Lori Hatcher's Blog: Refresh Blog, page 34

When You Don't Have Time to Pray

“I don’t have time to pray today.” 

Yep, I said this. Out loud. 

Once a month I meet with other women to pray for our adult children. We’ve been gathering for seven years. Today was the day. 

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

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

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

I had blog posts to write. 

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

My mom needed a ride to a procedure. 

I had to finish preparing for a big speaking presentation. 

I had to work several days outside the home. 

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

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

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

You don’t have time NOT to pray today. 

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

You have a blog post to write. 

You have three grandchildren who need your care. 

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

Your mom is having a medical procedure done. 

You have to prepare for a big speaking presentation. 

You have to work outside the home. 

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

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

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

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

“I Like that saying of Martin Luther, when he says, ‘I have so much business to do to-day, that I shall not be able to get through it with less than three hours' prayer.’ Now, most people would say, "I have so much business to do to-day, that I have only three minutes for prayer; I cannot afford the time. 

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

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

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

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

Today, I didn’t get everything done on my To Do list, but that’s okay. I did the most important thing. 

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

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

Isn’t this our desire too? 

Perhaps we should begin by realizing, 

We don’t have time NOT to pray today.

Now it's your turn. What is your greatest challenge to spending consistent time in prayer? Leave a comment below and share your thoughts. If you're reading by email, CLICK HERE to visit Hungry for God online and leave a comment.

* http://beggarsallreformation.blogspot.com/2009/07/luther-i-have-so-much-to-do-that-i.html



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

Sad or Satiated? Hope When This World Gets You Down

Think about the last time you were hungry. Not just hungry around the edges. Not, Is that my stomach gurgling? Maybe I should eat something hungry, but really hungry.

Really, really hungry. Like, my hands are shaky, my head hurts, I think I might faint, and my stomach feels like I’ve swallowed a piranha and it’s gnawing its way out hungry.

In God’s mercy, hunger like this has never been a regular part of my life. But there have been times when I’ve been so distracted by the ache of my empty stomach that I could think of nothing else. Genuine hunger is all consuming.

 As Christians, we experience a different type of hunger. This hunger manifests itself in different ways.

It’s the ache in our souls when we see those we love running from Jesus straight into the arms of Satan.

It’s the knife blade to our hearts when we see our beloved country signing legislation dooming tiny babies to death in their mother’s wombs.

It’s the howling hole in our being that weeps over those following the siren song of materialism, success, and power instead of sacrifice, service, and humility.

It’s the red-hot pulse of anger as we watch loved ones battle cancer and children die of disease.

It’s the feeble whimper that longs for mercy, grace, and kindness in a world of anger, vengeance, and cruelty.

C.S. Lewis, in Mere Christianity explained it this way:

“If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world.”

Jeremiah 31:25 describes a dream the prophet had of days to come. God said, “For I have satiated the weary soul, and I have replenished every sorrowful soul."

Satiated the weary soul.

The word satiate (SAY-she-ate) means to fill to the top, to satisfy with abundance. Referring to liquid, it means to drink to the full. 


When we’re satiated, we have no room for anything else. Not an ounce, a drop, or a smidgen. Think Thanksgiving-dinner-until-you-almost-burst kind of full. 

This is how God promises to satisfy our weary souls—filled to the top with His goodness and joy and no room for anything else. No sorrow. No tears. No longing. No fears. No hurt. No anger. No regrets. 

We’ll no longer grieve for prodigal children or weep over aborted babies. Anger will no longer consume us because of disease and death. We will cease to mourn our country’s moral failures and its departure from all that is good. 

God will satiate our weary souls and make everything right again. Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus. 

If your soul is weary, and your heart hurting, take comfort in this today.



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

How to Pray Over Your Kids without Losing Sleep

Today I'm delighted to welcome my friend Sue Schlesman to Hungry for God. Sue and I roomed together one year at the Asheville Christian Writers conference. As is always the case when I share living quarters with someone I've never met before, I felt a little anxious. 

But I shouldn't have feared. The friend who connected us knew us well. Sue and I quickly discovered many points of commonality -- we're both pastor's wives and mothers of young adults. We passionately love God and the Word. We've shared a parallel journey exploring the mysteries and magnificence of prayer. I know you'll enjoy Sue's tips on how to pray for your children. If her words bless you, leave her a sweet comment to encourage her.

How to Pray Over Your Children without Losing Sleep

Ha! Tricked you. 

