICKING HERE.</a></span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Then, be sure to VALIDATE the confirmation email you receive. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">Note: I promise never to spam you or share your email address.</span></b></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Because busy women need to connect with God in the craziness of everyday life.</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinxQ6XoxlykM-hlpnVr4Q9KeCfOjc1W6XzN3U9y0MiSrSoB8e_ply85n4WhkhSzM_W5cp3EOPEX8l-hcJAJ5VnpquwI9Yq08KTBZF3LJKQDJ8HOw6S0sM5duRKiYiN8e8ULeR2g46sDnIv/s2508/When+You+Lack+Compassion+PIN.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2508" data-original-width="1254" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinxQ6XoxlykM-hlpnVr4Q9KeCfOjc1W6XzN3U9y0MiSrSoB8e_ply85n4WhkhSzM_W5cp3EOPEX8l-hcJAJ5VnpquwI9Yq08KTBZF3LJKQDJ8HOw6S0sM5duRKiYiN8e8ULeR2g46sDnIv/w320-h640/When+You+Lack+Compassion+PIN.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></div>
<br />
</div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">If this post was meaningful to you, would you consider sharing it with a friend by clicking on one of the buttons below? Did you know you can receive bi-weekly Hungry for God posts sent directly to your email inbox? Visit http://www.lori-benotweary.blogspot.com and click on the link in the right hand corner to Subscribe Via Email.
Copyright 2018 by Lori Hatcher</div>Lori Hatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11675180460653949981noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4027870719667125440.post-67273288881236871952021-03-25T22:51:00.003-04:002021-03-26T05:58:06.300-04:00Always Wanted -- A Birthday Post<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje_yVwgEIdIA3TQxDFxWlzAOt7sZv0AyiH5blunO0A3xGstZyWU0ZsKX2WvUjrIiMQkVMotoC1XZXqNN0wjVNWaio6TUpha7a9LNKg8THwkXdTcbS7WGgixCUqCdQnn73zDRxBEFzgfQDb/s1200/Always+Wanted+FB.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="628" data-original-width="1200" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje_yVwgEIdIA3TQxDFxWlzAOt7sZv0AyiH5blunO0A3xGstZyWU0ZsKX2WvUjrIiMQkVMotoC1XZXqNN0wjVNWaio6TUpha7a9LNKg8THwkXdTcbS7WGgixCUqCdQnn73zDRxBEFzgfQDb/w640-h334/Always+Wanted+FB.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="color: #674ea7; font-size: large;"><i>Because today's my birthday, I thought it appropriate to share the story of my first BIRTHday. Thank you, Mom and Dad, for always making me feel wanted.</i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by his grace. </b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Galatians 1:15 </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>I always knew my parents wanted me.</b> From my earliest existence, I was welcomed, celebrated (maybe too much), and loved. Not because I was the firstborn, but because I was the second. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">My brother, Robert, was born just eighteen months prior to me. He lived only three days. Complications from a challenging delivery took him from my parents before they even had a chance to hold him. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">My mother was only eighteen years old. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">In time God blessed them with another baby—me. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Halfway through Mom’s pregnancy, her doctor discovered a cyst on her ovary. It blocked the birth canal and took up much-needed space in her abdomen.
Without surgery, my growth and development would be hindered, and my mother would be unable to deliver me. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>But with the surgery came the risk that I could be born deaf, blind, or both.</b> The procedure could also trigger early labor. In the sixties, babies born three months prematurely had little or no chance of survival. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Imagine what it would be like to be nineteen years old, mourning the loss of your first child, and fearing for the life of your second.</b> My mom was wheeled into the delivery room. My dad chain-smoked in the waiting room. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXIP10IBmct2MTngzMhlOk0x8MN-pRHp86jUmSPxM7JvAmyEpF5jy_QHlufS7oeO59fBngGsH37thUsnJ3oApNUZgILZ32s61J8aGB_sppokHyKBTSlrbNRtWug39hThTASkfyDvsT-l3R/s640/Lori+Dad+Baby.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXIP10IBmct2MTngzMhlOk0x8MN-pRHp86jUmSPxM7JvAmyEpF5jy_QHlufS7oeO59fBngGsH37thUsnJ3oApNUZgILZ32s61J8aGB_sppokHyKBTSlrbNRtWug39hThTASkfyDvsT-l3R/w300-h400/Lori+Dad+Baby.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />“We didn’t know if you’d make it,” he told me years later. “I don’t know how we’d have borne it if you hadn’t.” </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>As you already know, I survived.</b> I arrived right on schedule three months later, neither blind nor deaf. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">As you can imagine, my parents celebrated my birth as a grand and glorious gift from God. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Unlike me, not everyone has the privilege of being wanted by their parents.</b> Some don’t even know their parents. Many were born into impoverished, dysfunctional, or turbulent homes and families. Others were “unplanned” or “unwanted.” Some were celebrated, but later, when the winds of circumstance changed, they became a burden. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Whether we were wanted or unwanted by the people in our lives</b>, the apostle Paul’s words to the church in Galatia speak truth: “God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by his grace.” </span></div><div><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="font-size: large;">What does it mean, for Paul and for us, to be set apart from our mother’s womb and called by God’s grace? </span></b></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><b><span style="font-size: large;">Here are three truths to consider: </span></b></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>1. Your birth was not an accident or a mistake.</b> </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Psalm 139:15–16 reads, “My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together. . . . Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>2. You were set apart for a purpose.</b> </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Paul’s purpose was to preach Christ to the Gentiles, yet he didn’t start out that way. Instead, he persecuted the church of Christ, jailing and killing sincere believers. But instead of disqualifying him from the purpose for which God had set him apart, his tragic early years added weight to his testimony that Christ came into the world to save sinners, of whom he was the worst. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Our purpose may be something less grandiose than evangelizing half of the known world, but it is significant, nonetheless. We may never understand how our life impacts others, but we can rest assured, God will use us for His glory. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>3. Our encounter with God wasn’t by chance.</b> </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">On the contrary, before the foundations of the world were formed, God ordered our days. Through a divine work of grace, He revealed himself to you (perhaps He’s doing this right now) and called you to himself. No one comes to Jesus, the Bible says, unless God the Father draws him. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>What a thought. </b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">God invites imperfect people like us to have a relationship with Him—the almighty God of the universe.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">I don’t know your background. You may have read my story and wished it were yours (minus the part about my brother). Maybe you’ve always longed to be treasured and loved. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE13fwSDEphC_oz4w0kwS8NQlto_ass4836fuw9T0VjhyphenhyphenL054i18Pn2-LuG_k6IDsfT2_w2UXNoEkUkqcGvEslqWedP8bD8zS6yhPvNEjraqj8LNhuYZA5yVi8wJ27NXOt9cLYlp4cgmuD/s640/Lori+Tricycle.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE13fwSDEphC_oz4w0kwS8NQlto_ass4836fuw9T0VjhyphenhyphenL054i18Pn2-LuG_k6IDsfT2_w2UXNoEkUkqcGvEslqWedP8bD8zS6yhPvNEjraqj8LNhuYZA5yVi8wJ27NXOt9cLYlp4cgmuD/w300-h400/Lori+Tricycle.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>If you’ve spent most of your life feeling more like a burden and less like a blessing, consider this:</b> On the day you were born, God welcomed you, celebrated you, and loved you. He set you apart for His glory and good pleasure. He’s inviting you, by His grace, to walk with Him all the days of your life. </span></div><div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>Uncommon Thought</b> </i></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Whether or not you were wanted by your mother, father, or other significant person in your life, God the Father has always wanted you. </span><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>Unusual Faith</b> </i></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Think back over your life. Have you ever felt unwanted? Have you doubted your value or questioned if your life has a purpose? Instead of allowing the circumstances of your birth or the opinions of others to define you, embrace the truth of Galatians 1. You have been set apart by God and called for His glory. Tuck this truth deep into your soul and embrace it. When other people’s words or the voices in your head contradict what you know to be true, personalize and quote this verse aloud. “God set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by his grace.” </span><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Read Galatians 1:15–24.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span face="ProximaNovaReg, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-size: 17px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span face="ProximaNovaReg, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-size: 17px; text-align: left;">Taken from </span><a href="https://amxn.to/3kbscOO" style="background-color: white; color: #009bdf; font-family: ProximaNovaReg, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; text-align: left; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><em>Refresh Your Faith: Uncommon Devotions from Every Book of the Bible</em></a><span face="ProximaNovaReg, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-size: 17px; text-align: left;"> by Lori Hatcher© 2020. Used by permission of Our Daily Bread Publishing®, Box 3566, Grand Rapids, MI 49501. All rights reserved. Further distribution is prohibited without written permission from Our Daily Bread Publishing® at </span><a href="mailto:permissionsdept@odb.org" style="background-color: white; color: #009bdf; font-family: ProximaNovaReg, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; text-align: left; text-decoration-line: none;">permissionsdept@odb.org</a><span face="ProximaNovaReg, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-size: 17px; text-align: left;">.</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoFzwtYN2OP2YICv1lWIW3QVnYy0J4OUHfYdC9Geiu7z2J9nVqsdnLMrRiBPV2WBiX8xC6cJ8_I3bSQBt0TD7jH5ioOQNGABPR27_-a_SNa7e4Sb7jDC2V950qdp3OjspkHiTe8AdsSCkz/s1600/Lori+RYF+promo.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoFzwtYN2OP2YICv1lWIW3QVnYy0J4OUHfYdC9Geiu7z2J9nVqsdnLMrRiBPV2WBiX8xC6cJ8_I3bSQBt0TD7jH5ioOQNGABPR27_-a_SNa7e4Sb7jDC2V950qdp3OjspkHiTe8AdsSCkz/s400/Lori+RYF+promo.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Does Your Faith Need Refreshing?</span></b><br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>That's in the Bible? I've never noticed that before!</i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: right;"><br /></span>
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: right;">It's probably been too long since you've newly discovered a story that speaks to your soul or a verse that pops with truth. But that's about to change!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=hunforgodstaf-20&language=en_US&l=li2&o=1&a=1640700072" style="border: none; margin: 0px;" width="1" />
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: right;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Refresh-Your-Faith-Uncommon-Devotions/dp/1640700072/ref=as_li_ss_il?crid=14NG6B0KUBCJO&dchild=1&keywords=refresh+your+faith+uncommon+devotions&qid=1586202483&sprefix=refresh+your+faith,aps,153&sr=8-1&linkCode=li2&tag=hunforgodstaf-20&linkId=d89de2370aee42c600232c31ec61130c&language=en_US" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></a><span style="font-size: large;"><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3iTnV1P">Refresh Your Faith</a> </i><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">contains 66 culturally relevant, story-driven devotions, one from each book of the Bible. Each real-life story spotlights an unusual verse or Bible passage that you may have overlooked in your usual Bible reading. Lori Hatcher challenges you with additional features like an </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">uncommon thought</i><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"> to ponder; an </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">unusual faith</i><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"> action step; and an </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">unfamiliar passage</i><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"> suggestion for additional Bible reading.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: large;">When the fabulous has become familiar and your quiet times are more like nap times, it's time to step out of spiritual boredom and ignite the spark that will keep you growing. No matter where you are on your faith journey, Lori's conversational and engaging style will challenge you to think about things you've never thought about before.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /></span>
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: large;"><b>“Real-life inspiration and candid wit. These 5-minute devotions will change your life.” —Psychologist and best-selling author Dr. Kevin Leman</b>, commenting on Lori Hatcher's devotional style</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg35AEIVN5j9XkDXOD3drHDi4uL4qmfGh2SNLE7PQVMuSOP-i7Bi1Q_Lpb0sdrkf9lddNKGGDsP23yl62Nt2JGoVCpG8A0IUqt5jaYDYc5zdIEME3bpzACMha0H-lUEuLZUBpEpQRLtZ3ZZ/s1600/HFG+CLOCK.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="275" data-original-width="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg35AEIVN5j9XkDXOD3drHDi4uL4qmfGh2SNLE7PQVMuSOP-i7Bi1Q_Lpb0sdrkf9lddNKGGDsP23yl62Nt2JGoVCpG8A0IUqt5jaYDYc5zdIEME3bpzACMha0H-lUEuLZUBpEpQRLtZ3ZZ/s1600/HFG+CLOCK.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Are you hungry for God, but starving for time? </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>I’d love to send you a 5-minute e-mail devotion <span style="color: red;">twice a week </span>to start your day off with the Lord. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">Sign up for a free subscription to Hungry for God by <a href="https://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=blogspot/VJOsH&loc=en_US">CLICKING HERE.</a></span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Then, be sure to VALIDATE the confirmation email you receive. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">Note: I promise never to spam you or share your email address.</span></b></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Because busy women need to connect with God in the craziness of everyday life.</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></div>
<br />
</div></div></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">If this post was meaningful to you, would you consider sharing it with a friend by clicking on one of the buttons below? Did you know you can receive bi-weekly Hungry for God posts sent directly to your email inbox? Visit http://www.lori-benotweary.blogspot.com and click on the link in the right hand corner to Subscribe Via Email.
Copyright 2018 by Lori Hatcher</div>Lori Hatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11675180460653949981noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4027870719667125440.post-8896854421081233592021-03-21T20:07:00.020-04:002021-03-21T20:07:00.327-04:00This I Know -- A Guest Post by Allison Jones<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYzT3hlM7Ytimq52g10z3VGyJqghqVxEFRp3SSCMBAStrKC7aBNzRrTRPdF4WBAMaQzw4JU8QnEU-W8foEEd8lPRiER4OYk8qwCLhtqje8rPA-yJa0lbGXQQCe34sNqH-bBBzdgPr31_ig/s1200/This+I+Know+FB.png" style="font-size: x-large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="628" data-original-width="1200" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYzT3hlM7Ytimq52g10z3VGyJqghqVxEFRp3SSCMBAStrKC7aBNzRrTRPdF4WBAMaQzw4JU8QnEU-W8foEEd8lPRiER4OYk8qwCLhtqje8rPA-yJa0lbGXQQCe34sNqH-bBBzdgPr31_ig/w640-h334/This+I+Know+FB.png" width="640" /></a></p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: x-large;">A theology discussion in one of her classes made Allison Jones realize she didn't know what she believed about a certain topic. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">"I left that class feeling really confused about almost everything other than my core beliefs," she said. </span></p><div><span style="font-size: x-large;">To remind herself of what she believed and that core beliefs are what really matter, she penned the poem, "This I Know." </span></div><div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: x-large;">I asked her if I could share her poem with the Hungry for God readers, and she graciously agreed. I'm confident Allison's spiritual depth and insightful perspective will bless you, as they have me. Be sure to leave kind words for her in the comment box. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><b><span style="font-size: large;">This I Know</span></b></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">I don’t know </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Much about </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Theology, </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Or philosophy, </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Or ethics, </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Or anything really. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">But this I know: </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">That I have believed </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">In my heart, </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">And confessed
With my mouth, </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">That Jesus is Lord. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">I don’t know </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Much about </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Theology, </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Or philosophy,</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Or ethics, </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Or anything really. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">But this I know: </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">I have died, </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">And my life </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Is hidden
With Christ, </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Who is my life. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">I don’t know </span><div><span style="font-size: large;">Much about </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Theology, </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Or philosophy, </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Or ethics, </span></div><span style="font-size: large;">Or anything really. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">But this I know: </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">That my Father knows me, </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">And holds me
In His hand, </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">And no one is able </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">To snatch me away. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">I don’t know </span><div><span style="font-size: large;">Much about </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Theology, </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Or philosophy, </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Or ethics, </span></div><span style="font-size: large;">Or anything really. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">But this I know: </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">That my Father </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Is slowly but surely, </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Conforming me </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">To the image </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Of His Son. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">I don’t know </span><div><span style="font-size: large;">Much about </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Theology, </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Or philosophy, </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Or ethics, </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Or anything really. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">But this I know: </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">That my Father </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Is working in me, </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">To will </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">And to work </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">For His good pleasure. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">But this I know: </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">That He
Who testifies </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">To these things </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Is coming soon. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Amen. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Come, </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Lord Jesus. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH82Q0_b2LlSfJRmWf6XXaNIPGb-OWtdR0LCom0QuUdyxDMqAblW0zwasmJ2ildw-RTLlvyg4qc6TkkjH3t9ODKNs44pdTfh_89uSpMnIgWdWmhsQfI2nF_y8BkvM0gzBYe2lUeKinFyMo/s2048/Allison+Jones.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH82Q0_b2LlSfJRmWf6XXaNIPGb-OWtdR0LCom0QuUdyxDMqAblW0zwasmJ2ildw-RTLlvyg4qc6TkkjH3t9ODKNs44pdTfh_89uSpMnIgWdWmhsQfI2nF_y8BkvM0gzBYe2lUeKinFyMo/w300-h400/Allison+Jones.jpg" width="300" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;">Allison Jones is a freshman at Anderson University, double majoring in Biblical Studies and Creative Writing. She's a triplet with two sisters who also attend Anderson University. They have twin siblings who are juniors in high school. This poem first released on her blog <a href="https://allisonmjonesblog.wordpress.com/blog/" target="_blank">Fixing Our Eyes, Setting Our Hearts, Running the Race</a>. You can connect with her on Instagram @fixingoureyesblog or <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100047114298798" target="_blank">Allison Jones</a> on Facebook.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">That's in the Bible? I've never noticed that before!</span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: right;"><br /></span>
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: right;">It's probably been too long since you've newly discovered a story that speaks to your soul or a verse that pops with truth. But that's about to change!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=hunforgodstaf-20&language=en_US&l=li2&o=1&a=1640700072" style="border: none; margin: 0px;" width="1" />
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: right;"><br /></span>
</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnPvjtdyH_et9q4GNeRBggXvFWefCzrJQdWb_GjZd8OEYDHp1RL6XZ7SLD707IZVG_letCAKZg7KMymir3JN6cMD8m3Iiekv9FUciDHMG-Jiws8zeu89Sbe_MDz68R94_3Y9E5vQXe2Met/s640/Lori+RYF+promo.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnPvjtdyH_et9q4GNeRBggXvFWefCzrJQdWb_GjZd8OEYDHp1RL6XZ7SLD707IZVG_letCAKZg7KMymir3JN6cMD8m3Iiekv9FUciDHMG-Jiws8zeu89Sbe_MDz68R94_3Y9E5vQXe2Met/s320/Lori+RYF+promo.jpg" /></a></div>Refresh Your Faith </i><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">contains 66 culturally relevant, story-driven devotions, one from each book of the Bible. Each real-life story spotlights an unusual verse or Bible passage that you may have overlooked in your usual Bible reading. Lori Hatcher challenges you with additional features like an </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">uncommon thought</i><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"> to ponder; an </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">unusual faith</i><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"> action step; and an </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">unfamiliar passage</i><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"> suggestion for additional Bible reading.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: large;">When the fabulous has become familiar and your quiet times are more like nap times, it's time to step out of spiritual boredom and ignite the spark that will keep you growing. No matter where you are on your faith journey, Lori's conversational and engaging style will challenge you to think about things you've never thought about before.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /></span>
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: large;"><b>“Real-life inspiration and candid wit. These 5-minute devotions will change your life.” —Psychologist and best-selling author Dr. Kevin Leman</b>, commenting on Lori Hatcher's devotional style</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg35AEIVN5j9XkDXOD3drHDi4uL4qmfGh2SNLE7PQVMuSOP-i7Bi1Q_Lpb0sdrkf9lddNKGGDsP23yl62Nt2JGoVCpG8A0IUqt5jaYDYc5zdIEME3bpzACMha0H-lUEuLZUBpEpQRLtZ3ZZ/s1600/HFG+CLOCK.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="275" data-original-width="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg35AEIVN5j9XkDXOD3drHDi4uL4qmfGh2SNLE7PQVMuSOP-i7Bi1Q_Lpb0sdrkf9lddNKGGDsP23yl62Nt2JGoVCpG8A0IUqt5jaYDYc5zdIEME3bpzACMha0H-lUEuLZUBpEpQRLtZ3ZZ/s1600/HFG+CLOCK.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Are you hungry for God, but starving for time? </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>I’d love to send you a 5-minute e-mail devotion <span style="color: red;">twice a week </span>to start your day off with the Lord. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">Sign up for a free subscription to Hungry for God by <a href="https://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=blogspot/VJOsH&loc=en_US">CLICKING HERE.</a></span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Then, be sure to VALIDATE the confirmation email you receive. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">Note: I promise never to spam you or share your email address.</span></b></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Because busy women need to connect with God in the craziness of everyday life.</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioLzL8ZmB6JcjFD1Jp41SkvpigFExOJeY5HB2utPX_l1rQzARCkzTF8vyWCAo8R2ny7tD-W6jYqpSDRR2VMWRAdBe0v7t85tTSDfOgDVAS0jlluSEFXklSmnvI-NG57lZ-aaubVH-8miXT/s2508/This+I+Know+PIN.png" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="2508" data-original-width="1254" height="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioLzL8ZmB6JcjFD1Jp41SkvpigFExOJeY5HB2utPX_l1rQzARCkzTF8vyWCAo8R2ny7tD-W6jYqpSDRR2VMWRAdBe0v7t85tTSDfOgDVAS0jlluSEFXklSmnvI-NG57lZ-aaubVH-8miXT/s600/This+I+Know+PIN.png" /></a></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">If this post was meaningful to you, would you consider sharing it with a friend by clicking on one of the buttons below? Did you know you can receive bi-weekly Hungry for God posts sent directly to your email inbox? Visit http://www.lori-benotweary.blogspot.com and click on the link in the right hand corner to Subscribe Via Email.
Copyright 2018 by Lori Hatcher</div>Lori Hatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11675180460653949981noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4027870719667125440.post-50504301126747841822021-03-14T19:20:00.106-04:002021-03-15T16:57:48.036-04:00What Kind of Spy Are You? How Faith Changes Everything<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigSqSqE2aFHzlk8Z3-kiTu2x0rPLc1wrnZyX8SYrxg7ako8voBVoao0SjTxfMxr-9zxatOWpkEwXaC3ZoL69idgYMh1gq_Cgb0sSQm37geTblISWuF4May0jcEWsGT679KPwzXdkv5iwTJ/s1200/Bad+Spy+FB.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="628" data-original-width="1200" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigSqSqE2aFHzlk8Z3-kiTu2x0rPLc1wrnZyX8SYrxg7ako8voBVoao0SjTxfMxr-9zxatOWpkEwXaC3ZoL69idgYMh1gq_Cgb0sSQm37geTblISWuF4May0jcEWsGT679KPwzXdkv5iwTJ/w640-h334/Bad+Spy+FB.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><span style="font-size: large;">
How do you react when an opportunity comes your way that you feel is over your head? When a task or assignment arrives that requires skills you haven’t mastered? Perseverance you don’t have? Or courage you don’t possess? </span><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><b><span style="font-size: large;">Many of us say no. </span></b></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Teach that Sunday school class? Oh no, I haven’t had formal training. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Share my testimony with that group? Nope. I’m not a public speaker. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"> Accept that job/position/assignment? Not me. Other people are far more qualified. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>And what about the tasks we can’t refuse but still doubt our ability to accomplish? </b>Caring for a seriously ill family member, raising children (or grandchildren) in this troubled world, persevering despite overwhelming odds. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Twelve men faced a similar scenario many years ago. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Twelve men went to spy on Canaan, </i>the children's church song goes.<i> Ten were bad and two were good. What do you think they saw in Canaan? Ten were bad and two were good. </i></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Appointed to scout out the land God had promised to Israel, the spies came back with a mixed report (Numbers 13).
