Lori Hatcher's Blog: Refresh Blog, page 37

How to Have the Best Day Ever

“Gigi,” Lauren said, purple Popsicle juice dripping from her chin. “This is the best day ever.” 

 Her simple declaration made me smile. The best day ever. 

Thinking back over the events of her day, I found nothing that should have prompted such a statement. No great expenditure of money. No lavish displays of entertainment. No exotic travel or unusual events. Just sharing simple pleasures with someone she loved. 

I think King David had a heart like Lauren. 

“Praise is awaiting you, O God, in Zion,” he penned in Psalm 65. Then he listed what made his heart happy and full: 

God hears our prayers (v. 2). 

He atoned for our sins (v. 3). 

He chose us to have a relationship with him (v. 4). 

He allows us unlimited access to his presence (v. 4). 

He satisfies us with his goodness (v. 4). 

He answers when we call (v. 5) 

His ways are always right (v. 5). 

He is our confidence (v. 5). 

He is strong and powerful (v. 6). 

He provides our needs (v. 9-11). 

“You crown the year with Your goodness,” David declared, “and Your paths drip with abundance” (v. 11). 

David’s praise reminds me of a story I heard about an elderly man. Although he had little to boast of materially, he’d experienced the joy of walking with God all the days of his life. As he prepared to eat his meager breakfast of coarse bread and cool water, he paused and bowed his head. He prayed with a heart of gratitude, “Oh Lord, you have given me bread, and water, and Jesus, too?” 


Or, to borrow Lauren’s words, “Fun Fridays with Gigi and Popsicles, too?” 

Whether or not there’s a Popsicle in your freezer, today is a good day. If you know Christ as our Savior, you have much to be thankful for. It’s fitting, then, to take a moment and thank God for God’s goodness around us. 

I've discovered that praising and thanking God doesn’t change a thing about our circumstances, but it does make our hearts so full of gratitude they will overflow. This encourages not only us, but those around us. 

It may even prompt us to declare, like Lauren did, “This is the best day ever.” 

 


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Copyright 2018 by Lori Hatcher

It's Friday, But Sunday's Comin'

On Good Friday my five-year-old granddaughter Lauren and I created an Easter centerpiece for our table. As I hot glued sticks together to make crosses, she asked, “Gigi, why are you making three crosses? Jesus only needed one.” 

“On the day Jesus died,” I said, “two thieves were also crucified, one on Jesus' right, and one on his left. One man was prideful. He yelled at Jesus and made fun of him. ‘If you’re the Son of God like you say, why don’t you come down off this cross?’ 

“The other man was humble, and sorry for what he’d done. He believed Jesus was God’s Son, and he asked him to forgive him for his sin. He told the other man, ‘We’re being punished for our crimes, but this man has done nothing wrong. Jesus, will you remember me when you get to heaven?” 

“'Today,’ Jesus said, ‘you will be with me in paradise.’” 


Lauren's 3 Crosses, complete with a unicorn announcement
declaring, "He Is Risen! :)Finishing the story, I pushed three crosses into the soil. “Whenever we see three crosses, we need to ask ourselves, ‘Am I the prideful man who made fun of Jesus? Or am I the humble man who asked Jesus to forgive him and take him to heaven one day?'” 

I love how working on this craft with my granddaughter gave us a natural opportunity to talk about Jesus’ death and how, one day, God will call us each into account with one piercing question, 

“What did you do with my Son?” 

We tucked moss around the crosses and placed a stone beside the opening to the empty tomb. 

“You know why I love this craft?” I asked Lauren. She shook her head. 

“Because we can see what it looked like on earth—the very sad day when Jesus died on the cross. But we can also see what was getting ready to happen—on the very happy day when Jesus rose from the dead. I think this is what they saw in heaven. 

And now, because we know history, this is what we see, too.” 

It’s Friday, but Sunday's comin'.





If you're reading by email, CLICK HERE to watch "It's Friday, but Sunday's a Comin'."

Happy Easter!




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Copyright 2018 by Lori Hatcher

Are We Guilty of Presumptuous Sins?

When you hear the word presumptuous, what comes to mind?


I think about the acquaintance who felt compelled to share her low opinion of homeschooling—in front of my homeschooled children. Or the house sitter who decided to reorganize my kitchen—without my permission. Presumptuous brings to mind rude house guests, meddling coworkers, and opinionated “experts.” 