When you're freaking about kids' heartaches, you will lose sleep. When you're worried about their choices or their self-esteem, you will lose sleep. If you struggle over what to say, how much to say, when to say nothing (that's the hardest)--you will lose sleep. 

But you can still pray. In fact, sometimes it's the only thing you can do. It's one of the few good reasons to be tired.

I've been waiting for the age when I won't lie awake in the middle of the night thinking through all my kids' relationships, schooling, career struggles, spiritual growth, and developing habits without having anxiety. I think the answer is never. 

Yeah, I know all about Ambien and Lunesta and Sleepy-Time tea. (Although I love Melatonin.) They may work for you. Not so much for me. 

I'm talking about more than knocking myself out for a nice 7 hours every night. I'm talking about seeing my kids' lives from 30,000 feet and wishing they could have the same vantage point. 

And I'll be honest--I'd like to sleep, too. But I've found that my best prayers are often at night. I made it a practice years ago that if I couldn't sleep, I would start praying. I'd get in some good convo with God, and then I'd get sleepy and conk out. 

That's a win/win for me, since I need to do both. 

In fact, I lost so much sleep worrying and praying that I wrote a book about how to pray from a place of worship. It’s called Soul Speak, Praying Change into Unexpected Places, and is available on pre-order right now, for release on August 30. You can order it here. 


If you're having trouble knowing how to pray for your kids, here are a couple of quick suggestions for Scriptural prayers: 

1. Pray something out of the Bible. When praying for your kids, try turning these passages into prayers: Deuteronomy 6:1-9, Joshua 1:5-9, Psalm 1, Psalm 119, Psalm 139, Proverbs 31, Colossians 1:3-14, Matthew 5:3-16, or Romans 12. (Really, all the Psalms are great prayers!) 

2. Write your prayers in a journal. 

3. Write letters or texts to your kids and pray in the letter. 

4. Pray with them, over them, and next to them while they're sleeping. 

5. Let them know you're praying for them, especially whenever they pop into your mind. That's the Holy Spirit telling you to pray for them! 

I have another blog, 7prayersthatwork.com, which has a lot of prayers for parents. 

Happy praying and happy sleeping! 

Mark Batterson, in Praying Circles Around Your Children said: “You'll never be a perfect parent, but you can be a praying parent.” 

And, “One of the greatest responsibilities of parenthood is praying for your kids, but an even greater responsibility is teaching your kids to pray. Don't just pray for them; pray with them.” 

I'd love to hear how and when you pray for your children. 

Sue Schlesman is a Christian author, blogger, teacher, and speaker from Richmond, VA. She writes about life, education, family, and Jesus at www.susanwalleyschlesman.com. Her new book, Soul Speak, Praying Change into Unexpected Places , is on sale for HALF PRICE through August 30 and available for preorder now.
 




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

Looking for God?

For 28 days, my friend Don was on a treasure hunt. 

Wherever he went, he looked for dropped coins. He found them, too. Every day for almost a month. Pennies mostly, but every now and then he spotted a nickel or a quarter. 


“I don't hunt for money,” Don said in one of his Facebook posts, “but I make the most of every opportunity to find it. I scan the parking lot as walk into a store, look on the ground by the cash registers, and run through drive thrus when I go out for runs if they are on my route. Sometimes I make sure that they are.” 

Don’s commitment to walk through his days with his eyes open reminded me of a story my pastor told years ago. On the way to visit a church member who’d just been diagnosed with terminal cancer, he prayed for words to encourage her. By the time he arrived, he knew what the Lord wanted him to say. 

“Every day,” he challenged the woman, “look for evidences of God’s presence. Don’t stop looking until you find them.” 

She did, and God revealed Himself to her in sweet and profound ways. 

I wonder what we’d see if we approached each day looking for God. 

One morning I decided to try it. 

In the cool of the breeze, I witnessed God’s restorative and refreshing presence.

In the pink dawn, I saw how his mercies are new every morning. 

In the frolicking kittens on my neighbor’s lawn, I glimpsed his free-spirited creativity. 

In the abundant rain, I peeked into his bountiful heart. 

In the neighbor’s wave, I spied his Father’s heart longing to reconcile his children.

Everywhere I turned, God was there. 

Today, if you need proof that God is alive, active, and all around you, look around. Like Don, make the most of every opportunity to find Him. Scan the horizon. Look high and look low. Don’t stop until you spot Him. 

Don’s coin hunting streak ended at 10:52 pm on Day 28. He hunted all that day with no success. Thankfully, we’ll never have this problem with God.