The land was everything God promised—filled with lush gardens and well-established cities. And the food! After forty years of manna-everything, the prospect of milk, honey, grapes, and grain made the spies’ mouths water in anticipation. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><b><span style="font-size: large;">But the Promised Land held more than grapes and gardens. It held giants. </span></b></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">“The people are powerful, and the cites are very large,” the spies reported, terrifying the Israelites with their exaggerated description. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">“We should go up and take possession of the land,” Caleb declared, “for we can certainly do it.” </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">“Are you crazy?” the others said. “Didn’t you hear what we just said? We can't attack those people; they’re stronger than we are” (v. 30-31). </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">We face the same choice the spies did when we encounter an “impossible” task. Will we look at the circumstances or look at God’s calling? </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Remember, God had already promised to give the Promised Land to the Israelites. <b>If He called them to it, He’d provide what they needed to conquer it. </b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">The same is true for us. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Has He called you to an impossible task? </b>Something too big for you to accomplish in your own strength, ability, or training? </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Then you’re right where He wants you to be—poised to show the world what God can do through someone who fully relies on Him. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><b><span style="font-size: large;">God calls us to impossible tasks so He'll get the glory. </span></b></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Remember, God didn’t send the spies into Canaan to assess whether they could conquer the land. God had already declared they would conquer the land. He sent them in to gather information so they could </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">prepare. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">The inhabitants are big? Better sharpen those arrows. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">The walls are high? Time to practice mountain climbing. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">The armies are strong? Back to the gym for a few more pushups. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Relying on God doesn’t mean we sit back and do nothing. </b>It means that when we have prepared to the best of our ability, we march forward, resting in what He promises to do in us and through us. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><b><span style="font-size: large;">What This Looks Like in My Life</span></b></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Last summer I received a contract to write a book on prayer. My mind was excited, but my heart quaked in fear. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Stormie O’Martian, Tim Keller, and Max Lucado write books on prayer,</i> I thought, <i>not Lori Hatcher.</i> </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><i>What do I have to say that hasn’t already been said? And said better?</i> </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><i>How can I write a book in six months? I’ve never done that before.</i> </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><i>And furthermore </i>(don’t you hate it when someone says, “And furthermore”?) <i>I’m not theologically trained. I’ve never been to seminary, and this is an important topic. </i></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">These words were true. So was the report the spies brought back. The giants were big and the cities were strong. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">But God had called the Israelites to conquer the land. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">And God called me to write a book on prayer. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">So I did what Caleb the good spy did. <b>I countered fearful truth with faith-filled truth.</b> </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><i><span style="font-size: large;">God didn’t call Stormie O’Martian, Tim Keller, or Max Lucado to write this book on prayer. </span></i></div><div><i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></div><div><i><span style="font-size: large;">For reasons known only to Him, He has called me. </span></i></div><div><i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></div><div><i><span style="font-size: large;">If God has given me a contract with a six-month deadline, then He’ll enable me to meet that deadline. </span></i></div><div><i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></div><div><i><span style="font-size: large;">Education is important, but dedication is equally important. I’ve spent the last twenty years of my life studying and practicing the discipline of prayer. The Holy Spirit has been my teacher, and I can trust Him to direct and inspire my writing.</span></i></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">On August 25, I signed a contract with Our Daily Bread Publishing to write <i>Refresh Your Prayers: Uncommon Devotions to Restore Power and Praise</i>. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Three months later (not six, or nine, or twelve), I submitted the manuscript. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Lord willing, <i>Refresh Your Prayers</i> will release in early 2022, and God gets the glory. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">What impossible task has God called you to do? What opportunity, ministry, or life circumstance has God allowed to elbow its way into your life?
If He’s called you to it, He will give you what you need to accomplish it. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">A plague destroyed ten bad spies for their unbelief. An entire generation wandered in the wilderness for forty years because they were afraid to trust God to enable them to do what He’d called them to do. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Two good spies received God’s blessing and entered the Promise Land. </span></div><div><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="font-size: large;">What kind of spy are you?</span></b></div><div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoFzwtYN2OP2YICv1lWIW3QVnYy0J4OUHfYdC9Geiu7z2J9nVqsdnLMrRiBPV2WBiX8xC6cJ8_I3bSQBt0TD7jH5ioOQNGABPR27_-a_SNa7e4Sb7jDC2V950qdp3OjspkHiTe8AdsSCkz/s1600/Lori+RYF+promo.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoFzwtYN2OP2YICv1lWIW3QVnYy0J4OUHfYdC9Geiu7z2J9nVqsdnLMrRiBPV2WBiX8xC6cJ8_I3bSQBt0TD7jH5ioOQNGABPR27_-a_SNa7e4Sb7jDC2V950qdp3OjspkHiTe8AdsSCkz/s400/Lori+RYF+promo.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Does Your Faith Need Refreshing?</span></b><div><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-size: large;">Did you make a commitment to read the Bible this year, but now you're struggling? </span></div><div><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-size: large;">Do you need a resource to take you through each book of the Bible?<br /></span>
<b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>That's in the Bible? I've never noticed that before!</i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: right;"><br /></span>
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: right;">It's probably been too long since you've newly discovered a story that speaks to your soul or a verse that pops with truth. But that's about to change!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=hunforgodstaf-20&language=en_US&l=li2&o=1&a=1640700072" style="border: none; margin: 0px;" width="1" />
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: right;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Refresh-Your-Faith-Uncommon-Devotions/dp/1640700072/ref=as_li_ss_il?crid=14NG6B0KUBCJO&dchild=1&keywords=refresh+your+faith+uncommon+devotions&qid=1586202483&sprefix=refresh+your+faith,aps,153&sr=8-1&linkCode=li2&tag=hunforgodstaf-20&linkId=d89de2370aee42c600232c31ec61130c&language=en_US" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></a><span style="font-size: large;"><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3iTnV1P">Refresh Your Faith</a> </i><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">contains 66 culturally relevant, story-driven devotions, one from each book of the Bible. Each real-life story spotlights an unusual verse or Bible passage that you may have overlooked in your usual Bible reading. Lori Hatcher challenges you with additional features like an </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">uncommon thought</i><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"> to ponder; an </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">unusual faith</i><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"> action step; and an </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">unfamiliar passage</i><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"> suggestion for additional Bible reading.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: large;">When the fabulous has become familiar and your quiet times are more like nap times, it's time to step out of spiritual boredom and ignite the spark that will keep you growing. No matter where you are on your faith journey, Lori's conversational and engaging style will challenge you to think about things you've never thought about before.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /></span>
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: large;"><b>“Real-life inspiration and candid wit. These 5-minute devotions will change your life.” —Psychologist and best-selling author Dr. Kevin Leman</b>, commenting on Lori Hatcher's devotional style</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg35AEIVN5j9XkDXOD3drHDi4uL4qmfGh2SNLE7PQVMuSOP-i7Bi1Q_Lpb0sdrkf9lddNKGGDsP23yl62Nt2JGoVCpG8A0IUqt5jaYDYc5zdIEME3bpzACMha0H-lUEuLZUBpEpQRLtZ3ZZ/s1600/HFG+CLOCK.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="275" data-original-width="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg35AEIVN5j9XkDXOD3drHDi4uL4qmfGh2SNLE7PQVMuSOP-i7Bi1Q_Lpb0sdrkf9lddNKGGDsP23yl62Nt2JGoVCpG8A0IUqt5jaYDYc5zdIEME3bpzACMha0H-lUEuLZUBpEpQRLtZ3ZZ/s1600/HFG+CLOCK.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Are you hungry for God, but starving for time? </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>I’d love to send you a 5-minute e-mail devotion <span style="color: red;">twice a week </span>to start your day off with the Lord. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">Sign up for a free subscription to Hungry for God by <a href="https://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=blogspot/VJOsH&loc=en_US">CLICKING HERE.</a></span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Then, be sure to VALIDATE the confirmation email you receive. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">Note: I promise never to spam you or share your email address.</span></b></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Because busy women need to connect with God in the craziness of everyday life.</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhywYZxA7EZFwq1a4qFUE8PhWYBs_FrqfiHTP12UL9ULpW-WK-puR81JKNpA__UmbV4T92HdKHoH-uGpJ8HH-0oRLYSiXdsW7jSHCRBWULvFE4INvtnam6pC2AHvY2x3rV9Wfv5yzITO4IY/s2508/Bad+Spy+PIN.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2508" data-original-width="1254" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhywYZxA7EZFwq1a4qFUE8PhWYBs_FrqfiHTP12UL9ULpW-WK-puR81JKNpA__UmbV4T92HdKHoH-uGpJ8HH-0oRLYSiXdsW7jSHCRBWULvFE4INvtnam6pC2AHvY2x3rV9Wfv5yzITO4IY/w320-h640/Bad+Spy+PIN.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></div>
<br />
</div></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">If this post was meaningful to you, would you consider sharing it with a friend by clicking on one of the buttons below? Did you know you can receive bi-weekly Hungry for God posts sent directly to your email inbox? Visit http://www.lori-benotweary.blogspot.com and click on the link in the right hand corner to Subscribe Via Email.
Copyright 2018 by Lori Hatcher</div>Lori Hatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11675180460653949981noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4027870719667125440.post-40492493916816851432021-03-07T19:14:00.014-05:002021-03-08T15:17:20.131-05:00"Still Dead" My Life through a Five-Year-Old's Eyes<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9kFePlNzQyBk4pxI5OTckYiyFuCTtCcDKCA0C8gK2dbX4Y_sTm20b56d4VrLvquNFoHl0Qmx2SMeBF7WwKL5hqb5Ch-ZrixPDVGzGdbENlanXUcO3rrMXE7MwfY2ohaSFNC2v1RVm-esf/s1200/Still+Dead+FB.png" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="628" data-original-width="1200" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9kFePlNzQyBk4pxI5OTckYiyFuCTtCcDKCA0C8gK2dbX4Y_sTm20b56d4VrLvquNFoHl0Qmx2SMeBF7WwKL5hqb5Ch-ZrixPDVGzGdbENlanXUcO3rrMXE7MwfY2ohaSFNC2v1RVm-esf/w640-h334/Still+Dead+FB.png" width="640" /></a></div><p> </p><span style="font-size: large;">
“<b>It’s dead. </b>Spider mites, the landscaper said. We’ll have to rip it out and start over.” </span><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">As my neighbor described her horticultural woes, five-year-old Caroline listened in. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">“What’s dead, Gigi?” </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">“That cute little Christmas-tree-looking bush over there,” I said, pointing to the shrub. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">“Mrs. Esther says it’s dead, and they’re going to have to pull it up.” </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Although still shaped like a holiday tree, the plant’s foliage had turned ash gray and brittle.
Caroline eyed the plant thoughtfully, glancing between the obviously dead bush and a nearby flowering camellia. Her face, scrunched in thought, suddenly brightened. She lifted a finger. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">“I have an idea,” she declared. “We can decorate it!” </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsqoQPWS3RtKQbpGgtO9J1U15JQ8CWYFojUg2fcWgRwkNheSL1XD587Rbx6sBN0SklAXUtJ9-_Se64LEJnx6UkcVvHmyCEwSxjQSiawPjj3A4de4wjV4TzVDihTmEukIr8g52olZwz7-lD/s640/dead+bush.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsqoQPWS3RtKQbpGgtO9J1U15JQ8CWYFojUg2fcWgRwkNheSL1XD587Rbx6sBN0SklAXUtJ9-_Se64LEJnx6UkcVvHmyCEwSxjQSiawPjj3A4de4wjV4TzVDihTmEukIr8g52olZwz7-lD/w300-h400/dead+bush.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>She scurried to the camellia bush dripping with ruby red blossoms and filled her arms. Before long, she’d adorned the sad dead bush with spring beauty. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">She stood back to admire her work, tilted her head one way, then the other, and squinted in the sunlight. With the unfiltered honesty that characterizes the very young, she announced, </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>“It looks better. . . but it’s still dead.” </b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Caroline’s bush reminded me of myself many years ago. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>I was so dead.</b> No spiritual life flowed through my soul.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">For years I tried to disguise the obvious by adorning myself with the outward trappings of religion. I attended church. I said the right things. I even prayed—occasionally—when I felt desperate. Like the Pharisees who Jesus called “whitewashed tombs,” I looked okay on the outside (if you didn’t look to closely), but inside my soul was deader than dead. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Fear haunted my days and tormented my nights. Laziness, selfishness, and independence charted the course of my life. I disrespected my parents and chose friends over family every time. Decisions overwhelmed me because I had no wise foundation on which to base my choices. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>I’ve never met the apostle Paul, but he described my condition perfectly in Ephesians 2:1-3: </b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">“As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">“You followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. . . . gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.” </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>God would have been perfectly justified, like my neighbor planned to do with her bush, to pluck me up and incinerate me.</b>
Instead He looked on me with eyes of love, saw through my pitiful attempts to disguise my spiritual condition, and redeemed me. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">He didn’t just clean me up on the outside. He transformed me on the inside. He breathed life into my deader-than-dead spirit, removed my heart of stone, and gave me a heart that pulsed with spiritual life. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Ephesians 2:4-5 describes salvation this way: </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">“Because of his <b>great love</b> for us, God, who is <b>rich in mercy</b>, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is <b>by grace</b> you have been saved.” </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>And then, if a new birth isn’t enough,
</b> “God <b>raised us up</b> with Christ and <b>seated us with him</b> in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the <b>incomparable riches of his grace</b>, expressed in his <b>kindness to us</b> in Christ Jesus” (v. 6-7). </span></div><div><i><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></i></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>Great love. Incomparable grace. Kindness.</b></i> This is what God extends toward us if we’ll do two things: </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">1. Acknowledge that we are dead in our sins. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">2. Cry out to Him in confession and repentance. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNHRWFX8idcIx6TKSezdKlaPH7ocCrPCv-9kVZrVzlRMJxvh-VdPxrrmE8HNU3yvYx4So7Uo86ZuwOQJRPeOSX8rv0_dotsuMO-d9VYRkgfGnep-ygylGjUh0hW2hGZzeBl0_tD6DQsD-T/s640/Camellia.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNHRWFX8idcIx6TKSezdKlaPH7ocCrPCv-9kVZrVzlRMJxvh-VdPxrrmE8HNU3yvYx4So7Uo86ZuwOQJRPeOSX8rv0_dotsuMO-d9VYRkgfGnep-ygylGjUh0hW2hGZzeBl0_tD6DQsD-T/w300-h400/Camellia.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>Don’t you want to do this?</b> Don’t you want to live a life that is vibrant and full, trusting in what Jesus has already done to secure your place in heaven rather than vainly attempting to earn your way into God’s favor? </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast,” Ephesians 2:8-9 declares. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>If you’re not sure you’ll spend eternity with God in heaven when you die;</b> if you cannot gain victory over the behaviors and mindsets that threaten to destroy you; if you want peace, and joy, and purpose, say yes to Jesus. Allow Him to raise you from the dead. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">My prayer that day long ago went something like this: </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><i>God, I’ve been living my life my way, and I’ve made a mess of it. I confess my sins to you. I believe Jesus died for my sins and took my punishment on the cross. Please forgive me and change me. In Jesus’ name I ask, Amen. </i></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Will God hear you if you pray a similar prayer?</b> Absolutely. Listen to what He says in the Bible:</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">“If we confess our sins, he [God] is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>If you prayed this prayer, or one like it, God says this to you: </b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">“These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:13). </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Theologian and author C. S. Lewis said, “There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, ‘Thy will be done,’ and those to whom God says, in the end, ‘Thy will be done.’ All that are in Hell, choose it. Without that self-choice there could be no Hell. No soul that seriously and constantly desires joy will ever miss it. Those who seek find. Those who knock it is opened.” </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>And so two questions remain: </b><i>Are you spiritually alive or dead?</i> and <i>What are you going to do about it?</i> </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><b><span style="font-size: large;">I pray you choose life. </span></b></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Now it’s your turn. Have you trusted in Christ to give you eternal life? Leave a comment below and share your thoughts. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: x-large;">Do you know someone who needs this message? Why not share it with them or post it on social media? </span></div><div><b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div><span style="font-size: x-large;"></span><b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: large;">That's in the Bible? I've never noticed that before!</span></b></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: right;"><br /></span>
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: right;">It's probably been too long since you've newly discovered a story that speaks to your soul or a verse that pops with truth. But that's about to change!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=hunforgodstaf-20&language=en_US&l=li2&o=1&a=1640700072" style="border: none; margin: 0px;" width="1" />
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: right;"><br /></span>
</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpwBBefHtz6kXK6Q4eyzSVtrdDTLoIgjlqASeLgVhyAf7H6Sq-jH82kLY8KbCjo2N728C9NdSQnUMJcXGQTN0-C2cDGiOFhmYNWi8iGphQnooWjdqkWvO5cl-poC5X-b_8SzuOFLA4bAK7/s640/Lori+RYF+promo.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpwBBefHtz6kXK6Q4eyzSVtrdDTLoIgjlqASeLgVhyAf7H6Sq-jH82kLY8KbCjo2N728C9NdSQnUMJcXGQTN0-C2cDGiOFhmYNWi8iGphQnooWjdqkWvO5cl-poC5X-b_8SzuOFLA4bAK7/s320/Lori+RYF+promo.jpg" /></a></div>Refresh Your Faith </i><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">contains 66 culturally relevant, story-driven devotions, one from each book of the Bible. Each real-life story spotlights an unusual verse or Bible passage that you may have overlooked in your usual Bible reading. Lori Hatcher challenges you with additional features like an </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">uncommon thought</i><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"> to ponder; an </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">unusual faith</i><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"> action step; and an </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">unfamiliar passage</i><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"> suggestion for additional Bible reading.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: large;">When the fabulous has become familiar and your quiet times are more like nap times, it's time to step out of spiritual boredom and ignite the spark that will keep you growing. No matter where you are on your faith journey, Lori's conversational and engaging style will challenge you to think about things you've never thought about before.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /></span>
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: large;"><b>“Real-life inspiration and candid wit. These 5-minute devotions will change your life.” —Psychologist and best-selling author Dr. Kevin Leman</b>, commenting on Lori Hatcher's devotional style.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg35AEIVN5j9XkDXOD3drHDi4uL4qmfGh2SNLE7PQVMuSOP-i7Bi1Q_Lpb0sdrkf9lddNKGGDsP23yl62Nt2JGoVCpG8A0IUqt5jaYDYc5zdIEME3bpzACMha0H-lUEuLZUBpEpQRLtZ3ZZ/s1600/HFG+CLOCK.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="275" data-original-width="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg35AEIVN5j9XkDXOD3drHDi4uL4qmfGh2SNLE7PQVMuSOP-i7Bi1Q_Lpb0sdrkf9lddNKGGDsP23yl62Nt2JGoVCpG8A0IUqt5jaYDYc5zdIEME3bpzACMha0H-lUEuLZUBpEpQRLtZ3ZZ/s1600/HFG+CLOCK.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Are you hungry for God, but starving for time? </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>I’d love to send you a 5-minute e-mail devotion <span style="color: red;">twice a week </span>to start your day off with the Lord. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">Sign up for a free subscription to Hungry for God by <a href="https://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=blogspot/VJOsH&loc=en_US">CLICKING HERE.</a></span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Then, be sure to VALIDATE the confirmation email you receive. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">Note: I promise never to spam you or share your email address.</span></b></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Because busy women need to connect with God in the craziness of everyday life.</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></div>
<br />
<br />
</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUhkmvzN3-mOU9UmAtgcHceXqBmNHt8y1u7joehDpKmEr9oZd13VNUcaR7OLx7_XuyRcSMWLQ3i982h_OjFsn4Pj49GfCb34LoaavEh_bMEIQ_2zbi7uvlNYQmc5GqfeXiS50Bw5RlZ1xc/s2508/Still+Dead+PIN.png" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="2508" data-original-width="1254" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUhkmvzN3-mOU9UmAtgcHceXqBmNHt8y1u7joehDpKmEr9oZd13VNUcaR7OLx7_XuyRcSMWLQ3i982h_OjFsn4Pj49GfCb34LoaavEh_bMEIQ_2zbi7uvlNYQmc5GqfeXiS50Bw5RlZ1xc/w320-h640/Still+Dead+PIN.png" width="320" /></a></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">If this post was meaningful to you, would you consider sharing it with a friend by clicking on one of the buttons below? Did you know you can receive bi-weekly Hungry for God posts sent directly to your email inbox? Visit http://www.lori-benotweary.blogspot.com and click on the link in the right hand corner to Subscribe Via Email.
Copyright 2018 by Lori Hatcher</div>Lori Hatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11675180460653949981noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4027870719667125440.post-6303502401645974922021-02-18T22:37:00.003-05:002021-02-18T22:37:50.223-05:0010 Loving Ways to Interact with the Visually Impaired<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL2-chi5JhIB25KpucUCCoLIFDBPI6johZlk7youAHVXaNcqL48AgJ7UtkB4l4GSn2M09osGEhUngK1mD1Uy4GgJiirADyILRVM3FQnkHLi5E4Ydj5csNHGX70pdbo58NJqv5oqCpd7JIy/s1200/10+Ways+Blind+FB.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="628" data-original-width="1200" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL2-chi5JhIB25KpucUCCoLIFDBPI6johZlk7youAHVXaNcqL48AgJ7UtkB4l4GSn2M09osGEhUngK1mD1Uy4GgJiirADyILRVM3FQnkHLi5E4Ydj5csNHGX70pdbo58NJqv5oqCpd7JIy/w640-h334/10+Ways+Blind+FB.png" width="640" /></a></div><p><span style="font-size: large;">When the Spittle family walked through the doors of our church, I was thrilled.
Visitors don’t often find our little church tucked into the middle of a residential neighborhood. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Nick, a teenager, and his mom, Tracy, walked down the aisle first, her hand tucked into in the crook of his arm. Thom and Jonathan walked in single file, with Thom’s hand on his son’s shoulder.
