Monday Musings Podcast

Rarely is something a one-time deposit. Most of the time the things deposited in our lives continue to grow and grow.

Just another lesson from the hydrangea and the deer.

When is the last time you sat in a waiting room without looking at your phone? What are we missing in our distracted world?

Psalm 37:23 is a very well-known passage of Scripture. I hope today's musing gives you a richer way to view it in your daily life.

Jesus heals in many ways. But, if we don't live present lives with Him, we are incapable of hearing how He may want us to partner with Him. From Denise's Message "The Already and The Not Yet."

The Holy Spirit feels to many like such a mystery. I hope today offers us a little more understanding and makes us more curious to encounter Him.

Did you know maturity is a vital part of the Christian experience? Did you also know that God thought of everything you and I would need in order to mature? He is so kind not to leave anything to chance.

Remember a few weeks ago I reminded you that winter only had things dormant, that life was up under there? Well, today, we are going to talk about things that might be needed to get that life to the surface.

How often have we looked at the truths in God's Word and thought they felt confining, hard maybe, even punitive? Like He was holding out on us. Instead of seeing His truths and commandments as love. The very things that protect us, guide us, and restore us. I hope today we will have a different perspective.

Could it be you haven't realized what isolation does? I hope this Monday Musing brings revelation and encouragement.

We are already almost two months into our new year. Seems like it might be a good time to check in on your heart. ​

I didn't know I'd need to fast. But God did. This week I share a life-changing story God used for me to reaffirm the value and the reasons for fasting.

Sometimes culture convinces us that God's truths are archaic, punitive even. I hope to give us a different perspective about His design for purity in this week that we celebrate the gift of love.

Tackling one of the hardest questions in the human experience. I pray God encourages your heart today.

Nothing is ever as dead as it seems with Jesus. Hopefully, this is a good reminder of that this morning.

Sometimes the best way to know what to do is to know what you don't want to do. Often, if we take stock in how our hearts exited the previous year, we can ask ourselves if that is how we want to enter the next year. I hope this time of questions and reflection will be helpful as you enter this new year.

I always have specific things I dig into or use during a first of the year fast and as I begin a new year. I hope these resources are an encouragement to you!

Fasting is always most about drawing close to Jesus. Yet often we have specific things on our heart we want to be a part of our fast. This week, I encourage you to lean into Jesus and begin to ask Him what do you want to focus on during your fast? It may be personal renewal and revival. It may be restoration of health, or resources, or a relationship. There are many different reasons we fast, and it is okay to fast for something specific. 

God has a real desire to draw close to you. He wants to have more time with you. Fasting creates that. This is why it is important to begin to ask God what you are to fast in this season. Because it is about creating more time with you and Him. To join our first of the year fast, email us at info@reclaiminghearts.org

This week, I share a story of a yearlong fast the Lord invited me on and the results of that season. I hope it encourages you to join us for our 10-day first of the year fast. If you'd like to, email us at info@reclaiminghearts.org and we will send you all of our fasting resources. ​

What if there was something you could do as you entered into your new year that could move your heart closer to the Lord? Over the next few weeks, as we close out 2024, I want to invite us into something together that I know by experience will do just that. Don't shut this next month down because it isn't something you want to consider. Instead, allow your heart to be curious. Then, let's see what God may want to speak and how He may want to move.

As our hearts enter this week of Thanksgiving, I couldn't get away from something that can steal our hearts of gratitude. If it is inside of us, I pray we will repent and surrender it to enjoy the full thanksgiving God desires for each of us.

Satan has convinced us that sharing our testimony is hard. Could it be because of the power that it holds? I pray today's musing and message takes some of the fear out of it, and instead fills your heart with boldness. ​

There is a real opportunity today in our broken world to pay attention to the opportunities the Lord sends our way. Philip didn't miss his, and a traveling Eunuch was saved and transformed. I hope this story encourages you not to miss yours.

I keep our musings focused on the heart of our Heavenly Father. Yet, every four years an election rolls around and it feels important to speak to it. Some of you may be on the fence on whether you even want to vote. I made this more for your heart. I hope you will find it encouraging. It is longer than most, but times are different than any other. So, it feels important.

