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Connection Before Correction─Why Does It Matter?

08.07.2019 by Tracy Stella //

Welcome to FACETS of Faith. We’re so glad you are here! This month we’re talking about connection and correction.  Most of us probably want to connect, but don’t love the idea of correction. Visions of being sent to the principal’s office for disrupting the class might come to mind.  Erase that thought. Let’s see what God has for us this month as the FACETS team shares what we felt led to write.  God’s grace is good. Remember that and happy reading!

August 2019 Connection (Tracy)

I have an eye for editing. I see things missing or off. My tendency is to observe what’s lacking, rather than what’s left that is good, at least at first.  When I edit writing, whether mine or others’, I notice what seems incorrect or in need of clarification. Comma here. Word choice there.  I see the gaps first. Like meeting a child with two front teeth missing, I can’t help but see what’s right before me.

Children smile large even if a few teeth aren’t there. We can learn from them. Grin large because there is much goodness in each of us, even if we have a thing or two missing.

God has trained me to go back through a piece and notice what works. It’s always there. I recognize some of the goodness at first glance, but when I sit with a piece a bit longer, I see greater good than what I might have originally thought.  I add in words of encouragement to myself (if it’s my piece – because writing is basically baring your soul) or words to encourage others, recognizing their brilliant contribution to the creative collective.

Noticing what’s off or missing isn’t necessarily wrong. It’s how we harness what we see and notice, how we wield that knowledge that matters.

Truth isn’t bad but sandwiching it in grace and mercy is always best.

Sometimes, the skill of seeing what’s missing or off serves me well. When I help people sell their homes, I notice things buyers will see. Little things that might prove to be a stumbling block that are easily avoidable. I make my mental list in the spirit of helping them, and always add back in all the beautiful things about their home. But part of why clients hire me is to tell the truth. I wouldn’t be serving them well to speak only about what’s working in their home.

After all, they want to sell it. If I see the blemish, buyers likely will too. We become blind to what’s right in front of us when we live in it every day.  We sometimes do need help seeing truth to move forward.

With God’s help I’ve trained myself to see the good. In God. In myself. In others.  It hasn’t been easy seeing good. God’s grace and mercy has taught and is teaching me how. I’m still in training, and if I stop my workouts (daily meetings with Jesus, my Bible, and coffee), I’d very likely go right back to where I wouldn’t want to be. Not able to see the good. In God. In myself. In others.

I notice if something doesn’t fit. For a long time, I thought that was me.  I’d look in the mirror and pick, pick, pick. Not this. Not that. Not her. Not. Not. Not. God’s grace showed me otherwise. We all fit into His complicated puzzle of family─the Church (big C). We are all different from one another by design, but sometimes that’s hard to see.

It’s also hard to see what God is doing beneath the surface in other people’s lives. Certainly, it’s even hard to often know what He’s doing in ours!

Truth in His Word calls things out for us. The beauty of the Bible is it teaches us good and bad, right and wrong, but not in a way we might imagine. (Or at least some of us might) Jesus has a better way. Of course, He does!

Now early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people came to Him; and He sat down and taught them. Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?” This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear.

So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.”And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?”

She said, “No one, Lord.”

And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.”─John 8:2-11 NKJV

 

Did Jesus notice the woman’s sin? Of course, He did. But what really matters is He saw her first. He saw the goodness in her. He knew the good she had in her (even if she didn’t recognize it herself).

The Pharisees edited her life. They only saw what was on the surface as “wrong” and sinful. They didn’t know how she found herself in that position.  They didn’t even seek to understand.  They drug her before judgement and publicly humiliated her. The Pharisees didn’t recognize their own sin: judgement of others, not recognizing Jesus in their midst, and for some probably even hypocrisy (were any of them adulterers?).

We don’t know why the woman chose a sinful path, but there’s almost always a reason we choose darkness over light.  Shame has a way of hiding all that’s beautiful within us. Until Jesus helps us shake it off, stand up, and sin no more.

Jesus gives us such a beautiful picture of connection before correction. It’s very likely you know this story from the Bible. But let us take heed of these words in a new way, a deeper way, let them dig in so we can do God’s good work, because He’s done His good work in each of us.

So, what did Jesus do? He connected before He corrected.

