Category: Amanda

Steady Comes Before SUDDENLY

7/18/2025

Have you ever had a sudden change of life plans? Have you ever thought that maybe those changes came out of nowhere when things seemed like they were just normal? Maybe it even seemed like God had forgotten that you were still there, serving and doing the normal, mundane things of life. I’m sure that on some level, you can relate to this situation in your life. I know I can. I was reading a book recently called Just Show Up by Drew Dyck that addressed this idea of finding God’s will, especially in the “SUDDENLY” moments of life, and I thought I would share some of my thoughts on this topic.

Finding God’s will is commonly accepted as a young person’s sport. It is the title of seminars and the topic of youth Bible studies or college campus outreaches.

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Answers for a Troubled Heart

6/20/2025

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Struggling with #anxiety, #fear, or #emotional pressure? Answers for a Troubled Heart offers #biblical encouragement from #Psalm 42 for those facing inner turmoil. Discover how to find hope in #God, draw strength from His Word, and lean on the support of the #church during life’s hardest moments. This #devotional is perfect for anyone seeking #peace, comfort, and #spiritual renewal. #Learn how to process pain through #faith and find lasting #hope in #Christ. #BibleStudy #Psalm42 #HopeInGod

Do you ever find yourself overwhelmed with the “stuff” and pressure of this life? Perhaps it manifests as inner turmoil that you keep inside and try to deal with quietly, while continuing with your work and responsibilities. Maybe it finds its way to the surface and causes you fear and anxiety that at times can be crippling. Perhaps it feels more like a weight that you carry and don’t know how to find relief. Maybe it even drives you to tears and heartache that you have no idea how to deal with.

However, those struggles find their way into your life, I can imagine that we can all say we know what that pressure feels like.

Friend, can I try to help relieve your pressure today? If I could sit and listen to you share your heart and your story today, this Psalm would be one of the places I would take you.

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5 Rapid-Fired Commands for Holy Living

5/23/2025

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In 1 #Thessalonians 5, the #Apostle Paul lays out clear and powerful commands--not just for #personalgrowth, but for how we relate to one another as the #bodyofChrist. Don’t quench the Spirit. Don’t despise God’s Word. Test everything. Hold tightly to what is good. Avoid even the appearance of evil. Paul isn’t just giving us a #todolist, he’s reminding us that #God Himself is #faithful and will empower us to walk in #holiness. #Read and be #encouraged! #FaithfulGod #ChristianLiving #BibleStudy

Holy Living
from 1 Thessalonians 5
(Part 2)

Here we are back in 1 Thessalonians 5 with the Apostle Paul looking at these commands for holy living in the lives of believers. Remember, Paul is addressing the church at Thessalonica and helping them to know how to relate to other believers with these short commands. The first three we looked at last month (3 Rapid-Fired Commands for Holy Living) were found in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, where Paul speaks specifically to some personal commands:

“Rejoice evermore.”
“Pray without ceasing.”
“In every thing give thanks…”

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3 Rapid-Fired Commands for Holy Living

4/25/2025

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The Apostle Paul gives us 3 Rapid-Fired Commands for Holy Living in 1 #Thessalonians 5. They are a clear and powerful call: #Rejoice always. #Pray without ceasing. #GiveThanks in everything. These aren't just suggestions--they're a #Christian lifestyle for believers walking in hope and holiness! Let’s choose joy, stay in #prayer, and live #thankful--because this is the will of #God in #Christ #Jesus (1 Thess. 5:18). #Read the full post and be #encouraged to live holy in this unholy world. #faith

Holy Living
from 1 Thessalonians 5
(Part 1)

Paul is one of my favorite writers the Holy Spirit used in the New Testament. There are so many ways that I relate to what he struggled with and how he shares those struggles in such a transparent way.

I Thessalonians is one of the first books of the New Testament written about 52-53 AD. Paul wrote this letter to the church at Thessalonica probably a few months after leaving them on his second missionary journey. He had heard a good report from Timothy about what was going on there and decided to write to encourage the believers there.

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The Greatest Gift

12/20/2024

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Christmas is almost here! Are you ready? Whether your #gifts are wrapped or last-minute, the #joy is in the #giving. But have you considered the greatest #gift of all? #Isaiah 9:6 says,

Christmas is almost here! Have you got all the gifts you need to purchase? Are you one of those amazing people who have them all wrapped and ready for Christmas already? Maybe you are one of those people who will wait until the last few days before Christmas to get out and get all the things you need and then stay up all night on Christmas Eve to get them wrapped. The only sad thing is that ready early or just finished on Christmas Eve, most will watch the kids demolish the amazing wrapping in seconds, but that’s the fun of the act of giving the gift, right? In the moment when you give the gift, do you think about the cost of the gift? In the moment of receiving the gift and all the excitement that goes along with it, maybe the cost isn’t on our minds, but after reflection, we must recognize that the giver freely gives his gift to the receiver out of a heart of love. The gift is given without any strings attached even though it costs the giver personally to give it.

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Thankful IN Everything

11/22/2024

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Paul tells us in 1 Thess. 5:18, “In every thing #givethanks: for this is the will of #God in #Christ #Jesus concerning you.” Easy to #read--tough to live out, right? Dive into what it means to be #grateful in every #season, even when life gets complicated. Through real-life challenges, explore how #thankfulness can go beyond circumstances finding a foundation in God’s will. If you’re navigating #trials--big or small--this one’s for you! Embracing #gratitude--no matter what’s going on around you.

It’s that time of year! Has your social media feed been filled with people talking about what they are thankful for? It is a good practice to purposefully be thankful! I am often reminded, especially at this time of year, just how important this attitude of thanksgiving really is for us as Christians. 1 Thessalonians 5 includes a series of commands that Paul uses to admonish the believers in the church at Thessalonica. There are some “famous” commands in this passage such as “See that none render evil for evil” (5:15), or “Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing” (5:16-17). Remember the command to “Quench not the Spirit” (5:19), or what about “Abstain from all appearance of evil” (5:22)? Nestled right in the middle of these familiar commands is a simple one that I purposely skipped over that ties into that one about constantly being in an attitude of prayer. It is a simple statement, but it takes a lot to obey it.

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My Weakness His Strength

10/18/2024

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Weakness is something that no one likes to claim. I don’t find it easy to admit when I am weak in any way. I remember when I first made my big international move to start my journey as a missionary in England. There were so many areas of my life that were the epitome of weakness!

I all but cried in the grocery store when I couldn’t find the things that I was searching for. Everything looked so foreign, literally! And it wasn’t even in a different language. (Although I do contend that there are two very different languages called English!) I had to learn to drive on the other side of the road and the other side of the car. And the signs were all different! I felt like at every turn or even every moment I was just so very weak. Thankfully with the help of good friends and time, what used to be foreign to me has become familiar and even welcoming.

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