Encouraging and empowering people to live victorious lives in Christ

Posts tagged ‘Christian’

It’s Launch Day for my new book!

It’s been a couple of weeks since I’ve written to you.  I’ve been focused on an important project that I’m excited to announce to you today!

Today is Launch Day for my new book, Beauty from the Battle: A Six-Week Devotional for Thriving in Difficult Times!  And to say I’m excited is an understatement!

I started this journey in January of this year (and it’s been just that, a journey).  I could not have done this without God and His inspiration and guidance throughout this process.  Additionally, with advice and encouragement from other authors and my launch team (shout out to Tayanna, Iva, Ericka, Nikki and Adrienne), we’ve crossed the publication finish line!

I would love it if you would do a couple of things for me:

  • Pick up a copy today!  It’s available on Amazon (paperback or Kindle), or you can order directly from me to receive an autographed copy by clicking here.
  • Join me at my virtual launch party this Sunday November 16 at 4pm EST via Zoom or YouTube.
  • Tell a friend!  Just forward this email to your circle!

All for now!  Thanks for celebrating this special day with me!

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Following God’s Lead

Early this morning, I let our dog Champ out so he could ‘go.’ Our backyard is partially fenced, so when we let him out, someone has to go with him to make sure he doesn’t leave the yard.  As he was roaming the yard, he heard a sound and immediately ran toward it.  It was a noise coming out of the hedges and it didn’t take him long to locate where the sound was coming from.  Champ’s ears were fixed on this sound, and because I didn’t know what it was, I wanted him to leave it alone. I had to take him by the collar and pull him away from this strange noise (not an easy thing to do for a curious dog).

What do Champ’s keen ears have to do with you, you may ask?  Champ heard this sound and his instincts told him to immediately investigate, to act on it quickly.  When you hear God’s voice giving you an instruction, how immediate are you to act on it?  Are you following God’s lead? I promise you, this message is not meant to condemn (I’m asking myself the same question).  

As we are in tune with God’s voice, we will receive an instruction about a particular thing.  The instruction may be related to a prayer we’ve prayed or maybe even a heads up on what’s to come.  Sometimes, the instruction doesn’t make sense to us, or it’s something that we really don’t want to do.  We may say things like, “God, do you really want me to pray for that person?”  or “God, why do I have to do it that way? Isn’t there another way?”

Think about the life of Jesus: while He lived on earth, He was both fully divine and fully human.  And as He prepared to be crucified, we see a glimpse of Jesus’ humanity when He prayed to the Father: He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” (Matthew 26:39, NLT)

Despite Jesus’ struggle in the Garden of Gethsemane, He knew the assignment and moved forward in obedience to the Father.  God’s desire is for us to heed the instructions that we’re given also.  The ask may not make sense, and we may not want to do it.  But, what’s on the other side of our obedience is far better than the difficulty of the request.  

I encourage you today (as I encourage myself) to follow God’s lead.  Continue to spend time in His word so you can know His voice more and more.  And trust Him for the outcome of your obedience.

I would love to hear your thoughts; feel free to comment on this post below. Thanks!

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Still and Listening: Meeting God in the Quiet

Earlier this week, I posted this thought on my personal Facebook page:

“Sometimes what we need most isn’t a book or a devotional—it’s simply to sit in God’s presence.”

This idea came to me as I was thinking about how we can grow spiritually.  I recently preached a message at my church regarding spiritual growth and victorious living (you can click here to listen in!).  I shared some things we can do to help us; activities such as prayer, bible study, fasting, etc.  All of those activities are good, but there is something we can add to that list, something I believe we don’t do enough of.

When was the last time you sat quietly in God’s presence?  When was the last time you just sat in a chair or knelt or just paused to be with God?  Since God is omnipresent, we don’t need to go to a particular place (like our local church) to be in God’s presence.  Nor do we need a book or a devotional or worship music (although there is nothing wrong with using these tools) to usher us into His presence.  All we need is a true desire to spend time with Him! And guess what: God desires to be with us too!  

Sitting in silence may make us uncomfortable.  We are so accustomed to there being constant noise around us, so when things are quiet, it may feel awkward. But the quieter we are, the more prepared we are to receive from God.  Our intentional silence is our way to get in position to hear what He has to say.

When should we seek God’s presence?  All the time!  Not just we have a specific need, but whenever we want to just be with Him.  Think about a good friend:  although life can be busy for all of us, unless we maintain some connection, we may grow apart.  If we are not intentional about seeking God’s presence, our connection with Him can weaken.

So, what are you going to do today to enter into the presence of God?  Allow the Holy Spirit to lead you in how you spend that time. And as we spend intentional, quiet ime with Him, He can speak to our hearts as we are drawn closer to Him.

Does this post resonate with you? Please comment below and share this post with a friend!

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Joy Is Still Possible—Even in Hard Seasons

As you read the title of my message today, you may wonder how joy is possible in hard seasons.  You may even ask how ‘joy’ and ‘hard seasons’ can exist in the same sentence! Hard seasons are hard!  And there’s probably nothing good about what we may be going through: nothing good about losing your only source of income, nothing good about losing a loved one.  So, how is joy possible?

