Lori Hatcher's Blog: Refresh Blog, page 26

Every Good Gift . . .

Every time I see Caroline, she gives me a gift. 


Although her brother usually beats her to my door on Fun Fridays at Gigi’s House, she’s fast on his heels. The tiny girl, “no bigger than a squirrel,” as my husband says, greets me with smiling eyes that sparkle with mischief.


“Gigi,” she says, clasping her hands together and bouncing with excitement, “I have a present for you!”

“Yes!” I always exclaim with the proper enthusiasm, “I LOVE presents.” 

She does a little happy dance, then bestows her treasure into my open palms with a flourish.

Sometimes she gives me a sparkling jewel from her collection. (Don’t all princesses have jewel collections?) Other times her treasure is a painted rock. One time it was a worm, but I’ve forgiven her for that.

Her generous spirit and giving heart consistently look for ways to share what is most precious to her.

Caroline reminds me a lot of God. 

Every time my heavenly Father and I spend time together, He gives me a gift. Sometimes it’s a sparkling jewel from His collection. (Don’t all kings have jewel collections?) A gold nugget from His Word, a gemstone of promise, or a sparkling insight into life. 

Other times He gives me something He’s created—a sunrise that takes my breath away or a cool breeze on a sunny day. 

A few times He’s given me something that didn’t look like a gift, but turned out to be one after all. Pain that pressed me further into His loving arms, a loss that reminded me of heaven’s hope, or suffering that refined my faith.

James 1:17 sums it up: “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights.” 


Caroline and her generous heart (not her presents) is one of God’s good gifts to me. She loves me unconditionally, wants to spend time in my presence, and delights to bless me.

She and the Father God who created her fill my life with good things.

Now it’s your turn. How has God shown you His generous heart this week? Leave a comment below and share your blessings. If you’re reading by email, click HERE to visit Hungry for God online and leave a comment.






[image error] Does Your Faith Need Refreshing?

That's in the Bible? I've never noticed that before!

It's probably been too long since you've newly discovered a story that speaks to your soul or a verse that pops with truth. But that's about to change!


Refresh Your Faith contains 66 culturally relevant, story-driven devotions, one from each book of the Bible. Each real-life story spotlights an unusual verse or Bible passage that you may have overlooked in your usual Bible reading. Lori Hatcher challenges you with additional features like an uncommon thought to ponder; an unusual faith action step; and an unfamiliar passage suggestion for additional Bible reading.

When the fabulous has become familiar and your quiet times are more like nap times, it's time to step out of spiritual boredom and ignite the spark that will keep you growing. No matter where you are on your faith journey, Lori's conversational and engaging style will challenge you to think about things you've never thought about before.

“Real-life inspiration and candid wit. These 5-minute devotions will change your life.” —Psychologist and best-selling author Dr. Kevin Leman, commenting on Lori Hatcher's devotional style




Are you hungry for God, but starving for time? 
I’d love to send you a 5-minute e-mail devotion twice a week to start your day off with the Lord. 

Sign up for a free subscription to Hungry for God by CLICKING HERE.
Then, be sure to VALIDATE the confirmation email you receive. 

Note: I promise never to spam you or share your email address.

Because busy women need to connect with God in the craziness of everyday life.



If this post was meaningful to you, would you consider sharing it with a friend by clicking on one of the buttons below? Did you know you can receive bi-weekly Hungry for God posts sent directly to your email inbox? Visit http://www.lori-benotweary.blogspot.com and click on the link in the right hand corner to Subscribe Via Email.

Copyright 2018 by Lori Hatcher

I Love Sharing Giveaways! $25 Amazon Gift card and Signed Copy of RYF

Greetings Hungry for God friends! 

Thank you so much for your love, prayers, and kindness during Refresh Your Faith's book launch. Please continue to pray that God will send this little book to everyone who needs a word of hope, healing, or refreshing. 



Beginning today, Refresh Your Faith will be featured on Celebrate Lit's blog tour. As part of the promotion, one lucky entrant will win a $25 Amazon gift card and a signed copy of Refresh Your Faith. I'd LOVE for one of you (or one of your friends) to win! 

CLICK HERE to go to the Celebrate Lit page and enter. If you'd like to share it with friends, forward on this email or visit Hungry for God on Facebook and share there. 


One more thing: If you're reading or have already read Refresh Your Faith, would you be so kind as to leave an honest Amazon review? Reviews to authors are more precious than chocolate (can you imagine?). I'd be SO grateful! 

Hugs,
Lori





[image error]




Does Your Faith Need Refreshing?

That's in the Bible? I've never noticed that before!

It's probably been too long since you've newly discovered a story that speaks to your soul or a verse that pops with truth. But that's about to change!


