Blog - Do Not Depart

Finding Joy | Every. Single. Day.

March 18, 2016 by Guest Post 3 Comments

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23 ESV

Do you see the glass as half empty…or half full? I see the glass as partially full when it used to be totally full. For many years, I thought that was being a realist. But, I came to realize…through an amazing teacher who saw things in me that no one had ever pointed out before…that I can be a pessimist. I don’t know if I have ever admitted that publicly, but there it is.

Optimist, Pessimist, or Realist – life can throw us curveballs that seem impossible to overcome: financial troubles, persistent illness, a terrible accident, daily conflict with those we love the most, a messy house, failed relationship, an overly full schedule that still feels empty, self-doubt, disliking what we see in the mirror, or an adult life that just doesn’t look like what we imagined. All of this can threaten to steal the joy right out of our hearts. The JOY that is promised to us as a FRUIT of the presence of God in our lives.

Think back to the last time that you truly felt joyful. Was it yesterday? Last week? Last month? Longer?

Finding Joy | Every. Single. Day. Glass half empty of half full? Read more at DoNotDepart.com

To answer that question, we might need to come to an understanding of what joy is. My dictionary defines joy this way as to experience great pleasure or delight. My [elementary] study of the Greek word in the above passage points us to a deeper meaning that is a direct result of God’s grace which is unearned and unmerited favor. There is no amount of human weakness – including my own – that can supersede that.

Don’t worry. I don’t feel it either when I hate my job, the baby screams for 72 hours straight, or there is just not enough money to pay bills and eat. Slowly but surely, however, the Lord is teaching me three steps to walking in his joy…instead of the reality of our fallen world. Because that is what every, single problem points to: a fallen, sinful, messy world. And I choose JOY…

Appreciate who God is. Start each day by thinking about God’s grace. Read about it, sing about it, and express gratitude to the Lord.
Acknowledge all the little, daily blessings. We have all had some really bad days. But, even then, there are blessings. The A/C repair did not cost as much as anticipated. The car quit on the way home from work, rather than on the way there. The dinner that I prepared at the end of a long day turned out well. The baby’s fever finally broke. Someone recognizes all your hard work. A random person pays a compliment. You get the picture. There is some good in there somewhere and my job is to find it. Make a list using a little notebook by your bed. Go to bed by writing down 3 little blessings. Wake up and read them.
Allow yourself to focus on today. Yesterday was beautiful. OR it was terrible. Either way, it is gone. Tomorrow is not here. Plan for it, but don’t let the anticipation of its blessings or sorrows overcome the joy of today. Think about each moment of the day as an opportunity to receive and give joy: in the grocery store or post office or restaurant.

It’s that easy? No, it’s that hard. But is it worth it? Absolutely. When I walk through life in the fullness of His unearned and unmerited favor, it is worth it to discipline my mind to walk in joy.

Ayoka Billions is a Registered Nurse turned Casting Director (finding actors for commercials, TV, & movies). A true G.R.I.T (girl raised in the South) minus a few years in California to see the world and marry her soulmate, she loves running, reading, gardening, watching old movies, board games, and playing with her three sons. Her passion is to see women rise above daily struggles to walk in victory.

How can you find joy Every. Single. Day? Read today’s guest post to find out!

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Three steps to finding Biblical joy every single day. Experience this fruit of the spirit in your life!

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By His Wounds, We are Healed: 4 Truths from Isaiah 53

March 15, 2016 by Lindsey 1 Comment

I’m sure you’ve probably heard the stories too….stories of people who gave up their lives or sacrificed their bodies for another.

Last fall, a car barreled through an OSU homecoming parade in Stillwater, Oklahoma, injuring and killing many innocent bystanders.

One of those who was injured was 6-year-old Hadley Wyatt. Her family believes the reason she is alive today is because of a man named Leo Schmitz who put himself in harm’s way and blocked a motorcycle that was flying toward them.

Stories like this one always make me think, would I do that for someone I didn’t know?

The thing is, I don’t know if I would. I’d like to believe I would. But if I’m being completely honest, I don’t know.

One thing that always amazes me about Jesus is that he did that for me.

He gave up his life for me…even though he knew I would continue to sin against him…even though he knew it was MY SINS that put him up on that cross.