Their entrance was different, but I didn’t realize Thom and Tracy were blind until I noticed Thom’s dark glasses. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">As the Spittles visited and brought other blind friends to our church, I’ve learned better how to interact with those who are visually impaired. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">If you’re unsure how to interact with a person who is blind, here are ten tips I shared in a guest post on Crosswalk.com:</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.crosswalk.com/church/pastors-or-leadership/loving-ways-to-interact-with-the-visually-impaired.html" target="_blank">TO READ THE REST OF THIS POST, CLICK HERE.</a></span></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoFzwtYN2OP2YICv1lWIW3QVnYy0J4OUHfYdC9Geiu7z2J9nVqsdnLMrRiBPV2WBiX8xC6cJ8_I3bSQBt0TD7jH5ioOQNGABPR27_-a_SNa7e4Sb7jDC2V950qdp3OjspkHiTe8AdsSCkz/s1600/Lori+RYF+promo.jpg" style="clear: right; color: #d52a33; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoFzwtYN2OP2YICv1lWIW3QVnYy0J4OUHfYdC9Geiu7z2J9nVqsdnLMrRiBPV2WBiX8xC6cJ8_I3bSQBt0TD7jH5ioOQNGABPR27_-a_SNa7e4Sb7jDC2V950qdp3OjspkHiTe8AdsSCkz/s400/Lori+RYF+promo.jpg" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(213, 42, 51); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="300" /></a></div><b style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Does Your Faith Need Refreshing?</span></b></div><div style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Did you make a commitment to read the Bible this year, but now you're struggling? </span></div><div style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Do you need a resource to take you through each book of the Bible?<br /></span><b style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>That's in the Bible? I've never noticed that before!</i></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; text-align: right;"><br /></span><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; text-align: right;">It's probably been too long since you've newly discovered a story that speaks to your soul or a verse that pops with truth. But that's about to change!</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=hunforgodstaf-20&language=en_US&l=li2&o=1&a=1640700072" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 5px; border: none; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 8px;" width="1" /><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; text-align: right;"><br /></span></span><br /><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Refresh-Your-Faith-Uncommon-Devotions/dp/1640700072/ref=as_li_ss_il?crid=14NG6B0KUBCJO&dchild=1&keywords=refresh+your+faith+uncommon+devotions&qid=1586202483&sprefix=refresh+your+faith,aps,153&sr=8-1&linkCode=li2&tag=hunforgodstaf-20&linkId=d89de2370aee42c600232c31ec61130c&language=en_US" style="clear: right; color: #d52a33; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></a><span style="font-size: large;"><i style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3iTnV1P" style="color: #d52a33; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Refresh Your Faith</a> </i><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">contains 66 culturally relevant, story-driven devotions, one from each book of the Bible. Each real-life story spotlights an unusual verse or Bible passage that you may have overlooked in your usual Bible reading. Lori Hatcher challenges you with additional features like an </span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">uncommon thought</i><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white;"> to ponder; an </span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">unusual faith</i><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white;"> action step; and an </span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">unfamiliar passage</i><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white;"> suggestion for additional Bible reading.</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: large;">When the fabulous has become familiar and your quiet times are more like nap times, it's time to step out of spiritual boredom and ignite the spark that will keep you growing. No matter where you are on your faith journey, Lori's conversational and engaging style will challenge you to think about things you've never thought about before.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /></span><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: large;"><b>“Real-life inspiration and candid wit. These 5-minute devotions will change your life.” —Psychologist and best-selling author Dr. Kevin Leman</b>, commenting on Lori Hatcher's devotional style</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg35AEIVN5j9XkDXOD3drHDi4uL4qmfGh2SNLE7PQVMuSOP-i7Bi1Q_Lpb0sdrkf9lddNKGGDsP23yl62Nt2JGoVCpG8A0IUqt5jaYDYc5zdIEME3bpzACMha0H-lUEuLZUBpEpQRLtZ3ZZ/s1600/HFG+CLOCK.jpg" style="clear: right; color: #d52a33; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="275" data-original-width="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg35AEIVN5j9XkDXOD3drHDi4uL4qmfGh2SNLE7PQVMuSOP-i7Bi1Q_Lpb0sdrkf9lddNKGGDsP23yl62Nt2JGoVCpG8A0IUqt5jaYDYc5zdIEME3bpzACMha0H-lUEuLZUBpEpQRLtZ3ZZ/s1600/HFG+CLOCK.jpg" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(213, 42, 51); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Are you hungry for God, but starving for time? </b></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>I’d love to send you a 5-minute e-mail devotion <span style="color: red;">twice a week </span>to start your day off with the Lord. </b></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b><b>Sign up for a free subscription to Hungry for God by <a href="https://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=blogspot/VJOsH&loc=en_US" style="color: #d52a33; text-decoration-line: none;">CLICKING HERE.</a></b></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Then, be sure to VALIDATE the confirmation email you receive. </b></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b><b>Note: I promise never to spam you or share your email address.</b></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: red;">Because busy women need to connect with God in the craziness of everyday life.</span></b></span></div></div><p><br /></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /> <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbz1oOu0fDpcCBdIDVWE00pntHTLt4qOThJiyUPQIXdU9hOqJ2aadJcfH8jjXLKrp1cUga-PZRqAxcrdEWCSlmecCb3rUIymzKvngz71WUBsdSRKEpfJEiVqy3N3WViwSPJByKppGcPL7k/s2508/10+Ways+Blind+PIN.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2508" data-original-width="1254" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbz1oOu0fDpcCBdIDVWE00pntHTLt4qOThJiyUPQIXdU9hOqJ2aadJcfH8jjXLKrp1cUga-PZRqAxcrdEWCSlmecCb3rUIymzKvngz71WUBsdSRKEpfJEiVqy3N3WViwSPJByKppGcPL7k/w320-h640/10+Ways+Blind+PIN.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">If this post was meaningful to you, would you consider sharing it with a friend by clicking on one of the buttons below? Did you know you can receive bi-weekly Hungry for God posts sent directly to your email inbox? Visit http://www.lori-benotweary.blogspot.com and click on the link in the right hand corner to Subscribe Via Email.
Copyright 2018 by Lori Hatcher</div>Lori Hatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11675180460653949981noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4027870719667125440.post-33217552862171665492021-02-07T19:17:00.005-05:002021-02-08T09:52:25.751-05:00Lizard Wars and the Comfort of God's Presence<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEpbSPVY_GkVJ_DQekgaB7QROc1byfpg-waSHlTsxuY7qS5TzTkmtSotbBuA5JluUdoyplbR1MCtGT6DEWjbu0jmjusK9k0-HVSKQ0puEi14YhQKSbCjbW5ckZ6MZjFnGv0KQV5k-k6J0i/s1200/Lizard+Wars+and+the+Comfort+of+God%2527s+Presence+FB.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="628" data-original-width="1200" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEpbSPVY_GkVJ_DQekgaB7QROc1byfpg-waSHlTsxuY7qS5TzTkmtSotbBuA5JluUdoyplbR1MCtGT6DEWjbu0jmjusK9k0-HVSKQ0puEi14YhQKSbCjbW5ckZ6MZjFnGv0KQV5k-k6J0i/w640-h334/Lizard+Wars+and+the+Comfort+of+God%2527s+Presence+FB.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /> <span style="font-size: large;">I was sitting at my kitchen table when a movement caught my eye. I thought I was alone in the house, but apparently, I wasn’t.
</span><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><b><span style="font-size: large;">The movement—just a flash in my peripheral vision—made my heart thump. </span></b></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Small. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Fast. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">With a tail. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><b><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Oh, Lord, please don’t let it be a mouse.</i> </span></b></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">We had a mouse years before. I didn’t want to repeat that sequence of events. There’s nothing creepier than sharing your living space with a rodent. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Rising slowly, I crept to the doorway and looked down the hall, dreading what I might see. Two shiny eyes stared back at me. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">LIZARD! </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>I screamed. </b>The lizard probably did, too, if lizards can scream, but I was making too much noise to notice. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw2NIwvIdXR6YS1s7y4jggaguV-67EYyD1NmkWSwqfhK_lum30b8730GPIoUEPPFxFzuZCvnkubzNCpXiKj1pD6lTXUPzEh67abrPfXBsMPEfRz3s4mFXHt2nNzWjB6ANZ-I-2yipOJaES/s2048/refrigerator.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw2NIwvIdXR6YS1s7y4jggaguV-67EYyD1NmkWSwqfhK_lum30b8730GPIoUEPPFxFzuZCvnkubzNCpXiKj1pD6lTXUPzEh67abrPfXBsMPEfRz3s4mFXHt2nNzWjB6ANZ-I-2yipOJaES/w266-h400/refrigerator.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>In a scramble that would have made the Three Stooges proud, we both ran toward the kitchen. The lizard scurried under the refrigerator, and I leaped onto a chair. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Although I couldn’t see it, at least I knew where it was—for now. The only thing worse than having a lizard under your refrigerator is having a lizard loose in your house. I knew, for the moment, we were okay, but if it emerged and went somewhere else in the house, I probably wouldn't track it down for days. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">With one eye on the refrigerator, I pulled out the largest stainless-steel bowl I owned. I crept to the fridge, flipped the bowl upside down, and waited. I didn’t want to hurt the lizard. I just wanted to detain it until my husband, David, got home. Then he could take it outside and release it.
</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEL5lnIs34m6VD-S8wpcROVx0uvqeKkQKRYilRzItvhh2sln8N91Yo_KqmDEjPBJQ7jRPg2nkeFBUPTPke46DGChh8mKwLkuX2V8J6IsTWHOwDi_iomBzHdn7kQQIc38l5wzDxbL_1dAYq/s2048/cat+mouse.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEL5lnIs34m6VD-S8wpcROVx0uvqeKkQKRYilRzItvhh2sln8N91Yo_KqmDEjPBJQ7jRPg2nkeFBUPTPke46DGChh8mKwLkuX2V8J6IsTWHOwDi_iomBzHdn7kQQIc38l5wzDxbL_1dAYq/w400-h266/cat+mouse.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Poised like a cat stalking a mouse, I held my breath.</b> Every few minutes the lizard would poke its head out then retreat under the appliance. I knew timing was everything. If I slammed the bowl down too soon, I could hurt the lizard or send it off in another direction. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">About the time my arms started shaking and the bowl wobbled, the lizard’s head emerged from under the fridge. I saw its arms next, then its torso. When the tip of its tail cleared the fridge, I slammed down the bowl as fast and hard as I could. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Success! Checking the circumference of the bowl to be sure I hadn’t amputated any lizard limbs, I sighed with relief. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><i><span style="font-size: large;">Thank you, Lord. </span></i></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>I stacked a 5-lb. bag of flour on top of the bowl, just to be sure the little reptile didn’t escape, and waited for David to arrive.</b>
When he did, I explained in graphic detail every moment of the hunt, then finished with a burst. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">“Now you have to take over, because I don’t ever want to look at that creepy thing again. Please take it outside and let it go far, far away from the house.” </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Then I left the room. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><b><span style="font-size: large;">Minutes later he appeared in the doorway. </span></b></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">“Did you let it go?” </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">“Not exactly.” </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">“What do you mean, ‘not exactly’?” </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">“Well,” he said, not making eye contact. “It didn’t make it.” </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">“Oh no!” I said. “Did I squish it? I tried really hard not to hurt it.” </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">“No,” he said, shaking his head. “There wasn’t a mark on it.” </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">“Then what happened?” </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">“I think it died of a heart attack. <b>You probably scared it to death.” </b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><i>The feeling is mutual, </i>I<i> </i>thought, with only a twinge of remorse. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Unlike my friend Linnea, who occasionally finds a bear on her screened porch or a porcupine up her tree, I don’t encounter wildlife very often. A wayward lizard, a tree frog, or a mole is about as exotic as my animal encounters go. Regardless, they unsettle me. I’d much prefer to let my husband handle my critter problems. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Sometimes, however, he’s not around, and I must take matters into my own hands. Or wait until he returns home. </span></div><div><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="font-size: large;">I’m so glad God is available 24/7. </span></b></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Scripture tells me He’s always with me. I don’t have to wait for him to arrive or make an appointment to request His help. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVRGIs7xzvvaYQU00aSg0mYe8jHVMEehZkBnrZpFoh7QP8wdmAOC8yxXRPkgGY83HnRnIiGsggr7THnmj2xANIOIiWFbvNf7JyINm-sEpf0daXc0Bi0bV_GWGO6r5x6ut_Ivxkdt-1PKir/s2048/praying+woman+bible.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVRGIs7xzvvaYQU00aSg0mYe8jHVMEehZkBnrZpFoh7QP8wdmAOC8yxXRPkgGY83HnRnIiGsggr7THnmj2xANIOIiWFbvNf7JyINm-sEpf0daXc0Bi0bV_GWGO6r5x6ut_Ivxkdt-1PKir/w266-h400/praying+woman+bible.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>I don’t have to exhaust all other options before I cry out to Him. No heavenly triage nurse compares my needs against others’ and places me in the queue. Even if a million other voices come to Him in prayer, He still hears my request. </span></div><div><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="font-size: large;">Isaiah 65:24 reminds me, “Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear.” </span></b></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">God’s omnipresence doesn’t release me from seeking wise counsel and taking appropriate action, but it gives me a reliable source of insight, comfort, and strength. When I go to God first, He equips me to face whatever comes my way. <b>Even when I must fight the battle on my own, like that day with the lizard, I’m never truly alone. </b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,” Psalm 23:4 reminds me, “I will fear no evil, for you are with me.” </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">I don’t know what you’re facing today, but God does.
He’s as close as a prayer and eager to help. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><b><span style="font-size: large;">Cry out to Him today. </span></b></div><div><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoFzwtYN2OP2YICv1lWIW3QVnYy0J4OUHfYdC9Geiu7z2J9nVqsdnLMrRiBPV2WBiX8xC6cJ8_I3bSQBt0TD7jH5ioOQNGABPR27_-a_SNa7e4Sb7jDC2V950qdp3OjspkHiTe8AdsSCkz/s1600/Lori+RYF+promo.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoFzwtYN2OP2YICv1lWIW3QVnYy0J4OUHfYdC9Geiu7z2J9nVqsdnLMrRiBPV2WBiX8xC6cJ8_I3bSQBt0TD7jH5ioOQNGABPR27_-a_SNa7e4Sb7jDC2V950qdp3OjspkHiTe8AdsSCkz/s400/Lori+RYF+promo.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Does Your Faith Need Refreshing?</span></b><br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>That's in the Bible? I've never noticed that before!</i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: right;"><br /></span>
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: right;">It's probably been too long since you've newly discovered a story that speaks to your soul or a verse that pops with truth. But that's about to change!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=hunforgodstaf-20&language=en_US&l=li2&o=1&a=1640700072" style="border: none; margin: 0px;" width="1" />
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: right;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Refresh-Your-Faith-Uncommon-Devotions/dp/1640700072/ref=as_li_ss_il?crid=14NG6B0KUBCJO&dchild=1&keywords=refresh+your+faith+uncommon+devotions&qid=1586202483&sprefix=refresh+your+faith,aps,153&sr=8-1&linkCode=li2&tag=hunforgodstaf-20&linkId=d89de2370aee42c600232c31ec61130c&language=en_US" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></a><span style="font-size: large;"><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3iTnV1P">Refresh Your Faith</a> </i><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">contains 66 culturally relevant, story-driven devotions, one from each book of the Bible. Each real-life story spotlights an unusual verse or Bible passage that you may have overlooked in your usual Bible reading. Lori Hatcher challenges you with additional features like an </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">uncommon thought</i><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"> to ponder; an </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">unusual faith</i><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"> action step; and an </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">unfamiliar passage</i><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"> suggestion for additional Bible reading.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: large;">When the fabulous has become familiar and your quiet times are more like nap times, it's time to step out of spiritual boredom and ignite the spark that will keep you growing. No matter where you are on your faith journey, Lori's conversational and engaging style will challenge you to think about things you've never thought about before.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /></span>
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: large;"><b>“Real-life inspiration and candid wit. These 5-minute devotions will change your life.” —Psychologist and best-selling author Dr. Kevin Leman</b>, commenting on Lori Hatcher's devotional style</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg35AEIVN5j9XkDXOD3drHDi4uL4qmfGh2SNLE7PQVMuSOP-i7Bi1Q_Lpb0sdrkf9lddNKGGDsP23yl62Nt2JGoVCpG8A0IUqt5jaYDYc5zdIEME3bpzACMha0H-lUEuLZUBpEpQRLtZ3ZZ/s1600/HFG+CLOCK.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="275" data-original-width="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg35AEIVN5j9XkDXOD3drHDi4uL4qmfGh2SNLE7PQVMuSOP-i7Bi1Q_Lpb0sdrkf9lddNKGGDsP23yl62Nt2JGoVCpG8A0IUqt5jaYDYc5zdIEME3bpzACMha0H-lUEuLZUBpEpQRLtZ3ZZ/s1600/HFG+CLOCK.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Are you hungry for God, but starving for time? </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>I’d love to send you a 5-minute e-mail devotion <span style="color: red;">twice a week </span>to start your day off with the Lord. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">Sign up for a free subscription to Hungry for God by <a href="https://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=blogspot/VJOsH&loc=en_US">CLICKING HERE.</a></span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Then, be sure to VALIDATE the confirmation email you receive. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">Note: I promise never to spam you or share your email address.</span></b></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Because busy women need to connect with God in the craziness of everyday life.</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRfhXg-sGiHLdl1Gkt73D1uU00pIuWJNcPwRbLe47vnrfmvfiSnhB22fsObVRNb-1xeMp5bzVQ54KrQWJOyIjfNQslauUGRKH0UBDpJZ9mExnzacEQA0OYDLqiStUcSTOB2IttnNd1b8Pz/s2508/Lizard+Wars+and+the+Comfort+PIN.png" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="2508" data-original-width="1254" height="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRfhXg-sGiHLdl1Gkt73D1uU00pIuWJNcPwRbLe47vnrfmvfiSnhB22fsObVRNb-1xeMp5bzVQ54KrQWJOyIjfNQslauUGRKH0UBDpJZ9mExnzacEQA0OYDLqiStUcSTOB2IttnNd1b8Pz/s600/Lizard+Wars+and+the+Comfort+PIN.png" /></a></div>
</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">If this post was meaningful to you, would you consider sharing it with a friend by clicking on one of the buttons below? Did you know you can receive bi-weekly Hungry for God posts sent directly to your email inbox? Visit http://www.lori-benotweary.blogspot.com and click on the link in the right hand corner to Subscribe Via Email.
