Liz Curtis Higgs's Blog, page 4

Unfailing Love, Unending Hope

Ohhhhhh, October. Splendid blue skies. Crisp air warmed by the sun. Green leaves giving way to gold, orange, russet, brown. Season after season, God reveals the glory of His creation and the certainty of His provision.

This month’s verse offers the two things our souls need most year ’round: unfailing love and unending hope.

It’s okay to make things simple. God does. Look.

May your unfailing love be with us, Lord,

even as we put our hope in you. Psalm 33:22

Just sixteen words, but wow. Notice how, before He asks anything of us, our faithful God goes first.

May your unfailing love… Psalm 33:22

It’s an invitation. Even more, an expectation. Whether we say “may” (CSB) or “let” (ESV) or “show” (EXB), we are fully prepared for God to come through for us, because He always does.

What He is offering us here is hesed — a rich Hebrew word translated in lots of ways, all of them more beautiful than the brightest autumn day.

We revel in His “steadfast love” (ESV), which cannot falter. We embrace His “covenant love” (EXB) as promised in His Word. We delight in His “loyal love” (LEB) that never leaves us or forsakes us. We receive His “gracious love” (ISV) that provides a remedy for sin. We bask in His “constant love” (GNT) that will not waiver. And (my favorite word) we celebrate His “lovingkindness” (ASV), which often flows through the hearts of His people.

This Fall I’ve experienced an outpouring of His unfailing love like never before — thanks to you. Since I shared my diagnosis of endometrial cancer on Facebook and in print, your cards, letters, gifts, emails, tweets, comments, and especially your prayers — dear friends, your love for God and your kindness to me have brought tears to my eyes again and again. I can never thank you enough.

Meanwhile, my BFFs here in town have found creative ways to get around my insisting, “I’m fine! Don’t need a thing!”

Early one morning, Elizabeth J. slipped into my darkened hospital room, bearing an extra-hot Venti Chai Tea Latte from Starbucks. When she found me tucked beneath the covers, she quietly put the tea where I could find it and whispered, “You’re in good hands, Liz. The Holy Spirit is all around you.” Even as she spoke those words, He affirmed His presence with His peace. Oh, glory.

When I came home from the hospital to find our fridge empty, another friend, Elizabeth H., texted me describing a mouth-watering dinner she was making for her family. “Be right over!” I texted back in jest. The next day, she appeared at our door with all the scrumptious leftovers, from salad to dessert. Who does that? A friend who won’t take no for an answer.

Sometimes when we think God isn’t near or doesn’t care, we can look at those who are near and do care, and realize they are God’s hands and feet, delivering tangible proof of His unfailing love.

…be with us, Lord,.. Psalm 33:22

This is what God does for us that truly boggles the mind: He is with us. All the time, whether we are aware of Him or not, whether we acknowledge Him or not. His Word promises He will “be over us” (CJB) and “surround us” (CEB) and be “upon us” (KJV), such that “we experience” (NET) Him in the here and now.

Like the day my friend Fifi came over to rub my feet, which were aching from chemo-induced neuropathy (it’s a thing). In 31 Proverbs to Light Your Path, I share another foot-rubbing occasion that was painfully awkward for me. So you can imagine how hard it was to say, “Sure, come on over and massage my feet.” But I did, and she did, and it was holy and sacred and beautiful.

Yes, they were Fifi’s hands, but it was God’s touch. This is how He shows up. This is how He ministers to our needs.

And the nurse and hospital secretary who appeared in my little pre-op cubicle just before surgery? I knew they were believers and asked if they would pray for me, thinking they’d do so on their own. You know, maybe later. Nope. They pulled the curtain shut and prayed right then. Tenderly. Fearlessly. Who does that? Two women who love Jesus.

…even as we put our hope in you. Psalm 33:22

This is what we bring to the table, beloved: our hope in God. He goes first, loving us, surrounding us, making it possible for us to declare with confidence, “our hope is in you alone” (NLT) because “we depend on you” (CEV) and “we have waited for Thee!” (YLT).

It’s in the waiting we discover His strength. It’s in the hoping we see Him answer our prayers.

Two contemporary paraphrases perfectly capture the bold and beating heart of this verse:

“Love us, God, with all you’ve got—that’s what we’re depending on.” Psalm 33:22 MSG

“O Eternal, drench us with Your endless love, even now as we wait for You.” Psalm 33:22 VOICE

Thank you, Lord, for making things simple. And simply wonderful.

A super-quick update: I’ve finished my three radiation treatments and have four rounds of chemo to go. So far, so good. I’m sleeping more than usual and have weathered a few less-than-lovely side effects, but otherwise, your Lizzie is going strong, thanks to your prayers! Here’s where I’ll be speaking in the months ahead.

So many of you pre-ordered 31 Proverbs to Light Your Path, we had to create additional goodies! Samson and I did our best to get everything in the mail in a timely fashion. Not ordered your copy yet? Visit your favorite local bookseller or find it on Amazon, Barnes&Noble, ChristianBook, Books-a-Million, LifeWay, and ChristianAudio.

Oh, and hey, how about a giveaway? ’Tis the season for The Pumpkin Patch Parable and 31 Proverbs, naturally. Scroll down to Share Your Thoughts and post a comment. I’ll choose five winners on Thursday, October 26 at 12noon EDT, reach out privately for addresses, and pop these books in the mail. Simple.

Bless you for opening God’s Word with me today!

Your sister, Liz

The post Unfailing Love, Unending Hope appeared first on Liz Curtis Higgs.

So Much Hope

This summer I discovered something marvelous about hope: you don’t have to come up with it on your own!

Back in June at the Higgs house, hope was in short supply (more on that September 19 on Facebook Live). The One who is hope itself showed me that He can and will provide an overflowing abundance of hope. No charge, no limits, no kidding.

If you could use a fresh measure of hope right about now, get ready for the best news you’ll read today.

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 

What a feast! Every phrase, every word, is delicious and nutritious, giving your soul the nourishment it needs.

Let’s dive in.

