Lori Hatcher's Blog: Refresh Blog, page 17

Does Your Womens Ministry Event Need a Dose of Hope?

Christians should be the most hope-filled people on the planet. Should be. I don’t know about you, but I struggle sometimes. This is why I went on a journey through the Bible to find sixty unshakeable reasons not to lose heart. I compiled them into a book that will release on January 3.

I’ve also put together a powerful women’s ministry program called Share the Hope – 4 Unshakeable Reasons Not to Lose Heart.

Share the Hope Presentation

I designed the program to help women not only take hold of the hope we have in Christ, but to invite a friend along who could use a fresh infusion of hope. A win/win. It ministers to the women of the church and serves as an outreach into the community.

The presentation spotlights four unshakeable reasons Christians have hope:

We have the hope of eternal life with God through Jesus Christ His Son (the gospel and my salvation testimony.)

We have access to God’s wisdom.

God sees the work we do in His name.

God presence goes with us into the darkest times.

Discussion Questions & More

Share the Hope discussion questions to talk about after the presentation help women own the truths I’ve spotlighted and draw closer to each other. Some churches are adding a worship time spotlighting hope-filled songs like Crowder’s “All My Hope Is in Jesus,” and “On Christ the Solid Rock I Stand.” One creative group plans to paint HOPE rocks to take home as a reminder. Of course, all are planning delicious food and fellowship. (Yay for SNACKS!)

Coming to Your Church

I’ll be Sharing the Hope at several churches in the Columbia, SC area in the new year, so watch for dates and times. I’d love to share this presentation with the women of your church, Bible study, women’s circle, or retreat. If your group could use a fresh infusion of hope for the new year, pray about it. Talk to your women’s ministry leader, and let’s brainstorm how we can work together.

For More Information

For more information on my speaking ministry, please visit my website, www.LoriHatcher.com. This link: Speaking – Lori Hatcher will take you straight to the Speaking page.

About Refresh Your Hope,
60 Devotions for Trusting God with All Your Heart

How can you hold on to hope in an uncertain world? Especially when experiencing disappointments, setbacks, and discouragement? In Refresh Your Hope, Lori Hatcher invites you to renew your confidence and courage by calling attention to the remarkably good news—you have a hope greater than you could ever imagine.

 

An unshakable hope.

 

In this uplifting, Scripture-driven 60-day devotional, Lori returns to our rock-solid foundation—God’s amazing promises and His faithful character. Each warm, story-based reading will help you grow closer to God as you reflect on His assurances, His generous nature, and His unwavering commitments. Strengthen your prayer life with thought-provoking prompts. Replace anxiety with joy, peace, and trust while encountering Bible truths about the ultimate Source of hope.

Available now on Amazon.com, Christianbook.com, and other fine retailers.

Why not share a copy with a friend who could use a fresh dose of hope?

Have you subscribed to Refresh?

If you’d like to receive a weekly 5-minute devotion to help you rediscover the excitement of God’s Word, CLICK HERE.

The post Does Your Womens Ministry Event Need a Dose of Hope? appeared first on Lori Hatcher.

              Related StoriesHow to Have Joy this Christmas — Live GenerouslyHow to Find Rest — Mind, Body, and SoulAre We Free to Be Honest with God in Prayer? 

How to Have Joy this Christmas — Live Generously

I assumed the crackly voice I heard through the intercom correctly repeated my order. It was simple enough. “One small chocolate Frosty.” And I think the faceless voice instructed me to drive around to the second window, although I couldn’t be sure.

I must have correctly deciphered speaker-ese, because when the second window opened and a cute girl with spiky hair and a tiny nose ring greeted me with a smile, she announced my total: $2.06.

I handed her a five-dollar bill and waited for change. Instead, she handed me a Frosty and my money back.

“Keep it,” she said. “Merry Christmas.”

Before I could say a word, she’d adjusted her headset and began punching in the next customer’s order. I blinked my eyes to clear the tears and pulled away.

In the grocery store later that day, I smiled at a woman standing beside me on the bakery aisle. Apparently, we were both deciding between walnuts and pecans.

“I’m so sorry,” she said as she maneuvered her cart out of the way. When she grabbed her bag of pecans (me too), she stepped past me. The back of her shirt said Live Generously.

Our Story

My family and I have been the recipient of more than a few lavish gifts. Someone gave us a piano when my six-year-old wanted to learn to play. Someone else paid for every class my husband needed to complete his degree. When our house was affected by the 1,000-year flood in 2015, a dear friend gifted us with thousands of dollars to make the repairs needed to sell it.

Male Doctor Talking with Patient

Each gift crumbled me to the ground in worship and thanksgiving. Our Father God saw our need and sent someone to meet it.

He’s still sending someones to meet our needs. This year He sent an oncological surgeon to heal my loved one of breast cancer. And then He sent a cardiologist to zap her heart back into rhythm. He sent two dedicated believers to serve alongside my pastor/husband and me when we wondered if our church would survive. He sent a publishing company to help me share the message God has placed on my heart with as many people as possible.

And He sends spiky-haired teenagers with tiny nose rings to hand me my favorite treat.

Wonderful gifts don’t have to be extravagant.

Live Generously.

During the month of December, I invite you to join me in the Live Generously challenge. Each day, from now ‘til Christmas, let’s look for an opportunity to give something away.