Paul, in his letter to the Roman church, says this:

I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 15:13, NLT

Paul is coming to the end of this letter to the Romans, a letter that has been filled with doctrinal truths about the sinfulness of man, Jesus and the forgiveness He offers and how we should live as a result of our new lives in Christ.  In all of that important information, this verse in Romans 15 really stands out in my mind.  

Paul is offering a prayer on behalf of the Roman believers, and because we too are believers, we can also receive it.  His desire is that the God of hope would fill us with joy and peace as we trust in Him.  This verse reminds us that God is the source of our joy, no matter what we may be experiencing.  The verse also says that, because of the joy and peace we receive, we will overflow with hope!  This kind of hope is not just a wish, but it’s a confident assurance of what God says we have in Him and an assurance of who we are in Him.  Again, this is regardless of our circumstances.

This message is just a quick reminder to you that joy is possible, even in hard times.  As we trust in Him, we can experience the joy, peace and hope that will carry us through our difficulties.  Things may be tough now, but we have an assurance that God is with us in the tough times and provides exactly what we need when we need it. AMEN!

If you know someone who is in the middle of a challenging season, please forward this message to them.  Also, I would love for you to share your comments below.

Be blessed!

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Overcoming Disappointment

At one point or another, each of us faces disappointment.  Disappointment happens when an expectation is not met.  We thought something would turn out one way (generally in the positive or in our favor), but it doesn’t. The feeling of disappointment can give way to other feelings, such as frustration, sadness or dissatisfaction.  What can we do when we experience disappointment?  I’m not a mental health professional, so what I’m going to share is based on my own experiences.

I believe the first thing we can do is acknowledge our feelings.  It’s ok to give place to the frustration or sadness and admit this is what we are currently experiencing.  When I was going through my divorce, I remember being extremely disappointed that the mediation process was unsuccessful. I was hoping that things would be done more amicably, but when mediation failed, I felt defeated and sad, and wondered how I would ever get out of this difficult and abusive marriage.  Giving place to our feelings does not mean we’re going to stay in them, however. Those feelings were temporary, but I needed to acknowledge they existed.

Next, it’s important to refocus: refocus our thoughts on what’s really true.   In my situation, I needed to refocus on the source of my strength and provision…God.  I had to remind myself with the Word that God would take care of me, no matter how things looked.  I read scriptures like Philippians 4:19, Psalm 91 and Proverbs 3:5-6 to remind me of what was really true so I could walk in faith.

Staying focused on what was most important helped me overcome disappointment and live victoriously, not just in the situation I’ve shared here, but at other challenging times as well.  If you are feeling saddened or disappointed about something, I pray this message encourages you.  The difficulties we face won’t last forever; refocusing on God will help us to stand firm until they do.  

I would love to get your feedback on this post; please comment below and share this with a friend!

Be blessed!

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How’s your year going?

As we are approaching the end of March (can you believe it?), we are also approaching the end of the first quarter of 2025.  This time is a great opportunity to assess where we are with the goals we set at the beginning of the year. It’s also a great time to make sure we heard God clearly on the things we decided to do.

Proverbs 16:1 and 9 say this:

“The preparations of the heart belong to man,

But the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.”

and

“A man’s heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps.”  

(NKJV)

One commentary on the book of Proverbs notes that “people design what they will say and do, but the Lord decrees what will endure and form part of his eternal purposes”   So, it’s ok for us to make plans.

So, how do Christians plan?  We’re not making plans in a vacuum; we plan in the context of the Word of God and what God is saying to us about a particular thing.  We pray for and seek wisdom as we begin to make plans, and we are open to hearing the Holy Spirit if we need to course correct or adjust.  We are flexible.

I believe it’s the second part of verse 9 that reminds us of the importance of being flexible.  If the Lord leads us in a different direction, we should trust in that guidance and move appropriately. Notice I said “The Lord.” I am an advocate of seeking wise counsel, but at the same time, our relationship with God should be living and active so we can clearly hear what He is saying to us (and He can certainly use the voice of wise counsel to assist us). And just because we made a particular plan doesn’t mean we have to stick with it if it is no longer the right thing for us to do.  Don’t let your pride get in the way of shifting plans and focus as needed!

As we lean into the direction and guidance we receive from God, and “commit your actions to the Lord, [then] your plans will succeed.” (Proverbs 16:3, NLT).  Do you want to be successful?  I believe God wants that for us also!  Let’s follow what the Word of God says about planning, setting goals, course correcting and success.

I encourage you to take some time today (or over the next couple of days) to assess where you are with the plans you made at the beginning of the year, and seek God to determine if any adjustments need to be made, so that you can experience success the way God intended!

Before I go, will you please do me a favor?  I would love it if you would subscribe to my YouTube channel!  Just click here to become a part of my YouTube community; you’ll be the first to know when I’m going live there! 

Have a great day!

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Is peace possible?

