Lori Hatcher's Blog: Refresh Blog, page 29

Birthing a Book Baby (And Mrs. Betty's Embarrassing Question)

I'm glad I didn’t know my first embarrassing pregnancy moment would be one of many. Followed by many embarrassing parenting moments. Followed by many embarrassing grandparenting moments.

Except by the time you become a grandparent, you think everything kids do is cute, and you cease to be embarrassed.

Until then, there’s about a forty-year window where you can and will be embarrassed. 

My moment came in early December 1988. I was about four months pregnant with my first child. On the other side of morning sickness, by belly was just beginning to grow.

For the first time, I slipped into my jeans and couldn’t button the button. No worries, I thought. I’m wearing a long sweater. I’ll just leave it unbuttoned. No one will ever know.

And no one would have known, except we ran into my mother-in-law’s best friend, Betty, in the center aisle of Kmart.

“Oh, Honey,” she exclaimed in a voice that carried all the way to the automotive department. “I heard you’re expecting. Are you showing yet?”

And with that question, she lifted my sweater, exposing my unbuttoned blue jeans for every Christmas shopper in the store to see.

“Well I guess you are!” she exclaimed delightedly. “You’ll be big as a house by Valentine’s Day.”

She planted a kiss on my burning cheek and disappeared down the sporting goods aisle. Mortified, I prayed for a blue light special to distract everyone’s attention from me and my exposed belly.

Like Mrs. Betty, many of you have been watching for signs of progress as I incubate my latest book baby, Refresh Your Faith, Uncommon Devotions from Every Book of the Bible . Before you embarrass me, I’d like to reward your patience (and your tact) and give you an update.

The publishing process is slow, more like an elephant’s gestation than a human’s. As of this week, we’re 13 months into a 16 month process, but we’re getting closer. My publisher, Our Daily Bread Publishing, and I have completed final manuscript edits, galley proofs, proofreading, and the final final edit.

The publicity wheels have begun to turn, and soon I’ll be asking you to join my launch team to help get the word out. Advanced reader copies (Advance Reader Copies) will go out to influencers, librarians, and reviewers. Best of all, the listing is up on Amazon. Would you like a peek? Click HERE to visit Refresh Your Faith, Uncommon Devotions from Every Book of the Bible ’s Amazon page.

Because you are so faithful to read my simple words, leave comments, and share your thoughts by email, I’d like to ask you to pray for me in the next few months. 

*That I will do everything I can to help this book succeed.

*That God will connect Refresh Your Faith with people who are bored with their devotional time and want to fall in love with God and His Word all over again.

*That I will seek God every day, take my marching orders from Him, and please Him in all I do.

I want to be a good steward of the opportunities God (and Our Daily Bread Publishing) have entrusted to me through this book.

Thanks for listening, reading, and praying. Y’all are the best readers a writer could ask for!



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

Look for Opportunities, not Excuses

Nell Easterling is 94 years old. She and her husband, Lairy, were founding members of our church. For more than 50 years,  they served faithfully, given generously, and modeled the faith life to our congregation. 

Nell’s also a really good cook. 

As I sat across from her at a pot luck dinner, I asked for the recipe for the dish she’d brought. As with most good cooks, she could recite it from memory. 

But halfway through, somewhere between the cottage cheese and the Mandarin oranges, she stopped.Catching her husband’s eye, she tapped the tablecloth in front of her. 

“Honey, let’s take these home and wash them,” she said. He nodded. “We can’t do much anymore, but we can do that.” 

I wrote down the rest of the recipe, but came away from the conversation with much more than instructions for a new dish. Without realizing it, Mrs. Nell had shared a life lesson with me. 

I told my husband about it on the way home. “If I was 94 years old, could barely walk, and had been serving in the church for three-quarters of a century, I think I’d probably say, ‘I’m old. I’ve done my time. Let someone else do it.’"

"Instead she looks around and says, ‘I wonder what I can do to help?’” 

Mrs. Nell is living out 1 Samuel 12:24: "But be sure to fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart."  

Her example challenges me to serve God with the abilities and resources he’s given me. To jump in wherever I see a need instead of waiting to be asked. To look for opportunities, instead of excuses. 

Will you join me in pledging to serve God whenever he gives us the chance and the ability? If every church member served this way, imagine what God could do. 

Now it's your turn. Has there been someone in your life who has modeled biblical servanthood? I'd love to hear about them. Leave a comment in the box below and share your story.