Copyright 2018 by Lori Hatcher</div>Lori Hatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11675180460653949981noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4027870719667125440.post-48934055957435095302021-01-31T19:07:00.053-05:002021-01-31T19:07:00.131-05:00Grateful or Grumbling? How Are We Handling the Pandemic?<p><b><span style="font-size: large;"></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivCS4OT61n0IFMOwEVoJz12kRiezlU5owvK6LyXzRCxBsxHyeRz5eWv3kmIQ6bqnfHstWXws6P70JpRX1QBxZIsU4JYtW0kdDJk8Pkc0fQAOaM5c4HeovyjUermrJsIVXYq4IYJzF0IjXe/s1200/Grumbling+or+Grateful+Pandemic+FB.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="628" data-original-width="1200" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivCS4OT61n0IFMOwEVoJz12kRiezlU5owvK6LyXzRCxBsxHyeRz5eWv3kmIQ6bqnfHstWXws6P70JpRX1QBxZIsU4JYtW0kdDJk8Pkc0fQAOaM5c4HeovyjUermrJsIVXYq4IYJzF0IjXe/w640-h334/Grumbling+or+Grateful+Pandemic+FB.png" width="640" /></a></span></b></div><p><b><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">In five weeks I get to hug my mom and dad again. </span></b></span></b></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I haven’t hugged them since March 8, 2020, the day we celebrated Dad’s 84th birthday. It was the last day we gathered as a four-generation family. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">If I’d know it would be the last family celebration we’d enjoy in almost a year, we’d have lingered over cake. Poured another cup of coffee. Hugged harder. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">But in five weeks we’ll have the immunity (and the freedom) to hug responsibly. <i>Hug responsibly</i>—who would have thought this term would ever enter our vocabulary? Yet here it is. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>This isn’t a post about vaccines, so please don’t leave me unkind comments. </b>I've already been told that my legs are going to turn black and fall off, the only vaccine I need is Jesus, and that I’ve sold my soul to the antichrist. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I know not everyone feels comfortable with the vaccine. I respect your right to pray, do your research, and make the best decision possible for your family. Thank you for doing the same toward me.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Today I want to write about gratitude, </b>because my heart is full of it.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>I’m grateful God has preserved our immediate family.</b> We know families who haven’t been so fortunate, and my heart grieves with you.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3MHsk-j0BCQWEyQssRLSDygjj5IIU0h9iX9cQDoWt-ZNPLcK8qhgl4SfyMbSGpcJNmG_BVOFA4Jn5XMB8Dmga3-gb9Ys4v3GgJ8UzdWD1Ieu0Z0MpE0kuWywBWEgrgj1zWDWq9ISidEG2/s640/Mom+and+Dad+59+anniversary.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3MHsk-j0BCQWEyQssRLSDygjj5IIU0h9iX9cQDoWt-ZNPLcK8qhgl4SfyMbSGpcJNmG_BVOFA4Jn5XMB8Dmga3-gb9Ys4v3GgJ8UzdWD1Ieu0Z0MpE0kuWywBWEgrgj1zWDWq9ISidEG2/w400-h300/Mom+and+Dad+59+anniversary.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">I’m grateful for the approximately 46 meals my husband and I have shared with my parents—outside, on their deck, every Saturday night since March. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We bring groceries and share socially distant but emotionally close meals together. We've sweated through the summer and shivered through the winter, but we’ve also enjoyed many beautiful evenings out under the stars. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We’ve played games like Jeopardy and I Should Have Known That. Broken out the vinyl and sang along with Elvis and Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass. Listened to Dad’s Navy stories about saluting John F. Kennedy and strapping on a sidearm to escort a criminal to the brig. Mom has shared memories, too, about first cousins, first dates, and first homes. </span></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">I’m grateful for the unhurried time we’ve had together. </span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr0_eVJDs6PcyBxIi_Gpj5QYdTFH-ay5rdKr8lDSWneokk1Wrs7MH5ZePkfKGxWNW9LPC_PzYhGWgWsLXzMSDIqv6bRnq1IVP9CfUxKliL2AlOVAYgRxYv9HU_jEIjoi3cY_FGg49bKTSS/s640/Lori+PPE.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="481" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr0_eVJDs6PcyBxIi_Gpj5QYdTFH-ay5rdKr8lDSWneokk1Wrs7MH5ZePkfKGxWNW9LPC_PzYhGWgWsLXzMSDIqv6bRnq1IVP9CfUxKliL2AlOVAYgRxYv9HU_jEIjoi3cY_FGg49bKTSS/w300-h400/Lori+PPE.JPG" width="300" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">I’m grateful for every piece of PPE I’ve worn in the last ten months, no matter how much I've grumbled while wearing it. Masks, goggles, face shields, gowns. They’ve kept my coworkers and me safe during thousands of dental procedures on a host of unmasked patients. None of our staff has gotten infected, and we’ve kept our patients safe. </span><p></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">I’m grateful for God’s protection. </span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>I’m grateful for God’s provision, too.</b> My husband was furloughed for three and a half months when the country shut down. I've worked limited hours. We’ve quarantined twice after exposures. Several of my speaking engagements were cancelled, and the magazine I edited suspended publication, yet no bill went unpaid. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc-jfQd9lN-Peen9CJ2khPhp1rGh2MUVthIo4uXIf_u4Bj3-rkhUw6erY85v0dB_eeqrvka5nk_zw0OIdWUbcXFhZ7iouL7CbGQzWb_Q4A8gDkmsQUJJ5i1KxsBcoevyi83BNEss_sjo3L/s2048/chris-montgomery-smgTvepind4-unsplash.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc-jfQd9lN-Peen9CJ2khPhp1rGh2MUVthIo4uXIf_u4Bj3-rkhUw6erY85v0dB_eeqrvka5nk_zw0OIdWUbcXFhZ7iouL7CbGQzWb_Q4A8gDkmsQUJJ5i1KxsBcoevyi83BNEss_sjo3L/w400-h300/chris-montgomery-smgTvepind4-unsplash.jpg" width="400" /></a></b></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>I’m grateful for technology</b> that allows us to share game nights, Bible studies, and Sunday morning services. A good Sunday at our little church in pre-COVID days would find twenty people in the pews. Thanks to Facebook Live, we’ve ministered to people in Rhode Island, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Texas, and who knows where else. Multiply this by hundreds of thousands of churches broadcasting their services beyond the walls of their buildings, and we see how the gospel is reaching the uttermost corners of the world. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>I’m grateful God’s work is never hindered, and His Word never returns void. </b>Eternity will reveal how many people have placed their faith in Christ during this pandemic. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Finally, I’m grateful for God, who never changes, never fails, and never abandons us.</b> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Isaiah 43 says it all: </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">"But now, this is what the Lord says— he who created you, Jacob,
he who formed you, Israel: </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">'Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name; you are mine. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">For I am the Lord your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.'"</span></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpGK7EbQzhvIcTlTexC8O7BiVVCSrLEXNjh-rrXNIKFD4djvedVUqNkZxu2Z82FulWK_qNI_OEkfNYQgnULx3WMGZEukzYOuZHTUZd8VMDvI_bVEVnXXUYbQMGQDiW_MEJlrRXhA7IHk1t/s640/covid+hug.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpGK7EbQzhvIcTlTexC8O7BiVVCSrLEXNjh-rrXNIKFD4djvedVUqNkZxu2Z82FulWK_qNI_OEkfNYQgnULx3WMGZEukzYOuZHTUZd8VMDvI_bVEVnXXUYbQMGQDiW_MEJlrRXhA7IHk1t/w300-h400/covid+hug.jpg" width="300" /></a></span></b></div><b><span style="font-size: large;">I’ve read many posts spotlighting what 2020 and the pandemic has taken from us. </span></b><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I could have written one. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Instead, I'm choosing to push back the darkness of despair by shining the light of gratitude. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>And looking forward to those hugs.</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">How about you? </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>I’d love to hear what you’re grateful for as you look back on 2020 and the pandemic.</b> Leave a comment and share your thoughts. </span></p>
<br />
<br /><br /><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoFzwtYN2OP2YICv1lWIW3QVnYy0J4OUHfYdC9Geiu7z2J9nVqsdnLMrRiBPV2WBiX8xC6cJ8_I3bSQBt0TD7jH5ioOQNGABPR27_-a_SNa7e4Sb7jDC2V950qdp3OjspkHiTe8AdsSCkz/s1600/Lori+RYF+promo.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoFzwtYN2OP2YICv1lWIW3QVnYy0J4OUHfYdC9Geiu7z2J9nVqsdnLMrRiBPV2WBiX8xC6cJ8_I3bSQBt0TD7jH5ioOQNGABPR27_-a_SNa7e4Sb7jDC2V950qdp3OjspkHiTe8AdsSCkz/s400/Lori+RYF+promo.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">How's your commitment to read the Bible through this year? </span></b><div><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span><div><b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Do you need a resource to help you along?</span></b></div><div><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span><div><b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Does Your Faith Need Refreshing?</span></b><br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>That's in the Bible? I've never noticed that before!</i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: right;"><br /></span>
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: right;">It's probably been too long since you've newly discovered a story that speaks to your soul or a verse that pops with truth. But that's about to change!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=hunforgodstaf-20&language=en_US&l=li2&o=1&a=1640700072" style="border: none; margin: 0px;" width="1" />
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: right;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Refresh-Your-Faith-Uncommon-Devotions/dp/1640700072/ref=as_li_ss_il?crid=14NG6B0KUBCJO&dchild=1&keywords=refresh+your+faith+uncommon+devotions&qid=1586202483&sprefix=refresh+your+faith,aps,153&sr=8-1&linkCode=li2&tag=hunforgodstaf-20&linkId=d89de2370aee42c600232c31ec61130c&language=en_US" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></a><span style="font-size: large;"><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3iTnV1P">Refresh Your Faith</a> </i><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">contains 66 culturally relevant, story-driven devotions, one from each book of the Bible. Each real-life story spotlights an unusual verse or Bible passage that you may have overlooked in your usual Bible reading. Lori Hatcher challenges you with additional features like an </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">uncommon thought</i><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"> to ponder; an </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">unusual faith</i><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"> action step; and an </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">unfamiliar passage</i><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"> suggestion for additional Bible reading.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: large;">When the fabulous has become familiar and your quiet times are more like nap times, it's time to step out of spiritual boredom and ignite the spark that will keep you growing. No matter where you are on your faith journey, Lori's conversational and engaging style will challenge you to think about things you've never thought about before.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /></span>
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: large;"><b>“Real-life inspiration and candid wit. These 5-minute devotions will change your life.” —Psychologist and best-selling author Dr. Kevin Leman</b>, commenting on Lori Hatcher's devotional style</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg35AEIVN5j9XkDXOD3drHDi4uL4qmfGh2SNLE7PQVMuSOP-i7Bi1Q_Lpb0sdrkf9lddNKGGDsP23yl62Nt2JGoVCpG8A0IUqt5jaYDYc5zdIEME3bpzACMha0H-lUEuLZUBpEpQRLtZ3ZZ/s1600/HFG+CLOCK.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="275" data-original-width="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg35AEIVN5j9XkDXOD3drHDi4uL4qmfGh2SNLE7PQVMuSOP-i7Bi1Q_Lpb0sdrkf9lddNKGGDsP23yl62Nt2JGoVCpG8A0IUqt5jaYDYc5zdIEME3bpzACMha0H-lUEuLZUBpEpQRLtZ3ZZ/s1600/HFG+CLOCK.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Are you hungry for God, but starving for time? </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>I’d love to send you a 5-minute e-mail devotion <span style="color: red;">twice a week </span>to start your day off with the Lord. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">Sign up for a free subscription to Hungry for God by <a href="https://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=blogspot/VJOsH&loc=en_US">CLICKING HERE.</a></span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Then, be sure to VALIDATE the confirmation email you receive. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">Note: I promise never to spam you or share your email address.</span></b></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Because busy women need to connect with God in the craziness of everyday life.</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwRAH8dZoH5s4zz_eJJ-awIVIT7VLbv2Som32VLWBQhNh5iAFu0x5hu9wFov_zZWInhLbRQutbQwSOpjy-fHXP8bgOyIv63v39iKmSKjjyosWr6ZvHdEZrj3QRYi8t284QJmM9kenyl2-r/s640/Grumbling+or+Grateful+Pandemic+PIN.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="359" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwRAH8dZoH5s4zz_eJJ-awIVIT7VLbv2Som32VLWBQhNh5iAFu0x5hu9wFov_zZWInhLbRQutbQwSOpjy-fHXP8bgOyIv63v39iKmSKjjyosWr6ZvHdEZrj3QRYi8t284QJmM9kenyl2-r/w360-h640/Grumbling+or+Grateful+Pandemic+PIN.png" width="360" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></div>
<br />
</div></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">If this post was meaningful to you, would you consider sharing it with a friend by clicking on one of the buttons below? Did you know you can receive bi-weekly Hungry for God posts sent directly to your email inbox? Visit http://www.lori-benotweary.blogspot.com and click on the link in the right hand corner to Subscribe Via Email.
Copyright 2018 by Lori Hatcher</div>Lori Hatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11675180460653949981noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4027870719667125440.post-86084838007260804722021-01-17T20:06:00.018-05:002021-01-18T18:26:28.535-05:00Are You Sitting in the Dark?<p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFvKWwe9DwDOcsvzlQ87x9iyt_I1wl7v4fPOfMBFrh_e72sZetuNUUcJkQirh2orzcwZ_BQtVc_IFIujxHcIZbIcyyVdA9xc4ECnXWU-HtG80HbHMR2FBTOKT7xC6CYx54pgVRsSfuTobN/s2048/Are+You+Sitting+in+the+Dark+FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFvKWwe9DwDOcsvzlQ87x9iyt_I1wl7v4fPOfMBFrh_e72sZetuNUUcJkQirh2orzcwZ_BQtVc_IFIujxHcIZbIcyyVdA9xc4ECnXWU-HtG80HbHMR2FBTOKT7xC6CYx54pgVRsSfuTobN/w640-h360/Are+You+Sitting+in+the+Dark+FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><b>My friend Jean is visually impaired. </b>Because she can’t see our faces when our church gathers on Zoom, she usually turns off her camera and listens through the app’s audio feature. We hear her voice, but her square on the screen remains dark. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>I assumed she’d turned off her camera the other night when we gathered for a women’s Bible study.</b> (Twelve of us are studying Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth’s book,<i><a href="https://amzn.to/3bFxBM7" target="_blank"> Adorned,</a></i> about the Titus 2 woman.) </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">As I made introductions, I said, “And that’s Jean in the black square.” </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">“Oh,” she said, “can you not see me? I thought I turned my camera on.” </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We heard footsteps, then a rustling, then Jean’s smiling face appeared. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">“My camera was on,” she explained, “but Mike turned off the light.” </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Because Jean is totally blind, she doesn't need light to function. Her husband, Mike, also visually impaired, benefits from having the lights on. Hearing her in the room and knowing she didn’t need the light to participate in the study, he switched it off. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">This happened twice during our meeting. Each time we had to tell Jean she was in the dark, so she knew to turn the light back on. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Jean’s on-again-off-again darkness reminds me of my life. </b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Sometimes I get enveloped in the darkness of <b>anger, bitterness, confusion, or some other sin,</b> and I don’t know it. Like the darkness descending as the sun sets, it creeps up on me. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Other times <b>a crisis </b>plunges me into the inky blackness of fear, doubt, or unbelief.
I usually recognize when this happens, but sometimes, I sit in the darkness until someone else points it out. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkmgKXMyFEpdGkjKt-f_Ky2HDbAPO4o8qNtbpoKq99aCuZIn2jiX4Op0uPQmC68sj9iwuIbQXVN4Z1DcmWOvwn0LQnpq68VY9yeX9by7eF7DtTq2c3i7EBvvyN2bL-_HXZN-0fEFngJmND/s2048/lantern.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1356" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkmgKXMyFEpdGkjKt-f_Ky2HDbAPO4o8qNtbpoKq99aCuZIn2jiX4Op0uPQmC68sj9iwuIbQXVN4Z1DcmWOvwn0LQnpq68VY9yeX9by7eF7DtTq2c3i7EBvvyN2bL-_HXZN-0fEFngJmND/w265-h400/lantern.jpg" width="265" /></a></b></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>If I’m smart, I’ll flip on the light of God’s Word and study its principles so I can see clearly again. </b></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Jesus, the embodiment of God’s Word, is the Light that banishes every darkness we face. This is why Matthew included Isaiah’s prophecy in his gospel: “The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death Light has dawned.” </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>With Christ as my Savior and God’s Word as my lamp, I needn’t remain in the dark.</b> “I am the light of the world,” Jesus said, “He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life” (Matthew 8:12). </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Are you walking in darkness today?</b> Do you know someone who is? Allow the light of Christ—His salvation, His presence, and His Word—to banish every shadow that clouds your world. </span></p>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoFzwtYN2OP2YICv1lWIW3QVnYy0J4OUHfYdC9Geiu7z2J9nVqsdnLMrRiBPV2WBiX8xC6cJ8_I3bSQBt0TD7jH5ioOQNGABPR27_-a_SNa7e4Sb7jDC2V950qdp3OjspkHiTe8AdsSCkz/s1600/Lori+RYF+promo.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoFzwtYN2OP2YICv1lWIW3QVnYy0J4OUHfYdC9Geiu7z2J9nVqsdnLMrRiBPV2WBiX8xC6cJ8_I3bSQBt0TD7jH5ioOQNGABPR27_-a_SNa7e4Sb7jDC2V950qdp3OjspkHiTe8AdsSCkz/s400/Lori+RYF+promo.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">How's your commitment to read your Bible this year going?</span></b><div><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span><div><b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Do you need a resource to help you navigate the sometimes-confusing books of the Old and New Testament? </span></b></div><div><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span><div><b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Does Your Faith Need Refreshing?</span></b></div><div><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-size: large;"><b><i><a href="https://amzn.to/3q9CT6G" target="_blank">Refresh Your Faith, Uncommon Devotions from Every Book of the Bible</a></i> is the resource you need.<br /></b></span>
<b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>That's in the Bible? I've never noticed that before!</i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: right;"><br /></span>
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: right;">It's probably been too long since you've newly discovered a story that speaks to your soul or a verse that pops with truth. But that's about to change!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=hunforgodstaf-20&language=en_US&l=li2&o=1&a=1640700072" style="border: none; margin: 0px;" width="1" />
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: right;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Refresh-Your-Faith-Uncommon-Devotions/dp/1640700072/ref=as_li_ss_il?crid=14NG6B0KUBCJO&dchild=1&keywords=refresh+your+faith+uncommon+devotions&qid=1586202483&sprefix=refresh+your+faith,aps,153&sr=8-1&linkCode=li2&tag=hunforgodstaf-20&linkId=d89de2370aee42c600232c31ec61130c&language=en_US" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></a><span style="font-size: large;"><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3iTnV1P">Refresh Your Faith</a> </i><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">contains 66 culturally relevant, story-driven devotions, one from each book of the Bible. Each real-life story spotlights an unusual verse or Bible passage that you may have overlooked in your usual Bible reading. Lori Hatcher challenges you with additional features like an </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">uncommon thought</i><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"> to ponder; an </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">unusual faith</i><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"> action step; and an </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">unfamiliar passage</i><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"> suggestion for additional Bible reading.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: large;">When the fabulous has become familiar and your quiet times are more like nap times, it's time to step out of spiritual boredom and ignite the spark that will keep you growing. No matter where you are on your faith journey, Lori's conversational and engaging style will challenge you to think about things you've never thought about before.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /></span>
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: large;"><b>“Real-life inspiration and candid wit. These 5-minute devotions will change your life.” —Psychologist and best-selling author Dr. Kevin Leman</b>, commenting on Lori Hatcher's devotional style</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg35AEIVN5j9XkDXOD3drHDi4uL4qmfGh2SNLE7PQVMuSOP-i7Bi1Q_Lpb0sdrkf9lddNKGGDsP23yl62Nt2JGoVCpG8A0IUqt5jaYDYc5zdIEME3bpzACMha0H-lUEuLZUBpEpQRLtZ3ZZ/s1600/HFG+CLOCK.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="275" data-original-width="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg35AEIVN5j9XkDXOD3drHDi4uL4qmfGh2SNLE7PQVMuSOP-i7Bi1Q_Lpb0sdrkf9lddNKGGDsP23yl62Nt2JGoVCpG8A0IUqt5jaYDYc5zdIEME3bpzACMha0H-lUEuLZUBpEpQRLtZ3ZZ/s1600/HFG+CLOCK.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Are you hungry for God, but starving for time? </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>I’d love to send you a 5-minute e-mail devotion <span style="color: red;">twice a week </span>to start your day off with the Lord. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">Sign up for a free subscription to Hungry for God by <a href="https://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=blogspot/VJOsH&loc=en_US">CLICKING HERE.</a></span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Then, be sure to VALIDATE the confirmation email you receive. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">Note: I promise never to spam you or share your email address.</span></b></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Because busy women need to connect with God in the craziness of everyday life.</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNATHBY7atHaeUZyLnPuNau-ChwgmAgmChWbxQeDJTyUVL7QweXyaQElSeSbopHi8-s9y61mnuugFBvAehPpKEy7CbtlyCBgvpzvX3YpImByDdjM1SfBhaRq6foCmL7SWjP4KkJvqdTOrf/s2048/Are+You+Sitting+in+the+Dark+PIN.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1229" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNATHBY7atHaeUZyLnPuNau-ChwgmAgmChWbxQeDJTyUVL7QweXyaQElSeSbopHi8-s9y61mnuugFBvAehPpKEy7CbtlyCBgvpzvX3YpImByDdjM1SfBhaRq6foCmL7SWjP4KkJvqdTOrf/w384-h640/Are+You+Sitting+in+the+Dark+PIN.png" width="384" /></a></div><br /><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></div>
<br />
</div></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">If this post was meaningful to you, would you consider sharing it with a friend by clicking on one of the buttons below? Did you know you can receive bi-weekly Hungry for God posts sent directly to your email inbox? Visit http://www.lori-benotweary.blogspot.com and click on the link in the right hand corner to Subscribe Via Email.
Copyright 2018 by Lori Hatcher</div>Lori Hatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11675180460653949981noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4027870719667125440.post-48598389117383491982021-01-13T20:23:00.003-05:002021-01-13T20:23:03.205-05:0010 Top Privileges of Grandparenting -- A Crosswalk Guest Post<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMSQUwfqmygAaWvMFoy_IWmaXdZKtWqMi7UPNrAo4omdUDEV-MH3ow9bSC_uevtyZ3pXxucfBHrlEM5SRfbR5w6WVdHPXGSjnrIH-Nbb2oEwGezsYDgMPK2Xs_aoWpDP8fyPXIRPkTSAiE/s1200/10+Top+Privileges+of+Grandparenting+FB.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMSQUwfqmygAaWvMFoy_IWmaXdZKtWqMi7UPNrAo4omdUDEV-MH3ow9bSC_uevtyZ3pXxucfBHrlEM5SRfbR5w6WVdHPXGSjnrIH-Nbb2oEwGezsYDgMPK2Xs_aoWpDP8fyPXIRPkTSAiE/w400-h400/10+Top+Privileges+of+Grandparenting+FB.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">To the psalmist, grandparenthood is one of God’s great
blessings. In Psalm 128, a Song of Ascent sung by travelers walking the dusty
roads to Jerusalem, the psalmist lists the blessings God often bestows on those
who love God: the ability to enjoy the fruit of our labor, a joy-filled home,
and many children. With a flourish, he tops his ice cream sundae of blessings
with the proverbial cherry: “May you live to see your children’s children.”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Author Bryna Nelson Paston writes, “Truth be told, being a
grandma is as close as we ever get to perfection. The ultimate warm sticky bun
with plump raisins and nuts. Clouds nine, ten, and eleven.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">If you have grandchildren, you know what I’m talking about. If you are a parent, just wait. Your day will come. Today,
let’s consider ten top privileges of grandparenting.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;">I'm guest posting today on Crosswalk.com. To read the rest of this article (and perhaps add a few privileges of your own), <a href="https://www.crosswalk.com/family/parenting/grandparenting/greatest-things-about-being-a-grandparent.html" target="_blank">CLICK HERE. </a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoFzwtYN2OP2YICv1lWIW3QVnYy0J4OUHfYdC9Geiu7z2J9nVqsdnLMrRiBPV2WBiX8xC6cJ8_I3bSQBt0TD7jH5ioOQNGABPR27_-a_SNa7e4Sb7jDC2V950qdp3OjspkHiTe8AdsSCkz/s1600/Lori+RYF+promo.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoFzwtYN2OP2YICv1lWIW3QVnYy0J4OUHfYdC9Geiu7z2J9nVqsdnLMrRiBPV2WBiX8xC6cJ8_I3bSQBt0TD7jH5ioOQNGABPR27_-a_SNa7e4Sb7jDC2V950qdp3OjspkHiTe8AdsSCkz/s400/Lori+RYF+promo.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Does Your Faith Need Refreshing? </span></b><div><b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Did you make a commitment to read through the Bible this year? </span></b></div><div><b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Are you looking for a devotional to compliment your Bible reading? </span></b><div><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-size: large;"><b><i><a href="https://amzn.to/3sftOLh" target="_blank">Refresh Your Faith, Uncommon Devotions from Every Book of the Bible</a></i> is that resource.<br /></b></span>
<b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>That's in the Bible? I've never noticed that before!</i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: right;"><br /></span>
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: right;">It's probably been too long since you've newly discovered a story that speaks to your soul or a verse that pops with truth. But that's about to change!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=hunforgodstaf-20&language=en_US&l=li2&o=1&a=1640700072" style="border: none; margin: 0px;" width="1" /><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: right;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Refresh-Your-Faith-Uncommon-Devotions/dp/1640700072/ref=as_li_ss_il?crid=14NG6B0KUBCJO&dchild=1&keywords=refresh+your+faith+uncommon+devotions&qid=1586202483&sprefix=refresh+your+faith,aps,153&sr=8-1&linkCode=li2&tag=hunforgodstaf-20&linkId=d89de2370aee42c600232c31ec61130c&language=en_US" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></a><span style="font-size: large;"><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3iTnV1P">Refresh Your Faith</a> </i><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">contains 66 culturally relevant, story-driven devotions, one from each book of the Bible. Each real-life story spotlights an unusual verse or Bible passage that you may have overlooked in your usual Bible reading. Lori Hatcher challenges you with additional features like an </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">uncommon thought</i><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"> to ponder; an </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">unusual faith</i><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"> action step; and an </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">unfamiliar passage</i><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"> suggestion for additional Bible reading.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: large;">When the fabulous has become familiar and your quiet times are more like nap times, it's time to step out of spiritual boredom and ignite the spark that will keep you growing. No matter where you are on your faith journey, Lori's conversational and engaging style will challenge you to think about things you've never thought about before.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /></span>
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: large;"><b>“Real-life inspiration and candid wit. These 5-minute devotions will change your life.” —Psychologist and best-selling author Dr. Kevin Leman</b>, commenting on Lori Hatcher's devotional style</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg35AEIVN5j9XkDXOD3drHDi4uL4qmfGh2SNLE7PQVMuSOP-i7Bi1Q_Lpb0sdrkf9lddNKGGDsP23yl62Nt2JGoVCpG8A0IUqt5jaYDYc5zdIEME3bpzACMha0H-lUEuLZUBpEpQRLtZ3ZZ/s1600/HFG+CLOCK.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="275" data-original-width="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg35AEIVN5j9XkDXOD3drHDi4uL4qmfGh2SNLE7PQVMuSOP-i7Bi1Q_Lpb0sdrkf9lddNKGGDsP23yl62Nt2JGoVCpG8A0IUqt5jaYDYc5zdIEME3bpzACMha0H-lUEuLZUBpEpQRLtZ3ZZ/s1600/HFG+CLOCK.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Are you hungry for God, but starving for time? </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>I’d love to send you a 5-minute e-mail devotion <span style="color: red;">twice a week </span>to start your day off with the Lord. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">Sign up for a free subscription to Hungry for God by <a href="https://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=blogspot/VJOsH&loc=en_US">CLICKING HERE.</a></span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Then, be sure to VALIDATE the confirmation email you receive. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">Note: I promise never to spam you or share your email address.</span></b></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Because busy women need to connect with God in the craziness of everyday life.</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaoRSXdZzTbXAL9s-nvpnAekhxUDcJ_9_6nmcNc9eQzMCBqJnq62STUIrIXoafvBKI_gVtyu4K2MtT5kablUvfEO3yRVfYAh18qevucgBKeLqbewOtqQKiI-VrPP14v-mBxjkeIcoR3pxE/s1500/10+Top+Privileges+of+Grandparenting+PIN.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaoRSXdZzTbXAL9s-nvpnAekhxUDcJ_9_6nmcNc9eQzMCBqJnq62STUIrIXoafvBKI_gVtyu4K2MtT5kablUvfEO3yRVfYAh18qevucgBKeLqbewOtqQKiI-VrPP14v-mBxjkeIcoR3pxE/w426-h640/10+Top+Privileges+of+Grandparenting+PIN.png" width="426" /></a></div><br /><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
</div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">If this post was meaningful to you, would you consider sharing it with a friend by clicking on one of the buttons below? Did you know you can receive bi-weekly Hungry for God posts sent directly to your email inbox? Visit http://www.lori-benotweary.blogspot.com and click on the link in the right hand corner to Subscribe Via Email.