May the God of hope fill you… Romans 15:13

Like everything else in His creation, hope “comes from God” (NLV). He’s in charge of hope. He’s our “source of hope” (GNT). Hope is the very definition of who God is. And friend, He is the “God of your hope” (AMPC). Yours, specifically and personally and individually.

“Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him” (Psalm 62:5). It surely does, and when He pours His hope into you, look what comes along for the ride.

…with all joy and peace… Romans 15:13

Okay, not just hope. He also will “fill you completely” (NLT) with “great joy” and “perfect peace” (NIrV). These aren’t simply nice sentiments on a greeting card; these are solid promises from God’s Word.

Ask people what they want most in life, and it’s usually one of these three: hope, joy, or peace. But we don’t have to choose, beloved. God gives us all of these and more.

The truth? Hope, joy, and peace don’t come from any thing or any person. We may love our homes, our cars, our stuff — but any hope, joy, or peace they give us is temporary at best, easily swept away by fires, floods, or hurricanes (still praying for you, friends).

And we are all too aware that our spouses, our kids, our relatives, our BFFs, our neighbors, our coworkers can be taken from us. But what God gives us can never be snatched from our lives.

So how and when does this huge measure of hope start pouring into our hearts?

…as you trust in him,… Romans 15:13

Ah. So we do play a small part. Knowing “the Lord is trustworthy in all he promises and faithful in all he does” (Psalm 145:13) makes it possible for us to put our trust in Him.

We can “believe in Him” (HCSB) because He has proven Himself again and again. Every time a flower blooms, every time the sun rises, every time a baby’s cry pierces the air, God is reminding us of His sovereignty, His creative power, His mighty strength.

When you trust in Him, “your believing lives” (MSG). It beats in your heart and echoes through your mind. The reality of God is undeniable. Wherever there is life, there is God, and He is dishing out hope.

…so that you may overflow with hope… Romans 15:13

What a visual! A fountain of hope, like living water, “bubbling over” (AMPC) and “flowing out of you” (ERV), splashing hope on everyone you meet.

God gives us so much hope, we can’t contain it or control it. And who would want to, when our world desperately needs all the hope it can get?

No need to worry about where all your overflow will go. God is, as always, in charge.

…by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13

Our verse has come full circle, right back to God, whose “life-giving energy” (MSG) never runs out of steam. It’s His power, not ours, that puts hope in motion.

You might want to write this verse on the tablet of your heart for all those days when your hope is running on empty.

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

On Tuesday, September 19 at 1:00pm EDT/10:00am PDT, I’ll be doing my very first Facebook Live Event (gulp). Just pop on my Liz Curtis Higgs Facebook Page right before the start time. We’ll spend just 10 minutes together. Okay, maybe 15, but I promise it will be interesting!

So far I’ve only shared my summer journey toward hope with family members and close friends. Now I’ve worked up the courage to tell you. Join me?

Meanwhile I had SO much fun gathering these goodies for you, as we tiptoe toward the release of 31 Proverbs to Light Your Path! Pre-order before October 3 from any retailer (Amazon has a great price), then fill out this simple form, and I’ll autograph your custom book plate and pop 5 free goodies in the mail to you.

Bless you for opening God’s Word with me today!

Your sister, Liz

The post So Much Hope appeared first on Liz Curtis Higgs.

Thank God It’s Friday

What’s so good about the Friday when Jesus sacrificed His life for us? Everything.

Around the world, that sacred day is known as Holy Friday, Mourning Friday, Silent Friday, High Friday, Sorrowful Friday, and especially, Good Friday, which some say began as God’s Friday. Yes, it certainly is. All His.

In Denmark, it’s called Long Friday — a fitting name for the brutal hours that stretched from sunrise to sunset, from His beating to His burial.

Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer… Isaiah 53:10

Of all the powerful verses in the Bible, this is the one that brings me to my knees. How much does God the Father love us? Enough to sacrifice His only Son.

I love you, dear sister, but I could never give up my only son, my only daughter, for your sake. I’m sure you feel just the same.

Yet “it pleased the Lord to bruise Him” (KJ21). Delighted Him, the original Hebrew tells us. God the Father “wanted to crush him and to make him suffer” (CEB), to “break him” (GNV) and “bring him to grief” (VOICE) for one reason: He loves us.

What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul!

…and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin,… Isaiah 53:10

This is why those six hours on the cross were worth every agonizing minute. Our staggering debt of sin— past, present, and still to come — was paid in full when Jesus put Himself “in sin’s dark place, in the pit of wrongdoing” (VOICE). Separated from His Father, He was forsaken. For our sake.

Then at last, the hallelujah, Easter morning, the true “Ta-da!”

“He has risen!”  Luke 24:6

Because of His sacrifice on the first Good Friday, grace poured out like living water, bringing the gift of forgiveness to a hurting, dying, sin-filled world. To each of us. To all of us.

…he will see his offspring and prolong his days,… Isaiah 53:10

God promises that His Son will have “a multitude of children, many heirs” (TLB). That’s you and me and all who love Him and call Him Lord. Millions upon millions will live forever because Jesus offers “life, life, and more life” (MSG).

Even in the face of imminent betrayal, abandonment, torture, and death, Jesus told His disciples without hesitation, “After I have been raised from the dead…” (Matthew 26:32 NLT). There was no doubt in His mind, and there must be no doubt in ours. He died willingly at the hands of men, and He rose triumphantly at the hands of God.

…and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand. Isaiah 53:10

It’s a lifetime guarantee, written in the blood of the Lamb. Since Jesus “did everything the Lord had planned” (CEV), you can be sure “the Lord’s plans will come to fruition through him” (CEB). As Matthew Henry wrote, “He has vanquished principalities and powers, sin and Satan, death and hell, the world and the flesh.” Oh, what a Savior!

This coming Good Friday – make that every day, every hour – may you experience afresh the wonders of His mercy.

From the pages of The Women of Easter:

On their last night together in Jerusalem, Jesus was preparing His disciples for the separation to come and informing them where their paths would next cross, telling them, “I will go ahead of you into Galilee” (Matthew 26:32).

Imagine how they felt at hearing their Teacher was to be struck down, raised from the dead, and then transported north to Galilee, where He would meet them! Their emotions had to be reeling, especially in view of the prophecy about their deserting Him.

