Lori Hatcher's Blog: Refresh Blog, page 71

The Faith Life -- When It Isn't What You Signed Up For

“What do you think happened to Peter?” I asked my pastor/husband. 

I’d been reading the account of the Passover week, and Peter’s loyalty to Christ stood in sharp contrast to his subsequent betrayal. At the Last Supper, Peter declared he was willing to die with Christ. When the mob came to arrest Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, he bravely defended Jesus. He swung a sword and chopped off a guy’s ear. Yet a little servant girl scared him so much that he swore and said he never knew Jesus. 

What happened? 

“Peter was willing to fight,” my husband said, “but he wasn’t willing to surrender his life.” 

Some days, I am Peter. I share the Gospel bravely. Defend Jesus with passion. Pledge my allegiance to the cause of Christ, and declare, “As for me and MY house, we will serve the Lord.” I want the guts and the glory.

But I’m unwilling to lay down my life. 

I want revenge when someone wrongs me. 
I expect praise when I serve unselfishly. 
I think others should set aside their preferences in favor of mine. 
I’m surprised when people mock my faith. 
I feel like God has betrayed my trust when pain and trials enter my life. 

I, like Peter, am willing to fight for Christ, but I’m not always willing to surrender to him—especially when life doesn’t turn out like I expected. 

Trials and hardships? I didn't sign up for this. 

Sickness and death? Can’t I just pray and God will spare us? 

Animosity against me because I’m a Christian? I don’t deserve this. 

Disappointments, hurts, and betrayals? This happens to the unsaved, but Christians should be exempt.  
Yet what does Scripture say? 

About trials: “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). 
About sickness and death: “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever” (Psa. 73:26). 
About persecution for our faith: “Remember the word that I said unto you, ‘The servant is not greater than his lord.’ If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you” (John 15:20). 
About disappointments, hurts, and betrayals: “I gave My back to those who strike Me, And My cheeks to those who pluck out the beard; I did not cover My face from humiliation and spitting” (Isa. 50:6). 

Surrendering to God’s will, as Peter discovered, is much more difficult than fighting for God’s cause. Cowards can fight, but only the bravest surrender. 

And only when we surrender our will to God will we discover what it really means to live. 

“Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it” (Mat. 10:39). 

Peter discovered that people experience the greatest joy imaginable when they surrender their lives to Christ. Listen to his words in 1 Peter 5:6-7: 

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” 

Peter learned that to truly fight for Christ, we must surrender to him. No holding back. No hedging our bets. No escape clause. No emergency chute. 
All in. 
All out. 
All his. 

Three times the gospels describe Peter’s actions: “He followed at a distance.”* 

Following at a distance caused Peter to deny Christ. 

“Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: ‘Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.’ . . . And he went outside and wept bitterly” (Luke 22:60-62). 

Today is Maundy Thursday, the day the church commemorates the Last Supper. Will you join me not only in defending Christ, but also in surrendering our lives to him? 











*Mat. 26:58, Mark 14:54, Luke 22:54

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Copyright 2012 by Lori Hatcher

Spring Always Comes -- Encouragement for the Winter-worn Soul

Every year a springtime extravaganza spills from the gardens of Heaven and splashes onto my hometown of Columbia, South Carolina. 

Yellow forsythia bushes whisper from the hedges that Mistress Spring has begun her approach. Trumpeting daffodils echo the note and pass the news, circling trees, edging sidewalks, and clustering around mailboxes, their heads bobbing in conversation. 

Excitement builds as the stately Japanese magnolia, a willowy wisp of elegance, dons her prettiest pink and scatters petals in tribute. Dogwood trees spread a lacy canopy above the gathering. And then, like guests at a grand ball, the azaleas arrive. Dressed in their finest, they curtsy to their neighbors and take their places, nodding their pink, purple, and white heads to their fellow debutantes. 

Springtime is powerful medicine. 

Every whiff of floral sweetness infuses hope into weary, winter-worn souls. Discouragement’s icy grip loosens. Apathy gives way to inspiration and ambition, and hearts begin to dream again. 

My grandmother used to pass long winters by planning her spring vegetable garden. “It’s what gets her through,” her kids acknowledged, and I understand. The hope of spring in the dead of winter is what gets me through, too. 