If you have the means, give generously to your favorite charity (My two favorites are the Sister Freda’s Foundation to the sick and impoverished in Kitale, Kenya, and A Moment of Hope, a crisis pregnancy ministry in Columbia, SC.)

But don’t focus on lavish. Every day, look for small ways to give generously.

Live Generously Ideas

Give a smile and a greeting to the grumpiest person in the room, office, or elevator.
Ask the cashier at the grocery store what his favorite candy is and buy it for him.
Drop dollar bills and change into the Salvation Army kettle.
Send an I’m praying for you text or message to someone you haven’t spoken to in a while. And then pray.
Select five items of clothing from your closet and donate them to a charity thrift store or women’s shelter.
Perform a task for your coworker that you know he/she hates doing.
Write a note to your boss or tell them in person how grateful you are for your job.
Leave a water bottle, a snack, and a note in the mailbox for your mail carrier.
Put a basket of snack food and bottled water on the porch with a sign that says, UPS, FED EX, USPS–THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. PLEASE ENJOY A SNACK.
Go through your kitchen cupboards and pull out dishes, bowls, utensils you don’t use and donate them.
Buy someone a Frosty. You never know what it might mean to them.

Live Generously

Whether you’re dreading the holidays and struggling to find the Christmas spirit or you’re full of excitement and bubbling over, commit each day to live generously.

This is the Christmas spirit.

“Remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

Acts 20:35

How have you lived generously or been blessed by someone else living generously? Share your thoughts in the comments to inspire someone else.

About Refresh Your Hope,
60 Devotions for Trusting God with All Your Heart

How can you hold on to hope in an uncertain world? Especially when experiencing disappointments, setbacks, and discouragement? In Refresh Your Hope, Lori Hatcher invites you to renew your confidence and courage by calling attention to the remarkably good news—you have a hope greater than you could ever imagine.

 

An unshakable hope.

 

In this uplifting, Scripture-driven 60-day devotional, Lori returns to our rock-solid foundation—God’s amazing promises and His faithful character. Each warm, story-based reading will help you grow closer to God as you reflect on His assurances, His generous nature, and His unwavering commitments. Strengthen your prayer life with thought-provoking prompts. Replace anxiety with joy, peace, and trust while encountering Bible truths about the ultimate Source of hope.

Available now on Amazon.com, Christianbook.com, and other fine retailers.

Why not share a copy with a friend who could use a fresh dose of hope?

Have you subscribed to Refresh?

If you’d like to receive a weekly 5-minute devotion to help you rediscover the excitement of God’s Word, CLICK HERE.

The post How to Have Joy this Christmas — Live Generously appeared first on Lori Hatcher.

              Related StoriesHow to Find Rest — Mind, Body, and SoulDid You Know This About the Military? Surprising Reasons to Be ThankfulForgiving Is Hard, but Remembering This Truth Makes It Possible 

How to Find Rest — Mind, Body, and Soul

“NO!”

“No no no no no no no!”

I gazed in horror at the black screen on my computer.

“Don’t turn off! I’m sorry! I’m sorry!”

I flung the laptop to the side and scrambled for the power cord.

“I know you warned me—twice. And I meant to plug you in, I really did. But then I forgot. Pleeeeeease don’t lose everything I just wrote!”

How many times has a similar scenario played itself out in your home? First you get the tone. Then the gentle warning: Low battery. Recharge soon.

If you’re like me, you ignore both, knowing you’ll receive another warning—one that means it—in a few minutes.

When the second warning signals Dangerously low battery. Recharge immediately, I jump up, hunt for the power cord, and recharge.

Unless I’m pushed for time. And working frantically to complete a thought, a paragraph, or an email. Then I see the warning as just another interruption trying to hinder my progress.

Until the screen goes dark and everything I’ve worked so hard on vanishes into a Windows Black Hole.

Sadly, my life often parallels my computer practices. I’m chugging along on a project, and lunch time comes, or five o’clock, or bedtime, or a church night, the weekend, Sunday, or vacation.

I bump up against one of the boundaries I’ve placed around my work, and I have a choice to make: ignore it or recharge.

Maybe I need a physical recharge. I need to eat, exercise, or sleep. Or maybe a relational one. I need to have lunch with a friend or go on a date with my husband. Or perhaps I need a spiritual recharge. God is calling me to connect with His people, visit His house, or spend time in His Word.

Yet sometimes I don’t stop.

I can continue to function outside the boundaries God has given me—for a while—but eventually, I will crash. And everything I’ve worked so hard for will crash with me.

My health will suffer if I don’t take care of my body. My mind (the powerhouse of my creativity) will grow dull. My relationships will grow distant. And my soul—the part of me that houses God—will languish like a weary traveler on a desert road.

If you’re struggling and need to recharge, take heart. As long as battery life remains, you have hope. And if you’re totally dead? Be encouraged. God can even raise the dead.

If we come to Him, Jesus promised, we will find “rest for our souls.”

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Matthew 11:28-29

A rested soul can have a thousand demands on their life, but their heart is at peace. They understand the difference between their responsibility and God’s and never try to do His job. They work hard, then stop, knowing that while they’re resting, recreating, and relationship building, God will continue to work behind the scenes, multiplying their efforts and accomplishing things they never could do on their own.

I wish our bodies, minds, and souls had unmistakable tones and messages to alert us when they’re becoming depleted. Thankfully, God has given us principles in His Word to help us build healthy boundaries into our lives. If we follow them carefully, we realize that the call to rest isn’t meant to hinder our progress, but to enable it. God’s instructions allow us to recharge when necessary and point us to the Source of perfect rest.