This month, here at Do Not Depart, we’ve been studying Easter in the Old Testament, and specifically Isaiah 53. Today, I want to look closely at Isaiah 53:4-6:

Surely he took up our pain
    and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
    stricken by him, and afflicted.
But he was pierced for our transgressions,
    he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
    and by his wounds we are healed.
We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
    each of us has turned to our own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
    the iniquity of us all.

As I read through this text to prepare for this post, God opened my eyes to some things I had never noticed before.

4 Key Truths from Isaiah 53:4-6:

Jesus didn’t ONLY bear my sins on the cross that day. He also bore my pain and my suffering (verse 4).

I first read about this concept in Matt Bays’ new book, Finding God in the Ruins.

Isaiah 53 tells us that Jesus bore our suffering…that he took up our pain.

Often, when we’re hurting, we cry out to God and ask, “Where are you, God?” Where is God when we’re crying in the middle of the night because of a health crisis or infertility or the death of someone we love?

What this text tells us is that he’s quite literally hurting with us.

He bore our sins on the cross that day, BUT he also bore our pain and our suffering. The weight we think we are carrying alone…He carried with Him onto the cross.

He really does get how you’re feeling, because he felt it too.

We don’t really deserve anything good in this life (verse 5).

We don’t deserve a good home, steady income, family of 2.5 kids, healthy marriage, good health, etc. We like to think we do. We like to tell ourselves we are good people, and how could God NOT grant us these things? But the truth is, what we deserve, based on verse 5, is to be pierced and crushed.

Jesus took the punishment we deserved and gave us the grace we didn’t deserve.

Healing really is possible (verse 5).

“By His wounds, we are healed.”

I love that this is written in present tense. It doesn’t say, “By his wounds, we WILL BE healed.” No, it says, “We are healed.”

Now.

Healing might not be complete until we reach heaven’s gates, but that doesn’t mean it’s not at all available right now. We can be healed now.

By his wounds, we are healed.

We’re all guilty (verse 6).

Our sins might not “look” as bad as another’s in our eyes, but – as far as the cross is concerned – they all put Jesus there.

Our “little” sin put Him there just as much as someone else’s “big” sin.

Because of that, there’s not really any room for judgment on our part. “We all, like sheep, have gone astray.”

But thanks be to God we have a good shepherd who is willing to come searching for us!

Questions for Further Reflection/Study:

What are some of the ways you have gone astray? Pray about each of these things and ask God for forgiveness.
Read Luke 15:1-7. What did the shepherd do in this text? How has God searched for you in your lifetime?
In what ways has God provided healing to you recently? (Has he healed something in your heart? Has he offered freedom from a sin? Has he healed a broken relationship? etc.)

What other insights did God bring to mind as you read this passage of Scripture?

4 Things Isaiah 53 Can Teach Us via @LindseyMBell ‪#‎EasterintheOT‬

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By His Wounds, We Are Healed – and other reminders from Isaiah 53 via @LindseyMBell ‪#‎EasterintheOT‬

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Jesus took the punishment we deserved and gave us the grace we didn’t deserve. #EasterintheOT

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Don’t be a righteous show-off – Memorizing Matthew 6:17-18

March 14, 2016 by Lisa Burgess 2 Comments

We all enjoy appreciation for a job well done. But as we mature, we want our motives to be deeper than a desire for temporary applause from the crowd.

In our memory verses this week (Matthew 6:17-18), we see again this same repetitive message from Jesus:

Don’t be a righteous show-off.

Instead of emphasizing to others how much we suffer, what if we showed them our joy instead? Even in our suffering. Because even as we fast, we are being rewarded, if not now, for sure later.

Jesus didn’t say to live a deprived life but rather an anointed life.

Are you a righteous show-off? Memorize #Matthew6 v17-18 with us. #HideHisWord

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Stop Working for Easter

March 10, 2016 by Lisa Burgess 15 Comments

Getting ready

Sometimes it feels like a lot of work to get ready for Easter.

We search for the right clothes, matching bows for our girls and ties for our guys. We buy chocolate bunnies and dye eggs. We gather the family for early church and cook Easter lunch for afterwards.

