Lori Hatcher's Blog: Refresh Blog, page 27

Count Them One by One -- A Guest Post by J.D. Wininger

Today I'm pleased to introduce you to J.D. Wininger, one of my favorite bloggers. J.D. has a heart as big as Texas, so it's a good thing he lives there. He loves his ranch, his critters, but most of all, his Savior. Pull up a chair, pour yourself a cup of coffee (or tea), and let J.D. remind us of something we all tend to forget. And when you're done, leave a kind comment for J.D.

Count Them One by One

Standing at the window, I take a sip from my third cup of coffee. 


Finally. It’s light enough. 

As dawn breaks each morning, before I don my boots, hat, and jacket, I count cow butts. First one pasture, then the next. It’s not a glamorous job, especially when you consider that cattle don’t use toilet paper (good thing these days), but it’s a necessary one. I tell myself it’s inventory control. 

If the count is off in a particular pasture, I need to investigate, especially if an animal is missing in the pasture where I place the expectant mama cows. When birthing is imminent, a mama cow will get away by herself and hide. It’s an instinctual thing, just like hiding their newborn calves for the first week of their lives. 

This morning I count the mamas and babies first, then move to another window to get “eyes on” Mavric the bull and my donkeys. I glance at the neighboring pasture too, just to make sure things look right. 

About the time I get to 40, I realize I’m humming one of my favorite old hymns. Count your blessings, name them one by one. Count your many blessings see what God has done. 

I suspect most of y’all know what happened next. Yep, the waterworks turned on. 

Standing there, I realized I wasn’t taking inventory, I was counting my blessings. 

Each animal here at the Cross-Dubya is a blessing. Like my family members, God has entrusted each one’s care to me. I don’t take this responsibility lightly. 

Perhaps that’s why I’m up each day before dawn, preparing to take care of all the blessings God has given me. Maybe it’s why I pray as I stand watch over them each morning. 

Philippians 4:8 reminds me, “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things” (Philippians 4:8, NKJV). 

In these quiet moments, when it’s just me, the cows, and God, it’s easy to count my blessings. 

As the day progresses, emails, phone calls, and problems elbow their way in. I find it more difficult to recognize all the good things God has given me. Satan takes great delight in disrupting our thoughts and taking our minds off of the good and godly things we should make central in our lives. 

With all this pandemic hoo-ha and political posturing going on, he must be having a field day with many of us. 

 All too often, I find that our human lives take precedence over our spiritual lives. Living only in the day and dealing with current challenges can and will take our focus off our future. 

The result? We set aside our joy and hope in Christ. We focus on our problems instead of counting our blessings. We forget we are sojourners, passing through this temporary life on the way to a better reality. 

One way I combat this tendency is to spend a few minutes before I close my eyes at night thanking God for each blessing I’ve received throughout my day. Most are living beings, not material things. 

My wife, friends, and others I’ve interacted with during my day. The land and animals God allows me to care for, and, yes, tangible things like not getting the tractor stuck in the mud hole or not getting knocked to the ground by the bull when I wasn’t paying attention. 

When I do this, I can fall asleep knowing I’ve taken a few minutes to say thank You to the One who is most deserving, the One from whom all blessings flow (James 1:17). 

What changes to your routine can you make to help you count your blessings more than your trials? During this challenging time, I hope each of us will take a few minutes each day to stand in God’s presence. Let’s spend some time sharing with Him our thanks for all He is, all He gives, and all He does. 

J.D. Wininger is an award-winning writer and speaker who teaches compelling lessons in faith and writes heartfelt devotionals and books to glorify God. He has written for national magazines, CBN.com, Lighthouse Bible Studies, and contributed to several books. When not working his Texas ranch, He and his wife Diane share God’s love in surrounding communities. To read more from J.D., visit his website: https://jdwininger.com/





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.







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

Rest or Rustle? Two Choices When We Feel Threatened

Thankfully, the mother bird saw the rat snake before the rat snake saw her.
She was perched on the edge of the nest she had woven in my hanging basket, a wriggling worm dangling from her beak. Ready to drop it into the open mouth of one of her fledglings, she froze, then quickly hopped into the nest. Her squawking babies quieted as she covered them with her outstretched wings. Hunkering down atop her tiny charges, she blended into the foliage until the slithering serpent passed by.
Those babies may have been newly hatched, but they knew something I sometimes forget—that danger is an invitation to trust. As my friend Nan Jones says, “It’s better to rest than to rustle.” The Psalmist puts it this way:
“I will trust in the shelter of your wings,” (Psalm 61:4).
When danger threatens me or my family, my default setting is to start squawking. I cry. I fret. I call my friends. I wring my hands and wail as if the Philistines were storming the gates. I work myself into an emotional tizzy that would rival a two-year-old’s bedtime meltdown. In the end, I’m left spent and exhausted.
On other days, when my heart is full of God’s Word and I’ve spent time in prayer, I react much differently. Like the baby birds in my geranium, I seek the shadow of my heavenly Father’s protective wings and rest quietly, trusting that he will care for me.


What about you? How do you react when something scary threatens you? When are you more likely to respond with faith instead of fear? Leave a comment below and join the conversation. If you're reading by email, click HERE to leave a comment at the bottom of the post.





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

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





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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!

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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