Now it’s your turn. Do you struggle to rest, either physically or spiritually? Why? What do you do to address this? Leave a comment below and share your thoughts.

About Refresh Your Hope,
60 Devotions for Trusting God with All Your Heart

How can you hold on to hope in an uncertain world? Especially when experiencing disappointments, setbacks, and discouragement? In Refresh Your Hope, Lori Hatcher invites you to renew your confidence and courage by calling attention to the remarkably good news—you have a hope greater than you could ever imagine.

 

An unshakable hope.

 

In this uplifting, Scripture-driven 60-day devotional, Lori returns to our rock-solid foundation—God’s amazing promises and His faithful character. Each warm, story-based reading will help you grow closer to God as you reflect on His assurances, His generous nature, and His unwavering commitments. Strengthen your prayer life with thought-provoking prompts. Replace anxiety with joy, peace, and trust while encountering Bible truths about the ultimate Source of hope.

Available now on Amazon.com, Christianbook.com, and other fine retailers.

Why not share a copy with a friend who could use a fresh dose of hope?

Have you subscribed to Refresh?

If you’d like to receive a weekly 5-minute devotion to help you rediscover the excitement of God’s Word, CLICK HERE.

The post How to Find Rest — Mind, Body, and Soul appeared first on Lori Hatcher.

               
CommentsHow to Find Rest — Mind, Body, and Soul by LoriAHatcherAre We Free to Be Honest with God in Prayer? by LoriAHatcherDid You Know This About the Military? Surprising Reasons to Be Thankful by LoriAHatcherForgiving Is Hard, but Remembering This Truth Makes It Possible by LoriAHatcher3 Powerful Reasons to Fast, Especially When You Don’t Want to by LoriAHatcherPlus 5 more...Related StoriesDid You Know This About the Military? Surprising Reasons to Be ThankfulForgiving Is Hard, but Remembering This Truth Makes It Possible3 Powerful Reasons to Fast, Especially When You Don’t Want to 

Are We Free to Be Honest with God in Prayer?

I’m sharing thoughts and Scripture today on the Revive Our Hearts blog.

Do you ever wonder how honest you can be with God in prayer? 

On the surface, this question probably seems silly. After all, God knows everything. How could we hide anything from the God who knows our hearts and can read our minds?

Yet sometimes, we hold back in prayer. As if our thoughts, emotions, or words don’t really exist if we don’t speak them. Or perhaps that we won’t be held accountable for them if we don’t admit our thoughts. 

David, the shepherd-king can help us answer the question, “How honest can I be with God in prayer?” Let’s take a walk through the Psalms to eavesdrop on some of David’s prayers.

Is It Okay to Admit to God We’re Scared? . . .

To read the rest of this post, How Honest Can I Be with God in Prayer?, join me on the Revive Our Hearts blog by clicking HERE.

Does Your Prayer Life Need Refreshing?

We know Bible reading and prayer are vital parts of our faith, but what happens when our prayer lives become stagnant and our quiet times grow stale? We need something more than just familiar verses and the command to pray. In Refresh Your Prayers, Uncommon Devotions to Unlock Power and Praise, Lori Hatcher shares relevant, five-minute devotions that spotlight unusual prayer verses in the Bible.

Each devotion ends with a Power Point (a spiritual truth to empower your faith) and a Praise Prompt (a short prayer designed to magnify God and make your faith soar). The Live It Out section challenges you to apply what you’ve learned right now for immediate change.

If you’re tired of your all-too-quiet quiet time, Refresh Your Prayers is the answer.

The UNcommon Book on Prayer – Unusual Devotions to Unlock Power and Praise

Available now at Amazon.com.

Have you subscribed to Refresh?

If you’d like to receive a weekly 5-minute devotion to help you rediscover the excitement of God’s Word, CLICK HERE.

The post Are We Free to Be Honest with God in Prayer? appeared first on Lori Hatcher.

              Related Stories3 Powerful Reasons to Fast, Especially When You Don’t Want toForgiving Is Hard, but Remembering This Truth Makes It PossibleRemember This When You Don’t Have Time to Pray 

Did You Know This About the Military? Surprising Reasons to Be Thankful

It wasn’t until my daughter married a United States Naval officer that I truly began to understand the deep sacrifices these men, women, and families make on behalf of our country. For 30 years my family lived in the shadow of one of the largest military training bases in the country, Fort Jackson, in Columbia, South Carolina. I’ve attended church with, lived beside, and educated my children with those who serve in the United States Army. I’ve formed deep friendships with women whose husbands have served in Desert Storm, Iraq, and Afghanistan. What I’ve learned from military families and about them convinces me we should always be thankful for our military. 

What Our Military Gives

The American Enterprise Institute (AEI) website published the following list of ways the U.S. Army changes lives in America: They provide medical assistance in impoverished areas, food and humanitarian relief, security at embassies and other locations, policing in volatile areas, natural disaster relief, law enforcement, and piracy and drug interdiction.

The US Navy-Marine Corps-Coast Guard team helps keep the seas open and free. 

“The world’s oceans provide shipping lanes for commerce and cargo to move unmolested from their places of origin to the Amazon warehouse or small business or Wal-Mart in your hometown,” the AEI website explains. 

“Over 90% of world trade by weight is transported by sea, including almost all commodities necessary for the basic operation of the global economy.” 