The Cambridge English Dictionary defines presumptuous as “someone who shows little respect for others by doing things they have no right to do.”Psalm 19:13 uses the word presumptuous in an intriguing way: 

 “Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins;” David prayed. “Let them not have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, And I shall be innocent of great transgression.” 

Presumptuous sins. 

David knew them well. Perhaps this is why he prayed so earnestly to be shielded from them. Fresh in his mind may have been the horrifying incident that occurred when he decided (without seeking the Lord) to transport the ark of God to Jerusalem. 

Although God had given the Israelites clear and detailed instruction about how to handle this symbol of God’s presence, David didn’t consult the Scriptures for guidance. Nor did he pray to God. He just thought up a plan, decided it was good, and barreled forward. The resulting calamity ended with one man dead and the rest of them scared to death. You can read more of this story in 1 Samuel 6. 

When the funeral was over and the last casserole dish washed and sent home, David pondered his hasty actions. He realized how presumptuous he had been to plan to do something for God without even talking with God. 

What if God had a different plan? (He did.) 

What if God wanted to use different people in his plan? (He did.) 

What if David was to have a lesser role, and God a greater one? (He was.) 

We get into trouble every time we assume God needs our help. 

It’s important to note that David wasn’t doing anything wrong. He wanted to honor God by moving the ark to a place of respect. His plans went astray, however, when he didn’t include the Lord in them. If he had, the outcome would have been much different. This is an example of the sin of presumption.

 I’m often guilty of the same sin that plagued David. I hatch a plan, declare it brilliant, and set it in motion. Only later, when it fails (or succeeds at accomplishing something very different than what I’d intended) do I seek the Lord and realize my sin.I wonder how many disasters I’d avoid if I prayed with David, “Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins”? 

I remember a time when a friend of mine was struggling mightily. I knew I could make it better if I could go to her. To be there to hug and cry and pray. To speak truth and remind her God had a plan for her life. To convince her, by the power of my will and the strength of my personality, that she could trust him. 

I desired good things, but I presumptuously assumed I was the only person who could make them happen. In God’s good providence, circumstances, distance, and money kept me from coming to her rescue. My inability to minister in person forced me to do what I should have been doing all along—asking God to meet her needs and quiet her heart. 

“Lord, I can’t be there, but you can,” I prayed. “Speak to her heart. Comfort her. Show her in some tangible way that you love her, you’ll provide for her, and you have a good plan for her life. Protect her, Lord. Show yourself real to her today.” 


Only later did I learn how God answered my prayer. In his mercy, he sent a sensitive soul across her path, gave the woman holy boldness to reach out to her. “She came out of nowhere,” my friend said. “She was kind and caring. I think God sent her to remind me that he's aware of my struggles, and he cares.” 

Every time I think of this story, I remember that God doesn’t need me. That’s not to say he doesn’t want to use me—but in his time and in his way. God didn’t need David to organize the ark’s relocation to Jerusalem, but he used him—after he sought God’s face, searched God’s Word, and submitted his plans to the much-wiser, all-knowing God. 

Every day we face choices. Do I act or do I pray? If God wants me to act, what should I do, and how should I do it? If I am to pray, what specifically should I pray for? Most times, God will call us to act and to pray. Only by seeking God’s will in prayer, in the Scriptures, and through wise counsel will we be able to determine what our part in God’s work is. 

I’m learning to apply this three-step method of seeking God’s direction. I hope it will keep me from presumptuous sins. Like David, I have no desire to be known as “someone who shows little respect for others (or God) by doing things they have no right to do.” 

 How about you? In what area do you struggle most with surrendering to God and seeking his way instead of your own? 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. 



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Copyright 2018 by Lori Hatcher

Sucker Punched on Palm Sunday

I never expected to be sucker punched on Palm Sunday. 


There I was, minding my own business, reading three simple verses in the book of Matthew. Palm Sunday verses. 

“Now when they drew near Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, ‘Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Loose them and bring them to Me. 

"'And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say, "The Lord has need of them,' and immediately he will send them’” (Matthew 21:1-3). 

In commentary notes, I discovered that owning a colt in Bible days was today’s equivalent of owning a car or maybe a work truck. A colt (a young horse or donkey) was probably the most valuable thing a person could own. It was their transportation, their beast of burden, and their means of earning a living. Many families were so poor they couldn’t afford to buy or support an animal. 

When Jesus asked to use someone’s colt, he was asking to use something very valuable.Yet we see in this passage, because “the Lord ha(d) need of them,” the unnamed owner agreed without question. If Jesus needed them, that was reason enough to say yes immediately and generously. 

