We are free. The Bible tells us that there is no condemnation because of the blood of Jesus Christ. ~ Jennie Allen … forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead… — Philippians 3:13 Forget it! Leave it. Drop it. Walk away. And breathe deep. Friends, we must stop living under shame…
Do I Belong?
Before You Go to Study Before your Group Gathering this week, take a few minutes to prepare your heart and mind using the prompts below. PREP Belonging is a big deal to us humans. To really be a part of something. To feel truly wanted and accepted. To be connected to others in meaningful…
Rhythms of Renewal OBS Week 3 — Restore
God invites us a wholeness that isn’t just mind, isn’t just body, and isn’t just spirit. But, it’s the culmination of all those things coming under submission to what God intends for us. Physically, mentally, and emotionally. Restoration brings us back to life. ~ Rebekah Lyons I’ll give you a full life in the emptiest…
Names Reveal Value and Meaning
For years, I didn’t really know the significance of the name that had been chosen for me. Similarly, I’m afraid we have lost the significance of naming in our culture today. Many of us don’t appreciate the power inherent in names that confer meaning and value. That wasn’t true of those we meet in the…
Know Your Identity
Editor’s Note: Nineteen years ago, Gabe and Rebekah Lyons’s life took a dramatic turn when they learned that their newborn son, Cade, had Down syndrome. Remembering the day they received the diagnosis, Rebekah said that she collapsed. “Something died in me the day Cade was born — a controlled plan for my life,” Rebekah said. “But…
What Is the Importance of Truth?
Truth Removes What Hinders Love My mom once shared her faith with a lady outside a grocery store. As they were putting their groceries into their neighboring cars, my mom told the woman, “Jesus loves you.” The woman said, “Thank you so much. So many people have told me that lately.” My mom felt called…
What God Really Thinks About You
Many times in my life, I’ve come back to the promise in Jeremiah 29:11: ‘I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’ This had been my favorite verse for some time. It helped me when…
The Case for Easter: Believe + Receive = Become
Editor’s Note: See the movie that has everyone talking about Jesus! Critics and moviegoers alike are raving about The Case for Christ, based on Lee Strobel’s bestselling book, now playing in theaters nationwide with an additional 500 theaters added for this Easter weekend! Be sure to bring your friends and family to see this important…
Boundaries: When to Say Yes, How to Say No
Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. – Proverbs 4:23 What Do You Mean “Boundaries”? The parents of a twenty-five-year-old man came to see me (Dr. Townsend) with a common request: they wanted me to “fix” their son, Bill. When I asked where Bill was, they answered, “Oh, he didn’t want…
Bible Verses About Love
In a 70’s era television show, a young boy was talking about his relationship with a girl and said, “I like her, but I don’t like, like her.” In the show, the quote made sense, but is there a better way to indicate our feelings of affection? The fact is, using a single word to…