You thought most of our goods travel by long-haul tractor-trailers? 

The rigs we see on the roads every day usually carry freight that traveled to the US by sea. 

Do you enjoy surfing the internet? 

Thank the Navy. Ninety-nine percent of global communications flow through undersea fiber optic cables. Not only does the Navy protect what’s above the water, it also protects what’s beneath it. 

US Navy presence in the South China Sea contributes to economic stability in one of the fastest-growing regions of the world. Its presence in the Persian Gulf helps stabilize fuel prices. Its global presence helps limit piracy, thus ensuring lower prices for the goods we buy every day. 

What Our Military Gives Up 

A Normal Family Life 

How would you feel if you kissed your spouse goodbye and knew you wouldn’t see him or her for six, nine, or twelve months? During that time your baby will learn to walk, your 5-year-old will complete his entire kindergarten year, and your teenage son will learn to drive—without them. Deployed members of the military sometimes miss their babies’ births, children’s graduations, and best friends’ funerals. 

Depending on their assignment and job description, some members of the military are separated from their families for anywhere from three to twelve months at a time. “Many of these people spend as much time away as at home,” the AIE website states. 

And while technology like email, texting, Skype, and Face Time helps them stay connected, communication is often spotty or non-existent. If a sailor is out to sea or patrolling hostile waters, their ship often experiences internet outages or limitations, meaning no email or Facebook messages come in or out. Days or weeks pass before sailors are allowed to communicate with their loved ones. In the meantime, their families wonder, worry, and pray . . . 

Separation takes a heavy toll on marriages and family relationships. Loneliness and boredom are often a military spouse’s constant companions. On overseas assignments, depending on where a serviceman/woman is stationed, their spouses may be prohibited from working, thus adding to their isolation. 

Unfamiliarity with language and culture make even the simplest tasks, like driving or grocery shopping difficult. Although married, military spouses often act as both father and mother to their children, shouldering the responsibilities of both partners when their spouses are away or unavailable. 

Comfortable Living Conditions 

I’m confident our United States Military does its best to provide soldiers and sailors with the best possible living arrangements, but because of the nature of their assignments, conditions are often harsh and Spartan. As Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz said, “There’s no place like home,” and deployment assignments are no place like home. 

From the heat, sun, and sand of the Middle East to the artificially lit, cramped quarters of a destroyer’s belly, members of the military often live in close proximity with few creature comforts. Their assignments sometimes involve around-the-clock shifts with no days off. 

Traditional Worship & Spiritual Guidance 

As of 2011, the military has approximately 2,900 chaplains. Ministering to 1.4 million active duty military personnel, they conduct worship services, provide counseling, lead Bible studies, and support members and their families. These chaplains are hardworking and dedicated, but there just isn’t enough of them to go around. 

Servicemen/women sometimes go for months without being able to participate in a chaplain-led corporate worship service. Larger naval ships may have an assigned chaplain, but smaller ships usually do not, especially on long patrols. For other branches of the military, lack of easily accessible spiritual advisers, combined with long work hours and scarcity of quiet space, makes it challenging to maintain spiritual focus, especially while deployed. 

The Absence of Fear 

 One of the greatest gifts our military gives us is the ability to live free from fear. We worship unmolested and travel freely from one part of our country to another. We live, shop, work, and play without worrying about stumbling upon an IED or getting caught in the crossfire of two warring factions. While we know that terrorism and terrorists exist, we rest in the confidence that God and our military stand watch over us. This is a great gift. 

Ironically, the same servicemen and women who enable us to live without fear face fear every day. Those in combat situations wonder if they’ll make it home. 

Their families do, too. 

Those who serve in support roles know their job performance can either protect or endanger the lives of their comrades. Soldiers and sailors man their posts, filter intelligence, and stand the watch, willingly putting themselves in harm’s way for the sake of those at home. 

Some pay the ultimate price and give their lives to protect us. 

November 11 is Veterans Day. 

Why not take a moment to thank God for the men and women who died while serving in our country’s armed forces? Then go a step further. Write a note, send a Facebook message, or make a phone call to someone currently serving in the military. Thank them for their service. Then thank their families. The men, women, and children who keep the home fires burning are perhaps the greatest unsung heroes of them all. 

Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends

John 15:13

Have you served or loved someone who’s served in the military? I’m sure you can add to these lists. Thank you for your sacrifice and service. I invite you to leave a comment below to join the conversation.

Does Your Prayer Life Need Refreshing?

We know Bible reading and prayer are vital parts of our faith, but what happens when our prayer lives become stagnant and our quiet times grow stale? We need something more than just familiar verses and the command to pray. In Refresh Your Prayers, Uncommon Devotions to Unlock Power and Praise, Lori Hatcher shares relevant, five-minute devotions that spotlight unusual prayer verses in the Bible.

Each devotion ends with a Power Point (a spiritual truth to empower your faith) and a Praise Prompt (a short prayer designed to magnify God and make your faith soar). The Live It Out section challenges you to apply what you’ve learned right now for immediate change.

If you’re tired of your all-too-quiet quiet time, Refresh Your Prayers is the answer.

The UNcommon Book on Prayer – Unusual Devotions to Unlock Power and Praise

Available now at Amazon.com.

Have you subscribed to Refresh?

If you’d like to receive a weekly 5-minute devotion to help you rediscover the excitement of God’s Word, CLICK HERE.