When is the last time the Holy Spirit has tugged on your heart to call that person? Or invite that person to church? Or pray for that stranger at the grocery store? Have you obeyed? Distracted yourself instead with your phone? Given your heart multiple excuses as to why it isn't a good idea? This is a beautiful and powerful story God used in my own life in a very specific way. I think your heart will be encouraged and challenged today.

The story of the Samaritan woman that Jesus meets at the well is one most of us know. Denise shared this message recently, and this is an excerpt of when Jesus finally reveals Himself to her.

What a couple week's we have witnessed through these devastating storms. I'm having trouble shaking it, so I thought maybe we could talk about it together.

My friend recently shared from her garden. It made me stop and consider what people are able to pick from mine.

The older I get, the more I forget. But, this week, I talk about the importance of guarding our heart through remembering.

I'm grieving the arrival of Fall. I'm also grieving things far less trivial. What do you do with your grief? Do you stuff it down? Think it may overwhelm you if it shows up? Let's talk about grief today. I think you may be surprised.

The last four years have brought us some powerful storms. What if greater storms are on the horizon? Is your faith tethered to the foundation that is Jesus?

Have you ever eaten something without enough salt? This is our topic on today's Monday Musing.

There are some moments in Scripture you read that feel like Jesus is wanting to make sure we are looking Him straight in the eye. The end of the Sermon on the Mount is one of those moments.

What would having an "I Must" from Jesus do for your decision making? For your social media posting? For your heart? Today, I talk about how Philly and I first heard this message and how we have brought it into our lives and our stories.

Sometimes you have to get aggressive with the enemy, just like we did with the deer and the sun.

Pause for a minute today and pay attention to your breathing, or your heart rate, or how quickly you are eating your food. Have we deceived ourselves that a frantic way of living is the new normal? If we have, we will miss the most valuable thing in this life. The voice of our Heavenly Father.

We live in such a verbal vitriolic age, having no appreciation for the damage it does or how Jesus sees it. Let's ponder those things together on this Monday morning.

In the Christian experience, rules can be so much easier. The deception in that; however, leaves our hearts exceptionally unguarded. Let's talk about that this week from a message I recently delivered in Georgia.

The deer are on a feeding frenzy in our yard. Even eating things we were told they don't eat. It reminded me of what sin can do to our hearts.

Why does Jesus teach us to pray by starting with the word "Father?" I hope this musing will give you a new perspective.

Why does Jesus teach us to pray by starting with the word "Father?" I hope this musing will give you a new perspective.

Oftentimes, we make things harder than they have to be. Sometimes, that is when we don't heed wise counsel. Maybe the lesson I've learned with my dead hydrangea will help you not make the same mistake I did.

Disappointments are an everyday occurrence. But what happens when our hearts make a home there? Let's talk about it on today's Monday Musing.

How often do you think about this in your everyday, working, living life? I hope after today it will become a more intentional and daily thought. Because considering this changes the way we live.

Jesus' ascension afforded us so much. But, in order to ascend, He first descended. And wow! The gift that gave us. Now, He understands us. Our every need and temptation. What a comfort. Watch the full message here: https://youtu.be/OfT_oaqK5zM

It's been that kind of year. Leaning into solitude. I'm discovering even more that it affords. Even in the most unexpected places.

So much of life is missed these days because our heads are in our phone. For some reason, this thought was just highlighted to me in a new way the other day while Gracie and I were on a walk. I was so grateful I left my phone behind. The journey brought to mind the passage in Ecclesiastes that "everything has a time." I don't want to miss the time I am living in. I hope this short little thought encourages you not to either.

Healing from divorce is a choice. Today, I am highlighting my book, "Flying Solo," as well as its new release on Audible. But more importantly, I am talking about the things we allow to prevent us from truly healing after a divorce.

The book of Joshua has this powerful statement that I had never noticed before. It was revelatory. I hope it is for you today, too.

Ultimately, prayer is just talking with Jesus. Sharing and then listening. Yet, the enemy is gifted at making it feel hard. I hope today we leave with a different perspective on prayer.