Peter, the rock on which Christ would build His church, said what all of us might say, wanting to sound brave, hoping to encourage Him. “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will” (Matthew 26:33).

The Lord knew better and set Peter straight. “Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” (Matthew 26:34). He didn’t mean Peter would deny His existence. Rather, he would deny their friendship. This is what matters to the Lord — our relationship with Him.

Peter wanted to believe that he would be faithful to the end. So do you and I and all who claim to know Him.

But then I remember a conversation I had with a businessman at the start of a long cross-country flight. After he regaled me with all his successes, punctuating his speech with vulgarities, he asked, “So what do you do?”

“I’m a writer,” I told him, hoping that would put an end to it. I was pretty sure this guy didn’t want to hear about Jesus and even more sure I didn’t want to broach the topic and risk a scathing attack.

“Oh yeah?” was his comeback. “What do you write?”

“Books for women,” I answered, certain that would shut him down.

“Really? What are they about?”

What are they about, Liz? “Faith,” I blurted out and then reached for the in-flight magazine, utterly ashamed of myself.

My responses were true. But all of them denied Jesus. Skirted around His name. Avoided His gospel truth. Because I was afraid the man might — what? Roll his eyes? Throw his drink in my face?

God forgave me, because He is good. And He has bolstered my courage, because He will not be denied. Now when a stranger asks what I do, I joyfully respond, “I love Jesus, and so I write books about Him.” It’s a conversation starter for sure.

Among the many books I’ve written about the Lord we love, The Women of Easter shines a spotlight on Holy Week. Perhaps you’ve been reading it through the Lenten season or plan to start this weekend. Here are some free resources to enhance your reading:

Reading Plan for The Women of Easter

40 Days: A Lenten Journey on Facebook

40 Days of #WomenofEaster on Twitter

How to Use The Women of Easter as a Bible Study (includes a recommended video)

Mary of Bethany Pinterest Board

Mary of Nazareth Pinterest Board

Mary Magdalene Pinterest Board

Our friends at Proverbs 31, (in)courage, Propel, Focus on the Family, Moody Radio, and beautiful Ann Voskamp shared bits and pieces of the book, should you wish a closer look.

If you need a copy or two to share with friends, order The Women of Easter today from Amazon, Barnes&Noble, CBD, LifeWay, and ChristianAudio. If you love fiction, check out my eBook exclusive, Mercy Like Sunlight. And I’m tickled to announce that 31 Verses to Write on Your Heart is a Finalist for both an ECPA Christian Book Award in Devotion & Gift and a Christian Retailing’s Best Award in Nonfiction: Women. So grateful.

Finally, for this month’s giveaway, an Easter basket full of treats for you!

31 Verses to Write on Your Heart ~ The Parable of Lily ~ The Women of Easter

Simple leave a comment with your heartfelt prayer for this Easter. We’ll choose one winner at random at 12:00noon EDT on Wednesday, April 12, so we can put your autographed books in your hands before we celebrate the most glorious day of the year. Blessed Easter, beloved!

Your sister, Liz

 

 

The post Thank God It’s Friday appeared first on Liz Curtis Higgs.

In Praise of Sisterhood

­You already know this, but I’ll state it for the record: I’m all about women. (For example, this group of travelers shouting “Ta-da!” by the Sea of Galilee? Adorable.) My role models are women, my ministry is for women, and I’ve been teaching, speaking, and writing about our sisters in Scripture for three decades. Why? Because God loves women, calls and equips women, and honors women in His Word.

Elizabeth heralded the Messiah (Luke 1:42), Mary gave birth to the Messiah (Luke 2:7), and Anna spoke about the Messiah to all who were looking for the redemption of Israel (Luke 2:38).

When the time of His Passion drew near, Mary of Bethany anointed the feet of Jesus (John 12:3), Mary of Nazareth stood at the cross of Jesus (John 19:25), and Mary Magdalene spoke with the risen Jesus and told His disciples, “I have seen the Lord” (John 20:18).

Makes me wanna jump up and shout, “I’ve seen Him too, Mary!” Because I have seen Him, and so have you. He is alive and He is on the move in women’s hearts, filling us with His power, so we can tell a hurting, angry world about a loving, life-changing God.

Here is this month’s verse to inspire us: “The Lord announces the word, and the women who proclaim it are a mighty throng” (Psalm 68:11). Indeed we are. Let’s unpack this beautiful truth.

“The Lord…” Psalm 68:11

This is where everything begins: acknowledging that God alone is our source of strength. That’s what the heroines of the Bible did, and what we must do as well.

Leah rose above the pain of her loveless marriage and declared at the birth of her fourth son, “This time I will praise the Lord” (Genesis 29:35). Miriam, with her brothers Moses and Aaron, led the Israelites through the Red Sea, and then she led them in worship: “Sing to the Lord, for he is highly exalted” (Exodus 15:21). And Hagar, an Egyptian slave, presented God with a new name: “She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: ‘You are the God who sees me’” (Genesis 16:13).

These ancient sisters paved the way, so we can follow in their footsteps, praising God in every circumstance. 

“…announces the word,…” Psalm 68:11

When the Lord “gives the message” (NIrV), it’s time to listen. When He “gives the command” (AMP), it’s time to act. Don’t say, “Oh, but Lord, I’m a woman.” He is well aware of who we are and what we can accomplish in His Name. 

If He is calling you, pay close attention. If He is sending you, beloved, go.

Look at our fearless foremothers! The queen of Sheba traveled hundreds of miles in search of wisdom, then discovered its Source and told King Solomon, “Praise be to the Lord your God” (1 Kings 10:9). Ruth, a Moabitess, left her people, her country, and her false gods when she vowed to her mother-in-law, “Your people will be my people and your God my God” (Ruth 1:16). And Queen Esther approached King Xerxes on behalf of God’s people, having bravely declared, “If I perish, I perish” (Esther 4:16).

Bold and courageous, these women were a force to be reckoned with, unafraid to rise up and speak up.