It can make a girl tired.

But isn’t resurrection really the opposite of work?

The Valley of Dry Bones

Read this crazy vision in the Old Testament in Ezekiel 37:1-14. God tells Ezekiel to look at a pile of dry bones. The bones don’t move. They don’t work. They’re dead.

Until . . .

God sends wind to breathe life into the bones. The bones suddenly take a deep breath. They stand up. And they become a great army.

Can we do that, too?

Take a Deep Breath

As we prepare to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus this month—His return to life after a deep breath from the Father—may we remember to breathe deeper ourselves.

Breathe in rest
Let’s rest from our striving to make all things perfect. In things that really matters, Jesus has already finished the work.
Breathe in satisfaction
Be content with God’s grace. His gift is enough; there’s nothing more we need add to its perfection.
Breathe in gratitude
Thank God that we don’t have to resurrect ourselves. God takes our stony hearts and brings them to life through the breath of His Spirit.

We may still make preparations for Easter, but not to make it perfect. God has already done that.

It’s not about things we’ve done or are going to do.

It’s about what God has done and who He’s made us to be—alive!

To Do:

Read Ezekiel 37:1-14.
Sit quietly and imagine the scene.
Use your breath to thank God for breathing life into you through the life of Jesus.

How do you prepare for Easter? What do you enjoy most about it? Please share in the comments.

Why you shouldn’t work for a perfect Easter #EasterintheOT

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Parenting With Authentic Faith {Guest Post}

March 8, 2016 by Guest Post Leave a Comment

We are pleased to welcome Kelli LaFramboise from Quietly Reminded for this month’s installment of Let the Children Come.

Parenting With Authentic Faith

Parenting with authentic faith. That sounds good, right? And chances are that if you are reading this article, you probably want to parent this way. But let’s a be honest, parenting is hard… And parenting with authentic faith, well, what is that? And why would you do it?

To understand what parenting with authentic faith is, let’s begin with what it is not. Parenting with authentic faith is not the same as raising a child in a “christian” culture. It’s not just taking your child to church every Sunday. It’s not just praying before bedtime and meals. It’s not just memorizing Bible verses and reading the Word together as a family. Although these things are good and may even be necessary for our faith, when they are done for the wrong reason, when they are done to put a check in the box, they are simply cultural practices, not acts of authentic faith.

Parenting with authentic faith is not the same as raising a child in a “christian” culture.

Authentic faith happens out of a response to the Holy Spirit, when He says to our hearts “I, the Triune God, love you more than you can fathom. I have created you to live in fellowship with Me, and I desire to serve, protect, and provide for you” (Romans 5:8, Matthew 20:28, Psalm 91:1-16, Philippians 4:19). Authentic faith is trusting Him to do what He says He will do and not attempting to take on His responsibility in any shape or form. Authentic faith is a lot simpler than we like to make it out to be. It starts, stops, and centers around the gospel — the simple truth that Jesus Christ, God Himself, stepped down out of heaven to serve, protect, and provide for each one of us.

Each one of us.

Each one of us… Including each of our children.

There is not a single thing that any of us can do to make our children accept the grace of God. We are not the savior of our children’s souls. Jesus is. Only Jesus is. And when we attempt, whether consciously or subconsciously, to take that responsibility away from Him, we fail to parent with authentic faith.

Here just a few of the many promises God has made to us through His Word. Read them, but instead of reading them just for yourself, remember that Jesus has extended these promises to your children as well.

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. ~Jeremiah 29:11

But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)… ~Ephesians 2:4,5

But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one. ~2 Thessalonians 3:3

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. ~Revelation 3:20

Now at this point there may be a reader or two out there wondering, well if that’s the case, do I need to worry about my child’s salvation at all? Do I have any responsibility here? The answers may surprise you: no and no. No, you do not need to worry because worry will not add one ounce of anything good to your life or your child’s (Matthew 6:25-34). And no, you have no responsibility for child’s salvation because Jesus has already paid his or her sin debt in full (John 19:30, 1 Peter 2:24).