Refresh Your Faith contains 66 culturally relevant, story-driven devotions, one from each book of the Bible. Each real-life story spotlights an unusual verse or Bible passage that you may have overlooked in your usual Bible reading. Lori Hatcher challenges you with additional features like an uncommon thought to ponder; an unusual faith action step; and an unfamiliar passage suggestion for additional Bible reading.

When the fabulous has become familiar and your quiet times are more like nap times, it's time to step out of spiritual boredom and ignite the spark that will keep you growing. No matter where you are on your faith journey, Lori's conversational and engaging style will challenge you to think about things you've never thought about before.

“Real-life inspiration and candid wit. These 5-minute devotions will change your life.” —Psychologist and best-selling author Dr. Kevin Leman, commenting on Lori Hatcher's devotional style




Are you hungry for God, but starving for time? 
I’d love to send you a 5-minute e-mail devotion twice a week to start your day off with the Lord. 

Sign up for a free subscription to Hungry for God by CLICKING HERE.
Then, be sure to VALIDATE the confirmation email you receive. 

Note: I promise never to spam you or share your email address.

Because busy women need to connect with God in the craziness of everyday life.



If this post was meaningful to you, would you consider sharing it with a friend by clicking on one of the buttons below? Did you know you can receive bi-weekly Hungry for God posts sent directly to your email inbox? Visit http://www.lori-benotweary.blogspot.com and click on the link in the right hand corner to Subscribe Via Email.

Copyright 2018 by Lori Hatcher

5 Reasons to Stay Faithful to Your Local Church during COVID-19

Everyone, it seems, is broadcasting their church services over the web. Mega churches’ live streaming events are attracting higher numbers of viewers than ever before, and this is a good thing. Maybe their hits are coming from people who are seeking God for the first time, or perhaps the majority of viewers are Christians who can’t attend their local churches, so they’re diving into online “church.” 

While you can find a plethora of inspiring and educational messages on Facebook and You Tube, when Sunday morning rolls around, I hope you’ll tune into your local church’s service. 

Here are five reasons why: 

1. Your church (not Louie Giglio’s or Charles Stanley’s) will be there for you when this is all over. Your local fellowship and your pastor have walked through your family crises with you, preached your loved one’s funeral, and visited you in the hospital. They’ve prayed for you, cried with you, and rejoiced at your successes. Your church has been there for you in the past, and it will be there for you in the future. It deserves your faithful commitment. 


This is what one church had to do to broadcast their
service recently. Notice the computer powering the cell
phone on a tripod on a table sitting on another table.
The person standing on a chair is holding a microphone 
up to the speaker in the ceiling so everyone can hear.2. Your church is working hard with limited resources to keep you spiritually fed and cared for. Mega churches have staff dedicated to media and technology, but your local church doesn’t have that luxury. Your pastor can’t call the sound and lighting guy to figure out why you can’t hear him. He’s broadcasting the service over Facebook Live from his cell phone. Chances are he’s the only one in the building. Or maybe his wife is there to push the record button. 

Unlike the Netflix chef broadcasting from a million dollar kitchen studio, your pastor, soloist, or youth minister is preparing a home cooked meal in a simple kitchen to feed you from the Word of God. It may not be perfectly plated or served with a flare, but it’s wholesome, nourishing, and prepared with you in mind. 

3. It’s lonely preaching to an empty church. When you watch your service in real time (not the replay) and comment, your pastor knows someone’s out there. He can’t see those little floating hearts and thumbs up now, but he will later, and it will encourage him. 

Your church also needs you to like and share the stream or host a watch party. Your contacts are part of the mission field God has called you to. Sharing your church’s services on social media can introduce your friends to the gospel or help them grow in their faith. Greeting fellow church members in the comment box makes everyone feel connected. Say Amen, too. A well timed Amen is like saying, “Good boy!” to your cocker spaniel. A pastor can go for days on a comment like that. 

4. Families stick together. 
It’s tempting sometimes to click over to the service with the professional musicians and the five-camera live feed broadcasting from California, but that’s not your family (unless you normally attend church there). God calls Christians to serve within local churches. To minister and be ministered to within their communities. While the various social isolation orders have made person-to-person ministering more challenging, with a little thought and creativity, it’s still possible. 


One of our members uses email to gather and share a weekly prayer list. Another sews cloth masks and delivers them. One of our artistic members painted small watercolor scenes and mailed them to people in the church. 

Some have called shut-ins and high risk members and offered to pick up groceries or prescriptions. Others have brought meals, dropped off flowers, or organized Zoom game nights. 


And our church members haven’t forgotten the pastor and others who minister. They know they’re under a great deal of stress as they struggle with unfamiliar technology and the other challenges of ministering to their congregations remotely. One member organized a drive-by We Love Our Pastor parade, complete with signs and a caravan of cars. 

