Sing!
In the Mornings

Don’t allow the enemy to steal your song. In the book of Joshua, Israel was defeated at the battle of Ai because of one man’s disobedience. The man was stoned and heaps of stone was placed on his burial site. That placed became know as the Valley of Achor and was forever known to Israel as a place of sin and great failure. But in Hosea, during a time when...

Respond with Grace
In the Mornings

It has happened again. Another Christian leader involved in a scandal. (A collective sigh fills the Body of Christ.) I’m sure many Christians want to bury their head in the sand in embarrassment and pray for Jesus’ speedy return. Others are quick to point an accusing finger and blame a lack of holiness teaching in the church. Believers who refuse traditional church, shake their heads and say, “See, that’s why...

Know Your Audience
In the Mornings

My book, Redefined, is being published October 1. Yesterday, I was tasked with finding an intriguing catch phrase to put on the back cover. As I was skimming the book to find the right phrase, God began to show me why the book was written. To invite women who struggle with guilt and shame into freedom. To heal women of the pain of rejection. To encourage women there is life...

It Is Finished!
In the Mornings

I was commenting on the humility of a former student, R. Another student said, “Well M is also humble. Even though she makes an A on most tests, she still worries about her grade and thinks she didn’t do well.” I looked at M (she is a former student and we have a great relationship) and said, “That’s not being humble. That’s being neurotic.” Then I thought about us as...

How Will You Respond?
In the Mornings

I’m thinking this morning about Judas and Jesus. Why did Jesus allow Judas to be in charge of the money if he were a thief? When it was discovered he was stealing, why not remove him from his duties? These questions are not meant to question Jesus’ competence but to understand His grace and mercy. Jesus knew Judas was thinking about betraying him, yet Jesus washed Judas’ feet signifying Judas...

We Cover…Jesus Removes
In the Mornings

I’m disagreeing with my editor about the word guilt. Are feelings of guilt productive in the believer’s life? Does God use guilt to motivate us into righteous living? Adam and Eve were frolicking naked in the Garden of Eden. God would come down in the afternoon and they would visit while sipping on lemonade. (I picture them living in the southern part of the Garden.) They felt no shame (Genesis...

No Shame
In the Mornings

Did you know shame, guilt, and condemnation were not emotions initially experienced in the Garden of Eden? The emotions of guilt and shame were introduced after the fall. We were not designed to carry these emotions. So how do I overcome them? How do I show remorse without partnering with guilt, condemnation and shame? 1. Take responsibility. Apologize without explanation. Make amends where possible. 2. Receive the forgiveness of God....

Father, Forgive Them!
In the Mornings

Unrepentant. Unaware. They shouted for His death – a cruel, agonizing, shameful death. No one asked for forgiveness. Why would they? They were acting on behalf of God or so they thought. Jesus, watched as they yelled crucify him! He willingly allowed the nails to be driven in His hands, His feet. The blood flowed and He looked at his accusers through the blood. His eyes were not filled with...

The Ultimate Sacrifice
In the Mornings

Guilt. Condemnation. Begging God to forgive you. Trying to earn His approval. All negate the power and the beauty of the cross. In the Old Testament, sacrifices were made yearly as an atonement for sin. But those yearly sacrifices did not remove the guilt of sin. As a matter of fact, it only heighten the awareness of sin. But Jesus. But the cross. Jesus was the once and for all,...