Just Enough Light for This Moment

I’m pleased to be posting today at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, as part of the series, “When His Story Becomes My Story.”

Last week, I looked at the testing and temptations we go through in this life and how God will use those times to strengthen us and draw us closer to Him in I Am Tested, Yet Unbreakable.

Today, I’m talking about the Light in the darkness. No matter how lost I may feel, I always have a Guide because the light God gave us through His Son, Jesus, can never be extinguished by the darkness.

I have a few strategically placed nightlights in my house. Not because I have small children, but so I don’t have to turn on the bright overhead lights if I get up in the middle of the night. While I usually prefer bright light to dim, it’s too much in the dark night. My eyes can’t adjust from darkness to bright light quickly enough. I blink and squint and shade my eyes. It’s too much light all at once, but the soft glow from the nightlight is just enough light for that moment.

God has always given light to His people. At creation…

…God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. Genesis 1:3-4 NIV

He led the Israelites…

Please join me at Gloria Dei to read the rest of my post…Just Enough Light for This Moment.

In Christ,

Laura

Linking up with The Weekend Brew and Sharing His Beauty.

My Dream Journey and a Give-away

Over the past months, Holley Gerth’s God-sized dream team has been getting together to support and encourage each other. Our time together is winding down and this week is our last link-up. But our God-sized dream journeys will continue. This week’s prompt from Holley is…

We’ve been walking the path of God-sized dreams together for a few months now. Will you share an update with us about your dream? Let us know where you are with it–the happy and the hard. Tell us how we can pray for you and your dream too.

I began this journey a little unsure of what my dream was. I had always wanted to write, and I was already doing that…I really didn’t know what else to dream.

As the team began, Holley coached us through identifying our skills and strengths, and how we dreamed of using them. I had never thought of myself as an encourager, but all of a sudden, that thought was taking hold through comments I received in person and on blog posts.

It was then I started to realize God was showing me a new dream—one He was already planting in my heart.

I want women to know and experience a personal relationship with Christ. And I want to cheer them on in their journey, by expressing hope and encouragement through caring, sensitive, and honest words.

What all this will encompass, I don’t know for sure, but I feel like maybe He’s leading me in these directions…

-to continue writing—on my blog and in guest posts, and possibly that will lead to freelance writing.

-to encourage women to be in God’s word by hosting online Bible studies.

-to grow my leadership skills, and maybe one day speak to women and groups.

-to write a book sharing my journey in faith.

Do these scare me? Yes. Some more than others.

But, if God is leading, then I know He’ll go before me and prepare the way. And as the enemy attacks, I’ll keep reminding myself that Satan works hard to keep us away from God’s will.

Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.

Deuteronomy 31:8 NLT

Prayers for self-discipline and obedience to follow God’s lead and for strength to withstand the enemy’s attacks would be appreciated.

How can I pray for you today?

**To celebrate our journey together in God-sized dreaming, I’m giving away a copy of Holley Gerth’s You’re Made for a God-Sized Dream. To enter, leave a comment on this post. I’ll randomly select a winner on Wednesday, June 5.**

In Christ,

Laura

Linking up with Holley Gerth, WholeHearted Home, Winsome Wednesday, #TellHisStory, Thought Provoking Thursday, and Faith Filled Friday

I am Tested, yet Unbreakable

Welcome, I’m posting at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church today where I’m talking about the storms in life—the trials that have the power to take us down. If we choose to turn inward, relying on ourselves, they just might overtake us.

But when we lean in to God, relying on His strength and protection, He’ll use the trying times to bring us closer to Him.

Below is the beginning of my post. I hope you’ll follow me over to Gloria Dei to read it in its entirety.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 NIV

In this world you will have trouble.

Jesus didn’t say we might have trouble, or if we have trouble. He said we will have trouble. So, we shouldn’t be surprised when it comes our way.

Every day, we struggle with something…grief, worry and anxiety, addictions, finances (good and bad), natural disasters, family riffs, and pure evil.

Some trials come from our own choices, while others are completely out of our control. But every day, we are tested. And in that testing, we face temptations and a choice. Do we turn to our own strengths or do we lean in to God and rely on Him?

To read more, please join me at Gloria Dei...

In Christ,

Laura

Linking up with The Weekend Brew, Hear it on Sunday, Use it on Monday, and Sharing His Beauty

Embrace Grace Summer Study

I don’t know about you, but I’m ready for another online study! The break I took this spring was much needed. It gave me time to take a step back, rest, and regroup.

Now, I invite you to join me in studying Embrace Grace, Welcome to the Forgiven Life, by Liz Curtis Higgs, beginning June 30. During this 8-week study (one chapter per week), we’ll explore what it means to embrace doubt, faith, truth, sin, forgiveness, repentance, and grace.

Each week, I’ll offer a suggested reading schedule and post my thoughts and take-aways from the chapter. Don’t stress out if you get behind in the reading, and don’t hold back if you want to read ahead—this is your study.

If you want to go deeper into the study, join us over at Liz Curtis Higgs’ Web site each week for a Biblical study of each chapter. A link to each week’s study will be on my blog, for easy access.

For more information, click here: Embrace Grace Online Study or click on the Summer Study tab at the top of the screen.

To sign up, send an e-mail to: EmbraceGraceStudy@gmail.com with your name, e-mail address, city and state. By signing up, you will receive the weekly reading schedule via e-mail.

For questions, feel free to e-mail me at: laurajrath@gmail.com.

In Christ,

Laura