The post Did You Know This About the Military? Surprising Reasons to Be Thankful appeared first on Lori Hatcher.

               
CommentsDid You Know This About the Military? Surprising Reasons to Be Thankful by LoriAHatcherForgiving Is Hard, but Remembering This Truth Makes It Possible by LoriAHatcher3 Powerful Reasons to Fast, Especially When You Don’t Want to by LoriAHatcherLet’s Celebrate Friendship by LoriAHatcherRemember This Powerful Truth When Life Hurts and You Just Don’t Understand by LoriAHatcherPlus 5 more...Related StoriesForgiving Is Hard, but Remembering This Truth Makes It Possible3 Powerful Reasons to Fast, Especially When You Don’t Want toRemember This Powerful Truth When Life Hurts and You Just Don’t Understand 

Forgiving Is Hard, but Remembering This Truth Makes It Possible

The 1,000 Lincoln logs scattered on the carpet in my living room were proof that scarcity doesn’t breed selfishness. Human nature does. 

I can understand why a starving cat would hiss and spit to keep other cats away from a morsel of food in a trash can, but it’s harder to understand why someone would act selfishly in the face of abundance. Yet this was the scenario unfolding before me. 

“These are mine,” one grandchild shouted. “I’m using them to build a tower.” 

“No, they’re mine,” the other said, snatching the log from her sister’s hand. “I need them to build a bridge.” A tug of war ensued, and I stepped in to mediate. 

“Girls, these logs aren’t yours. They belong to Gigi, and I’m sharing them with you. If you want to play with them, you’re going to have to work out a way to share with each other. If you fight again, I’m going to put them back into the attic.” 

I shake my head at my grandchildren’s squabbles, yet I am often guilty of the same crime—selfishness in the face of abundance. Apparently it’s a sin that goes back to Bible times. The book of Jonah describes an ancient version of the Lincoln Log scene. 

You know the story. God commanded Jonah to go to the city of Ninevah and deliver a message: Repent of your sinful ways or I will destroy you.” Instead of rushing to obey, Jonah jumped aboard a ship and hightailed it in the opposite direction. 

A storm arose, Jonah confessed to the crew that his disobedience was the cause, and they threw him overboard to save their lives. He sank into the depths of the sea, only to be swallowed by a giant fish. 

In the belly of the fish, Jonah had lots of time to think. But he was stubborn. My, my was he stubborn. It took him three days and three nights, but finally, surrounded by partially-digested fish, his head wrapped in seaweed, and his skin bleached white from the fish’s stomach acid, he repented. 

God, in his mercy, gave him a second chance.

He commanded the whale to burp Jonah out—guess where—on the coast of Ninevah. Then he repeated his call, “Arise, go to Ninevah.” 

This time Jonah obeyed. 

You’d think, after being tossed into the ocean, swallowed by a fish, and stuck in its belly for three days and three nights, Jonah would be eager to share the God of Second Chances with the Ninevites. I can hear his opening line, “Boy, do I have a story to tell you. . .” 

Instead, he delivered God’s message verbatim and sulked when the entire city repented and turned to God. “This is why I didn’t want to come,” he muttered. “I know that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, One who relents from doing harm” (4:2). 

It’s easy to cluck our tongues at Jonah until we look in the mirror and see bits of seaweed clinging to our faces.

Like Jonah, I readily accept God’s mercy and forgiveness.

When I sin, I rush to drink from the cleansing water, allowing his grace to expunge my guilt. I revel in his mercy, marveling that one so holy would even look at a sinful soul like me, let along welcome me into a relationship. 

Yet when the opportunity comes to extend forgiveness and grace to someone who has wronged me, instead of lavishing it on them in the quantity I have received, I hoard it selfishly, unwilling to share the smallest drop. I ignore Ephesians 4:32, “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you” and instead crave judgment and punishment. They hurt me, so they should hurt a while, too. Forgiveness lets them off too easily.

When I need forgiveness, when I confess my sin to a holy and righteous God, he doesn’t let me stew and sweat. He doesn’t require penance and purgatory. Even before the words leave my mouth, his response covers them, “Yes. Yes! A thousand times yes. Not only do I forgive you, but I cast your sins as far as the east is from the west to remember them no more. You are cleansed. You are restored. You are forgiven.” 

And then he wipes the seaweed, sea salt, and stomach acid from my Jonah face and gives me another chance. And another. And another. 

Consider the precious words of Psalm 103: 8-14.

The LORD is compassionate and gracious, 

slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion. 

He will not always accuse us, nor harbor His anger forever. 

He has not dealt with us according to our sins 

or repaid us according to our iniquities. 

For as high as the heavens are above the earth, 

so great is His loving devotion for those who fear Him. 

As far as the east is from the west, 

so far has He removed our transgressions from us. 

As a father has compassion on his children, 

so the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.

“He who has been forgiven much loves much,” Jesus once said of a sinful woman. Like her, we, too, have been forgiven much. Let’s do our best to live like it. 



Father, remind me every day how great a love debt I owe you and how quickly you forgive me every time I ask. Help me forgive others just like you forgive me. In the mighty name of Jesus I ask, Amen.

Now it’s your turn. What biblical truth helps you most when you struggle to forgive? Leave a comment below and join the conversation.

Does Your Prayer Life Need Refreshing?

