Lori Schumaker's Blog, page 7

What Does God Say About Me? Finding the Answers We Need in the Bible

What does God say about me? Many struggle to grasp their unique identity, purpose, and worth. All the answers we need are found in the Bible. Let’s take a look!

What Does God Say About Me?

God created each of us to have intrinsic worth, identity, and value. His thoughts about us are never changing because He knows us better than we know ourselves.

The Bible says that God is love and that He created each of us for a purpose. He wants to show how much He values us through our purpose ...

What Does My Bible Say? Personal Answers to Your Big Bible Questions

The Bible is not only a historical record, it’s many things of which include a letter to us, God’s children, about His unfailing love for us. And just like anyone wants the best for those they love, God wants the best for us. So, He made sure our Bibles serve as a guide through this messy, complicated, but beautiful world we live in. And He made sure to include lots of personal answers to our big Bible questions.

This week, I am starting a 5-week-series. Each week we will discover what the B...

4 Steps Jesus Gives Us to Authentically Surrender to God

What Does it Mean to Surrender to God? And How do we actually do it?

We hear the word surrender in the Christian world often. But what does it really mean? Is it the same surrender we learn about in history class? The surrender that means to give up? If so, why would a Christian choose to do something associated with weakness?

How did Joseph Surrender to God?

Thankfully, God gives us the answer to this complicated question. Although there are many examples in the Bible, let’s start...

No Longer Afraid: Living Boldly in the Hope of Christ

When we have the hope of Christ planted deep within our hearts, living boldly becomes not only a possibility, but a reality. Let’s dig into the Word of God to grasp this truth and put it into action.

3 But you, O Lord, are a shield around me;
    you are my glory, the one who holds my head high.
4 I cried out to the Lord,
    and he answered me from his holy mountain. Interlude

5 I lay down and slept,
    yet I woke up in safety,
    for the Lord was watching over me.
6 I am not afraid of te...

How Can I Die to Self and Love a Little More Like Jesus?

Her fierce little eyes glared at me across the crowded hospital cafeteria. I felt the heat rising into my cheeks with each angry word she shouted. Although her words were in Bulgarian, there was no doubt this little girl was cussing her mama out! And my ability to love more like Jesus was wavering.

Her red punch splattered across the floor, she blamed it on me. I hadn’t touched the drink, much less spilled it, but that was irrelevant in her eyes.  

In the eyes of my daughter, I was at ...

How this Unique Study of Bible Verses on Equality Can Make Families Better

With their eyes, ears, and spirits wide open, my sweet littles soaked in the Bible verses and the stories I shared with them. Our children seem to come into this world far more sensitive to the presence of Jesus than we, as adults are.

Maybe it’s that the world hasn’t had time to bring distance. But no matter the reason, their innocence of heart is beautiful to witness and leaves them fully present to the Lord’s calling.

Many Bible Verses on Equality Live Within the Pages of Our Bible...

7 Advantages of Reading Books to Your Children (The Younger The Better)

As a former elementary school teacher, mama to 3 precious children, and simply a lover of all things reading, I have witnessed the advantages of reading books to children.

So when my guest writer today, Mo Mulla, presented this topic, I was all in! Some of my most treasured memories come from the moments when my now teenage children sat cuddled on my lap as we made our way through the pages of one book after another.

Today, they too, have special memories from those same moments. Their f...

Powerfully Pray Psalm 143 to Start Your Day With Bravery

A Morning Prayer

It’s in those first sacred moments between the alarm clock’s announcement of a new day and the moment when our feet touch the floor, that we have a remarkable but often missed opportunity to change our lives.

Psalm 143

Make me hear of Your faithful love in the morning,
    for I trust in You.
Teach me how I should walk,
    for I offer my soul up to You.

9  Rescue me from my enemies, Eternal One,
    for You are my shelter from them.
10 Teach me how to do Your will,
  ...

Make Your Year Different by Falling In Love With God’s Word Today

I don’t know about you, but after the year that was 2020, I’m SO ready to start this year fresh! I imagine we both have emotionally wrestled with the events, losses, and general turmoil in our world in our attempts to make sense of it all. Most likely we want to hit the refresh button … and live with more peace, joy, and love. 

The Hope of God’s Word

As I reflect on 2020, though, I am filled with hope because woven throughout every remnant, I see God’s promise to never leave us.

Fr...

7 Ways to Rediscover Your Christmas Joy When You’re Downhearted

It was on one of our first dates when my dreaded kidney disease introduced itself to my husband. A kidney stone, complete with a trip to the ER wasnt a part of the Christmas joy I had anticipated with my new boyfriend.

After experiencing over 50 kidney stones in my life, I qualified as a professional kidney stone passer. The routine wasnt a new one for me. However, I wasnt quite ready for this new man in my life to witness a rather raw version of myself!

As I lay sobbing in pain and curled...