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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

How Does the Holy Spirit Speak?

Have you ever heard God speak?If you’re a Christian, you have the ability to hear God speak every day, because the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, lives inside you. Ephesians 1:13-14 describes this.

“When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal,the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession…”Ephesians 1:13-14 NIV

The Holy Spirit speaks to us in different ways, but here I’d like to focus on two, found in John 16:8.It's an honor to guest post on the Salvation Army's website, The War Cry. To hop on over and read the rest of this post on The War Cry, CLICK HERE.


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

Danger: Falling Iguanas

The National Weather Service in Miami issued an unofficial warning for falling iguanas last week due to the unusual cold snap that hit the Sunshine State. 

"This isn't something we usually forecast,” the weather service tweeted, “but don't be surprised if you see Iguanas falling from the trees tonight as lows drop into the 30s and 40s.” 

When the cold-blooded reptiles’ body temperature drops to fifty degrees, they become lethargic. Below forty, they begin to stiffen up, causing them to lose their grips on the trees where they live, dropping onto the heads of unsuspecting passersby. 

“Don’t assume they’re dead,” meteorologists warned, “and don’t try to warm them up. They can bite.” 

I’ve never seen a falling Iguana, but I have seen the effects of cold on people—physically and spiritually. 

I was 14 years old when the Blizzard of ’78 roared through my home state of Rhode Island. Dropping as much as forty inches of snow on southern New England, the storm packed 70 mph winds and brought four days of storm surge. 

One hundred people died, including 10-year-old Peter Gosselin, who jumped out of a second story window into a 10-foot snow bank, hit his head, and died. His body was recovered three weeks later. 

Three thousand five hundred motorists were trapped in their cars trying to get home in Rhode Island and Massachusetts the day the blizzard struck. Forecasters had predicted the storm, but because previous forecasts had been inaccurate, no one took the warning seriously. 

When the snow began to fall, it was just another day at work—until the snow began to fly—up to four inches an hour at the height of the storm. By then it was too late. 

Seventeen people died of carbon monoxide poisoning when the snow blocked the tailpipes of their vehicles idling on the freeways. People had to be rescued by snow mobiles, sleds, and even cross country skiers. 

Spiritual coldness can be just as deadly as physical coldness.

Like the iguanas in Florida and the snow in Rhode Island, it has the power to sneak up on us gradually, with disastrous results. 

Busyness can squeeze out our times of Bible reading and prayer. A change in work schedule can make church attendance more difficult. Even happy events like a new relationship, a new home, or a new baby can distract us from the habits and routines that govern our spiritual lives. 

Our spiritual temperature drops, and we grow stiff and lethargic. We lose the desire to spend time in God’s Word and with God’s people. We’re less likely to give and serve. We begin to justify our lack of spiritual energy. I don’t have to go to church to be spiritual. I can worship right here.

Before long, we’re in danger of losing our grip and falling. We’re not dead, but if something doesn’t change, our spiritual lives could be. 

Are you in danger of becoming a falling Iguana? 

Has your spiritual body temperature dropped to a dangerous level? Are you hanging on with ever-stiffening fingers? Are you a toenail away from losing your grip and taking someone else down with you? 

Then it’s time to make a change. 

Perhaps it’s time to seek sanctuary in the warmth of the church. To come in out of the cold of independence and experience the interdependent living of a spiritual family. 

Or maybe you need to thaw your hands at the fire of God’s Word. Or get your spiritual blood pumping again in prayer and praise. Or fan into flame the gifts God has given you by serving someone who can’t serve you back. 

Regardless of what you do, take that first step. And then the next. And the next. 

Before long your spiritual heart will be pumping, your grip will grow strong again, and your legs will be running to rescue others. 

If your faith has grown cold, it’s time to get moving. What are you waiting for? 


"Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord" (Romans 12:11 ESV).





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

The Cure for Complaining

Oh, how we love to complain.


It's our default setting whenever something doesn't go our way. And we're not alone.

I’ve been reading through the book of Exodus in my quest to read the Bible in a year. Almost without fail, every time the children of Israel had a need, they complained about it. They fretted. They whined. They lamented that God had abandoned them, and grumbled about how much better things were back in Egypt. 

Most of us probably aren’t wishing we were back in Egypt, but we often wish for “the good old days.” We complain, fret, and whine. 

Frightening circumstances and overwhelming odds? The Israelites complained against Moses. 

Bitter water to drink? The Israelites complained against Moses.