Copyright 2018 by Lori Hatcher</div>Lori Hatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11675180460653949981noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4027870719667125440.post-16747854692694708122021-01-10T15:18:00.012-05:002021-01-10T16:15:00.054-05:00Wrestling with Waves -- When Faith and Fear Collide<div class="separator"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcMW73UT4mZ1HlpAQ6TLU8ysuAi5_XOPNGDNMgooivylrXxkF8CuSgsHnp07rH0kaFfHsoSkyDcsTx4qbjgfKkdW_t-gI3iuUf4l9QFL_Wax7_AnMI0umFM6HczcV5jZ1wOlhVVA3Qhren/s1600/Wresting+with+Waves+FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcMW73UT4mZ1HlpAQ6TLU8ysuAi5_XOPNGDNMgooivylrXxkF8CuSgsHnp07rH0kaFfHsoSkyDcsTx4qbjgfKkdW_t-gI3iuUf4l9QFL_Wax7_AnMI0umFM6HczcV5jZ1wOlhVVA3Qhren/w640-h320/Wresting+with+Waves+FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><div><span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><i>In the dead of winter, sometimes it's nice to dream of summer. Today I'm reposting one of my favorite posts, "Wresting with Waves, When Faith and Fear Collide." Winter, Spring, Summer, or Fall, the truths it contains will comfort and encourage you.</i></div></span><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b><div><br /></div><div>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Lauren's sandcastle was a beauty. </span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Carefully-selected seashells encircled the main building. Four turrets containing imaginary princesses marked the perimeter. A dragon-thwarting moat surrounded it all. My six-year-old granddaughter, Lauren, had spent the better part of an hour creating her masterpiece. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Stepping back to admire her work, <b>she noticed something she hadn’t seen before</b>—the tide. Reaching toward her creation, the sea’s arms extended then retreated, ominous in their subtle advance. Her back had been turned toward the ocean during construction, so Lauren hadn’t given the water a thought. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">But now the threat was real. </span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy3J_uP4e6pblzCILIOZeyk098dm95qm-gHXPqk8-BzY9pYjJnOr5YeTR1jPOqQCtmrQm0oCcXuT4y6wZ0rDw6HEvDyWoCuw_o8I9j-BU39Jp3zYrw3xCLxIBUE592GSXmYagGI9PK8cCH/s1600/wrestling+with+waves+3.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy3J_uP4e6pblzCILIOZeyk098dm95qm-gHXPqk8-BzY9pYjJnOr5YeTR1jPOqQCtmrQm0oCcXuT4y6wZ0rDw6HEvDyWoCuw_o8I9j-BU39Jp3zYrw3xCLxIBUE592GSXmYagGI9PK8cCH/s400/wrestling+with+waves+3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Like a superhero squaring off against the enemy, she positioned herself between the sea and her beloved creation. Thrusting her hands toward the advancing waves, she bellowed, “NO!” </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>For a moment, the sea slithered away.</b> Then, gathering strength, it rushed forward for another assault. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">“GO BACK” she cried, willing the sea to retreat.
The tug of war continued until, with a mighty heave, the ocean roared past her restraining arms and over the castle, sucking the seashells off and drowning the imaginary princesses. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiisPcN3xiYiTxcjCpqUb8Nf_NP0jbQumiVyyvFlNXCUP5CYp3-2sIvolZ-LuZ6uEjd7_6cfzKYhMjV7Y9TNuptaopJHzsRmV4CUJwR36UtHFA08Vk1u1QfZXs-8B3LVBZl-Mlp2ZjlLtLs/s1600/Wresting+with+Waves+2.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiisPcN3xiYiTxcjCpqUb8Nf_NP0jbQumiVyyvFlNXCUP5CYp3-2sIvolZ-LuZ6uEjd7_6cfzKYhMjV7Y9TNuptaopJHzsRmV4CUJwR36UtHFA08Vk1u1QfZXs-8B3LVBZl-Mlp2ZjlLtLs/s400/Wresting+with+Waves+2.jpg" width="400" /></a><b><span style="font-size: large;">Crushed by her inability to protect her creation, Lauren hung her head in defeat. </span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I’ve often felt like Lauren. Weak in the face of an insurmountable challenge. Frightened by things I can’t control. Threatened by forces too mighty for my feeble strength.
Death. Disease. Evil. A prodigal child. A troubled marriage. A challenging work environment. All these and more make us feel powerless and scared. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Like Lauren, I've wondered if it’s only a matter of time before fearsome waves swallow everything I’ve worked so hard for. </span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Lauren isn’t the only one who’s had a tussle with the sea. </b>Jesus’ disciples faced a similar challenge.
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">“On the same day, when evening had come, [Jesus] said to them, ‘Let us cross over to the other side.’ And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">“But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him,<b> ‘Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?</b>’” (Mark 4:35, 37-38). </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Have you ever asked God this question?</b> Wondered if He was asleep? Immune to your struggle? Unconcerned about your suffering and distress? </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Yet even in their terror, <b>the disciples did the right thing</b>—they ran to the One who could save them. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">“Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, ‘Peace, be still!’ And the wind ceased and there was a great calm” (v 38). </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Lauren didn’t have the power to protect her sand castle, nor do we have the power to protect our children, our jobs, our marriages, our possessions, or our positions. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>But God does.</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">And we can trust Him to order the circumstances of our lives for our good and for His glory. Whether He quiets the storm, removes it completely, or rides it out in the boat with us, we can trust that He’ll bring us to the other side. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>How do I know?</b>
Because He promised. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">As He said to the disciples, so He says to us, “Let <i>us</i> go over to the other side.” </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">In His omniscience, He knew there’d be a storm, <b>but storms don’t change His plan.</b> “I’ll carry you over every white-capped wave,” he promised, “hold you when you’re frightened, and sustain you when you have no faith. We will make it to the other side—together.” </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>“Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?”</b> (v 39). </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Lauren learned that day that she was powerless before the mighty force of the ocean. Life’s storms have caused me to realize a similar helplessness. Her attempt gave me the opportunity to remind her of a truth she can cling to all the days of her life. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">“You aren’t strong enough to keep the ocean in its place,” I told her, “but <b>there’s Someone who is</b>. Do you know who He is?” </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">“God?” </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">“Yep. <b>Aren’t you glad nothing is too hard for Him?</b>”</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">“Yes,” she said, shrugging her shoulders. “But I wish he’d put the ocean a little farther away from my sandcastle.” </span></div><div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoFzwtYN2OP2YICv1lWIW3QVnYy0J4OUHfYdC9Geiu7z2J9nVqsdnLMrRiBPV2WBiX8xC6cJ8_I3bSQBt0TD7jH5ioOQNGABPR27_-a_SNa7e4Sb7jDC2V950qdp3OjspkHiTe8AdsSCkz/s1600/Lori+RYF+promo.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoFzwtYN2OP2YICv1lWIW3QVnYy0J4OUHfYdC9Geiu7z2J9nVqsdnLMrRiBPV2WBiX8xC6cJ8_I3bSQBt0TD7jH5ioOQNGABPR27_-a_SNa7e4Sb7jDC2V950qdp3OjspkHiTe8AdsSCkz/s400/Lori+RYF+promo.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Does Your Faith Need Refreshing? </span></b></div><div><span style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Have you committed to read through the Bible this year?</b></span></div><div><span style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Are you looking for a devotional to go along with your reading?</b></span></div><div><span style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><i><a href="https://amzn.to/3sftOLh" target="_blank">Refresh Your Faith, Uncommon Devotions from Every Book of the Bible</a> </i>is that book!<br /></b></span>
<b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>That's in the Bible? I've never noticed that before!</i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: right;"><br /></span>
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: right;">It's probably been too long since you've newly discovered a story that speaks to your soul or a verse that pops with truth. But that's about to change!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=hunforgodstaf-20&language=en_US&l=li2&o=1&a=1640700072" style="border: none; margin: 0px;" width="1" />
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: right;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Refresh-Your-Faith-Uncommon-Devotions/dp/1640700072/ref=as_li_ss_il?crid=14NG6B0KUBCJO&dchild=1&keywords=refresh+your+faith+uncommon+devotions&qid=1586202483&sprefix=refresh+your+faith,aps,153&sr=8-1&linkCode=li2&tag=hunforgodstaf-20&linkId=d89de2370aee42c600232c31ec61130c&language=en_US" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></a><span style="font-size: large;"><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3sftOLh" target="_blank">Refresh Your Faith</a> </i><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">contains 66 culturally relevant, story-driven devotions, one from each book of the Bible. Each real-life story spotlights an unusual verse or Bible passage that you may have overlooked in your usual Bible reading. Lori Hatcher challenges you with additional features like an </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">uncommon thought</i><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"> to ponder; an </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">unusual faith</i><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"> action step; and an </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">unfamiliar passage</i><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"> suggestion for additional Bible reading.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: large;">When the fabulous has become familiar and your quiet times are more like nap times, it's time to step out of spiritual boredom and ignite the spark that will keep you growing. No matter where you are on your faith journey, Lori's conversational and engaging style will challenge you to think about things you've never thought about before.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /></span>
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: large;"><b>“Real-life inspiration and candid wit. These 5-minute devotions will change your life.” —Psychologist and best-selling author Dr. Kevin Leman</b>, commenting on Lori Hatcher's devotional style</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg35AEIVN5j9XkDXOD3drHDi4uL4qmfGh2SNLE7PQVMuSOP-i7Bi1Q_Lpb0sdrkf9lddNKGGDsP23yl62Nt2JGoVCpG8A0IUqt5jaYDYc5zdIEME3bpzACMha0H-lUEuLZUBpEpQRLtZ3ZZ/s1600/HFG+CLOCK.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="275" data-original-width="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg35AEIVN5j9XkDXOD3drHDi4uL4qmfGh2SNLE7PQVMuSOP-i7Bi1Q_Lpb0sdrkf9lddNKGGDsP23yl62Nt2JGoVCpG8A0IUqt5jaYDYc5zdIEME3bpzACMha0H-lUEuLZUBpEpQRLtZ3ZZ/s1600/HFG+CLOCK.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Are you hungry for God, but starving for time? </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>I’d love to send you a 5-minute e-mail devotion <span style="color: red;">twice a week </span>to start your day off with the Lord. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">Sign up for a free subscription to Hungry for God by <a href="https://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=blogspot/VJOsH&loc=en_US">CLICKING HERE.</a></span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Then, be sure to VALIDATE the confirmation email you receive. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">Note: I promise never to spam you or share your email address.</span></b></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Because busy women need to connect with God in the craziness of everyday life.</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBthvBrbLq132PDQaedo2sew3x5PvwvBJUeReIE53h_pgBzWO3K_QlDr6LpMXw_ibojctCHhDtBE6jyJRkO_hWsdd7Xjqk_jAHKNOOwyZBmZ_QRwutX4nS_BMqffo__UJFwyAnHHkP41ug/s2508/Wrestling+with+Waves+PIN.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2508" data-original-width="1254" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBthvBrbLq132PDQaedo2sew3x5PvwvBJUeReIE53h_pgBzWO3K_QlDr6LpMXw_ibojctCHhDtBE6jyJRkO_hWsdd7Xjqk_jAHKNOOwyZBmZ_QRwutX4nS_BMqffo__UJFwyAnHHkP41ug/w320-h640/Wrestling+with+Waves+PIN.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">If this post was meaningful to you, would you consider sharing it with a friend by clicking on one of the buttons below? Did you know you can receive bi-weekly Hungry for God posts sent directly to your email inbox? Visit http://www.lori-benotweary.blogspot.com and click on the link in the right hand corner to Subscribe Via Email.
Copyright 2018 by Lori Hatcher</div>Lori Hatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11675180460653949981noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4027870719667125440.post-37215494153372585682021-01-03T19:00:00.002-05:002021-01-04T17:43:50.228-05:00"I Just Love It to Death!" Can You Say this About Your Bible?<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoRC1M51NfvZW9ekxJOyRsmAsOyZhDPcdElRZ-guFCIHtYW-21t1kykHK-Qc1XvRup7ygtxl19FVLhLLP4EvAi21BwrToONdA8FRK8MxBOBrH81eUTMea_s_21ZjHUEZiRjzmRTeu0wpC8/s1200/I+Just+Love+It+To+Death+FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoRC1M51NfvZW9ekxJOyRsmAsOyZhDPcdElRZ-guFCIHtYW-21t1kykHK-Qc1XvRup7ygtxl19FVLhLLP4EvAi21BwrToONdA8FRK8MxBOBrH81eUTMea_s_21ZjHUEZiRjzmRTeu0wpC8/w640-h320/I+Just+Love+It+To+Death+FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We have a saying in the South to describe feeling strong emotion for something or someone over a long period of time. Spoken with just the right twang and touch of sweet-tea-sweetness, it goes like this:
<b>“I just love it to death.” </b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We might say it about our bestie: “I love her to death.” </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Or about our church: “I just love it to death.” </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Or even about spending a week at the beach every summer: “I just love it to death.” </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">My mom (a transplanted Yankee trying to fit in with her Southern neighbors) said this about my childhood stuffed animal, Ellie: “She just loved her to death.” </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguSIVekKszMCf6s158yd6IXFxA_lJChRErjchb7Srri_s011HPSUnIq5TopbTHyqrAYkd0w7drn4s0za3PhuB0Jq9DmDnExUYpxfZL3ZNAN-5TY_m6Ver_UxMrVfV74giWJAtXzLctjsUp/s640/Ellie+Vertical.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguSIVekKszMCf6s158yd6IXFxA_lJChRErjchb7Srri_s011HPSUnIq5TopbTHyqrAYkd0w7drn4s0za3PhuB0Jq9DmDnExUYpxfZL3ZNAN-5TY_m6Ver_UxMrVfV74giWJAtXzLctjsUp/w300-h400/Ellie+Vertical.jpg" width="300" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;">The truth of her statement is apparent. Ellie’s well-fondled ears are hanging on by a thread (literally). The top of her head is spotted with tears, snot, and probably peanut butter from all the times I tucked her under my chin and cried. And her trunk? Well, let’s just say that when I was trying to break my habit of thumb sucking, I might have chewed on it a time or two. </span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>I loved Ellie to death. </b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Now that I’m a grown up, other things have replaced Ellie in my heart. </b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I recently posted a picture on social media of my Bible and included this challenge: </span></p><p><i><span style="font-size: large;">This year, as I have done for more than 20, I’ve committed to read the Bible through. This practice, more than anything else I’ve ever done, has filled me with hope, grown my faith, refined my character, and birthed in me a greater love for God and others. If you read the Bible daily, what benefits have you experienced? If you don’t, why not commit to this year? I promise you won’t regret it. </span></i></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCnTEJRINDaj9FaH2BaGt-o5B8DvVH6KwTqxXYXIzxWkRBIWf5YVmyj4GaWaAjGbcXB7D2TUuujPub1wq9ir8tCh4NbxscE0j9_C2cTVdw2KoxJryqqbJVW9bRqKNYPi4D7SR_0jgOG0Ff/s2016/Bible+cover.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCnTEJRINDaj9FaH2BaGt-o5B8DvVH6KwTqxXYXIzxWkRBIWf5YVmyj4GaWaAjGbcXB7D2TUuujPub1wq9ir8tCh4NbxscE0j9_C2cTVdw2KoxJryqqbJVW9bRqKNYPi4D7SR_0jgOG0Ff/w300-h400/Bible+cover.jpg" width="300" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">One of my friends, commented, <b><i>That poor old MacArthur Bible</i>. </b></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">She was referring to my Bible’s pitiful appearance. The spine has a seam down the front from all the times I’ve opened and closed it. The title is barely readable, and the leather cover is worn through on the edges to reveal the fabric beneath it. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I responded to my friend’s comment with, <b>I've loved it to death. </b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">And I have. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Since 2011, I’ve clung to this Bible like an anchor when the storms of life threatened to drown me. I’ve held it up in praise when God has done miraculous things in my family’s life. I’ve carried it halfway around the world in suitcases, backpacks, and travel bags. It’s made it through customs in Mexico, Japan, and Spain (not to mention Atlanta). </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Like Ellie in my childhood, this Bible and its predecessors have been my constant companion through most of my adult life. <b>Not as a lucky rabbit’s foot, but as a link to the God I serve. </b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">For decades I’ve opened my Bible desperate for hope, meaning, direction, and inspiration. I’ve found wisdom to navigate life’s challenges, promises to claim for those I love, and instruction in how to live.
Its pages are covered in scribbles, notes, and underlines. I’ve marked promises, warnings, insight, and encouragement. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjniZ0uVsGKcp-6f0Em1wvrFiP3wVRdMW1tD71PduSIfbtKVdSPBeIhzQKsg3KEkt2ZCjQ6mztlT07P9TA86sZfbASb_e7EgmnCG-NS1jY58rcmzEPSl3oN1-dzp1t3JBP6nH9QulQWnh2W/s640/Bible+inside.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjniZ0uVsGKcp-6f0Em1wvrFiP3wVRdMW1tD71PduSIfbtKVdSPBeIhzQKsg3KEkt2ZCjQ6mztlT07P9TA86sZfbASb_e7EgmnCG-NS1jY58rcmzEPSl3oN1-dzp1t3JBP6nH9QulQWnh2W/s320/Bible+inside.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">In its margins I’ve written prayers for family members and circled God’s promises. I’ve noted significant life events like the day I submitted my first manuscript and the dates my grandchildren were born. Tear stains mark the promises for salvation I prayed over for years before my prodigals surrendered to Christ. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>If my house was on fire, and I had time to grab one thing, I’d grab my Bible</b>.
Like my friend observed, I’ve loved it to death. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>If my life was ending, and I had time to speak one final sentence, I’d say, “Read your Bible.”</b> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Why?</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Every time we open our Bibles, God's voice speaks to us. <b>And who doesn’t need to hear God’s voice? </b>Every single day of our life? </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>I’ve discovered, in my almost forty years of walking with God, that life goes better when I read His Word every day.</b> Not because I earn brownie points with God, but because I need what He has to say. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I need instruction in how to live as a Christian in a non-Christian world. I need to be reminded that a better life awaits me. I need to know God’s promises so I can pray them for myself and others. I need the challenge and comfort of Christ’s example to know that I can remain faithful to the end. I need hope when I’m frightened, and peace when I’m troubled. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>I need God. </b></span></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">Every day. </span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God,” John 1: 1 tells me.
In the Word, I find God. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRQl94B4nTkLWWP3o9gUmqV-JF6F1-v6VaEb5dfVtDtHUP-KSN51oygWSUoM8Ypl0MsxCSlsdYlPcvuMwP_jFQZwFFLjGgb4MYHPsDgGy0QfoR5dbn6e_Vnc2dP1682WuSlfhEtLjBAqOl/s640/Bible+flyleaf+L.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRQl94B4nTkLWWP3o9gUmqV-JF6F1-v6VaEb5dfVtDtHUP-KSN51oygWSUoM8Ypl0MsxCSlsdYlPcvuMwP_jFQZwFFLjGgb4MYHPsDgGy0QfoR5dbn6e_Vnc2dP1682WuSlfhEtLjBAqOl/s320/Bible+flyleaf+L.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">This year, I’d like to invite you to join me in reading the Bible every day. If you read for fifteen minutes a day, you’ll read through the Bible in a year. But even if you only read for five, your life will be better, and your spiritual life will grow. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">One day, someone may look at your Bible and say, “She loved it to death.” </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>And God will smile.</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">“Your testimonies I have taken as a heritage forever, for they are the rejoicing of my heart” Psalm 119:111. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">If you’re committed to read your Bible every day this year, please leave a comment in the box below. I want to pray for you. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Happy New Year! </span></p><p><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoFzwtYN2OP2YICv1lWIW3QVnYy0J4OUHfYdC9Geiu7z2J9nVqsdnLMrRiBPV2WBiX8xC6cJ8_I3bSQBt0TD7jH5ioOQNGABPR27_-a_SNa7e4Sb7jDC2V950qdp3OjspkHiTe8AdsSCkz/s1600/Lori+RYF+promo.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoFzwtYN2OP2YICv1lWIW3QVnYy0J4OUHfYdC9Geiu7z2J9nVqsdnLMrRiBPV2WBiX8xC6cJ8_I3bSQBt0TD7jH5ioOQNGABPR27_-a_SNa7e4Sb7jDC2V950qdp3OjspkHiTe8AdsSCkz/s400/Lori+RYF+promo.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><p><b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Does Your Faith Need Refreshing? Are you looking for a companion book to accompany you as you read through the Bible this year?</span></b></p><p><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-size: large;"><b>Here's what readers are saying about Lori's newest book:<br /></b></span><b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>That's in the Bible? I've never noticed that before!</i></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: right;"><br /></span><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: right;">It's probably been too long since you've newly discovered a story that speaks to your soul or a verse that pops with truth. But that's about to change!</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=hunforgodstaf-20&language=en_US&l=li2&o=1&a=1640700072" style="border: none; margin: 0px;" width="1" /> <span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: right;"><br /></span></span><br /><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Refresh-Your-Faith-Uncommon-Devotions/dp/1640700072/ref=as_li_ss_il?crid=14NG6B0KUBCJO&dchild=1&keywords=refresh+your+faith+uncommon+devotions&qid=1586202483&sprefix=refresh+your+faith,aps,153&sr=8-1&linkCode=li2&tag=hunforgodstaf-20&linkId=d89de2370aee42c600232c31ec61130c&language=en_US" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></a><span style="font-size: large;"><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3iTnV1P">Refresh Your Faith</a> </i><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">contains 66 culturally relevant, story-driven devotions, one from each book of the Bible. Each real-life story spotlights an unusual verse or Bible passage that you may have overlooked in your usual Bible reading. Lori Hatcher challenges you with additional features like an </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">uncommon thought</i><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"> to ponder; an </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">unusual faith</i><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"> action step; and an </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">unfamiliar passage</i><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"> suggestion for additional Bible reading.</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: large;">When the fabulous has become familiar and your quiet times are more like nap times, it's time to step out of spiritual boredom and ignite the spark that will keep you growing. No matter where you are on your faith journey, Lori's conversational and engaging style will challenge you to think about things you've never thought about before.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /></span><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: large;"><b>“Real-life inspiration and candid wit. These 5-minute devotions will change your life.” —Psychologist and best-selling author Dr. Kevin Leman</b>, commenting on Lori Hatcher's devotional style</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg35AEIVN5j9XkDXOD3drHDi4uL4qmfGh2SNLE7PQVMuSOP-i7Bi1Q_Lpb0sdrkf9lddNKGGDsP23yl62Nt2JGoVCpG8A0IUqt5jaYDYc5zdIEME3bpzACMha0H-lUEuLZUBpEpQRLtZ3ZZ/s1600/HFG+CLOCK.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="275" data-original-width="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg35AEIVN5j9XkDXOD3drHDi4uL4qmfGh2SNLE7PQVMuSOP-i7Bi1Q_Lpb0sdrkf9lddNKGGDsP23yl62Nt2JGoVCpG8A0IUqt5jaYDYc5zdIEME3bpzACMha0H-lUEuLZUBpEpQRLtZ3ZZ/s1600/HFG+CLOCK.jpg" /></a></span></div><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /></p><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Are you hungry for God, but starving for time? </b></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>I’d love to send you a 5-minute e-mail devotion <span style="color: red;">twice a week </span>to start your day off with the Lord. </b></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">Sign up for a free subscription to Hungry for God by <a href="https://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=blogspot/VJOsH&loc=en_US">CLICKING HERE.</a></span></b></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Then, be sure to VALIDATE the confirmation email you receive. </b></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">Note: I promise never to spam you or share your email address.</span></b></span></div><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /></p><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Because busy women need to connect with God in the craziness of everyday life.</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin10t63JtTD4kAqoC1JkN_FMsIwLtVo8lj77RfpVL0Bsr5L7Ipq1cDO1F2Ev3jT21UrFtj06R5N9SnCiT73ZW_lOMggueDEhRzVMBTxCBPocKb0AHSAwR66f7WGFwB-tW21_NphlTLhyphenhyphenxJ/s2508/I+Love+It+To+Death+PIN.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2508" data-original-width="1254" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin10t63JtTD4kAqoC1JkN_FMsIwLtVo8lj77RfpVL0Bsr5L7Ipq1cDO1F2Ev3jT21UrFtj06R5N9SnCiT73ZW_lOMggueDEhRzVMBTxCBPocKb0AHSAwR66f7WGFwB-tW21_NphlTLhyphenhyphenxJ/w320-h640/I+Love+It+To+Death+PIN.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="blogger-post-footer">If this post was meaningful to you, would you consider sharing it with a friend by clicking on one of the buttons below? Did you know you can receive bi-weekly Hungry for God posts sent directly to your email inbox? Visit http://www.lori-benotweary.blogspot.com and click on the link in the right hand corner to Subscribe Via Email.
