Growing Your Faith
Come to the Altar
by Lori Hartin on March 6, 2017
"...from the ashes a new life is born..." --from "O Come to the Altar."
Today, I am reminded that many of us are looking from a heap of ashes.
Life has a way of burning us.
To all who mourn in Israel, he will give a crown of beauty for ashes,
a joyous blessing instead of mourning,
festive praise instead of despair.
In their...
Read MorePerspective in the Pain
by Lori Hartin on March 3, 2017“I feel like it’s all a show,” my friend told me.
We were discussing a past experience with church. For a moment, I was reminded of Ariel Moore’s remark to her preacher father in the 1984 film...
Read MoreA Meal, a Manager...and a Message
by Lori Hartin on January 18, 2017Because sometimes when you just can’t seem to go on…God sends a message to remind you that you can.
And because sometimes He knows you’ve cried enough tears.
Recently, a friend shared with me...
Read MoreRemember the Old
by Guest Blogger Betty Predmore on November 21, 2016Remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me.
Isaiah 46:9
It blesses my heart to be needed by my kids, even my grown ones....
Read MoreSchool Starts This Week! Already?
by Guest Blogger Ruth Demers on August 16, 2016“You must be so ready for school to start!”
This is a question I always get at the end of summer break.
My response? “Actually, no. Summer went by way too quickly.”
You see, I am the mother...
Read MorePray and Color
by Lori Hartin on July 11, 2016The cover invites me to, “Try coloring as a bridge to an island of inner quiet and prayer.”
Oh, how peaceful that sounds!
And how my soul craves that inner quiet in noisy...
Read MoreA Nice Mom
by Guest Blogger Betty Predmore on May 11, 2016I am on a field trip with my youngest daughter's class. There is nothing quite like being on a bus with a group of giggly 7-year-olds. We started our adventure at 6:30 a.m., which is a little...
Read MoreWaiting in the Storm
by Lori Hartin on March 14, 2016Today marks the first day in several that El Niño hasn’t been pouring its buckets of much-needed rain on us. And although there weren’t any in our immediate area, yesterday I was reminded of the...
Read MoreHe's Doing a New Thing
by Lori Hartin on January 5, 2016“Forget about what’s happened; don’t keep going over old history. Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand-new. It’s bursting out! Don’t you see it?...”
–Isaiah 43:18-19, MSG
Happy...
Read MorePeace-ing Together What is Broken
by Lori Hartin on November 9, 2015“Finally, brothers and sisters, keep rejoicing and repair whatever is broken. Encourage each other, think as one, and live at peace; and God, the Author of love and peace, will remain with...
Read MoreDependent on His Grace
by Lori Hartin on September 14, 2015"I learned God-worship when my pride was shattered. Heart-shattered lives ready for love don't for a moment escape God's notice."
—Psalm 51:16-17, MSG
This Psalm of repentance was written by...
Read MoreWell Dressed
by Lori Hartin on August 11, 2015This past weekend, my home church sponsored its second annual Girls Garden Party, a special day of pampering just for young ladies in their teen years. I’m excited to report that Ladybug Women’s...
Read MoreBarbara's Gift
by Lori Hartin on June 26, 2015"Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and...
Read MoreHospitality with Flair!
by Lori Hartin on April 16, 2015Today I discovered a great leader that personally ministered to me has gone to her true home in heaven. Priscilla Wilson Taylor was a district director for Women's Ministries with the Northern...
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