Lori Hatcher's Blog: Refresh Blog, page 83

Do You Have Spiritual Alzheimer's?

For the life of me, I couldn’t remember where I’d put the stamped envelopes my husband asked me to address. “They were right here on the counter,” I said in frustration, “but I moved them when I cleaned before the party.” 

And that check. Did I deposit it or just think about depositing it? 

And how many times have I gone to the back of the house to get something only to forget what I went there to get? 

I see you nodding your head, because, if you’re busy and over 40, you’ve done the same things. We’re overextended and trying to do too many things at once. 

And it’s not a new problem. My grandmother used to say, “I’d forget my head if it wasn’t sewn on.” I know the feeling. 

In an article titled “10 Early Signs of Alzheimers,” The Alzheimer’s Association states, “One of the most common signs of Alzheimer's is memory loss, especially forgetting recently learned information. Others include forgetting important dates or events; asking for the same information over and over; increasingly needing to rely on memory aids (e.g., reminder notes or electronic devices) or family members for things they used to handle on their own.” 

Thankfully, the other nine signs are not a regular part of my life . . . at least I don’t remember that they are. . . . 

I don’t have physical Alzheimer’s, but I am often plagued with SPIRITUAL Alzheimer’s. I suspect you might be, too. 

I forget how God saved me, and how he transforms me. 

I forget the thousand prayers God has answered. I forget how, for over 30 years, God has met my family’s needs. 

I forget how God provided scholarships, grants, and anonymous donors to provide for four college educations. 

I forget how God has protected my family in cars, planes, and trains. In the United States and out of the United States. On land, on sea, and in the air. 

I forget how God has been with us as we rejoiced at the birth of babies and wept at the death of saints. 

Spiritual Alzheimer’s—do you have it, too? 

People with physical Alzheimer’s are fearful and anxious. They question their caregivers and struggle with trust. They fail to seek help and often panic in uncertain situations. People with spiritual Alzheimer’s are also fearful and anxious. We question our Father and struggle to trust him. We fail to come to him for help and instead panic when new challenges enter our lives. 

Perhaps this is why, every year at Passover, for thousands of years, Jewish fathers have retold the story of God’s deliverance, care, and provision for the children of Israel. 

“Remember well what the LORD your God did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt,” Moses reminded the Israelites. 

“You saw with your own eyes the great trials, the miraculous signs and wonders, the mighty hand and outstretched arm, with which the LORD your God brought you out” (Deut. 7:18-19). 

“Remember well.”

“Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years” (8:2).

“Beware that you do not forget the Lord your God . . . Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, then your heart will become proud and you will forget the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. 

“He led you through the vast and dreadful desert, that thirsty and waterless land, with its venomous snakes and scorpions. He brought you water out of hard rock. He gave you manna to eat in the desert, something your fathers had never known, to humble and to test you so that in the end it might go well with you. You may say to yourself, ‘My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.’ 

“But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant” (12-18). 

If you’re struggling with uncertainty and fear today, perhaps you’re suffering from spiritual Alzheimer’s. 

I have good news for you. 

There is a cure: Remember what the Lord your God has done for you. 

Would you like to remember well what the Lord has done for you? Why not begin by leaving a comment? Maybe your comment will help someone else remember.


Upcoming Event:Praying with Power Women's Conference May 9, 2015Hosted by Good Shepherd UM Parish in Brookville, PA
Session 1: Why Pray?If God's going to do what God's going to do, why bother praying? Does it really work? The answer is YES, and this session will show you why.Session 2: How to PrayIf you find yourself bored, distracted, or repetitive when you pray, you'll love creating your own personalized prayer journal.Session 3: What to PrayThis session will show you how to discover God's dreams, desires, and power for your life.Session 4: What Happens When We PrayIs your spiritual life dull, dry, and lacking excitement? This session will show you how prayer can energize your faith and help you fall more in love with God.
For more information or to register, contact Lori Henderson (navymomkt@gmail.com) or Kathy Shaffer (flokat1990@gmail.com).
If you live within driving distance of Brookville, I'd love to see you there. Too far away? Invite me to come to your church or women's ministry event. Click here for my speaking information.


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Copyright 2012 by Lori Hatcher

Because Not Every Day Is Your Birthday

I’m still basking in the glow of my birthday. It was a really good day. 


