Follow Me:
51. “Big Flavor, Served Plain”
“Adding anything else to the work Christ does in each person just messes up the flavor. Christ is enough, served plain.”
On the gospel being enough without any additives from us.
50. “God Wants to Break Your Heart”
“Perhaps what we’ve thought was God’s silence was His megaphone to help us diligently seek Him. Perhaps God knows that only desperate, broken hearts can receive His transforming love.”
On the God who loves us enough to break what will not bend
49. “Reach Out and Touch Someone”
“You can change someone’s entire life, even change the entire course of history if you seize the moments to connect with others.”
On suicide prevention & the holiday blues
48. “For the Love of God”
“We can’t love the best in people until we can forgive the worst in them. God loves the people you can’t stand.”
On loving, forgiving, and desiring restoration for all
47. “The Rows Behind You”
“A group on inequality, and privilege. Once you “make it,” remember to advocate for the rows behind you.”
On advocating beyond the blinding, deafening nature of privilege
46. “Why the Wait?”
“5 points on why a rape victim/survivor would EVER wait to disclose his or her assault.”
On why rape victims would let time (and evidence) slip away
45. “He Chose the Mess”
“When you have to choose between a fire and a mess, choose the mess! He took the nails. He conquered death. He chose the mess!”
On the mess of the cross and the choice of Christ
44. “Broken Relationships — #FirstSundays Prayer Call”
“Recorded Prayer call on BROKEN RELATIONSHIPS. Playback number on flyer to replay prayer.”
On restoration of the most important relationship we could ever break
43. “How I Almost Quit Christianity“
“What started with my disdain for others’ bad behavior ended with repentance for my own…when you think you’re not that bat, that’s bad!”
On the depths of our depravity pointing to the depths of God’s grace
42. “The 7-Day Gratitude Challenge”
Day 2: Faithful When I’m Not
Day 3: Sweetness and Suffering
Day 4: Good News
41. “When I Don’t Want God to Be God”
“At the root of our anxiety is a difficulty in trusting the sovereignty of God…but, if God isn’t God, someone else will be…Fear is misplaced faith; likewise, anxiety is misplaced divinity — something else is God.”
On trusting God to do whatever He wants to do
40. “Boundaries: Forgiveness vs. Fellowship”
“FORGIVENESS does not equal ACCESS! 3-minute video from a series on boundaries addressing how we know if we should forgive someone, and let them back ‘in.'”
On forgiveness and fellowship being two parts of the same healing process
39. “The Pain to Push”
“Your path will be filled with pain, but once you’re in position, the pain will get you to push and lead to you birthing the vision within you! (Expect Resistance vlog)”
On choosing NOT to be numb to the pain that prospers us
38. “Choosing Regrets”
“‘If you wait for perfect conditions, you will never get anything done.’ (Ecclesiastes 11:4) 2-minute video – You can’t choose every outcome, but you can choose your regrets.”
On choosing action vs. inaction as it relates to life regrets
37. “The Beautiful Things Project”
“Everyone has a story, and it makes all of our lives more beautiful to listen. Join me in The Beautiful Things Project where you can share YOUR beautiful things.”
On God still doing new, beautiful things in old, ugly places
36. “God Restores: Video Testimony”
“Videoed testimony of God’s all-encompassing grace throughout my life: When I didn’t care to live, God was determined to save. In my hatred and rejection, He pursued, and in my open rebellion, He forgave. “
On God’s relentless pursuit and restoration
35. “Life Soundtrack”
“Many powerful life experiences are inextricably tied to healing melodies that will forever have an emotional impact on us and be indelibly etched into the fabric of our lives (PLAYLIST).”
Melodies & testimonies that have gotten us through life’s rough patches
34. “The Two Halves of Life”
“In the second half of life, we begin to feel a righteous indignation for societal wrongs that we know we may never completely correct or even address in our lifetime, but we find it worth our tears, our anger, our voice, anyhow.“
Thoughts on a Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life
33. “Mourning Unknown Unknowns”
“There are too many brilliant unknowns we’ll never even know we missed out on because some careless comments damped the lamp that could’ve blazed a path for so many.“
On a sorrow for the missed beauty we didn’t know we so desperately needed
32. “The Usual Suspects”
“‘The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn’t exist,’ but I believe his most common lie is that God’s promises are not for you.”
On a Truth that will silence the loudest lies
31. “What a Mess!”