“…and the women who proclaim it…” Psalm 68:11

These were the sisters who “carried the news” (GNT), the ones God entrusted to “publish the tidings” (ASV) of Israel’s victories over their enemies in Canaan. 

Consider Rahab, a prostitute in Jericho, who sheltered two spies on her roof, and then made a daring confession of faith: “The Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below” (Joshua 2:11). And Deborah, a prophetess serving as judge over Israel, who commanded Barak to lead the charge: “Go! This is the day the Lord has given Sisera into your hands” (Judges 4:6).

These “lady evangelists” (OJB) got the word out. These “female proclaimers” (YLT) spread the good news. And there were tons of them.

“…are a mighty throng.” Psalm 68:11

We’re talking “many, many women” (NET). Yes, a whole “company” (EXB). After all, it takes a “great host” (ESV) to tell a big world about a big God.

Our sisters today who proclaim the gospel are definitely a mighty throng. Think of all the gifted Bible teachers we’ve heard at Women of Faith, Women of Joy, She Speaks, Extraordinary Women, IF: Gathering, and dozens more. Not to mention the women you’ve seen leading Bible studies in churches and homes and coffee shops in your town—women who are passionate about God, His Word, and His redemptive mission.

But you don’t need a microphone or a platform to share the good news. Just go and tell. Be the Deborah of your workplace, the Mary Magdalene of your neighborhood. Listen for His voice. Stand to your feet. Follow where He leads. Tell all who will listen: “This is the God who sees us. This is the God who loves us. This is the God who sends us.”

I can’t wait another minute to put these women’s stories in your hands! To celebrate the release of The Women of Easter, I’m giving away twelve autographed copies, and I’d love for you to win one.

Simply post a comment below, sharing something you’ve learned from a woman in the Bible. On January 31st at 12noon ET, I’ll choose twelve winners at random and reach out to you via email. (Sadly, we can only ship to U.S. addresses. Thanks for understanding.)

From Bad Girls to Really Bad Girls, from Ruth and Naomi to a Shebalicious queen, from The Women of Christmas to The Women of Easter—oh baby, I could write about our faith-filled sisters until the moment I step into heaven. (Come to think of it, that’s kinda the plan.)

Until next month, thanks for giving me the deep joy of encouraging you! 

Your grateful sister, Liz

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 JANUARY NEWS NOTES: 

After a quiet month at home working on my next book, I’m so ready to do some proclaiming! You’ll find almost 30 events for 2017 on my Speaking Calendar. I really hope I’m coming to your area. If not, maybe we could explore the possibility for 2018?

The Women of Easter was a labor of love, three years in the making. Mary of Bethany, Mary of Nazareth, Mary Magdalene. What a trio. What a Savior! Read it to prepare your heart for the sacred season ahead, share copies with friends as gifts, or gather with your Bible study sisters for 4 or 8 weeks leading up to Easter. Here’s a free Leader’s Guide: How to Use The Women of Easter as a Bible Study.

So, you’ve been reading 31 Verses to Write on Your Heart this month and need a little help memorizing your favorite Scriptures? Hop over to Pinterest, where all 31 verses are waiting for you!

The post In Praise of Sisterhood appeared first on Liz Curtis Higgs.

Let Every Heart Prepare Him Room

I know, I know. This should be my 12th post of 2016 and it’s only my 5th. Deepest apologies, friend. What can I say? Life happened. A lot of life happened. Some things were wonderful, others were not, but even through the hard times —no, especially through the hard times—God overwhelmed us with His love and faithfulness. Thank you, Jesus.

Now at Christmastime I come bearing gifts for you, along with the best news of all: He is coming.

We stand on tiptoe. Waiting. Anticipating. Counting the days of Advent with our calendars and our candles.

The Bible tells us there was no room for Him in the inn, but there’s more than enough room for Him in our hearts and in our homes. This year, let’s clear away the clutter and make His Word the centerpiece of our celebration.

You can do this, beloved.

Place a Bible, open to Luke 2, on your dining table.
Surround it with the lovely colors of the season.
Read a verse from the Christmas story each night.
Talk about what Mary and Joseph experienced.
Think about what the truth of His birth means.
Commit one (or two or four) verses to memory.
Pray for the chance to share His story with others.

When God laid out the Ten Commandments, this is how He taught people to honor His Word.

“These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts.” Deuteronomy 6:6

We can have God’s Word on our laptops, our smart phones, our tablets—but this method is hands-free. When you write His Word “on your heart and mind” (AMP), it’s truly mobile and lasts forever.

And think about this: If you memorized just one verse a week, that would be 50 verses a year, with a little vacation time thrown in. Good plan for 2017, yes? (You’ll find more ideas in 31 Verses to Write on Your Heart.)

You don’t have to memorize the whole Bible. Pick a verse. Begin.

“Impress them on your children.” Deuteronomy 6:7 

When you say your favorite verses aloud and “rehearse them continually” (GNV), they’ll land on the fertile ground of your children’s hearts. You say your kids are grown and gone? Put Christ-centered books in their hands and point them to Scripture when they come to you for advice (and they will, eventually).

If you’ve been blessed with grandchildren, “teach them carefully” (CJB). Moms never stop being moms, right? And no one is ever too old to learn. Even if they roll their eyes, they’re still listening. Even if they shrug their shoulders, their ears are open.

Keep pouring out His truths. They will not return empty (Isaiah 55:10-12).

“Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” Deuteronomy 6:7

Gotta love this 24/7 approach to sharing God’s truths. “Talk about them all the time” (CEV), especially “at bedtime and the first thing in the morning” (TLB). More than three thousand years later, that’s still how it works at our house. Maybe yours too.

Driving down the road is a great time to talk to your kids about spiritual things. Since you have a captive audience, captivate them with God’s Word. Your passion will become their passion. Enthusiasm is positively contagious.

“Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.” Deuteronomy 6:8 

Walking the streets of Jerusalem I marveled at Orthodox Jews with small boxes, called Tefillin, strapped to their arms and foreheads—a literal response to Deuteronomy 6:8, with verses from the Hebrew Bible tucked inside.