My husband started the fun the night before by revealing his latest project—a quirky, colorful planter filled with happy spring flowers. When I arrived at work, my coworkers surprised me with a scrumptious raspberry-filled birthday cake and a Trader Joe’s gift card. Chocolate covered almonds with sea salt, here I come! My patients were kind, cheerful, and generally well behaved. 

My sister  met me for lunch and treated me to my favorite food—Chinese at Miyo’s, and then my husband and I rendezvoused with friends at a favorite seafood restaurant for dinner. Both daughters Facetime called and told me they loved me, and throughout the day dear friends phoned, sang, and left birthday messages on Facebook. 



It was a wonderful birthday. 

As I opened my Bible the following day, however, I remembered that not all my birthdays have been wonderful. 

A note in the margin reminded me that this time last year my husband was injured, out of work, and awaiting surgery. Underlined verses from another year show where I had claimed a promise for a loved one who was far from God and breaking my heart. A final note transported me back to a year marked by financial insecurity and fear. 

Looking at those dark and uncertain times against the backdrop of today—a time when life is peaceful and my heart is happy—brought to mind a promise from Psalm 30:5: 



“. . . weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.” 

We often ride the wave of health, happiness, and security all the way to the beach, but sometimes the wave crashes, and we find ourselves raw and wounded in a sand-covered heap on the shore. 

“When I felt secure,” Psalm 30:6 says, “I said, ‘I will never be shaken.’” 

Somehow we think every day should be a birthday and every sky saturated with sunshine and warmth. 

But some days are not happy birthdays. They feel more like sad deathdays. 

“. . . when you hid your face, I was dismayed,” the Psalmist admits.

“To you, O LORD, I called; to the Lord I cried for mercy: ‘What gain is there in my destruction, in my going down into the pit? Will the dust praise you? Will it proclaim your faithfulness?’ (Ps. 30:7-9) 

We cry out, “Hear, O LORD, and be merciful to me; O LORD, be my help’” (v. 10). 

And God does. 

Eventually the clouds change from the color of iron bars to the color of soft kittens. We receive grace to pray and persevere. The same waves that flung us roughly upon the shore carry us gently toward smooth water. The sun peeks through, the birds begin to sing, and our hearts start to hope again. 

“You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing to you and not be silent.

"O LORD my God, I will give you thanks forever” (v. 11-12). 

Perhaps today is a birthday day for you. I celebrate your joy. 

Maybe your day is more like a deathday. I weep as you weep. I ask the God of all comfort to strengthen your heart and give you hope to carry on. 

The number one reason for suicide, according to those who have attempted it and survived, is feeling hopeless, convinced that life is going to be miserable forever. They mistakenly believe killing themselves is the only way out. 

If you’ve thought about ending your life, please remember that circumstances can change in a moment. Suicide is a permanent act based on temporary feelings. Those who have attempted suicide and failed almost always express relief that they weren’t successful. 

Wherever you are on the sea of life, hold on to Jesus. He is your hope, your future, and your salvation. Say in faith with the Psalmist: 

“I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.” 

“Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD” (Ps. 27:13). 

 Morning is coming. 



If you or someone you love is struggling with thoughts of suicide, I’d like to share two excellent resources:

A compelling article by Jennifer Michael Hecht: 10 Things I Wish People Understood about Suicide 

The 24-hour National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK (8255).


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Copyright 2012 by Lori Hatcher

Prodigals and Those Who Wait - A Guest Post by Andrea Merrell

Eighty-eight percent of children raised in evangelical Christian homes will leave the church by the age of eighteen. Most will turn away from authority, parental values, and biblical teaching, losing their potential, their health, and their destiny — sometimes even their life. As a parent, guardian, or loved one, what can you do to prevent this from happening? If it does happen, how do you fight the battle? Is there hope?




It's my pleasure to share a post from fellow author and friend Andrea Merrell. If you love a prodigal, I pray her words will fill you with hope and encouragement.



Prodigals and Those Who Wait
By Andrea Merrell


It seems everywhere I go someone is dealing with a prodigal. 

As the mother of two former prodigals, my heart breaks anew as their story unfolds. Depending upon the circumstances, the pain can be almost unbearable at times. Watching your child march boldly into a life of destruction is heart-wrenching. It can bring an extra burden of guilt and condemnation, especially for the Christian parent who feels they’ve done all the right things. 

The staggering truth is: even good kids rebel—and even good parents can end up with a prodigal. 

My husband and I found this out the hard way, and we were devastated. We didn’t know what to do or who we could turn to for help, so we fought this battle alone for five long years. During this time, we shed many tears, experienced sleepless nights, and lived in fear for the lives—and souls—of our children. 