5. God is using COVID-19 to strengthen and grow local churches. 
On an average Sunday, our church’s average attendance is fewer than 25 people. During the coronavirus pandemic, we’ve reached between 200-300 people with our Facebook Live feed. We hope, when we’re allowed to meet together again, some of these viewers will worship with us in person. Even if they don’t, they’ve heard the gospel. That’s a wonderful thing. 

“TV church,” as my grandmother used to call it, has a place. It’s okay to visit every now and then, but we shouldn’t live there. Only the local church provides what we need to grow spiritually, serve sacrificially, and provide community. Most important, it will always be God’s most effective way to advance the kingdom. 

This Sunday, if your local church broadcasts its services, I hope you’ll tune in. God’s command in Hebrews 10:25 not to “forsake the assembling of yourselves” looks a little different right now, but with commitment and creativity, we can continue to worship “together,” serve “together,” and advance the kingdom of God together—through our local churches. 





[image error]   That's in the Bible? I've never noticed that before!

It's probably been too long since you've newly discovered a story that speaks to your soul or a verse that pops with truth. But that's about to change!


Refresh Your Faith contains 66 culturally relevant, story-driven devotions, one from each book of the Bible. Each real-life story spotlights an unusual verse or Bible passage that you may have overlooked in your usual Bible reading. Lori Hatcher challenges you with additional features like an uncommon thought to ponder; an unusual faith action step; and an unfamiliar passage suggestion for additional Bible reading.

When the fabulous has become familiar and your quiet times are more like nap times, it's time to step out of spiritual boredom and ignite the spark that will keep you growing. No matter where you are on your faith journey, Lori's conversational and engaging style will challenge you to think about things you've never thought about before.

“Real-life inspiration and candid wit. These 5-minute devotions will change your life.” —Psychologist and best-selling author Dr. Kevin Leman, commenting on Lori Hatcher's devotional style




Are you hungry for God, but starving for time? 
I’d love to send you a 5-minute e-mail devotion twice a week to start your day off with the Lord. 

Sign up for a free subscription to Hungry for God by CLICKING HERE.
Then, be sure to VALIDATE the confirmation email you receive. 

Note: I promise never to spam you or share your email address.

Because busy women need to connect with God in the craziness of everyday life.






If this post was meaningful to you, would you consider sharing it with a friend by clicking on one of the buttons below? Did you know you can receive bi-weekly Hungry for God posts sent directly to your email inbox? Visit http://www.lori-benotweary.blogspot.com and click on the link in the right hand corner to Subscribe Via Email.

Copyright 2018 by Lori Hatcher

Will You Join the Psalms LIVE Challenge?

I don’t know about you, but I’ve been gravitating to the Psalms for comfort, hope, and perspective during this coronavirus shelter-at-home period in our nation.

I appreciate David and the other writers’ transparent rendering of their not-so-perfect lives. Their words give us permission to share everything with God, even the weak-kneed, wobbly faith moments. The times we ask why. The days we chafe within God’s will. The seasons of anger, despair, and depression. These divinely-inspired writers show us the way out and through these seasons, too. They model that it’s okay to walk through the mud of self pity and sorrow as long as we don’t unpack our suitcases and make our home there.


 Because the Psalms are so encouraging, I eagerly said YES to my friends and fellow writers Lori Roeleveld and Lucinda McDowell’s invitation to co-host a Facebook LIVE event called Psalms LIVE Challenge.


From May 1 through May 15, we’ll be part of a world-wide (we hope) movement to saturate Facebook, the web, and the airwaves with God’s truth, hope, and courage as portrayed in the Psalms. Every hour from 7 am until midnight someone will jump on Facebook Live (it’s that little button that says LIVE directly beneath where you post your Facebook statuses) and read a Psalm of their choice. Easy peasy! Then, after their live post ends, they’ll share it to the Psalms LIVE Challenge Facebook page so others can be encouraged.

Would you like to join us? We hope to have all 150 psalms read over the course of 10 days. If you’d like to be a part of this project, head over to the Psalms LIVE Challenge on Facebook (or click here). Under the Discussion tab, you can sign up for a time slot that works for you and list the psalm or psalms you’d like to read. Feel free to sign up for one time slot and psalm or many. Then, when that day or time comes, grab your Bible, hop on Facebook, click Live, and start reading.


I’ll be going live today, Friday, May 1, at 8 am EST to read Psalm 91. Why not click over and watch? I’ll show you how easy it is to share encouragement from God’s Word. 

Are you in? Leave a comment below and share your favorite Psalm. Then head over to sign up for your time slot. Let's shine the light brightly in our dark world!






That's in the Bible? I've never noticed that before!

It's probably been too long since you've newly discovered a story that speaks to your soul or a verse that pops with truth. But that's about to change!


