Bless Your Heart and Home

by his grace, through his word, for our joy, to his glory.

comfort, encouragement, and suffering

All of Your Life Is Worship

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When I think about what it looks like to live a life of worship, I think of things like fervent prayer time, worshiping God at church, giving sacrificially to missions, and Bible study.

And while an obedient Christian woman’s life will encompass each of these aspects, that’s really not what my life looks like most of the time. Most of the time, my life looks and feels very unspiritual.

It’s not that I’m pursuing worldly passions or only living for Jesus on Sundays. No, it’s just that most of my waking (and sleeping!?) hours are filled with dirty diapers, breastfeeding, grocery lists, and scraping dried avocado and mashed banana off the high chair…..

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Your Creator God Is Your Help

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“I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come?” Psalm 121:1

So often when I’m overwhelmed, looking for encouragement or affirmation, or need advice or comfort, I seek help by phoning a friend, venting about the situation to my husband, or maybe taking yet another look at my planner to try and figure out how to find an extra hour or two in my day. I look for “me time,” I make another pot of coffee, or I buy a new blouse online, all in an effort to find help….

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The Fourfold Beauty of a Godly Woman

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A Christian woman has the opportunity to be one of the greatest influencers on earth. The striking beauty of her spirit may win the soul of her unbelieving husband. Her adherence to God’s design in marriage can proclaim the glory of the gospel. Her faith in and knowledge of God’s word can spill over into her spheres of ministry.

However, if a woman does not know her God and his word, and if she is not clinging to its precious promises, she begins to resemble Eve, the mother of her flesh. Her heart can easily be deceived by the enemy’s craftiness, and her affections can be led astray.

We who have trusted in Christ are not only descendants of Eve, but now we are descendants of Sarah, the free woman (Galatians 4:31). We are children of promise and we are no longer in bondage to Eve’s nature. In 1 Peter 3:1–6 and Hebrews 11:11–12, we receive the commendation of Sarah’s faith, and we are pointed to her life as an example of biblical womanhood. As we imitate the faith of Sarah, we can leverage our God-given gender and unique gifts to glorify our God and advance his kingdom….

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A Psalm for Those Who Grieve this Mother’s Day

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As I shared over at Arabah Joy’s blog, many women struggle and grieve during Mother’s Day weekend. The Lord has encouraged me greatly through Psalm 13, and if your heart weeps this Mother’s Day, may these truths from God’s Word bring comfort and hope to you.

In this Psalm, let’s follow the Psalmist’s four questions, and then we’ll uncover the truth that answered the weeping of his broken heart….

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Six Scriptural Answers to the Question “Why?”

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In one short chapter in Elisabeth Elliot’s book, “Keep a Quiet Heart,” she cites six Scripture passages that answer the question “WHY?” I want to share those verses here with you, as well as some encouragement I gleaned from each passage.

As Elisabeth Elliot says, “There is mystery, but it is not all mystery. Here are clear reasons.”…

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When God’s Glory Plunders Your Heart’s Affections

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“The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe.” Proverbs 18:10

For the rest of this week, this day, or even in this hour, you and I will be faced with challenges, unexpected sorrows, and fears. We might remind our souls, “Bless the LORD, O my soul,” but sometimes we can’t figure out how to shake the feelings of gloom or meet the day’s shadows with eyes on the unseen. I know what I must do (I must trust the Lord!), but some days I find my courage waning and my heart growing faint.

While we will always battle this flesh until our souls rest in their eternal home, God has provided a shelter and hiding place through the minutes and hours of our days. And that hiding place is His name….

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