 The two questions I’m asked most often are: 

 • Is there hope? 

 • What do I do in the meantime? 

The first thing I want people to know is that there is always hope. God’s Word is full of promises, and he is waiting for us to take hold of those promises and believe he will do what he says he will do. 

The Bible says God is not a respecter of persons. In other words, he doesn’t play favorites. He doesn’t esteem one of his children higher than the other. He loves each one of us with an extraordinary unconditional love. God is faithful and there is always hope when we put our trust in him and pray in faith according to his will. 

Jeremiah 29:11 tells us that God has a plan for each of his children. He desires to prosper us and give us a glorious future full of hope. The problem is that God’s timetable is different from ours and camping out in God’s “waiting room” can be tough.



If you are currently dealing with a prodigal, what can you do while you wait? 

In Praying for the Prodigal, I not only share my story, but what I learned during my journey including: setting boundaries, avoiding the blame game, and learning to pray the Word of God over my children daily. You will be encouraged by advice straight from the prodigals, and your faith will be strengthened by thirty days of prayers and Scriptures, equipping you for the battle ahead. 

 No matter where you are in your own journey, the key is to hold fast to God’s promises, and never, never give up on your children—no matter how hopeless the situation may seem.

Praying for the Prodigal is available on Amazon.com.









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Copyright 2012 by Lori Hatcher

When God is Gone

When was the last time you sobbed?  I mean heartbroken, gut-wrenching sobs - the kind that erupt from a crushed and broken heart.

Maybe someone close to you drove a knife into your heart and then walked away.

Perhaps you had been betrayed.

Or abandoned.

Or forsaken.

Or lied to.

Maybe someone you loved had died, and all your dreams died with them.

You were left hopeless.

Alone.

Afraid.

Mary felt that way. As she walked to the tomb early that Sunday morning, her heart ached for what might have been. All the dreams. All the promises. All the hopes. Gone.

How could things have gone so wrong?

By the time she reached her destination, grief and sorrow overwhelmed her, and she sobbed. Gut-wrenching, heartbroken sobs. 

The kindly gardener's words did little to soothe her grief, "Woman, why are you weeping?" 

Forming an answer required her to acknowledge the reason.

"God is gone, and I don't know where to find Him."

Has sorrow ever made you feel this way?

When the resurrected Christ encountered a heartbroken Mary outside the tomb that first Easter morning, he spoke one word that changed Mary's life forever. It righted her world. It brought comfort and hope. It eased her sorrow and soothed her pain.

"Mary."

If you, like Mary, are heartbroken, close your eyes and open your heart.  Picture the Savior stepping into your grief and your pain and calling you by name.  He knows you.  He loves you.  He IS alive in your life.

Allow the hope of that first Resurrection Day to push everything else out of your heart.

REJOICE!

"He is not here!  He is risen, just as He said!"

"You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness." (Ps 30:11)

"And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty."  (1 Cor. 15:14)






You want to connect with God, but in the craziness of life, it’s just not happening. You want practical, biblical answers to situations you face every day, but you don’t have hours to pore over Scripture.

You need a resource that answers the questions you’re afraid to ask out loud. Questions like:

• Is my situation hopeless?
• If God already knows what he’s going to do, why bother to pray? 
• Why have you allowed this to happen to me? 
• No one appreciates what I do. Why shouldn’t I quit? 

Each devotion begins with a Facetime question and ends with a biblical answer wrapped in a modern day parable. Like a spiritual power bar, Hungry for God … Starving for Time is packed with enough scriptural nutrition to get you through the day. Wherever you are—in break rooms, carpool lines, or wherever you can snatch five minutes of quiet reflection—Hungry for God … Starving for Time, 5-Minute Devotions for Busy Women is for you.


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Copyright 2012 by Lori Hatcher

"You're Not Welcome Here."