[image error] Refresh Your Faith contains 66 culturally relevant, story-driven devotions, one from each book of the Bible. Each real-life story spotlights an unusual verse or Bible passage that you may have overlooked in your usual Bible reading. Lori Hatcher challenges you with additional features like an uncommon thought to ponder; an unusual faith action step; and an unfamiliar passage suggestion for additional Bible reading.

When the fabulous has become familiar and your quiet times are more like nap times, it's time to step out of spiritual boredom and ignite the spark that will keep you growing. No matter where you are on your faith journey, Lori's conversational and engaging style will challenge you to think about things you've never thought about before.

“Real-life inspiration and candid wit. These 5-minute devotions will change your life.” —Psychologist and best-selling author Dr. Kevin Leman, commenting on Lori Hatcher's devotional style




Are you hungry for God, but starving for time? 
I’d love to send you a 5-minute e-mail devotion twice a week to start your day off with the Lord. 

Sign up for a free subscription to Hungry for God by CLICKING HERE.
Then, be sure to VALIDATE the confirmation email you receive. 

Note: I promise never to spam you or share your email address.

Because busy women need to connect with God in the craziness of everyday life.



If this post was meaningful to you, would you consider sharing it with a friend by clicking on one of the buttons below? Did you know you can receive bi-weekly Hungry for God posts sent directly to your email inbox? Visit http://www.lori-benotweary.blogspot.com and click on the link in the right hand corner to Subscribe Via Email.

Copyright 2018 by Lori Hatcher

FREE RESOURCE to Help Jump Start Your Quiet Time

Hey everyone!


During the Facebook LIVE Refresh Your Faith book launch party, guests shared tips for how to refreshing our faith when we're going through a period of spiritual dryness. I've compiled these fabulous ideas into a PDF for easy reference. (Thank you, Sandy Rios, for this idea.)

Click HERE to download a printable PDF of 35 time-tested suggestions to keep your faith alive and active, even during dry times.

If you missed the party, you can still watch the replay. Click HERE to join the fun (a few days late). We shared laughter, tips, and inspiration. I read a chapter devotion from the book of Jonah called "Mercy in Disguise," and disclosed 15 things you probably didn't know about me in a game called "How Well Do You Know the Author."


Since we're sheltering at home together (always), my husband, David, served as my co-host and right hand man. (Isn't he cute?).

One of the suggestions several guest shared was to try a new devotional. If you haven't read Refresh Your Faith, Uncommon Devotions from Every Book of the Bible, here's a blurb about this new resource.


[image error]
That's in the Bible? I've never noticed that before!

It's probably been too long since you've newly discovered a story that speaks to your soul or a verse that pops with truth. But that's about to change!


Refresh Your Faith contains 66 culturally relevant, story-driven devotions, one from each book of the Bible. Each real-life story spotlights an unusual verse or Bible passage that you may have overlooked in your usual Bible reading. Lori Hatcher challenges you with additional features like an uncommon thought to ponder; an unusual faith action step; and an unfamiliar passage suggestion for additional Bible reading.

When the fabulous has become familiar and your quiet times are more like nap times, it's time to step out of spiritual boredom and ignite the spark that will keep you growing. No matter where you are on your faith journey, Lori's conversational and engaging style will challenge you to think about things you've never thought about before.

“Real-life inspiration and candid wit. These 5-minute devotions will change your life.” —Psychologist and best-selling author Dr. Kevin Leman, commenting on Lori Hatcher's devotional style




Are you hungry for God, but starving for time? 
I’d love to send you a 5-minute e-mail devotion twice a week to start your day off with the Lord. 

Sign up for a free subscription to Hungry for God by CLICKING HERE.
Then, be sure to VALIDATE the confirmation email you receive. 

Note: I promise never to spam you or share your email address.

Because busy women need to connect with God in the craziness of everyday life.






If this post was meaningful to you, would you consider sharing it with a friend by clicking on one of the buttons below? Did you know you can receive bi-weekly Hungry for God posts sent directly to your email inbox? Visit http://www.lori-benotweary.blogspot.com and click on the link in the right hand corner to Subscribe Via Email.

Copyright 2018 by Lori Hatcher

Hey everyone!During the Facebook LIVE Refresh Your Faith ...

Hey everyone!

During the Facebook LIVE Refresh Your Faith book launch party, guests shared tips for how to refreshing our faith when we're going through a period of spiritual dryness. I've compiled these fabulous ideas into a PDF for easy reference. (Thank you, Sandy Rios, for this idea.)

Click HERE to download a printable PDF of 35 time-tested suggestions to keep your faith alive and active, even during dry times.