We know Bible reading and prayer are vital parts of our faith, but what happens when our prayer lives become stagnant and our quiet times grow stale? We need something more than just familiar verses and the command to pray. In Refresh Your Prayers, Uncommon Devotions to Unlock Power and Praise, Lori Hatcher shares relevant, five-minute devotions that spotlight unusual prayer verses in the Bible.

Each devotion ends with a Power Point (a spiritual truth to empower your faith) and a Praise Prompt (a short prayer designed to magnify God and make your faith soar). The Live It Out section challenges you to apply what you’ve learned right now for immediate change.

If you’re tired of your all-too-quiet quiet time, Refresh Your Prayers is the answer.

The UNcommon Book on Prayer – Unusual Devotions to Unlock Power and Praise

Available now at Amazon.com.

Have you subscribed to Refresh?

If you’d like to receive a weekly 5-minute devotion to help you rediscover the excitement of God’s Word, CLICK HERE.

The post Forgiving Is Hard, but Remembering This Truth Makes It Possible appeared first on Lori Hatcher.

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3 Powerful Reasons to Fast, Especially When You Don’t Want to

I’m honored to be blogging over on the Revive Our Hearts blog today. I’d love for you to join me as I talk about a topic you don’t hear much about . . . fasting.

When you think of fasting, what words come to mind?

Deprivation?

Hunger?

Headaches and shakiness?

Torture?

Misery? 

Perhaps you’ve never heard the term fasting. Or you’ve heard it in a secular context, like, I’m fasting from social media.

To fast in a spiritual sense usually means to choose to give up eating for a time to focus on a spiritual purpose, goal, or need for ourselves or others.

I don’t like fasting because I love food. And I have a high metabolism that requires me to eat every few hours. (I always keep crackers and M&Ms in my purse in case a hunger wave hits.) My need for regular snacks is so profound that my daughter affectionately calls me “The Toddler.”



I don’t enjoy the weak, light-headed feeling that usually accompanies a fast either. Or the headache. Or the overall grumpy feelings. 

Can you relate?

Yet as much as I enjoy food and the comfort of a full belly, there’s something I love more. Something I need more—God’s power. . .

To read the rest of this post, I invite you to hop on over to the Revive Our Hearts blog by clicking HERE.

Does Your Prayer Life Need Refreshing?

We know Bible reading and prayer are vital parts of our faith, but what happens when our prayer lives become stagnant and our quiet times grow stale? We need something more than just familiar verses and the command to pray. In Refresh Your Prayers, Uncommon Devotions to Unlock Power and Praise, Lori Hatcher shares relevant, five-minute devotions that spotlight unusual prayer verses in the Bible.

Each devotion ends with a Power Point (a spiritual truth to empower your faith) and a Praise Prompt (a short prayer designed to magnify God and make your faith soar). The Live It Out section challenges you to apply what you’ve learned right now for immediate change.

If you’re tired of your all-too-quiet quiet time, Refresh Your Prayers is the answer.

The UNcommon Book on Prayer – Unusual Devotions to Unlock Power and Praise

Available now at Amazon.com.

Have you subscribed to Refresh?

If you’d like to receive a weekly 5-minute devotion to help you rediscover the excitement of God’s Word, CLICK HERE.

The post 3 Powerful Reasons to Fast, Especially When You Don’t Want to appeared first on Lori Hatcher.

              Related StoriesRemember This When You Don’t Have Time to PrayWhen You Don’t Feel Like Smiling — Hope During Times of LamentHow to Overcome Fear with Faith 

Let’s Celebrate Friendship

When you think about friendship, who comes to mind? Let’s use this awesome photo my friend Joanne shared on social media as a jumping off place to celebrate the dear friends in our lives. I’ll go first. 

This picture reminds me of my friend Jean. She and I have hunted the squirrel of publication together. For years we saw it, far above our heads, close enough to smell. We made a pact. If it made a move in her direction, I’d do everything I could to chase it her way. If it ran toward me, she’d do the same. Either way, we decided, that critter wasn’t getting away. God has used our partnership to help us both become published authors. (Stay tuned for more about her amazing Bible study on Habakkuk coming soon!)

It also makes me think of my friend Charlotte. She and I stood together at the foot of the tree of higher education and watched our baby girls begin to climb. We challenged each other to pray for them every day. From our commitment, a mom’s prayer group was born. Today, eleven years later, we continue to pray for God to work in our adult children’s lives. 

This picture captures what I love about my husband, David. Total opposites, but partners for life, we work, play, and pray together. Notice the wagging tails. He makes sure I don’t forget to play. Notice the focused gazes. I make sure he doesn’t forget to work. With him, life’s chase is work and fun, all at the same time. 

It also reminds me of my friend Maryann. Together we’ve bumbled our way through homeschooling, child rearing, and now grandparenting. She has the great ideas. I figure out how to make them work. Together we’re a strike force. Apart, well, let’s just say we struggle. She’s also a lightning rod for bizarre events and dramatic answers to prayer. If this picture was a true representation of Maryann’s propensity to attract the unexpected, the next frame would show an armadillo, not a squirrel, dropping out of the tree. 

And then there’s my friend Mandy. When she and I partner up, I know the plan will be strategic and well-executed. She’s committed to excellence and integrity. And I know that if we have to pray that varmint out of the tree, she’ll be ready, day or night. 

Finally, this image captures my friend Heather. If there were speech bubbles above the dog’s heads, hers would say, “We can do this. God will help us. We thought it was a squirrel, and it turned out to be a cheetah, but with God on our side, we’ve got this.” Heather was the first to believe in me as a Christian speaker and invited me to speak about prayer to her church’s women’s ministry. 

