Arms Upheld: Support in Life's Hard Battles

 I recently found myself engulfed in dread and uncertainty. I wasn't hopeless, but I couldn't see hope anywhere. My world felt so very dark. And as hard as I tried, I couldn't figure out which way to turn. Acts 17:27 showed me that when I cannot see hope, I can still feel my way to Him. And find Him. He's where He's always been. Right beside me.This episode marks a stopping point for this podcast as I venture to take hold of the hand of Jesus and embark on an uncharted course of discovery of a life lived clinging tightly to Him. A new blog "Holding the Hand of Jesus" will debut in the coming months and beyond that, God only knows.Thank You, to all of you who have traveled this road with me, who have listened and offered feedback, love, and support. Thank you! You are the absolute best!Let's grab hold of His hand and take the next step forward on our own journeys.Remember, God is for you. And so am I!Bible verses referred to in this episode:Acts 17:26-27Find me on Instagram @HLynnPierce  or at hlynnpierce.comSupport the Show.

Where can we find  wisdom? God reveals His answer in Job 28. That's where we're going to hangout today.I leave you with the wisdom of God and I'll see you back in August.Bible verses referred to in this episode:Job 28Find me on Instagram @HLynnPierce  or at hlynnpierce.comSupport the Show.

All through school we were taught to give the 'right' answers. We learned what was acceptable and what was not. We learned what was respectful and what was not.  So when I heard this certain man's response to Jesus, I was appalled.  How could he offer excuses and explanations instead of a direct and respectful response?Then, I had to check myself and lean in closer. Perhaps he had the right answer after all. He was sharing his authentic experience with Jesus. He was creating his own true answer with more words than "yes, sir".Where are we allowing man to limit our words to prescribed scripts instead of sharing our experience with Jesus? Is it time for us to get up and walk?***Please note that there will be one more episode before my break in July. This podcast will resume in August. Thanks!***Bible verses referred to in this episode:John 5:2-9Find me on Instagram @HLynnPierce  or at hlynnpierce.comSupport the Show.

This week we return to the pool of Bethsaida (aka Bethesda). John 5:5 tells us, "A certain man was there..." A particular person in the crowd.Jesus saw this man. He knew this man. This certain man. Then He approaches him and asks a question, hears his heart, and heals him. This is just like Jesus, isn't it? Doesn't he do the same with us? Listen in to hear more about this 'certain man.' and how his story is ours as well.  Bible verses referred to in this episode:John 5:2-9Find me on Instagram @HLynnPierce  or at hlynnpierce.comSupport the Show.

Chapter 5 of John tells us of an account of Jesus healing a man. He was unable to get to the pool when it stirred because of his disability. Jesus saw him, knew how long he'd waited, and approached him. Then He asked the man, "Do you want to get well?"We may not be sick, blind, lame, or paralyzed like those in the crowd that day, but we all are disabled in some way. There are areas of our lives in which we are unable to do that which we need to do. Perhaps we don't spend much time thinking about these areas, but they are there. Jesus sees us too, knows how long we've waited, and approaches us with the same question, "Do you want to get well?"Today, we spend a few minutes pondering this question in regard to our own disabilities. If you can muster the courage, join us. Bible verses referred to in this episode:John 5:2-9Find me on Instagram @HLynnPierce  or at hlynnpierce.comSign up for my E-mail list here!Support the Show.

How do you process challenging news? Where do your thoughts go? Worse case scenarios? Problem solving strategies? Growth opportunities? And what emotions hit you? Do you get overwhelmed, focused, or simply shut down?When we receive information that changes our lives in some way there's a period of processing. What does yours look like?Join me in taking time this week to discover just that.And let's pray together the words of Psalm 16:8:I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for He is right beside me.Bible verses referred to in this episode:Psalm 16:8Find me on Instagram @HLynnPierce  or at hlynnpierce.comSign up for my E-mail list here!Support the Show.

Have you ever had someone pray over you something you couldn't dream possible? Their words are beyond what you would ever have thought to ask for yourself?This has happened to me a few profound moments in my life. One recently. And as others speak prophetic words over my life, I start to believe in their vision of what was beyond possible to me only moments before.What is currently beyond possible to you?Remember, nothing is impossible with God.Bible verses referred to in this episode:2 Samuel 7: 18-29Philippians 1:6Luke 1:37Find me on Instagram @HLynnPierce  or at hlynnpierce.comSign up for my E-mail list here!Support the Show.