The prophet Jeremiah promised: "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart" (Jeremiah 29:13). 


If we look intentionally, we’ll see Him. Aren’t you glad? 


Now it’s your turn. How have you seen God at work around you today? Leave a comment below and share your thoughts. If you’re reading by email, CLICK HERE to visit Hungry for God online and leave a comment. 




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

Now I See Clearly -- A Guest Post by Shelley Pierce

Today it's my pleasure to welcome a new friend to Hungry for God ... Starving for Time. I met Shelley Pierce at the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference. She's a pastor's wife, author, and doting grandma. Please leave her a kind word in the comments today to welcome her.



Now I See Clearly 

As a blessed empty nester, I’m happy to announce—I finally have my own bathroom! I no longer have to wait my turn for a shower, and no one gets into my make-up. 

It was an exciting day when I realized the last Pierce child was married and total control belonged to me. 


I polished the counter top. I bought new towels. I arranged two cute little baskets to the left of the sink that could neatly hold my cosmetics. I lined up my hairbrushes and curling iron to the right. Then I stood back and smiled as I turned on my Scentsy and dropped in a few lavender scented wax cubes. 

Life as an empty nester with my own organized bathroom counter tops was good. 

For a while, life went on as usual. Work. Grandma time. Writing. 

Lather. 

Rinse. 

Repeat. 

Then one day, my husband stepped into my “Necessary Room.” 

“Wow, how can you even see in here?” 

“What’s the problem? I see just fine.” 

“Half of your vanity lights are out,” he said. 

I shrugged and scurried off to work without another thought of my low-lit mirror. 

That evening I began my nightly attempt at beauty control and flipped on the light. 

Oh. My. 

My sweet husband had replaced the burned out bulbs while I was away. Now I could see what I’d been missing: 

Laugh lines and spots. 

Wrinkles and puffs. 

And my sparkly clean counter top? Speckled with toothpaste and make up. 

Oh. My. 

Those sneaky round bulbs had burned out slowly and strategically. One by one. So slowly, in fact, I hadn’t even noticed my world had gotten dimmer. 

I hadn’t noticed a line here and a crease there on my empty nester face. Oh, and my neck. Let’s not even talk about my neck. 

The next morning I faced the well-lit mirror again. It was still quite shocking. 

As I drove to work that day, I thought about the woman in the mirror. So many changes in such a short amount of time. 

Then God whispered in my unsuspecting ear.“You’re just like your bathroom.” 

“Excuse me? What?” 

“Yes. You are. You see, just like you didn’t notice the lights that burned out one by one, you also don’t seem to notice how often you start your day without me.” 

My heart sank at the truth of His words. 

“Without time with me, you cannot see clearly. You think everything is just fine. But it is not.” 

Tears pooled in the corners of my eyes. 

“Without time with me, you misunderstand others. You have thoughts you shouldn’t. You don’t talk about me with your friends. You forget me.” 

Remorse filled my heart. 

“I’m sorry, Lord. I’m so sorry.” 

“I love you and long for time with you. Sit with me awhile.” 

Realizing my pitiful condition reminded me of 1 John 1:5-7 and the importance of walking in His light. Can I honestly say I have fellowship with God if I choose the darkness of busyness over the light of spending time in his truth? 


I opened my Bible to the passage and read the familiar words again. "God is light, and there is absolutely no darkness in Him. If we say we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we are lying and we are not practicing the truth. But if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Hus Son cleanses us from all sin" (HCSB).

Conviction ran through me as I faced the truth of my early morning choices in recent weeks. Choosing to tackle the list of “things to do” instead of making fellowship with my Jesus a priority had taken its toll.

In view of God’s revealing words to me, I’ve been quite tempted to reach up and give a few of those truth-telling bulbs a twist to hush them up. 

But you know what? I think I’ll leave them alone. I’ll face the truth each morning. I’ll not hide from the creases and lines they reveal. 

As they show me what’s on the outside, I’ll also let them remind me of what’s most important—the Truth that tells me to “Come. Sit awhile with me.” 

Thank you, Lord, for showing me the disarray of my heart when I neglect my time with you.


Now, where did I put that Crepe Erase? 



Shelley is a Director of Preschool and Children’s Ministries and a grandma. She’s the author of The Crumberry Chronicles, a middle grade speculative fiction series which includes The Wish I Wished Last Night and Battle Buddies. Shelley’s first nonfiction book, Sweet Moments, Insight and Encouragement for the Pastor’s Wife, released March 2019. Her first children’s picture book, I Know What Grandma Does While I’m Napping, released June, 2019. Shelley’s work in progress is Volume 3 in the Crumberry series.