My friends and I were busting out. Doing something crazy. Casting off the shackles that had kept us fettered for so long. 
A random conversation over the Christmas holidays had sown the seeds for a Spring Break trip we’d always wanted to take. With no families to slow us down, cramp our style, or keep us in check, this trip was going to be all about us. 
And where do homeschool moms go when they bust out? Why, to Washington, D.C., of course. And what do they do? Tour museums, eat out, and cram as much learning and exploration into five days as possible.
As my friends and I planned our trip, we each made a list of our top five “must sees.” Experts at juggling the collective preferences of nine children, we found planning a tip for three was as easy as frying eggs in a non-stick skillet. Many of the attractions we wanted to visit overlapped, and before long we had an itinerary that made our hearts beat hard in anticipation. 
The first item on our agenda was a no-brainer because it was on everyone’s list—the White House. Unfortunately, touring this icon of Americana isn’t easy. Although we submitted our request months in advance, the congressional aide who assisted us said our request had been denied. 
We were sooooo disappointed! What’s a trip to Washington without a White House tour? No pictures in the East Wing. No plying the Secret Service agents for funny stories about the President. No chance to peek around the corners to glimpse a visiting dignitary. 
But the gates were barred. The doors were locked. And the Secret Service agents’ guns were an imposing barricade to our admittance. There was no question about it—we were not welcome. 
Determined to make the best of it, we rode the subway into the city the next morning. When my phone vibrated in my pocket, I was surprised to see an unknown Washington, D.C., number on the screen. 
“Hello, this is Carla in Congressman Joe Wilson’s office. He asked me to call you to see if you were still interested in that tour of the White House. If you are, and can meet him at the Visitor’s Gate at 7:30 tomorrow morning, he’d be glad to get you in on a VIP tour.” 
As you can imagine, my friends and I were waiting at the East Gate well before 7:30 that next morning. Our congressman greeted us, we chatted a bit, then he flashed his congressional ID to the guard at the gate. “These ladies are with me,” he said. The gates opened, and we were ushered into the home of the president of the United States. 

Alicia, me, Congressman Wilson, and Mandy on our great adventure
I thought of this experience recently as I read in Leviticus about the tabernacle of God in Old Testament Israel. A moving place of worship and sacrifice, the tabernacle housed the holy articles of God. In its very center was the most sacred place—the place where God dwelled—the Holy of Holies. 
Separated from the rest of the tabernacle by a four-inch thick woven tapestry, the Holy of Holies was off-limits. No one was allowed to enter except the High Priest, and then only once a year, after being ceremonially cleansed from his sin and the sin of the people. The common man was simply too sinful to even think about coming into the presence of God Almighty. Anyone who entered the Holy of Holies to approach God without permission and proper preparation would die instantly. 
Until Jesus. 
On that horrible/glorious day long ago, he shouldered the sin of mankind, hauled it to Golgotha, and covered it with the blood that dripped from his wounds. He offered his body as a living, perfect sacrifice, and died in our place. 



“For Christ did not enter a man-made sanctuary that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God's presence” (Heb. 9:24). 
He was judged—the innocent for the guilty—and God accepted his offering. 
How do I know? 
“With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last. The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom” (Mark 15:37-38). 
On my Spring Break trip years ago, when I couldn’t enter the White House on my own merit, the congressman showed his badge and granted me entrance. In a far greater way, when I was too sinful to approach God, Christ shed his blood in my name. When I accepted it by faith, his sacrificial death on the cross granted me entrance into God’s presence forever. 
“Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 
“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful” (Heb. 10:19-23). 
As Easter approaches, I pray that you too have received this precious gift of salvation. I hope you have full freedom to bring your needs boldly to God’s throne. I pray you have the assurance that one day you’ll spend eternity with him in heaven. 
If you are unsure, I’d love to share my story with you in a quick, five-minute video. If you already know Christ as your Savior, why not share this post with someone you love? I could make an eternal difference.


If you are unable to view this music video, "Beautiful, Scandalous Night," double click here.


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Copyright 2012 by Lori Hatcher

Northern or Southern--When You're Sick of Winter

I know my friends in the North have it bad. They’ve had snowstorm after snowstorm, freezing temperatures, endless grey days, and weeks without sunshine. 

This is why, by God’s good grace, I live in the South. 

And even though our temperature has stayed considerably above zero, and it’s only snowed once—for 20 minutes, by South Carolina standards, it’s been a long, cold, dreary winter. For this transplanted Yankee who whimpers and whines every time the temperature dips below 50, spring is a welcome guest I’d like to invite to stay forever. 

I don’t live in a neighborhood with beautifully manicured lawns, artfully crafted landscapes, or six-figure homes, but as I walked its streets today, it was beautiful. Dressed in its Easter finery, I saw God’s gardening skills everywhere I looked. 

Your neighborhood—your life—may not be beautiful at first glance either, but I’d like to encourage you to look a little closer. I suspect if you peer beyond the surface and look intentionally, you’ll find something to make you smile. When you do, accept it for what it is—a gift from God. 