As we observe what’s happening in our world right now, the question in the subject of this message is a compelling one!  Is peace possible?  I’m not an expert on world history and current events, so I can’t answer that question (I will say that I am watching what is going on around us, and I suggest you do as well).  I don’t believe anyone can predict whether peace is possible, but there is something regarding peace that we can control.  We can have peace within ourselves!

How do we maintain inner peace when there’s chaos around us?  Isaiah 26:3-4 says:

You will keep in perfect peace

    all who trust in you,

    all whose thoughts are fixed on you!

Trust in the Lord always,

    for the Lord God is the eternal Rock.

(NLT)

So, where is your focus?  Is it on the One who is the eternal Rock?   When something is eternal, it lasts forever!  And a rock is “a firm foundation or support.” (Dictionary.com) The prophet Isaiah also says we are to “trust in the Lord always,” not just some of the time, but in all things and at all times (my interpretation)!

The things happening around and even to us can be disconcerting and unnerving.  But instead of being consumed with worry, I choose to do what this scripture says: keep my thoughts fixed on God and trust in Him.  This is an intentional choice we must make daily.  And as we trust, we can experience perfect peace, the peace that passes all understanding!

Which choice will you make today?

Before I sign off, I wanted to share that I have a special announcement coming on Monday February 10.  Be sure to tune in to social media (@ANewSeasonDay or @SpeakerBrenna on Facebook and @ANewSeasonDay on Instagram) that day.

Take care!

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Making Deposits That Matter

Do you realize that you have a spiritual bank account?  No, you can’t go into a bank branch to open one of these, but our spiritual accounts do exist!  When we use banks or other financial instruments, we make deposits into them so we can draw out of them later.  If you ever tried to withdraw from an empty bank account, you are disappointed when there’s nothing for you to receive, right?

The key is to put something in your financial account before you need it.  The same applies for our spiritual bank account!  We should be adding to our account daily via spiritual disciplines (such as prayer, fasting, studying the Word etc.) so that we will have someone to withdraw when there is a need.  While we can do these things (and should) in the middle of difficult times, let’s not wait until we’re struggling to try to shore up our accounts.  When we make deposits little by little, our deposits compound (just like when our financial deposits compound with interest), and before we know it, we will have more than we anticipated!  

So let’s start somewhere!  How are you planning to make a deposit into your spiritual account today?  While financial deposits are important, spiritual deposits are the ones that really matter!  

Be blessed!

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What is Success and a Special Announcement!

When a new year comes in, many people start thinking about what goals they want to achieve for the year.  I agree with setting goals (in fact, I believe that we shouldn’t wait until a new year approaches to do this), but a part of setting goals is understanding what success is.

According to Merriam-Webster, one of the definitions of success is a “favorable or desired outcome.”  This description is a very general one; I believe if you want to experience success, you must be more specific.

Here are a few questions to consider as you define success for yourself:

What is a favorable or desired outcome for me?

How do these outcomes line up with my beliefs and values?

Why do I want to be successful?

Notice I said “define success for yourself.”  Everyone’s definition of success is different; it depends on what’s important to them.  Someone may define success as financial prosperity so they can buy houses and cars, while another person may see it as financial prosperity so they can be generous to others. If you are a disciple of Jesus, our definition of success should line up with our Christian values and beliefs, including (I believe) a desire to grow spiritually and to become more and more like Jesus.  

The beginning of the new year is a great time to get clear on what success means to you. Once you understand it, you can ensure that the goals you set are in line with your beliefs. I encourage you to take some time to define success. Don’t compare yourself to others and their definitions; this is about you!  Once you’ve done this, I would love to hear from you!

Before I sign off, I’m excited to share that I am participating again in the upcoming Women’s Ministry for Small Churches Conference on January 25!  Specifically designed for smaller churches, the mission of the conference is to help women’s ministries go from filling a calendar to fulfilling a purpose! Help me spread the word! I’ll be speaking on “Growing in Grace: Practical Ways to Embrace Spiritual Disciplines.” Get all the details and grab your free ticket here

Have a good one!

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Only Believe!

Welcome to 2025!  2024 may have been hard for you (it was a challenging year for me for sure, a year of change and stretching).  As you are reading this, you may be thinking that, although we are in a new year, not much is different from the old one.  There may be health issues, the loss of a loved one or financial challenges that still exist as you flipped your calendar from 2024 or 2025.  What can we do?

No matter what is going on, even if nothing has changed, the last thing we should do is to stop believing.  Believing that all things are possible with God (according to Matthew 19:26), that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (according to Philippians 4:13), and that the promises of God are yes and amen (according to 2 Corinthians 1:20).  2025 has the potential to be a great year for us, but nothing can guarantee that it won’t have its challenges.  When hard times come (or as they continue), our mindset and our beliefs are key!  

As we enter this new year, I encourage you to search the scriptures for the promises that God has made to us and make them a part of your daily declarations.  The more you declare, the more you will believe!  And what you believe will carry you through the good and the not-so-good times. 

Jesus told Jairus, when his daughter died, to “only believe” (Mark 5). And miraculously, his daughter was brought back to life. Even if things look hopeless, let’s make sure our beliefs are in the One who is a miracle worker, way maker and a promise keeper!  In 2025, let’s “only believe!”

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