Sometimes spring comes early, like this year in South Carolina. Other years have left me wondering if budget cuts cancelled the parade. But spring always comes—a testimony to God’s faithfulness. 

I don’t know what season it is in your life. Perhaps death, disease, betrayal, or depression holds you in a Narnian land where “it’s always winter but never Christmas.” Take heart. Just as our faithful Father ushers in spring every year without fail, so will he bring beauty to your season of barrenness. 

Hold on. 

Spring is coming. 

He promised. 



"As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease” (Gen. 8:22).



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Copyright 2012 by Lori Hatcher

Packing Heat -- Why We Shouldn't Be Afraid

One of my favorite dental patients is also one of my scariest dental patients. Sam (not his real name) is a Richland County sheriff’s deputy who always schedules his appointment for first thing in the morning. He likes this time because it allows him to head to work immediately afterward.

Sam is soft-spoken and easy-going, and after we get the dental preliminaries out of the way, we often talk about his dogs.


So why is he one of my scariest patients? Because he’s packing heat. (That’s street talk for he carries a weapon.) When Sam enters my operatory, it’s hard to miss the armamentarium strapped to his waist. Pepper spray, a Billy club, two sets of handcuffs, and a revolver in a holster.

I’m a city girl. I’m not used to firearms. Unlike my country friends who grew up with fathers who hunt, I’ve never fired a shotgun, a pistol, or even a BB gun. The closest I’ve ever come to shooting anything was when I aimed my cap gun at a bird when I was six. 

This is why firearms intimidate me. And having a six-foot-four sheriff’s deputy seated in my dental chair with a weapon on his hip is somewhat unsettling. It makes me nervous.

But it also makes me feel safe. 

It makes me feel safe because I know if anyone ever threatens me while Sam is there, he’ll defend me. He’ll use his strength and his weapons to protect me, because he’s promised to defend innocent people and uphold the law. I thought about Sam when I read Psalm 34:7:


“The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them.” 

“Fear” in this verse means reverent respect—the same kind of “fear” I feel toward Sam and his weapons. I respect the office he holds and the authority he has as a law enforcement officer. And I respect the gun strapped to his side. As long as I abide by the law, I have nothing to be afraid of.

Likewise, I should reverently respect the Lord. When I do, he promises to protect and defend me. He is the ultimate powerful authority, and he can defend and deliver me from anything that threatens. I love the mental picture of the angel of the Lord (another name for Christ) encamping or surrounding those who fear him. Because God possesses the ultimate firepower, nothing’s getting to me when he circles the wagons. I can rest in this and trust him to take care of me.

If you’re struggling with fear today, I encourage you to spend time in Psalm 34. Read and claim its promises. Revel in the peace, protection, and deliverance God offers to his children. Acknowledge how great and mighty God is. Approach him with humility and respect. May the peace of God keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

What portions of Scripture do you cling to when you’re afraid? I’d love for you to share them by leaving a comment below.

Psalm 34

1 I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My soul shall make its boast in the LORD; The humble shall hear of it and be glad.
3 Oh, magnify the LORD with me, And let us exalt His name together.
 4 I sought the LORD, and He heard me, And delivered me from all my fears.
5 They looked to Him and were radiant, And their faces were not ashamed.
6 This poor man cried out, and the LORD heard him, And saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them.
8 Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!
9 Oh, fear the LORD, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him.
10 The young lions lack and suffer hunger; But those who seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing.
11  Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
12 Who is the man who desires life, And loves many days, that he may see good?
 13 Keep your tongue from evil, And your lips from speaking deceit.
 14 Depart from evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it.
15 The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their cry.
16 The face of the LORD is against those who do evil, To cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
17 The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears, And delivers them out of all their troubles.
18 The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit.
19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the LORD delivers him out of them all.
20 He guards all his bones; Not one of them is broken.
21 Evil shall slay the wicked, And those who hate the righteous shall be condemned.
22 The LORD redeems the soul of His servants, And none of those who trust in Him shall be condemned. 


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Copyright 2012 by Lori Hatcher

"The Look"

Susie and her brother called it “The Look.” 

The Look could strike fear in a child’s heart from 30 feet away. It could stop foolish behavior in its tracks, silence inappropriate chatter, and deliver a complete lecture with a single lift of an eyebrow. The Look was Mother’s most effective disciplinary tool during Sunday morning church service, Sunday night worship, and Wednesday night choir practice. 