If you have a gift-from-God friend, why not call her or send her a message today? Tell her how much she means to you and how thankful you are that she’s your buddy. Then plan the next adventure. 

Together. 

If you don’t have a friend like this, why not reach out to become this type of friend? I bet there’s someone in your circle who’s craving a friend as much as you are.

“A sweet friendship refreshes the soul”

Proverbs 27:9 MSG

Does Your Prayer Life Need Refreshing?

We know Bible reading and prayer are vital parts of our faith, but what happens when our prayer lives become stagnant and our quiet times grow stale? We need something more than just familiar verses and the command to pray. In Refresh Your Prayers, Uncommon Devotions to Unlock Power and Praise, Lori Hatcher shares relevant, five-minute devotions that spotlight unusual prayer verses in the Bible.

Each devotion ends with a Power Point (a spiritual truth to empower your faith) and a Praise Prompt (a short prayer designed to magnify God and make your faith soar). The Live It Out section challenges you to apply what you’ve learned right now for immediate change.

If you’re tired of your all-too-quiet quiet time, Refresh Your Prayers is the answer.

The UNcommon Book on Prayer – Unusual Devotions to Unlock Power and Praise

Available now at Amazon.com.

Have you subscribed to Refresh?

If you’d like to receive a weekly 5-minute devotion to help you rediscover the excitement of God’s Word, CLICK HERE.

*Thank you, Joanne, for sharing this amazing photo!

The post Let’s Celebrate Friendship appeared first on Lori Hatcher.

               
CommentsLet’s Celebrate Friendship by LoriAHatcherRemember This Powerful Truth When Life Hurts and You Just Don’t Understand by LoriAHatcherRemember This When You Don’t Have Time to Pray by LoriAHatcherWhen You Don’t Feel Like Smiling — Hope During Times of Lament by LoriAHatcherHow to Overcome Fear with Faith by LoriAHatcherPlus 5 more...Related StoriesRemember This Powerful Truth When Life Hurts and You Just Don’t UnderstandRemember This When You Don’t Have Time to PrayWhen You Don’t Feel Like Smiling — Hope During Times of Lament 

Remember This Powerful Truth When Life Hurts and You Just Don’t Understand

One of the most gratifying moments of a parent’s life is when their adult children reflect on the decisions their parents made during their childhood and say, “Now I understand. You were right.” 

Usually this epiphany doesn’t come until they have children of their own.

They experience the weight of responsibility that rests heavily on a parent’s shoulders and realize their God-given mandate to raise their children “in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” They recognize that parents have knowledge, wisdom, and insight children don’t have.

Feeling that overwhelming mama-bear or papa-bear desire to protect, they experience for themselves the fierce love that guides and motivates every action, rule, and decision. 

In a sentence, they get it. 

Truly a blessing are the ones who go one step further and not only say, “Now I understand,” but also, “Thank you.” 

JOB

Job had a parent/child moment like this.

As he struggled through deeply painful circumstances, he questioned God’s goodness and wisdom. He suspected God character. He doubted God’s love.

But then his perspective changed. 

 Although he didn’t comprehend all God’s ways, he came face to face with God’s wisdom, power, and might. As God revealed Himself to Job, God lifted Job’s eyes from his suffering to his Savior. Then he understood, as much as was humanly possible, that God’s Father heart had motivated every decision He had made on Job’s behalf. 

As my wise friend Jean Wilund says, “If we knew everything God knows, we’d make the same decisions he makes.” 

“Surely I spoke about things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know. . . . I had heard rumors about You, but now my eyes have seen You. 

Job 42:3

“Therefore I take back my words and repent in dust and ashes” (Job 42:6).

You Can Trust God

If you’re struggling under the circumstances God has allowed into your life, you can trust Him. 

He who formed the world, hung the stars in place, and calls the lightning from heaven’s storehouses is more than able to order the events of your life—for your good and for God’s glory.

His love for you is great, and His heart is kind. Trust and obey. 

 One day, when sin, sorrow, and death are banished forever, we’ll understand. We’ll get it.

God will wipe the tears from our eyes and wrap us in a hug so fierce it squeezes the breath from our lungs. We’ll rest in the comfort His presence affords and bask in the peace of our relationship. After we’ve lingered for a while, we’ll tilt our head back, look deep into our Savior’s eyes, and say, 

“Now I understand. You were right.” 

Now it’s your turn. When you’re struggling with difficult circumstances, what aspect of God’s character comforts you? Leave a comment below to share your thoughts. 

Does Your Prayer Life Need Refreshing?

We know Bible reading and prayer are vital parts of our faith, but what happens when our prayer lives become stagnant and our quiet times grow stale? We need something more than just familiar verses and the command to pray. In Refresh Your Prayers, Uncommon Devotions to Unlock Power and Praise, Lori Hatcher shares relevant, five-minute devotions that spotlight unusual prayer verses in the Bible.

Each devotion ends with a Power Point (a spiritual truth to empower your faith) and a Praise Prompt (a short prayer designed to magnify God and make your faith soar). The Live It Out section challenges you to apply what you’ve learned right now for immediate change.

If you’re tired of your all-too-quiet quiet time, Refresh Your Prayers is the answer.

The UNcommon Book on Prayer – Unusual Devotions to Unlock Power and Praise

Available now at Amazon.com.

Have you subscribed to Refresh?

