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Two Shepherds, One Flock: What Your Pastor Can Give and What Only Christ Can Fulfill
The word shepherd conveys a mental image of a man with a rod standing watch over a vast field carefully tending his sheep. In the Christian world, a shepherd conveys the image of Christ and passages such as John 10. In our daily context, this word may even bring up a mental image of our local church pastor or our spiritual leaders. This meaningful word is charged with meaning—theological, spiritual and practical. But have we mistakenly placed expectations on our human leaders that can only be upheld by Christ as the Good Shepherd? What is it reasonable to expect from our church leaders and what needs can only be met…
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Discovering How God Speaks: A Practical Guide
Have you ever wished God would simply speak to you in an audible voice and tell you exactly what to do? I believe we’ve all been there. We’ve all wished we could hear God speak just like that. In many of our minds, the very concept of hearing God’s voice conjures mental images of a deep, booming voice giving out orders. And yet… it simply isn’t like that. At least, not the vast majority of the time. Which is why learning the different ways God speaks is essential for us as believers. Here’s the thing, we all can hear God’s voice. We were all designed to hear him and know…
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When Disappointment Hits: God Restoring and Reviving Our Soul
I recently heard someone say that the two main things that take people out the most in life and ministry are bitterness and not dealing well with disappointment. What is it about disappointment that makes it such an essential thing to deal with? The way you deal with it will either bring you closer to God or it will pull you away. And here’s the thing, if you let it pull you away from him, then you’re drifting away from the source of healing for your pain and your disappointment. Other solutions will only become quick fixes in an attempt to deal with the very real bitterness festering inside against…
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Bible Study with AI: Practical Tools for Deeper Scripture Exploration
Bible Study is more accessible than ever. We have multiple resources at our disposal and we can go deeper than ever without needing to buy expensive (and heavy!) Bible dictionaries and concordances. Today we count with an even greater tool through the rise of AI. There are various benefits to using AI as a Bible study tool. In this post, I will share some great tips to use AI as well as helpful prompts. If you’re more advanced in your Bible study journey, this will be a great resource to add to your toolbox. If you’re a complete beginner, use this tool to grow and learn. First, let’s talk about…
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Biblical Archaeology: Three Keys for Deep Bible Study
Hello again friend and welcome to The Grapevine. Last week I gave some tips for those just beginning their Bible reading journey. Today, I wanted to go to the opposite side of the spectrum and share some tips for deep dive, nitty gritty Bible study. But don’t worry! And don’t rush to leave just yet. If you’re a complete beginner in your Bible reading journey, these tips can be incredibly beneficial to you as well. So, whether you’re an experienced Bible archeologist or just starting to scout out the land, grab your Bible and let’s go on a dig into the awesome treasure trove of the Word of God. Key…
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Opening the Word: A Friendly Guide to Starting Your Bible Reading Adventure
Welcome reader and happy April! This month, I’ve decided to delve into one of my favorite topics: the Bible! If this does not excite, do not worry. My goal is to help you find a new love and passion for reading and studying the Bible. I will be sharing some helpful tips to begin reading the Bible, fall in love with it again, and understand it better. Today, let’s dive into basics and talk about how to begin reading the Bible. If you’ve been reading the Bible for a long time, don’t worry! It’s always good to dust off some cobwebs and refresh our minds a bit. Remember the Purpose…
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Get to Know Me: My Faith and Reading Journey
Hello again, friend! It’s a joy to have you drop by for another visit. Why don’t you make yourself comfortable and help yourself to some tea and cookies while we chat? I just made them fresh. Well, virtually fresh. As fresh as virtual cookies can be. Anyway, I thought we’d take some time to get to know each other. So get comfy and make yourself at home. As you may know, I’m passionate about my relationship with Jesus and I’m also an avid bookworm. Being that the case, I thought I’d share a few snapshots of my life. I’ll first share about my faith, and then I’ll share about my…
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Poetry as Prayer: Expressing Faith Through Verse
All throughout the Bible, poetry and song have been a prominent way to express joy, pain, victory, fear, doubt, love, jubilation and praise. The Psalms are probably some of the most relatable scriptures for many of us. They encapsulate the thrill of victory, the low moments of despair, and the genuine heart cry of the deep in us calling out to the deep in God. Psalms lead us through encounters with the Good Shepherd, down to the struggle in the Valley of the Shadow of Death, and on to a place of victory, feasting in the presence of God. As I read the Bible, I’m continuously amazed at how God…
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My Favorite Verses When Life Gets Unpredictable
We’ve all had moments when things shift, change, or seem uncertain. It’s in moments like these that I’m grateful to have the biggest anchor of all: God and His Word. When there seems to be no steady place to hold on to, His Word is always constant, always true, and always available. Here are some of my favorite verses for when life gets unpredictable—which will happen more often than we think. Psalm 23 No matter where life takes us, Jesus will lead us and hold our hand through it all. Even in the middle of trials, pain, doubts, and fears, He will provide a place of rest for us. He…
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Five Things I’ve Learned About Writing
Hello, friends! This week, I’ve been reflecting on the lessons I’ve learned about writing over the past year. I thought it would be fun to share my top five takeaways with you! 1. Consistency is what makes a great writer The greatest writing doesn’t come from mere luck or talent. While there are many talented writers, most of them became great by staying consistent and writing, even when it was hard. I used to believe that some people were good writers and others simply weren’t, but now I realize that great writing is something one can build toward. The key is consistency. The level of dedication to your writing will…