If you missed the party, you can still watch the replay. Click HERE to join the fun (a few days late). We shared laughter, tips, and inspiration. I read a chapter devotion from the book of Jonah called "Mercy in Disguise," and disclosed 15 things you probably didn't know about me in a game called "How Well Do You Know the Author."

Since we're sheltering at home together (always), my husband, David, served as my co-host and right hand man. (Isn't he cute?).

One of the suggestions several guest shared was to try a new devotional. If you haven't read Refresh Your Faith, Uncommon Devotions from Every Book of the Bible, here's a blurb about this new resource.


[image error]
That's in the Bible? I've never noticed that before!

It's probably been too long since you've newly discovered a story that speaks to your soul or a verse that pops with truth. But that's about to change!


Refresh Your Faith contains 66 culturally relevant, story-driven devotions, one from each book of the Bible. Each real-life story spotlights an unusual verse or Bible passage that you may have overlooked in your usual Bible reading. Lori Hatcher challenges you with additional features like an uncommon thought to ponder; an unusual faith action step; and an unfamiliar passage suggestion for additional Bible reading.

When the fabulous has become familiar and your quiet times are more like nap times, it's time to step out of spiritual boredom and ignite the spark that will keep you growing. No matter where you are on your faith journey, Lori's conversational and engaging style will challenge you to think about things you've never thought about before.

“Real-life inspiration and candid wit. These 5-minute devotions will change your life.” —Psychologist and best-selling author Dr. Kevin Leman, commenting on Lori Hatcher's devotional style




Are you hungry for God, but starving for time? 
I’d love to send you a 5-minute e-mail devotion twice a week to start your day off with the Lord. 

Sign up for a free subscription to Hungry for God by CLICKING HERE.
Then, be sure to VALIDATE the confirmation email you receive. 

Note: I promise never to spam you or share your email address.

Because busy women need to connect with God in the craziness of everyday life.






If this post was meaningful to you, would you consider sharing it with a friend by clicking on one of the buttons below? Did you know you can receive bi-weekly Hungry for God posts sent directly to your email inbox? Visit http://www.lori-benotweary.blogspot.com and click on the link in the right hand corner to Subscribe Via Email.

Copyright 2018 by Lori Hatcher

What to Do In Times of Trial

Trials often blindside us. Although some creep into our lives, others leap out and clobber us. One moment we’re strolling along happily, and the next, WHAM, we’re lying on the pavement wondering what just happened. 

Sometimes this happens literally, like the friend who stepped out onto her deck to water the plants and found herself at the foot of the stairs with a broken hip. Other times our trials come in the form of a job loss, family crisis, or sudden death. With no time to prepare, we’re left reeling, swaying from one emotion to the next. Fear, grief, and confusion pummel us until we’re emotionally and spiritually battered. 

In times like these, God’s sovereignty can be a mighty comfort. 

It can also be a stumbling block. People often struggle with God’s sovereign control when tragedy or trial enters their lives. Knowing God could prevent bad things from happening, we wonder why he allows hardship. 

But God is bigger than today. And even though I don’t like to acknowledge it, he has more in mind than just my comfort. His plan is grander, higher, and better than a pain-free, effortless life for us all. He tried that once, at the beginning of time, and humanity rejected it. 

Instead, he has one of two purposes for everything that happens in this world. First, he wants to reconcile all who would believe to himself. He often uses the trials of this life to help us realize how much we need a relationship with him. Many a soul has cried out to God for salvation when they’ve reached the end of themselves and discovered how much they need someone wiser and stronger to direct their lives. God uses trials to draw us to himself. 

But what if we already have a relationship with him? What if we’ve already surrendered our lives to his control? What merit is there then in suffering and hardship? 

This is where the second aspect of his purpose comes in. God allows difficulty to grow our faith. He uses scary times to prove that he will take care of us. He uses heartbreak to help us realize that when all seems lost, God remains. 

I’ve walked with God for more than 35 years. I’ve experienced heart-expanding joys and heart-breaking pain. The joyful times filled me with gratitude and worship to God. The gut-wrenching times flung me into his arms because I had nowhere else to go. 

The happy times have cemented my love and gratitude toward my heavenly Father, because every good gift comes from him. The hard times have anchored my trust in him. 


I’ve learned that whatever comes my way, God will walk through it with me. “Everyone deserted me,” the apostle Paul testified in 2 Timothy 4:16-17, “but the Lord stood at my side.” 

God wooed me with his mercy, then won me with his commitment. “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you,” he promises in Hebrews 5:15. The ultimate bridegroom, he has pledged to stand by me for better or for worse, in sickness and in health, in poverty and in wealth. 

And he has kept his promise. No day begins without his steady presence beside me. No monster knocks on my door without him at my side. No need of mine goes unmet, although his superior wisdom often provides in ways far different than I expect. 