After you’ve acknowledge your gift, thank him, for we know “every good and perfect gift comes from above, coming down from the Father of lights” (James 1:17). When someone gives us a gift, even a small one, thanksgiving is the only appropriate response. 

And after gratitude comes the greater gift—joy. 

“...the secret to joy is to keep seeking God where we doubt He is,” Ann Voskamp says in her book, One Thousand Gifts. If gratitude always precedes joy, I wonder how much joy we miss by not being thankful? 

Come walk with me today and let me show you my little corner of joy. 











This is southern snow -- Bradford Pear petals after a rain.

What are the good gifts for which you're thankful this spring? Leave a comment below and share your thoughts.



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May I tell you about my new book, Hungry for God … Starving for Time, 5-Minute Devotions for Busy Women?

 Today's women want to connect with God, but in the craziness of life, it’s just not happening. You want practical, biblical answers to situations you face every day, but you don’t have hours to pore over Scripture.

You need a resource that answers the questions you’re afraid to ask out loud. Questions like:

• Is my situation hopeless?
• If God already knows what he’s going to do, why bother to pray? 
• Why have you allowed this to happen to me? 
• No one appreciates what I do. Why shouldn’t I quit? 

Each devotion begins with a Facetime question and ends with a biblical answer wrapped in a modern day parable. Like a spiritual power bar, Hungry for God … Starving for Time is packed with enough scriptural nutrition to get you through the day. Wherever you are—in break rooms, carpool lines, or wherever you can snatch five minutes of quiet reflection—Hungry for God … Starving for Time, 5-Minute Devotions for Busy Women is for you. 

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

When Someone Else's Joy Makes You Sad

Mother’s Day—smiling women surrounded by adoring, healthy, happy children. Your arms are empty, or your children are prodigals, absent, or angry. 

Wedding Day—filled with promises, hope, and beauty. Your bed is empty and your heart is cynical, or your grown children—the ones you prayed for every day of their lives—are stealing the benefits of marriage without bothering to make the commitment. 

Graduation Day—diplomas, job prospects, and a bright future. You dropped out, or maybe your child did. Maybe they never made it to college in the first place, or an expulsion, probation, or too much partying delayed or destroyed their hope of graduating. 

Easter Day—new life, fresh starts, and the resurrection. You see only death, hopelessness, and the tomb. 

Scripture tells us to rejoice with those who rejoice, but what do we do when someone else’s joy reminds us of what could have been, should have been, and might never be? When we plaster on a fake smile and make an excuse to leave early? When we feel petty, selfish, and small in light of such great rejoicing? What do we do when they are rejoicing and we are crying inside? 

We do what Hannah did. 

 Hannah was a childless woman. Beloved of her husband yet barren, she lived in a household where a second wife bore child after child when her womb remained empty. 

“Don’t I mean more to you than ten sons?” her tenderhearted husband said one day in an effort to make her smile. Instead sorrow made her heart ache and grief stole her appetite. 

I hesitated to use Hannah as an example because her story ended the way she had hoped—she received not only one son, but many. Your story may not end this way, but regardless, the truths of Scripture still apply. Hannah was a godly woman, and she wrestled with her sorrow and disappointment in a godly way. 

There are six steps to Hannah’s example: 

1. She allowed her sorrow to drive her to God, not away from him. She visited the temple and spoke to the priest: “I am a woman who is deeply troubled,” (1 Sam 15). 

2. She sought God in prayer. “In bitterness of soul, Hannah wept much and prayed to the Lord” (v. 1:10). 

3. She was honest with God about her pain. “I was pouring out my soul to the Lord. . . . I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief” (v 15). 

4. She submitted her request and trusted God with the outcome. By prefacing her prayer with the word IF, she left room for God’s will. “IF you will only look upon your servant’s misery and remember me . . .” (v 10). 

5. She accepted God’s comfort.“Then she went her way and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast” (v. 18). 

6. She worshiped the Lord.“Early the next morning they arose and worshiped before the Lord” (v. 19). 

Some may argue that it was easy for Hannah to honor God in her sorrow because she ultimately got what she wanted. If we read the text closely, however, we see that Hannah responded in faith during her darkest days—long before God answered her prayer the way she had hoped. 

If you’re struggling with sorrow, disappointment, or grief today, I pray Hannah’s example will challenge and encourage you. Guard your heart and “see to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many” (Heb. 12:15). Whether God answers your prayers the way you hope or not, trust him. You’ll be glad you did. 