I’ve probably read this passage a hundred times, but I’ve never truly understood the implications of the third verse. Until today, when it sucker punched me in my spiritual gut. 

As the echoes of Jesus’ instructions to his disciples resounded in my spirit, I heard Jesus whisper a heart-stopping question: If I asked to use something of yours, how willing would you be to say yes? Immediately? No questions asked? 

If I asked for your car. Or your house. Or some money—a lot of money—would you let me use it? 

What if I asked for a chunk of your time? Or asked you to inconvenience yourself to serve someone else, would you do it? Cheerfully? Right away? 

Most of the time, I’m willing to serve the Lord when it suits me. If it’s convenient, relatively easy, and not-too-sacrificial. But what about when it costs me something? 

Like a significant amount of time, money, or effort? When those I serve aren’t appreciative or easy to love? When I have to yield my rights and privileges and honor someone else’s instead? 

All of a sudden, the warm gooey feelings evaporate, and serving God isn’t so fun anymore. One man said we all want to serve God—until someone treats us like a servant. 


I suspect it cost the owner of the donkey something to loan it to Jesus that Sunday. Maybe he missed a day’s work because he couldn’t use his beast of burden. Or had to walk everywhere instead of ride. Maybe he had to plow his field by hand because he didn’t have an animal to hook his plow to. 

Despite the cost, he responded yes immediately, “because the Lord had need of it.” 

This man knew all he had belonged to God. “What do you have that you did not receive?” Paul reminds us in First Corinthians 4:7. If it wasn’t for the gracious and generous hand of God, we’d have nothing. 

Instead, he blesses us with time, resources, and abilities—not for our own use only, but to bless others and advance God’s kingdom. 

Think for just a moment what it would be like to watch Jesus’ triumphant entrance into Jerusalem and know it was your donkey that carried him. 

What a privilege. What an honor. What a joy. 

This week, as we follow Jesus’ footsteps on the way to the cross, I encourage you to ask God, “What do I have that you can use? What are you asking me to release to you so you can use it in your kingdom?” 

If he reveals something to you, say yes immediately. Surrender it to him joyfully and generously. Then watch and see how he uses it. Even if you don’t see results right away, you can trust God will use your sacrifices to accomplish his will and his work in the world. 

“Hosanna! Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.” 

If you'd like to watch the video post that led me to this passage, click HERE. Thanks, Jean Wilund, for setting me up for the punch :)



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. 

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

Bombs or Balms? How to Use our Words for Restoration, not Retribution

Some days it’s hard to believe I craft words for a living. During moments of weakness, carelessness, or selfishness, I stick my wordsmith foot into my undisciplined mouth and produce sentences that wound those around me. I might share an unfiltered observation, an unwanted piece of advice, or an unkind criticism. Sometimes I speak in anger or self-defense, intentionally hurting those who have hurt me. 

How I manage to spit out such words around my size 9 foot, I’ll never know, but I do. And I always regret it. Sometimes as soon as the words leave my mouth. Other times not until later, when the debris field clears, and I can see what’s left in the aftermath of my word bomb. 

“Life and death are in the power of the tongue,” Proverbs 18:21 says. More than anything, I want my words—every single one of them—to bring life to those who hear them. 

If you share this desire, we can learn from a woman in the Bible named Abigail. 

Abigail's life wasnt' easy. Married to a surly, foul-mouthed, selfish man named Nabal (which, in God’s divine sense of humor, means “fool”). I don’t know what size sandal Nabal wore, but I suspect it was a size 14EEE, because one day he stuck his big foot in his big mouth in a really big way. 

David and his band of warriors had generously guarded Nabal’s flocks and herds, providing protection from animal and human predators. When the time came to reward David with bounty from the harvest, however, Nabal developed amnesia. He denied David’s request for food, heaped insults on him, and sent his men away in disgrace. 

Enter Abigail. 

When she heard about the exchange between Nabal and David’s men, she knew no self-respecting warrior would endure such treatment. Her household was in danger. She must act quickly. 

First she gathered food—lots of it—and sent it on ahead. 

Then she prepared herself. She leaped onto her donkey and tore out to meet David, thinking, thinking, thinking while she rode. I suspect Abigail had become a master communicator while living with cantankerous Nabal all those years. She’d learned how to deflect his anger during his drunken rages and present her requests with humility and respect, honoring him as her husband despite his behavior. 