Even if you don’t “write down copies” (CEV) and “fix them as an emblem on your forehead” (NRSV), you might wear jewelry engraved with your favorite verses. When you “bind them around your neck” (Proverbs 3:3), you can be certain your faith will be showing.

“Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.”  Deuteronomy 6:9

The idea is to put His words where our families and friends will see them coming and going—“on the lintels, and on the door-posts” (WYC). Or maybe on framed prints and decorative pillows and serving trays. The idea is to see His truth everywhere we turn. Even a single word can prompt us to think about Him.

Though it may not be on their wish list, this is what people really want for Christmas: To know the One who came with salvation in His hands, offering His gift of love to a world in need. Thank you, Jesus.

Now, this month’s giveaway to celebrate the release of 31 Verses to Write on Your Heart. Twelve autographed copies of my latest book and, for one special winner, a beauty of a scarf covered with floral blooms, exclusively from Cath Kidston of London.

Simply post a comment below, sharing how you plan to include God’s Word during this holy season. On December 6th at 6pm ET, I’ll choose twelve winners at random and reach out to you via email. (Sadly, we can only ship to U.S. addresses. Thanks for understanding.)

Until next time, God bless you for giving me the joy of encouraging you (almost) every month!

Your grateful sister, Liz

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P.S. Coming January 3: The Women of Easter

The post Let Every Heart Prepare Him Room appeared first on Liz Curtis Higgs.

Love that Goes the Distance

So, our wedding. The whole thing was very ’80s. I wore a hat, a tea-length lace dress, and a new pair of shoes I could not wait to throw away.

Before I walked down the aisle with Daddy, I sang, “I love you Lord, and I lift my voice to worship You, O my soul rejoice.” Then at the end, Bill and I sang in harmony, “Rejoice, ye pure in heart, rejoice, give thanks, and sing!” It was really corny and also kinda wonderful and people clapped—back in the day when clapping in a Baptist church wasn’t the done thing.

For our reception, we served wedding cake and homemade mints in the church basement, then hugged people in the reception line for two hours.

That was it. Nothing Pinterest perfect, no honeymoon in Aruba. The entire wedding—dress, tux, rings, flowers, cake—cost us less than two thousand dollars.

Here’s all that matters. We’re still married, 30 years and counting. I am more in love with Bill every day of our lives together, and he kindly says the same about me. Only God could have blessed a (former) Really Bad Girl with a (forever) Really Good Guy like Bill Higgs, who chased away my Wedding Bell Blues in 1986!

What’s the secret recipe for a love that goes the distance?

Choose carefully.

Follow your heart, but consult your head as well. You’re making a vow meant to last a lifetime. Ask hard questions. Seek wise counsel. Think long term.

Love unconditionally.

Once you say “I do,” then do. Keep a mental list of all the things you love about your mate. Remind yourself of those wonderful qualities on difficult days.

Laugh regularly.

Play together. Do goofy stuff. Read funny books to each other. Share inside jokes that only the two of you get. Look for humor all around you.

Pray continually.

Make prayer your go-to. Before meals, before bed, before you get in the car, before you make important decisions, before you say something you’ll regret.

If I’ve missed anything major here, please let me know in the comments. This short list pretty much sums up life at the Higgs house. God and His Word are at the heart of everything, and He is beyond faithful.

For this month’s Bible study, let’s take a quick look at one verse that speaks to the essence of loving someone for a lifetime.

Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. Proverbs 31:11

Not a highly romantic sentiment, but a hugely practical one. Being both trust-worthy and trust-giving is essential for a love that lasts.

Her husband has full confidence in her… Proverbs 31:11

When a man gives a woman his heart, to have and to hold, he’s doing a very brave thing. It means he “depends on her” (CEV), “relies on and believes in her” (AMPC), and “trusts her without reserve” (MSG).

Bill had plenty of reasons not to trust me when we first met. My life B.C. (before Christ) was a total mess. You probably know my story.  The Lord came roaring into my life 3 years before Bill did, so I truly was a new creation.

Even so, Bill might have worried about me slipping back into some dangerous old habits. Instead, he trusted me and, more to the point, he trusted God. One paraphrase of this verse is especially lovely: “She inspires trust, and her husband’s heart is safe with her” (VOICE).

May it be so, Lord. Always.

…and lacks nothing of value. Proverbs 31:11

Okay, sure. Whatever You say, Lord. Except, I need a little help understanding this second half of the verse. “He shall have no lack of gain” (ASV) sounds like he won’t run out of Gain laundry detergent, and “he shall have no need of spoils” (DRA) means I better not cook anything past the sell-by date. (Let’s not talk about the spices in our kitchen cabinet that go back to the Reagan years.)

How about this? “She will prove a great asset to him” (CJB). Yes, I get that. “She never lets him down” (CEV). I’m on it. “She will greatly enrich his life” (NLT). A wise goal. Another beautiful paraphrase, “Because of her, he has every good thing” (VOICE).

This kind of thinking helps us put the other person first. If a husband does every good thing he can for his wife, and she does every good thing she can for him, so that together they “submit to one another out of reverence for Christ” (Ephesians 5:21), then marriage becomes the blessing it’s meant to be and not a millstone around anyone’s neck.

30 years ago I said:

I, Elizabeth, take you, William, to be my husband, to have and to hold from this day forward; for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part, according to God’s holy law. In the presence of God I make this vow.

Still keeping that vow. Still having fun doing it.

Now, our crazy giveaway. My first novel back in 1999, Mixed Signals, was set in an oldies radio station in small-town Virginia. Bill started writing his first book, Eden Hill,  soon after we married, carving out time to write between caring for our family, managing my ministry, and serving in our church. Finally, his debut novel, a nostalgic gem set in small-town Kentucky circa 1962, was published this summer! Jerry Jenkins calls Eden Hill “a curl-up-and-settle-in delight.”

We’d love to share both our novels and a vintage Songbird portable radio made by Crosley Radio  with three happy winners.

Simply post a comment below, sharing your own secret ingredient for creating a love that goes the distance. On July 31st at 6pm ET, I’ll choose three winners at random and reach out to you via email. (Sadly, we can only ship to U.S. addresses. Thanks for understanding.)