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

Relief When You're Melting In Life's Heat

If you’ve ever cared for young children, you know how hard it is to keep them occupied indoors. 

And while the moderate climate of my home state of South Carolina provides year-round opportunities to play outside, my grandchildren and I struggle in June, July, and August. Mid-day temperatures often reach 100 degrees, hot enough to melt even the most resilient outdoor lover. 

Such was our quandary one Fun Friday at Gigi’s house. We’d exhausted our indoor options and the children begged to go outside. The new box of sidewalk chalk was singing a siren’s song to their creative souls. 

“Please can we go outside, Gigi?” Lauren said. “It’s not too hot.” 

The thermometer said otherwise, but I agreed. They’ll realize I was right, I thought, and scurry back inside asking for Popsicles. To my surprise, however, they lingered long over their chalk drawings, embellishing my sidewalk with a rainbow of colors and shapes. 

But even children aren’t oblivious to the effects of unrelenting sunshine. Their cheeks turned crimson. Bright beads of sweat appeared on their foreheads and upper lips. Damp strands of hair curled into corkscrews at their hairlines. Grabbing pink, purple, and blue Popsicles from the freezer, I headed outside, only to stop in surprise. 

Where they had been scattered apart, staking their claims on the wide open canvas of the driveway, now they huddled in a tight knot at the foot of the stairs. 

“Look, Gigi,” Lauren said proudly. “We found shade.” 

And sure enough, they had. Clustered in the only shady spot on the sidewalk, they crouched happily, drawing loopy loop daisies and flower bouquets. 

Shade, either from a tree, an awning, or a building can make the temperature feel ten to fifteen degrees cooler, experts tell us. And when you’re trying to enjoy the outside, there’s a huge difference between 85 and 100. But the relief, shelter, and protection shade offers doesn’t just make a person feel better. It can make the difference between life and death, as heat stroke occurs most often when working or playing in direct sunlight. 

How marvelous that God our Father calls himself our shade. "The LORD is your keeper,” the psalmist writes. “The LORD is your shade on your right hand” (Psalm 121:5). 

Instead of shielding us from the effects of heat and sunshine, however, God provides a welcome respite from the incinerating power of life’s challenges. 

“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High,” Psalm 91:1 reminds us, “will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.” 

Today, if you’re melting under the heat of adversity, sweating from the relentless effects of trials, or fainting from the fiery blast of sickness, I invite you to seek relief in the shadow of God’s wings. 

Huddle close in prayer. Gather with others searching for shelter. Praise Him for His presence and His Promises. Exult in His care for you. 

Say with the psalmist, “Because You have been my help, Therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice” (Psalm 63:7). 

If you’re struggling today, I pray you’ll allow God to cast his big, broad shadow over your feeble soul and give you relief.



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.







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

Haircuts and Holiness -- How Patient Endurance Makes Them Possible

I remember the first time I saw my mother-in-law giving my soon-to-be husband a haircut. 

“I didn’t know you were a beautician,” I said, surprised to see her wielding her scissors like a pro. 

“I’m not, but I’ve learned a few things over the years.” She then demonstrated how to give a haircut. “When y’all get married,” she said, “you can cut David’s hair.” 

Whaaaaaat? 

In my family, haircuts were off-limits to amateurs. Only someone with a certificate and a special chair touched our heads. And if they didn’t have a jar of assorted combs soaking in green liquid on their counter top, uh uh, ain’t no way they were lifting a pair of scissors to our locks. 

That’s why I knew David’s mother was joking—until our bridal shower. 

After opening a dozen boxes containing cookware, Corning Wear, and underwear (yeah, someone got confused and thought it was a lingerie shower), I peeled the paper off a small, flat package. The box inside said, Professional Hair Cutting Set.   

“Now you won’t have to borrow my tools,” my almost-mother-in-law said with a smile. 

Oh my, I thought. She honestly thinks I’m going to give David a haircut. 

I carried the gifts home and tucked the hair cutting kit in the bottom of a box. There it lay, forgotten, until about a month after our wedding. 

“Lori,” my new husband said, “my hair’s getting a little shaggy. Would you give me a haircut?” 

“Are you serious?” I practically screeched. “The only hair I’ve ever cut was my Barbie’s, and that didn’t turn out so well. I can’t cut your hair. People go to school for years to learn how. What if I make a mistake? There’s no gluing it back on, you know. Remember that school picture from kindergarten when your sister took a pair of scissors to your bangs? Do you really want to go back there?” 

