Lori Hatcher's Blog: Refresh Blog, page 85

Angels are not fat cherubs – Debunking the Myths

Clarence tries to earn his wings in the 1947 movie, It’s a Wonderful Life. Michael Landon, as Jonathan Smith, is an angel on probation trying to work his way back into God’s good graces in Highway to Heaven. And then there’s Della Reese, everyone’s favorite angel supervisor, Tess, trying to keep her angel charges under control in the 90s TV drama, Touched by an Angel. Evil angels have populated such recent films as Ghost Rider, Legion, and Fallen. 

Film and TV have no corner on angel exploration. Literature is replete with angelic characters and stories. Milton’s Paradise Lost, Dante’s Inferno, and C.S. Lewis’ Screwtape Letters span the centuries with eloquent word pictures of these marvelous beings. 

Even cartoons have taken a turn at angelology. Everyone from Homer Simpson to Pluto to Popeye have wrestled with “shoulder angels,” pitchforked and haloed creatures bent on wielding their influence over their human hosts.

No doubt about it, angels have been fascinating humans since Satan’s slithering subterfuge in the Garden. 

But what is the truth about angels? 

The Bible is replete with mentions of these heavenly beings, so we have a reliable source of information. In the next few posts I hope to debunk some of the common myths and examine the Scripture verses that tell us the truth about angels. 

Myth: Angels are fat baby cherubs with pinchable fat cheeks. 

Truth: Angels are impressive, mighty frightening beings causing everyone they encounter to fall to the ground in fear. The picture above is an accurate representation of one of the archangels described in the Bible. 

Here are some of their characteristics: 

They are spirit beings, but often take human form. 

Gabriel the archangel appeared to predict John the Baptist’s birth (Luke 1:19), Jesus’ birth (Luke 1:26), free Peter from prison (Acts 12:7), and instruct Cornelius to send for Peter (Acts 10:3). Their appearance is usually imposing enough to be frightening. Almost without exception, the first words an angel speaks to a human is “Fear not.” (Dan. 10:12, Mat. 28:5, Luke 2: 10). 

Listen to Daniel’s description of his encounter with an angel: “I looked up and there before me was a man dressed in linen, with a belt of the finest gold around his waist. His body was like chrysolite, his face like lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and his voice like the sound of a multitude. I, Daniel, was the only one who saw the vision; the men with me did not see it, but such terror overwhelmed them that they fled and hid themselves. So I was left alone, gazing at this great vision; I had no strength left, my face turned deathly pale and I was helpless” (Dan. 10:5-8). 

Although cherubim are smaller types of angels, they bear little resemblance to the chubby-cheeked versions featured on Valentine cards. 

Here are some of the characteristics described in Gen. 3:24, Ex. 25:18-20, and Ezek. 1:4-28; 10:1-22: They have four faces, one each like a man, a lion, an ox, and an eagle. They have two pairs of wings. They have the legs of men and cloven calves’ feet that shine like brass. They have four human hands, located under each wing. 

Almost without exception, angels shine with a glowing light. 
The angel who appeared to the women at Jesus’ tomb is one example of this: “. . . an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow” (Mat. 28:5). 

 It’s apparent from these Scriptures that angels are very different than the way Hollywood, literature, and myths have portrayed them. I look forward to sharing more about what the Bible has to say about angels in the posts to follow. I hope to tackle questions like Where did angels come from? What is their job description? Are all angels good? Do angels have supernatural powers? Do people become angels when they die?

If you haven’t subscribed to Hungry for God yet, this would be a great time. You don’t want to miss a single installment of "Angels—Debunking the Myths. "

What about you? What myths have you believed about angels that have changed as you’ve studied Scripture? What questions still remain? Leave a comment below. Perhaps I’ll answer one of your questions in an upcoming post. 

And stay tuned for Part II: "Angels—They’re Not All Good" next time on Hungry for God … Starving for Time, Five-Minute Devotions for Busy Women. 

 

If you enjoyed this devotion, 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 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

Cleaning Jesus' Teeth

I was heading back to work after lunch when it hit me—oh no. Mrs. Z is the first patient on my afternoon schedule. 

I’ve worked part time as a dental hygienist since I graduated from college, and for the most part, I enjoy my day job very much. I love interacting with my patients, many of whom have become dear friends. I like helping people take better care of their bodies, and I love my boss and coworkers. 