“In the day of prosperity, be joyful,” Solomon writes in Ecclesiastes 7:14, “but in the day of adversity consider; Surely God has appointed the one as well as the other.” 

Because we live in a fallen world, sickness, heartache, and pain will eventually enter our lives. Believers and unbelievers alike will experience their share of sorrow. But we get to choose – will we walk through these days alone or with the Lord by our side? 

Because of God’s faithfulness and character, we can trust him. Whether joy or pain comes our way, we can have piece, knowing that our loving Father promises to use everything in our lives for our ultimate good and his everlasting glory. 

That’s powerful comfort. 

Now it’s your turn. If you’re struggling with God’s sovereignty in the face of trial or loss, I want to pray for you. If you’ll leave a comment below, I promise to ask our Father to wrap his loving arms around you and carry you through. He is faithful. You can trust him. 

If you're reading by email, click HERE to visit Hungry for God online and leave a comment.


That's in the Bible? I've never noticed that before!

[image error]

It's probably been too long since you've newly discovered a story that speaks to your soul or a verse that pops with truth. But that's about to change!


Refresh Your Faith contains 66 culturally relevant, story-driven devotions, one from each book of the Bible. Each real-life story spotlights an unusual verse or Bible passage that you may have overlooked in your usual Bible reading. Lori Hatcher challenges you with additional features like an uncommon thought to ponder; an unusual faith action step; and an unfamiliar passage suggestion for additional Bible reading.

When the fabulous has become familiar and your quiet times are more like nap times, it's time to step out of spiritual boredom and ignite the spark that will keep you growing. No matter where you are on your faith journey, Lori's conversational and engaging style will challenge you to think about things you've never thought about before.

“Real-life inspiration and candid wit. These 5-minute devotions will change your life.” —Psychologist and best-selling author Dr. Kevin Leman, commenting on Lori Hatcher's devotional style




Are you hungry for God, but starving for time? 
I’d love to send you a 5-minute e-mail devotion twice a week to start your day off with the Lord. 

Sign up for a free subscription to Hungry for God by CLICKING HERE.
Then, be sure to VALIDATE the confirmation email you receive. 

Note: I promise never to spam you or share your email address.

Because busy women need to connect with God in the craziness of everyday life.













If this post was meaningful to you, would you consider sharing it with a friend by clicking on one of the buttons below? Did you know you can receive bi-weekly Hungry for God posts sent directly to your email inbox? Visit http://www.lori-benotweary.blogspot.com and click on the link in the right hand corner to Subscribe Via Email.

Copyright 2018 by Lori Hatcher

Becoming Fluent in the Language of Grace -- A Guest Post on Grace on Parade

I was overwhelmed. Homeschooling my two daughters, serving in a leadership position in our church’s women’s ministry, and juggling a part time job, I struggled to get it all done. But I loved to please, which is why, when a friend asked me to take on a special project, I said, “Yes.”A week later, when she asked me if I’d completed it, I said, “Yes.”Except I hadn’t.Shame over my inefficiency and fear of what she might think of me squeezed me into a corner. The lie had escaped my lips before I realized it.
Now I’d failed twice—first by not doing what I’d promised and second by lying about it. Imagine what a field day Satan and my conscience had with those two sins.After a miserable day of Holy Spirit conviction and self-condemnation, I couldn’t stand it any longer. I called my friend and confessed. . . . 
I'm honored to guest post on my friend Karen Wingate's blog today. To read the rest of this post, including the six grace-filled phrases we should all learn to speak, CLICK HERE to visit Grace on Parade.


Update on Refresh Your Faith!
In less than a month, Refresh Your Faith, Uncommon Devotions from Every Book of the Bible will officially launch. Early reports tell me that ChristianBook.com is offering a 27% discount and will begin shipping tomorrow. Amazon has it available for pre-order. 
Will you join me in asking God to direct this book to everyone who is looking for a way to energize their quiet time and gain new insights into God's Word? I especially hope to reach those who find themselves approaching their quiet time out of duty rather than delight. 

Thank you so much!



HOT OFF THE PRESS: FREE Bible Study Guide and Small Group Discussion Questions! Did you know there is a FREE Bible study guide and discussion questions to accompany the Hungry for God...Starving for Time devotional? Click HERE to download your copy. Now you'll have everything you need to use Hungry for God as the basis for your next small group Bible study. 




Are you hungry for God, but starving for time? 
I’d love to send you a 5-minute e-mail devotion twice a week to start your day off with the Lord. 

Sign up for a free subscription to Hungry for God by CLICKING HERE.
Then, be sure to VALIDATE the confirmation email you receive. 

Note: I promise never to spam you or share your email address.


Because busy women need to connect with God in the craziness of everyday life.