1. Connection Point: He defended her from her accusers.

Defense of a person doesn’t mean we are required to defend their sin. Jesus didn’t do that. But He did defend the woman.  Honestly, I sometimes want to shake my hand at fellow believers who hold signs, and protest, rather than love.  (But I realize I’d be joining them, so I won’t do that.)  How can anyone hear what we have to say if they feel judged by us?  They can’t!

Early in my faith, I wouldn’t have been able to hear all the truth, and all the ways I needed to transform. God knew that. He knew where He was taking me. He didn’t give me a scroll of sin to address. He gave me what I could handle when I could handle it. And you know what? He delighted in me when I joined Him in the process. He didn’t expect me to be perfect. He already knew I wasn’t.

So why do we expect perfection out of people who don’t know Him, or are new to knowing Him, or even have known Him for a long, long time.

We are all sinners in need of God’s grace. Every one of us. You. And me. (Romans 3:23)

 2. Connection Point: Jesus “raised Himself up” on behalf of the woman.

By standing up, Jesus took a position of authority over the woman’s accusers. And in His authority, the woman was allowed to rise up out of the ash heap of sin and shame.  The woman was standing, but I imagine her standing straighter, with her shoulders back, and her head held high after her encounter with Jesus.

When was the last time someone defended you, even when you were in the wrong? How did that make you feel? We all want mercy. The cross gave us just that!

Jesus always leaves us better off than we were before He speaks truth in love to us.  We should always have the goal of helping others to rise up and be genuinely better off because we helped them to stand straighter, shoulders back, and head held high.

The accuser of the brethren (Satan) wants to keep us down. Let’s not participate in his plan.

If we need to say something to someone, connect with God first. Hear His voice. Rely on Him to help us stand against the enemy on behalf of others. Most of the time, we probably shouldn’t say anything at all. But when we do speak, remember how God spoke to this woman. Will our words help this person to stand tall?

Again, before we ever speak a word, we should pray and ask God to help our words help others rise. If that’s not the goal, it’s not a good and perfect gift from God. God is always about helping His kids to rise, to recognize goodness, and to call it out. He does correct. Most generally, He doesn’t need our help doing it. 

3. Connection Point: Jesus called her Woman.

My old feminist self would have cringed, because I wouldn’t have understood the meaning of this. At that time in history, women held little power or influence. They were very vulnerable (and this woman, in particular, could have been stoned to death for her transgressions). In fact, men weren’t to be seen alone with women. Especially devout Jews like Jesus. Yet He stood right there with the woman. He stood up to men, men of influence and power. He didn’t care. He wasn’t about following what the world, or even the spiritual leaders, thought was right. He knew He needed to acknowledge the Woman and He did so with all the men. And she witnessed His actions. Acknowledgement and action make impact.

Jesus always fights for the underdog. Scripture gives us plenty of examples: David, Gideon, Nehemiah, Rahab, Ruth, to name a few.

He loves us all.  He calls me. He calls you. What’s your name? He knows it!

P.S. For any feminist friends happening to read this, check out the gospel of Luke.  See how Jesus treats, treasures, and adores women. I’d also welcome conversation with you. 

4. Connection Point: Jesus saw the woman, really saw her.

Jesus stood up and saw the woman. It was only the two of them. All her accusers had scurried off at the realization they could just as easily be accused and found guilty of sin.

Jesus was aware of her sin, but He saw her. He made sure she knew His heart for her first. And always.

Because He wanted the best life for her, He knew she needed to be seen and known. Defended. Protected. Loved.

From that vantage point, she could hear what He had to say to her.

Isn’t that the truth for us too?

It’s very difficult to receive correction from a critical voice.  Remember that teacher, manager, parent, or other person in authority who corrected without connection? That’s hard. It’s hard to hear. It’s hard to believe they have your best interests at heart. It’s hard to have any kind of desire to turn from sin toward that voice. Why would we? That can feel scary.

Jesus isn’t scary.

He’s Truth wrapped up in a warm blanket of Love. Like a child’s blankie, when we grasp His heart for us, we desire to take Him with us everywhere.  His Love helps us feel safe and secure. Out of that secure position, we can hear the Truth of what He has to say.

He knows our sin. But I believe He knows us as individuals created in His image on a journey of transformation and freedom from sin.  That sojourn happens one day at a time out of the overflow of His love for us.

Jesus sees you. And He sees that person who gets on your very last nerve. Yes, He sees them too.