But every now and then a patient appears on my schedule that makes me wonder why I chose to be a dental hygienist. Such was the case this day. Mrs. Z. (not her real name) was first on my roster. 

Crippled by a chronic disease, Mrs. Z. is confined to a wheelchair in constant pain. As her healthcare professional, it’s challenging for me to care for her. Everything I do for her takes longer, is more physically involved and requires significantly more mental and psychological effort than when I care for the average patient. In addition to her physical challenges, Mrs. Z. is also demanding, suspicious, and sometimes downright unpleasant. 

Needless to say, I wasn’t eagerly anticipating her visit. In fact, I was muttering and grumbling all the way back to the office. 

 Until a quiet question interrupted my whining and complaining: 

“What if the first patient on your schedule was Jesus instead of Mrs. Z.? How would you feel then?”  

Wow, if Jesus was coming into my office, I thought, I’d be so excited. What an honor it would be to care for JESUS. I would love to serve him by cleaning his teeth. Like the woman who wiped his feet with her hair, I’d be so humbled to be able to do something for Someone who’s done so much for me. I think my heart would burst with joy. 

And that’s when that sneaky Holy Spirit sliced my heart in two with his two-edged sword. 

"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me'” (Matthew 25:40). 

With those simple words, God gave me an entirely new perspective for caring for Mrs. Z. Instead of mentally gearing up to treat a sick, grumpy woman, I began to eagerly anticipate ministering to Jesus as he sat in my chair. 

Oh, my patient still looked like Mrs. Z. She still had Mrs. Z.’s physical limitations (and her sour disposition), but instead of fulfilling a professional obligation, I realized that caring for Mrs. Z. was an honor, a privilege, and a joy. Knowing Whom I was REALLY serving changed my attitude completely. 

What about you? Who is the Mrs. Z. in your life? Maybe it’s a demanding child, a handicapped spouse, or an aging parent. Maybe you’re not cleaning someone’s teeth, but instead you’re cleaning his house, changing her diapers, or answering his question for the fifth time in ten minutes. How might your attitude be different if you recognized Whom you were really serving? 

I confessed and repented of my shortsightedness that day. I suspect I'll have to do it over and over again in the days to come. Then I took a deep breath, put a smile on my face, and whispered a prayer, Lord, I’m doing this for you. Thank you for the privilege of serving you.  

It made all the difference in the world. 

 

If you enjoyed this devotion, 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 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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Hungry for God is on Facebook! Will you take a moment and LIKE my page? CLICK HERE to help HFG share 5-minute devotions.


 

 

 

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

Will Work for Doughnuts

You’ve seen the homeless men who camp out on exit ramps holding signs that say, Will Work for Food? My sign would say, Will Work for Doughnuts. Especially Krispy Kreme doughnuts. An apology to my Yankee friends, but Dunkin Doughnuts doesn’t hold a candle. 

My love affair with Krispy Kreme’s chocolate-iced, crème-filled wonders began in my teens, shortly after my family’s southern migration. Dunkin Doughnuts north of the Mason/Dixon had only primed the pump. Of DD’s lineup, my favorite was the cream-filled version dusted in enough powdered sugar to ruin any outfit. 

Enter Krispy Kreme. 

Known for its neon red HOT NOW sign that draws bears out of the woods and causes traffic jams whenever it lights up, Krispy Kreme takes doughnut consumption to a whole new level. 

It was the HOT NOW sign that drew me in that first day. I didn’t leave, however, with one of the fresh-from-the-fryer golden O’s dripping with the perfect amount of glaze. Oh no, that was the day I spotted the chocolate-iced, crème-filled beauty that would become my go-to source of gustatory glee. I’ve loved them ever since. 

Thankfully, there’s not a Krispy Kreme store within 10 miles of my house, or I’d be shaped like the doughnuts I dearly love. They remain a rare and wonderful treat. 

Which is why I was so happy when my thoughtful sister called to say she was bringing me a doughnut. 

And why I was so sad when I left without it. 

We’d divided and conquered that day. If you are an adult with aging parents, you understand this. She took Dad to run errands and go to the grocery store, and I took mom to handle a particularly unpleasant bit of business. 

I drew the short straw, and my sister knew it. 