If this post was meaningful to you, would you consider sharing it with a friend by clicking on one of the buttons below? Did you know you can receive bi-weekly Hungry for God posts sent directly to your email inbox? Visit http://www.lori-benotweary.blogspot.com and click on the link in the right hand corner to Subscribe Via Email.

Copyright 2018 by Lori Hatcher

When Sheltering at Home Is Hard -- COVID-19

The corona virus has required most of us to shelter-at-home when not working, fetching groceries, or exercising. At my house, this has been mostly a good thing. My husband, David, and I have enjoyed unhurried morning devotions, long walks, and relaxed conversation. We’re working out a routine and trying not to get on each other’s nerves. 

He’s an extrovert who’s missing people, and I’m an introvert who’s missing solitude. Like we did in our newlywed years, we’re learning to live together in respectful harmony.

But some days it’s not easy.

One of the hardest things about being together all the time is, well, being together all the time. Not very profound, but profoundly true, yes? It helps when you love the person with whom you’re sheltering.

About a year into our marriage, we struggled to understand why we always seemed to argue on Saturdays. All week long we’d look forward to being together on our day off, but by nightfall we’d find ourselves frustrated and grumpy.

One Saturday evening, in answer to my bewildered prayers, the Holy Spirit brought about an epiphany. As we sat around the dinner table, I sighed happily. “Mmmmm, today was such a good day. I got so much done!”

“It was a good day,” David agreed. “I didn’t do a thing.”

And therein lay the rub. 

I’m a task-oriented doer who loves to check off boxes. David is a hard worker who believes Saturdays are for kicking back, chilling out, and relaxing.

We realized our different viewpoints would continue to cause frustration and anger unless we somehow worked out a compromise.Thankfully the Lord gave us an idea.

“Saturday morning is all yours,” David said. “I’ll cut the grass, change the oil, or fix something. Just give me Saturday afternoon to veg in front of the television or take a nap.”

From the very first Saturday, our plan worked as smoothly as Shea butter on a baby.


He cheerfully tackled the To-Do list I presented each week, knowing his chance to chill was only a few hours away. I smiled all afternoon while he channel surfed or snoozed, basking in the happy glow of the morning’s accomplishments.

Even more than what we did or didn’t do on Saturdays, we learned that the contrasts in our personalities and viewpoints weren’t wrong, just different. 

Now, thirty-five years and a pandemic later, we’re revisiting those early lessons. Some days are better than others.

Each morning we talk about the day ahead. “What does a good day look like to you?” we ask, then do our best to make it happen.

Sometimes we’re selfish. When we take stock at the end of the day, one person’s needs and desires were met while the other’s wasn’t. Some days are train wrecks. Most of the time we find a balance that pleases us both.

As we walk through these unusual days, we’re learning to give our expectations to the Lord and hold them loosely. To give each other grace. To be kind. Gentle. Forgiving. Unselfish.

We’re all dealing with less than ideal circumstances. But we have much to be grateful for.


When we get to the end of this social isolation period and jump back into our busy lives, I hope we’ll be able to say, “This has been a sweet opportunity to enjoy each other, spend uninterrupted time together, and grow closer.”

 I don’t want to look back on those weeks and say, “Gosh, what a miserable time. Why did we fight over so many foolish things?”

To remind us to honor God in the way we relate to our husband (child, grandchild, or whomever we’re sheltering-at-home with), will you join me in committing to memory these two powerful Bible verses:

Ephesians 4:32: “And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”

And Colossians 3:17: “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him”?

These wise words remind us that as we serve those around us, we’re not really serving them at all.

We’re serving Jesus Christ.

And we’d do anything for Him.

Wouldn’t we? 



Now it's your turn. I'd like to hear what you've found to be a hard aspect of sheltering at home. And then share a blessing. Leave your comment in the box below and join the conversation. If you're reading by email, CLICK HERE to visit Hungry for God online and leave a comment.



That's in the Bible? I've never noticed that before!

It's probably been too long since you've newly discovered a story that speaks to your soul or a verse that pops with truth. But that's about to change!


[image error] Refresh Your Faith contains 66 culturally relevant, story-driven devotions, one from each book of the Bible. Each real-life story spotlights an unusual verse or Bible passage that you may have overlooked in your usual Bible reading. Lori Hatcher challenges you with additional features like an uncommon thought to ponder; an unusual faith action step; and an unfamiliar passage suggestion for additional Bible reading.

When the fabulous has become familiar and your quiet times are more like nap times, it's time to step out of spiritual boredom and ignite the spark that will keep you growing. No matter where you are on your faith journey, Lori's conversational and engaging style will challenge you to think about things you've never thought about before.

“Real-life inspiration and candid wit. These 5-minute devotions will change your life.” —Psychologist and best-selling author Dr. Kevin Leman, commenting on Lori Hatcher's devotional style




Are you hungry for God, but starving for time? 
I’d love to send you a 5-minute e-mail devotion twice a week to start your day off with the Lord. 