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” (2 Cor. 4:16-18). 
Personal Note: Today is my BIRTHDAY! If you appreciate the ministry of Hungry for God, I'd like nothing more than for you to click the link here to go to HFG's Facebook page and LIKE it. My goal is to reach 1,000 likes by the end of the day, so feel free to share HFG with your friends and invite them to like it too. Thanks so much!

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Because women need to connect with God in the craziness of life. 

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May I tell you about my new book, Hungry for God … Starving for Time, 5-Minute Devotions for Busy Women?

 Today's women want to connect with God, but in the craziness of life, it’s just not happening. You want practical, biblical answers to situations you face every day, but you don’t have hours to pore over Scripture.

You need a resource that answers the questions you’re afraid to ask out loud. Questions like:

• Is my situation hopeless?
• If God already knows what he’s going to do, why bother to pray? 
• Why have you allowed this to happen to me? 
• No one appreciates what I do. Why shouldn’t I quit? 

Each devotion begins with a Facetime question and ends with a biblical answer wrapped in a modern day parable. Like a spiritual power bar, Hungry for God … Starving for Time is packed with enough scriptural nutrition to get you through the day. Wherever you are—in break rooms, carpool lines, or wherever you can snatch five minutes of quiet reflection—Hungry for God … Starving for Time, 5-Minute Devotions for Busy Women is for you. 

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

I've Wasted a Lot of Money

I’ve wasted a lot of money in my lifetime. 

This may surprise you, because I’m naturally very frugal. Anyone who knows me knows I hate wasting time, and I hate wasting money. Time and money are too precious to be misspent. 

This is why I’ve lived frugally all my life. I set my thermostat too low in the wintertime and too high in the summertime. I dry laundry on a clothesline. I hand wash dishes instead of using a dishwasher. I clip coupons, shop sales, and reduce, reuse, and recycle. I do anything I can to save money. 

But I also love wasting it. 

Mary did, too. 

Martha and Lazarus’ sister, Mary had a bottle of fragrant oil worth an entire year’s salary. In today’s terms, it was worth forty thousand, sixty thousand, or maybe one hundred thousand dollars. She’d probably saved for years to purchase this outrageously expensive perfume. 

And now she was preparing to waste it. Fritter it away. Blow it. 

“And being in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, as (Jesus) sat at the table, a woman came having an alabaster flask of very costly oil of spikenard. Then she broke the flask and poured it on his head” (Mark 14:3). 

Her friends tried to talk her out of it. They “criticized her sharply,” and lamented among themselves, “Why was this fragrant oil wasted?” She could have sold it for lots of money and given the money to the poor. Instead of doing something practical and responsible with her treasure, she wasted it. WASTED it by lavishing it on Jesus. 

My husband and I have been married for over 30 years. Over the course of three decades, we’ve similarly wasted more money than we can count. This is shameful, really, since for most of our married life my husband has been a blue-collar worker, and I’ve been a stay-at-home mom with a part-time job. Of all people, we shouldn’t be wasting money. It’s too dear and hard to come by. 

If we’d kept our hard-earned money instead of wasting it, we might not have driven the older van that embarrassed our children so badly. Or lived in the house that was smaller than all their friends’ homes. Or gone to Disney World more than once. We might have had nicer clothes, newer electronics, and a country club membership. 

Instead we wasted our money by giving to our local church, supporting missionaries, and sending poor kids to camp. We’ve helped rebuild a church in Mexico, feed the hungry in Nicaragua, and bring Christian education to Spain. We’ve helped dig wells in Afghanistan, buy mosquito netting in Kenya, and care for the homeless elderly in Romania. 

Like Mary, we realized early on that there’s something much more precious than money, and that something is Jesus. And Jesus’ kingdom, Jesus’ work, and Jesus’ church. 

I’m not sharing this to brag, except to brag on Jesus. One Easter long ago, Jesus gave the most precious gift imaginable—his physical life in exchange for our spiritual life. His mortality for our eternity. 




What is money in light of so great a sacrifice? 

As his children, we have the privilege of giving back, in very small yet sacrificial ways, to the One who gave his all for us. 

And Mary? 

“Let her alone,” Jesus said. “Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for Me . . . . wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her” (v. 6, 9). 

If you haven’t experienced it already, I pray you discover the joy of wasting money for Jesus. 

What about you? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Leave a comment below and join the conversation.


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May I tell you about my new book, Hungry for God … Starving for Time, 5-Minute Devotions for Busy Women?

