Tag: family

A tool to become a Spiritual Leader

Do you have a desire to be a force for good in your sphere of influence?

This tool is free, and it didn’t originate with me!

When a friend introduced me to the Discovery Group process, it impacted my life and leadership in ways I never expected.

You can gather for Discovery with friends, family, coworkers — sky’s the limit!

Use the Discovery Questions to discuss any story or passage in Scripture together (usually about 10 verses at a time), seeking to understand, apply, and share what you’re discovering together!

Discovery Questions:

1. What are you thankful for?  What challenge or stress are you facing?  How can we help?  Do you know anyone who needs help at this time?  

Check-in: Since we last met, how did your “I will…” and sharing go? 

2. Read the Scripture passage together (at least twice) and take turns retelling in your own words like sharing with a friend who isn’t here.

3.  What stands out to you, and why?  What do these verses tell us about God?  What do these verses tell us about humanity / about us?

4. If this is God speaking, how will you apply it to your life?
(Aim for a specific: “I will…” next step.)

5. Who will you share with before we meet again?
(Name a specific person you want to share with who may be encouraged on their spiritual journey by hearing something you discovered.)

I’d love to hear your thoughts!

What stands out to you? What did you discover about God and yourself? How will you apply these principles in your life and leadership?

Click to download a PDF that includes:

  1. Discovery questions: to use with a group of friends/family to help us understand, apply, and share any passage of Scripture together
  2. Three-column Bible study: to help you understand, obey, and share Scripture when discovering on your own
  3. Discovery story sets: with various lists of Scripture passages to use over time to discover what God has to say about life on a few important themes

Before you go… here’s that PDF with Discovery Group resources.

Sent: Living the Mission ~ Disciple Making Movement Resources

Do you have a life message, motto, or verse you would love to be known for?

I want my heart to beat in rhythm with the heart of Jesus for all peoples to experience His love, to follow Him, and to embrace His mission to help disciple others!

Here’s a message I got to share from Luke 10 (one of my favorite passages of Scripture), where Jesus sends out 70 everyday disciplemakers like you and me!

I’d love to hear your thoughts!

What stands out to you? What did you discovery about God and yourself? How will you apply these principles from Jesus in your life and disciple-making way of life?

Click to download a PDF that includes:

  1. Discovery questions: to use with a group of friends/family to help us understand, apply, and share any passage of Scripture together
  2. Three-column Bible study: to help you understand, obey, and share Scripture when discovering on your own
  3. Discovery story sets: with various lists of Scripture passages to use over time to discover what God has to say about life on a few important themes

Before you go… here’s that PDF with Disciple Making Movement Resources.

Finding Joy in Marriage

Walking in His Footsteps with Tom Rice

Last Monday, I got to connect with Tom Rice of Great Marriages for Sheboygan County (Sue wasn’t feeling her best, but she chimed in a couple times 😃 ), sharing wisdom and experience from 53 years of finding joy in marriage!

Tom & Sue Rice on their wedding day (a few years ago) — I’m sure it feels like yesterday!
Tom & Sue Rice on their wedding day (a few years ago) — I’m sure it feels like yesterday! 🙂 

TONIGHT, 7-9 PM Central, I’ll get to chat with our disciple-making friend Liz Kohli ~ greater Milwaukee area team leader for the Perspectives on the World Christian Movement! How Is God at work around the world? How can we be a part?

Tune in live at Praydio.com!

You can catch videos of past episodes here:

Footprints from a beach out onto the sea

God-incidences: Right Here, Right Now

What if coincidences are really God-incidences?

The scenes from Esther’s life recorded in chapters 5-7 of her book illustrate the power of a praying woman and God’s ability to turn even the most dire circumstances around for His glory and the good of His people!

Photo by Tirachard Kumtanom on Pexels.com

Where Each Story Leads…

Over the past weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve shared a series of messages through the inspiring stories retold in Hebrews 11 called Incredible Faith.

Here’s the capstone message…

We revisit these messages from past weeks and the central theme behind each…

~Incredible Faith is Something I’ve Never Done Before.

~Seeking the Father Heart of God

~Incredible Faith: Noah

~Incredible Faith: Abraham & Sarah

~Incredible Faith: Joseph

~Incredible Faith: Moses

It all points to a powerful truth nestled in Hebrews 12:1-2…

Photo by Bianca G. on Pexels.com

-What joy propels you? 

-What risk is before you?

Incredible Faith – Moses

In the life of Moses, we discover that we are called to live by faith, having the courage to…

  1. Follow the unseen plan of God (Hebrews 11:23).
  2. Identify with the people of God (vv. 24-25).
  3.  Embrace the mission of Christ (vv. 26-27). 
  4. Celebrate deliverance before it comes (v. 28).
  5.  Step out in obedience (v. 29). 
Photo by Mat Reding on Pexels.com

Incredible Faith – Joseph

If you had to pick one thing that stands out to you from the life of Joseph, what would it be?

In Hebrews 11:22, the Holy Spirit highlights one thing… one defining scene from the life of this hero of the faith. Before you look it up or listen to the message below, what do you think it is?

Hint: it may not be what you expected!

Did your Joseph highlight reel match what Hebrews 11 underscores?

Did “his bones” even make your top ten list?

What will you leave as your legacy for future generations?

Photo by Andreas Fickl on Pexels.com

Seeking the Father Heart of God

In recent years, I’ve been invited to share 5 Father’s Day messages with 5 different local churches in Wisconsin and New York!

I think God may be trying to tell me something…

This message, a conversation with Jim Corbett of the Family Rescue Campaign, is one of my favorites. There is nothing that can heal and transform our hearts like encountering the heart of our Heavenly Father!

I pray you’re inspired to seek God’s heart. As you do, may you discover who He is in a fresh and transformative way!

There is nothing that can heal and transform our hearts like encountering the heart of our Heavenly Father!

Something I’ve Never Done Before

Growing up, our parents would often send us to camp or on field trips with disposable, single-use cameras. I remember the excitement of waiting for the film to be developed and ready for pick up!

As I prepared a message from Hebrews 11 this Sunday (6/14), “Something I’ve Never Done Before,” part of a series called Incredible Faith, I reflected on the power of remembering that pictures provide us…

I took a walk down Memory Lane with a photo album, I dug out of a storage bin.

As a kid, I think I looked so longingly toward getting those pictures developed, because they allowed me to remember and to retell the stories!

What are some family pictures that are most meaningful to you and your loved ones?

What memories do you plan to hold onto, as long as you live? Are there any that you hope to retell in eternity?

As a kid, I think I looked so longingly toward getting pictures developed, because they allowed me to remember and to retell the stories!

Photo by Magdalena from StockSnap

I’m giving thanks…

As families prepare to celebrate Mother’s Day tomorrow, I’m giving thanks for a few things tonight…

~For a dynamite mom who shines so brightly in this world and loves and prays for our family so faithfully
~For a grandmother, in Heaven, who encouraged me as a child to keep writing stories (see the video below for more of this story…)
~For a creative sister who helped edit this video 😎
Through tomorrow morning, The Other Side of the Fence 🐑 is on sale for $4.99 as part of a Kindle Countdown to Mother’s Day Deal!

Who and how are you celebrating this weekend?

five white sheep on farm
Photo by Skitterphoto on Pexels.com