Until next time, bless you for giving me the absolute joy of encouraging you!

Your sister, Liz

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Here’s the Latest News:

Just released: Really Bad Girls of the Bible, an updated and expanded edition for 2016, with a new Discussion Guide for book clubs and a rich, new Study Guide for Bible studies. Also available as a new, full-length audiobook, read by yours truly.

Coming October 18: 31 Verses to Write on Your Heart, a new daily devotional and small-group Bible study, wrapped in a lovely gift book overflowing with joy!

Lots of speaking this autumn: Look for me at events in Oklahoma, Indiana, Florida, West Virginia, Missouri, Virginia, Texas, Mississippi, Vermont, Michigan, Pennsylvania, New Mexico, Georgia, and Colorado. I’d love to see you!

The post Love that Goes the Distance appeared first on Liz Curtis Higgs.

10 Ways to Help One Another

I love making lists: grocery lists, packing lists, shopping lists, to-do lists.

Back in the day, lists were all about pen and paper. Now they live on our computers and smartphones, which makes it so easy to move things to the next day or the next day or the next…but hey, let’s talk about procrastination another time.

The Bible has lists too. The fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) , the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-12), the gifts of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:7-11). And, of course, the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:3-17).

The Big Ten are mostly “You shall not,” and for good reason. God was laying down the Law. It’s a sobering list for this Former Bad Girl who broke all but one of His divine commandments. Am I grateful for His grace? Every minute of every day.

Over in the New Testament I discovered a different kind of Top Ten: the One Anothers. They’re all positive, proactive, productive….and yes, possible through the power of the Holy Spirit. Imagine what might happen in our homes and churches and communities if we started following this list.

1. “Love one another.” John 13:34

Agapaó in Greek. Love in any language. Not romantic love or physical love, but a love wrapped in respect and esteem. This isn’t something we merely feel. It’s something we actively do.

2. “Accept one another.” Romans 15:7

Just as Christ accepted us, we’re to make other believers “welcome” (CEB), to take them along side us, to “receive” (ASV) them as brothers and sisters, as blood relatives, because they are.

3. “Live in harmony with one another.” Romans 12:16

Harmony doesn’t mean singing the same note. It means singing different notes at the same time to create a harmonious sound. The Lord calls us to “consider everyone as equal” (CEB) and to “live together in peace” (ERV). Remember the old song, “Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me”? Right. That.

4. “Honor one another above yourselves.” Romans 12:10

Okay, this one is harder, since it goes against our all-too-human nature. It takes humility to give others “more honor than you give yourself (ERV) and to “excel in showing respect” (GW). How do we get there? We “practice playing second fiddle” (MSG), content to let someone else take a bow.

5. “Instruct one another.” Romans 15:14

Yes, we’re called to “teach” (CEB) one other, but the original Greek goes deeper. It means “admonish, exhort, warn.” We are charged with “advising one another” (MSG) and “keeping each other on the right road” (Phillips). Not by guilt-tripping, but by guiding. Not by criticizing, but by counseling. “Speaking the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15), we can help one another grow.

6. “Be kind and compassionate to one another.” Ephesians 4:32

We may laugh at the overused phrase “I feel your pain,” but that’s what compassionate people do. They’re “tenderhearted” (AMP) and “forgiving” (NLT). They feel viscerally and they care deeply.

7. “Offer hospitality to one another.” 1 Peter 4:9

I’m not a Martha. Not even close. But for God’s people, hospitality isn’t a suggestion; it’s a commission. Do it. “Practice” (AMPC) until you can “welcome one another into your homes without grumbling” (CJB). Hospitality isn’t about what you serve; it’s about who you serve.

8. “Spur one another on toward love and good deeds.” Hebrews 10:24

In the same way spurs can get a horse moving, we’re called to jab each other until we do the right thing. For some of us, “charity” (DRA) doesn’t come naturally. We need a little motivation—even provocation—to get on with our “helpful deeds and noble activities” (AMPC).

9. “Submit to one another.” Ephesians 5:21

Don’t let that word submit throw you. It’s a mutual thing, meant for everyone, and done “out of reverence for the Messiah” (ISV). When we “obey each other” (ICB), when we are “courteously reverent” (MSG) and “put others first” (CEV), we honor our sovereign King.

10. “Encourage one another daily.” Hebrews 3:13

In Greek, parakaleó paints a vivid picture of someone who walks close beside you and calls out encouraging words—while you do the same. Together you “admonish, urge” (AMPC), and “keep each other on your toes” (MSG). Not just occasionally, but “every day…as long as there is still time” (NIRV). There’s still time, beloved. Let’s spend it well.

Lord Jesus, please write these commandments on the tablets of our hearts. Enable us not only to remember them, but also to do them. Let Your love be our motivation and Your Word be our constant inspiration.

Now, as promised, a lovely giveaway. Our friends at DaySpring have created an easy way to encourage one another daily with two dozen greeting cards for every occasion. I bought a box for myself and loved it so much, I bought five to share with you!

Simply post a comment below, sharing something God has revealed to you in this brief study. On Monday, March 16 at 6pm ET, I’ll choose five winners at random and reach out to you via email. (Sadly, I can only ship to U.S. addresses. Thanks for understanding.)

Until next time, bless you for giving me the joy of opening God’s Word with you!

Your sister, Liz

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Coming up on my calendar:

May: Tours of the Villages and Abbeys of the Scottish Lowlands

June: Speaking at the New England Christian Writers Retreat

July: A beautiful new edition of Really Bad Girls of the Bible

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3 Things Every Friendship Needs

So, how many friends do you have? Can you count them on one hand? Two? Maybe you need a piece of paper to write them all down…

Hold it, Liz. What kind of friend? That’s really the question.

According to those in the know, most people can:

Maintain 150 casual friendships
Keep in contact with 50 good friends
Stay fully engaged with 15 close friends
Develop a deep bond with 5 intimate friends

Higher numbers than these, and our relationships grow shallow, superficial. Lots of smiling and “Hey, how you doing?” and not much else.