Because Mother was the choir director and church pianist, she never sat with her children. Instead, ten minutes before the service, she’d march them down to the front row, remind them of proper church behavior, and take her seat at the piano. Perched daintily on the edge of the bench with her back ramrod straight, she’d begin the prelude. Her eyes would follow the notes’ progression across the sheet music, but occasionally she’d glance in her children’s direction. Misbehavior of any kind prompted The Look. 

I thought of The Look this morning when I read Psalm 32:8: 

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.” 

Apparently, God has also perfected The Look. 

I love Psalm 32:8, because it assures me that God will direct the events of my life. He’ll give me wisdom when I ask and instruction when I’m confused or unsure. Equally important, he’ll correct any behavior that will lead me away from him and his will for my life. I take comfort in this. 

But just like Mother didn’t jump off the platform and snatch up Susie and her brother, so the Lord seldom jerks us up by the collar to dispense his wisdom and correction. Most of the time, he waits for us to ask. 

Mother’s look was mostly for correction purposes, but the Lord desires to lead and guide us in his ways so we don’t require correction. Or discipline. Or consequences. His desire is to spare us from harm and lead us in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. If we’re smart, we’ll want this. 

Sadly, many of us miss God’s direction—not because he doesn’t offer it, but because we’re not looking for it. In order for God to lead us, we must turn our faces toward him. How do we do this? John 1:1 shows us one way:

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” 

Because God has revealed himself through the Bible, when we look into his Word, we look into his heart and mind. We see life through his eyes. This is why it’s imperative that we read our Bibles every day. We wouldn’t start a cross-country car trip without using an accurate GPS system, yet many times we begin the day without checking with God to see if he has any directions for us. 

Another way to look into God’s eyes is through prayer. By talking to him (and being still long enough to hear him), we invite a two-way conversation that can chart the course of our lives. 

I’ve often heard the Lord speak during my early morning quiet time. As I pray through the day’s schedule, God will bring someone or something to mind. Sometimes he’ll redirect where I plan to spend my time, energy, or money. Other times he’ll introduce a completely new thought or idea for tackling something on my To Do list. When I follow through in faith and do what I think he’s telling me to do, amazing things happen. 

Reading our Bibles and praying are two ways we seek God’s face, but some days, we’d rather not have his eyes upon us. 

Some Sundays Susie and her brother deliberately avoided Mother’s eyes. They knew if they looked at her, they’d have to decide between correcting their behavior and continuing their disobedience. Once they made eye contact with Mother, they knew there was no hiding. 

The same is true of us. We love/hate our pet sins: Anger. Bitterness. Unforgiveness. Lying. Pornography. Gossip. Worry. Lust. Self-sufficiency. Pride. We don’t want to let go of them, even though they’re destroying us. 

I think one of the reasons God called David a “man after God’s own heart is because he knew how to turn his face toward God. Listen to his prayer in Psalm 27:8: 

“When You said, ‘Seek My face,’ my heart said to You, ‘Your face, LORD, I will seek.’" 

David knew he needed God. He knew he couldn’t navigate this world on his own, nor did he want to. His only hope was to keep his eyes on God. 

If you need guidance, wisdom, direction, or correction, follow David’s lead. Turn your eyes toward God. Confess any known sin. Read his Word and obey it. Then you will walk in the ways of righteousness and feel God’s pleasure.



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Copyright 2012 by Lori Hatcher

Christians Aren't Pollyannas

Sometimes people call me a Pollyanna. 

The name comes from the 1913 novel Pollyanna by Eleanor H. Porter describing a girl who plays the "glad game"—trying to find something to be glad about in every situation. 

Generally viewed negatively, Pollyanna people are those who are not only positive, but are so positive they’ve lost their grip on reality. They might tell someone with terminal cancer that everything’s going to be OK without acknowledging the very real danger of her disease. 

Our society often perceives Christians as Pollyannas. Those who believe this think our hope in the sweet by and by negates the realities of the nasty now and now. They think we slap on our rose-colored glasses and skip through fields of daisies, blissfully ignoring the hand grenades exploding around us. 