And He wants us to see them as well.

That doesn’t always feel easy. It’s okay. It might not be. That’s when we ask for extra doses of grace and mercy from God to do it.

When we see people, they feel seen. Sounds basic. But how many people walk around in this world zombie-like wanting, waiting to be seen? Many! Selfies, anyone? A cry to be seen (at least sometimes). So let’s see. See the ones God calls you to. He doesn’t call you to everyone, but He does call you to some. See your some.

Yesterday, I heard a talk from Mackenzie Carter. She said something that struck me. “Step. Step. Stop.” Through our days, step forward, step forward, and then stop. Stop when we hear that still small voice tell us to take 10 minutes to connect with the person across the screen, table, cash register, or wherever we might be. Stop.

I’d actually like to add to what Mackenzie shared. How about….

“Step. Step. Stop. See.”

We all want to be seen. Let’s start by seeing. 

5. Connection Point: Jesus asked a question.

Sometimes, the best thing we can do is ask a question and let the Lord help the person come to their own understanding with His help (not ours).  I’m not saying we never call anything out, but we should be certain God has asked us to. It’s not always our job to call it out.  A better way is questions. We all believe the conclusions we are able to come to ourselves the most. We are all on a quest, a faith quest — even those of us who don’t realize it.

Questions allow the Holy Spirit to do His beautiful work in our brother’s and sister’s lives.

Questions also work in our own lives. Ask the Lord questions on behalf of yourself too. Do not worry. He isn’t going to come down on us like a guillotine. That’s what I used to think. Instead, He falls on us like grace.

His questions reveal a picture of His grace.

“Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?”

Through His questions, she considers and answers. “No one.”

Think about how freeing that had to feel.

Imagine if you were caught stealing, in an affair, in addiction, lying, in pride, in gossip, in over-indulgence, in idolatry (children, spouses, jobs, identity in anything other than as a child of God), in any number of our sins. It’s you and Jesus. Just the two of you. Would you feel guilty? Would you squirm from the idea of it?  I probably would.

But the beauty of God and His grace is seen even in His timing. Back-to-back questions leading the woman to the conclusion He wanted her to arrive at.

There is no condemnation.

Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you..”

He says that to you and me too.

Jesus says to you and me, “Neither do I condemn you.”

Let it sink in.

6. Correction Point: Now go and sin no more. 

Only after God has deeply and genuinely connected with the woman does He tell her to “Go and sin no more.”

Sin hurts us and God knows it. People ask why bad things happen in our world? It’s because of sin. God wants us to stop that! I think of the tragedies in El Paso, TX and Dayton, OH.

That’s someone’s sin splayed across our world with terrible consequences.

“Go and sin no more.”

Sin wrecks lives, ours and others.

That is why God says, “Go and sin no more.”

I think of the pain I caused myself and others from my own sin.  I don’t dwell on it, because God wouldn’t want me to. But I do know many of the sins God delivered me from (and is in the process of delivering me from).  There are probably things I’m not even aware of yet. It’s because God is still connecting with me and giving me what I can handle, when I can handle it.

He keeps telling me, when I get angry or impatient, “Go and sin no more.”

His voice of correction is kind. It’s not harsh. It’s love wrapped in a blanket of truth that helps me know Him, myself, and how He wants me to carry out my calling here on earth.

So when God asks us to “Go and sin no more.” Let’s join Him. It’s His compassion that leads to change. His example is a good one to follow when dealing with others. (Again, not always easy. I know. But He’ll help us.)

I think of the families who are experiencing great loss right now from the events over the last week or so. We might not want to extend mercy to those who sinned and perpetrated atrocities against others, but consider what Jesus did for the man hanging on the cross next to Him. Jesus connected with him. And that man was saved. Just like you. And just like me. Sin isn’t on a sliding scale, even though we make it that way sometimes.

Why does connection before correction matter?

We all want a better world, a kinder, gentler place, a place where goodness dwells.  When we focus on connecting before correcting, we create space for those things to happen.

More importantly (if you can imagine, but it’s true because our world is temporal)…we participate in God’s plan to help others walk out of darkness and into the light of life for all eternity.

Then Jesus spoke to them (the Pharisees) again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”─John 8:12 NKJV (added for clarification)

We won’t get the connecting before correcting right 100% of the time. We should still try.