 I suspect that’s why she called midway through the morning with a consolation prize. “We’re stopping at Krispy Kreme,” she said. “I’m bringing you a doughnut. Meet ya back at Mom and Dad’s.” 


Instantly, all was right with the world because there was a doughnut at the end. And not just any doughnut, a chocolate-iced, crème-filled, Krispy Kreme doughnut. Though the skies were grey that morning, they parted over my head, and a little sugarcoated sunshine beamed upon me. 

Mom and I completed our task quickly—so quickly in fact that we beat my sister and my dad home. We waited, somewhat impatiently, eager for our doughnuts. As more time passed, a horrible thought occurred to me: What if they don’t make it back before I have to leave? 

I had squeezed Mom’s errand between two appointments of my own, and if I didn’t head back soon, I knew I’d miss my last appointment. A quick call to my sister confirmed my worst fear. “We’re about twenty minutes away,” she said. My sugarcoated sunshine vanished in a doughnut-less eclipse that turned the skies back to grey all the way home. 

Five days later, my doughnut disappointment was far from my mind as I sat in Sunday school waiting for the lesson to begin. Suddenly, standing before me, was my friend Margie. In her hands was a green and white waxed bag. With red lettering. And a doughnut inside. A chocolate-iced, crème-filled doughnut. “We stopped by Krispy Kreme on the way in this morning, and I told the lady I needed a special order,” she said. 

“You have no idea what this doughnut means to me,” I babbled, trying to tell the convoluted story while cradling my treasure. 

I thought of my doughnut again this morning when I read the account of Abraham and Lot in Genesis 13. The men had traveled from Egypt, and God had prospered them. Their flocks and herds had grown so large that the land could no longer support them. They knew they would have to separate. 

Abraham was the patriarch, the one with seniority. It was a no-brainer that he would take the best land for himself. But he didn’t. He deferred the decision to his not-very-bright, kinda-selfish nephew, Lot, who snapped up the prime piece of real estate quicker than you can say SOLD. 

Abraham moved on to the land of Canaan, satisfied that he’d done the right thing, much like I did the day I missed my doughnut. 

But God wasn’t finished. Because God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble. And Abraham had learned that the greatest way to be exalted was to humble himself—to die to his own wants for someone else’s benefit. 

 God met Abraham there and said, “Lift your eyes now and look from the place where you are—northward, southward, eastward, and westward: for all the land which you see I give to you and your descendants forever” (v. 14). 

You missed the doughnut today, Abraham, but trust me. I’m going to give it back to you. And when I do, it’s gonna be sweet. 

  

Do you feel like you’ve missed the doughnut in some area of your life today? Maybe you’ve set aside your dreams to help others accomplish theirs. Perhaps you’re caring for an elderly parent, a sick child, or a difficult husband. Maybe you’re stuck in a dead-end job or ministry with little or no recognition. Be comforted. God sees, God knows, and God will reward you at the proper time.



“God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them” (Heb. 6:10). 


“The blessing of the LORD makes one rich, And He adds no sorrow with it” (Prov. 10:22). 

If you’ve experienced a doughnut story, I’d love to hear it. Leave a comment below and join the conversation. 

Ever wonder what goes on behind the scenes of writing a book? I share some of my secrets on Vonda Skelton's blog, The Christian Writers' Den. Why not hop on over for a visit?




If you enjoyed this devotion, 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 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










Hungry for God is on Facebook! Will you take a moment and LIKE my page? CLICK HERE to help HFG share 5-minute devotions.
 

 

 

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

Lost with a GPS in my Pocket

Jill and I were lost in the woods.

And our GPS was no help.

It was a crisp fall morning, and we had set out early to hike the trail around the conference headquarters. The woods, decorated in the rich colors of autumn had beckoned to us from the window the day before, but workshop after workshop kept us indoors. 

“Let’s get up early tomorrow,” I proposed, “and take a hike before the first session.” My friend Jill was all for it. She’s a Texas girl who loves wide open spaces and the joy of physical exertion.

The thick woods of the mountain didn’t exactly qualify as a wide open space, but the mild temperatures and the heavenly scent of newly fallen leaves was incentive enough for her. After reminding ourselves of the general trail layout, we chose a path that would bring us back to the conference center in 30 minutes or so—plenty of time to freshen up before the first session.