This couldn’t be further from the truth. If anything, Christians are more aware of evil and suffering. We recognize that sin has dragged its poisonous tentacles across everything beautiful and pure with one objective—to destroy it. Christians are also more aware of what God has done and is doing to conquer the power of sin and put an end to its reign of death and destruction. 

Some call me Pollyanna because I’m committed to practicing gratitude instead of grumbling. I’m in good company then, because the apostle Paul shared a similar commitment. (Maybe his colleagues called him Paulyanna.) 

Listen to his words of encouragement: 

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” (Phi. 4:4). 

He wrote these lines from prison. Chained between two guards. Surely the only way he could write such happy words in light of his circumstances was to have lost his grip on reality. 

There’s one problem, though—the text doesn’t support this. Instead of sunshine and roses, Paul’s words to the Philippians are awash with the gory details of his life: 

He had no hope of rescue and expected to die for his faith. 

“. . . I am being poured out like a drink offering.” 

He was shackled between two guards 24 hours a day. 

“. . . I am in chains for Christ” (Phi. 1:13). 

He lacked food, clothing, and essentials. 

“. . . not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only;” (Phi. 4:15). 

Yet he chose gratitude instead of grumbling. Listen: 

About his impending martyrdom: 

“But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you” (Phi. 2:17). 

About his imprisonment: 

“Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly” (Phi. 1:12-14). 

About his deprivation: 
“I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. . .” (Phi. 4:11). 

Paul didn’t maintain this optimistic aspect because he was denying the reality of his circumstances, but because he believed God was at work, for good, in his circumstances.With this theology firmly in place, he channeled his thoughts toward gratitude, not grumbling. 

“Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things” (Phi. 4:8).

This discipline, combined with prayer, helps us triumph over life’s most difficult circumstances. It enables us to echo Paul’s words from his prison cell: 

“I can do all things through Him who gives me strength” (Phi. 4:13). 

What are the difficult circumstances of your life right now? How might things change if you apply the principles of Philippians 4:8? Why not try it and see? A dear friend once told me, “I don’t think it would have changed my circumstances, but it sure could have changed how I handled them.” 

Leave a comment below with your thoughts.



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Copyright 2012 by Lori Hatcher

Doing What You Don't Want to Do

On the first Monday of every month my spirit and my flesh war in a way that makes Clash of the Titans look like a kiddie show. Lest I misrepresent myself, I confess that my flesh and spirit skirmish every day, but the big fight usually happens on this day. 

The opening salvo sounds something like this: 

Today’s the first Monday of the month, the day you’ve set aside to fast and pray for your kids.WHAT?! It can’t be time already. I just did that. 
Nope, it’s the first Monday. 
But there’s that big bowl of fresh fruit in the fridge I planned to eat for breakfast. . .  
It’ll be there tomorrow. Praying for your kids is more important. 
But I’m on a writing deadline, and I usually get a headache when I fast. It’s hard to write with a headache. 
You’ll be fine. You’ve worked with a headache before. Your kids need your prayers more than you need a headache-free day. 
Maybe tomorrow would be better. Or next Monday. I don’t think I’m as busy then. 
No, you committed to today. If you put it off, you’ll never do it. Don’t be a wimp. 

It’s the classic battle Paul lamented about in Romans 7—wanting to do good, but struggling to actually do it. Our spirit desires to do the things that please God, but our flesh is more concerned with our physical comfort. I struggle to fast and pray every month because I don’t like discomfort and deprivation. 

This is why Hebrews 12:11 means so much to me, especially on the first Monday of every month: 

“No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” 

Fasting is painful. So are other spiritual disciplines like sacrificial giving, witnessing, and serving. I’ve discovered, however, that temporarily denying my flesh always produces a harvest of spiritual blessings—in my life and in the lives of those around me. 

I’ve seen God answer my prayers for my children in miraculous ways. I’ve seen him protect and preserve them through intensely difficult seasons. I’ve seen him provide for their needs in ways I never could have imagined. I’ve seen him draw them to himself and grow and mature them in their faith. I’ve seen him give them wisdom, courage, and faith. 

Now that they’re adults, I no longer have the opportunity to influence them daily while they live under my roof. But I can influence them through the power of God as I pray for their health, purity, spiritual growth, wisdom, and holiness. 

Do I want this and much more for them now and in the years to come? Absolutely. 

Way more than I want “productive,” headache-free, fruit salad-filled days. I want to reap that harvest of righteousness and faith the unknown writer of Hebrews promises. 