Real friends do real life together. You know each others’ stories and keep each others’ secrets. You say “I love you” and mean it. You’re there when the going gets tough. Even when you can’t take time, you make time.

If that’s the kind of friend you’d like to have—and the kind you’d like to be—the book of Proverbs gives us three ways to deepen our friendships.

1. Provide good and loving counsel.

Say you’re considering a job offer or struggling with a prodigal child. You’ll probably seek the advice of a close friend—in Hebrew, a “companion, fellow, neighbor.” You do so because you trust them. And because you know they genuinely care.

The pleasantness of a friend springs from their heartfelt advice. Proverbs 27:9

That pleasantness, that “sweetness” (AMP) is like “a fragrant forest” (GW), as aromatic “as perfume and incense” (NLT). Any time a friend looks you in the eye or takes your hands, her show of compassion is “sweet to the soul” (DRA).

You can tell she’s really listening. Your situation matters to her. It’s clear she’s offering “earnest counsel” (ESV) and “honest advice” (NIrV), not just dishing out platitudes.

A friend always speaks from the heart. Even when the words might hurt.

2. Say the hard things.

Which is more difficult—hearing a hard truth or speaking it? I’ve done both, and I’m sure you have too. Either way, ouch.

Over the years, I’ve had friends gently but firmly point out my pride (thanks, dear Annie), my mistaken beliefs (bless you, Linda), and my blindness to my own sin (long list of people to thank here.)

Now the good news.

Wounds from a friend can be trusted. Proverbs 27:6

A friend offers such correction “out of love and concern” (AMP), right? Her words, however pointed, are “intended to help” (GW). We need to hear them, and who better to tell us? Plus, such wounds are only temporary. Our “bruises” (CEB) will heal, and the sting of that emotional “slap” (NCV) will quickly fade.

Meanwhile, your friend has proven she is “faithful” (ASV), someone you can “trust” (CEV). She’s also given you permission to correct her when needed. This is what real friends do for one another.

It’s not a judging thing. It’s a loving thing.

3. Love no matter what.

Yes, even if you don’t take her advice or heed her correction; even when you foolishly go forward (or backward or downward), a friend is still there for you.

A friend loves at all times. Proverbs 17:17

The true test of friendship. Not walking away when a friend does something stupid or embarrassing. Accepting each other as is. Loving each other “all the time” (EXB) and “through all kinds of weather” (MSG). Remaining “loyal” (NLT) to your friend “regardless of the situation” (VOICE).

This is what Jesus does for us, beloved. He is “a friend who sticks closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24). He proved His love for us when He “laid down his life for us” (1 John 3:16). If we want to know how to be a better friend, Jesus shows us the way.

Lord, rather than simply counting my friends, I want to be fully accountable to them. To give and receive heartfelt advice. To speak and hear the hard things. To love my friends like You love us. Generously. Faithfully. Sacrificially.

Now, as promised, a lovely giveaway. Dawn Camp, one of my writing sisters at (in)courage, has a wonderful new book, The Gift of Friendship: Stories That Celebrate the Beauty of Shared Moments.

I’m tickled to have one of my own stories included among the 52, which focus on pursuing friendship, what hospitality really means, developing friendships on purpose, and more.

Simply post a comment below, sharing something God has revealed to you in today’s short study. On Friday, March 11 at 10pm ET, I’ll choose 5 names at random to win a copy of The Gift of Friendship. (Sadly, I can only ship to U.S. addresses. Thanks for understanding.) Until next time, bless you for giving me the joy of opening God’s Word with you!

Your grateful sister, Liz

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P.S. Speaking of faithful friends, your thoughtful words and prayers regarding my surgeries truly blessed my soul. I’m happy to report that God has restored my health, renewed my strength, and recharged my batteries. Thanks to His mercy and your kindness, the girl’s still got it! Whew.

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Getting Up to Speed

It’s already been quite a winter. Joy and sorrow in equal measure at the Higgs house. (Maybe at your house too?)

Finally, I’m ready to leap into the snowy fray and explore a dozen heartwarming verses with you this year.

I spent New Year’s Eve alone in a hospital bed (cue the violins), feeling very sorry for myself. It was the last straw in a whole haystack of heartaches and health issues that began in early November. Asthmatic bronchitis, then a foot injury requiring many stitches, plus a scary kidney procedure—challenges that made giving thanks on Thanksgiving an effort.

Then in December I lost my older brother, John. So hard. My second kidney operation followed, more intense than the first. On Christmas Eve Eve (that’s a thing, right?), I had total knee replacement surgery, then developed a dangerous skin infection that landed me in the hospital just before the world sang “Auld Lang Syne.”

Enough with the long list of woes. Here’s the point. Months earlier I’d chosen a verse to end our Season of Joy study. Here was the sentence blinking at me from my laptop screen on the last day of December:

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. James 1:2-3

Isn’t that just like the Lord? He brings us the right Word when we need it most, sometimes with “joy” and “trials” in the same breath.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,… James 1:2

“Pure joy” means just that. 100%. “Nothing but joy” (AMP). In Greek, pas chara, or “every delight.”

Did I “count it all joy” (ASV) in that hospital room? Oh no. I was adding up all the bad stuff. The physical pain. The emotional trauma. The trials.

In doing so, I was missing the Big Picture.

Believers aren’t exempt from life’s “various tests” (CEB) and “troubles” (NCV) and “manifold temptations” (AMP). In fact, God says they’re good for us. They make us who we are: men and women of God, unwavering in our faith, a worthy witness to His power.

Clearly, I needed to ask God to guide my thoughts and actions in a more positive direction. To move from grumbling to rejoicing, from miserable to “very happy” (GW). To see myself as “fortunate” (GNT). To face my troubles and “welcome them as friends!” (PHILLIPS).

Our faithful God always shows us how. He also shows us why.

…because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. James 1:3

It’s our faith being put to the test, with “spiritual maturity” (AMP) as the goal. We’re “proving” (ASV) we believe in God and His Word by showing the world our joy instead of our frustration, anger, disappointment, and the rest.

When our lives are going well, others may credit our happy state to good luck or to being in the right place at the right time. But when all is not well and we’re still joyful, praising God for His faithfulness? Friend, that gets people’s attention.