But there was no convincing him. His mom always cut his hair, and when I signed the marriage certificate, she passed the mantle to me. The thought of going to a stranger for a haircut was foreign and distasteful. 

“Think about how much money we’ll save,” he reasoned. “I trust you. You can do this.” 

And so I did. 

Keep in mind that these were the days before YouTube. My best hope was to check out a book from the library, study the instructions, and give it my best shot. 

Some haircuts came out fairly decent. Others not so much. 

I had the hardest time figuring out how to keep David’s hair from falling straight down like Mo on the Three Stooges. Several times, as I cut along the neckline and around the ears, I cut a little high, leaving him with whitewalls of scalp that hadn’t seen the sunshine in years. Other times I failed to compensate for the cowlick at his crown, giving him a haircut that would have made Alfalfa proud. 

Through it all, my husband was patient, gracious, and encouraging. “You’ll figure it out. You’re doing a great job.” 

Thankfully, most of my mistakes were in the back, where he couldn’t see them. But I could. 

Every time I looked at one of those botched haircuts, I cringed. I had made the mistake, but he was wearing it. 

It occurred to me recently that sometimes, in marriage, we wear each other’s shame in other ways. 



A husband’s poor social skills embarrass his wife at a work event. A wife’s tinder-box temper erupts at the neighborhood pool, causing her husband to squirm as heads turn. A person’s impatience, coarse language, or ignorance reflect on their spouses too, because, for better or for worse, they are a couple.  

After almost 35 years of marriage, I like to think of myself as mature, self-controlled, and patient. But one afternoon, like the choppy haircuts of our early years, my husband had to wear the results of my less-than stellar behavior. 

It had been a long day. A thunderstorm had awakened us at 4:30 in the morning, disturbing our sleep and leaving us without electricity. We’d stuck it out in the house until the heat became unbearable, then we sought refuge at our daughter’s home. 

Grateful we’d made plans to eat out with friends for dinner, we were finishing up our meal when a text from a neighbor lit up my phone. Hooray! The power’s back on. 

After being a vagabond for most of the day, I was ready to go home. But my husband had one more story to tell. I patted him on the leg, our signal for I’m ready to go. He finished the story, then launched into another one. I nudged him with my elbow. He still didn’t get the message, so I nudged him again. Less gently this time. 

My impatient rudeness was obvious by that point, and my husband experienced the shame of it in front of our friends. Because everyone knows pastors and their wives never fight, right? At least not in public. 

My prideful self tried to justify my actions by mentally listing the things my husband has done that have embarrassed me, but the Holy Spirit wouldn’t let me rest. I apologized, remorseful about how I’d treated him and ashamed that others had witnessed my poor behavior. 

Later, the Holy Spirit consoled me with the truth—we’re all works in progress. 

In progress. 

If we’re believers, the Spirit of God lives in us, gradually conforming us to Christ’s image. But the work takes time. Our path to holiness climbs upward, but isn’t immune to detours and backslides. When those around us behave in less than stellar ways, and we respond with grace, we take a giant step along our own path of Christ-likeness. 

First Corinthians 13:7 reminds us love “bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” 

While there are limits to bearing and enduring—no one should remain in a dangerous, abusive relationship, most of us come nowhere near this scenario. The worst we experience are small annoyances that fall short of perfection or cause us embarrassment. 

I’m so grateful for Christ, who’s the epitome of patience and kindness. His example challenges me not only to be patient with myself when I act in less-than-godly ways, but to be grateful for my husband, who faithfully bears with me through my spiritual growing pains. 

Someday, I pray, he’ll wear my behavior (like my haircuts) with pride, knowing that his longsuffering commitment to my growth in holiness helped make it possible. 

Now it's your turn. Who has God used in your life to encourage you in the paths of holiness? Leave a comment below and share your story. If you're reading by email, CLICK HERE to visit Hungry for God online and leave a comment. 




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

Was Job's Wife a Loser?

I’ve always thought Job’s wife was a loser. A loser with a capital L. 

To be honest, I try not to ponder Job and his wife’s story too deeply. I’m afraid if I get too close I might catch the plague that ravished their lives. So I keep my distance, skimming the book that bears Job’s name instead of stepping inside. 

But today as I breezed past the land of Uz in my Bible reading, Job’s wife opened the door and invited me in. 

I considered slapping on a mask and gloves and running the other way, but instead I took a deep breath and accepted her invitation. 

