Journal

The first chapter of Jeremiah has always been one of my favorites.

“Long ago I broke the yoke that oppressed you and tore away the chains of your slavery, but still you said, ‘I will not serve you.’ On every hill and under every green tree, you have prostituted yourselves by bowing down to idols. But I was the one who planted you, choosing a vine of the purest stock—the very best. How did you grow into this corrupt wild vine?”(Jeremiah 2:20–21)

Only God can accurately judge the human heart.

My husband and I often say we want to see where God is going.... and go there. When we recognize that the Lord is moving, we want to be part of it. That desire has only grown stronger as we have followed His breadcrumbs to the church plant we are now part of in Hugo, Minnesota. Looking back, the orchestration of events was undeniably divine, supernatural in a way no human plan could have predicted or arranged.

A Reflection on John 16, Isaiah 54, and Making Disciples.  In John 16:19, Jesus is speaking to His disciples about going back to the Father.

Coincidentally (and by the way, I don’t believe in coincidences), I’m reading through the Gospel of John, and my Oswald Chambers devotional has been lining up perfectly with my Scripture reading each day. It feels like one of those Spirit-led moments where God is gently but clearly trying to get my attention.

Have you ever had your vitals taken by a doctor to ensure everything is working as it should? Vitality is defined as the state of being strong and active—full of energy. Jesus had vitality: spiritual fullness, a powerful presence, and abundant life. Without it, I’m not sure how He could have performed so many miracles, taught large crowds, healed the sick, discipled the twelve, and still maintained such healthy boundaries throughout His life.

In my morning reading, the word reality came up in two different devotions. I felt challenged to think about whether I am living in the reality of this world or the reality of God’s Kingdom. As a woman committed to discipleship and following Jesus, that question stayed with me and caused me to reflect more deeply on the difference between the two.