Reclaimed, Redeemed, Reworked… In the Potter’s Hands

 

“And the vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potter’s hand, and he reworked it into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to do.” Jeremiah 18:4

Our one day Women’s retreat was an informative day of fun and fellowship centered around God’s great grace. As He did over and over with the nation of Judah, so He does with us—extending undeserved grace after we continuously fall short; repeating patterns of disobedience and sinful behavior. He offers us…

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Jesus Will Not Leave You Alone

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD.” Isaiah 55:8

“Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!” Romans 11:33

Unsearchable, beyond tracing out, inscrutable, unfathomable, past finding out—all words God Himself provides to describe His own character. In the midst of confusion and suffering—trials and tribulations we can only see the right now…where we are and where we have been. We may feel adrift. But He assures us He is the God who is there…

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Open the Doors of Grace

“do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.” Philippians 2:4

How we react to others’ brokenness speaks volumes. Do we circle the herd, lean in, speak truth to the one who is dying inside, struggling, wrecked, and alone; wading in and meeting our sister where she is…

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Who Holds Your Heart?

 

“My son, give me your heart and let your eyes delight in my ways.” Proverbs 23:26

There is a spiritual battle for women’s hearts and souls…a battle that exploits our deep longing to be loved, protected, secure. The world encourages us to be someone’s valentine—to give our hearts completely, relying on another to validate our self worth and fill the empty places. We may forget the other person is also a sinful fallible creature and become resentful when the fairytale ending is not achieved and our needs remain unmet. We may turn to the world; seeking…

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Salt in the Spoiling Places | Living on Mission

“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.” — Matthew 5:13-14

“Jesus calls his disciples to exert a double influence on the society – a negative influence by arresting its decay and a positive influence by bringing light into its darkness. For it is one thing to stop the spread of evil; it is another to promote the spread of truth, beauty and goodness.” — John R. W. Stott

In the days before household refrigeration salt was used as a preservative to slow decay. In much the same way we…

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Holiday Detox | Review, Renew, Refocus!

TACC Women’s Ministries hosted “Holiday Detox” an event designed to help us focus on reviewing our walk with Christ, renewing our commitment to Him and refocusing the use of our time and talents to accomplish the Lord’s purposes. A number of ladies came together to fellowship, share yummies, sing praises to the Lord — a big thank you to the “A” team Abby and Anna, and hear from our own Anna Lichte whose discussion led us to the feet of Jesus and…

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Poured Out Overflowing Grace

“For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.” John 1:16 (ESV)

Grace upon grace, mercy upon mercy, layers upon layers of undeserved overflowing love and favor; everlasting to everlasting…relentless, constant, infinite—began at the cross; blood spilled on behalf of humanity to satisfy the wrath of God (propitiation), Jesus…

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Love Covers Spiritual Envy

“Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.” 1 Corinthians 12:4-6

Is it just me or do others find it difficult to view themselves through Christ. Am I the only one who distractedly picks apart areas of character or strengths feeling like it is impossible to measure up to some ideal? Has anyone else thought, “Why can’t I be more like..?”

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Resolutions | Real SOULutions

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And sustain me with a willing spirit.” Psalm 51:10-12

It is popular to usher in the New Year with resolve and proclamations about making changes and achieving goals. The feeling of renewal and fresh starts symbolized by the new calendar prompts many of us to focus on transformation. In fact, Time Magazine reports the majority of New Years resolutions focus on personal change and that only a few (8%) of those sweeping statements and vows will be realized only to be repeated again the following year.

Why are these resolutions…

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Comparison: The Joy Thief

“If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, for each one should carry their own load.” Galatians 6:3-5

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13

Have you thought about the joy thief—the thing that seeks to rob of us our joy; casually, slyly, diverting our attention from the Lord to our accomplishments and possessions that don’t quite measure up?

“Comparison is the thief of joy.” —Theodore Roosevelt

Comparison not only steals our joy it weakens our faith; drawing us into the shade of self and the shadows where discontent…

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