No food to eat? The Israelites complained against Moses. 

Absent in each of these wilderness crises, however, is what should have been their default response—prayer. It never occurred to the Israelites, with the exception of Moses, to take their needs to God. 

Oh, how I often walk in their fretful sandals. 

I can learn a valuable lesson from my shortsighted compatriots and from their leader, Moses. He saw their complaining, fretting, and whining for what it was—not a statement against their circumstances, but a complaint against God. 

“The Lord hears your complaints which you make against Him,” he said. “And what are we? Your complaints are not against us but against the Lord” (Ex. 16:8). 

Yikes. 

Every complaint I make isn’t really against my circumstances, but against the Lord. My grumbling goes straight from my mouth to God’s ears. 


In contrast, Moses had a different type of conversation with God. “So he cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him . . .” (Ex. 15:24). Every time Moses saw a need, he asked God to meet it. And God did. Gladly and generously. 

James 4:2 bluntly states the obvious: “You do not have, because you do not ask God.” 

Moses got it. So should we. 

What situation is making us whine and complain? What if we take it to the Lord and see what he will do?

Father, I confess the sins of grumbling and complaining. Please forgive me. Help me, instead, to bring everything to you in prayer, and then trust you to answer according to your wisdom and grace. Help me complain less and pray more. In Jesus’ name I ask, Amen.






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 You Feel Small

I was traveling along the shores of beautiful Lake Murray in Gilbert, South Carolina when my friend Kim, who was driving the pontoon boat, slowed down to point out her "favorite house on the whole lake."  I snapped out of my eyes-closed-nose-to-the-wind puppy dog posture at the front of the boat to take notice of the house to which she was pointing.
I expected a mansion, or at the very least a gorgeous house. The shores of Lake Murray showcase some of the most beautiful architecture and landscaping in our area. Already we had sailed past  huge three-story columned homes graced with palmetto trees, plantation-style houses with beautifully manicured lawns and flowering Crepe Myrtles, and ultra-modern homes with large windows gazing out over the water.


The home my friend pointed out, however, was quite different than what I expected. She directed my attention to a home that I at first assumed was a boat house.  It was wedged in between two palatial homes, situated on a tiny triangle of green between its ostentatious neighbors.  The house was a perfect square, perhaps even smaller than my house at home. 
Upon closer examination, it was lovely. A shiny copper roof sat atop a simple brick exterior.  Flowers and a stone path wound down to the water, and a fancy front door smiled from its face like a grinning Cheshire cat.  From a wrought iron signpost swung a sign that said, in very big letters,

SMALL 
While I assumed that Small was the name of the little house's owners, I couldn't help smiling at its audacity. To me, that little house was making a statement to all its neighbors. It was saying, "I am what I am, and I'm OK with that.  I am not trying to be something that I am not.  I am not wishing I was different.  I am celebrating what I am with no regrets."
We can learn a lesson from this small house.  Sometimes we look at the people around us and compare ourselves.  We see someone with gifts or talents we don't have, and we feel inadequate.  We come up woefully short when we compare our appearance, our income, or even our children with others'. We become dissatisfied, insecure, and downright grumpy. Worse, we dismiss ourselves from ministry or service because we assume God would rather use someone "better qualified" or "more gifted."

Moses was a man who compared himself to his brother Aaron and came up lacking.  When God called him to lead the Israelites out of Egypt and into the Promised Land, Moses argued with God, reminding Him that he stuttered, "Please, Lord, I have never been eloquent -- either in the past or recently. . . I am slow and hesitant in speech."  (Ex. 4:10) Surely, he reasoned aloud, You would rather use my more eloquent brother. . . ?

I love God's response to Moses, because it is God's response to you and me as well:

"Who made the human mouth?  Who makes him mute or deaf, seeing or blind? (rich or poor, beautiful or average, confident or shy?)  Is it not I, the LORD?  Now go!  I will help you. . ." (Ex. 4:11-12).  We know that after a hesitant start and a little help from his brother, Moses went on to be one of the mighty deliverers in Israel's history not because he was eloquent, or gifted, or handsome, but because he was willing.


Are you tempted to look around and compare yourself with others?  Do you fail to serve the Lord because you feel there must be someone better qualified than you?  I challenge you to surrender to God like Moses did, allow Him to empower you and equip you, and watch and see what God does in and through your obedience.

 Like Moses and the SMALL house, let's be BIG for God!







