God had clearly spoken. “We can start trying to have kids!” Martin said later that night. “I know, it’s crazy, isn’t it? Just think, nine months from now our life could look very different!” I said. Nine months later, our life looked exactly the same. I hadn’t gotten pregnant and now the disappointment we felt…
A Better Broken
Messy Endings When songwriters are trying to figure something out, they often write a song about it. The song I wrote was called “I Can Just Be Me.” The lyrics begin with me trying to do everything but not measuring up. Then in the chorus I ask God to be everything that I can’t be. …
Don’t Be Surprised By Trouble
Our hope comes in Jesus, even when He doesn’t do what we want Him to do. Even when He doesn’t fix what’s broken in our life… When Jesus is with us, He’s our anchor in the rough waters of a troubled life. If we want to survive the storm we need to cling to Him like…
I Give Up — Wrapping It Up!
Hey, friends! It’s time to wrap up I Give Up already — time to review, catch up, and digest all that we’ve studied and learned from Scripture and from our dear teacher, Laura Story. If you want to rewatch the videos this week is your chance, so let’s get everything out of this study…
I Give Up OBS Week 5 — The Ripple Effect of Surrender
God is the only One who can see the full story. And, our job is to trust Him enough to surrender. ~ Laura Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord, You know that I love You.” He said to Him,…
I Give Up OBS Week 4 — Being Transformed
Does [Jesus] expect me to be superwoman? No. He’s challenging me to be surrendered… and the beautiful news it that He doesn’t expect any of this to happen in and of myself. ~ Laura I can do all things through Him who gives me strength. — Philippians 4:11-13 Hi there, friends! It’s already week four…
I Give Up OBS Week 3 — Giving In and Up
There’s nothing natural about surrender. And, there’s not one of us that in our flesh nature loves to give away the things that we consider to be ours… When it comes to surrender, it’s just plain hard. ~ Laura Story So that the world may know that I love the Father, I do exactly as…
I Give Up OBS Week 2 — God’s Character Matters
Surrender can be scary but it becomes less scary and less risky when we know better the One we’re surrendering to. ~ Laura Story The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want. — Psalm 23:1 Hi there, friends! Welcome to week two of the I Give Up Online Bible Study with our friend and…
I Give Up Online Bible Study Week One — What Is Surrender Anyway?
God is not interested in signing off on even our best-made plans. God is much more interested in our surrender, our surrender to Him. ~ Laura Story So, here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life — your sleeping, eating, going-to-word, and walking-around life — and place it…
Surrender by Acting “As If”
When I find myself feeling unsure of my identity in God’s eyes, His Word offers me plenty of assurance about who I am in Christ. Ephesians 2, especially, gives me this helpful and hopeful reminder: But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even…