What about you? With which spiritual discipline do you struggle? I challenge you to step out in faith, deny your flesh, and, as Nike says, JUST DO IT. 

I’m confident you’ll never regret it.



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Copyright 2012 by Lori Hatcher

God Knows Your Name

I was one of three Lori’s in my third grade class. During roll call, because my last name began with S, I had to listen for the first Lori, the second Lori, and the third Lori before I could respond, “Here,” and the teacher would mark me present.

My husband’s scenario was even worse. In a homeroom class of students whose name began with H, he was the third David. But he wasn’t just David. He wasn’t even David H. He was David H-A. Imagine going through high school as David H-A.

When the time came to select names for our unborn baby, David immediately rejected my suggestion to name the potential boy David. “There are too many David Hatchers in the world already,” he said, and that was the end of our discussion.


At the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference last year, I served on faculty with my friend and fellow blogger, Lori Roeleveld. We were two Lori’s, both from Rhode Island, both teaching writing and blogging classes.

At mealtime faculty members sit at tables with name placards so conferees can eat with them and pick their brains. I had quite a few writers approach my table, eager to gather pearls of wisdom. They’d look at my name placard, frown, and ask, “Are you the Lori who . . .?”

“No, I’m the other Lori,” I’d say, and direct them across the room. After the first day I edited my placard to read Lori Hatcher, NOT Lori Roeleveld.

In addition to our first names, Lori R. and I share the same agent and the same publisher. Our books released two days apart in December 2014. In the crazy month leading up to our book launches, she’d get my beta reader copies in the mail, and I’d get her emails.

“You haven’t received your beta copies yet?” my publisher asked. “Must have sent them to the other Lori . . .”

I joked that since her book was destined to become a bestseller, I wouldn’t mind if he mixed up the royalty checks. Sadly, that hasn’t happened.

You may not share a common name with someone, like Lori R., David H-A, and me, but you may still feel invisible. Or passed over. Or marginalized. You may feel like you’re nothing special, or that no one even knows your name.

Today in my quiet time, I discovered a chapter that made me feel very special. I think it will encourage you, too. That God tucked these encouraging words into the book of Numbers makes the lesson even more profound. Of all the books in the Old Testament, I suspect the book of Numbers gets passed over and marginalized more than most.

Numbers 1 and 2 are devoted to the details of the military census the Lord asked Moses to conduct. Using the exact same words in every paragraph, the 12 chapters describe how many fighting men came from each tribe. Here’s an example:

From the tribe of Simeon, their genealogies by their families, by their fathers’ house, of those who were numbered, according to the number of names, every male individually, from twenty years old and above, all who were able to go to war. . . 

 Blah blah blah. Zzzzzzzzzzz.

Did I just say that?

Repetitive narratives like this are tough to read, even for the most committed Christian. This is why I think God tucks hidden jewels among the verbiage—to reward those who recognize the value of reading all God’s Word, not just the Hollywood parts.

In preparation for the census, God gave specific instructions: “You and Aaron shall number them by their armies. And with you there shall be a man from every tribe, each one the head of his father’s house.”

And here’s the gem: God called them by name.

Roll call. Only there were no duplicates. No third Lori or David H-A.

“Then Moses and Aaron took these men who had been mentioned by name , and assembled the congregation . . .” (Numbers 1: 17-18).

If you’re feeling obscure today, I hope this verse encourages you, because it means God knows your name, too. Even better, he’s written your name on the palms of his hands as an eternal declaration of his love for you. And Lori R. And David H-A. And me, the third Lori.

So the next time you feel passed over, marginalized, or invisible, speak this little secret to your heart: God knows my name.


 “See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands” (Isa. 49:16).


 
If you're reading by email and can't see the Youtube video of Maranatha singing "He Knows My Name," click HERE.



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Copyright 2012 by Lori Hatcher

Will God Really Provide for Me?

What if you were a farmer and God told you not to plant for a year? Like your parents, and their parents before them, your family has always made a living from the soil. You know if you don’t plant, you don’t reap. 

And if you don’t reap, you don’t eat. Your family, your community, even your nation depends on you to grow a crop that will feed them for an entire year. And God says, “Don’t plant.” 

