Spiritual Growth
These blog posts will give you spiritual growth with a deeper education of what the Bible says on a specific topic.
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Expect A Testimony
My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth. Psalm 121:2 I was shocked. I could not believe this was happening to me. What had I done to deserve such unfair treatment? I needed help to process this. I wanted to tell everyone about how the world had wronged me. So, I grabbed the donuts, called my husband in a fit of rage, and focused intently on my perceived right to an immediate solution. Should I expect God to do a miracle? The situation I am in feels like it will require a miracle to bring all to Justice. To right the wrong, to heal my battered…
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The Power of the Spoken Word
The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. Proverbs 18:21. Do my words have more power when I say them out loud? Growing up, my mom would consistently drill this into my head, “You have what you say.” Should I wake up grumpy and claim the day to be downright rotten, my mom might respond with, “Laurie, you are going to have a wonderful day!” She would then remind me, “You have what you say.” Ok, I promise, I am not about to preach a prosperity message. There will be no “Name it and claim it” reels played out in…
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The Screwtape Letters–Relationship Drama and Life After Death
Relationship Drama Letter Three of The Screwtape Letters is one of my favorites. It clarified how simple temptation could be for us to fall into it. In this letter, we meet another character named Glubose. He is the demon in charge of the human’s mother. Screwtape (Head demon of Hell) is instructing Wormwood (Screwtape’s nephew and intern of sorts) to advise Glubose to make sure the relationship between mother and son slowly deteriorates. When we become Christians, we receive a new heart. This comes with unique desires and new motives. Imagine the possibilities of improved relationships when you start to love others as Jesus loves you! In our screwy letters,…
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The Screwtape Letters – Humility, Hope, and Happiness
Maintaining a transparent relationship with God. Have you ever made grand resolutions to God after backsliding in your faith? We might resolve to quit cussing or stop being so self-centered. We might promise to become humble in our place before God. As we mature in our Christianity, we learn about grace and forgiveness and, eventually, about true humility. It is in this virtue of genuine humility where we can maintain a transparent relationship with God. So, what is true humility? In letter fourteen, Screwtape (Head demon of Hell) is concerned because Wormwood’s (Screwtape’s nephew and intern of sorts) Patient (a human seeking to convert to Christianity) has discovered real humility.…
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The Screwtape Letters – Pray As If Your Life Depends on It
In letter #1, Screwtape (Head demon of Hell) tells Wormwood (Screwtape’s nephew and intern of sorts) a story of a time when they brought a soul safely into Our Father’s (The Devil’s) house. The Patient (a human seeking to convert to Christianity) was having a moment with the Lord while sitting in a museum. Screwtape had invested twenty years into this one patient, making sure he was a sound atheist. He was freaking out because The Enemy (God) began working on The Patient’s heart. Screwtape could have attempted an argument with the man, but he was not such a fool. Instead, he struck at the part of the man which…
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The Screwtape Letters Series – Introduction
Who is C.S. Lewis? One could quote from this website many facts about C.S. Lewis, and by following the link, you may choose to indulge in the points of this literary wonder. But I want to share a brief background of who Lewis was, based on what I found interesting. Most of you probably have at least heard of C.S. Lewis, known for such books as Mere Christianity, the Chronicles of Narnia series, and my favorite, The Screwtape Letters. He is one of the most well-known and often quoted Christian authors of the twentieth century. As a sickly child who lost his mother at an early age, Clive Staple abandoned…
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The Spiritual Discipline of Journaling
This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Write in a book all the words I have spoken to you.’ Jeremiah 30:2 Words are powerful. The God of the universe spoke the world into existence. We speak words over one another at birth (Baptism/child dedication), graduations, weddings, and finally in death. Writing is communication, creativity, spirituality, and self-expression. Journaling is a sacred act that can help form us spiritually. So is journaling a spiritual discipline? There may not be any place in the Bible where it teaches explicitly or tells us to keep a journal. Still, I believe it is a discipline that aids us in biblical…
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The Spiritual Discipline of Living the Devoted Life
As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. Psalm 42:1 You may ask yourself, why is it important for Christians to participate in regular devotions? I have found, when we are committed to the pursuit of something and want to be steadfast and faithful to it, we must be devoted to it. The most important thing we have to be devoted to is our relationship with God. In the act of “doing” or “having” devotions, we come into God’s presence as we read and meditate on the Word of God. Jesus, by His example, shows us the importance of regular quiet time…
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Live Juicy – A 10-Week Study of the Fruit of the Spirit – Week Ten – Self-Control
Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control. Proverbs 25:28 The Pink House I once lived in a neighborhood where someone had painted their house what I would consider a hideous pink color. It stuck out like a sore thumb, and you couldn’t help but notice it. As a member of the Board of Directors to our Homes Association, I was privy to the story behind the pink house. The HOA received many calls and complaints, asking if there was anything we could do. The owners of the pink house, when asked, shared the reason for the color; it was to make their neighbors…
