Battling Discontentment
In this episode of Let’s Talk, Melissa Kruger, Jackie Hill Perry, and Jasmine Holmes discuss how they fight against discontentment and envy. Because we live in a fallen world, we must face the fact that life often won’t be what we expect or desire. But it takes...
God is Still Working
From time to time I read some of my previous letters. It reminds me of what God has done in the past, helps me realize what God was showing me at that time, and propels me to trust Him more fully in the future. God led me to this letter from 2013. I trust it will...
Growing in our Prayer Life
For the last couple of years, our YBL Jackson small groups have engaged in growing in our prayer life. It has been great to hear the stories of men that have seen God move in incredible ways as they have prayed faithfully to the Lord. So…why would I write a blog on...
Identity
I recently spoke with a senior vice president of a local bank. During a recent job change he was asked to clear his old office and then be escorted out the door. He told me that he took a small cardboard box and put everything that belonged to him. He said to me,...
COVID Proofing Your Hope
What a year we have had. We have run out of adjectives to describe the situation which the pandemic and shutdown have produced. Virtually every aspect of our lives has been touched in this season. There are concerns about health and fears about death. Concerns about...
Three Ways to Stay Faithful in a Sifting Season
Three Ways to Stay Faithful in a Sifting Season By: Meredith Houston Carr | Proverbs 31 Ministries August 11th, 2020 “‘Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when...
Don’t Lose Hope
It is hard to be patient in the midst of difficult circumstances. You just want it to be over. Someone please fix this problem, resolve this issue, and let’s be done. You’re ready to move on, but nothing changes. The struggle continues and there doesn’t seem to be an...
Staying Steadfast
Do we want to Finish Well? Are our eyes set on the prize of the High calling of our Savior? Do we want to accomplish His purposes for us? Are we seeking the things above at this moment? Paul says: …but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have...
Leadership
I’m a little bit of a nerd when it comes to studying leadership. I subscribe to lots of leadership blogs and podcasts. I read books on leadership from both Christian and business perspectives. It is important for me, as a leader, to grow in how I lead myself so that I...
The Heart of Man
“The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.” Prov. 16:9 During the COVID 19 Pandemic, one of the things I’ve noticed is--few things seem to go as planned…at least not according to my plans! And the new word I’m learning to embrace, as it...
E Pluribus Unum; Out of the Many, One
There is a question from ancient philosophy called “the one and the many” problem. Though most people recoil at the mention of philosophy, it is important because we are living through this question today. What is true? Are we many, divided as many different people...
Best Laid Plans by Kelly Barbrey from Proverbs 31 Ministries
“Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.” Proverbs 19:21 (NIV) It was just a sheet of paper hanging on the fridge with a magnet that happened to catch my eye as I was washing dishes. A reminder to come to my daughter’s...
Insights From Joshua
It has been a joy for me to go back and read some of my journals. I have found they are as relevant today as when I wrote them. Today I am going to give some insights from Joshua that I recorded in 1989. The Lord leads and the Lord exalts. In Joshua 3:4, it says,”...
Kindness
I recently lost my kayak. Yes, it was an embarrassing moment, but let me explain. I had been out kayaking alone one afternoon and storm developed very quickly. As I hurried back to shore a hard, driving rain began to pour and I could hear thunder in the distance. ...
Praises from the Past
One of the goals I’ve been pursuing during this uncertain time is spending more concentrated time with the Father. I don’t want to look back on this time and regret that I haven’t maximized it. I am fully convinced that God has a plan, greater than I can perceive, for...
The Identity Mark of a True Disciple
Like many of you, I have struggled with everything that has been going on around us over the last few months. We have seen the COVID-19 pandemic slow everything normal to a halt. Families have struggled with job loss, challenging financial issues, loss of loved ones,...