Sign up for a free subscription to Hungry for God by CLICKING HERE.
Then, be sure to VALIDATE the confirmation email you receive. 

Note: I promise never to spam you or share your email address.

Because busy women need to connect with God in the craziness of everyday life.






If this post was meaningful to you, would you consider sharing it with a friend by clicking on one of the buttons below? Did you know you can receive bi-weekly Hungry for God posts sent directly to your email inbox? Visit http://www.lori-benotweary.blogspot.com and click on the link in the right hand corner to Subscribe Via Email.

Copyright 2018 by Lori Hatcher

Refusing to Ride the Worry Train

“Sue, I’d like to talk with you about a problem. I’ll see you in my office first thing Monday morning.” 

Ever gotten an email like this? On Friday afternoon at five, when the whole weekend stretches before you, and there’s nothing you can do except fret? 

Or how about a voice mail like this one: “Hello Mrs. Gooding, this is Dr. Simpson. I just got the results of Buster’s pathology report. Unfortunately, it’s not good. The office is closed for the weekend, but call me first thing Monday, and we’ll discuss your options.” Two days to wait with nothing to do but worry and cry. 


When was the last time you were afraid? Afraid you’d lose your job, your health, your home, your loved one? Afraid of punishment or persecution, poverty, or pain? When have you faced an agonizing wait—for a diagnosis, a deliverance, a breakthrough, or a rescue? 

Sometimes God allows uncertainty into our lives to test us. He tested Abraham, and he tested Job. He tested the Israelites in the wilderness: 

“Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands” (Deu. 8:2). 

But unlike the statement above, “. . . there’s nothing you can do except fret,” there is something else we can do. Every fearful situation leaves us with two choices—we can respond in fear, or we can respond in faith. 

When we respond in fear, we torment ourselves with every possible scenario—all horrible. We can’t sleep, we can’t eat (or we overeat), and we can’t concentrate on anything but IT. Scary thoughts consume every waking moment. What if . . . ? What if . . . ? What if . . . ? 

If we’re Christians, our all-consuming worry makes a mockery of everything we say we believe. Our mouths say, “I believe God’s promises,” but our actions say, I believe God’s promises only when everything’s going well. 

When we respond in faith, we command fear instead of allowing fear to command us. 

When fear wraps our necks in a suffocating choke hold, we whisper the promises of God. 

When fear screams lies into our souls, we shout back truth in the name of Jesus. 

When fear pounds us with what-ifs and whys, we fight back with “Fear not, for I . . .” 

When we respond in faith, we choose to believe what God says instead of what our circumstances tell us. We reign in our thoughts and make them captive to the obedience of Christ. We refuse to ride the worry train to its miserable destination. 

If you’re experiencing a frightening situation right now, God may be testing you to see what is in your heart and to see if you will obey his commands. Contrary to what you may think, you have two choices—faith or fear. Which is it going to be? 

"Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine. 

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you. For I am the LORD your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior,” (Isa. 43:1-3). 

What about you? Which choice usually wins when you encounter something scary? Leave a comment below and share your thoughts. If you’re reading via email, click HERE to visit Hungry for God online, scroll down, and share your thoughts.


Update on Refresh Your Faith!
In less than a month, Refresh Your Faith, Uncommon Devotions from Every Book of the Bible will officially launch. Early reports tell me that ChristianBook.com is offering a 27% discount and will begin shipping tomorrow. Amazon has it available for pre-order. 
Will you join me in asking God to direct this book to everyone who is looking for a way to energize their quiet time and gain new insights into God's Word? I especially hope to reach those who find themselves approaching their quiet time out of duty rather than delight. 

Thank you so much!



HOT OFF THE PRESS: FREE Bible Study Guide and Small Group Discussion Questions! Did you know there is a FREE Bible study guide and discussion questions to accompany the Hungry for God...Starving for Time devotional? Click HERE to download your copy. Now you'll have everything you need to use Hungry for God as the basis for your next small group Bible study. 




Are you hungry for God, but starving for time? 
I’d love to send you a 5-minute e-mail devotion twice a week to start your day off with the Lord. 

Sign up for a free subscription to Hungry for God by CLICKING HERE.
Then, be sure to VALIDATE the confirmation email you receive. 

Note: I promise never to spam you or share your email address.


Because busy women need to connect with God in the craziness of everyday life.















If this post was meaningful to you, would you consider sharing it with a friend by clicking on one of the buttons below? Did you know you can receive bi-weekly Hungry for God posts sent directly to your email inbox? Visit http://www.lori-benotweary.blogspot.com and click on the link in the right hand corner to Subscribe Via Email.

Copyright 2018 by Lori Hatcher