 Today's women want to connect with God, but in the craziness of life, it’s just not happening. You want practical, biblical answers to situations you face every day, but you don’t have hours to pore over Scripture.

You need a resource that answers the questions you’re afraid to ask out loud. Questions like:

• Is my situation hopeless?
• If God already knows what he’s going to do, why bother to pray? 
• Why have you allowed this to happen to me? 
• No one appreciates what I do. Why shouldn’t I quit? 

Each devotion begins with a Facetime question and ends with a biblical answer wrapped in a modern day parable. Like a spiritual power bar, Hungry for God … Starving for Time is packed with enough scriptural nutrition to get you through the day. Wherever you are—in break rooms, carpool lines, or wherever you can snatch five minutes of quiet reflection—Hungry for God … Starving for Time, 5-Minute Devotions for Busy Women is for you. 

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

My friend the judge -- it's all in who you know

Sam was in a pickle. 

Newly married, he and his wife were days away from a mission trip when they realized they didn’t have a vital document necessary to allow them to enter the country. He called my husband and me in a panic, unsure what to do. 

Thinking furiously, I blurted out the first thing that came to mind: “I have a friend who is a judge. Maybe he can help.” I’d known Clyde for years, worked with his wife, and prayed for his kids. “I’m sure he’ll do whatever he can.” 

A quick phone call confirmed that Clyde was, indeed, willing to help. 

Unfortunately, willingness wasn’t enough. 

“I’m a family court judge,” he said when I explained Sam’s dilemma. “His request is out of my jurisdiction. I have no power.” 

Disappointed, I phoned Sam with the bad news. He thanked me for trying, impressed I was willing to go to bat for him. “I’ve never known anyone who had a judge’s phone number in her contacts,” he said. “I’da been scared to death to call him.” 

Sam's mission organization intervened, he received the documents he needed, and he and his wife left for the mission trip as scheduled. As I breathed a sigh of relief, I thought back on my attempt to help him. 

I wasn’t afraid boldly to phone my friend the judge because I had a relationship with him. I was confident he hear my request and do everything within his power to help. Unfortunately, Judge Clyde didn’t have the power or the authority to intercede on Sam’s behalf. 

I remembered this experience when I read Hebrews 6:16: 

“Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” 

I called an important man to ask him to advocate on Sam’s behalf because I had a relationship with him. How much more should I feel the freedom to approach God, my Great High Priest, on the basis of my relationship with him? 

“We do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses,” Romans 6:15 says, “but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are . . .” 

My friend Clyde sympathized with Sam’s predicament. My friend Jesus sympathizes with mine—my woes, my heartbreaks, my fears, my struggles, and my weaknesses. He, too, was tested and tempted, but because he was sinless, he earned the right not only to sympathize, but to advocate for me. 

Judge Clyde didn’t have the authority to act on Sam’s behalf. His jurisdiction was limited and his power was narrow. Jesus Christ, however, has full jurisdiction and all power necessary to help me. 

“Was my arm too short to ransom you?” God asked Isaiah. “Do I lack the strength to rescue you? By a mere rebuke I dry up the sea, I turn rivers into a desert” (Isa. 50:2). 

On the basis of my relationship with my Great High Priest, Jesus Christ, I can “approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that (I) may receive mercy and find help in time of need” (Heb. 5:16). 

What about you? Are you struggling with something today? You may feel hindered, helpless, and hopeless, and you may very well be. 

But God is not. 

I encourage you to call upon him today. I believe you’ll find mercy, grace, and help in your time of need.


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. 

Enter your email address and VALIDATE the Feedburner email sent to your inbox.



Delivered by FeedBurner


May I tell you about my new book, Hungry for God … Starving for Time, 5-Minute Devotions for Busy Women?

 Today's women want to connect with God, but in the craziness of life, it’s just not happening. You want practical, biblical answers to situations you face every day, but you don’t have hours to pore over Scripture.

You need a resource that answers the questions you’re afraid to ask out loud. Questions like:

• Is my situation hopeless?
• If God already knows what he’s going to do, why bother to pray? 
• Why have you allowed this to happen to me? 
• No one appreciates what I do. Why shouldn’t I quit? 

Each devotion begins with a Facetime question and ends with a biblical answer wrapped in a modern day parable. Like a spiritual power bar, Hungry for God … Starving for Time is packed with enough scriptural nutrition to get you through the day. Wherever you are—in break rooms, carpool lines, or wherever you can snatch five minutes of quiet reflection—Hungry for God … Starving for Time, 5-Minute Devotions for Busy Women is for you. 

