Lori Hatcher's Blog: Refresh Blog, page 67

Going Home, Part IV, Faith

Faith caught me when I didn’t expect it, and I’ve been a happy captive ever since.

As I look back at the path of my faith journey, I can clearly see the imprint of my first footsteps in a little town on Narragansett Bay. 

When I was six, I memorized my first Bible verse—John 3:16. I’d been attending Vacation Bible School with a friend at a little Primitive Methodist church in North Providence, Rhode Island. One day the teacher promised a prize for everyone who could say the verse the following day. I went home, learned the unfamiliar words, and recited them perfectly the next morning. 

I don’t remember the prize, but years later, when I came to faith in Christ, I discovered that I already knew one of the most life-changing truths of Scripture: 

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” 

When I was eight, I was old enough to walk to church with my Portuguese godmother, Madrinha. Madrinha had a Texas-size heart in a Rhode Island-size body. The ultimate hostess, she always had cookies and soda in a jelly glass for me whenever I’d visit. But not on Sunday mornings. 

“If you want to take communion,” she’d say, reminding me of the Catholic guidelines, “you can’t eat or drink for an hour before.” 

I loved my Madrinha, and the chance to go anywhere with her was a treat, even without cookies. 

Although I didn’t come to faith until years later, attending church with Madrinha was a valuable part of my spiritual upbringing. Later, when many of my teenage friends questioned God’s existence, I never doubted. Madrinha’s example of reverence and respect for the things of God taught me never to treat matters of faith lightly. 


My mom and Catherine (L-R) Aren't they cute?On my recent trip back home, I had the pleasure of attending church with Catherine, a family friend. I never tire of hearing her story. 

As a confused and struggling young woman, she sought answers in the Bible. The more she read, the more she realized how her sin separated her from God. Scripture taught her that God loved her with an everlasting love—so much that he sent his Son, Jesus, to die on a cross and pay the punishment for her sin. 

She learned that instead of trusting in her good works to earn a place in heaven, she needed to trust in what Christ had already done for her. One day, all alone in her home, she surrendered her life to God. 

Excited to share her newfound faith, Catherine opened her home to others who were interested in studying the Bible. From those studies sprang a vibrant, evangelical ministry that continues to this day. As I sang and worshiped alongside her, I marveled at how God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things. 


Everywhere I looked in Rhode Island I saw glimpses of God. I saw his creative genius in the pink blush of the ocean at sunrise. I saw his timeliness and order in the ebb and flow of the tides. I saw his bountiful provision in the family members who extended gracious hospitality. I saw his boundless love as I experienced his gifts of laughter, love, and relationships. 

James 1:17 tells us, “Every good and every perfect gift comes from above, coming down from the father of lights.” 

My trip to Rhode Island reminded me that God is always at work, wherever we are. From the Sandhills of South Carolina to the seashores of Rhode Island, he eagerly reveals himself to those who seek him. From the tiniest grandchild bowing her head in thanks over breakfast to the family matriarch seeking wisdom for her future, God’s ears are attentive to our prayers. And to every soul who struggles under life’s load, he calls, 

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Mat. 11:28-30). 


What about you? As you look back at the faith steps you took on the road to a relationship with Jesus, which milestones stand out? Who did God use to guide and influence you? What experience are you most thankful for? I’d love to hear your stories. Leave a comment below and bless us all. 

And if you're not sure you have a relationship with God, click here to learn more.

Finally, if you'd like to hear more of my story, click here for a video testimonial. 

If you missed the other posts in this series, here are the links:
"There's Something Magical about Going Home"

"Going Home, Part II, Family"

"Going Home, Part III, Food"








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Copyright 2012 by Lori Hatcher

Going Home, Part III, Food

Food is very important to my family. 

Because we had three newcomers (my son-in-law and two grands) to initiate into the food fold during our recent trip to Rhode Island, we planned our itinerary around unique local delicacies.

Portuguese sweet bread (masa sovada) from Cornerstone Bakery awaited us at the homestead. Buttered to the edges and toasted under the broiler, it is manna with a Portuguese twist. 