At least that’s what we planned. And the plan worked well until 30 minutes had come and gone with no sign of the conference center. After we had hiked an hour through thick woods with no clearing in sight, we pulled out our technology. Both of us had smart phones, but technology only goes so far in the hands of not-so-smart operators.

I swiped open my Google maps and sure enough, there we were. We weren’t lost after all. Google knew right where we were. We were a steadily blinking dot in the middle of . . . well . . . a forest. 

I don’t know what I expected, maybe a little red arrow saying Conference Center this way, or, The Right Trail is 1,000 Yards to Your Left, but no, just that steadily blinking dot telling us You Are Here.

But You Are Here doesn’t help much when you really don’t want to be HERE anymore. To make matters worse, we couldn’t remember the name of the conference center, so we didn’t even have a value to put into the destination slot of the app.

I’m sure there are a hundred readers who can tell me how we could have used my program to navigate ourselves out of those woods, but spare me. I’ve made mental notes to prevent a repeat performance.

Instead we tucked our phones back in our pockets, took a good look around us, and headed in the opposite direction of the sun. We remembered noticing how the sun had shined through the windows of the conference center the day before, so we knew that heading away from the sun would eventually bring us to our starting place.

An hour and two and a half miles later, we saw the outline of the buildings in the distance.

A surveyor friend commented recently how GPS makes his job so much easier than it used to be. Once he finds his reference point and hammers one of those familiar orange-ribboned stakes into the ground, he says, he can use his GPS signal to walk off the perimeter. “But I have to have a reference point,” he says.

My lost-in-the-woods experience and my surveyor friend’s observations confirm what I’ve learned during 32 years of living. If we don’t know where we are and where we’re going, we stay lost. We spend our lives wandering, expending great amounts of time, energy, and resources, and never really “arrive.”

 I was 18 years old when I first realized where I was. I had the world by the tail, yet I was wandering, purposeless, and empty. I had everything I thought should make me happy—I’d graduated fourth in my high school class, had a steady boyfriend, had a full tuition scholarship to the college of my choice, but there was an ache, an empty place I could no longer ignore.

Scientist Blaise Paschal described it this way: “There is a God shaped vacuum in the heart of every man which cannot be filled by any created thing, but only by God, the Creator, made known through Jesus.”

St. Augustine said something similar: "Thou hast made us for Thyself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in Thee."

The most important step for me was realizing where I was. Then I had to figure out where I wanted to go. For me, I’d lived enough of MY life MY way to know that being the “master of my destiny” wasn’t working very well.

So I surrendered my life to Jesus Christ.

I couldn’t imagine how praying a simple prayer could really change anything, but I was desperate enough to try it. 

That was 32 years ago. That simple prayer gave me direction, peace, and purpose. Best of all, it helped me know not only where I was, but where, one day, I wanted to be. These are the two things we all need to know if we don’t want to spend our lives wandering.

And that is the moral of my story.

So where are you? And where do you want to go? Figuring out the answers to these two questions could change your life forever.

If you'd like to know more about the simple prayer that changed my life, CLICK HERE. If you've prayed this simple prayer, I'd love to hear how it changed your life. Leave a comment below and share your story.



If you enjoyed this devotion, 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 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










Hungry for God is on Facebook! Will you take a moment and LIKE my page? CLICK HERE to help HFG share 5-minute devotions.
 

 

 

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

Between Behemoth and the Belly of the Whale

Other children splashed happily in the pool. Confidently swimming from one side to the other, her peers had crossed the threshold from fear to faith. 

But not my daughter. 

My daughter was stuck. 

Stuck on the diving board six feet above the water with her jaw set, arms crossed, eyes squinting defiantly against her swim instructor. No matter what, her posture said, I’m not jumping in. 

The board was too high. The water was too scary. And the instructor waiting directly beneath the board with outstretched arms to catch her? Altogether untrustworthy. 

“If she doesn’t jump in,” the instructor had said in one of those off-to-the-side-so-the-kid-doesn’t-hear-you conferences, “she’ll never learn to trust me. You have to back me up.” 

And so, unbeknownst to my child, I vowed to betray her. Pledged not to rescue her when the standoff reached high noon. 

“If you don’t jump,” the instructor told her, “we’ll have to drop you in.” 