Don’t get me wrong, you have a job to do. Your child has been placed in your life for discipleship. However, instead of worrying and taking on responsibility that is not yours, simply abide in Jesus. Abide through prayer, abide through time in the Word, abide by hiding God’s word in your heart and meditating on it daily. Abide so that when worry and doubt creep into your parenting moments you know where to turn to for comfort and direction. Abide so that when the Holy Spirit asks you to parent in a specific way, you can simply respond to that direction.

Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. ~John 15: 4, 5

Abiding allows us to be an instrument used by the Father to show our children how much He does love them and how He wants to serve, protect, and provide for them. He is the responsible Savior, not anyone else. He is the responsible Teacher, not anyone else. He is the responsible Defender, Deliverer, Comforter, Provider, Sufficiency, and so, so much more. Parenting with authentic faith is trusting Jesus to be your child’s all-in-all and not trying to be it yourself.

Below I’ve listed some practical ways and resources to help you get started abiding in Jesus, but please don’t view these as must-do or checklist items. These are just a few suggestions to help you fall more in love with Jesus and begin to know Him more. But before you look through these suggestions, let’s start our abiding with prayer.

Jesus, thank You for loving my children more than I ever could. Thank You for shedding Your blood to wash away their sins and set them free from the bondage of sin. I also thank You that this is completely and fully Your responsibility and not mine. Please forgive me for the times that I have worried needlessly and attempted to take this responsibility from You. Help me to see and believe that You are good and You have my and my children’s best interest at heart. Help me to remember that every promise You have extended to me through Your word has also been extended to my children. I ask that You show me how to abide in You so that I may parent as an instrument of Your love for my children. I want to be responsive to your Holy Spirit because I trust in You. In Your name I pray, amen.

Abiding in Christ :: A Few Suggestions

Prayer is essential to abiding in Christ. If you don’t know how to pray, first and foremost, ask Him to teach you how. You may find these useful as well:
– And When You Pray: Understanding the Lord’s Prayer
– The Power of a Praying… Series by Stormie O’Martian (affiliate link)
Start a simple Bible reading plan like this one. Here are 3 super simple steps to studying God’s word all on your own.
Nothing is or ever will be more more relevant than the Word of God. However, there maybe times when we need a little guidance through our Bibles. I have found HelloMornings’ Bible studies and accountability groups to be very helpful during these times.
Memorizing God’s word is the only way to “hide it in your heart” and “meditate on it day and night” (Psalm 19:11, Joshua 1:8). Start by asking God to direct you to the verse(s) that He would like you to memorize. Here are a few resources I have found helpful when choosing to memorize God’s word.
– Hiding His Word challenge.
– Seeds Family Worship (affiliate link)
– Scripture Typer
And don’t neglect fellowship, discipleship, and communion. Being with fellow believers is essential to our walk with Christ because it is through these people that God often loves, encourages, instructs, and corrects each one of us.

Friends, please remember that I am human and flawed and my thoughts on parenting and other areas of life may not always be right. Please hold what I write up against the Word of God and listen to the Holy Spirit as He speaks to you directly.

Only by grace,

Kelli

You are not your child’s savior. Read more from @QuietlyReminded #LetTheChildrenCome

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Parenting with Authentic Faith. A guest post from @QuietlyReminded #LetTheChildrenCome

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Kelli LaFramboise is the author of Caught by Jesus: 6-Week Devotional & Personal Study in the Gospel of Mark. She blogs at www.quietlyreminded.com with a purpose to quietly remind herself and others of God’s goodness, His grace, and His glory. You can also find her sharing on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Are you fasting for Lent? Why? – Memorizing Matthew 6:16

March 7, 2016 by Lisa Burgess Leave a Comment

Are you fasting this Lenten season?

Have you told anybody about it?

It’s not wrong to tell.

But what Jesus was warning his disciples about in Matthew 6:16 (this week’s memory verse) was this: don’t make a show of it.

It’s good to question our motives behind any of the spiritual disciplines that we practice. Jesus encouraged it.

Are we giving so that others will praise us? (Matthew 6:2)
Are we praying in public so people will see us? (Matthew 6:5)
Are we fasting so men will notice? (Matthew 6:16)

If yes, then these disciplines are an end to themselves. Yes, we will receive praise, others will see, others will notice. These are powerful motivators that we are all lured by.

But is that really what we want?