Have you ever found your worth in your accomplishments? You are already saved, but you still keep working at it? Or finding yourself feeling like you have to prove it?If we read through the words of Jesus and Paul, we can come to an understanding that the Bible is a story of our need for Jesus, but the only way to benefit in this is to do nothing...except believe in Him.Is it possible to grow in faith by doing nothing but trusting in Him?Bible verses referred to in this episode:1 Samuel 24Luke 24:44-472 Timothy 3:14-151 Samuel 18:7Find me on Instagram @HLynnPierce  or at hlynnpierce.comSign up for my E-mail list here!Support the Show.

Do you ever have times when even simple things feel hard? Well, this is where I've been hanging out lately. These days it feels like my feet weigh a hundred pounds each as try to wade through sticky peanut butter just to make it through the day.So today, we're going to do things a little differently. We're going to simply seek God together. We'll pray and then I'll read a psalm. Then perhaps we can both simply sit in His presence for a while.Then when we stand, ready to take that next step, perhaps we it won't feel so hard. *I've just started a subscription page for Arms Upheld. If you interested in supporting the podcast, click here. Thanks!*Bible verses referred to in this episode:Psalm 138:3Psalm 145Find me on Instagram @HLynnPierce  or at hlynnpierce.comSign up for my E-mail list here!Support the Show.

Lately, whenever I go shopping, my littlest one asks for something. Can I bring her back a toy? Can she pick something if she comes with me? And if someone else has something she likes, she wants one too. At times, honestly, it feels like I've failed to teach her gratitude. She wants stuff., but what if I'm not I'm failing. What if wanting things is the tilt of the human heart?'Coveting' made the cut for the top ten ways to honor the Lord that Moses received at Mt. Sinai. God knows our hearts. And no matter our age, we want stuff. It may no longer look like a playdoh ice cream maker, but we still want things. Philippians 4 offers us a way to overcome this.  Join us as we find a path to peace involving joy, love, prayer, and gratitude. It could just change the tilt of our hearts. Bible verses referred to in this episode:Philippians 4:4-7Find me on Instagram @HLynnPierce  or at hlynnpierce.comSign up for my E-mail list here!

"I am stronger now than I have ever been." This statement kept running through my mind last night and I had to write it down. But that wasn't the end. There was more. I am stronger now than I have ever been because I am more dependent on God now than I have ever been.This is the key.When we face catastrophic defeat like that of Marvel's Avengers-Infinity War, it's not the end. There is more to come.As we rely on the strength of Jesus and His light guiding us through the darkness, we discover truth and life like we've never known it before.Take His hand and keep going. Life is worth living.Bible verses referred to in this episode:2 Corinthians 12:9Luke 22:42Find me on Instagram @HLynnPierce  or at hlynnpierce.comSign up for my E-mail list here!

Lately, as I read in my Bible, God has been showing me (primarily through verbs) what is my job and what is His. Today, He did it again.I didn't plan to read Psalm 112, but He stopped me there and broke more of the bindings to the lie that I am responsible for everything. Not in a "King of the World" sort of way, but as in I'm to blame when things crash to the floor when I am unable to balance all of spinning plates and balls in the air.The man in the psalm is responsible for fearing God and delighting in His commands. We are all given this calling. This is our job. This is my job. And that's it. The rest is up to Him.And, man, is He a busy guy!Bible verses referred to in this episode:Psalm 112Ezekiel 36:26Find me on Instagram @HLynnPierce  or at hlynnpierce.comSign up for my E-mail list here!

When you think of Gideon, do you think of the fleece? Maybe the odd way God winnows down his army by how they drink? Or the cool torches in jars approach to battle? The beginning of Gideon's account is where I find the most connection with him.Gideon finds himself in a desperate situation facing starvation. The angel of the Lord approaches him and calls him "Mighty hero." Now, here, Gideon resembles nothing close to a hero, but God isn't limited by time and He knows all that Gideon will become.The same is true for us. Where we are right now is not all of who we are. We are still in process of becoming who God created us to be.Join us to discover how else we are like this 'Mighty Hero' (also known as Gideon).Bible verses referred to in this episode:Judges 6 (Focused on verses 8-18)Find me on Instagram @HLynnPierce  or at hlynnpierce.comSign up for my E-mail list here!