Heartbreak was everywhere. A series of tragedies had robbed Job of almost everything he held dear. His ten children had died in a catastrophic accident. Bands of raiders had ravaged his flocks, stealing thousands of animals. Pus-filled, oozing boils covered his body, disfiguring his skin and making him wish he’d never been born. 

Imagine what it would be like to be married to Job. 

Scripture records the two lines that immortalized Job’s wife: "Do you still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God and die!” (Job 2:9). 

Wow. What a woman. 

Instead of reminding Job of the goodness of God in the face of tragedy, she encourages him to jump off a cliff. “How can you believe in a God who has turned his back on you?” I can imagine her saying. “Spit in his face and return to the ground from whence you came.” 

Some of the women in the Bible inspire me with their bold and courageous faith, but not Mrs. Job. Her faithless, bitter words make me squirm. 

Ready to judge her and move on, I glance her way. And for the first time, I see—really see—the woman behind these gut-wrenching lines. 

Somehow, she looks different up close. It’s interesting how our perspective changes when we look into a person’s eyes instead of down our noses at them. 

Gazing into her grief-ravaged face, I realize three things: 

Job’s ten dead children were her dead children, too. 

The valuable animals that rode off into the sunset behind the bandits? Her defense against hunger and poverty also. 

And that deathly-ill man oozing with infection? Her beloved husband. 

No wonder her words sound bitter and faithless. They erupt from the depths of her grieving soul. Like the suffering Psalmist, she voices the question every believer asks during times of tragedy, but few dare to say aloud, “Did I purify my heart and wash my hands in innocence for nothing?” (Psalm 73:13). God, have I wasted my life serving you? 

Pastor/Teacher John Piper calls words like these “words for the wind.” 

“There are words with roots in deep error and deep evil,” he writes in the online article, “When Words Are Wind.” “But not all grey words get their color from a black heart. Some are colored mainly by the pain, the despair. What you hear is not the deepest thing within. There is something real within where they come from. But it is temporary—like a passing infection—real, painful, but not the true person.” 

Asaph, the Psalmist agrees. He explained the hurt that spawned his faithless words. “When I became embittered and my innermost being was wounded, I was a fool and didn’t understand; I was an unthinking animal toward You” (Psalm 73:22). 

Yet Asaph returned to the faith that held him when he was too weak to hold himself. I believe Job’s wife did, too. “Yet I am always with You;” Asaph declared to the God he had doubted. “You hold my right hand. You guide me with Your counsel, and afterwards You will take me up in glory. Whom do I have in heaven but you? And I desire nothing on earth but You. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart, my portion forever” (Psalm 73:23-26). 

Looking deeply into Job’s wife’s eyes, I lowered the gavel I’d been prepared to strike in judgment and draped the mantle of mercy over her grieving shoulders. 

I believe this is what God did, too. 

Unlike Lot’s idolatrous wife, whose backward glance revealed her true heart condition, Job’s wife suffered no judgment from the Lord, only healing and restoration. When God blessed Job again with health, wealth, and family, I believe Mrs. Job was standing right there beside him, a testimony to God’s goodness and mercy. 

“So the Lord blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the earlier. He owned 14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, 1,000 yoke of oxen, and 1,000 female donkeys. He also had seven sons and three daughters. . . . Job lived 140 years after this and saw his children and their children to the fourth generation. Then Job died, old and full of days” (Job 14:12-13, 17). 

What should we do when we encounter someone staggering under the pain of tragedy? 

Piper suggests we pray for discretion and wisdom. “Let us learn to discern whether the words spoken against us or against God or against the truth are merely for the wind — spoken not from the soul, but from the sore. If they are for the wind, let us wait in silence and not reprove. Restoring the soul, not reproving the sore, is the aim of our love.” 

I left Job’s house that day with a new opinion of his wife. I realize now that she isn’t a loser. Only a woman who bowed low under the weight of sorrow and grief, struggling to make sense of it all and desperate for hope and compassion. 

In my quickness to judge, perhaps I was the loser. 

Now it’s your turn. When have you misjudged someone, only to discover later that there was much you didn’t understand? Leave a comment below and share your story. If you’re reading by email, CLICK HERE to visit Hungry for God online and share your thoughts. 



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

Waiting for a Bus that Never Comes

My watch read 10:58 and the 11Y bus was nowhere in sight. According to the electronic sign that tracked the bus’ progress, it was due to arrive in three minutes. 


Two minutes. 

One minute. 

The flashing display announced: ARRIVED. 

Except it hadn’t. 