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

The Most Delicious Invitation

Jesus extends the most delicious invitation in Matthew 11:28-30: 

"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

"Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

"For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

Rest. 

How can one tiny word inspire visions of green pastures dappled in sunshine, a Pawley’s Island hammock swinging in an ocean breeze, and a sleep so deep that an elephant stampede can’t disturb it?

And how can yearning for this kind of rest make us feel more tired than ever? Bone weary, even, when we think about what we could have, but don’t. Like we’ve glimpsed the magic unicorn we know doesn’t exist, but wish it did.

But true rest isn’t an imaginary unicorn, it’s a real thing. 

How do I know? Because Jesus invites us to come, to bring our tired bodies, minds, and souls to him so He can transform them.

If you’re wondering how to position ourselves to receive His rest, these three verses show us how.

Come unto me.

Recharging begins with God, sharing our hopes, fears, and needs for the day. By dedicating our day to God, we invite him to work in and through us to accomplish His purposes. When we do, we can rest in confidence, knowing God’s will will be done. After we talk to God, then we allow Him to talk to us. The best way to hear God’s voice is through His Word. When we read our Bibles, sometimes a passage will speak into our need. We might find a promise to claim, a sin to confess, or an attribute of God to cling to. Coming to God every morning gives us the tools and perspective we need for the day.

I will give you rest. 

God has given us commands and principles in His Word to show us how to build healthy margins into our lives. These enable us to rest and recharge.

Work six days and take the seventh off (Exodus 34:21).

Don’t strive to be rich. Give some of your money away (1 Timothy 6:16-19).

Assemble regularly with other believers (Hebrews 10:25).

Get an adequate amount of sleep (Psalm 3:5).

Serve others (1 Peter 4:10). Value people over projects.

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me. 

A yoke is a device that allows two animals to work together. When we take Jesus’ yoke upon ourselves, we accept our unique and personal calling. No team of animals ever wears another team’s yoke. Similarly, God provides tools, gifts, and enabling to allow us to successfully accomplish the specific tasks He has called us—and only us—to do.

When we work within our gifts and callings, we partner with God to accomplish his purposes. When we fight against them or disparage our gifts, we, in essence, try to wear someone else’s yoke.

My yoke is easy and my burden is light.

The best part of Jesus’ yoke is that He partners with us to bear the load. When we submit to him by symbolically placing our head in His yoke, He yokes up with us. Working with him rather than against or without him, we can accomplish everything He wants us to do.

If you’re in need of rest today, come unto Him. . .






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 Hungry for God Study Guide

Don’t you love it when God does something unexpected?
A few weeks ago I received an email from a reader asked, "Can I use  Hungry for God …Starving for Time  for an upcoming women's Bible Study?"
Although Hungry for God is chock full of Scripture and content, it’s more of a devotional than a Bible study. The topics are timely and relevant to today’s busy women, but I knew they’d need more content and discussion questions to use it for a full-length study.
So I went to work. I crafted 8-10 discussion questions for each devotion and added appropriate Scripture, quotes, and thought-provoking application. The final 20-page study guide contains everything you need to use Hungry for God as a personal or group Bible study.
I sent it on to Peggy in Delaware, and now I’m making it available to you, the best blog readers in the world.


If you already own a copy of Hungry for God … Starving for Time, I'd love for you to download a copy of the study guide by clicking on the link to the Hungry for God Bible Study Guide HERE. Please let me know what you think of it.
If you don’t own a copy, why not consider grabbing one right now? It’s on sale on Amazon for a limited time (LINK HERE), and the study guide is FREE!


Listen to what one reader said about Hungry for Godrecently:
"Great book!! I use it during my office team huddle at the beginning of each business day. It's perfect to set the tone and remind us of what scripture tells us!" ~Terri







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 God Does Something Unexpected -- A Free Gift for You

Don’t you love it when God does something unexpected?
A few weeks ago I received an email from a reader asking questions about the Hungry for God …Starving for Time 30-Day devotional.
“I’d like to use it for a small group women’s Bible study at my church,” she wrote. “Will it work?”
Although Hungry for God is chock full of Scripture and content, it’s more of a devotional than a Bible study. The topics are timely and relevant to today’s busy women, but I knew they’d need more content and discussion questions to use it for a full-length study.
So I went to work. I crafted 8-10 discussion questions for each devotion and added appropriate Scripture, quotes, and thought-provoking application. The final 20-page study guide contains everything you need to use Hungry for God as a personal or group Bible study.
I sent it on to Peggy in Delaware, and now I’m making it available to you, the best blog readers in the world.