Dreams begin as seeds, planted in our youth. As we grow, we are watered by the Living Water. Just like trees, our dreams are strengthened through the storms of our lives. And one day you might just look and find fruit. We all have dreams that are in the works. Perhaps some have been fulfilled.Jesus had a dream too: to be the Way the Truth and the Life. Easter morning, that dream was fulfilled.The dream, or hope, of eternity is planted in the heart of every human.  As we cling to the hand of our Savior, our dream is fulfilled. For eternity has already begun.  Bible verses referred to in this episode:John 14:31Psalm 1:3John 14:6Revelation 22:20Find me on Instagram @HLynnPierce  or at hlynnpierce.comSign up for my E-mail list here!

I knew that in the Garden of Gethsamane Jesus was distressed, troubled, and in anguish. So much so that he sweat drops of blood, but it never occurred to me that he struggled.I don't know why exactly.Struggling seems like something I do. And it seems bad. Somewhere along the way, I've chosen to believe a lie that I'm not supposed to struggle.Jesus, Himself, tells us, "The spirit is willing, but the body is weak!" (Matthew 26:41 & Mark 14:38). It would make sense when our weak bodies contradict the willing spirits within us, that there would be struggling in our realities. Yet, if Jesus did it, it can't be bad. Join us as we lift the burden of shame from struggling this week as we meet Jesus in the garden and prepare for Easter.Bible verses referred to in this episode:Hebrews 5:7Matthew 26:37Mark 14:33Matthew 26:39Mark 14:36Luke 22:42Matthew 26:41Mark 14:38Matthew 26:46Find me on Instagram @HLynnPierce  or at hlynnpierce.comSign up for my E-mail list here!

Today is beautiful. I am sitting on my back porch, sun on my face, chickens rustling about nearby. The gentle breeze brings melodious chimes my way while the cars race past out front. Beyond this little beautiful cocoon lies the world.But what am I accountable for? The Bible tells us that we are accountable for what God has revealed to us. We are not accountable for that which is beyond our cocoon in which we are transforming into who God made us to be. We are responsible to follow wherever He leads.Where is God leading you?Bible verses referred to in this episode:Deuteronomy 29:29Find me on Instagram @HLynnPierce  or at hlynnpierce.comSign up for my E-mail list here!

When I sit down to write, I first change my font. I intentionally move from a default setting to one of my choosing and one that has become my gateway into the creative journey of writing.God doesn't tell us to shift into Arial size 13 font, but He does give some pointers to the Israelites before they embark on their journey into the Promised Land. Be careful. Obey my commands. There's a bit more to it, plus blessings that come with careful obedience. Let's discover them together.Bible verses referred to in this episode:Deuteronomy 11Find me on Instagram @HLynnPierce  or at hlynnpierce.comSign up for my E-mail list here!

 And you saw how the LORD your God cared for you all along the way as you traveled through the wilderness, just as a father cares for his child. Now he has brought you to this place. Deuteronomy 1:31 NLTWe can all look back on our own "wilderness" times and see the way God has cared for us, just as the Israelites did. We do that so we can remember His faithfulness so when we take that next step forward, we are trusting in Him.Listen in to hear more about "This Place" God has brought you to. Bible verses referred to in this episode:Deuteronomy 1:31Find me on Instagram @HLynnPierce  or at hlynnpierce.comSign up for my E-mail list here!

As I was reading through Numbers, the phrase "each in position under the appropriate family banner" stood out to me. Then I continued on to discover the plan God had for the Israelites to camp around the tabernacle and how to break camp and move on. And as I pondered this, I began to see how God's design wasn't just for who walks first in a procession, but about building communities.You see it wasn't that the groups shared an ancestor, it was that these people shared a life. They set up camps near the same people. The travelled with the same people. They lived their lives with these neighbors.Then I began to wonder, "Who do I share my life with? Who is my community?"Listen in to join our time of reflection, not just on who our neighbors are, but on God's great design for community as well. Bible verses referred to in this episode:Numbers 2:17-34Find me on Instagram @HLynnPierce  or at hlynnpierce.comSign up for my E-mail list here!