And now that you don’t have to be perfect, you can be good.─John Steinbeck

Join the conversation here or on our Facebook page.

Signature Image: Tracy Stella

Categories // Tracy Stella's Perspective Tags // connection, Correction, Go and sin no more, God is our Defender, Grace, John 8:12, John 8:2-11, Love, Mercy, Notice, Questions Jesus asked, See, sin, Step. Step. Stop. See., truth

God is…Gracious!

11.13.2018 by Jennifer Howe //

This month the FACETS are thinking about the character of God, the precious attributes revealing facets of Almighty God to us. Tracy wrote on God’s faithfulness here. Visit next Tuesday to find out which attribute Kim chose. Finally, we have a guest sharing the following Tuesday. I love each writer’s choice and voice. I hope you will, too.

The most precious attribute of God is: Gracious (J. Howe)

Then the Lord passed in front of him [Moses] and proclaimed: Yahweh—Yahweh is a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger and rich in faithful love and truth Exodus 34:6 CSB

Sweet friend, can I be honest for a pair of minutes? I need grace. I need more of it than the average Jo, no lie. Some days I’m more sensitive to my failings and have to admit Paul’s words both pierce and offer healing balm to my soul:

But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life. 1 Timothy 1:16 NLT

I’m a writer who lives in a world of words. Those same words are weapons I draw on a terrible, horrible, no-good day. Anyone can dip into “strengths” for the wrong reasons or intent, right? Then an insidious whisper hisses, “Jesus can’t love me. I’ve messed up too much. I’m disqualified. Again.” The voice of the liar gets in my head, sometimes my heart, too often. Maybe you’ve heard the voice with an accusation. It can crush us if we’re not careful to make intentional choices.

Accept the gift of grace. A precious gift was given. We see it in John 3:16-17—

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only and unique Son, so that everyone who trusts in him may have eternal life, instead of being utterly destroyed. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but rather so that through him, the world might be saved… CJB

The Son, Jesus, came for a purpose. He came to represent the Father and us—to fix the gap between holiness and humanity. He was both God and man, all on a rescue mission for us, who could do nothing about the problem on our own. Since we couldn’t earn it and don’t deserve it, that’s grace! Jesus is the display of God’s gracious character on our behalf. I just love that. And I desperately need it! (You too?)

Once upon a time, I made an intentional decision. I wanted that. I wasn’t clear on how it the gift of grace happened, but I knew I wanted it, and I asked wholeheartedly. I was a beggar doing what beggars do. Sometimes when you have a need, you ask…and ask…and ask again. I needed some kind of do-over. The Good Father meets the need through Jesus. The Father’s child knows to come, ask, and shelter in the Father’s house. Then the child becomes an heir to the inheritance, in this case, beautiful grace!

Be willing to accept the gift and accept what He says. The gift of grace is for you, through Jesus’ death and resurrection. Whatever you do, hang on to that truth with all you’ve got. Grasp it like your life depends on it. Never let go! This is daily acceptance or rejection of truth, in my experience. We choose daily, friend; let’s choose well.

Beware the lies! The enemy of our souls wants nothing more than to destroy any hope, truth, or connection to our Father through the Son. So he strews a path of lies to obscure the way. Root out the lies by comparing the voice you hear to the Bible. When the voice matches the Word of God in good context, you can rest in the truth. When lies come, you’ll see them for what they are.

Let’s allow God to love us through words in Scripture. Let’s be loved. Then we can love others.

Remember my struggle with word weapons? Some conviction is truth mixed with lies. It’s true my words must become increasingly filled with truth and love and grace (because God’s people become more like the character of God). But there is no shame with truth because “no condemnation now exists for those in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). There’s a chasm of difference between Holy Spirit’s whisper of conviction to repent and the shame-filled hiss of the enemy. One leads to freedom; the other spirals into a trap.

Practice receiving the gift of grace. The longer we’ve listened to the hiss, the more difficult it may be to meet it with truth. We need to sit with Scripture, wash the mind with it, and counter the lies with truth. That takes time, repetition, and practice!

It’s a choice to receive grace. If we choose not to receive it, we land in a pit of pride. We isolate and insulate. In my experience isolation leads to anger, frustration, and sadness. Hope is absent. That’s a choice—but not a life I want. (None of us wants that.)