“Grace refuses to have an exclusive target, yet is determined to never miss its intended mark. What a mess the cross surely was. What a mess His grace still is. It gets everywhere!“
On the mess the cross surely was and the mess His grace still is
30. “The Most Important Thing”
“The most important things in life cannot be bought or sold. A few intangibles come to mind, but what IS the most important thing?“
On considering the most important things and the single most important thing
29. “Distance Makes No Difference”
“If I could hear Christ praying for me in the next room, I would not fear a million enemies. Yet, distance makes no difference. He is praying for me.“
On God drawing near, even when we are far
28. “How To Write a Suicide Note”
“Each of us can play a significant role in helping others through an otherwise difficult season. Be thankful for blessings, yes, but also be a blessing.”
On depression, suicide, and how to bring hope into others’ lives
27. “Where to Find Yourself”
“As Christians, we often find ourselves mired in service to others. Service is great, but unfortunately, it’s entirely possible to lose ourselves in things that are good. This post is about where to find ourselves.”
On the ease of losing yourself in ministry and where to find yourself
26. “Wounds of the Spirit”
“The reality is: some wounds we may live with until Christ returns, and He wants us to continue crying out to Him, ANYHOW, with absolute faith that He’ll answer.”
On the purpose and persistence of some wounds and the presence of God in it all
25. “ALL That Is Within Me”
“I’ve realized God can handle all of me, my emotions, my joy, my pain, my desires and disappointments, all of me. I’m determined to bless the Lord with ALL that is within me.”
On what it means to be loved by God and to love Him with your ALL
24. “Amazing Jesus”
“Of course Jesus is amazing, but this is about what amazed Jesus. I’m no longer satisfied with my faith until it amazes an amazing God.”
On having the amazing faith that amazes God
23. “Break My Box”
“God, I pray You’re not who I think You are, and I don’t want You to be who I want You to be. When we petition God, our requests are ‘exceedingly, abundantly’ smaller than what God is eager to do for us. My wants are too small; my God is too big. Father, break my box.”
On a God much bigger than our thoughts and the space holding them
22. “on NOT raising rapists…”
“I want my children to wait for marriage, but should they choose not to do so, I want them to wait for consent. We need to teach our children, explicitly, that whomever they’re having sex with should be making a clear, conscious choice.”
On proactively raising a safe generation through explicit teaching
21. “Gone in 60 Seconds”
Personal Testimony: “I immediately began walking in wholeness exactly two weeks after I was ready to give up!”
“God is more powerful than anybody’s past, no matter how wretched. He can make us forget – not by erasing the memory but by taking the sting and paralyzing effect out of it” ~Jim Cymbala
On the God who has immediate healing in the hem of His garment
20. “I’d Rather Die”
“So instead of just finding a reason to live, God’s given a better reason to say, ‘I’d rather die.'”
On finding a new reason to live, and better yet, a new reason to die
19. “When God Repents”
“Time after time, we see God’s repentance is all about our deliverance. When God repents, it’s for our reconciliation with Him…God wants us to be as eager about repentance as He is.”
On the God who changes His mind for our good
18. “Denser Alloy: Equipped for Your Calling”
“There’s something absolutely magnificent about knowing you were specially equipped to live out your purpose…God has already equipped you with the life circumstances you need to live out your calling.”
On being equipped for your calling and already being enough
17. “My Two Cents”
“These two coins don’t look like much, but they’re still as valuable as the day they were minted…battered and bruised as you may be, you are treasured by God and still worth the blood of Jesus!”
On knowing your worth aside from what life experiences you encounter
16. “Blown Out, But On the Road”
“I pray everyone reading this and others who see that picture are inspired with the hope that things don’t have to be restored to perfection before getting back on the road.”
On getting back on the road, even when you’re not fully restored YET
15. “I’m Here. I’m Free, Now.”
“Amanda Berry’s words, “I’m here. I’m free now..” will probably echo into eternity and speak hope into the millions of women who will hear them and repeat the same.”
On being able to utter those words Amanda Berry uttered, “I’m here. I’m free, now.”
14. What God is NOT
“I believe that God IS, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him; however, I woke up thanking God for what He is not!” (Bulleted List)
On being grateful for who God is AND who He is not
13. Cast Down, But Not Destroyed
“It is in the quiet crucible of your personal private sufferings that your noblest dreams are born, and God’s greatest gifts are given in compensation for what you’ve been through.”
On coming to God with your personal, private sufferings so He can put you together in compensation for your pain
12. “Convicted to Confront”
“The reality is, God doesn’t want us to take a passive stance on confrontation. Choosing not to confront is as selfish as not caring that others be restored.”
On how and why we should engage in loving confrontation
“God delivers. Redemption is real. Where sin abounds, His grace MUCH MORE abounds (Romans 5:20)!”