Not, “Don’t plant some of your fields,” or “Don’t plant some of your crops,” but “Don’t plant anything at all.” 

How would you feel? What would you say to God? 

“Don’t plant a crop, Lord? Are you CRAZY? How am I going to feed my family?” 

“Just for a year,” the Lord says. “The land needs a rest, and you do, too 

“A YEAR? If I don’t plant for a year, then it will be TWO years before we harvest again. You know it takes an entire season to grow a crop.” 

“Do it anyway,” the Lord says. “Trust me.” 

Every 50 years, the Lord called the Israelites to a celebratory year of Jubilee. We read about it in Leviticus 25. Among other things, he called for a Sabbath rest for the land. No sowing. No reaping. No farming of any kind. 

Observing this year of Jubilee required the Israelites to believe that God could and would provide for them. Totally and completely. For three years, not just the required one. 

He anticipated their question: “What shall we eat in the seventh year, since we shall not sow nor gather in our produce?” (v. 20). 

Listen to his response: “Then I will command my blessing on you in the sixth year, and it will bring forth produce enough for three years. And you shall sow in the eighth year, and eat old produce until the ninth year; until its produce comes in, you shall eat of the old harvest.” 

Do you hear what God is saying? “Trust me. Obey me. I will take care of you. Because you are faithful and obedient, I’m going to bless you so much that when the time of empty fields comes, you’ll have enough to see you through.” 

Jesus shared the New Testament parallel to this Scripture: “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things (everything you truly need) will be given to you” (Mat. 6:33). 

Matthew 6:33 has been the plumb line for every major decision my husband and I have made in our 30 years of marriage. Unfortunately, while we’ve always owned this plumb line, we haven’t always pulled it out of our spiritual toolbox. Some days, we measured our decision with the ruler of common sense. Or the yardstick of fear. Or the tape measure of self-protection. 

Other days, faith and Truth prevailed. We planted our mustard seed of faith, watered it with prayer, and watched to see God sprout a miracle. These have been the days when we’ve harvested some of our grandest faith experiences. 

The anonymous donor who paid my husband’s way through college when he obeyed God’s call to go back. 

The accounting decision that erased our hospital bill when the Lord told us we should have another baby. 

The kind friend who gave us a computer when ours died and we refused to go into debt to buy another. 

The generous church family who donated money when my husband lost his job and we trusted God to provide. 

And, most recently, the generous family who obeyed the Lord’s prompting to give us a financial gift—the day we received the news that our home needed thousands of dollars of repairs after South Carolina’s historic 1,000-year flood. 

We are living proof that when a Christian obeys God, he will provide for them. “Exceedingly, abundantly, above all that we could ever ask or imagine” (Eph. 3:20). 

If God is calling you to obey him, and you can’t make the numbers add up, let me encourage you to step out in faith. Not presumption, mind you, but faith. 

Is God calling you to quit your job and stay home with your children? 
Is God calling you to serve in a ministry that’s way outside your comfort zone? 
Is God calling you to surrender to the mission field? 
Is God calling you to do what’s right at work, even though it may cost you? 
Is God calling you to right a wrong, at great personal expense? 

Pray hard, seek wise counsel, search God’s Word for direction, and count the cost. In the end, if you’re reasonably certain the Lord is calling you to take a step of faith, even when it doesn’t make sense, do it. By doing so, you’ll plant the mustard seeds that will sprout a great faith harvest. 

What about you? What do you sense the Lord is calling you to do that requires a faith step? Or when have you obeyed the Lord and took a faith step that didn’t make sense? What happened? I’d love to hear your story, and I’d love to pray for you. Leave a comment below and join the conversation.



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Copyright 2012 by Lori Hatcher

A Very Special Birthday

Five years ago this month, on February 19, 2011, I wrote my first blog post. "Be Not Weary," also the title of my blog, had a tiny font and no graphics. Clicking "Send" was scary and exhilarating, because it launched me into the world of blogging.

My little sister, ever the cheerleader, was the first (and only) person to comment. This is what she wrote:

Hey, you are off to an awesome start. Reading this has made me feel like you were sitting across from me at the tale having one of our sister chit chats. I can't wait to see what else He has planned for you with your new "vessel," the great world of blogging. I wonder how many other "baby sisters" you will be able to touch with His word with the way you have of looking at everyday trials and the "what's right" that life throws at us. I know it has helped me through the years and I will be looking forward to seeing His work shine through this blog. Love ya, Me

I told my besties about my blog, and eleven of them subscribed that first day. God bless you. Sandy M., you were the first. Then came Margaret, Jennifer, Dee Dee, Mandy, Carol, Jim (God bless you, too, for breaking the gender barrier), Cheryl, Brenda, and Sandy B.