All the lessons she’d learned about successful communication swirled in her head as she prepared to meet the man who had pledged to destroy the household of Nabal. 

“So it was, as she rode on the donkey, that she went down under cover of the hill; and there were David and his men, coming down toward her, and she met them.” 

Dismounting from her donkey and prostrating herself before David, she began her eloquent plea. “Please let your maidservant speak in your ears, and hear the words of your maidservant.” 

She acknowledged Nabal’s offense toward David. She accepted partial responsibility for failing to meet the needs of his men. She asked his forgiveness, challenging him to overlook Nabal’s sin. 

Then she spoke God’s blessing over him. In this blessing we see evidence of Abigail’s skill as a godly communicator. 

“… the lives of your enemies He shall sling out, as from the pocket of a sling” (v. 29). 

I don’t know if Abigail had heard of David’s history as a shepherd, or if the Lord put the words in her mouth, but like the stone that felled Goliath, they struck the mark. By referring to a sling similar to the one David had used so long ago in his battle against the Philistine enemy, she pierced David’s heart. 

When she reminded him of his victory against his past enemy, she reinforced God’s promise – that he would one day triumph over all who opposed him and take his place as the next king of Israel. He needn’t smear his integrity with petty skirmishes against foolish men. God had greater things planned for him. 

By choosing her words carefully, Abigail deflected David’s anger, earned his respect, and saved Nabal’s household. And although she didn’t know it at the time, she also secured her own future. (You can read about the interesting and romantic turn of events only God could orchestrate in 1 Samuel 25.) 

Oh, that we would become like Abigail. 

With God’s help, we can. We can prayerfully seek God’s wisdom, search for just the right words to best communicate our message to that particular individual, and speak humbly, keeping in mind the goal of restoration, not retribution. 

Instead of opening our mouths and blurting out the first thing that comes to mind, we can intentionally choose our words and responses to bring life and healing to those we are speaking. By doing so, we not only honor the one to whom we’re speaking, we honor the Lord. 

If you sometimes struggle with your words, invite God to set a watch over your lips. Pray, search, and speak words of life, not death into the ears of those around you. Like Abigail, use your words for restoration, not retribution. 



Are you hungry for God, but starving for time? 
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Copyright 2018 by Lori Hatcher

Never Underestimate the Power of Encouragement

Your friend is in trouble. Big trouble. I’m not talking thrown-in-jail kind of trouble, although that certainly could be the case. I’m talking about life circumstance trouble. Maybe she’s struggling through cancer treatment, trying to stay strong in a fractured marriage, or battling depression. Or perhaps she’s unemployed, hopeless, or desperate. 

Even from a distance her situation seems too broken to fix. You don’t have a clue how to ease her pain. You’re powerless to change anything, and you fear that if you try to say or do something, you might trivialize her struggle. The last thing you want to do is add sorrow upon sorrow. Because you don’t know what to do, you don't do anything. 

Which is probably the worst thing any of us can do. 

The book of First Samuel describes the biblical equivalent of one of the scenarios above. Chapter 23 opens with David running from the maniacal King Saul. Although David has conducted himself toward Saul with loyalty, courage, and integrity, Saul has treated David as an enemy. Time after time Saul mustered his army and marched out to destroy David and his followers. Although David had multiple opportunities to kill Saul, he chose not to, recognizing that Saul was God’s anointed king over Israel as long as the Lord allowed.

But David was growing weary. 

Always on the run. Separated from his family. Responsible for the men who followed him. Struggling to feed everyone. Exhausted from battle. Discouraged from persecution. Doubting God’s call on his life and wondering what’s next, David described himself in Psalm 63 as being “in the wilderness.”

Then Jonathan. 

Jonathan, the son of Saul, but the best friend of David. A righteous, God-fearing man, Jonathan balanced the weight of his lineage with the weight of his integrity. Although he remained loyal to his father until they died together in battle, he remained a committed friend of David until death also parted them. 

During one of the darkest times of David’s life, Jonathan went to him. In the wilderness. Defying his father. Disregarding his inability to change anything about David’s circumstances. Bringing nothing with him but his faith and his friendship, Jonathan entered into David’s pain and eased his sorrow. 

“Then Jonathan, Saul's son, arose and went to David in the woods and strengthened his hand in God” (1 Samuel 23:16). 

This is what he did: 

“And he said to him, ‘Do not fear, for the hand of Saul my father shall not find you. You shall be king over Israel, and I shall be next to you. Even my father Saul knows that’” (v. 17). 