As we memorize and meditate on Matthew 6:16 this week, may we ask ourselves:

Why am I doing this? Am I simply seeking admiration from other people?

Please share your thoughts in the comments.

Are you fasting for Lent? Why? Memorizing #Matthew6 v16 #HideHisWord

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Our Valued Savior: Despised and Rejected

March 3, 2016 by Ali Shaw 3 Comments

1Who has believed what he has heard from us?
And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?
2For he grew up before him like a young plant,
and like a root out of dry ground;
he had no form or majesty that we should look at him,
and no beauty that we should desire him.
3He was despised and rejected by men;
a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief;
and as one from whom men hide their faces
he was despised, and we esteemed him not. (Isa 53:1-3)

He was despised and rejected by men. It’s hard to believe that something so valuable could go unesteemed. It’s bewildering to see preciousness rejected.

One morning many years ago I was cleaning my cutting board after making biscuits. I scraped all the bits of flour and dough into the trash. One bit of flour was stuck to the inside of my hand. Without looking, I pressed harder and rolled my thumb against the hardened flour in attempts to pry it off.

It wouldn’t budge.

I looked at my hand in hurried frustration. Why couldn’t I throw this bit of dough away? A good look revealed that it wasn’t dough at all.

My wedding ring had twisted around to face the palm of my hand, and I was feeling the diamonds. I was trying to throw my beloved diamond in the trash as if it were just scraps of unwanted biscuit dough.

How many times have I done similarly in my life? How many times have I taken the precious and overlooked it? Rejected it? Or even despised it? How many times has the beautiful, the sacred, the holy, gone unnoticed or unesteemed?

Or, how many times has God given me a gift but I missed it because I was looking for something wrapped in a different package?

I can’t understand how our Savior would come to earth in such a humbled state. It’s hard to wrap my human mind around it. Why didn’t our powerful God come as Mighty King and demand the respect, honor, and adoration He deserved. (Answer: Because He doesn’t force, He offers.)

But he didn’t. He came quietly, demanding nothing. He came like a “young plant”, growing up before the Lord. Tiny, frail, and fragile.

My mind is completely befuddled by this.

Yours?

My heart breaks for my precious Savior that came from Heaven to rescue His lost sheep and instead of being greeted with open arms was met with angry fists, hammer, and nails.

Our Valued Savior was “despised and rejected by men.” The Beautiful One went undesired.

Truly, I have few words.

Reading from these first few verses in Isaiah make me turn inward and upward. They make me focus on the Savior, Jesus, who came in the form of a servant. And I look into my own heart to make sure I have no traces of rejection… that I’m esteeming Christ as He deserves to be esteemed. That I place value on the gifts, mercy, forgiveness, and hope He gives so freely as an expression of His character and love. (After all, if I don’t esteem them, I’m not truly esteeming Him.)

Though these verses are heavy and sad, we can take heart because, as Believers, we know that things didn’t end sorrowfully. We know the miracle, power, and joy of a Risen Savior! (Luke 24:5-6)

Lord, help me to focus on You. Help my heart respond to your coming in adoration and praise. Let me rejoice in you, Living Savior! Revive my soul in any areas that have become deadened to the mystery and miracle of the Easter story— the story in the Bible, and the story of resurrection in my own life. You’ve raised this sinner to walk in newness of life. Help me never take that for granted, but to look at that miracle with childlike wonder, appreciation, and gratitude. Amen.

For more study and reflection:

Read Isa 53:1-3. What specifically does Isaiah prophesy in these verses about Jesus? Using a cross-reference Bible, can you find their fulfillment in the Gospels?
Read Isa 53:1-3. Are there any areas of your life where you need to pray, “Lord, help me esteem you better in this?”
Read Luke 22:63-65. What specific things did the men do to Jesus? Read Luke 23:34. Thank God for His forgiveness and love! Ask Him to show you any areas in your life where you need His forgiveness and renewal.

Our Valued Savior: Despised and Rejected. Are you esteeming Him today? #EasterInTheOT

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Our Valued Savior, part one of our EasterInTheOldTestament Bible study. #EasterInTheOT

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Easter in the Old Testament {a month-long series}

March 1, 2016 by Caroline 2 Comments

Easter in the Old Testament {DoNotDepart.com} — Original photo credit (image has been altered following terms)

It’s coming.

