Shame is Not Your Inheritance

Sometimes I think my mind stays in overdrive. My brain simply will not cut off. Today I have been thinking about a scripture I read in my devotional time. The word shame jumped out on me. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him […]

Fatigue and Discouragement

“After I looked things over, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, “Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.” Nehemiah 4:14   There were four […]

Blessings and Curses

Good morning Drawing Near to God community! As I write this blog, I am reflecting on how much we need Jesus; specifically as our Peace. Isaiah writes that He is our wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Prince of Peace. He is that and so much more. His name is laden with rich meaning: He is our […]

A Gospel of Power

  I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes… Romans 1:16     According to Webster’s dictionary, the word “power” has the following synonyms: authority, jurisdiction, control, command, dominion. The gospel is the power of God for salvation and it has authority, […]

Is Your Heart Hardened?

The past few days I have been talking to God about my heart. I was impatient with my husband, irritated with a project I needed to complete, and angry that the pandemic just won’t go away! It was a full on pile up of emotions mixed with a sense of frustration. Makes me think of […]

Brotherly Love

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.  Romans 12:9-10  Unconditional love, agape love, must be the basis for all that we  do.  Paul exhorts Christians in the 1st century church, and likewise today,  to be sincere […]

Resetting Our Hearts

Welcome to our newly named blog called Abiding Space. Our Drawing Near to God community is launching our changes this week to include our new website, new offerings and lots of exciting ways for us to connect with each other. Let’s face it, we need connection now more than ever. We have been experiencing the […]

Faith and Deeds

What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.  If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and fed,” but does nothing about his physical […]

Bringing His Comforting Presence

Shout for joy, O heavens; rejoice, O earth; burst into song, O mountains! For the LORD comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones. Isaiah 49:13   Isaiah told the people that God would bring strength to the weary, increase the power of the weak, and bring streams in the desert. Although […]

Dying to Self

    For years when I heard in Christian circles the words dying to self, I wanted to say surely there is something else we can talk about. It isn’t my feel good place if you know what I mean. But is Christianity about our feel good place or is it about laying down our lives […]