Jonathan reminded David of God’s promises. Years earlier Samuel had prophesied that David would one day be king over Israel. But it hadn’t happened yet. In the waiting years, when the path seemed to lead in the opposite direction, David may have found it easy to lose sight of God’s promises. This is why God sent Jonathan. 

When a friend is struggling, stooped under the weight of circumstances and isolated in the wilderness of trial, it’s easy for them to lose sight of God’s promises. We can remind them. 

When their dreams are dying, we can remind them that no plan of God’s can be thwarted (Job 42:2). 

When they’re battling an illness and unsure of the outcome, we can remind them though they walk through the valley of the shadow of death, they need not fear, for God is with them (Psalm 23:4). 

When they’re struggling with a broken marriage, a prodigal child, or a hopeless situation, we can remind them that nothing is too hard for God (Luke 1:37). 

Then we can pledge our loyalty and friendship, vowing to walk beside them through their trial. 

“So the two of them made a covenant before the LORD” (v. 18). 

Jonathan’s visit didn’t change David’s circumstances. Scripture tells us, “David stayed in the woods, and Jonathan went to his own house” (v. 18). But by entering into David’s pain, reminding him of God’s promises, and renewing their friendship, he “strengthened his hand in God.” 

What a gift to someone who is struggling. 

Now it’s your turn. Who in your life needs a friend like Jonathan? 

Be that friend today. 



Are you hungry for God, but starving for time? 
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Copyright 2018 by Lori Hatcher

Struggling to Know God's Will?

“I’ve been chasing this dream for years,” a friend said, “but I’m not convinced it’s God’s will for me. And I’m afraid I’m running right past the really important stuff sitting right in front of me.” 

It’s a common dilemma, one I struggle with, too. Our world offers so many opportunities. How do we know what’s God’s will for us? 

A dozen requests to serve on a board, volunteer for a ministry, or work with needy individuals. And opportunities to give? Oh my. Every month I receive requests for support from missionaries, non-profits, and ministries. And then there are the needs of my family. And friends. My church, my neighbors, and my circle of influence. Everyone wants a share of my time and energy, and I want to help them all. They’re all good causes. 

But my time, energy, and money isn’t as expansive as my heart. They have limits. 

How do I decide where to spend the resources I have? How do I know, like my friend, which dreams to chase without missing the calling sitting right there in front of me? How can I determine what is God’s will for this day, this season, this time in my life? 

“The good is the enemy of the best,” Oswald Chambers said, and it is true. It’s so easy to say “Yes” to a hundred good things. But every time we say “Yes” to one thing, we say “No” to two or three others. Every choice we make has trickle down effects. 

An event in 1 Samuel 15 reminded me of this good versus best principle. As King Saul prepared to lead the Israelites into battle against the Amalekites, God gave him very specific instructions through the prophet Samuel: “I will punish the Amalekites for what they did to Israel when they waylaid them as they came up from Egypt. Now go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy everything that belongs to them” (v. 2). 

Saul had clear instructions, but he chose not to obey. He instructed his men to kill the Amalekites, “but Saul and the army spared Agag and the best of the sheep and cattle, the fat calves and lambs-- everything that was good” (v. 15:9). Saul chose the good instead of the best. 

The good, in his mind, was to spare King Agag’s life and keep the best of the livestock. History tells us otherwise. 

The best is to obey the Lord. Every time. 

So how can we, 21st-century Christians with no prophet to speak God’s words into our ears, know what is best? We begin with obedience. 

“To obey is better than sacrifice,” Samuel said as he viewed the evidence of Saul’s sin. God doesn’t care whether we’re rich, successful, or highly-esteemed. He cares if we obey him. Every day, in every way. 

And how do we know what he wants us to do? We can’t, like King Saul, consult our resident prophet for advice. But we have something better—the Holy Spirit who lives inside us. “He will guide you into all truth,” Jesus promised. 

With the help of the Holy Spirit, God the Father speaks to his children in a variety of ways: 

Through his Word (Psalm 119:105). 

Through his people (Proverbs 11:14). 

Through circumstances (Acts 16:6-10). 

And through the still, small voice of the Holy Spirit (James 1:5). 

James 1:5 promises, “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.” 