Two awesome videos on what God delivers us from (I prefer the bottom video)
10. “LIVE the Word”
“Let’s actively LIVE the Word, instead of passively waiting for it to cloak us. I declare that all God’s promises I’ve yet to see fulfilled will find me expectantly waiting and ever worshiping!”
On being a doer of the Word and confidently living out His promises
“What makes me beautiful? Joining with God in acknowledging His beauty in every single thing He’s created, recognizing beauty where others, and even I, used to see ugliness, not only seeing, but reflecting God’s beauty makes us beautiful.”
On perceiving outer beauty by possessing inner beauty: You are what you see
8. The Glory of it All
“Too often, we miss the beauty of God; we’re so pigeonholed into viewing Him in just one way, that we totally miss the glory of it all. But thank God for those revealing moments.” (2 two-minute, awesome videos)
On seeing the beauty God’s creating by taking on HIS perspective
7. Greater Works
“The reasons and methods are clear. We will do greater works for His glory and our good, and we will be able to do them because they are not our works to do, but the works of our Father “
On the purpose and promise of doing greater works.
6. But, It Doesn’t Look Good
“Christianity, at the outset, does not seem very appealing: rejoice in sufferings, count trials as joy, we’re blessed when persecuted, but there’s an excellent reason for this.“
On why Christianity doesn’t have to LOOK good because we serve a God who IS good
5. Preparing for the Storm
“In the midst of the storm, there is very little time to think…we have to have that firm foundation in God’s word before the storms arise”
Life’s storms are coming – On being prepared before the winds blow
4. Garment of Praise for the Spirit of Heaviness
“Don a spirit of praise and you will have no choice but to feel God’s presence, for His Word declares that He inhabits the praises of His people“
On donning the garment of praise and the God who inhabits our praise
3. Further Out to Sea
“Why wouldn’t they just head to shore? Because the captain knew what he was doing and knew the best and safest place for the ship and its passengers was further out at sea.“
On trusting the Captain, even when storms get worse.
2. Broken for His Purpose
“Have we considered that our trials may be solely for the purpose of meeting someone else in the depth of their pain, used solely for the purpose of bringing someone else to Christ, solely for the purpose of bringing HIM glory?”
On finding significance in your suffering
1. Adjust Your Sails
“My prayer is that all who chance upon this blog will be encouraged to live fully.”
On weathering life’s sunny AND stormy days…Adjust Your Sails
adjustedsails 
Ok
Yes so True adjustedsails and as Scripture confirms He does not cause the pain, we reap what we sow, or what others do to us and Satan who controls this world puts us to the test but God protects our soul and will will not be tempted beyond our strength to remain firm, in Jesus we have our way out, He is our Armour and as we put our flesh to death by The Spirit and are perfected in Love we will walk in victory.
Lamentations 3: 33 For God doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men.
God chose us and so we will be conformed into the image of Jesus because He knew we would come to heart repentance and walk in Holiness and in righteousness just as He is righteous.
Colossians 3:4-6 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.
Romans 8: 12-15 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father
James 4:7-10 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and He will flee from you.Come near to God and He will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up.
Colossians 3 :1-17 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.
Galatians 24 -26 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. if we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
Romans 8:1-4 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
1 John 3: 1-11 ( 9) No one who is Born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been Born of God.
Christan Love from both of us – Anne
are you referring to THESE comments, anne? the home page WAS my about page for a brief period of time, but the comments stay on the HOME PAGE b/c u commented on the “home” page, not necessarily the about page. thanks for your other comments. i’ll approve them when i read through them. i’m sorry you thought i’d deleted your comments, and hopefully we can continue to RESPECTFULLY agree or disagree about things God impresses upon us in various ways. i will maintain that the Word of God says He hardens hearts. i don’t say it of my own accord. it doesn’t just say “and they hardened their hearts toward them…” it says He hardens their hearts. i think the example of the sun and wax versus the sun and clay are rather relevant. thanks for the examples you’ve shared. have a great day!
Thank you adjustedsails for sharing some uplifting thoughts and we can be grateful that God is always with us in the storms of life ( see below ) and that in every way He is Fair because He is Love and can be no other way.
I give thanks too that He does not willingly afflict us for any reason, His plans for us are good not evil, but He does use everything in our lives for good because we willingly Love and obey Him.
Isaiah 43:1-3 – Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Saviour.”
Jeremiah 29 :11-12 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Lamentations 3: 33 For God doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men.
Christian Love from both of us – Anne
thank you so much for your comments and for following along. indeed, He won’t afflict us for no reason. He’s a good God. always good, even in our pain! glory to His holy name!