“How can this taste so good?” my son-in-law wondered aloud. Eggs, butter, and a pound of sugar might have something to do with it, Son. 

The thought of malasadas, fluffy circles of fried dough coated with sugar, lured me from my bed early Sunday morning. Now that the first generation of Portuguese immigrant women has passed on, few are willing to go through the process of mixing the dough, letting it rise twice, then forming it into flat rounds ready to fry. Corner bakeries have taken their place, but only on Sunday mornings. 
Photo credit: Cassandra at www.frillyfabulous.wordpress.com
“Once they’re gone, they’re gone,” the baker said when I called to inquire, “so you’d better get here early.” 

The memory of watching my grandmother drop perfectly formed ovals into a steaming pan of oil, then pass them to me for sugaring propelled me out of the house early that Sunday morning. A block from the bakery, the smell of golden deliciousness drew me in like the siren’s song. I paused, inhaled deeply, and held my breath, eyes closed in delight. Gloriously content to stand and savor, I stood there until an angry growl from my empty stomach propelled me the rest of the way to the bakery. 

“The only advertisement you need is that smell,” I said to the dark-eyed girl behind the counter. She smiled, then blinked twice when I placed my order. 

“Twelve?” she repeated, certain she’d heard wrong. 

“Twelve,” I said. “It’s been a long time.” 

Del’s frozen lemonade, Maple Walnut ice cream, and the Newport Creamery’s legendary Awful Awful (a milkshake so named because it’s “Awful Big and Awful Good,”) guided the week's itinerary. 

My mom and her cousin shared a New England Clam Boil, fishing out little neck clams and dunking them into melted butter. My daughter bravely swallowed a bite of the rubbery shellfish. We passed a basket of Quito’s clam cakes around the table, and the coffee lovers among us licked over-filled cones of Rhode Island Lighthouse Coffee ice cream. Long walks around the bay helped counteract our dietary indescretions. 

For me, the greatest joy came not from eating the delicacies I’ve loved since childhood, but from sharing them. The ritual of food is risky. Would I have loved my new son-in-law even if he turned up his nose at my favorite ice cream? Absolutely. Did I love him more as we shared a grin and a nod over cones piled high with sweet deliciousness? You bet. 


One of my favorite snapshot is this one of my granddaughter. Smiling broadly, she holds a malasada in one hand and a piece of sweet bread in the other. That’s my girl. You may not look Portuguese, little one, but you are. 

God could have created us without taste buds. Without taste, eating would be utilitarian—a necessary obligation to keep us alive. Instead, he created us with the ability to taste, and savor, and delight. 

Then, to make it even sweeter, he placed us in families. Together we can share not only the necessary parts of cooking and eating, but also the relational parts. Around the table, against the backdrop of good food, we laugh, and talk, and share. We tempt each other with delicacies, squabble over who gets the last bite of something good, and compare likes and dislikes. Food is the magic elixir that soothes grumpy toddlers and hard working men. 


Sometimes, opportunities to gather around the table with distant family and close kin make me a little homesick for heaven. One day, we’ll gather at a feast that will put our simple meals to shame (Rev. 19). Family members from generations gone by will take their places around the table, we’ll join hands, and our Father will pronounce the blessing. 

“For the loved ones gathered here and for the food we are about to receive, we are grateful.” 

I’m looking forward to that celebration. I suspect you are, too. In the meantime, may we enjoy many happy meals around our family tables. 

Would you like to chime in? What’s your family’s favorite food? Do you have a special traditional meal that you’ve shared from one generation to another? Leave a comment below and share your story. If you’re reading by email, click here to visit Hungry for God online, scroll to the bottom of the post, and leave a comment there. 

If you missed the earlier blog posts in the Going Home series, click HERE to read “There’s Something Magical about Going Home,” or click HERE for “Going Home, Part II – Family.”

And if you'd like a recipe for Malasadas, Portuguese doughnuts, click here to visit Cassandra at FrillyFabulous.



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Copyright 2012 by Lori Hatcher

Going Home Part II, Family

When my first granddaughter, Lauren, was born, I realized God had fulfilled Psalm 128:6 in my life: 

“Yea, thou shalt see thy children's children . . .” 