How a three-foot-tall four-year-old thought she could stare down a five-foot-something behemoth, I’ll never know, but she gave it her best shot. Perhaps she was sure her mother would come to her defense. Or that a clap of thunder would miraculously clear the pool. Or that her pint-sized defiance would intimidate her Volkswagen-sized adversary. 

Whatever the source of her bravado, she wasn’t budging. Until a second instructor, backup to the first, stepped onto the diving board. 

And she was trapped. 

Wedged between an unknown future and certain death, she eyed her options one more time, her scathing glance now including Judas, the mother who had betrayed her. 

As the second instructor approached, she backed toward the edge. The instructor took each trembling hand in hers, lifted her squirming body as gently as she could off the board, and deposited her safely into the first instructor’s waiting arms with nary a splash. 

“Hooray!” shouted one of the onlookers watching the drama unfold, and other swimmers joined in the applause. 

“See,” her instructor said, “I told you I would catch you. That you didn’t need to be afraid. That you could trust me.” 

“From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the LORD his God. 

He said: ‘In my distress I called to the LORD, and he answered me. From the depths of the grave I called for help, and you listened to my cry. You hurled me into the deep, into the very heart of the seas, and the currents swirled about me; all your waves and breakers swept over me. 

. . . When my life was ebbing away, I remembered you, LORD, and my prayer rose to you, to your holy temple. Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs. But I, with a song of thanksgiving, will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed I will make good. Salvation comes from the LORD. 

And the LORD commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land” (Jon. 1:1-3, 7-10). 


What about you? Are you standing with your toes on the edge of the board peering down into an unknown future? 

 Fear not. 

If you don’t jump, you’ll never move forward. 

And you’ll never learn to trust. 

“The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms” (Deut. 33:27). 


 Jump. 





If you're a homeschooling mom and live within driving distance of Summerville, South Carolina, I'd love to invite you to join me and the Low Country Home Educators for a morning of encouragement.

On Saturday, January 24, I'll be sharing one of my most-requested talks, "8 Mistakes I've Made While Homeschooling." It's a candid look at what NOT to do as you homeschool your children. 
The gracious ladies of LCHEE have opened their meeting to guests, and we'd love to have you join us.
Here are all the details:
When: Saturday, January 24 at 9 a.m.
Where: The Nursing Building, Room 132, at Charleston Southern University
For more information: Contact Melissa Rhoton at  email mom2sjr@yahoo.com





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 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










Hungry for God is on Facebook! Will you take a moment and LIKE my page? CLICK HERE to help HFG share 5-minute devotions.
 

 

 

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

Life's dark hallways -- A Guest Post by Laura Poole

Today I'd like to introduce a friend and fellow blogger, Laura Hodges Poole. Laura has accomplished an impressive feat--she's launched two books in two months! The following devotion, "Life's Dark Hallways," is adapted from her latest devotional book,  While I'm Waiting .





“The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.” ~ Mark Twain 

 Have you ever been really afraid? I mean heart-pounding, palm-sweating, knee-shaking, throat-choking afraid? 

My parents live in a ranch-style block house in Florida. Like most homes built in the 1950s, it has a long hallway with bedrooms on one end, the living room and kitchen on the opposite end, and a bathroom in the middle. 

At night when I was a child—and especially during stormy weather if the power went out—that hallway loomed dark and sinister. When I came out of the bathroom, I’d peek around the corner to make sure nothing was there to get me. Convinced there was something scary out there, I’d summon the courage to outrun “it.” As I streaked down the long hallway, my little feet barely touched the linoleum. I only felt safe again once I was back in bed with the covers tucked tightly under my chin. 

If we’re honest, we all have dark hallways and monsters we try to outrun. If we can just reach a certain level of financial, physical, or emotional security, we tell ourselves, we won’t be afraid anymore. Meanwhile, we sprint down the hallway before “it” gets us, and we survive until our next encounter. 

Fear is everywhere. It’s consuming and debilitating. We gain nothing positive from it. When we apply our own strength to situations beyond our control, we fail to leave room for the security God offers us. 

Before King David became king, he probably slept with one eye open and looked over his shoulder constantly. After all, King Saul, a madman, had a vested interest in him not becoming king. Ultimately, God’s strength and wisdom provided physical and spiritual protection for Israel’s future king (See 1 Samuel 23). “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you” (Psalm 56:3). 