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

When Past Failures Threaten Future Success

John Mark had failed. Big time.

As the understudy to the apostle Paul, he had begun well, but something went terribly wrong. The Bible doesn’t give us the details, so we can only speculate. Maybe the journey was too hard, the pay was too little, or the hours were too long.

Whatever the reasons, John Mark quit. Packed his bags and went home. Abandoned the work, the workers, and the cause of Jesus Christ. Paul was so hurt and disappointed by his defection that, years later, when John Mark asked for a second chance, he said No. No way. Forget it. You blew it, Buddy (Acts 15:38-39).

Thankfully, God never says No to our requests for second chances. When we come to him in humble repentance, he forgives and restores us.

In this biblical account, John Mark even earned back Paul’s trust. In the days before his execution, the apostle called for him, saying John Mark was “useful to me” (2 Tim. 4:11).

But what if John Mark hadn’t accepted God’s (and Barnabas’ and Paul’s) forgiveness? What if he allowed his failure to marginalize him for the rest of his life? What if he hadn’t picked himself up, made peace with God and his fellow men, and begun again?

The most obvious answer is, we wouldn’t have the gospel of Mark. 

Why is this significant? After all, there are three other gospels.

Most Bible scholars agree the gospel of Mark is the earliest written of the four. It’s the closest document to an original source—an account written by someone who walked and talked with Jesus. The time of its writing (prior to AD 70) adds indisputable credibility to the entire New Testament. Scholars also believe the book of Mark is the source document for the gospels of Luke and Matthew.

When we consider the additional fruit of John Mark’s ministry—his and Barnabas’ evangelization of Cyprus and his ministry to Paul shortly before his death, his value to the Lord’s work is indisputable.

He lived a fruitful, godly, productive life despite his youthful failures. 


Which brings us to ourselves. What happens when we can’t move past our failures? When we don't live in light of God’s forgiveness? When we continue to crucify ourselves because of our past sins? When we allow our past shortcomings to sear a scarlet letter onto our futures?

We miss the work God has planned for us to do. Significant work. Life-changing work. Eternal work.

So I ask you, what sins lay buried in your past? What regrets nibble at the edges of your confidence? What forsaken actions still hinder your wholehearted service to Christ? What failures whisper words of doubt and accusation every time you consider speaking out for the Lord?

“If we confess our sins,” John wrote, “he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 Jn. 1:9).

Do you believe it? Will you act on it? Kingdom work may be awaiting your answer.

*This piece is inspired by a Key Note address Bob Hostetler gave at the Asheville Christian Writers Conference (Writers Advance Boot Camp) called “What If John Hadn’t Written?"


Tune in to Christian Communicators LIVE blogtalk radio program tomorrow as I talk with hostesses Vonda Skelton and Carolyn Knefely about life as a magazine editor. If you can't listen live, the program will be archived for your listening pleasure :)  March 17th Insights from an EditorListen online at http://www.blogtalkradio.comchristiancommunicators at 1:00 p.m. EST to Lori Hatcher, editor of Reach Out, Columbia magazine. You can also dial in to Christian Communicators Live at (347) 843-4920 to ask Lori a question.

Lori is an author, women’s ministry speaker, and a writer's conference faculty presenter. She will be sharing her perspective and experiences in a writer’s world.


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. 

Enter your email address and VALIDATE the Feedburner email sent to your inbox.



Delivered by FeedBurner


May I tell you about my new book, Hungry for God … Starving for Time, 5-Minute Devotions for Busy Women?

 Today's women want to connect with God, but in the craziness of life, it’s just not happening. You want practical, biblical answers to situations you face every day, but you don’t have hours to pore over Scripture.

You need a resource that answers the questions you’re afraid to ask out loud. Questions like:

• Is my situation hopeless?
• If God already knows what he’s going to do, why bother to pray? 
• Why have you allowed this to happen to me? 
• No one appreciates what I do. Why shouldn’t I quit? 

Each devotion begins with a Facetime question and ends with a biblical answer wrapped in a modern day parable. Like a spiritual power bar, Hungry for God … Starving for Time is packed with enough scriptural nutrition to get you through the day. Wherever you are—in break rooms, carpool lines, or wherever you can snatch five minutes of quiet reflection—Hungry for God … Starving for Time, 5-Minute Devotions for Busy Women is for you. 

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