So the next time you wonder what God’s will is, large or small, begin with prayer. Ask him to show you. Then search his Word for principles to apply. Seek the advice of godly people, especially if it’s a big decision. Watch how the circumstances unfold around you. Do they confirm or challenge the direction you think you should go? Finally, sit quietly before the Lord so you can hear the still, small voice of the Holy Spirit speak to your soul. 

If you sincerely seek God’s will, he will reveal it to you. Your obedience will still require a measure of faith, but he will guide you. It’s his nature. The Good Shepherd never sends his sheep on alone. Instead, he goes before us every step of the way. 

“He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice” (John 10:3-4). 

Now it’s your turn. In what area are you struggling to discern God’s will? Which of the steps above might help bring further clarity? 



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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

When a Northerner Eats a Boiled Peanut – A Lesson on Marriage

As a Red-Sox-cheering, New-York-Yankees-hating Rhode Islander, baseball and roasted peanuts have long been a part of my history. Baseball was king in the little harbor town where I grew up. Many a night I'd fall asleep to the sounds of late game broadcasts from Fenway Park. 

When we couldn’t catch a game on TV, we’d feed our insatiable appetites by cheering for the VFW team in the field across from our house and eating sacks of roasted peanuts.


In ninth grade, I was in luuuuv with #16, the cute second baseman with shaggy hair and a shy smile. I don’t know if he could hear us cheering for him from the stands, but I imagined he could. 

When the other team was at bat, my friends and I would climb down from the bleachers, buy a cup of Del’s Frozen Lemonade and a bag of roasted peanuts from the concession stand and return to our seats, leaving a trail of peanut shells behind us. The heavenly trifecta of hot, salty, and crunchy made roasted peanuts the baseball food of the gods. 

Then I moved to the South. Far, far away from #16, baseball, and roasted peanuts.

I thought things were looking up the day we visited my Aunt Leila in the tiny town of Sandy Run, South Carolina. Uncles, aunts, and cousins had gathered for the annual pig pickin’ (my first) and to welcome their long-lost family members back home. Standing awkwardly in the kitchen making small talk with a cousin, I glanced around the room. There in the center of the wooden picnic table was a bowl of peanuts. 

Yesssss! 

I grabbed one, split its shell, and popped the peanuts into my mouth. But instead of the hot, crunchy goodness I expected, something cold and slimy hit the back of my tongue, activated my gag reflex, and launched the offending legume from my mouth. 

Whooah, I thought, that was a bad peanut.

I grabbed another, split its shell, and tossed the nuts into my mouth. Like a recurring nightmare, the slimy pellets crossed my tongue and headed toward the back of my throat until a mighty heave sent them back from whence they’d come. 

Yuck! Must have been a bad batch. 

Like a detective at a crime scene, I approached the bowl a third time – slowly. And saw what I’d missed on the previous two encounters. Instead of parched white shells, these peanuts had wet brown ones. They were soft and slimy, too. I pressed the seam that ran the length of the nut. Cold brine squished out and ran down my wrist. Instead of dry, confetti paper skins that crumbled beneath my touch, these skins were stuck to the nuts like a wet diaper to a baby’s bottom. Underneath the brown wrapper, the peanuts were pale and shriveled. 

What, in heaven’s name, was wrong with these peanuts? 

I’ve since learned that while boiled peanuts and roasted peanuts are cousins, they’re not kissing cousins. As different as the city mouse and the country mouse, the two bear little resemblance to each other. 

It took me three attempts on three different occasions to develop a taste for boiled peanuts. In the process, I discovered an important principle about marriage. It’s all a matter of expectations. When I expected boiled peanuts to taste like roasted peanuts, I was disappointed (and disgusted) every time. Once I set aside my expectation of how a peanut should taste, I was free to accept (and even appreciate) the other varieties of peanuts. In this case, a boiled peanut, not a roasted one. 


[image error] Gary Thomas, author of the book and marriage Bible study, Cherish , says, “Cherishing in marriage is learning to appreciate the particular spouse God has given us. It’s about understanding their beauty and letting them be your heart’s home.” 

“Cherishing our spouse is all about learning the particulars about that person. It involves throwing away the stereotypes and asking the question, ‘How do I cherish this unique person that God has made?’” 

After almost 35 years of marriage, I’m still learning to value the unique qualities of my husband. Instead of expecting him to be quick and decisive, I’m learning to appreciate him as patient and methodical. Instead of expecting him to be serious, introspective, and task-oriented, I’m learning to appreciate him as fun-loving, carefree, and people-oriented. 

