I’m posting this blog quickly today because I have a dinner for 100 to cook. Yes, that’s right. One hundred. No, we didn’t invite a few of our closest friends over for dinner. Instead, I’m cooking the Wednesday night meal for Asbury United Methodist Church, where my husband serves as Minister of Music. The kind hospitality crew has graciously allowed us to present this meal as a fundraiser for his mission trip to Costa Rica with Never the Same Missions July 6-20, 2014. We’ve already served a takeout meal for 100 a few weeks ago, and Tom, a professional trumpet player, has a concert planned for this Sunday afternoon, also at our church. All these activities will help support his mission trip. So why do I want Tom—or any adult, for that matter—to come with me on what is primarily a student trip? I can think of several reason, the first being that we’ve been best friends for more than thirty years. We’ve both taken multiple mission trips but never had the opportunity to serve together. But there are other reasons I want him to go. On the Never the Same trip, he’ll have the opportunity to make a positive difference in the lives of teens and nationals. He’ll serve as one of the adult leaders on a team of about thirty to forty and will have his own small group to disciple. They’ll spend time together and also join with their team for large-group devotions every day. He’ll travel on a bus with his team for daily ministry as they perform the “Spellbound” drama and have the experience of watching people transformed by the power of the gospel message. In addition, he’ll have multiple opportunities to share—or help share—Christ with nationals who come to watch the performance. Tom is a great encourager, so I know he’ll push, prod, and lead by example as he shows the teens how to engage the culture. Sometimes, they’ll perform the drama. But other times, they may wash hair, scrub clothes, deliver food, or perform other acts of service. Never the Same needs willing workers like Tom who will get their hands dirty—and more importantly, their hearts soft—for the sake of Jesus. Tom will also attend the FUAGNEM (Fired Up and Going Nuts Every Minute) worship services with me every evening. (I’m hoping he may get to use his trumpet.) Have you ever experienced worship with several hundred students? Let’s just say these are some of my favorite memories of previous trips. Never the Same offers powerful speakers (including trip sponsor Susie Shellenberger, founding editor of Brio and Sisterhood magazines) and testimonies in a celebratory setting that allows the students to interact with...

New things. Depending on our personality, new occasions, experiences, and people may carry with them great fear, great excitement, or great joy. I’m feeling a bit of all three things here today at the Florida Christian Writers Conference. As both a writer and intercessor, I’m an observer of people. I’ve already met some who can’t wait for the real conference (we’ve had pre-conference classes, intro sessions, a meet-and-greet, and even a karaoke time so far) to begin. But some are not sure whom to speak to (or not), not sure where to find their classes, not sure which classes to take, and not sure what to do with their work. They don’t know where to start. Today, I’m praying for them–and for you if you’re in a similar situation (even if you’re not at a conference). Will you join your prayers with mine? Father, today I lift up those who don’t know where to start. I ask You to draw near to them, to bring them Your peace and protection. Help them know they are not alone. Thank You for being so big yet so warm and personal. Thank You that you care about the big picture and the small one, the mighty and the lowly, the knowledgeable and the clueless. And thank You that no matter where I fit in to those descriptions, You care about me. Lord, I thank You that You are Lord over every person, ,every circumstance, every encounter, every appointment. I thank You that You are not only completely in charge but completely loving and completely holy. Thank You that You are perfect and Your ways are right. We don’t know what to do, Lord, but our eyes are on You (2 Chron. 20:12). We don’t know where to start. Our task may seem impossible Lord, the obstacles we face insurmountable. But You promise that as we acknowledge You in all our ways, You will direct our paths. This is what we ask for today, our King and our God. Direct our paths in ways that honor You. Align our steps in ways that bring You glory. And secure our boundaries in ways that keep us ever close to You.  We want to go where You go and live where You live. We want to turn where You turn and stop where You stop. Give us the blessedness of Your presence as we start first, last, and always with You. In Your holy name I pray–AMEN. Are you confused about where to start? Do you have a praise or prayer request? Feel free to share it in the comments or send me an email via the link at the top of my page.  And thanks...

“And the tongue is a fire” (James 3:6a). When a teen commits suicide after many months of bullying, the news reminds us: Words matter. When we overhear a parent’s harsh scolding of a child, our hearts remind us: Words matter. But when we realize our own words have inflicted pain, the Holy Spirit convicts us: Words matter. Father, today I pray on behalf of those who need to watch their words. So that means, once again, that I’m praying for everyone. Words have power and life. Words have meaning beyond the moment. Words can hurt. Words can heal. Lord, my own words have often been used in anger. They bubbled up and boiled over from an inner reserve of resentment and insecurity. They scalded and scorched those I love. And the ugly blisters they left behind caused scarring only Your touch can remove. So here’s what I’m asking, God. Help me, and others like me, to measure my words. Help me to think before I speak, but more than that, to be so full of You that nothing bubbles from my heart but Your grace and truth. Instead of lashing out in rage or striking out in hatred, let me share my struggles, my trials, my woundedness and weakness. Let me cry for help, not cause pain. Help me to see those around me as You see them, God. Let me have Your eyes, Your ears, Your heart of compassion. Guide my lips as You guide my life. And God? What I don’t say has the power to wound as much as what I do. Make my words fitly spoken, my silences golden, and my conversations filled with the knowledge of You. Forgive me where I have failed you, my Father. Touch my lips with Your fire of purity and burn away anything that would best remain unsaid. In Your Holy name I pray, AMEN.   Are you one of those who have been wounded by words? We often practice what we most despise. Ask God to show you if your words are hurting others and keep asking that His words flow from your lips. If you prayed this prayer with me, I’d love to hear from you in the comments below or via email (see the “contact” link on my home page. Thank you for watching your words, because they matter. Just like...