If you’d like to receive a weekly 5-minute devotion to help you rediscover the excitement of God’s Word, CLICK HERE.

The post Remember This Powerful Truth When Life Hurts and You Just Don’t Understand appeared first on Lori Hatcher.

              Related StoriesRemember This When You Don’t Have Time to PrayWhen You Don’t Feel Like Smiling — Hope During Times of LamentHow to Overcome Fear with Faith 

Remember This When You Don’t Have Time to Pray

“I don’t have time to pray today.” 

Yep, I said this. Out loud. 

Once a month I meet with other women to pray for our adult children. We’ve been gathering for eleven years.

But on that morning, I didn’t have time to pray. 

I’d looked at the week ahead and realized that day was my only “free” day to get some work done in light of the commitments that filled my calendar. 

My editor expected me to complete the edits on my new book. 

I had blog posts to write. 

I had promised to babysit my three grandchildren so my 8-month pregnant daughter could go to the doctor. 

My mom needed a ride to a procedure. 

I had to finish preparing for a big speaking presentation. 

I had to work several days outside the home. 

And I had to study for that week’s Sunday School lesson. And those were just the headliners. Smooshed in among these biggies were a multitude of other responsibilities like house cleaning, answering emails, washing clothes, and fixing meals. 

So I really, really didn’t have time to pray that day.

As I prepared to send a text message explaining my predicament and gracefully bowing out, the Holy Spirit whispered to my heart. 

You don’t have time NOT to pray today.

Your editor is expecting you to complete the edits on your new book. 

You have a blog post to write. 

You have three grandchildren who need your care. 

You have a daughter who’s eight-months pregnant. 

Your mom is having a medical procedure done. 

You have to prepare for a big speaking presentation. 

You have to work outside the home. 

And you have to study for this week’s Sunday School lesson. 

Not to mention, the Holy Spirit pointed out, you have a house to clean, emails to answer, clothes to wash, and meals to fix. How can you do all this without my help? 

You’re absolutely right, I said.  I don’t have time NOT to pray today. 

Nineteenth-century preacher C.H. Spurgeon, in his sermon, “Degrees of Power Attending the Gospel,” referred to Protestant reformer Martin Luther’s habit of rising early and praying for three hours a day on his busiest days. 

“I like that saying of Martin Luther, when he says, 

‘I have so much business to do to-day, that I shall not be able to get through it with less than three hours’ prayer.’ 

-Martin Luther

Now, most people would say, “I have so much business to do to-day, that I have only three minutes for prayer; I cannot afford the time. 

“But Luther thought that the more he had to do, the more he must pray, or else he could not get through it. That is a blessed kind of logic: may we understand it! ‘Praying and provender hinder no man’s journey.’ If we have to stop and pray, it is no more hindrance than when the rider has to stop at the farrier’s to have his horse’s shoe fastened; for if he went on without attending to that it may be that ere long he would come to a stop of a far more serious kind.”*

My Prayer 

Father, I prayed, forgive me for thinking my work is more important than your work. For exalting my efforts over your efforts, and my ways over your ways. Thank you for reminding me, as Dr. Jerry Falwell Sr. used to say, that nothing of eternal significance ever happens apart from prayer. Hear my prayers today, work according to your will, and multiply the time left over so I can accomplish everything you have ordained for me to do. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

With my mind set right and my heart corrected, I drove across town to pray with my sisters in Christ. As we shared how God had been at work in our adult children’s lives in the past month, my faith grew. We bowed our heads and invited God to work exceedingly, abundantly, above all we could ever ask or imagine. Then we promised to give Him all the glory, honor, and praise. 

Two hours later I received a phone call from one of the mothers in our group. She shared how God had answered the exact prayer we had prayed on behalf of her daughter. 

Today, I didn’t get everything done on my To Do list, but that’s okay. 

I did the most important thing.

Scripture testifies that Jesus was one of the busiest people on earth, yet he began every day with prayer (Mark 1:35). Early in the morning. While it was still dark. Despite the demands of life and ministry. He never fell into the trap of thinking he didn’t have time to pray.

The result? He was able to say, “I always do those things that please Him.” 

Isn’t this our desire too? 

Perhaps we should begin by realizing, 

We don’t have time NOT to pray today.

Now it’s your turn. What’s your greatest hindrance to spending time in prayer? How do you combat it? Leave a comment below and share your thoughts.

Does Your Prayer Life Need Refreshing?

We know Bible reading and prayer are vital parts of our faith, but what happens when our prayer lives become stagnant and our quiet times grow stale? We need something more than just familiar verses and the command to pray. In Refresh Your Prayers, Uncommon Devotions to Unlock Power and Praise, Lori Hatcher shares relevant, five-minute devotions that spotlight unusual prayer verses in the Bible.

Each devotion ends with a Power Point (a spiritual truth to empower your faith) and a Praise Prompt (a short prayer designed to magnify God and make your faith soar). The Live It Out section challenges you to apply what you’ve learned right now for immediate change.

If you’re tired of your all-too-quiet quiet time, Refresh Your Prayers is the answer.

The UNcommon Book on Prayer – Unusual Devotions to Unlock Power and Praise

Available now at Amazon.com.

Have you subscribed to Refresh?

If you’d like to receive a weekly 5-minute devotion to help you rediscover the excitement of God’s Word, CLICK HERE.

The post Remember This When You Don’t Have Time to Pray appeared first on Lori Hatcher.

               
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