Copyright 2018 by Lori Hatcher</div>Lori Hatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11675180460653949981noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4027870719667125440.post-60715056575955396492020-12-30T18:45:00.040-05:002020-12-30T18:45:01.325-05:0010 Things Your Adult Children Wish You'd Say to Your Grandkids <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFJp_6ZSlMHNBxAU5wCnQG4HAlx68GiZ0koqooEz6nCWojCbpxg_ZAXeMf7i9vUShBiPUvQPZjvO-t3ixp8hzwk-4Il1f94_hqc1we4LHSsa9QOhyphenhyphen7RQGQ11OZ8Nxrk20bFFzWvXAWcs6g/s1200/10+Things+Your+Adult+Children+FB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFJp_6ZSlMHNBxAU5wCnQG4HAlx68GiZ0koqooEz6nCWojCbpxg_ZAXeMf7i9vUShBiPUvQPZjvO-t3ixp8hzwk-4Il1f94_hqc1we4LHSsa9QOhyphenhyphen7RQGQ11OZ8Nxrk20bFFzWvXAWcs6g/w640-h320/10+Things+Your+Adult+Children+FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">Think back to your childhood. I bet you can repeat (probably verbatim and with all the right inflections) some of the “wise words” you heard your grandparents say. </span><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">My grandmother was a Portuguese immigrant who loved coffee, cake, and laughter. She raised chickens, crocheted doilies, and made the most amazing Portuguese doughnuts. She dropped out of school after the fourth grade to work in the textile mills in Rhode Island, but she loved to read and encouraged me to do the same. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Her favorite maxims included: “You may not be rich, but you can be clean,” "Hard work never hurt anyone," and “Don’t spend what you haven’t earned.” </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Granny’s wholehearted commitment to her grandchildren enriched our lives in many ways. It blessed my parents, too, because they knew we were safe in Granny’s care. Not only did she create a physically safe environment, she fostered an emotionally safe one, too. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Now that I’m a grandmother, I want to follow her example and bless my adult children by the way I interact with my grandchildren. I know from my grandmother’s example that the words I say are important. If you share my desire to be a blessing, here are 10 things your adult children wish you’d say to your grandchildren. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">To read the rest of my article on the <a href="https://www.crosswalk.com/family/parenting/grandparenting/things-your-adult-children-wish-youd-say-to-your-grandkids.html" target="_blank">Crosswalk.com Grandparenting Channel, CLICK HERE.</a></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoFzwtYN2OP2YICv1lWIW3QVnYy0J4OUHfYdC9Geiu7z2J9nVqsdnLMrRiBPV2WBiX8xC6cJ8_I3bSQBt0TD7jH5ioOQNGABPR27_-a_SNa7e4Sb7jDC2V950qdp3OjspkHiTe8AdsSCkz/s1600/Lori+RYF+promo.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoFzwtYN2OP2YICv1lWIW3QVnYy0J4OUHfYdC9Geiu7z2J9nVqsdnLMrRiBPV2WBiX8xC6cJ8_I3bSQBt0TD7jH5ioOQNGABPR27_-a_SNa7e4Sb7jDC2V950qdp3OjspkHiTe8AdsSCkz/s400/Lori+RYF+promo.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Does Your Faith Need Refreshing?</span></b><br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>That's in the Bible? I've never noticed that before!</i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: right;"><br /></span>
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: right;">It's probably been too long since you've newly discovered a story that speaks to your soul or a verse that pops with truth. But that's about to change!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=hunforgodstaf-20&language=en_US&l=li2&o=1&a=1640700072" style="border: none; margin: 0px;" width="1" />
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: right;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Refresh-Your-Faith-Uncommon-Devotions/dp/1640700072/ref=as_li_ss_il?crid=14NG6B0KUBCJO&dchild=1&keywords=refresh+your+faith+uncommon+devotions&qid=1586202483&sprefix=refresh+your+faith,aps,153&sr=8-1&linkCode=li2&tag=hunforgodstaf-20&linkId=d89de2370aee42c600232c31ec61130c&language=en_US" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></a><span style="font-size: large;"><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3iTnV1P">Refresh Your Faith</a> </i><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">contains 66 culturally relevant, story-driven devotions, one from each book of the Bible. Each real-life story spotlights an unusual verse or Bible passage that you may have overlooked in your usual Bible reading. Lori Hatcher challenges you with additional features like an </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">uncommon thought</i><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"> to ponder; an </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">unusual faith</i><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"> action step; and an </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">unfamiliar passage</i><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"> suggestion for additional Bible reading.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: large;">When the fabulous has become familiar and your quiet times are more like nap times, it's time to step out of spiritual boredom and ignite the spark that will keep you growing. No matter where you are on your faith journey, Lori's conversational and engaging style will challenge you to think about things you've never thought about before.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /></span>
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: large;"><b>“Real-life inspiration and candid wit. These 5-minute devotions will change your life.” —Psychologist and best-selling author Dr. Kevin Leman</b>, commenting on Lori Hatcher's devotional style</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg35AEIVN5j9XkDXOD3drHDi4uL4qmfGh2SNLE7PQVMuSOP-i7Bi1Q_Lpb0sdrkf9lddNKGGDsP23yl62Nt2JGoVCpG8A0IUqt5jaYDYc5zdIEME3bpzACMha0H-lUEuLZUBpEpQRLtZ3ZZ/s1600/HFG+CLOCK.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="275" data-original-width="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg35AEIVN5j9XkDXOD3drHDi4uL4qmfGh2SNLE7PQVMuSOP-i7Bi1Q_Lpb0sdrkf9lddNKGGDsP23yl62Nt2JGoVCpG8A0IUqt5jaYDYc5zdIEME3bpzACMha0H-lUEuLZUBpEpQRLtZ3ZZ/s1600/HFG+CLOCK.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Are you hungry for God, but starving for time? </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>I’d love to send you a 5-minute e-mail devotion <span style="color: red;">twice a week </span>to start your day off with the Lord. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">Sign up for a free subscription to Hungry for God by <a href="https://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=blogspot/VJOsH&loc=en_US">CLICKING HERE.</a></span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Then, be sure to VALIDATE the confirmation email you receive. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">Note: I promise never to spam you or share your email address.</span></b></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Because busy women need to connect with God in the craziness of everyday life.</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_FXlRfMXsTZvqRLtj7WQ8DQCS-CBkFysixwIfwsdxitVpvsuVA2yO0StoqRoqIQsruADQnE5PUwEi9kPAZGmQiH77EzR2-lg7jHZc68hglBvKkE1DtUnC9_p_dAc-sr35pSA937WHtbKd/s2508/10+Things+Your+Adult+PIN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2508" data-original-width="1254" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_FXlRfMXsTZvqRLtj7WQ8DQCS-CBkFysixwIfwsdxitVpvsuVA2yO0StoqRoqIQsruADQnE5PUwEi9kPAZGmQiH77EzR2-lg7jHZc68hglBvKkE1DtUnC9_p_dAc-sr35pSA937WHtbKd/w320-h640/10+Things+Your+Adult+PIN.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></div>
<br />
</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">If this post was meaningful to you, would you consider sharing it with a friend by clicking on one of the buttons below? Did you know you can receive bi-weekly Hungry for God posts sent directly to your email inbox? Visit http://www.lori-benotweary.blogspot.com and click on the link in the right hand corner to Subscribe Via Email.
Copyright 2018 by Lori Hatcher</div>Lori Hatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11675180460653949981noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4027870719667125440.post-41768649848572083952020-12-28T19:59:00.001-05:002020-12-28T19:59:02.376-05:00Trials -- How to Thrive, Not Just Survive<br />
<i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNXPmmIjCKUo5rk7QL5OkQXg_DT_Kc8q3YzuMuK7f8QoxuuBuKD9O088uIYCPpuwTKKxn0FjdtiC0JLJZE_UTSQo5Kv8HgkAUDW9HuQ4RvD5OqvV5wYY-wNhUIU5AILxuR_LEI_Jcu46Ap/s400/Trials+Don%2527t+Just+Survive+Thrive+FB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="400" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNXPmmIjCKUo5rk7QL5OkQXg_DT_Kc8q3YzuMuK7f8QoxuuBuKD9O088uIYCPpuwTKKxn0FjdtiC0JLJZE_UTSQo5Kv8HgkAUDW9HuQ4RvD5OqvV5wYY-wNhUIU5AILxuR_LEI_Jcu46Ap/w640-h480/Trials+Don%2527t+Just+Survive+Thrive+FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i><div><i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></div><div><i><span style="font-size: large;">An open secret. Clearly confused. Act naturally. Found missing.</span></i><br />
<br /><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">These phrases are known in literary circles as oxymoron (or oxymora), a figure of speech in which seemingly contradictory terms appear together. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Here are a few more to make your brain hurt: <i>rolling stop, unbiased opinion, seriously funny, and minor crisis</i>.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">I coined an oxymoron of my own during a trying time in our family life – <i>peacefully panicked</i>. </span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">If you’ve ever lived through a crisis that turned your world upside down, yet experienced God’s peace in the midst of it, you understand peaceful panic. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">And if you’ve suffered through a tragedy or trial as a believer (maybe you’re living through one right now), then you understand how contradictory the apostle Paul’s statement in 2 Corinthians 4:17 is: </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<b><span style="font-size: large;"> A “light affliction”? </span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><br />The Greek word Paul uses here to describe his trials (which included being stoned, shipwrecked, imprisoned, and flogged), means a “weightless trifle.” </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>I don’t know about you, but if I’d been stoned, shipwrecked, imprisoned, and flogged, I wouldn’t describe my trials as a “weightless trifle.”</b> I’d use words like <i>overwhelming, oppressive, </i>and <i>devastating. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>At least he gets the “trouble” part right.</b> The Greek word Paul used for trouble refers to “intense pressure.” Like the mythological Atlas carrying the entire world on his shoulders. If you’ve experienced life-threatening sickness, death, financial ruin, relational strife, or heartbreak, you understand this type of pressure. The type that squeezes you in a vise from which there is no escape. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">This contradictory combination, a “weightless trifle of intense pressure” creates the oxymoron. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">How can Paul describe his life this way when trouble and tragedy stains every step? </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The second half of verse 17 explains: “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us <b>a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory</b>.” </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">“Weight” in Paul’s original language means “a heavy mass.” The weight of a skyscraper. Or a thousand skyscrapers. The weight of the sea (including the whales that live in it). Or the moon. Or all the rocks in the Grand Canyon. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Paul knows that his "light" afflictions are far outweighed by the scale-breaking weight of glory that awaits him because of what he’s suffered.
Under God’s inspiration, Paul deliberately chose this oxymoronic description of his (and our) trials to communicate a life-altering truth:<b> no matter how devastating the trials of our lives are, they are weightless and brief in light of the heavy mass of glory they’re enabling us to accumulate in eternity. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The secret to living with our feet in this world and our eyes on the next is this: </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">“. . . we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal,” (v. 18). </span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">This is our hope – and the power to face each day of trial and tribulation, heartbreak and pain, struggle and fear, “weightless trial of intense pressure.” We can rest in the knowledge that while this day’s troubles are real, the promise of a trouble-free eternity full of glory is equally real, yet infinitely longer. This truth provides an anchor to cling to when the storms of life threaten to drown us. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">If your life feels more like intense pressure and less like weightless trifle, take heart. <b>You will not only survive, but thrive, because God’s presence surrounds you and an exceeding and eternal weight of glory awaits you.</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Now it’s your turn. How has the promise of eternity sustained you during an overwhelming trial? Leave a comment below and share your thoughts. If you’re reading by email, <a href="http://www.lorihatcher.com/">click HERE to visit Hungry for God online </a>and leave a comment.
</span><br />
<br /><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoFzwtYN2OP2YICv1lWIW3QVnYy0J4OUHfYdC9Geiu7z2J9nVqsdnLMrRiBPV2WBiX8xC6cJ8_I3bSQBt0TD7jH5ioOQNGABPR27_-a_SNa7e4Sb7jDC2V950qdp3OjspkHiTe8AdsSCkz/s1600/Lori+RYF+promo.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoFzwtYN2OP2YICv1lWIW3QVnYy0J4OUHfYdC9Geiu7z2J9nVqsdnLMrRiBPV2WBiX8xC6cJ8_I3bSQBt0TD7jH5ioOQNGABPR27_-a_SNa7e4Sb7jDC2V950qdp3OjspkHiTe8AdsSCkz/s400/Lori+RYF+promo.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Does Your Faith Need Refreshing?</span></b><br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>That's in the Bible? I've never noticed that before!</i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: right;"><br /></span>
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: right;">It's probably been too long since you've newly discovered a story that speaks to your soul or a verse that pops with truth. But that's about to change!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=hunforgodstaf-20&language=en_US&l=li2&o=1&a=1640700072" style="border: none; margin: 0px;" width="1" />
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: right;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Refresh-Your-Faith-Uncommon-Devotions/dp/1640700072/ref=as_li_ss_il?crid=14NG6B0KUBCJO&dchild=1&keywords=refresh+your+faith+uncommon+devotions&qid=1586202483&sprefix=refresh+your+faith,aps,153&sr=8-1&linkCode=li2&tag=hunforgodstaf-20&linkId=d89de2370aee42c600232c31ec61130c&language=en_US" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></a><span style="font-size: large;"><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3iTnV1P">Refresh Your Faith</a> </i><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">contains 66 culturally relevant, story-driven devotions, one from each book of the Bible. Each real-life story spotlights an unusual verse or Bible passage that you may have overlooked in your usual Bible reading. Lori Hatcher challenges you with additional features like an </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">uncommon thought</i><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"> to ponder; an </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">unusual faith</i><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"> action step; and an </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">unfamiliar passage</i><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"> suggestion for additional Bible reading.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: large;">When the fabulous has become familiar and your quiet times are more like nap times, it's time to step out of spiritual boredom and ignite the spark that will keep you growing. No matter where you are on your faith journey, Lori's conversational and engaging style will challenge you to think about things you've never thought about before.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /></span>
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: large;"><b>“Real-life inspiration and candid wit. These 5-minute devotions will change your life.” —Psychologist and best-selling author Dr. Kevin Leman</b>, commenting on Lori Hatcher's devotional style</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg35AEIVN5j9XkDXOD3drHDi4uL4qmfGh2SNLE7PQVMuSOP-i7Bi1Q_Lpb0sdrkf9lddNKGGDsP23yl62Nt2JGoVCpG8A0IUqt5jaYDYc5zdIEME3bpzACMha0H-lUEuLZUBpEpQRLtZ3ZZ/s1600/HFG+CLOCK.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="275" data-original-width="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg35AEIVN5j9XkDXOD3drHDi4uL4qmfGh2SNLE7PQVMuSOP-i7Bi1Q_Lpb0sdrkf9lddNKGGDsP23yl62Nt2JGoVCpG8A0IUqt5jaYDYc5zdIEME3bpzACMha0H-lUEuLZUBpEpQRLtZ3ZZ/s1600/HFG+CLOCK.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Are you hungry for God, but starving for time? </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>I’d love to send you a 5-minute e-mail devotion <span style="color: red;">twice a week </span>to start your day off with the Lord. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">Sign up for a free subscription to Hungry for God by <a href="https://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=blogspot/VJOsH&loc=en_US">CLICKING HERE.</a></span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Then, be sure to VALIDATE the confirmation email you receive. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">Note: I promise never to spam you or share your email address.</span></b></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Because busy women need to connect with God in the craziness of everyday life.</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhliBtH3qVOJ7e1HTV9wNOU-T8ag7r4YU6thqvEx15k2Tnn2ONQS7uHxsiL94vb9yWJCN_GsaHQDpQTI3q8s1HqyyYcoydPOjQxLa7IaluBlos5246NZPeHx7xPP3_6R1OMPhirfOY340cc/s2508/Trials+How+to+Thrive+Not+Just+Survive+PIN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2508" data-original-width="1254" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhliBtH3qVOJ7e1HTV9wNOU-T8ag7r4YU6thqvEx15k2Tnn2ONQS7uHxsiL94vb9yWJCN_GsaHQDpQTI3q8s1HqyyYcoydPOjQxLa7IaluBlos5246NZPeHx7xPP3_6R1OMPhirfOY340cc/w320-h640/Trials+How+to+Thrive+Not+Just+Survive+PIN.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">If this post was meaningful to you, would you consider sharing it with a friend by clicking on one of the buttons below? Did you know you can receive bi-weekly Hungry for God posts sent directly to your email inbox? Visit http://www.lori-benotweary.blogspot.com and click on the link in the right hand corner to Subscribe Via Email.
Copyright 2018 by Lori Hatcher</div>Lori Hatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11675180460653949981noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4027870719667125440.post-18794832627233151942020-12-20T19:44:00.101-05:002020-12-21T14:40:06.533-05:00Fighting for Christmas<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLlOk-Xua3VI-ZIQXp9uB-bZrG0NWJdyPXF6DDmRPIMjXI4vXBt2bjK-2GbAbE9H7dwc84oPOAPFsm1FrTXc9rVAPymOiyEx01-QWTfcrsIK5qq0oWgNvDP4c6fCdb842QyQ6IdzgCZVO1/s1200/Fighting+for+christmas+FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLlOk-Xua3VI-ZIQXp9uB-bZrG0NWJdyPXF6DDmRPIMjXI4vXBt2bjK-2GbAbE9H7dwc84oPOAPFsm1FrTXc9rVAPymOiyEx01-QWTfcrsIK5qq0oWgNvDP4c6fCdb842QyQ6IdzgCZVO1/w640-h320/Fighting+for+christmas+FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">I’ve had to fight for Christmas this year. </span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Everything about this holiday season has been hard. Each day, it seems, brings a new disappointment. The fun of in-person shopping and gift selection? Gone. No days dedicated to wandering through shops searching for that perfect something. This year I’m scrolling instead of strolling. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Half my decorations remain in their tubs. Why bother putting them all out if no one will see them? No cozy holiday parties. No drop in visits. No lingering over a warm mug of cider catching up with visiting friends. This year we’re zooming instead of rooming. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Even the annual church Christmas caroling (six feet apart and masked) got rained on. Cold rain. Frigid temperatures. Miserable conditions. Really? </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">And the special music for Sunday’s service? Cancelled due to a COVID-19 exposure. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>This morning, in an effort to push back the gloom, </b>I lit a Christmas-tree-scented candle. I expected Balsam and Cedar to infuse my home with holiday cheer.
Five minutes later, an acrid smell filled my nostrils. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>What in the world is wrong with that candle? </i>I thought.<i> It smells horrible. Do candles expire? It’s never smelled like that before. </i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHi3IlU4OGlDuQzzLOpsJ6IM6nYuFOIY1N1_C3P-rgNj5WIepuDmmNsmX2znsEZMcrjPjqRE2tBSNyuyYt-iwV7qTpHpXyYrqqtiSMETXw24G-5XNAMZsPLzIh0nIn9joafCXlf1uwKcgw/s2508/Christmas+2020+PIN.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2508" data-original-width="1254" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHi3IlU4OGlDuQzzLOpsJ6IM6nYuFOIY1N1_C3P-rgNj5WIepuDmmNsmX2znsEZMcrjPjqRE2tBSNyuyYt-iwV7qTpHpXyYrqqtiSMETXw24G-5XNAMZsPLzIh0nIn9joafCXlf1uwKcgw/w200-h400/Christmas+2020+PIN.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />I followed the scent to its source—a brightly burning philodendron leaf dangling above my Yankee Candle. Mindful of the toddler’s extraordinarily long reach, I’d placed the candle away from the edge of the counter and a bit too close to the trailing philodendron. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Did you know ivy is flammable and burning philodendron stinks? </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">I wonder if Mary’s first Christmas seemed more like burning ivy than Balsam and Cedar? </span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Certainly her year hadn’t gone as planned. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">She’d expected a wedding surrounded by her friends and family. Instead she got a rushed ceremony far from the eyes of gossiping townspeople. She anticipated a honeymoon year or two before she and Joseph began their family. Instead she got an unplanned pregnancy that no one, not even her fiancée, celebrated (except, perhaps, the angels in heaven). </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">I’m sure she expected to spend the final days of her pregnancy in seclusion and preparation. Instead she dragged her burgeoning belly seventy miles over dusty roads to satisfy a government mandate. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">And then, the ivy caught fire—<b>no room in the inn. </b>No place to lay her contracting body down to rest. No midwife. No circle of comforting friends. No mother to hold her hand.
