Jesus is Not a Crutch

Hello my friends! Many of us are feeling isolated, anxious and even a bit depressed as we watch the news and realize the seriousness of this pandemic.  But church, we have the answer. It’s not that we are not anxious and fearful and even depressed at times during this pandemic, but we know that our […]

Revive Us

Today my heart is heavy as two of my priests tested positive with the Corona Virus. My third priest has been sick for weeks and has also been tested.  One of them is on ventilator. COVID 19  has shut down communities and caused anxiety and fear to rise up in many. So how do we […]

How to read Scripture

I am often asked how to read Scripture. My response is to allow the Word to read you, to have the Word speak to you as a love letter from God the Father. When I read Scripture, I ask the Lord to speak to me through His Word and journal what I sense He is […]

What a Difference a Day Makes

Good morning and welcome to Making Space Mondays! Many of you are part of our Drawing Near to God community and some are not. Please join us as we journey together to grow in Christ and live our lives fully engaged in making Him known. I went for a walk today on the beach near […]

Master Planner (Video blog)

We would love for you to join us at our Celebration Luncheon, March 26 – 10am, Seacoast Church, 750 Longpoint Road, Mt. Pleasant, SC.  Come and see what the Lord has done through our study of Romans and Following the Call.  Click Here to Register. Bring a friend! Connect with us!   http://facebook.com/drawingneartogod     https://www.instagram.com/joanneellisondng/  […]

Set the World on Fire

A few years back I went on vacation with my husband to Yellowstone National park. There were fires everywhere that had started when a camper had not fully extinguished their campfire. It destroyed much of the park. As we drove through the desolate forest, you could see the destruction first hand that a fire of […]

Suffering Has Kingdom Purpose

In a world where we hear so much bad news who wants to read a blog on suffering? I personally would rather go to the dentist and not use Novocaine. I want to get away from the bad news, isolate myself from hearing the tragic stories in the news. Just this week a beautiful 6 […]

Honoring His Name

Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness. Psalm 29:2    The Psalms inspire us to praise and honor the name of the Lord. As we seek God, He will reveal His character to us through His names. Let us learn to honor Jehovah God, […]

Enemy Doesn’t Play Fair but God Does

This morning I am like a dog with a bone on a subject that is near to my heart. Why? Because I have just walked through taking the bait of the enemy. The trap he set for me was discouragement. Anyone been there lately? The enemy doesn’t play fair but God always wins… if we […]

God’s Workings Through Ordinary People

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” I Samuel 16:7     In I Samuel 16:1-7, we read that […]