Accepting my husband as a boiled peanut instead of expecting him to be a roasted peanut frees me to enjoy the unique person God has created him to be. This helps me cherish (not just tolerate) him. As we cherish each other, we pave the way for contentment. Contentment fosters an environment of love and mutual admiration. When we love and affirm each other, we position ourselves to become all God wants us to be. This is one of the beautiful parts of marriage. 

“It is not good for a man to be alone,” God said, “I’ll make a helper for him.” 

And now, back to peanuts. A few weeks ago my husband and I ate at Five Guys. Waiting for our burgers, he noticed a bin of roasted peanuts and a sign that said Please enjoy a snack while you wait. “Would you like some?” he asked. 

“No thanks,” I said after a moment’s thought. “I think I prefer boiled peanuts.” 

Imagine that. 

Now it’s your turn. What characteristic about your husband have you learned to appreciate over the years? How has that changed how you think about him? 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.





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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

What to Do When the Task Is Great and Your Strength Is Small

Of all the men and women we read about in the Bible, with whom do you most identify? 

Maybe you’re a prayer warrior like Daniel (and can tell a few stories about being thrown into the lion’s den for it). 

Or perhaps Peter could be your Bible double because you act first and think later. 

Many feel a heart connection to Martha, the busy lady who forgot that spending time with Jesus is even more important than doing stuff for him. 

Today, as I read the story of Gideon, I found myself nodding in empathy and identification. I get Gideon, because I often live in his skin. 

You may remember that Gideon lived during the time of the judges, Israel’s yoyo period when they vacillated between serving God and serving idols. When we join the narrative in Judges 6, the Israelites were again serving idols – and suffering at the hands of their oppresive neighbors, the Midianites. 

Like teenagers at an all-you-can-eat buffet, the Midianite raiders would descend on Israel at harvest time, consuming their crops and destroying their fields and farms. “So Israel became poverty-stricken because of Midian” (Judges 6:6 CSB). 

“So the Israelites cried out to the Lord.” 

In his mercy, God answered their prayers by appearing to Gideon, a weak-faithed skeptic. “The Lord is with you, valiant warrior,” the Angel of the Lord said. 

“If the Lord is with us,” Gideon cynically replied, “why has all this happened? And where are all his wonders that our fathers told us about? . . . the Lord has abandoned us and handed us over to Midian” (v. 13). 

Notice how Gideon failed to mention they’d been thumbing their noses at God and serving false idols for years before God finally took corrective action. Hardship had driven Gideon and his kinsman to cry out to the Lord, but their prayers were motivated by desperation, not devotion. 

Like Gideon, I’m often guilty of this sin. Yet God is tender-hearted and merciful. He revealed his plan to deliver the Israelites from their oppressors. And he chose Gideon as the point man. 

“Go in the strength you have and deliver Israel from the grasp of Midian. I am sending you!” 


“Whaaaaat? Me?” Gideon cried. “How can I deliver Israel? Look, my family is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the youngest in my father’s family.” 

“Go in the strength you have,” the Lord replied. 

I’ve noticed that God often calls us to tasks too big for us Caring for a sick loved one, parenting a rebellious teenager, staying faithful in a loveless marriage Facing a life-threatening illness, overcoming an addiction, or putting the pieces of your home back together after a tragedy.  

The Christian’s calling to integrity, perseverance, joy, and hope is lofty and difficult. Yet he calls us to go in the strength we have – puny and weak though it is. 

“But I will be with you,” (v. 16) God promises. “You will be victorious.” 

Some mornings, like Gideon, I look at the demands of my life and all God has called me to do. “I’m too weak,” I say. “I’m weary, and I’m frail. I can’t do this.”God acknowledges my words and agrees with me. 

Then, like a parent watching his child struggle to lift a suitcase far too heavy, he places his hand over mine. Infusing my weakness with his strength, we lift the burden and move forward – together. 

Are you facing something too big for you to handle on your own today? Is your strength too small for the mighty task that faces you? Then according to God and Gideon, you are poised for victory. 

“Go in the strength you have,” God says, “and I will be with you.” 

Now it’s your turn. When have you faced something far too great to handle in your own strength and seen God work through you? Leave a comment below and share your experience. If you’re reading by email, CLICK HERE to visit Hungry for God onlinewww.LoriHatcher.com 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

Waiting for Scary Test Results? 4 Things to Do

No woman ever wants to receive a call back after a mammogram. 