They may see our “patience” (DRA), our “endurance” (CEB), and the “steadfastness” (ESV) of our faith, and decide a relationship with God could be the real deal. Worth considering. Worth pursuing. Especially if we make it clear He is the One who gives us “inner peace” (AMP) and “the strength to continue” (NIrV).

Back in my hospital room, watching the ball drop in Times Square, I begged the Lord to forgive my weeks of self-pity and fully renew my spirit. To help me not only sense His joy, but also show His joy.

Suddenly, I began seeing the humorous side of my situation. When a noisy cart wheeled down the hall sounding like a duck, I quacked up. When the PT guy came by to work on my new knee, I used my temporary walker with enthusiasm, instead of hiding it in the corner. When I had to wash my hair in the sink because I couldn’t navigate a tub, I drew silly faces on the mirror with shampoo and LOLs.

I realize this is small stuff. Very small. But if God can make a world of difference in one woman’s life in a matter of seconds, think of what He can do in all our lives and in far bigger ways.

It isn’t the size of our situation that matters. It’s the size of our God, and HE IS HUGE.

Heavenly Father, this year and every year, help us count our blessings, not our burdens. Help us pass every test with flying colors because of Your strength, Your power, Your joy. Make perseverance our method, Lord, and maturity our goal. When we’re able to be joyful in difficult circumstances, may we give every ounce of glory to You. Amen.

Now, this month’s lovely giveaway. If you’ve been keen to try an adult coloring book, this one from WaterBrook Multnomah is especially fine: Whatever Is Lovely: A Coloring Book for Reflection and Worship.  Kindly post a comment below, sharing something God has revealed to you in today’s short study. On Monday, February 1 at 10pm ET, I’ll choose five names at random to win a copy of Whatever Is Lovely. (Sadly, I can only ship to U.S. addresses. Thanks for understanding.)

As to what I’m working on now? Lots of speaking in the months ahead, a revised edition of Really Bad Girls of the Bible with the Study Guide included (July), a new devotional I’m super excited about, 31 Verses to Write on Your Heart (October), and this time next year, The Women of Easter. Yay! Until next month, bless you for giving me the joy of encouraging you.

Your grateful sister, Liz

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Joyful Noise!

When our congregation sang “Joy to the World” last Sunday. I gave it my all, holding nothing back, overflowing with joy.

At the end of the service, the guy sitting in front of me turned around and said, “Maybe you should sing in the choir.” He wasn’t frowning exactly, but he wasn’t smiling either.

I got the message. Too loud, too happy, and just too much from where he was sitting.

But from God’s point of view? He wants us to go all out when we worship Him, since He “inhabits the praises” (Psalm 22:3) of His people. Imagine it! When we sing His praises, He sits among us, “enthroned” (ESV) by the very notes and words that fill the air.

Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel among you. Isaiah 12:6 

Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion,… Isaiah 12:6

The Lord isn’t kidding about this “shout” thing. In Hebrew, tsahal means “bellow.” He wants us to “rejoice” (AMP) and “celebrate” (CEV) and “raise the roof!” (MSG). Nothing mild and mellow. We’re talking “a loud shout!” (NIrV).

Praise isn’t merely for people who are naturally exuberant. He wants all who love Him to “shout joyfully” (AMPC), to happily and willingly “sing praise-songs to God” (MSG).

Worship that feels over-the-top to us sounds just right to Him.

Not a singer? Not a problem. In Hebrew, ranan means “to give a ringing cry.” We can do this. We can “make a joyful noise” (Psalm 98:4),  knowing He is delighted with our voices, perfectly created for His pleasure.

If you’re thinking, “Hey, I’m not from Israel. I don’t live in Jerusalem. I’m not one of the ‘inhabitants of Zion’” (AMPC), this verse is still for you.

God’s people live everywhere. We can worship Him anywhere.

…for great is the Holy One of Israel among you. Isaiah 12:6

The Lord “is with you in his greatness!” (CJB). When we feel weak, powerless, and worn down to the ground, that’s when we need to praise Him most.

It’s easy to worship God when things are going well, right? He wants us to praise Him even more fervently when life is a mess, when singing with joy is the last thing we feel like doing. “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God” (Psalm 42:5).

While we’re honoring Him with praise, He is honing us into His kind of people, able to withstand whatever life throws at us, certain our God can and will handle it.

Praise isn’t about feelings. It’s about obedience. It’s about trust. And it’s about Jesus, because He is the One who gives us the strength to shout for joy no matter what. “Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise” (Hebrews 13:15).

The enemy loves to get us all wrapped up in our emotions and feelings. But God is worthy of our praise whatever our mood or situation.

Praising Him, singing with joy, shouting in triumph—that’s the surest path to genuine joy and real peace. In the midst of your worship you’ll realize He is with you “in a powerful way” (ERV), that prayers are being answered, that lives are being changed, that He is doing “great things before your eyes” (EXB).

The miracle of Christmas isn’t simply that God came to earth this very night, two thousand years ago. It’s that He came for us, bringing joy to the world!

Lord Jesus, we confess we don’t always feel like singing, let alone shouting with joy. Help us remember that worship isn’t optional for God’s people, and that praise isn’t about how we feel. It’s about who You are. Our Wonderful Counselor! Our Prince of Peace! Amen, amen. amen.

Now, a gift from Lizzie. Post a comment below, sharing something God has revealed to you in this week’s study. On Tuesday, December 29 at 10:00pm ET, I’ll choose one name at random to win three autographed books: The Women of Christmas, A Wreath of Snow, and my latest nonfiction, It’s Good to Be Queen.  (Please forgive me, but I can only ship to U.S. addresses.) We’ve had seven happy Season of Joy winners. Love to have you be our eighth. Until then, a blessed Christmas to you!

Your grateful sister, Liz

@LizCurtisHiggs

P.S. If you notice any typos or strange phrases, I got home last evening from total knee replacement surgery and finished writing our study this morning (at least, I think I finished it!). Your prayers as I heal are deeply needed and greatly appreciated. New year, new knee…whee!

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