In today's world productivity, doing and achieving, is what we do. And sometimes it becomes who we are. But what do we do or who do we become when we take that away even for a few hours?Although we've been talking about sacrifices and ways to draw nearer to God, we also hear God inviting us to "Come." Multiple times in the Bible, Jesus calls us to Himself. For He has made a way by fulfilling all those requirements for us to be able to be in the presence of God. Now all we need to do is 'come.'Jesus invites us to Him. We don't need to meet expectation or quotas, but simply be still long enough. Coming to Jesus is more of a stilling than a doing. And this week, I'm inviting you to come with me into His presence.Find a comfy chair, bench, or section of floor and join me. Come.Bible verses referred to in this episode:Revelation 22:17Matthew 11:28Luke 19:10Psalm 46:10Luke 19:10Find me on Instagram @HLynnPierce  or at hlynnpierce.comSign up for my E-mail list here!

Have you ever got to the book of Leviticus and wanted to abandon the whole idea of reading through the Bible? What if we begin to look at these detailed guidelines as invitations rather than directives? You see, God created humans and then desired to be with them, but there was this thing called sin and His holiness couldn't coexist in the same space.  And since God can't be anything other than holy and pure, He had to make a way for His children to get near Him.And there are a LOT of ways for men and women to be unclean and impure. So God, had to address them all. Still, God made a way. That's a whole lot of love!Listen to hear more about how we can get closer to the heart of the Father. Bible verses referred to in this episode:1 Corinthians 16:14Genesis 1:27Genesis 3:8Hosea 6:61 John 4:7Psalm 145:8LeviticusFind me on Instagram @HLynnPierce  or at hlynnpierce.comSign up for my E-mail list here!

Traversing a parking lot takes on a whole new meaning when you have a child in tow. No longer are you simply moving from the car to the entry doors, the safety of another person is at stake and the parking lot has become a danger zone.God offers the Israelites the same things we need: someone bigger and wiser who can take into account the dangers, our attitudes and abilities, and the need to cross this space. He knows how things work best and offers us His very best--Himself. For whatever parking lot we find ourselves in, the truth is, we are not the grown-up in the situation. We are the child and most importantly, we are not there alone.Listen in to hear more about being like a child.Bible verses referred to in this episode:Matthew 18 2-4Exodus 19:9-12(and the rest of Exodus)Find me on Instagram @HLynnPierce  or at hlynnpierce.comSign up for my E-mail list here!

 As I was reading through Exodus 13, words I never noticed before grabbed my attention. (Don't you love when God does that?!) Starting in verse 17 we read, “When Pharaoh finally let the people go, God did not lead them along the main road that runs through Philistine territory, even though that was the shortest route to the Promised Land. God said, 'If the people are faced with a battle, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.' So God led them in a roundabout way through the wilderness toward the Red Sea.”God knew that this route was the best. This was the way for them to get to know Him and learn to trust Him. So, He led them in a roundabout way through the wilderness to a dead end. And the thing that guided them, was a giant cloud that they could all see…even at night. They could know by simply looking up, that God was with them.Listen in to hear how this relates to our own journeys through the foggy woods.Bible verses referred to in this episode:Exodus 14:19-20Exodus 13:17-22Find me on Instagram @HLynnPierce  or at hlynnpierce.comSign up for my E-mail list here!

Have you ever experienced life in disorder? How about chaos? Ever faced any obstacles or challenges? Of course, we all have. We may not have been slaves in Egypt or the father of a demon-possessed boy, but we all find ourselves in real life struggles. These stories reveal to us a cycle that is repeated throughout the entire Bible. This is the pattern of obstacles, a rescue, and life with Yahweh. Yet, we can also look back over our lives and see evidence of this pattern as well. This becomes extremely helpful when the current problem looms large in front of us.  To remember that God has made a way through the last obstacles enhances our faith that He will do it again. No matter where you are in this cycle, hopefully this podcast will encourage you today.Bible verses referred to in this episode:Matthew 17:20Genesis 1&2Exodus 1-15Matthew 17:14-20 Find me on Instagram @HLynnPierce  or at hlynnpierce.comSign up for my E-mail list here!

You know that feeling when you are snuggled up all cozy in bed? It may be raining or sleeting outside. The wind could be blowing, but you are warm and toasty under your familiar blankets. Isn't it lovely? If you imagine yourself there right now, does a smile spread across your face?Have you ever experienced this coziness in your spirit? It's still warm, but instead of blankets, it's the arms and peace of Jesus than enfold you? It feels just right and familiar. It's lovely. If we know this feeling, we can't help but smile. This goes deeper. It's like our heart is smiling.Listen in to hear more about living each day in this spiritual cozy cocoon of love and peace. Bible verses referred to in this episode:Genesis 28:16Ephesians 6:10-20Genesis 28:20-21Find me on Instagram @HLynnPierce  or at hlynnpierce.comSign up for my E-mail list here!