In my last blog post, “There's Something Magical About Going Home,” I promised to share a few stories and pictures from my recent trip to Bristol, Rhode Island. Today’s post, “Going Home Part II—Family” tells the best part of the story. Perhaps I should have saved it for last, but I couldn’t wait to share the smiles. 

When it puts its best face forward, family gives us a glimpse of what heaven is going to be like. Leisurely meals around the table, familiar stories, and lots of hugs and laughter. Unfortunately, these extended family events are becoming more and more rare, especially now that our daughters are married and have begun families of their own. When the planets align, the earth tilts perfectly on its axis, and everyone’s busy schedules overlap, we occasionally manage to gather in one place. Most of the time, however, we visit in smaller groups. 

My recent trip to Rhode Island was uniquely special, because four generations of women from my immediate family met in my hometown—my mom, myself, my daughters, and my granddaughters. 

Four generations, ranging in age from 72 to 1. 

In addition to the miracle of gathering with my immediate family, my mom and her two cousins, daughters of three siblings who sailed from the Azores with their mother in 1919, also had opportunities to visit. Now that their mothers have passed away, (the youngest died at 94-1/2 and the oldest at 98), these women have taken their places as the matriarchs of our family. 

I, one generation distant, watched them with an objectivity they didn’t have. With every smile, laugh, and gesture, I saw glimpses of the women who birthed them. One cousin has her mother’s high cheekbones and soft voice. The other has her mom’s keen mind and love for learning. Watching two cousins’ hands cradle steaming cups of coffee, I noticed that they were identical. One pair of hands had traveled the world, while the other had stayed close to home, but they were similarly beautiful. 

The irony that, two generations later, we again have a sailor in the family escaped no one. One day my son-in-law invited us to have lunch with him at the Officers’ Club in Newport. Driving through the gates of the base transported my mother back to a younger time when life was simple and romance blossomed. 

“Your father took me here once,” she said. Her eyes crinkled at the memory of her handsome sailor. “Some nights he’d have to walk back to base after he took me home—or hitchhike, because we’d talked for so long he missed the last bus. What in the world did we talk about?” 


Showing my hometown to my children, son-in-law, and grandchildren gave me the opportunity to put flesh on the bones of my life. When they saw the spiral staircase in the Rogers Free Library, they understood why I spent more time there than anywhere else. When they stood at the stone wall that encircles Bristol Harbor, they knew why it was my favorite place to write and think. When they rested in the shade of the tree-lined streets, smelled the salty sea air, and watched the sailboats skim across the bay, they understood why my eyes light up whenever anyone mentions Rhode Island. 


Visiting my hometown helps my family understand me. Visiting my hometown also helps me understand me. Remembering the sunny landscape covered in three feet of snow reminds me why I hate cold and love the South. Driving by the 864-foot home where our family of five lived explains why I’m so excited about having a bedroom big enough to fit a bed, a dresser, and a chair. Walking past the little apartment where my Granny lived reinforces my determination to be a wonderful grandmother just like she was. 

We don’t get to choose our family, and not every relationship within the circle is a happy one. Rose-colored glasses aside, families can be our greatest source of joy or our greatest source of pain. It’s my prayer today that whatever side of the pendulum you’re on, you’ll ask God to show you how to be the best family member you can be, for his glory. 

“A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children” (Pro. 13:22).



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Copyright 2012 by Lori Hatcher

There's Something Magical about Going Home

There’s something magical about going home. Poet Maya Angelou says, "The ache for home lives in all of us, the safe place where we can go as we are . . ."

My mom describes it as “a time warp, where the buildings stay the same, but the people get older.” 

Those of you who’ve followed my blog for any length of time know I’m a transplanted Yankee living in South Carolina. And while I happily live in the land of grits and boiled peanuts, my roots are deeply embedded in the rocky soil of New England.

Almost a century ago my Portuguese ancestors crossed the Atlantic Ocean in search of a better life. My great-grandmother, known to me as Vovo’, and her three children sailed from the island of San Miguel in the Azores to Ellis Island, New York. From there they traveled north to meet my great-grandfather, who had gone ahead years earlier to prepare a place for them. He’d found work in a textile mill in the tiny harbor town of Bristol, Rhode Island, and there they settled.