Five minutes ticked by. Then ten. 

Should we be worried that the 10:58 bus is twelve minutes late? I texted my son-in-law, an Alexandria local. 

No. Sometimes they get behind. I’ll check the transit schedule. . . Hm. That’s strange. It says it’s already come. 

Not good. Especially since my husband and I had tickets for a tour of Ford’s Theatre at noon. In the city. Thirty minutes away. 

I’ve never lived in a place where I had to depend on public transportation, so standing on a street corner waiting for a bus that never came was a new experience. As the minutes ticked by, we realized we had a choice to make—continue to stand on the corner, abandon our plans for the tour, or explore other options. 

I just checked with Uber, my son-in-law texted. They can have a car there in 5 minutes.

Let’s do it, I responded, and soon we were on our way. 

Thinking back on the experience, I realized it wasn’t the first time I’ve stood on that street corner. Figuratively at least. You’ve probably been there, too. 

You made your plans, and they were good ones. You prepared, worked hard, and did everything you could do to ensure their success. But the bus never came. 


The recruiter didn’t call you back. 



That first date didn’t lead to a second one. 

The email that should have said Yes said No. 

The promotion, project, or pregnancy never happened. 

You had a choice to make. Cling to your dream, give up, or explore other options. 

Unfortunately, exploring other options is a little more difficult than opening the Uber app and requesting a driver. It begins with knowing your dream.

• Is it from the Lord? 

• Does it agree with Scripture? 

• Is it a natural progression on the path God has been leading you? 

• Can you look back and see how past events and circumstances have brought you to this place? 

• Has your dream been confirmed by godly people? 

• Has your desire grown stronger as time has passed or wavered or waned? 

No one can answer all these questions for us, but I believe if we earnestly seek God’s will, he’ll reveal it to us. 

Two years ago, God planted the idea in my heart to write a devotional book. Knowing God can’t guide our steps unless we’re walking, I crafted a book proposal, sent it to my agent, and began to write. 

From time to time my agent would forward a rejection letter. Lord, I’d pray, am I supposed to keep writing this book?Every time I asked, in the deepest part of my heart, I’d sense God’s response: 

Write the book.  

So I kept writing. Before long, every publisher had rejected it. The bus didn’t come. 

But instead of shriveling up and dying, my desire to write the book grew stronger. And stronger. 

Lord? 

Write the book. 

I prayed. I read God’s Word. I brainstormed with other writers, consulted with my agent, and talked to professionals in the industry. 

Out of the ashes of my first proposal arose another one. A better one. Stronger and more true to the calling God had given me. My heart leapt with excitement, and my mind exploded with inspiration. 

Within two months, Discovery House had extended an offer to publish Refresh Your Faith – Uncommon Devotions from Every Book of the Bible. 

During the long wait, I continued to obey the voice that urged me to keep writing. Because I had, the manuscript was complete and ready to submit before I’d even signed the contract. Not the normal order of events for a non-fiction book, but right on schedule with God’s timeline. 

And while the first bus to publication didn’t arrive, an Uber driver waited in the wings, ready to take my new and improved book idea where it needed to go. 

If you’re standing on the street corner watching for a bus that hasn’t come, I urge you to sincerely and humbly examine your dream. Stop telling God what you want, and listen with an open heart to what he wants for you. Surrender your will to his, knowing you can trust him. 

Then ask yourself, is this dream from the Lord? You can never be completely sure, but if it satisfies the questions above, it probably is. 

"I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted" (Job 42:2).

Unless God closes the door and/or removes the desire from your heart, you have a choice to make. Are you going to continue to stand on the corner and wait, abandon your plans, or explore another option? 

Receiving 16 rejection letters could have been the end of my book dream, but God’s calling was clear to write the book. At the time, I didn’t know why. Maybe the process was for my own growth. Or to create material to share on my blog. Or maybe he called me to write the book because he intended for it to become a book. 

Regardless, God had given me a dream. My responsibility was to do everything within my power to make it happen. After that, the results were up to him. 

Now let’s talk about your dream. Are you standing on a corner waiting for a bus that hasn’t come? Is it time to give up on your plans? Or maybe it’s time to explore other options. Whatever the Lord tells you to do, do it. 

If you leave a comment below, I'd be honored to pray for you. 



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

Trust God's Timing: Don't Put a Period Where God Has Put a Comma, and Likewise . . . A Guest Post by Jean Wilund

Today's it's my pleasure to welcome my dear friend, writing buddy, and resident theologian, Jean Wilund to Hungry for God. Read deeply, think carefully, and be encouraged. And follow the link at the end to subscribe to Jean's inspiring blog.