Have you ever spent time with someone and walked away feeling less?  Less than whole? Less than enough? Less than valuable?This little symbol "

This episode drops on January 1, 2024, but was written in the span of time between Christmas and New Year's. And just because we toss out the old calendar and hang a new one doesn't mean we know what's ahead.We still remain in this in between space of what has happened and what is yet to be.There is always something coming. There will always be another bend ahead. There will always be more corners to turn.Before I raise my foot to take the next step…before I conjure up the next dream…or face the next problem, perhaps sitting with Jesus…still and silent in the place in between is exactly where I need to be.Bible verses referred to in this episode:1 Corinthians 6:16Find me on Instagram @HLynnPierce  or at hlynnpierce.comSign up for my E-mail list here!

We have spent these last few weeks considering how the people involved in the Christmas story were all simply going about living their lives. Caesar ruled an empire and became an unknowing participant. The Innkeeper ran out of rooms and became an unsuspecting participant. The shepherds guarded their sheep one night and became unassuming participants in the greatest story ever told.But is that it?The angel's words that glorious night said, “I'm here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David's town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master.”Everybody. Worldwide. Across time. All. All of us.Did you realize that you are part of the Christmas story? That was unexpected. ;)Bible verses referred to in this episode:Luke 2:10-14Find me on Instagram @HLynnPierce  or at hlynnpierce.comSign up for my E-mail list here!

Shepherds were hard working, but not generally the cleanest or best smelling fellows. These often ignored or avoided people were the one's tasked with raising the lambs for sacrifices at the temple. As they went about their unassuming lives guarding the sheep, suddenly an angel shows up and "the radiance of the Lord's glory surrounded them." God chose them to announce the arrival of His Son, the long-awaited Messiah.As we, too, find ourselves in stinky situations, we never know when we will be surrounded by the "radiance of the Lord's glory." Like the shepherds though, we can just continue on in our unassuming ways until He reveals to us that which He desires for us to know. Then we can simply go.Bible verses referred to in this episode:Luke 2:8-18Find me on Instagram @HLynnPierce  or at hlynnpierce.comSign up for my E-mail list here!

In the town of Bethlehem, I don't know how many inns there were. I do know there was at least one: a guy trying to make a living in a small town that was overrun with crowds and chaos.We don't know if he offered his barn in exasperation, quick brainstorm, or compassionate connect with the Lord, but we do know that God used him to get Mary and Josheph...and Jesus into that stable.God used an unsuspecting participant in a small town to help direct His Son to a special place where a miracle happened. And He can do the same for us. Bible verses referred to in this episode:Luke 2:4-7Find me on Instagram @HLynnPierce  or at hlynnpierce.comSign up for my E-mail list here!

Welcome to Advent!We know the lines. We know the names and the characters. We've heard the story over and over again. But have we ever stopped the think about how each person was simply going about their regular everyday life when this miraculous event plopped right down in front of them?Caesar Augustus wasn't sitting on his throne scheming of how to get his name in the Jewish record book. He didn't audition for his role in the greatest story ever told. He was going about the business of ruling an empire.  Can God use an unknowing participant? Bible verses referred to in this episode:Luke 2:1-4Find me on Instagram @HLynnPierce  or at hlynnpierce.comSign up for my E-mail list here!

Friends, I've found that my life has shifted.For me this new season holds a retail job. In previous years, I used to avoid stores as much as possible during the holiday season. Now I walk in willingly multiple times a week for hours at a time.This new season also holds a new sporting experience for my family. In previous years, sports slowed during November and December. Now we are spending hours in the car and on the field each week.And my typical Wednesday “podcast” days are feeling the effects. This is not a "good-bye," but a "head's up" that things may look different around here. I'm not exactly sure how but am pressing in--to the heart of God to hear what He has to say about it. Many blessings to you and yours!Bible verses referred to in this episode:Psalm 25John 10:10Find me on Instagram @HLynnPierce  or at hlynnpierce.comSign up for my E-mail list here!