Great-grandfather worked in the mill. Vovo’ worked in the mill. As soon as my great uncles were old enough, they worked in the mill. My grandmother, the only daughter, dropped out of school in the fourth grade after she’d learned to read, write, and perform basic arithmetic, to work in the mill. It was there she met my grandfather, a first-generation Italian from immigrant parents.

They had one daughter, my mother, who married a sailor boy from South Carolina stationed three towns over, in Newport. I was born in that sleepy little town on Narragansett Bay. And it was there that I recently returned.

Life comes full circle, they say, and this trip proved the old adage true. Fifty-five years ago my mom married her sailor boy in Newport. Last week we traveled to reunite with my daughter, also married to a sailor boy, now attending school in Newport. It was a nostalgic, symbolic trip.

My little town, Bristol, Rhode Island, was established in 1680, making it a pre-Revolutionary War town. Home to the Wampanoag indians (remember Squanto, who saved the pilgrims?), a few of its claims to fame include being the site of King Philip's tribal council seat, (you may remember him from the war that bears his name) and the oldest continuously celebrated Independence Day festivities in the United States.  The Herreshoff Boat company, housed in Bristol, built five consecutive America's Cup winners.

[image error] Taylor Swift and Conan O'Brien have homes in Westerly. Olivia Culpo, Miss USA and Miss Universe, calls RI home. The View cohost Elisabeth Hasselbeck was born and raised in RI. And soon-to-be New York Times best selling author, Lori Roeleveld, makes her home in New Hope. (She's just birthed a beautiful new book. Isn't it lovely?)

But I loved Bristol before Bristol was cool.

In the next few blog posts, I plan to share a few stories from the trip. I hope you enjoy the peek into my past. To whet your appetite, here are a few pictures. More to come.











“Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you” (Gen. 28:15 ESV).






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Copyright 2012 by Lori Hatcher

Christmas in August (A Sneak Preview of 3 Keys to a Spiritual Christmas)

Today may be the first day of September, but I'm already thinking about one of my favorite holidays, Christmas. With a little advance planning, it's possible to have a joyful, spirit-filled holiday that draws your family closer to the Lord and shares the love of Christ with our community. 

Today I'm pulling back the curtain on a new women's ministry presentation I've developed to help families do just that. 

3 KeysTo a Spirit-filled ChristmasKeeping the Spirit in ChristmasA Women’s Ministry Presentation

Description: We desire a spiritual Christmas, but sometimes the most beautiful parts of the season get crowded out. In 3 Keys to a Spirit-filled Christmas, I'll share how to unlock your celebration, your treasure, and your heart to welcome Christ into your holiday season.
Using humor, real-life stories, and examples, I'll offer practical suggestions to help you celebrate in ways that draw you and others closer to Jesus.
Planning Suggestions: Suitable for a Christmas Tea, Women’s Ministry Event, Holiday Celebration, or Ladies’ Night Out.

Presentation Ideas: Use the key theme for table décor. Secure door prizes that coordinate with some of the suggestions Lori shares for how to unlock your celebration, treasure, and heart. Print tickets or invitations on key-shaped cardstock. Give away antique keys tied with red ribbons as Christmas tree ornaments to remind attendees of the three “key” points of Lori’s talk. (Click here to order).
If you're interested in bringing 3 Keys to a Spirit-filled Christmas to your church or women's event, please pass along the information below to your women's ministry coordinator or contact me at LoriAHatcher@gmail.com.
To download or print a 3 Keys to a Spirit-filled Christmas flyer, CLICK HERE.
To visit my Speaking Ministry Page, CLICK HERE.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 2012 by Lori Hatcher

6 Silly Words to Make You Smile

Life is too serious. 

Politics, terrorists, natural disasters, scandals—they make me want to pull the covers over my head and never get out of bed. Today, however, I’d like you to set all that aside for a few minutes and have some fun. 