What are you afraid of today? Impending results from a medical test? The risk of stepping into the unknown to walk a path God designed for you? Maybe something less life threatening like boundaries you need to draw in an unhealthy relationship or the need to stand up for yourself? Perhaps you’re afraid of the bitterness and chaos in in your soul. 

Reflection: Fear often traps us. Whatever your dark hallway, I encourage you to reach for God’s comforting hand to guide you. Living in his will and leaning on his strength is the best security you’ll ever experience. 

Laura Hodges Poole is a freelance writer with dozens of articles, devotions, and short stories in publication. She is a 2014 ACFW Genesis semi-finalist and a 2012 RWA Emily finalist in Christian fiction. Laura is also a non-fiction ghostwriter/collaborator. Her passion is encouraging others in their Christian walk through her blog, A Word of Encouragement. You may contact Laura at laurapoole565@gmail.com. Follow her on Twitter @ Laura_Poole and like her Facebook page. 

Her Christmas novella, A Christmas Chance , is also available on Amazon. 


While I’m Waiting is a compilation of Laura Poole's blog posts. A 31-day devotional, While I’m Waiting will inspire readers to patiently and reverently wait on God to answer prayers according to his perfect timing. Laura shares her own struggles and shortcomings in a way that is encouraging and hopeful, even in the most difficult circumstances. Her devotions show that it is possible to walk through the valley of trials and not despair while praising God and choosing contentment. 

As Jim Elliot once said, “God always gives His best to those who leave the choice with Him.”


 
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Copyright 2012 by Lori Hatcher

Can We Earn God's Favor?

I know I’m on shaky ground. 

The topic of this post is a theological octopus. It has the potential to make people angry, cry “FOUL,” shoot me scathing emails, and unsubscribe. 

It’s my Sunday school teacher’s fault, really. She led me to this verse, although I noticed she left the ticking time bomb untouched. Me, well, I had to pick it up, sparking fuse, sizzling flame, and all. 

“. . . he (Ezra) arrived in Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month, for the gracious hand of his God was on him” (Ezra 7:9). You may remember the story. 

Ezra the priest, with the permission of King Artaxerxes, was leading a contingent of 5,000 Jews. They were carrying precious metal back to Jerusalem. Ezra’s troupe comprised the second wave of exiles returning to their homeland after the diaspora (dispersion). 

The journey was 900 miles long and dangerous, yet Ezra and the Jews made it safely, successfully transporting over 24 tons of silver and bronze to build the new temple. 

What caught my eye in the story was the phrase, “and the gracious hand of his God was on him.” 

The gracious hand of God granted Ezra safety, protection, favor, and provision on his 900-mile journey. Imagine what the gracious hand of God would look like in our lives. 

We’d be crazy not to want it, but how do we get it? 

Can we earn God’s favor? 

I’m not talking about earning God’s love—Scripture tells us that is unconditional. Ask the toddler in the church nursery lisping through John 3:16; God’s love is undeserved and unmerited. 

 I’m talking about God’s favor. His inclinations to bless us, help us, and answer our prayers. Can we earn the gracious hand of God upon our lives? 

I think so. 

Let’s read the next verse: 

 “. . . the gracious hand of God was upon him. For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the LORD, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel” (9b-10). 

By studying God’s Word, obeying what it said, and teaching it to others, Ezra positioned himself to experience the gracious hand of God upon his life. 

It’s a no-brainer, really. A loving Father blesses his obedient child. We do it all the time. Which child are we more inclined to favor, the obedient, loving, compassionate one, or the lazy, rebellious, selfish one? This doesn’t discount the mercy of God, nor does it limit his compassion only to those who obey him. It does, however, acknowledge the primary way God responds to his children—in response to their actions. 

But herein lies the potential for confusion. The gracious hand of God is not a spiritual Coke machine. We can’t just feed the God machine and expect it to pay out. God doesn’t invite us to check off the boxes in an attempt to manipulate him into doing what we want. 

God wants us to seek him diligently, obey him sincerely, and share salvation with others because it’s the best for us. And the best for the world. He wants our motivation to be love for him, not lust for stuff. And when we study, pursue, and tell others about him, the natural outcome of these actions is that we will be about his business. And the gracious hand of God will be upon us. It all comes down to relationship. 