Recently, I hit my head on a door frame. I was heading down the hall and heard voices. I leaned past my doorway to see what was happening, then decided to continue on to my room. As I turned to go in, I swung my head too early and too quickly into the door frame instead of open space.My injury could have been prevented: First by not allowing myself to get distracted by other people. Or second, by reorienting myself in the doorway before moving into the new space.I need to know where I am before I move.I also need to know where to move before I take that next step.Psalm 25:4-5 lead us to a revelation of God's path of life through a spiritual whack on a door frame. Listen in to hear more!Bible verses referred to in this episode:Psalm 25John 10:10Find me on Instagram @HLynnPierce  or at hlynnpierce.comSign up for my E-mail list here!

Psalm 3 is a lament written by David during the time he fled from his son Absalom.The psalm begins with the exclamation, “O LORD, how many are my foes!” We may not be facing an uprising, but we are likely facing something…or a lot of somethings. What are you facing? Can you name your foes?Verse 1 continues, “Many are rising against me.” Do you feel that those things are rising like water around you? Are you struggling to keep your head above the waters?Would a life preserver help? What if there was one beside you all along?Verse 3 tells us that God is a "lifter of our head." Listen to hear more about this and how it helps us breathe in life and the hope of the Lord.Bible verses referred to in this episode:Psalm 32 Samuel 15-17Find me on Instagram @HLynnPierce  or at hlynnpierce.comSign up for my E-mail list here!

After finishing the book of Lamentations, I sat pondering why there is a whole book of the Bible dedicated to whining.I hate whining. It is a pet peeve of mind. Philippians 2:14 backs me up on this. BUT, perhaps, whining and lamenting are not the same thing. Aren't we supposed to share each other's burdens? How can we do that if we don't know of them?After looking at the definitions of these words and back at God's Word, we land somewhere that may just lead us closer to the heart of God. Bible verses referred to in this episode:Lamentations 5:21-22Phil 2:14Galatians 6:2Find me on Instagram @HLynnPierce  or at hlynnpierce.comSign up for my E-mail list here!

When we find ourselves praying, but nothing fits quite right, God may be trying to teach us a lesson. I recently found myself in such a space. Essentially, my son needed a ride to soccer practice.It took hours of frustration and a lot of effort in all the wrong directions to open my eyes to what God wanted to show me. Yet that's how we learn. That's how we grow. And God knows that.In His infinite grace and patience, He sticks with us until we get. Listen in to hear how my lesson turned out.Bible verses referred to in this episode:Lamentations 3:25&26Find me on Instagram @HLynnPierce  or at hlynnpierce.comSign up for my E-mail list here!

As the days grow shorter and the temperatures drop, we find ourselves in a world that's changing. We are losing daylight and warmth, but probably more than that as well.Perhaps we are losing stability or comfort. The future looks unfamiliar. Things are changing and they don't look like we thought they would.What do we do with this? We can choose to fight the wave of loss and grief or acknowledge it and perhaps even embrace it. May just for a few moments.Tears are a biblical part of lament and could be a healing part of our grieving process as well. Listen in this week for a discussion of tears, fiery blazes, and salty ocean waves. Bible verses referred to in this episode:Lamentations 1:16Find me on Instagram @HLynnPierce  or at hlynnpierce.comSign up for my E-mail list here!

I just started a new book and I love how the author speaks from his "messy house" to mine. Writers tend to write the words that they need to hear in their own lives.  And Justin Whitmel Earley does this beautifully in his book Habits of the Household.This is how this podcast came to be as well. Like the Teacher in Ecclesiastes, we can choose "to find just the right words to express truths clearly."  We are all dealing with our own messes, but can take the time to speak love into someone else's.Today's short episode leaves you a few extra minutes to discover the words you need to share to impact those you are called to love. Bible verses referred to in this episode:Ecclesiastes 12:101 Peter 4:8Hebrews 4:12Find me on Instagram @HLynnPierce  or at hlynnpierce.comSign up for my E-mail list here!

A full moon is when the moon reflects the light from the sun fully upon the earth. The moon doesn't create its own light. Neither is the light shining on it varying. The phases of the moon reflect what we can see.We are like moons.Like Ecclesiastes 8:1 says, "Wisdom lights up a person's face." God's love and wisdom constantly shine on us. How much we reflect of the Son-light is determined by our orientation.This week we reflect on ourselves as moon in regard to the light of the Son. What do others see in our faces?Bible verses referred to in this episode:Ecclesiastes 8:1 & 9Psalm 119:105Find me on Instagram @HLynnPierce  or at hlynnpierce.comSign up for my E-mail list here!