Just a frightened husband and a stable full of stinky livestock. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">But instead of going up in flames, Mary’s first Christmas shone with a heavenly light. The babe the weary world had longed for slipped silently from her womb and into Joseph’s trembling hands. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">The sky burst open, and heaven rejoiced. </span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Behold,” the angel said, “I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:10-11). </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><b><span style="font-size: large;">A Savior. </span></b></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Certainly not the announcement the shepherds expected. They’d settled down in the warm grass planning to doze among the sheep until morning. They anticipate a quiet night, followed by an equally quiet day, much like all the rest. An occasional coyote to chase off, perhaps, but nothing earth shattering. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQKfhS_mCiHD7GitGlIl7cPFU_SVwoT9BVymgrdD0GM4S8KJKVlPl61Dn766Ymz243-YwOOzoJUKGPVc6c0cCn1K0izL_jX7vA6CjRl9NoFILux6PpahTg4VO-T40FinqqJ7vpUSGRjXHY/s2048/fireworks1.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1638" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQKfhS_mCiHD7GitGlIl7cPFU_SVwoT9BVymgrdD0GM4S8KJKVlPl61Dn766Ymz243-YwOOzoJUKGPVc6c0cCn1K0izL_jX7vA6CjRl9NoFILux6PpahTg4VO-T40FinqqJ7vpUSGRjXHY/w320-h400/fireworks1.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />T<b>hen the sky exploded, and the world changed forever.</b>
Is it any wonder they left their sheep and raced into town? </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us." </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">I find it interesting that God didn’t give the shepherds an address to plug into their GPS. Just two clues. And not very good ones: “You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger” (Luke 2:12). </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>God made them hunt for their Savior.</b>
I suspect they peered into every barn, stable, and cave in town. They nudged cattle away from their feeding troughs and rustled through hay bales. <i>Wrapped in cloths. Lying in a manger. </i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> “And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe” (Luke 2:16). </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>This year I’ve found it harder to sift through the straw of our circumstances and find the Savior. </b>Like the shepherds, I’ve expended effort and energy. I’ve searched for Him in unlikely places. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">I suspect you have, too. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">In the shadow of disappointment. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">In the uncertainty of unemployment. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">In the chaos of conflict. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">In the despair of heartbreak. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">In the misery of sickness. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">In the valley of death. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Yet when we’ve looked, we’ve found Him. </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">A Savior, who is Christ the Lord. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Right where He said He would be. </span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">“You will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart,” God promised in Jeremiah 29:13. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">This Christmas, even if your holiday season smells more like burnt philodendron than Balsam and Cedar, I hope you’ll look for Jesus. </span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">And when you find Him, do what the shepherds did: </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen” (Luke 2:20).</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/draHA_9MS18" width="560"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> If you’re reading by email and can’t see the video,<a href="https://youtu.be/draHA_9MS18" target="_blank"> click here to watch For King and Country's, O Come O Come Immanuel. </a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwF_wihpGf1cYoq95-sbZsRAUoj9DmiD8bN1Os_Bl15HmuK7oqUIfeWNyCJRrMoGGN8iCGjMdTig4S88lOoFQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /></div><span style="color: #cc0000;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">Christmas is fast approaching. Wouldn't you love to knock out a chunk of your Christmas shopping and impact your loved ones for eternity?</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">Would you like to give an extra-special gift? </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">One that will:</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">*refresh a person's faith?</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">*encourage someone to explore the Bible? </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">*inspire busy women to get to know God better?</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">*unlock uncommon verses and awaken interest in God's Word?</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">*jumpstart your quiet time?</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">*make a great companion to your 2021 devotional reading?</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><a href="https://amzn.to/3ltv60y" target="_blank">Refresh Your Faith, Uncommon Devotions from Every Book of the Bible</a></i> is the book you're looking for. Spotlighting uncommon verses and pairing them with inspiring stories, <i>Refresh Your Faith</i> is the cure for spiritual boredom and apathy.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I'd be honored if you'd order a copy for yourself or gift it to your friends this holiday season. If you live in the Columbia, SC area, I'd love to inscribe copies for you. Reply to this email, and I'll be in touch. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">If you're out of the area, <i>Refresh Your Faith</i> is <span style="color: red;">on sale right now</span> at <a href="https://ourdailybreadpublishing.org/refresh-your-faith.html" target="_blank">Our Daily Bread</a>. It's also available on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Refresh-Your-Faith-Uncommon-Devotions/dp/1640700072/ref" target="_blank">Amazon</a>, <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/refresh-your-faith-lori-hatcher/1132724943?ean=9781640700079" target="_blank">Barnes and Noble</a>, and <a href="https://www.christianbook.com/refresh-faith-uncommon-devotions-every-bible/lori-hatcher/9781640700079/pd/700070?event=ESRCG" target="_blank">Christian Book.com.</a></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg35AEIVN5j9XkDXOD3drHDi4uL4qmfGh2SNLE7PQVMuSOP-i7Bi1Q_Lpb0sdrkf9lddNKGGDsP23yl62Nt2JGoVCpG8A0IUqt5jaYDYc5zdIEME3bpzACMha0H-lUEuLZUBpEpQRLtZ3ZZ/s1600/HFG+CLOCK.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="275" data-original-width="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg35AEIVN5j9XkDXOD3drHDi4uL4qmfGh2SNLE7PQVMuSOP-i7Bi1Q_Lpb0sdrkf9lddNKGGDsP23yl62Nt2JGoVCpG8A0IUqt5jaYDYc5zdIEME3bpzACMha0H-lUEuLZUBpEpQRLtZ3ZZ/s1600/HFG+CLOCK.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<span><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></span>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Are you hungry for God, but starving for time? </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>I’d love to send you a 5-minute e-mail devotion <span style="color: red;">twice a week </span>to start your day off with the Lord. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">Sign up for a free subscription to Hungry for God by <a href="https://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=blogspot/VJOsH&loc=en_US">CLICKING HERE.</a></span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Then, be sure to VALIDATE the confirmation email you receive. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">Note: I promise never to spam you or share your email address.</span></b></span></div>
<span><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-n0VpH_w34Wj41U3w-Xs9rL5L8n3-7-pjzQcLBNC12IZcEZOU4ZkwTNnUgeQFK_HZfj2zefW4pCedPcohTwyd2SCxOfGn0g92wER1HZDEj5c_FyXbNGH91M0XUvNbfUOJA3L2dXHhdFfZ/s2508/Fighting+for+christmas+PIN.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2508" data-original-width="1254" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-n0VpH_w34Wj41U3w-Xs9rL5L8n3-7-pjzQcLBNC12IZcEZOU4ZkwTNnUgeQFK_HZfj2zefW4pCedPcohTwyd2SCxOfGn0g92wER1HZDEj5c_FyXbNGH91M0XUvNbfUOJA3L2dXHhdFfZ/w320-h640/Fighting+for+christmas+PIN.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></span>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>
</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">If this post was meaningful to you, would you consider sharing it with a friend by clicking on one of the buttons below? Did you know you can receive bi-weekly Hungry for God posts sent directly to your email inbox? Visit http://www.lori-benotweary.blogspot.com and click on the link in the right hand corner to Subscribe Via Email.
Copyright 2018 by Lori Hatcher</div>Lori Hatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11675180460653949981noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4027870719667125440.post-61964668931068592442020-12-16T21:30:00.003-05:002020-12-16T21:30:02.587-05:00Guaranteed to Banish Scrooge Forever -- 4 Favorite Christmas Videos<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">If the Grinch is trying to steal your Christmas joy, these gems will send him packing. Enjoy. Merry Christmas!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Soulful, hopeful, poignantly beautiful.</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/M7670CXvPX0" width="560"></iframe> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
<a href="https://youtu.be/M7670CXvPX0">Casting Crown's "I Heard the Bells." If you're reading by email, click HERE.</a></span><br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sr6lr_VRsEo" width="560"></iframe>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
<a href="https://youtu.be/sr6lr_VRsEo">John Lewis Christmas Advert "Buster the Boxer" will make you smile all the way through.</a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://youtu.be/sr6lr_VRsEo"> If you're reading by email, click HERE.</a> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> I'm not sure how I've lived as long as I have without ever hearing "I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas," by Gayla Peevey.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2Dec9Jb_Ac4" width="560"></iframe>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #252525;">The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gayla_Peevey">Wikipedia story</a> behind this catchy tune tells how the </span><a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oklahoma_City_Zoo" style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #0b0080; font-family: sans-serif; text-align: start; text-decoration: none;" title="Oklahoma City Zoo">Oklahoma City Zoo</a><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #252525;"> capitalized upon the popularity of "I Want A Hippopotamus for Christmas" with a fundraising campaign to "buy a hippo for Gayla". The fund raised $3,000 (equivalent to $27,552.12 present day), and a baby hippopotamus named Matilda was purchased and given to Peevey, which she then donated to the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoo" style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #0b0080; font-family: sans-serif; text-align: start; text-decoration: none;" title="Zoo">zoo</a>.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"> If you're reading by email, <a href="https://youtu.be/gEmjp5P23nA">click HERE to listen. </a></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">And the grande finale':</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_eulSbXIjzk" width="560"></iframe></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">If you're reading by email, <a href="https://youtu.be/_eulSbXIjzk">click here to watch the Grinch's heart grow. </a></span><br /><br /><br /><br />
<br />
<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzYRrfn_SvZ-JqxNitaAkAyuKIqJECb34QH1_crmypmZdm9XzTm9JKNHTKcXiqSphtSdFVn0HVAOipdV0VxYg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /></div><span style="color: #cc0000;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">Christmas is fast approaching. Wouldn't you love to knock out a chunk of your Christmas shopping and impact your loved ones for eternity?</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">Would you like to give an extra-special gift? </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">One that will:</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">*refresh a person's faith?</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">*encourage someone to explore the Bible? </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">*inspire busy women to get to know God better?</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">*unlock uncommon verses and awaken interest in God's Word?</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">*jumpstart your quiet time?</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">*make a great companion to your 2021 devotional reading?</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><i><a href="https://amzn.to/3ltv60y" target="_blank">Refresh Your Faith, Uncommon Devotions from Every Book of the Bible</a></i> is the book you're looking for. Spotlighting uncommon verses and pairing them with inspiring stories, <i>Refresh Your Faith</i> is the cure for spiritual boredom and apathy.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I'd be honored if you'd order a copy for yourself or gift it to your friends this holiday season. If you live in the Columbia, SC area, I'd love to inscribe copies for you. Reply to this email, and I'll be in touch. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">If you're out of the area, <i>Refresh Your Faith</i> is <span style="color: red;">on sale right now</span> at <a href="https://ourdailybreadpublishing.org/refresh-your-faith.html" target="_blank">Our Daily Bread</a>. It's also available on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Refresh-Your-Faith-Uncommon-Devotions/dp/1640700072/ref" target="_blank">Amazon</a>, <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/refresh-your-faith-lori-hatcher/1132724943?ean=9781640700079" target="_blank">Barnes and Noble</a>, and <a href="https://www.christianbook.com/refresh-faith-uncommon-devotions-every-bible/lori-hatcher/9781640700079/pd/700070?event=ESRCG" target="_blank">Christian Book.com.</a></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg35AEIVN5j9XkDXOD3drHDi4uL4qmfGh2SNLE7PQVMuSOP-i7Bi1Q_Lpb0sdrkf9lddNKGGDsP23yl62Nt2JGoVCpG8A0IUqt5jaYDYc5zdIEME3bpzACMha0H-lUEuLZUBpEpQRLtZ3ZZ/s1600/HFG+CLOCK.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="275" data-original-width="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg35AEIVN5j9XkDXOD3drHDi4uL4qmfGh2SNLE7PQVMuSOP-i7Bi1Q_Lpb0sdrkf9lddNKGGDsP23yl62Nt2JGoVCpG8A0IUqt5jaYDYc5zdIEME3bpzACMha0H-lUEuLZUBpEpQRLtZ3ZZ/s1600/HFG+CLOCK.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Are you hungry for God, but starving for time? </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>I’d love to send you a 5-minute e-mail devotion <span style="color: red;">twice a week </span>to start your day off with the Lord. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">Sign up for a free subscription to Hungry for God by <a href="https://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=blogspot/VJOsH&loc=en_US">CLICKING HERE.</a></span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Then, be sure to VALIDATE the confirmation email you receive. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">Note: I promise never to spam you or share your email address.</span></b></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></div><br />
<br />
<div class="blogger-post-footer">If this post was meaningful to you, would you consider sharing it with a friend by clicking on one of the buttons below? Did you know you can receive bi-weekly Hungry for God posts sent directly to your email inbox? Visit http://www.lori-benotweary.blogspot.com and click on the link in the right hand corner to Subscribe Via Email.
Copyright 2018 by Lori Hatcher</div>Lori Hatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11675180460653949981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4027870719667125440.post-34211952128705969042020-12-13T19:56:00.010-05:002020-12-15T12:25:49.871-05:00Unlocking the Spirit of Christmas with Simeon<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOMmIYRC6s-bccknuiUh8s_hRsxLtMFecJB-Tx7ekcJRM16UWukjtfVkmfrNdN2MUn7q-JpngyVLFhCVrv8MPeIuc5K5qiBR8-NKmXZBUerer8tlYngvG6jV81EyKKit5Cm4nsPDiwzdWS/s1200/Unlocking+the+Spirit+of+Christmas+with+Simeon+FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOMmIYRC6s-bccknuiUh8s_hRsxLtMFecJB-Tx7ekcJRM16UWukjtfVkmfrNdN2MUn7q-JpngyVLFhCVrv8MPeIuc5K5qiBR8-NKmXZBUerer8tlYngvG6jV81EyKKit5Cm4nsPDiwzdWS/w640-h320/Unlocking+the+Spirit+of+Christmas+with+Simeon+FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Simeon wasn’t a priest.</b> He wasn’t a religious leader. He held no formal office, nor did he fill an official role in the temple. He was just an ordinary man who loved God with all his heart. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">This is how the Bible describes him in Luke 2:25: </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">“Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.” </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">One day, God “revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Christ.” </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Can you imagine?</b> Having such a close relationship with God that he tells you what he’s going to do before he does it? Amos 3:7 testifies that this happens: “Surely the Sovereign LORD does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants . . .” </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">If I was Simeon, after I recovered from such an overwhelming statement, I think I’d wonder, How am I going to recognize the Messiah? What will he look like? The religious leaders of the day expect a conquering king. That shouldn’t be too hard to spot. But the holy books also refer to a suffering servant. That might be a little trickier. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Then one day,</b> the still, small voice of the Holy Spirit spoke to his heart. <i>Go to the temple. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">
Of course, the temple! It stands to reason that God would send his deliverer to the most holy place in the city. Perhaps there will be fanfare and a formal proclamation. Maybe a parade. Surely an entourage of Pharisees and Sadducees, not to mention the priests. And King Herod. He’ll certainly want to welcome the deliverer Israel has been waiting for for centuries. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Eagerly Simeon ran, if you could call it that,</b> for his old bones didn’t move easily. His racing heart set the tempo for his feet, but his thoughts moved faster than all of them. <i>The Messiah! Here! Oh, I’ve waited so long. Prayed so hard for his appearing. At last.</i> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Scripture whirled in his head. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times” (Micah 5:2). </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">“Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever” (Isa. 9:7). </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Simeon expected to have to push through the crowd,</b> but when he arrived at the temple, there was no royal parade. No trumpets and fanfare. Just a few peddlers hawking their wares in the dusty courtyard and money changers haggling over a mite. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">And a craggy-faced tradesman with his young wife carrying two pigeons and a copper coin. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>And a baby.</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZf2CwlXVSuhLsOPtI0USQ5vmLKE1mTG3zftgLbI4wNS-Innkmkls5_J6KKDeoFIo4LZ4dE-krhKJEOrIxBhOtcAg32yeoQgJ5iziUUNMd2I4XDxxLnPZpK67I5reMdRpDaXLKjshQQz8/s1600/babyJ.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZf2CwlXVSuhLsOPtI0USQ5vmLKE1mTG3zftgLbI4wNS-Innkmkls5_J6KKDeoFIo4LZ4dE-krhKJEOrIxBhOtcAg32yeoQgJ5iziUUNMd2I4XDxxLnPZpK67I5reMdRpDaXLKjshQQz8/s320/babyJ.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">An ordinary, non-descript baby. Brown hair. Brown eyes. Cheeks just beginning to fill out.
No halo. No angelic host. </span><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Just a baby. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">He willed his feet to move faster, then slowed as he approached the couple. Timidly, reverently he held out his trembling arms and reached for the tiny infant. The boy's mother surrendered him without hesitation, trusting the ancient sage without knowing why. For a moment their eyes met, and the tears leaking from the corners of the old man’s eyes comforted rather than frightened her. </span><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Gently he gathered the child to his breast and raised his eyes heavenward. </span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinqTiKSgYRYtijV7Db_9GJaL-YyJOKWtDVXqMbFkJH8NdNURTX5pX_aCppB93KypFQ4FTnYullpkwDdCFoAMtM_ClofCj4y2zR8I4rGzgw3Aon24VaJ6sY29UoeXdmfuBifLv1LV-mabw/s1600/Simeon+.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinqTiKSgYRYtijV7Db_9GJaL-YyJOKWtDVXqMbFkJH8NdNURTX5pX_aCppB93KypFQ4FTnYullpkwDdCFoAMtM_ClofCj4y2zR8I4rGzgw3Aon24VaJ6sY29UoeXdmfuBifLv1LV-mabw/s400/Simeon+.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>"Sovereign Lord,” he whispered, “as you have promised, now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel."
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">One last look into the sleeping child’s face. One soft kiss on his fuzzy head. One final glance into the wondering eyes of his parents as he returned the babe to his mother’s arms. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">And then he was gone. </span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>May we, like Simeon,</b> eagerly anticipate the coming of Jesus. May we marvel at what has been said about him. May we see with eyes of faith the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. May we remain faithful to the end. And may we receive the crown of glory, which God reserves for those who long for his appearing.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The only song I know of that tells the story of Simeon is Michael Card's "Now That I've Held Him in My Arms." Enjoy.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">If you're reading by email, <a href="https://youtu.be/rBZiPRPogn0" target="_blank">CLICK HERE to hear "Now That I've Held Him in My Arms" on Youtube.</a></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rBZiPRPogn0" width="560"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>
</div>
<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwvv23Te3Z3QCh-x--ZYDHqTmDnNVKE9-t8lCGq1KvBueliiQYeWZC2HYJEY1zvxxt8WlJoDJDYGpWbB2o-KA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /></div><span style="color: #cc0000;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">Christmas is fast approaching. Wouldn't you love to knock out a chunk of your Christmas shopping and impact your loved ones for eternity?</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">Would you like to give an extra-special gift? </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">One that will:</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">*refresh a person's faith?</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">*encourage someone to explore the Bible? </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">*inspire busy women to get to know God better?</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">*unlock uncommon verses and awaken interest in God's Word?</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">*jumpstart your quiet time?</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">*make a great companion to your 2021 devotional reading?</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><i><a href="https://amzn.to/3ltv60y" target="_blank">Refresh Your Faith, Uncommon Devotions from Every Book of the Bible</a></i> is the book you're looking for. Spotlighting uncommon verses and pairing them with inspiring stories, <i>Refresh Your Faith</i> is the cure for spiritual boredom and apathy.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I'd be honored if you'd order a copy for yourself or gift it to your friends this holiday season. If you live in the Columbia, SC area, I'd love to inscribe copies for you. Reply to this email, and I'll be in touch. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">If you're out of the area, <i>Refresh Your Faith</i> is <span style="color: red;">on sale right now</span> at <a href="https://ourdailybreadpublishing.org/refresh-your-faith.html" target="_blank">Our Daily Bread</a>. It's also available on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Refresh-Your-Faith-Uncommon-Devotions/dp/1640700072/ref" target="_blank">Amazon</a>, <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/refresh-your-faith-lori-hatcher/1132724943?ean=9781640700079" target="_blank">Barnes and Noble</a>, and <a href="https://www.christianbook.com/refresh-faith-uncommon-devotions-every-bible/lori-hatcher/9781640700079/pd/700070?event=ESRCG" target="_blank">Christian Book.com.</a></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg35AEIVN5j9XkDXOD3drHDi4uL4qmfGh2SNLE7PQVMuSOP-i7Bi1Q_Lpb0sdrkf9lddNKGGDsP23yl62Nt2JGoVCpG8A0IUqt5jaYDYc5zdIEME3bpzACMha0H-lUEuLZUBpEpQRLtZ3ZZ/s1600/HFG+CLOCK.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="275" data-original-width="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg35AEIVN5j9XkDXOD3drHDi4uL4qmfGh2SNLE7PQVMuSOP-i7Bi1Q_Lpb0sdrkf9lddNKGGDsP23yl62Nt2JGoVCpG8A0IUqt5jaYDYc5zdIEME3bpzACMha0H-lUEuLZUBpEpQRLtZ3ZZ/s1600/HFG+CLOCK.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Are you hungry for God, but starving for time? </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>I’d love to send you a 5-minute e-mail devotion <span style="color: red;">twice a week </span>to start your day off with the Lord. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">Sign up for a free subscription to Hungry for God by <a href="https://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=blogspot/VJOsH&loc=en_US">CLICKING HERE.</a></span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Then, be sure to VALIDATE the confirmation email you receive. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">Note: I promise never to spam you or share your email address.</span></b></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Because busy women need to connect with God in the craziness of everyday life.</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihewOf4JbcOEI7OiWVnhFjQIK1_M7PYih6MTQZ7nlGxRBjlMFJj6PyuxDzdkpJpS5_-I8af6WCXuFbUswXhc7Df7s1l0dN5DEOoj-g5UQPVLdotHyDmkxpitU1XfZX6qOdGUu8ziYmsEZl/s2508/Unlocking+the+Spirit+PIN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2508" data-original-width="1254" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihewOf4JbcOEI7OiWVnhFjQIK1_M7PYih6MTQZ7nlGxRBjlMFJj6PyuxDzdkpJpS5_-I8af6WCXuFbUswXhc7Df7s1l0dN5DEOoj-g5UQPVLdotHyDmkxpitU1XfZX6qOdGUu8ziYmsEZl/w320-h640/Unlocking+the+Spirit+PIN.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></div><br />
<br />
<div class="blogger-post-footer">If this post was meaningful to you, would you consider sharing it with a friend by clicking on one of the buttons below? Did you know you can receive bi-weekly Hungry for God posts sent directly to your email inbox? Visit http://www.lori-benotweary.blogspot.com and click on the link in the right hand corner to Subscribe Via Email.
Copyright 2018 by Lori Hatcher</div>Lori Hatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11675180460653949981noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4027870719667125440.post-13047791871614595182020-12-06T18:38:00.009-05:002020-12-06T18:38:00.333-05:00Embracing the Oil of Grace -- A Guest Post by Sandy Mayle<p><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;"> It's my pleasure to welcome Sandy Mayle to the Hungry for God blog today. Sandy's an excellent writer with a deep love for God. I know you'll enjoy her post, <i>Embracing the Oil of Grace </i>Why not leave her a sweet comment in the comment box to thank her for sharing her insights with us today?</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4UssMJSpBsDLStOzgfZuNuNEKBuBvHdPs0-JlP-3_ooL4K5YHq7_y3qEc8Ooj__LA_WyVV-jZ3rtkKa5h3oJ4GIpfavEXc-NWZ85Z71RrygiYwCNwOOnpld6F4pV73Am_4gpYb6Z2f1Be/s1200/Embracing+the+Oil+of+Grace+FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4UssMJSpBsDLStOzgfZuNuNEKBuBvHdPs0-JlP-3_ooL4K5YHq7_y3qEc8Ooj__LA_WyVV-jZ3rtkKa5h3oJ4GIpfavEXc-NWZ85Z71RrygiYwCNwOOnpld6F4pV73Am_4gpYb6Z2f1Be/w640-h320/Embracing+the+Oil+of+Grace+FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>My husband and I rarely argue.</b> Not just because we have a great relationship (although we do), but because Dave and I both dislike confrontation and the distance and inner unrest that follows. </span><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>But one day we did argue.</b> Not over anything major, but about his upcoming retirement, the income change that will occur, and his (according to me) pessimistic view of that, and my (according to him) self-chosen oblivion to the realities of our financial situation. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">No yelling. No stomping off, no refusing to talk. <b>Just a dug-in disagreement that left me sad and hurting. The next morning I still felt badly about the whole thing.</b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">In private prayer I searched my heart, praying for understanding. Was God convicting me of wrong? Did I need to apologize, ask forgiveness, do anything? But I got nowhere.