We’re in this period of waiting now. Of repenting and preparing and hoping.

But Easter is just under a month away.

When we study Easter, we often read much more in the New Testament since it’s there that we follow Christ and His steps, His story.

But, we know that God had all of this planned before creation. So can we find Easter in the Old Testament, too?

This month, we will study a few passages in the Old Testament to see the hints at resurrection and restoration there.

What We Will Study

We will spend a majority of our time this month in Isaiah 53, reading about the prophecy of the Messiah. But, we will also look briefly at part of Ezekiel’s story of new life.

We invite you to join us, share with us, and grow with us in seeing the hope of Easter in everything we read, see, and do.

“As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last He will take His stand on the earth.” – Job 19:25

Other Easter resources here at DoNotDepart:

A free printable of Passion Week Scripture readings (plus a list of other resources around the internet)
An Easter devotional for families
A list of resources for faith-based Easter resources and activities for families
Easter bookmarks
4 ways to prepare your heart for Easter Scripture readings
Easter events timeline

What verses in the Old Testament make you think of the resurrection and hope of Easter? Share in the comments below.

Can we find Easter in the Old Testament? Join @DoNotDepart for a look at finding the hope and resurrection of Easter in Old Testament verses:

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A new month-long series is starting at @DoNotDepart! Join us for a look at Isaiah 53 and Ezekiel for #EasterintheOT:

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From Falling to Forgiving – Memorizing Matthew 6:14-15

February 29, 2016 by Lisa Burgess 4 Comments

“Trespasses” here means literally “falling to one side” (Greek word paraptoma).

Has anyone fallen on you lately? And hurt your feelings or wounded your relationship? How hard or easy has it been to pull out from under it, and love the person anyway?

Or perhaps you’re struggling to forgive yourself for yet another fall of your own.

We all fall off our chosen paths quite frequently, yet God awaits us with open arms each time we return back to Him.

As we read and memorize Matthew 6:14-15 this week, may we each be helped to forgive others and ourselves more easily as we remember how the Father forgives us.

What follows falling? Forgiveness. Memorizing #Matthew6 v14-15 #HideHisWord

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Love One Another – Series Wrap Up

February 26, 2016 by Ali Shaw 2 Comments

This month we’ve been looking closely at aspects of Christ’s love. We’ve asked, “What does His love really look like? And how can I model that love in my own relationships?”

We’ve attempted to learn from Christ how true love really loves so that we can apply it practically in our own lives.

Our goal was to learn to be Christ-like women who love as He loved— in all of our roles. Christ loved us perfectly. We know that our love can’t measure up to His (perfect!) love, but we are told to do it anyway.

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. (John 15:12)

God will strengthen our efforts to love as He loves, and will bless our obedience to His word. And the people He puts in our lives? They will be blessed by experiencing a sampling of the love of Christ, even though it be in an imperfect form.

This month we looked at these attributes of Christ’s love:

Jesus loved us with a selfless love. I wrote about how we can demonstrate a selfless love like His to our families.

Jesus’ love was also one that served others. In our Let the Children Come feature, Patti gave us ideas for teaching our children to serve, encourage, create, and rejoice in their love for one another.

God’s love for us always seeks our best. It’s always beneficial. Lisa showed us four ways to love someone with Alzheimer’s or dementia the way that God loves us.

The love of Jesus is truly forgiving, isn’t it? Lindsey gave us a practical look at how to love our spouses with the forgiving, undeserved love of Christ. (After all, none of us deserve His love, do we?)

Christ’s love is unfailing. Caroline writes touching words about how to love through illness or special needs with a love that just won’t quit, even though it’s hard.

The love of God is eternal. Patti discussed how eternal love encompasses the past, the present, and the future, and encouraged us to parent with an eternal perspective.

Isn’t Christ’s love amazing? There’s so many more wonderful attributes of His love to experience– we pray you’ll discover more and more in your personal walk with God. And as we all continue to grow in Him, may we seek to be more Christ-like as we love those whom He has given us!

Learn to be a Christ-like woman who loves as He loved. #LoveOneAnother

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