Have you ever faced a steep hill you had to climb? How did you do it? Did you just walk right up?No.The way up is a winding path slowly ascending in elevation. This is the way God created the world and us to work.Consider the work of God: who can make straight what he has made crooked?Ecclesiastes 7:13Listen in to hear how this verse can teach us to climb up our mountains and overcome.Bible verses referred to in this episode:Ecclesiastes 7:13John 17:17Find me on Instagram @HLynnPierce  or at hlynnpierce.comSign up for my E-mail list here!

The sun rises every morning. An app may be able to tell us the exact time it will happen, but how it happens is something that must be experienced.Then we choose how we respond to it. We can appreciate the beauty. We can stare in awe and wonder. We can praise the Lord for the experience. We can let it change us. We can also desire a different sunrise. Or curse the morning. Or close our eyes to the experience and block it all out. The possibilities are as endless as the ways God paints the dawn.Our days are like this too. Although, we don't get to choose how the Creator will paint our days, bold and wild or subtle and smooth, we do get to choose how we respond.Listen to hear how we actually have the power to enjoy our days even in the challenges of life.Bible verses referred to in this episode:Ecclesiastes 5:18-20Find me on Instagram @HLynnPierce  or at hlynnpierce.comSign up for my E-mail list here!

Ecclesiastes 4:12 tells us that "A threefold cord is not quickly broken." This is God's formula for relationships.We were created in the image of a triune God. We were made for connection--a Godly connection. Connection His way involves three components: Us, another person, and Him.When God is an integral part of our relationships, there is a strength unlike anything else.Listen in to hear more about this strand of three and its repair kit.Bible verses referred to in this episode:Ecclesiastes 4:9-12Genesis 1:27Joshua 5:1-14Romans 3:232 Samuel 12:1-13Psalm 139:121 Corinthians 14:1Find me on Instagram @HLynnPierce  or at hlynnpierce.comSign up for my E-mail list here!

Today's episode is dedicated to my daughter, Ella.God orchestrated the reading of a passage from Strong Like Water by Aundi Kolber, a sunrise, an anniversary of a loss, and the 100th episode to intersect here with appropriate fear.Listen in to hear how September 11 brings it all together.Bible verses referred to in this episode:1 John 4:18John 1:1-5Find me on Instagram @HLynnPierce  or at hlynnpierce.comSign up for my E-mail list here!

From David to Solomon...or the Teacher, King David's son, who ruled in Jerusalem whose words are recorded in Ecclesiastes.The famous passage from chapter 3, reminds us that there is a time, a season, for all things. And what has to happen now is not a permanent fixture in our lives.Verse 11 promises us that "God has made everything beautiful for its own time."No matter what mess we may find ourselves in, we can be assured that God is in process of creating a masterpiece.Bible verses referred to in this episode:Ecclesiastes 1:1Ecclesiastes 3:5-7Ecclesiastes 3: 11Ecclesiastes 12:13Find me on Instagram @HLynnPierce  or at hlynnpierce.comSign up for my E-mail list here!

So, David is anointed the new king of Israel. What happens next?  A big celebration? A promotion? A seat at the head of the table? Yeah, not so much.Essentially nothing happened. He went back to the fields…to the sheep and goats. Life went on as usual.We, too, may find ourselves gifted with a special calling only to find ourselves living out life as usual.The life of David (and Jesus) teaches us that once God calls us to a mission, we may spend a good amount of time seemingly in a mundane existence until we have learned the lessons He intended for us and His perfect timing is revealed. Listen in to hear more about how David's everyday moments help us connect to him, but more importantly to the goodness of God.Bible verses referred to in this episode:1 Samuel 16:14-23Find me on Instagram @HLynnPierce  or at hlynnpierce.comSign up for my E-mail list here!

Welcome back to the family of Jesse! Samuel has just seen the parade of Jesse's seven sons only to hear God's rejection of them all. Asked for any more sons, Jesse is forced to produce his youngest, the weakling that is used to take care of the sheep and goats and run errands.Although he amounted to little in the eyes of his family, this son is chosen by God to be the new king. His name is David. Although rejected by others, he is beloved by God. There are two lessons for us today. Listen in to hear more about our own end of the lines and the truth about the God who sees us and calls us by name.Bible verses referred to in this episode:1 Samuel 16:1-131 Samuel 16Find me on Instagram @HLynnPierce  or at hlynnpierce.comSign up for my E-mail list here!