I practice receiving truth and love by spending time with Him throughout the day. I read what He has to say. I want to talk to Him often. Good habits to cultivate, for sure, but the relationship doesn’t rest on some fuel I generate through effort (it would for sure fall flat!).

Grace is a gift created and given by the giver. We can’t earn or deserve it. Because He is compassionate and gracious, His gift is always more than we can think or imagine. Think of how lavish that is!

Grace. I’m thankful for enduring grace! Now I want to respond in love to Him for that amazing gift—I want to live differently because grace leads to repentance…and fierce and fiery love for Him and others.

Which attribute is precious to you? We all want to know. Share in the comments below or at our Facebook Page.

Signature, Jennifer Howe

Categories // Faith, Jennifer Howe's Perspective, Precious Attributes of God Tags // 1 Timothy 1:16, Exodus 34:6, Facets of Faith, Faith, Grace, Jennifer J Howe, John 3:16-17, Lies we believe, Receiving grace, truth

Life Lessons: The Truth is…

09.11.2018 by Jennifer Howe //

This month FACETS is thinking about life lessons—the sharp chisels, gritty sandpaper, and beautiful gems in our lives. Life lessons speak to where we’ve been, where we are, and where we’re going in life. I (Jennifer) am thankful for truth-filled lessons, but I rarely find them “easy-peasy, lemon squeezy.”

IMAGE: LIfe Lessons, Jennifer J Howe, pink

I’m a wife and mom, and I probably wear ten other “hats” interchangeably. Sometimes I imagine the hats are real accessories. The “wifey” one is shimmering white with a 21-diamond-studded, tungsten carbide band. My blue mommy hat dangles mini mementos from a wide brim: diapers, pacifiers, bottles, homemade baby food, Tonka trucks, Matchbox cars, Legos, dirt clumps, critters, frisbees, footballs, sweaty clothes, smelly shoes, an empty refrigerator, happy tears, sad tears, and a few fear tears. My teacher hat is decorated with green, orange, purple, and red pens; lesson plans; books, books, and more books. Antique typewriter keys spell out AUTHOR & EDITOR on the writer hat’s band. A pink friend hat is covered in rhinestones, dark chocolates, mugs, coffee beans, and tea bags (D’uh!). The athlete hat sports softballs, belts from several martial arts, fried eggs, smoothies, dumbbells, and running shoes. Graphite images wrap around the bright-white paper artist hat.

The question is, are my hats the reality and totality of Jennifer? Are yours the sum of you? Is it who we’ve been, are, and ever will be? When I answer those questions, I lean into truth lessons I’ve learned.

Truth: I am not what I do.
The life lessons I’ve encountered speak to something crucial: I am not what I do. See, when a hat defines me, I’m probably wearing it, loud and proud, on the treadmill of life. At least, that’s my experience. When I’m defined by what I do, what happens when marriage is hard, children grow up, jobs change, friends relocate, or the brain writes “athletic checks” the body can’t cash? Some hats can inform me of important details in my life. The hats can’t define me or you because we’ll be crushed under the weight of performance, good or bad, and permanence or absence. Lesson (being) learned.

Truth: Truth is hard.
If I listed identity words connected with my life, it’d be a mixed bag. There would be a childhood description, a young adult one, and something after that (technically, until yesterday). Good, bad, and ugly would swirl in the mix. Words reflect I’m a survivor…saved…but also selfish…and I battle anger, shame, and sadness over many things. That’s where I’ve been, honestly, even up to a second ago in some of it. I’ve seen the good, bad, and ugly in a hard but honest way: I’m oh-so-flawed!

Truth is hard, but one big truth can’t be ignored. As true as the description up there may be, reflecting my flaws and struggles, there is something truer (if that’s a “thing”).

Truth: Nobody’s perfect.
We hear that all the time, and it’s true, but the truth is imperfection causes problems deeper than just “not quite getting it right” and follow-up apologies. The cycle of wounding God, ourselves, and others has to be broken, and it will never be a behavior mod kind of thing. I was desperate to deal with the rotten “stuff” of life—mine and others’ dished my direction—and the road I took led me to biblical truth: this world (everyone and everything in it) is pretty messed up.

Truth: Jesus is the answer to imperfection.
When I think about who I am today, I’m thankful to rest in the truer truth: I’m a daughter of a king. Actually, the King. And that was brought about by a lesson: Father-God is real, He speaks true and loving words, and He demonstrated love in Jesus.

