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The Most Important Thing in Finding the Right Church

After a recent sports spinal injury, we needed to find the best pediatric orthopedic doctor for our son. We didn't look for someone cool. We didn't care if this doctor liked the same music we liked or even if he or she had a big social media following. We chose the best doctor who would give us the soundest medical advice for our emergency situation. When we found ourselves at the office of the top pediatric orthopedic doctor at UVA, she gave us some news my son did not want to hear.

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Freedom and Confidence in Prayer

What lies from the devil do you believe that keep you from praying fervently and with confidence? Ask the Holy Spirit if there are any lies in the way, blocking your prayer life and your ability to embrace everything God has for you and everything you are in him, as a redeemed daughter of God. YOU have an anointing in Christ through his Spirit! You have Christ! Let’s just say, these words need SHOUTING FROM THE ROOFTOP! We have a reason to be confident in Christ! When things look very discouraging, we still have freedom and confidence and a reason to go before our Father with faith.

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Light in My Soul

Enlightened hearts. Here in Ephesians, it is Paul's prayer that the eyes of their hearts be enlightened. But what does it mean to be enlightened?

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Praying the Psalms- Psalm 20 A Psalm of Assurance and Rescue

Before we begin to pray this encouraging Psalm, let's take a few minutes to look at some heart-swelling truths to focus our minds on Christ during trouble. In verse 1 in the NKJV, David pens, "May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble; May the name of the God of Jacob defend you;" If you read this passage and see the phrase "day of trouble," you may think that it is referring to one great big, terrible day, like a natural disaster. But, in the original language, this word day can mean a time period, which could even be a year, or a long period of time. You may be walking through a difficult trial without end in sight. During this wilderness, the promises in Psalm 20 about the character of God and his heart towards his people apply to you through your entire difficult journey. The NASB does a vivid job translating verse one in this way, "May the name of the God of Jacob set you securely on high." The Hebrew literally means that the believer is, "elevated so unassailably safe, beyond the reach of attackers; (figuratively) to enjoy maximum safety and security because inaccessible, i.e. removed from danger when the approach is (literally) too steep o climb; unassailable stronghold, lofty refuge." (Discovery Bible Software.)

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Cleaning Out Your Closet for Greater Joy

So, why in the world would I show you all my dirty laundry? Well, not laundry. I would never show you that! But, why would I show you my mess? Because the Lord impressed something so precious on my heart, as I walked through the mess, stepping over wires from my husband's studio, and trying to find a square foot to set my bags down on after work. 
 You see, I just finished speaking at a lovely weekend retreat called Revealed Retreat: Discover Who I Am in Christ. I challenged the ladies to give the Lord the deepest parts of their hearts - even the rooms of their hearts that they have shut the doors on for years. In the fight to stay positive and to keep from drowning in pain, sorrow and despair, people tend to avoid difficult conflict that arises when dealing with broken relationships and pain from the past. It's easier to ignore things and to just keep stuffing. These are things that may give us PTSD, if we decide to unpack them.