I love the English language. As crazy and illogical as it sometimes is, it’s also beautiful, poetic, and sometimes downright funny. Today I’ve chosen six words, courtesy of alphadictionary.com, that are hilarious, either in their spelling, meaning, or pronunciation. I hope they bring you a smile. 

#1 Anencephalous
Pronunciation: æn-en-se-fuh-lus 
Definition: To be anencephalous is to be brainless, empty-headed, to have a skull with an echo. 
Sample: The current election cycle has proven again that anencephalous humans elect other anencephalous humans to high public office. 

#2 Formication (Read this one carefully. It’s not what you think.) 
Pronunciation: fôrmiˈkāSHən
Definition: The sense of ants crawling on your skin. 
Sample: Seeing one bug climbing the table leg was enough to stir up my proclivity for formication.

#3 Pandiculation 
Pronunciation: pan-dik-yuh-ley-shuh n
Definition: A full body stretch. 
Sample: My dog, Winston, always began his day with leisurely pandiculation. 

#4 Sialoquent 
Pronunciation: sai-æ-lê-kwênt 
Definition: Spitting while speaking. 
Sample: The sialoquent preacher never understood why his congregants refused to sit on the front row. 

#5 and my personal favorite: Abibliophobia 
Pronunciation: uh-bib-li-uh-fo-bee-yuh
Definition: The fear of running out of reading material. 
Sample: When my Kindle library of new books dwindles, my abibliophobia rears its ugly head. 

Musicians will love this final word, but even if you’re not musically inclined, have fun trying to pronounce it. Take it slowly and don’t miss a syllable. 

#6 Hemidemisemiquaver
Pronunciation: hemēˌdemēˈsemēˌkwāvər/ 
Definition: A musical timing of 1/64. 
Sample: My fingers can’t move fast enough to play a selection in hemidemisemiquaver. 

Well, there you have it—six funny words from the English language. Since we’ve barely scratched the surface, I invite you to share your personal favorite by leaving a comment below. If you’re reading by email, click here to visit Hungry for God online, scroll to the bottom of the post, and comment there. 

Remember, just because the world is filled with serious things doesn’t mean we can’t lighten things up every now and then with a little laughter. I challenge you to incorporate one of these silly words into your conversation today and watch what happens. 

“A merry heart does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones,” (Prov. 17:22).



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Copyright 2012 by Lori Hatcher

3 Ways to Jazz Up Your Prayer Life

Sometimes prayer is boring. 

If you pray often and conscientiously, you know this is true. Perhaps you use a prayer journal to list the people and ministries you want to pray for. Or maybe you have a structure for your time of intercession, like one of my favorites, P.A.R.T. (Praise, Admit, Request, Thanksgiving). You might have a simple method, like praying daily for your family, friends, and missionaries. However you structure your prayer time, if you pray often, you probably battle boredom from time to time. 

One of the unexpected benefits of my husband’s recent unemployment has been that he's been able to walk with me in the mornings. In almost 32 years of marriage, we’ve never had schedules that allowed time to exercise together. For the past three months, however, we’ve been walking for an hour every morning, and while we walk, we pray. 

After a few weeks, I noticed we were praying the same prayers, in the same order, for the same people, day after day. I knew repetition was necessary, but boredom was not. We put our heads together and brainstormed ways to infuse new life and joy into our times of intercession. 

Today I’d like to share three ways that helped jazz up our prayer time. 

1. Use the alphabet to praise God. 
We begin most of our prayer times by praising God. Reminding ourselves of who God is is a powerful reminder that he is quite capable of answering our prayers and working on our behalf. Using the alphabet, we list a character quality or attribute of God for every letter (X is tough). Then we turn each attribute into something for which to praise him. 

Here’s an example: “God, you are our Advocate. Thank you for interceding for us when we are unable to help ourselves. You are also Benevolent, providing all we need, every day, in just the right amounts. I praise you for being Compassionate. You are a God who feels our pain, sympathizes with our weaknesses, and collects our tears in a bottle. . . .” 

2. Use the alphabet to pray for people. 
Like chronicling the attributes of God with the ABCs, praying for people using the alphabet can also take your prayer time in a fresh new direction. Use the sequence of letters to prompt you to pray for a person whose name (first or last) begins with the next letter. 