Like many, I treat the annual test like my home’s yearly termite inspection – something necessary and responsible, but not worth much thought. 

And when it’s done? Check off the box and move on. 

Until I get the phone call. 

“The radiologist would like you to return for additional scans. Your mammogram shows some changes that are concerning . . .” 

In God’s mercy, the facility schedules call back mammograms within five days of the dreaded phone call. But those were five very long days. 

When women get calls like this, some cry. Some pray. Some update their wills and healthcare powers of attorney. All try to keep busy. Activity pushes the fearful thoughts back into the closet. 

As I waited, the Lord led me to do several things that helped. If you’re in a waiting time, perhaps you’ll find them helpful too. 

1. I prayed. 
 “Lord, my life is yours to use however you see fit. I don’t want to have breast cancer. In your mercy, spare me. But if this isn’t your will, help me trust you. Give me your peace, and help me not be afraid. In the strong name of Jesus I ask, Amen.” 

Like a child running into the safety of her father’s arms, I flung myself on Jesus. “There’s a monster chasing me,” I admitted, “and I’m scared.” Praying reminded me it didn’t matter how big the monster was, my Father was bigger. After I prayed, I asked God to speak to me through his Word. I found precious comfort there. 

2. I asked others to pray. 
Not everyone - yet. There’d be time later to sound the alarm if the second scan was also suspicious. Part of me wanted to keep the news to myself completely, not wanting to bother anyone, but I knew I needed prayer. Corporate prayer is powerful. 

I shared my situation with a few women who knew how to approach the throne of grace with confidence. One friend shared a similar experience, reassuring me that ninety out of one hundred suspicious mammograms show no cancer. Another prayed with me immediately, strengthening me with her faith. Yet another offered to go to the imaging center with me. During my wait and on the morning of my scan, several texted reminders that they were praying. 

Sharing my need with others brought the monster out of the closet. It helped me realize that while my future was uncertain, I wasn’t facing it alone. If the outcome was favorable, my friends would rejoice with me. If the outcome was concerning, they’d walk with me on the journey. 

3. I limited what I read about mammograms and breast cancer. 
I accessed a few online articles on reputable sites, but then I made a deliberate choice not to read anything else. Every mammogram website linked to a breast cancer site, which fueled the flames of fear. There’d be time to research later if I needed to. 

4. I captured (almost) every thought.
Second Corinthians encouraged me. “We demolish every argument and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” We can’t prevent fear from knocking on our door, but we don’t have to invite it in. 

For me, fear knocked often during those five days of waiting. Some days it would manifest itself as scary thoughts that led me from diagnosis to death in three days or less. Other times I imagined dreadful treatment options. It was easy to become a faith amnesiac in the quick sand of panic. To escape, I forced myself to swim toward solid ground. This meant redirecting my thoughts, not allowing myself to fret, and reminding myself that no matter what happened, God would be with me. 

On the morning of the fifth day, as my husband and I prayed one more time, a thought occurred to me: Maybe this isn’t about me at all. Maybe, instead of me needing the folks at the imaging center, they needed me. 

Pray with the technologist before she does your mammogram, the Spirit of the Lord whispered to me. 

I was so sure the prompting came from God that as soon as the technician called me into the room, I blurted out, “May I pray for you before you do my scans?” 

Her eyebrows shot up, then scrunched into a puzzled frown. “Pray for me?” she asked. 

I suspect many patients pray for themselves, but perhaps no one had ever offered to pray for her. She shrugged her shoulders. “Okay.” 

So I did. 

“Father, thank you for Sheila. Bless her today. Enable her to do her job to the best of her ability. Use her skills to help the radiologist make an accurate diagnosis, not just for me, but for every person she cares for today. In Jesus’ name I ask, Amen.” 

When I looked up, shiny tears sparkled in her brown eyes. 

Twenty minutes later, Sheila spoke the words I’d hoped to hear. “You can go now. The doctor says everything’s normal.” 

I may never know the reason for my anxious five days. Maybe I needed to strengthen my resolve to trust God no matter what. Perhaps I needed a greater understanding and empathy for those whose life has been impacted by cancer. I realize not everyone gets an all clear like I did. Maybe I needed to be reminded of how faithful God is to his children, especially in times of crisis. 

Or maybe Sheila just needed someone to pray for her. 

My experience was a powerful reminder that God uses all things for good if we trust him. 

Now it’s your turn. Have you experienced a trial when you had to battle fear with faith? I’d love to hear your story. Leave a comment below 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