Sometimes, Bible verses seem to leap out at me as I read and become part of my prayers. I’m sure the same thing happens to you. Today, I was meditating on Colossians 3:16 (“let the word of Christ richly dwell within you”) and realized what a beautiful prayer it is. So today, Father God, I ask You to allow the word of Christ (all His truth) to richly dwell within us so it flows out of us more and more. May it be so abundant in us that Your truth rises up at the moment we need it and enables us to stand against the lies the enemy sends our way.  Lord, when something richly dwells, it does more than make an impression. It abides. It remains. It changes, rearranges, reshapes. I ask You to pour the word of Christ into us in such a way that we can’t remain the same. May each word, each story, each truth come forth and live within us in a way that, again and again, makes us new. Savior, for those who don’t know You, I ask that Your Word would richly dwell within them as well. May the power of  Your word be used of Your Spirit to draw them near to You, to bring them to repentance, to see themselves as You see them and You in all Your glory. For those who are hurting, God, I ask You to use that same word to bring them comfort, peace, and hope as it richly dwells within them. For those who are confused, Lord, I ask that Your word might richly dwell that they may have guidance and wisdom for the steps that lie ahead. For those who feel abandoned, God, I ask that the loving power of the word of Christ would remind them of the breadth and depth and length and height of Your love. And for those who have walked away, I ask that this word would richly dwell within them—even when they reject it—and draw them back into close fellowship with you. Thank You that not just  the word but You came to richly dwell. May You and Your word live within us as we die to ourselves and live to You. In Your holy name I pray—AMEN.  Do you know someone in whom the word of Christ “richly dwells”? How do you know? What do you see or experience? Feel free to tell us about them or leave a prayer request in the comments below (or via email via the link on my home page). Thanks for praying with me...

Father God, Rescued is the word you brought to mind today. So many of those I love need rescuing: The one in a valiant cancer battle The one who keeps making poor choices The one whose health teeters on the brink The one poised for change—wise or unwise The one overwhelmed by financial troubles The one trapped in years of marital hurt The one crushed by abuse The one whose pain no one hears The one who cries for others The one who doesn’t know where to turn. I lift each one before You, my Lord, because I know You can meet each one at each need-point. You came to rescue each of us. Your name is Deliverer, Healer, Savior, Strength. Thank You for pulling these from darkness to light, from defeat to victory. Thank You for loving them more than I do. I stand as Your servant, and You are my King—AMEN.  Since this is one of those prayers that applies to everyone, I decided to write it out. I hope you’ll add your prayers to mine. I’m back to blogging after my Christmas break turned into a dual bronchitis and finish-the-manuscript break. I’m coughing less and catching up on other writing now that I’ve submitted my most recent book project.   How may I pray for you in 2014? Leave a comment below or email me through the “contact” link. I’ll be honored to lift you before...

Have you ever looked at an old song in a fresh way? That happened to me this year during our choir’s Christmas presentation. One of our favorite songs was a new arrangement of “Away in a Manger” featuring our children’s choir. I r   I realized anew what a beautiful prayer lies in the third verse and prayed it for the congregation and myself each time we sang.  Today, I’m sharing the verse and my prayer with you. Merry Christmas! Be near me, Lord Jesus—and with all those who reach out to You during this season of celebration. I ask Thee to stay—The good news of Christmas: You came, You are coming, and You will come again.  Close by me forever—for You are Emmanuel, who left it all to give it all that we might draw near.  And love me, I pray—for You so loved us that You gave. In Your sacrifice, we find hope. In Your presence, we find peace. And in Your example, we find the power to love as You love.  Bless all the dear children—those many little ones throughout the world who are hurting. Take them in Your arms. Whisper to them of Your love, of Your wonder, of good tidings of great joy.  In Thy tender care—from the heart of a baby born in a lowly stable, of the One who had no place to rest His head, of the gentle-but-powerful Shepherd.  And fit us for heaven—the purpose of Your life, death, and resurrection. Keep making us less and You-in-us more.  To live with Thee there—in that wondrous place where tears never fall and the joy and promise of Christmas never ends.   Happy Birthday, Jesus! On Your holy night and in Your holy name, I pray—AMEN.  Do you have a special Christmas prayer request? Feel free to share it in the comments below.  I know I will pray, and others will join us. Christmas Blessings!...