Ezra loved God, and God called him to do some pretty amazing things. Then, through his gracious hand, God provided everything Ezra needed to accomplish it. 

I want this. 

How about you? 

What are your thoughts on the subject? I’d love for you to leave a comment below and chime in. 

 

If you enjoyed this devotion, 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. 

 
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Copyright 2012 by Lori Hatcher

She said, "Yes."

Thirty years and three days after my husband and I said, “I do,” my daughter said, “Yes.” 

Yes to the young man who loves her and wants to spend the rest of his life with her. Yes to the ring he placed on her finger to declare to the world his promise. Yes, on New Year’s Day, the day of new beginnings, to take the first steps into 2015 together. 

Yes. It is appropriate, and beautiful, and scary, and wonderful, and this mother’s heart is full. 

Full and leaking out of the corners of my soul. 

I say yes, too. Yes to all that has been good about the last 30 years of my own marriage. And to all I hope and pray for hers. 

Yes, that marriage can make you a better person. It is the first opportunity, really, to love another more than you love yourselves.  

Yes, that marriage can make you better Christians. You’ll lack wisdom and claim James 1:5. You’ll lack humility and surrender to Ephesians 5. You’ll lack love and ask God to pin 1 Corinthians 13 to your hearts.  

Yes, that marriage can make you a better daughter and a better son. The veil will lift, and you’ll begin to understand that what you took for granted in your parents’ marriages didn’t come naturally. Or easily. Or without a price.  

Yes that marriage is the closest we come to understanding the Father’s passion for his bride. How he gently woos her, fiercely defends her, and lays down his life for her. How she serves and honors him, respects and supports him, and keeps herself only for him. 

Yes, that marriage is the hardest, easiest, happiest, saddest, craziest, calmest adventure you’ll ever embark upon. It will strengthen your faith, broaden your reach, and open your hearts. You’ll love deeper, cry harder, and laugh longer. Your home will become a haven for lost souls, a warm fire for the lonely, and a gathering place for the beloved. 

Yes, that it is not good for a man to be alone. That God created a helpmeet for him. That leaving and cleaving will not distance you from your families, but serve to draw us closer, for as you love each other, so will your love splash out onto those who love you. 

“For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Christ. And so through him the ‘Amen’ is spoken by us to the glory of God” (2 Cor. 1:20). 

Yes. 

 

If you enjoyed this devotion, 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 you enjoyed this post, why not subscribe? I'll send you twice-weekly 5-minute devotions to help nourish your soul. 
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Copyright 2012 by Lori Hatcher

5 Things Parenting Taught Me About God Part II

In Part I of 5 Things Parenting Taught Me About God, I shared how my children taught me why God wants me to obey him, how much he loves me, and how much my sin hurts him . Today I share two more things I've learned about God through my children.

4. Parenting taught me how much Jesus’ sacrificial death cost God. 

When I think about how much I love my children and how protective I feel toward them, I stand in awe of God. To think that he would sacrifice his perfect Son on a torturous cross for sinful humanity is too much even to imagine.

“Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man,” the apostle Paul writes, “though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Rom. 5:7-8).

Picture the worst sinners you can imagine—Hitler, Stalin, Ted Bundy. Then picture the face of your innocent child. Now imagine exchanging your child’s life for theirs. That’s how much God loves us.

 5. Parenting taught me why I must trust him even when I don’t understand. 


My husband and I made many decisions that made no sense to our children. We allowed nurses to stick needles in their arms, teachers to force them to study Chemistry, and swim coaches to push them until they threw up. We made them work for their money, memorize Bible verses, and humble themselves to ask forgiveness.

Our actions were often puzzling and sometimes seemed cruel. My actions toward God demonstrate some of the same suspicion my children felt. How can financial difficulty be good? I wonder. How can a closed door be the answer to my prayer? How can this tragedy be part of God’s “good and perfect will” for me? 

Now that our daughters are young adults, they understand why we parented them as we did—because we were looking beyond their immediate comfort to their long term good. I know God is doing the same for me.


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

God reveals himself in many ways—through his Word, creation, and other believers. One of the greatest ways he’s helped me understand him better has been through my children.

