Fund conversations that matter: donate.accessmore.com  We’re back in the book of Ezra, walking with the exiles who answered the call to return to Jerusalem. For most of them, staying would have been easier. Just like the Jews in the Old Testament it’s easy to stay in our comfort zones, forgetting the privilege of sacrificing for God's call on our lives. In today’s episode, we’re talking about the high call of studying and obeying God’s word, living a life worthy of our call, and giving our...

Fund conversations that matter: donate.accessmore.com  It’s all too easy to hang on to the old when God is doing a new thing. In today’s episode, we’re looking at the exiles’ return to Jerusalem to rebuild God’s temple. Some had hoped God would help them rebuild what they had before. What the people didn’t understand is that God was doing a new thing. Like the exiles, sometimes we look around at what’s broken-down or overgrown in our lives, and we can’t imagine that God wants (and is able) to...

Fund conversations that matter: donate.accessmore.com  Today we’re talking about the power—and challenge—of forgiveness, and why it’s so essential. Unforgiveness causes division in our relationships, is a strategy of the enemy, and disrupts our intimacy with Christ. On the positive side, Jesus empowers us to forgive, desires that we’re free from bitterness and anger, and loves reconciliation. Also, He is able to bring about justice. If forgiveness is essential, why is it so hard? In this...

Fund conversations that matter: donate.accessmore.com  Today we’re looking at the liberating healing of Jesus, and how that healing can sometimes be disruptive. Be encouraged, if the healing Jesus is bringing you is uncomfortable or even painful, you’re on the right path. If we’re honest, we often want His healing, but we want it on our terms. In this episode, we’ll confront the ways our unhealthy habits keep us from the good work He wants to do in our lives. Are we willing to abandon our own...

Fund conversations that matter: donate.accessmore.com  Today we’re looking at the significance of the cross and what it means for us. What specifically did the cross accomplish? Why was it necessary? And what hope does it offer for the present? We’re going to dive in deep (get ready for some big words!) as we talk about how Jesus acted as our substitute, not only taking our sin upon Himself on the cross, but wiping it out completely. And by doing so, freely bringing us into relationship with...

I just returned from the Amazon jungle, where I spent a week with jungle pastors who serve along the Amazon river. I’ll talk about some of the lessons I learned from them in today’s episode. And how they helped me better understand Paul’s encouragement to run our race for the ultimate prize.  Their encouragement to us will help us step out of our comfort zones and into the boat with Jesus (something the people on the Amazon River do literally). I hope today’s episode encourages you to run the...

In today’s episode, we’re looking at the story of a woman in Luke 8 who was healed of a physical illness. But Jesus did more than heal her physically. We’ll leave the details for the podcast, but Jesus stopped (in the middle of a pressing situation) and gave this woman more than she even knew to hope for. Jesus loved her too much to let her settle for mere physical healing. He wanted to take away her shame. Sometimes we ask Jesus for too little. Sometimes we come to Him for one thing but what...

A new year comes with much to do, plan for, and be excited about. But, at the start of these 365 days, it’s important that we take time to position our hearts before the Lord. It’s easy to focus on all of the doing, but what if we focus on the being—being at the feet of Jesus and listening to what He has to say to us? When we spend time with Him, our serving and productivity will flow out of that time.  In this episode, we’re looking at Mary and Martha’s encounter with Jesus in Luke 10:38-42....

It’s Christmas time, and we all have expectations this season. Some are material—what gifts are we going to receive? What experiences are we going to have? Some are relational—will we finally get engaged? Will the grandbabies be visiting?   Expectations are fine as long as we manage them instead of letting them manage us. If we’re not careful, unmet expectations can turn us into people we don’t want to be. Who do you want to be during the holidays? In this episode, two women–Elizabeth and...

During difficult seasons, we can be tempted to turn back to our old ways of numbing pain. We can begin to question if God is actually good and if he cares about us. But these are not the times to forfeit what we have with Him. These are the times to struggle and weep with our faces pointed toward the Lord, trusting who he is when we can’t see what lies ahead. I can hardly wait to start studying the book of Ruth with you in today’s Cultivate podcast. As we look at the first chapter, we’ll see...

We’re looking at a life of goodness in today’s Cultivate podcast. If you already feel disqualified or like you’ve totally missed that “good” mark you’re exactly who I hope will join me. Scripture is really interesting on the topic of goodness because in Romans Paul quotes the Old Testament by saying that no one is good, not even one. And yet he’s also the one who teaches us that we’re to display the fruit of goodness and that we’re created for good works. So which is it?  In today’s episode...

The Cultivate Podcast is back! I’m so excited to be in my living room walking through 2 Timothy 3:16-17 with you. In this fresh episode, we’ll look at 4 ways God’s Word uniquely impacts our lives. One of my deepest hopes is to help you see how Scripture connects to the everyday challenges we face and the internal struggles we deal with. God’s Word has renewed my life, given me hope, and redirected me when I needed it—and He longs to do the same for you!  In this episode, we’ll get to make...