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. John 3:16-18 CSB

That’s one of all the places in the Bible where we meet truth head-on. The reality is, truth has to be met; it can’t be ignored. Our imperfection (sin) flies in the face of Holy God and must be addressed. (If you’re unsure about God, the Bible, Jesus, and truth; maybe it’s time to have a conversation with a trusted Christian friend or pastor. I wrestled hard—and contentiously—with exactly those things. I encourage you because I care.)

Truth: God is real, and He loves me.
And that life lesson in truth up there—that God is real and holy, loves deeply, and has provided a way to be free from overwhelming power of sin and death—that’s what informs my identity and my future.

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. John 14:6 CSB

Then I learn how valuable I am and have no doubt where I’m going simply because…well, Jesus. I once had images of clouds and harps juxtaposed with fire and pitchforks. The Bible gives detailed descriptions, and I don’t see our culture’s caricature of the afterlife in there. What I love is that this intricately created universe truthfully reveals the fingerprints of the Designer who made it. And when He comments on truth and the only way to His eternal life, we should listen.

Truth: There is a reality I can’t see, but I will…
Somewhere between all ready and not yet. Where I’m going is all about a reality I can’t see—yet!

Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen. Hebrews 11:1 ESV

[F]or we walk by faith, not by sight 2 Corinthians 5:7

Fight the good fight for the faith; take hold of eternal life, to which you were called and have made a good confession before many witnesses. 1 Timothy 6:12

I once had a false impression of where I was going; now it’s clearer. While I won’t have a perfect image until I see it with my own eyes, I can walk more confidently in truth now about the future. (I’m learning to walk that out every day.) I don’t really wonder where I’m going. I do wonder what it will be like to see and embrace the perfect presence of God with a newly-created mind and body. (Can I be a little taller, please? *giggle*) And my spirit longs for that in some way every day! You, too?

When you think about your future, what feelings do you have? What about the future do you long for most? Comment below or at the FACETS Facebook page. I’d love to hear from you.

If you haven’t, take a peek at Tracy’s thoughts from last week, too!

Signature, Jennifer Howe

Categories // Jennifer Howe's Perspective, Life, Life Lessons Tags // Facets of Faith, Faith, Identity, Jennifer J Howe, Jesus, truth

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  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2015

Categories

  • A Weary World Rejoices
  • Blooming in Marriage
  • Changes
  • Connection Before Correction
  • Desperate for God to Do?
  • Difficult People
  • Do They Know They Are Loved?
  • Do They Know They Are Loved?
  • Do You Believe God?
  • Do You Give Her the Royal Treatment?
  • Do You Kow You Are…
  • Do You See What I See
  • Expecting the Unexpected
  • Faith
  • Finding Family
  • Forgiveness
  • Freedom
  • Freedom on the Road to Calling
  • Friendship
  • Going Through Change
  • Going Through the Change
  • Guest Perspectives
  • How Do You See 2020?
  • How does God respond to me?
  • How Does Prayer Fuel Hope?
  • How Does the Enemy Try to Silence You?
  • How to Love When It's Hard
  • Intimacy
  • Jennifer Howe's Perspective
  • Joy/Humor
  • Kim Findlay's Perspective
  • Life
  • Life Lessons
  • Life Liberty and the Pursuit of Surrender
  • Mama Guilt
  • Megan Abbott's Perspective
  • Perspective
  • Precious Attributes of God
  • Resurrection Power
  • Safe to be Really Me?
  • Say No
  • Say Yes
  • Singing in April's Showers
  • Spring Forward with God
  • Thankfulness: How do we serve?
  • The Blessing
  • The Blessing: January 2021
  • The Do Over
  • The FACETS Team
  • The Lion the Lamb and the Mirror
  • The Story of Christmas
  • The Trinity: Intimately knowing and growing
  • Thelma! Who's Your Louise?
  • Tracy Stella's Perspective
  • Trusting God When Afraid
  • Truth and Denial
  • Turning Little into Much
  • Uncategorized
  • What are You Going Back to?
  • What Do I Have to Offer
  • What Do You Do for Fun?
  • What Do You Dream About?
  • What has God rescued you from?
  • Who Burnt My Turkey?
  • Who Do You Love?
  • Who Do You Say I Am?
  • Woman of God?

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