Sometimes when I pray, the Lord shows me these lovely pictures. I used to think these were mere daydreams interrupting my prayer focus. I’d try to refocus, but the images continued to break my concentration. One day, in a small prayer circle, the woman who prayed before me shared the pictures she saw as she prayed. I’d never heard anyone share in this way before, but her courage inspired me to share the pictures I saw.
As the world sings, “O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant,” tragedy can suddenly zap away our joy. Loved ones can pass away, and lives can be turned upside down.
Each year as my family decorates the tree, we sing “The First Noel” and add on those yarn wreaths. We remember it is a “choice to rejoice.” It also seems as we reflect on that first Christmas and our decision to “choose joy,” we can see why God placed this vital truth in our lives as a strong foundation for our future.
I was snuggled deep in the covers when my eyes popped open and I heard the still, small voice of the Lord whisper to my heart. "It’s time to pray for the hurting children."
Originally, she dreamed of being in the fashion business, but God had something else in mind. God unfolded His beautiful plan for Lane’s life and ministry so subtly that she didn’t even realize it was happening.
There is no formula for hearing God’s voice or knowing if it’s God speaking. Hearing and discerning God’s voice comes by practicing His presence and tuning your ear to His heart.
Linda Evans Shepherd I was furious. “They want to do what? Take another MRI of Laura’s brain?! No! I won’t allow it.” Nurse Sharon was patient with me. “You don’t…
Tracy Hester A few years ago, I went through a bitter divorce. As a woman in ministry, I didn’t know how to effectively deal with the emotional outflow—rejection, abandonment, betrayal,…
by Linda Evans Shepherd in Leading Hearts magazine In my latest book, Praying Through Your Every Emotion (February 2021, Revell of Baker Publishing Group), I created mini-Bible studies coupled with…
WHAT’S THE CRAZIEST THING YOU’VE EVER DONE TO FOLLOW AFTER GOD? Was it to raise your kids, teach the teenage class at church or read your Bible through in a year? All good pursuits, but have you ever dared to leave your comfort zone behind and dive headfirst into the unknown because you felt God put an idea before you?
Yes, I will serve you. Yes, I will go where you send me.
In those days I thought God was sending me to seminary to study how to become a youth director. So, after I was accepted into a fine seminary, I never dreamed I would face a roadblock.
When the seminary president wrote me, “Because you married an engineer and not one of our pastoral students, we are canceling your seminary enrollment.”