There have been seasons of life where I felt wrung out and brought low. For some reason last night laying in bed the past feelings of being humbled and weak rose up in my chest, feelings produced from seasons of grief, abandonment, loss, betrayal, financial strain, illness and pain. These… Continue reading Where to Turn
Author: Leslie Shuler
What to do When Circumstances Overwhelm You
One of my favorite things about celebrating the Christmas season this year was going skiing with my family and my sister’s family. It was near the end of our first day on the slopes, we were tired, sore and ready to make our last run. My sister who hadn’t been snow boarding in years, my… Continue reading What to do When Circumstances Overwhelm You
Thanksgiving: Protection from Discontentment
Thanksgiving opens the doors of our hearts to the presence of God. It heightens our awareness of His work in our lives and to all he’s given us. It awakens us to the grace He’s poured out. It reminds us of what He’s provided and done on our behalf. It makes us aware of His… Continue reading Thanksgiving: Protection from Discontentment
Forty and Free
Yesterday morning the Today show took a break from reporting on the unprecedented results of the presidential election of the previous evening to highlight the newest revolutionary product in age defying skin care. It struck me that a new facial cream actually seemed to warrant news time on the morning after one of the biggest… Continue reading Forty and Free
Further Faster
Our culture has a very strong message about self achievement; that we are our own gods if we will work hard enough, long enough, be disciplined enough then we can accomplish anything we put our mind too. I was told this all the way through junior high and high school. The problem with this message… Continue reading Further Faster
What’s Comfort Costing You?
My first lesson in freshman economics was “everything costs”. Nothing is free. As I tried to think through all things life and prove Mr. Sewell wrong, he always had the cost required for each of my selections. So my economics question for us today is what is comfort costing us? We would all agree that… Continue reading What’s Comfort Costing You?
Limitless
Unfortunately there are a lot of resources that aren’t limitless. We have to make hard decisions about where to spend time, money and energy because we all wish we had more and at times there seems there is never enough. Making decisions about where to spend these exhaustible resources can be stressful. I often spend… Continue reading Limitless
The Dangers of Rule-Keeping
I’ve always struggled with the idea of balancing truths, which the New Testament is full of, and I know it’s because we are supposed to walk in freedom by the Spirit’s guidance. There’s always been a part of me that likes rules. I like the clarity of what is expected and how things are always… Continue reading The Dangers of Rule-Keeping
Achievement ≠ Worth
When God is at the center there is a peace, a soul rest, a joy, an inner contentment, because we see not only his power and wisdom over all things, but we see clearly his deep penetrating love and are made whole in his soothing grace. Very early on in my life the sales pitch… Continue reading Achievement ≠ Worth
Best ≠ Rest
I was struck by the personification my friend and overcomer used to describe Satan in one of her recent articles, (https://www.namb.net/flourish-blog/the-danger-in-entertaining-lies?). She painted a picture of how we often invite him in to sit on our couch and give us his opinion, instead of banishing him with truth the way Jesus did. She says, “I… Continue reading Best ≠ Rest
Patient with our Impatience
“Do you want mayo?” No response. Three children and not a single one answered me. “Do you want a slice of ham?” No response. Why did I bother asking a new questions when the old one was still hanging out there? They’re poking around on their i-pads and I’ve just come from grocery shopping. It’s… Continue reading Patient with our Impatience
Where’s my drive?
Where’s my drive? Where’s my motivation? Where’s my inner push? I have this tendency to try to accomplish an unattainable to to-do list over the summers. Less is required of me right now. I’m not teaching kids, not lesson planning or grading papers. I’m not leading weekly Bible study or small group since we are… Continue reading Where’s my drive?
Do Not let yourself be burdened again!
This is a word to the weary control freak. Why do I use the word, weary, to describe us? Because when we are trying to control all the details of life to meet our ideal it becomes exhausting. When you try to be just what you think everyone in your life wants you to be,… Continue reading Do Not let yourself be burdened again!
Remember
Memorial day is a day set aside annually for us to remember those we’ve lost and to remember our fallen heroes. Memorial day is set in a season of many reasons to remember for me. On Memorial day I remember my own fallen hero. My mom, who lived life so selflessly as a single parent,… Continue reading Remember
Rejection Stings
A few summers ago I was picnicking with my kids outside of a water park (because I’m one of those moms who are too cheap to pay for the concessions at a theme park) when a wasp must of loved the smell of the sweet grapes I was popping in my mouth and decided to… Continue reading Rejection Stings
What are you clinging to?
Holding tightly to the edge of the cliff, clinging to a dangling rope or grasping the window’s ledge are all frequent scenes in movies. The rock, window ledge or the rope the character clings to are all that exists between them and a terrible fall. Whether we realize it or not all of us are… Continue reading What are you clinging to?
A Wall you don’t want Torn Down!
“They have some major walls up!” We’ve all heard that phrase and know it’s not a good thing to have walls up, but there is a wall God encourages us to keep in place. A wall He’s designed to protect us. Not walls of self-protection but walls of self-control. Proverbs 25:28 says, “Like a city… Continue reading A Wall you don’t want Torn Down!
Isolation, a kill-joy
There are few possessions in life with as much value as joy. Joy isn’t just fleeting happy feelings but an inner peace and contentment despite one’s circumstances. As I went for a search for joy and how to get more of it in my life I wasn’t surprised that the Word says it is a… Continue reading Isolation, a kill-joy
Overcomer
This is a guest post from an overcomer, an encourager, and a sojourner in Christ from my church. I love her story and her truth and I know you will too! I Am An OVERCOMER Through Christ Jesus My Lord Paul writes in Romans 7:15-20 “I do not understand what I do. For what I… Continue reading Overcomer
Why is Good Friday good?
Why is Good Friday good? When I was a little girl it confused me that they called it “Good” Friday when it was the day that Jesus suffered and died. This week I’ve had an ah-ha moment right in time for Easter. It came as I studied God’s goodness and learned that the word… Continue reading Why is Good Friday good?
Encouragement for the Encourager
My life has been so richly blessed by encouragers and their words of encouragement, and I bet yours has too! Those in the body of Christ that are gifted with the gift of encouragement give strength to others. I’m sure the enemy tries to discourage those with this gift by telling them it doesn’t make… Continue reading Encouragement for the Encourager
What Joy!
“What Joy!” A few summers ago I couldn’t get this phrase out of my head. One morning I woke up early before everyone else which is a miracle in my home and there that phrase was again like a song, What Joy! It came during a season where I was internally struggling with a feeling… Continue reading What Joy!
Fret Not
“Father, I am sorry that I have let stress reign instead of peace. I have deeply desired peace and trust and to walk in joy, but stress seems to be this old familiar friend I take with me everywhere. A habit I can’t break. Please deliver me from its chains. Please deliver me from the… Continue reading Fret Not