Today we’re looking at prayer in Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. So often we wonder if prayer works, if God really cares, or why even pray if God already knows what we need? Sometimes we even question whether the God we pray to is good. I’m excited for this episode because Jesus’ teaching addresses so many of our questions. And where our questions remain unanswered He goes out of His way to reveal the good heart of God toward us. I’m looking forward to wrapping up our short 4-part series out of...

Perhaps more than ever we’re living in a day of worry and anxiety. But this isn’t new. Over 2,000 years ago Jesus stood on the edge of the Sea of Galilee and addressed our tendency to let anxiety overtake us. We’re continuing to move through Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount where we’ll find real help for our anxious souls.  A sneak peek at what’s in store? When we treasure the wrong things our hearts become anxious. But when our hearts value eternal things—our relationship with God and others—our...

We’re diving into the images of salt and light that Jesus uses in this section of the Sermon on the Mount. Both of these are elements we all use every day, but by looking at the historical and contextual implications of these metaphors, we can get a better idea of what Jesus meant when He called us to be these agents of impact.  Salt is a preservative that slows down decay. Salt is on the defense while the light is on the offense, dispelling darkness from areas wherever it’s present. How does...

As we begin a new series in the New Year, I’m excited to focus on Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount in this new four-part series. We’re starting with the Beatitudes where Jesus gives descriptions of what it looks like to flourish and thrive in this life because of the arrival of His kingdom. He gives us an entirely new way to live! And it’s inherently countercultural to what our world defines as blessing.   The message of the Beatitudes is not reserved for those who have every materialistic luxury....

During the Christmas season it’s easy to get lost in the holiday swirl and lose sight of the promises that God has kept through Jesus. That’s why in this episode we’re looking at Zechariah’s song of praise. His words will give us hope and perspective no matter what we’re going through. As Zechariah recounts the history of Israel and the dawning redemption, our spirits will be lifted.  As we go into a new year, remember that our God is a promise keeper and He is not forgetful of us or His...

Today, we’re unwrapping the story of Anna, the prophetess in Luke’s Gospel. She has a special place in God’s story of redemption, and she serves as a representative for all of us in seasons of waiting and longing. Widowed for 84 years, a woman of modest means, and from an exiled people group, we see God’s favor and grace shine through her life. Perhaps you feel disqualified from God’s grace. Or you’re struggling to keep sight of Jesus in a season of unmet longing. Anna’s story will remind you...

Our expectations of Christmas can feel like they come from a Hallmark movie, which doesn’t do us a lot of favors (as much as we love them). The cultural ideal that we’ll be fulfilled and content at Christmas, that everything will fall into place, acts as a magnifying glass to the unmet expectations that we hold all year round.  Through the lives of Elizabeth and Mary, we get a bit of a cultural reset when it comes to our Christmas ideals. What's so helpful about Mary and Elizabeth’s story is...

I don’t know about you, but I’m fully invested in the Christmas season. Today, we’re diving into a series of Christmas episodes and to kick it off, we’re starting in the book of Matthew. Matthew spends most of the first chapter outlining the genealogy of Jesus. While a genealogy may not seem like the most show stopping opener, the cultural and historical implications of this chapter are deeply impactful. The genealogy of Jesus is countercultural. It is rare to find women listed in genealogies...

How do we figure out what God’s will is for our life? How do we know how to carry that will out? And what do we pray when we’re not sure what to pray for? Today we’re looking at what the Apostle Paul prayed for the believers at the church in Colossae. And it’s as relevant today as it was then!  I love this Scripture because I can pray it when I don’t have the words to pray. It serves as a guide I can trust, and helps me think God’s thoughts about my circumstances. It also reminds me of the...

We’re celebrating Thanksgiving this week with the spiritual discipline of thankfulness! (Look at how that worked out). The Cultivate podcast is back at my kitchen table, and I’m ready for you to pull up a chair. As we prepare our Thanksgiving menus, this is a week to also prepare our hearts. We’re looking at 1 Thessalonians and how Paul specifically gives thanks to God for the PEOPLE in his life and ministry. And also his reminder for us to give thanks in all situations. As we approach this...

This week we’re looking at the spiritual discipline of service. Serving others and looking outside of ourselves is just good medicine. But if you’re anything like me, when you’re tired, discouraged, or feeling hopeless, the last thing you want to do is think about how you can help others. We want to turn inward, not outward. But Jesus constantly modeled giving His life away for others and He never lacked joy, peace, or contentment.  I couldn’t be more excited to have my pastor and friend,...

We often think of the spiritual discipline of simplicity as a life of lack or being in constant want. But, actually, living simply is about living freely. It’s about greater availability to Jesus. And when we’re available to Him, when we’re not weighed down by all of our stuff, we’re free to live the greatest adventure of our lives. There is positively nothing on earth like following Christ.  I can’t wait for you to meet my friend Sarah Rodrigues, one of my dearest friends and a co-worker...