Punctuation Matters “Don’t eat, Gigi.” OR “Don’t eat Gigi.” 

Big difference. Punctuation matters. 

Punctuation also matters when it comes to trusting God’s timing.

Don’t put a period where God has put a comma. 

And likewise . . . 

Don't put a comma where God has put a period. 

Commas pause us and encourage us to wait. And rest. They mean God’s still working in the situation. Keep walking by faith. God has not given His final answer. 

Periods stop and turn us. It’s over. Move along. They mean God has spoken. We don't need more information. We need to obey. And rest. We Walk by Faith, Not by Sight. 

When we're in a waiting and wondering phase, figuring out God's timing can feel like navigating a fog-covered road. You have no idea if you're almost at your destination or still far from it. God sees what we can't -- He sees the end from the beginning. 

We, however, must walk by faith through the fog of our future. Our sight doesn’t go even a millisecond beyond the next step. 

But we don't walk in blind faith. God has given us 1,189 chapters of His wisdom and instruction within the pages of the Bible to guide us. And He's given Christians His Holy Spirit to help us understand God's Word and to lead us in all things -- including divine punctuation. 

How Can We Know if God Has Given Us a Period or a Comma? 

One of the surest ways to know if God has given you a period or a comma is to ask yourself if your situation/decision agrees with the Bible. 

If not, there’s your period. 

If it does, rest in the comma. 

Actually, rest in both. If that seems contradictory, let me explain. 

Don't Put a Comma in Marriage Where God has Placed a Period And Vice Versa 

Imagine someone who's not married meets a fascinating guy. They really like him, but he’s married. Period. Done. Move along. There’s no comma on that path. Only a period. 

God may be in the process of bringing them the perfect husband (comma), but it’s not going to be someone else’s (period). 

Embrace the period (it's a good thing) and rest in the comma (it's a good thing.) 

Likewise, don't assume if you're single that you'll never get married. Don't put a period where God has placed a comma. 

God created and blessed the wonderful institute of marriage. A single person has every right to assume they’re living in the comma. Some commas just have longer tails. 

BTW, singleness isn't a curse. It's as much a blessing as marriage. If God calls you to singleness, He will bless you in it. It's not a curse. 

Vice versa, marriage isn't a curse -- in case some of your experiences made you think it is. 

If You've Trusted in Jesus, Don't Put a Comma in Salvation Where God has Placed a Period 

If you've trusted in Jesus Christ for the payment of your sins, your eternal salvation is sealed. Period. It's done. Or as Jesus said, "It is finished." God will not remove the period. Rest in it. Don't put a comma where God has placed a period. 

A comma wrongly says I've trusted in Jesus, and now I must also be baptized or I won't be saved. Or something like I've trusted in Jesus, and now I must do good works or I won't be saved.Rest in the period of the assurance of your salvation, and enjoy the comma phase between when you received your salvation to when you'll see the Lord face-to-face. 

If You've Never Trusted In Jesus, Embrace the Comma of Grace, But Understand a Period is Coming 

If you've never trusted in Jesus for your salvation, you're in a comma. A comma of exceeding grace. But please understand: a period is coming. There's no second chance to trust Christ after we pass from this life. Period. 

Take advantage of the comma and trust in Jesus now before the time comes when the period will settle your destiny with an irrevocable and horrific period. Praise God for the comma He's given you now and turn to Christ. Embrace the period of salvation before the period of judgment makes you long for the comma again. Got it? 

For he [God] says, "In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you." I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation. ~ 2 Corinthians 6:2 

Listen, Obey, and Rest: God's Timing is Perfect Life happens every day. 

Profound, I know. But it does. And sometimes what happens jolts us and threatens to send us into a tailspin. But it doesn't have to. The truth sets us free when we:

Listen to what God has to say in His Word. 

Obey Him in whatever He's shown us to do. 

Rest in God's faithful timing. Period. 

(Oh, and don't eat Gigi. Ever.)

PS -- If you're living in an exclamation point -- and your shrieks aren't from delight -- seek help. God has commanded us to care for each other. Reach out to your family, friends, church, and even medical professionals if needed.


Jean Wilund is passionate about coffee, comedy, and chocolate, but mostly about sharing God’s life-changing truths through writing, speaking, and teaching. She lives in Lexington with her husband. Their children live scattered around the country. Visit Jean at www.JeanWilund.com. 



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