Today, five years, 623 posts, and 1,266 subscribers later, God is still faithfully at work. It's very humbling to know that some of you have stuck with me for five years. It's even more humbling to read your comments and emails about how God has used Hungry for God in your lives. Every time I sit down at the keyboard I am amazed that he uses "the foolish things of this world" and the "earthen vessels" to communicate his truth. What an honor. What a joy.

Five years ago Cindy Sproles, at Writers Advance Boot Camp said, "If you want to be a writer, you need a blog." And Eddie Jones, founder of Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas said, "Don't try to be someone you're not. Write what you know. Write from where you are."
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In celebration of Hungry for God' s fifth anniversary, he's made the Kindle version of my book available for $.99. If you don't have a copy, or if you'd like to gift it to a friend, you'll find Hungry for God, Starving for Time HERE.

If HFG has blessed you, I'd love it if you'd share it with a friend who needs encouragement. Sharing on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest are also great ways to help me reach women (and men) who need to hear the reason for the hope that lies within us.

Thank you for reading my posts. Thank you for praying for me and my family. Thank you for allowing me to walk the faith walk with you. You are God's good and perfect gifts to me, and I am most grateful.








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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

How to Pray for God's Will -- A Guest Post

Today it's my privilege to share some thoughts from my new friend and fellow writer, Sue Schlesman. Sue and I shared a room recently at the Asheville Christian Writers Conference. We immediately connected on a subject that is near and dear to our hearts--prayer. I know you'll be challenged and inspired by her words.

"Dear God, if it's Your will, please . . ." 

That's the spiritual way to pray, right? For God's will. And then we proceed to tell Him what His will should be.

In Hebrews 12, you can read about a whole list of people who spoke with God and heard His response. They heard God's will, about moving to a new land, shaking off slavery, conquering kingdoms, enduring persecution. They prayed for God's will (a plan), they submitted to God's will (their obedience), and then God led them in His will (their destiny). God's will can mean all 3 things. So what and how should we pray for God's will?

Accept an unknown outcome.

Here are two curious aspects of God's will--He often doesn't tell us the details first, and He doesn't even promise we'll know why something happened. He just expects blind obedience to His written Word. Heb. 11:39 says, "These were all commended of their faith yet none of them received what had been promised." None of them received what was promised! The faith walk is not about understanding what God is doing--it's about joining what He is doing. You may see the fruit of your obedience, but you may not. The outcome shouldn't matter.

Expect hardship in doing God's will. 

Since following God's will is an act of faith, it makes sense that part of the faith-building exercise is to follow God without knowing exactly where He's leading or what following Him will entail. He has already given us some clues about this in Scripture:

Jn. 16:33--"In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

Mtt. 5:10--"Blessed are those who are persecuted because of their righteousness, for theirs in the kingdom of heaven."

1 Thes. 5:18--"Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

Why are we surprised when following God is hard? He told us it would be hard. It's the enduring of hardship that points people to Christ. Jesus is the answer for all of life's difficulties.

Embrace suffering for doing God's will It is God's will for you to experience suffering.

In Phil. 1:29, Paul says "For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also suffer for him." In Greek, the word grant carries the concept of giving a gift or a privilege. God gives us suffering because He knows it will improve our character and our relationship with Him! Although it may seem like an oxymoron, we should embrace suffering, knowing that God is perfecting us and making us more like Jesus.

Be faithful in following God's will.

So let's not pray for God's will to remove something difficult from our lives. Let's pray for strength and courage to be faithful to our calling. Maybe we should pray through suffering more than we pray against suffering. Gal. 6:9 reminds us, "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."

Lord, not my will, but Yours be done! 



Sue Schlesman is a Christian writer, teacher, and speaker. Her blogs, fiction, and non-fiction reach a wide audience. You can find her eating dark chocolate and philosophizing about life and Jesus at www.susanwalleyschlesman.com and www.7prayersthatwork.com.












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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