If you already own a copy of Hungry for God … Starving for Time, please download a copy of the study guide by clicking on the link  to the Hungry for God Bible Study Guide HERE. I'd love to hear what you think of it.
If don’t own a copy, why not consider grabbing one right now? It’s on sale on Amazon for a limited time (LINK HERE), and the study guide is FREE!


Listen to what one reader said about Hungry for Godrecently:
"Great book!! I use it during my office team huddle at the beginning of each business day. It's perfect to set the tone and remind us of what scripture tells us!" ~Terri







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

Walking in Mary Magdalene's Shoes

Have you ever known someone who knew everything about 
you . . . but loved you anyway? 


That was Jesus. 

I’d heard him preach. Lots of times, from a distance. He talked about the kingdom of heaven, and oh, he made it sound so wonderful – like he’d been there, just the other day . . . “In my father’s house are many mansions. . .” 

But I knew I’d never see it. Too many sins. And too many demons, always at war within me. I followed him, but on the outskirts. He drew me in, in spite of myself. 

I watched him laugh with the children. I could tell he loved them. You can’t fake that. He’d gather them up in his arms and hold them close, then he’d whisper something in their ear. And they’d smile. Every time. 

I watched how he walked among the people – sick people, blind people, lepers even, and healed them. Why would he, a rabbi, touch them? They were unclean. Outcasts. The slum dogs of society. 

And then he cast the demon out of that little boy. That's when I began to hope. Maybe, just maybe, he could help me. 

So I waited. Until he went to Simon’s house. 

 And I brought my most precious treasure – ointment for his head. But when I cracked it open, my heart cracked open too. Standing there, him so pure and holy, and me so unclean. How could I dare to stand in his presence? 

My knees gave way, and I crumpled to the ground, oil sloshing onto his feet. He was looking at me – everyone was looking at me – but I couldn’t raise my eyes. My sin stood hopelessly between us. 

But then I remembered the blind man, and the lame man, and the leper. And my heart cracked open more. I began to weep, my tears mingling with the dust on his feet. 

That dirt – I knew it was a picture of my sin. This God/Man had walked the world and allowed the sin of us all to cling to him, yet it never became part of him. It washed right off. 

The more I sobbed, the more my repentant tears flowed. I knew I was making a scene, but I couldn’t help it. The fragrance of the oil permeated the room as I rubbed it onto his feet. My tears made silver trails on his dark skin. “ 

“Leave her alone. . . . she’s anointing me for my burial.” 

I heard his words, but they sounded far away and otherworldly. 

These feet . . . feet that had walked a hundred miles to search for the lost sheep of Israel. I loved those feet – the the part of him that was most like me – dirty. And calloused. And . . . human. I kissed them over and over again as gratitude filled my heart to bursting. 

 “Simon.” His voice again – tender and tired. “Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?” 

Then Simon’s voice, squirmy and self-righteous. “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.” 

My tears, and the oil, and the dirt had puddled around those sacred feet. I reached for a towel, only to find I had none. Desperate to clean the mess I’d made, I fumbled with the tie that held my hair back. Grabbing a handful of my hair, I wiped frantically at the fragrant mess, trying to remove the evidence of my bold indiscretion. 

“I came into your house,” I heard him say to Simon. “You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet.” 

I felt his fingers, rough from work, touch my face. Tenderly he raised my chin. I wanted to run, but a force stronger than fear held me in place. I waited for the condemnation I knew would come. 

 “I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.” 

I heard his words, but they made no sense. 

“Your sins are forgiven,” he repeated to my disbelieving ears. 

“Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.” 

Sometimes it’s good to walk in the footsteps of Jesus. 

As we follow him to the cross, it’s appropriate to ask: Have you ever seen your sin for what it is? Not a mistake or an indiscretion, but the thing that stands between you and a holy God? 

Have you, like Mary Magdalene, come to Christ in humility and repentance, wanting only to be cleansed? 

Have you believed, by faith, that Jesus has the power to forgive your sin and transform your life? 

Have you accepted his gift of forgiveness? 

If you have, then the words Christ spoke to Mary belong to you as well: 

“Your sins are forgiven. Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”


If you’d like to share what God has done in your life, I’d love to hear about it. Leave a comment below and join the conversation. If you’re reading by email, CLICK HERE to visit Hungry for God online and leave a comment.
(You can find this story in Luke 7:36-48.)








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