Here’s an example: “Father, today I’d like to pray for Aaron. Strengthen him in his faith. Help him love his wife as Christ loves the church. Help him parent his daughter wisely, and bless their unborn baby. Be with Bethany, too. Help her grow to love you more every day. Inspire her to read her Bible every day and work hard in school. Thank you, Father, for Chris, draw him to yourself. Save him and make him a mighty man of God for your glory. 

3. Pray for people for whom you don’t regularly pray. 
The only rule for this prayer approach is that you can’t have prayed for the person recently. Ask God to bring people to mind, and then pray for them as the Spirit leads you. When my husband and I pray this way, we’re always amazed at the people who pop into our minds—friends we went to church with 20 years ago, other people’s children, even patients of mine. 

Trusting that the Lord knows these people need special prayer, we lift each one to the Lord. We’ll probably never know how God used our prayers, but we can be confident that he took note of them. 

God calls us to prayerful persistence, and oftentimes such repetition can be a little dull. Thinking creatively and mixing up our routines every now and then can jazz things up and renew your enthusiasm. If your prayer life needs a spark, why not try one of these ideas or share one of your own 

What do you do to keep your prayer life dynamic? Leave a comment below to share your ideas. If you’re reading by email, click here to visit Hungry for God online, scroll down, and leave a comment at the bottom.



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Copyright 2012 by Lori Hatcher

If this post was meaningful to you, would you consider sh...

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 2012 by Lori Hatcher

Six Words When You Feel Frazzled

"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands," Psalm 19:1-3 tells us. 

"Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge.There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard."

Even though creation surrounds me, sometimes I don’t really see it. 

Most days the busyness of my life convinces me I don’t have time to stop. To gaze at the sunrise. To savor the cool breeze. To notice a tiny flower. 

I find, too, when I busily whiz past God’s creation, I also whiz past its Creator. 

It’s ironic, because it’s during these supersonic, speed-of-light-days that I most need a glimpse of God. I need a reminder that he's the center of the universe, not me. 

So today I chose to linger long and marvel at the earth’s masterpiece of praise to its Creator. I invite you to come with me. 

May you have eyes to see and hearts to receive what God is saying to us.





When I see ripening grapes hanging on an arbor, I am reminded that He is the vine, and I am a branch. Connected to him, I can bear much fruit. Apart from him, I become a raisin.



When I see variety in a sea of sameness, I am reminded that I am a unique creation, perfectly designed for the Master's use.



When I see towering cliffs and lofty trees, vast expanses of sea and soaring heights, I am reminded that God is big, and I am small.



When I see flashes of lighting and hear the crash of thunder, I experience a tiny portion of God's great power. I am awestruck and strangely comforted.



When I see the bond between humans and animals, I am reminded that God knows what I need before I even ask him.



When I see the beauty of a sunset, I am reminded that the sky is God's canvas, and all the world is his gallery.





When I see a sleeping child resting safely in her mother's arms, I am reminded that I, too, can rest securely in my heavenly Father's embrace.

If you're whizzing past creation and whizzing past the God of creation, I have six words for you:

Slow down.

Breathe deeply.

Look around.

Not only will you see the beauty of creation, you'll also see the beauty of the Creator. And that, my friends, changes everything.

Happy Monday.

Now it's your turn: What does creation tell you about its Creator? Leave a comment below and share your thoughts. If you're reading by email, click here to visit Hungry for God online, scroll to the bottom of the blog post, and leave a comment to encourage us all.

PLEASE HELP ME SPREAD THE WORD
Five years ago, after a 17 years of homeschooling, I wrote a devotional book to encourage homeschooling moms.
Every year since then, I've offered Kindle copies for free at the beginning of the school year.
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If you live within driving distance of Brookville, PA, I’d love for you to join me for A Wardrobe for All Seasons—Dressing for Spiritual Success, a one-day women’s conference on Saturday, September 17. I’ll share 3 workshop sessions: “Stepping Out, How Our Footwear Impacts Our Faith,” “Clean Out That Closet,” and “A Hat for All Seasons—Serving God In Every Stage of Life.” 