1 Samuel 16 opens with the prophet Samuel distraught over Saul's bad decision. The Lord, having thought he had mourned enough, sent Samuel on a mission to anoint a new king.Samuel is led to the house of Jesse to anoint one of his sons. Except, none of the sons paraded before him are God's chosen one.In verse 7, the Lord warns Samuel, “Don't judge by his appearance or height... The LORD doesn't see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”The Holy Spirit prompted me this week to pause here and sit with God's idea of beauty and His desire for our hearts. We will continue the original lesson of Samuel's anointing of David next week. I hope that God's message of love here shines through to your heart.Bible verses referred to in this episode:1 Samuel 151 Samuel 16Find me on Instagram @HLynnPierce  or at hlynnpierce.comSign up for my E-mail list here!

Many know the reference of David and Goliath. The underdog story is a familiar one and yet there is so much to learn from this account.Goliath represents the sin in our lives. It is something large and looming that challenges the things of God. It seeks out a man…us…and wants to take us down. Sin's echo continues to this day.Yet, we don't enter the battle alone. We are divinely equipped and directed. When we walk into such a battle with God, we only need one stone.Listen in to hear more about claiming our victories over sin.Bible verses referred to in this episode:1 Samuel 17Genesis 4:7Find me on Instagram @HLynnPierce  or at hlynnpierce.comSign up for my E-mail list here!

~Hello, friends! I've missed you! Thanks for sticking around! (If you are listening later, I just took my first 4-week break from this podcast and am now returning.) It's good to be back! ~Let's keep learning from David, by reading about one of his…um…maybe not his most brilliant moment…we could even call it ‘ugly.' This week we jump into Psalm 34 which lead us to 1 Samuel 21 in which we find David in quite the predicament. He's running for his life from King Saul and finds himself in enemy territory seeking a job but realizes that is a mistake. So, he feigns insanity in order to escape.Our lesson from the life of David is reflecting on our own 'ugly' moments in search of the fingerprints of God. For when we follow David in humble exploration of such moments, we may just find ourselves with a heart full of praise.Let's find the path that leads us closer to God in our unsightly flops together.Bible verses referred to in this episode:Psalm 34 (Intro, verses 4-7 & 22)1 Samuel 21:10-15Find me on Instagram @HLynnPierce  or at hlynnpierce.comSign up for my E-mail list here!

In the middle of the Bible, we find the book of Psalms. David wrote about half of them. There are songs of praise, words of lament, and even verses asking God to stick it to his enemies. Through them all the power and character of God seem to take center stage. They are hymns to honor Him.David took the time to compose and sing these lyrics to a God who he knew intimately whether he was a shepherd, an outcast, or a king.Let's learn from the life of David and take the time to discover our special way of worshipping the Lord. Then do it. It could be singing or dancing. It could be gardening or baking. What is it for you? What makes your soul sing?Join us on this adventure to grow closer to God through worship.***This is the last episode until July 31st due to the break I'm taking to breathe, rest, worship, and spend time with my family. I'll see you in four weeks!***Bible verses referred to in this episode:Psalm 63:1-8Psalm 40:4-5Psalm 16:11Psalm 27:8Psalm 62:1Find me on Instagram @HLynnPierce  or at hlynnpierce.comSign up for my E-mail list here!

Through Christ' death and resurrection, He made a way for us to be reconciled to God.  When we recognize our sin, turn from it, and then seek God's forgiveness, our vertical relationship is restored.However, restoration does not eliminate the consequences of sin. Those consequences must still be dealt with, like with David. The prophet Nathan spoke God's decision that his son would die.While his son lived, David sought God in the hope that the child's life might be spared. Yet once his son died, David accepted the Lord's outcome. He returned to worshipping God and broke his fast.As we learn to trust God more and more, we find a way to accept the outcome He determines is best. We do this by moving toward God, like David, even in our pain and loss.We are forgiven. Restoration of both vertical and horizontal relationships is possible. ***Next week will be the last episode until July 31st due to the break I'm taking to breathe, rest, and spend time with my family. I'm so glad you are here. I'll see you next week!***Bible verses referred to in this episode:2 Corinthians 5:182 Samuel 12: 13-24Philippians 1:6Find me on Instagram @HLynnPierce  or at hlynnpierce.comSign up for my E-mail list here!