Finally, I turned my attention fully on the Lord. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><i><span style="font-size: large;">Lord, what do You say? </span></i></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">
And He answered: </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><b><span style="font-size: large;">Grace. </span></b></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">One word. And that one word said it all. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">The peace, the clarity was immediate. The storm within me quieted instantly. For in that moment God downpoured His shining “Spirit of grace” (Heb. 10:29) over myself, and Dave, and the whole situation. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuofQDDo5lOr-UoK7hRz-_NkEJyB-FFzpltffUDAs2Tz6C8SkrVXFJ8WW8PxdZDZ8uy29-NG6oCi7U7yC6XNdhUTX4D1P1c5XMaok-CGcWCKM6va5yOQ-Pe7EEhSVQ1eWqtsncANUl2tT2/s2048/oil+2.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuofQDDo5lOr-UoK7hRz-_NkEJyB-FFzpltffUDAs2Tz6C8SkrVXFJ8WW8PxdZDZ8uy29-NG6oCi7U7yC6XNdhUTX4D1P1c5XMaok-CGcWCKM6va5yOQ-Pe7EEhSVQ1eWqtsncANUl2tT2/w400-h266/oil+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Like a rain of holy oil, sweet and smooth, </b>His grace eased the hot friction of discord and quieted the grinding gears of dissension. Like a cool, consoling balm, that grace salved and soothed, took the sting out of words spoken, and freed me to move on. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">When peace wouldn’t come by way of explanation, or understanding, or confession, or compromise, here came grace to do for me (just like at salvation) what I couldn’t do for myself. Grace was God’s compassionate response, Him seeing, and caring, and moving to meet our need. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><b><span style="font-size: large;">Thank God for grace. </span></b></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">The apostle James wrote to believers in conflict (James 4:1–6), calling them out for their fights, quarrels, warring desires, and selfish prayers. And he noted the antidote: “But He gives more grace . . . [He] gives grace to the humble” (v. 6 NKJV).
</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Thankfully, God is the ‘God of all grace” (1 Peter 5:10), the Grace-giver who readily pours out His gift of overcoming sufficiency (2 Corinthians 12:9). And He invites each of His children -- those saved by faith in Jesus’ sacrifice of Himself to pay for their sins -- to the throne of grace:
“Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (Hebrews 4:16). </span></div><div><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="font-size: large;">We need grace. </span></b></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Every day. Everywhere. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">In our families, our churches, our workplaces, our politics, our communities. When we feel a painful grating in close relationships. When we meet opposing viewpoints and conflicting desires. When we long for God’s grace to plash down the frazzled hours of hectic days. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">That grace is ours when we approach His throne as His child through Christ’s atonement, confess any sin, consecrate afresh all we have and are, and in humble confidence, ask . . . wait for . . . and receive . . . the rain of grace. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b> A few days later</b> Dave called me to bring a pen and paper. Together we discussed (calmly), listed our anticipated retirement expenses, and drafted a rough budget. He could have said he won (after all, he’d educated me about our finances). I could have said I won (the surplus after expenses looked fairly optimistic) but I think God said it best: </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><b><span style="font-size: large;">Grace. </span></b></div><div><br /></div><div>
<br /><span style="font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIyPEZXS8mJYd15W9w2AlqomygG7GwiWFKXRCKedt7W5luYIemEykpZKeN2mFXzn6NimeTJ9cmTerrd6c8KN3QUTdE7H5sYL0IpqMcF3n8w9DilYQL8rsWbWMyUFzESFJef2nNfZjDzwOc/s812/Sandy+Mayle+author+photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="812" data-original-width="752" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIyPEZXS8mJYd15W9w2AlqomygG7GwiWFKXRCKedt7W5luYIemEykpZKeN2mFXzn6NimeTJ9cmTerrd6c8KN3QUTdE7H5sYL0IpqMcF3n8w9DilYQL8rsWbWMyUFzESFJef2nNfZjDzwOc/w185-h200/Sandy+Mayle+author+photo.JPG" width="185" /></a></div><br />Sandy Mayle is a freelance writer. She and her husband, Dave, live in Erie, Pa., and have three adult sons and four grandchildren. Sandy loves words, the Word, walks in the woods and personal retreats to lovely Olmsted Manor in northcentral Pennsylvania.
</span><br />
<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoFzwtYN2OP2YICv1lWIW3QVnYy0J4OUHfYdC9Geiu7z2J9nVqsdnLMrRiBPV2WBiX8xC6cJ8_I3bSQBt0TD7jH5ioOQNGABPR27_-a_SNa7e4Sb7jDC2V950qdp3OjspkHiTe8AdsSCkz/s1600/Lori+RYF+promo.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoFzwtYN2OP2YICv1lWIW3QVnYy0J4OUHfYdC9Geiu7z2J9nVqsdnLMrRiBPV2WBiX8xC6cJ8_I3bSQBt0TD7jH5ioOQNGABPR27_-a_SNa7e4Sb7jDC2V950qdp3OjspkHiTe8AdsSCkz/s400/Lori+RYF+promo.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Does Your Faith Need Refreshing?</span></b><br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>That's in the Bible? I've never noticed that before!</i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: right;"><br /></span>
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: right;">It's probably been too long since you've newly discovered a story that speaks to your soul or a verse that pops with truth. But that's about to change!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=hunforgodstaf-20&language=en_US&l=li2&o=1&a=1640700072" style="border: none; margin: 0px;" width="1" />
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: right;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Refresh-Your-Faith-Uncommon-Devotions/dp/1640700072/ref=as_li_ss_il?crid=14NG6B0KUBCJO&dchild=1&keywords=refresh+your+faith+uncommon+devotions&qid=1586202483&sprefix=refresh+your+faith,aps,153&sr=8-1&linkCode=li2&tag=hunforgodstaf-20&linkId=d89de2370aee42c600232c31ec61130c&language=en_US" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></a><span style="font-size: large;"><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3iTnV1P">Refresh Your Faith</a> </i><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">contains 66 culturally relevant, story-driven devotions, one from each book of the Bible. Each real-life story spotlights an unusual verse or Bible passage that you may have overlooked in your usual Bible reading. Lori Hatcher challenges you with additional features like an </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">uncommon thought</i><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"> to ponder; an </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">unusual faith</i><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"> action step; and an </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">unfamiliar passage</i><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"> suggestion for additional Bible reading.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: large;">When the fabulous has become familiar and your quiet times are more like nap times, it's time to step out of spiritual boredom and ignite the spark that will keep you growing. No matter where you are on your faith journey, Lori's conversational and engaging style will challenge you to think about things you've never thought about before.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /></span>
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: large;"><b>“Real-life inspiration and candid wit. These 5-minute devotions will change your life.” —Psychologist and best-selling author Dr. Kevin Leman</b>, commenting on Lori Hatcher's devotional style</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg35AEIVN5j9XkDXOD3drHDi4uL4qmfGh2SNLE7PQVMuSOP-i7Bi1Q_Lpb0sdrkf9lddNKGGDsP23yl62Nt2JGoVCpG8A0IUqt5jaYDYc5zdIEME3bpzACMha0H-lUEuLZUBpEpQRLtZ3ZZ/s1600/HFG+CLOCK.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="275" data-original-width="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg35AEIVN5j9XkDXOD3drHDi4uL4qmfGh2SNLE7PQVMuSOP-i7Bi1Q_Lpb0sdrkf9lddNKGGDsP23yl62Nt2JGoVCpG8A0IUqt5jaYDYc5zdIEME3bpzACMha0H-lUEuLZUBpEpQRLtZ3ZZ/s1600/HFG+CLOCK.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Are you hungry for God, but starving for time? </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>I’d love to send you a 5-minute e-mail devotion <span style="color: red;">twice a week </span>to start your day off with the Lord. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">Sign up for a free subscription to Hungry for God by <a href="https://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=blogspot/VJOsH&loc=en_US">CLICKING HERE.</a></span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Then, be sure to VALIDATE the confirmation email you receive. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">Note: I promise never to spam you or share your email address.</span></b></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Because busy women need to connect with God in the craziness of everyday life.</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig76VnqakkdsZytr6uCWqfguxG64jhSdq1SWqbtRbJ43Ly9r-0p9pOINLVPVn0zg27PR-Vr-_hQi5Q6327zfEM3ts-zWdxvLkzU0EWpEUBDuJRQ5MsNep4eRb9NRM-6cM5Bb5q0eUXI2VO/s2508/Embracing+the+Oil+of+Grace+PIN.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2508" data-original-width="1254" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig76VnqakkdsZytr6uCWqfguxG64jhSdq1SWqbtRbJ43Ly9r-0p9pOINLVPVn0zg27PR-Vr-_hQi5Q6327zfEM3ts-zWdxvLkzU0EWpEUBDuJRQ5MsNep4eRb9NRM-6cM5Bb5q0eUXI2VO/w320-h640/Embracing+the+Oil+of+Grace+PIN.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></div>
<br />
</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">If this post was meaningful to you, would you consider sharing it with a friend by clicking on one of the buttons below? Did you know you can receive bi-weekly Hungry for God posts sent directly to your email inbox? Visit http://www.lori-benotweary.blogspot.com and click on the link in the right hand corner to Subscribe Via Email.
Copyright 2018 by Lori Hatcher</div>Lori Hatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11675180460653949981noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4027870719667125440.post-50945847340634406952020-12-02T20:30:00.005-05:002020-12-02T20:30:00.287-05:00Why Christ's Incarnation Matters to Us Today<p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvbkkhyphenhyphenKbbfWGJhUZIpsFeP_UAqYfryhP5-E8GbFLrxO3TIZbQez2t7rydZC_upMlcoGh88UIGUONcE-FHUs81Vk3asWgWtXKJvjCCZwsPbPemvC1PejEw_cXCNZFSszahQxwsktY5E8i7/s1200/Why+Christ%2527s+Incarnation+Matters+FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvbkkhyphenhyphenKbbfWGJhUZIpsFeP_UAqYfryhP5-E8GbFLrxO3TIZbQez2t7rydZC_upMlcoGh88UIGUONcE-FHUs81Vk3asWgWtXKJvjCCZwsPbPemvC1PejEw_cXCNZFSszahQxwsktY5E8i7/w640-h320/Why+Christ%2527s+Incarnation+Matters+FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></b></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br />I knew Katie’s life was hard. </b>I heard the wobble in her voice every day when I asked her how she was.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">My heart ached at her description of how challenging it was to do the simplest things in a foreign country where she didn't speak the language. A trip to the grocery store took half a day. First the mile walk to the train station, then two different train rides, then two more miles to finally reach the store.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsnkOpdl-V8WBRIhgSCK5XJFyln5dGPWtdZrJiQ4JO721rz3C60lhUxgK2Lx-jcTNqfhSNb15l7REhZP0rVjhpLOXuzIC1SGkAS315Vmq32riAdCrmF0w7e1mOaG3dPdyFoBBoYLrk27lw/s2048/Why+Christ%2527s+incarnation+city+street.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsnkOpdl-V8WBRIhgSCK5XJFyln5dGPWtdZrJiQ4JO721rz3C60lhUxgK2Lx-jcTNqfhSNb15l7REhZP0rVjhpLOXuzIC1SGkAS315Vmq32riAdCrmF0w7e1mOaG3dPdyFoBBoYLrk27lw/w400-h266/Why+Christ%2527s+incarnation+city+street.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">In the summer, the hundred-degree heat and humidity left her soaked in sweat and exhausted. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">She could only purchase what she was strong enough to carry in her arms or in a backpack. Two miles back to the train station, two stifling train trips, one more mile up the steep hill to her house. She purchased nothing perishable because it would spoil or melt before she arrived home. No milk. No yogurt. No cheese. And certainly, no ice cream. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixu62pmVFUV-7kBQPFTG3BtHkx3IgbBXWLNsFXIjqy4PLJV-bS9pdSOlyWx9mFwOqt4jenaI6HGthF-lKtizXdGiWqF85I4ONXddOWLinkd_77gwD2A7fOIsgucToID7rTcvzC_Q7qtXdJ/s2048/why+christ%2527s+incarn+stairs.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1367" data-original-width="2048" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixu62pmVFUV-7kBQPFTG3BtHkx3IgbBXWLNsFXIjqy4PLJV-bS9pdSOlyWx9mFwOqt4jenaI6HGthF-lKtizXdGiWqF85I4ONXddOWLinkd_77gwD2A7fOIsgucToID7rTcvzC_Q7qtXdJ/w400-h268/why+christ%2527s+incarn+stairs.jpg" width="400" /></a></span><span style="font-size: large;">In the winter she ached with cold and slipped and slid her way back and forth on icy, snow-covered streets. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">And the loneliness. Seven miles away from the nearest American and surrounded by people whose customs were vastly different than her own, she lived in a closed culture—suspicious at best and antagonistic at worst. </span></p><p></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">I knew her life was hard—<i>in my head.</i> But when I visited her, I knew it was hard—<i>in my heart. </i></span></b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzykvoTpPFjSXjjFJtZsi-OrNULXMV46uAo7utqP0zewMJc6WzOVbBI32XZ_tY8M2aQTPI6mJwUbxuFaGOUlZLcUiBUQsy3WkOD046lPJ9aVV2ADzQaZUKNdcUzOb-BfrBRmtOOX7srBEV/s2048/why+christ%2527s+incarn+subway.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzykvoTpPFjSXjjFJtZsi-OrNULXMV46uAo7utqP0zewMJc6WzOVbBI32XZ_tY8M2aQTPI6mJwUbxuFaGOUlZLcUiBUQsy3WkOD046lPJ9aVV2ADzQaZUKNdcUzOb-BfrBRmtOOX7srBEV/w400-h300/why+christ%2527s+incarn+subway.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;">I walked the miles of colorless streets with her. I sweated under the heat and humidity. I stood at the train station watching the board that announced the trains coming and going and tried to make sense of the scrolling foreign characters. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I squeezed onto a train, praying it was the right one and tried not to offend anyone by making accidental eye-contact. I lugged groceries up that final hill and collapsed in weariness in that empty house. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Only to do it all again the next day. </span></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">I thought I had known, but now I <i>knew</i>. </span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Jesus Christ, the eternal God, all-knowing, all powerful, all present, knew the struggles mankind faced.
</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">But then He came to earth. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">John 1:14 tells us, “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The Greek word, skēnóō, means to tabernacle. Strong’s concordance defines it as, “to fix one's tabernacle, abide (or live) in a tabernacle (or tent)." </span></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">On that first Christmas morning, God the Son tabernacled among us. He pitched his tent and lived where we lived. </span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi_Ytn5ky52wY2ErpMZ8DRM7a1NzJMhRIFDi0TA_pgtTyAX5HWMwutHseRdFyQIe_AkYsOCgt3FospkhNg4NIH5i4X0rkJYw0iiL7VDzyVC7BWtdwB3ZJJDrgzl6APirZDZgOq1AyJxlfy/s2048/wood+working+tools.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi_Ytn5ky52wY2ErpMZ8DRM7a1NzJMhRIFDi0TA_pgtTyAX5HWMwutHseRdFyQIe_AkYsOCgt3FospkhNg4NIH5i4X0rkJYw0iiL7VDzyVC7BWtdwB3ZJJDrgzl6APirZDZgOq1AyJxlfy/s320/wood+working+tools.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">He experienced the challenges of earning a living in a world of thorns and thistles. He felt the pains of hunger and the fever of sickness. His muscles ached after a hard day’s work, and His head clouded with fatigue at the end of the day. His heart broke at the sight of lost people wandering about in their search for purpose and hope. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">He struggled to resist temptation and remain pure. He sobbed great heaving sobs at the grave of a friend. He experienced loneliness when his closest friends betrayed and abandoned Him. And then He walked the valley of the shadow of death. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">As God the Son, He knew. <b>But when He became flesh, when He pitched His tent and dwelt among us, He <i>knew</i>. </b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">When I returned from my trip, fresh from the experiences of living with Katie and walking in her footsteps, I <i>knew</i> how to pray for her. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Every day thereafter I sat before the Father and interceded on her behalf. </span></p><p><i><span style="font-size: large;"></span></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgruz8E7uux3J168jpjkAPFi2kFs4ZNxY9ZXTuUBzb3jJV8aFVeXAtVc6hBCjZ3yT9q03Ojqr5D12GuMPTVK9ZZCyz_sB8Nw1XFygOLmDHf8Sa8b_G5mv1h8H0diMelzrY_ah2O_GuAWis4/s2048/why+christ%2527s+sunrise.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgruz8E7uux3J168jpjkAPFi2kFs4ZNxY9ZXTuUBzb3jJV8aFVeXAtVc6hBCjZ3yT9q03Ojqr5D12GuMPTVK9ZZCyz_sB8Nw1XFygOLmDHf8Sa8b_G5mv1h8H0diMelzrY_ah2O_GuAWis4/w400-h266/why+christ%2527s+sunrise.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></i></div><i><span style="font-size: large;">Lord, help her rise to face another day. Give her strength to make that long journey. Speak truth to her so she won’t feel discouraged. Surround her with Your presence so she won’t feel alone. Empower her to do what she has to do today. Send kind people to come alongside her and lift her burden. Remind her that you are near. </span></i><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">When Jesus returned to heaven, He brought with Him experiential insight He never had before. <b>Because He pitched His tent among us and walked in our footsteps, He <i>knows</i> how to pray for us. </b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Now, seated in heaven, He intercedes for us as a faithful and sympathetic High Priest. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">“For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses,” Hebrews 4:14 reminds us, “but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.” And He “always lives to make intercession” for us” (Hebrews 7:25). </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Picture that.
Christ—our Advocate, our Savior, and our Friend—brings our needs before God’s throne and intercedes for us.</b> Every day of our lives. </span></p><p><i><span style="font-size: large;">Lord, help her rise to face another day. Give her strength to make that long journey. Speak truth to her so she won’t feel discouraged. Surround her with Your presence so she won’t feel alone. Empower her to do what she has to do today. Send kind people to come alongside her and lift her burden. Remind her that you are always near. </span></i></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">This Christmas ponder the wonder of the incarnation. Of Immanuel, <i>God with us.</i></span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Now it's your turn. What aspect of Christ's incarnation brings you the most wonder? Leave a comment below and share your thoughts.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"> </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyTyvrS95bMbh-QgEC8DxNL4f7XmTpYuFK4zbb8y961sKzi2KdI3Hue6LaOA_k4ZPG-hhrlzBD4-Pq2JSJhZQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /></div><span style="color: #cc0000;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">Christmas is fast approaching. Wouldn't you love to knock out a chunk of your Christmas shopping and impact your loved ones for eternity?</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">Would you like to give an extra-special gift? </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">One that will:</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">*refresh a person's faith?</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">*encourage someone to explore the Bible? </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">*inspire busy women to get to know God better?</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">*unlock uncommon verses and awaken interest in God's Word?</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">*jumpstart your quiet time?</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">*make a great companion to your 2021 devotional reading?</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><i><a href="https://amzn.to/3ltv60y" target="_blank">Refresh Your Faith, Uncommon Devotions from Every Book of the Bible</a></i> is the book you're looking for. Spotlighting uncommon verses and pairing them with inspiring stories, <i>Refresh Your Faith</i> is the cure for spiritual boredom and apathy.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I'd be honored if you'd order a copy for yourself or gift it to your friends this holiday season. If you live in the Columbia, SC area, I'd love to inscribe copies for you. Reply to this email, and I'll be in touch. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">If you're out of the area, <i>Refresh Your Faith</i> is <span style="color: red;">on sale right now</span> at <a href="https://ourdailybreadpublishing.org/refresh-your-faith.html" target="_blank">Our Daily Bread</a>. It's also available on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Refresh-Your-Faith-Uncommon-Devotions/dp/1640700072/ref" target="_blank">Amazon</a>, <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/refresh-your-faith-lori-hatcher/1132724943?ean=9781640700079" target="_blank">Barnes and Noble</a>, and <a href="https://www.christianbook.com/refresh-faith-uncommon-devotions-every-bible/lori-hatcher/9781640700079/pd/700070?event=ESRCG" target="_blank">Christian Book.com.</a></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg35AEIVN5j9XkDXOD3drHDi4uL4qmfGh2SNLE7PQVMuSOP-i7Bi1Q_Lpb0sdrkf9lddNKGGDsP23yl62Nt2JGoVCpG8A0IUqt5jaYDYc5zdIEME3bpzACMha0H-lUEuLZUBpEpQRLtZ3ZZ/s1600/HFG+CLOCK.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="275" data-original-width="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg35AEIVN5j9XkDXOD3drHDi4uL4qmfGh2SNLE7PQVMuSOP-i7Bi1Q_Lpb0sdrkf9lddNKGGDsP23yl62Nt2JGoVCpG8A0IUqt5jaYDYc5zdIEME3bpzACMha0H-lUEuLZUBpEpQRLtZ3ZZ/s1600/HFG+CLOCK.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Are you hungry for God, but starving for time? </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>I’d love to send you a 5-minute e-mail devotion <span style="color: red;">twice a week </span>to start your day off with the Lord. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">Sign up for a free subscription to Hungry for God by <a href="https://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=blogspot/VJOsH&loc=en_US">CLICKING HERE.</a></span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Then, be sure to VALIDATE the confirmation email you receive. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">Note: I promise never to spam you or share your email address.</span></b></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Because busy women need to connect with God in the craziness of everyday life.</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYppoVyl6EdUX_p3GXH4COFzMnXjj-1P7rcL0-euFHqWLuXLb39oA8pF8PzhrysAjST2VnWAaxgRoLLiciBCp6lPGKk8_tAlQyEaoXn79xc80foR8UBWHUzV986wDlbfV03qiB51pcJrKR/s2508/Why+Christ%2527s+Incarnation+PIN.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2508" data-original-width="1254" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYppoVyl6EdUX_p3GXH4COFzMnXjj-1P7rcL0-euFHqWLuXLb39oA8pF8PzhrysAjST2VnWAaxgRoLLiciBCp6lPGKk8_tAlQyEaoXn79xc80foR8UBWHUzV986wDlbfV03qiB51pcJrKR/w200-h400/Why+Christ%2527s+Incarnation+PIN.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></div><br />
<br />
<div class="blogger-post-footer">If this post was meaningful to you, would you consider sharing it with a friend by clicking on one of the buttons below? Did you know you can receive bi-weekly Hungry for God posts sent directly to your email inbox? Visit http://www.lori-benotweary.blogspot.com and click on the link in the right hand corner to Subscribe Via Email.
Copyright 2018 by Lori Hatcher</div>Lori Hatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11675180460653949981noreply@blogger.com4