Cost is $35, which includes lunch, a t-shirt, and a copy of my book, Hungry for God…Starving for Time. For more information and to register, contact Kathy Shaffer at flokat1990@gmail.com.

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Copyright 2012 by Lori Hatcher

4 Reasons Why You Can't Quit, Part II

Quitting is mighty tempting sometimes. A body grows weary striving, persevering, and believing when all the evidence and sometimes your own spirit says Quit. Give Up. Surrender.

In my last post, I shared Part I of 4 Reasons You Can't Quit. Today I'll share two more. If you missed Part I, click here. 


Reason 3: A breakthrough may be just around the corner. 

My husband, David, became a Christian at age 17. Excited about his newfound faith and eager to pass along the joy and life transformation he was experiencing, he shared the Gospel with his older brother, Luther.

Luther was a rough and tough man’s man who wasn’t interested in “religion.” He liked his life the way it was, and he didn’t need his little brother “preaching to him.” One day he got so mad that he threatened him.

“If you ever talk to me about religion again, I will punch you in the face.”

David stopped sharing.

But he didn’t stop praying.

He prayed for his brother for 26 years. He continued to ask God for opportunities to share the Gospel again, but he knew it would have to be with Luther’s permission and on Luther’s terms.

One day Luther received news he didn’t want to hear: “You have lung cancer.”

David went to see him. With fear and trembling, he shared the Gospel one more time.

“I’ll think about it,” Luther said.

Two weeks later he confessed his sin to God and asked Christ to be his Savior.

What if David had quit?

I know God could and would have saved Luther another way, but David would have missed out on the joy of being part of persevering in faith.

You can’t quit, because a breakthrough may be just around the corner.

Reason 4: Others are watching you.

Just like we don’t sin in a vacuum, we also don’t struggle in a vacuum. It’s easy to think that our difficulties only affect ourselves, but they don’t. We are part of what Hebrews 11 calls “a great cloud of witnesses.” As you persevere in prayer and faith for your prodigal, others are watching you.

As you refuse to give up on your marriage, others are watching you. As you trust God for financial provision and see him meet your needs, others are watching you. As you suffer for doing what's right, others are watching you.

There are two groups of people watching you struggle: the believers and the skeptics.

Those who share your faith are watching to see if God is going to enable you to persevere and see how he answers your prayers and meets your needs.

Those who are skeptical of your faith are watching you, too. They’re watching to see if God is going to enable you to persevere and if he answers your prayers and meets your needs.

They’re wondering too, if you’ll continue to believe in God when trials come. They want to see if the faith you’ve proclaimed in the good times is strong enough to carry you through the bad times.

If you quit, both groups lose, because faith is contagious, and so is unbelief. If you not only survive your trial, but meet God in the midst of it, others’ faith will grow. They’ll know that the same God who met your needs, carried you through, and worked on your behalf can do the same for them. Every time you exercise your spiritual muscles, other believers will grow stronger because of your example.

The unsaved will also benefit when you choose to persevere. As they watch you weather your trials, they’ll see a powerful example of how God can and does work in his children's lives. Even if nothing changes, you'll have the opportunity to demonstrate the genuineness of your faith.

Like Satan when he tested Job, people expect Christians to serve God when he is blessing them. Trials, however, have a way of weeding out the nominally committed. A Christian who remains steadfast despite difficulties shines a bright light into an unsaved person’s soul.

When you’re tempted to quit, look around you. Think of the Christians who are watching your example. Then think of the people you love who don’t know Christ.

You can’t quit, because others are watching you. 

"Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain" (1 Cor. 15:58).

As I conclude this challenge not to quit, I’d like to leave you with my favorite passage of hope from the book of Isaiah, 43:1-3:

“…this is what the LORD says—he who created you, __________ (insert your name here), he who formed you,:

"'Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.

When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;'”



If you're reading by email and can't see this video, CLICK HERE to be encouraged by Kari Jobe's "You Are For Me."


If you enjoyed this post, why not subscribe? I'll send you twice-weekly 5-minute devotions to help nourish your soul. 
Because women need to connect with God in the craziness of life. 

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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 2012 by Lori Hatcher