They’ve helped me learn why God wants me to obey and how much my sin hurts him. Through them he’s taught me how much his son’s death cost him and why I should trust him even when I don’t understand. Most of all, he’s shown me that he loves me beyond comprehension, just like a Father loves his child. And that’s something we can all understand.

What about you? Have the children in your life taught you things you might not have learned otherwise? Leave a comment below and share your thoughts.



If you enjoyed this devotion, 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 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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Hungry for God is on Facebook! Will you take a moment and LIKE my page? CLICK HERE to help HFG share 5-minute devotions.
 

 

 

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

5 Things Parenting Taught Me About God Part I

1. Parenting taught me why God wants me to obey him.

Our children didn’t understand why we made them eat green vegetables, do their schoolwork, and go to bed at a decent hour. They couldn’t fathom how baths were good and eating dirt was bad. It was a mystery to them why we were so passionate about them avoiding alcohol, only dating believers, and hanging out with kids who loved Jesus.

I loved playing with my children. I loved teaching them. I loved sharing adventures, reading to them, and taking trips. I loved feeding them, clothing them, and giving them special gifts.

I did not enjoy making them obey. I didn’t enjoy holding them accountable to be honest, diligent, and respectful. I didn’t enjoy making them do chores, save their money, and complete their school assignments. I didn’t enjoy being “the bad guy” who punished them for disobeying and “forced” them to go to church.

But I did it anyway, because I knew the scriptural guidelines we were laying down would help protect them from the danger and devastation of sin and help them become happy, healthy, productive, godly adults. I wanted my children to experience everything good and avoid everything bad. 

Many times, like my children, I’ve struggled with obedience. I become willful and rebellious. I march off in pursuit of what I know is best for me. I’m convinced I know best what will make me happy and fulfilled. Obey God? Surely he doesn’t know better than I what makes me happy.

And I’ve lived long enough to suffer the consequences of my disobedience.

“If you love me,” he calls, “keep my commandments. Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness. And all these things (everything you need to be fulfilled) will be added to you.”

My children helped me understand why God wanted me to obey him.

2. Parenting taught me much God loves me.

Because I didn’t enjoy babysitting, I worried that I might not be a good mother. I was unprepared for the emotions that overwhelmed me following my daughter’s birth. Almost instantly, something happened that made me 100 percent mother. Fiercely protective. Sacrificially giving. Unconditionally loving. When I held my baby in my arms for the first time, I knew, should the need arise, I would die for her.

Yet I am frail, and flawed, and selfish. I’m impatient, fickle, and imperfect. I’m plagued by a sin nature, and I make mistakes. Because of my human limitations, I know the love I feel for my children is a mere whisper of the love God has for me. Loving my children gives me a glimpse of God’s heart toward his children.  And toward me.

3. Parenting taught me how much my sin hurts God.


I have two amazingly wonderful daughters, but they are imperfect. Their actions have, at times, hurt my heart. How can they do this after all I’ve done for them, all I’ve sacrificed for them, all I’ve tried to teach them? I’ve wondered sadly. Don’t they know how much they’ve hurt me?

Yet I hurt my perfect, holy, loving, sacrificial Father without batting an eye. Selfishness? That’s just the way I am. Dishonesty? It was only a small lie. Neglect? I had important things to do.

It seldom enters my mind how much my sinful actions hurt God. Break his heart. Drive the cross nails a little deeper. Press the thorn crown a little harder. Because I know he will forgive me, I treat my sin casually and play the mercy card when my conscience pricks.

Feeling the pain of my children’s sin awakens me to the piercing power of my own. Father, forgive me. 

Over the 30 years I've been a believer, God has revealed himself to me in many ways. Parenting has been one of them. Through the relationships I have with my children, I've  learned why God wants me to obey him, how much he loves me, and how much my sin hurts him.


Next time, I'll share two more things I've learned about God through parenting. I hope you'll join me. If you haven't yet subscribed to my blog, now's a great time to do so.

What about you? If you're a parent, how has God revealed himself to you through your children. If you don't have children of your own, how has God used someone else's children to teach you something about himself? Leave a comment below to share your thoughts. 



If you enjoyed this devotion, 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 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










Hungry for God is on Facebook! Will you take a moment and LIKE my page? CLICK HERE to help HFG share 5-minute devotions.
 

 

 

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