Category: book

  • Walk With Me: It’s Time to Grow

    Walk With Me: It’s Time to Grow

    “But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.” — Hebrews 5:14

    Let me ask you a question.

    Are you growing?

    Not—How long have you been a Christian?

    Not—How many Bible studies have you completed?

    Not—How many sermons have you listened to?

    Not even—How much Scripture do you know?

    But is what you know about Jesus changing the way you live with Jesus?

    That’s a different question.

    And it may be one of the most important questions we ask as we continue learning what it means to walk with Him. Hebrews 5:12–14 gives us an interesting—and somewhat uncomfortable—picture of spiritual maturity.

    The writer compares spiritual infancy to needing milk and spiritual maturity to being ready for solid food. His concern wasn’t simply that his readers needed to learn more. They had already been taught truth.

    They needed to grow in their ability to live it. And tucked into verse 14 is a phrase I don’t want us to miss:

    “trained by constant practice.”

    Those words tell us something important about spiritual growth. We aren’t transformed simply by accumulating Christian information.

    We are transformed as God’s truth moves from our heads, settles into our hearts and begins changing the way we live. We have to practice it.

    My sister Sara had a phrase that has stayed with me for years:

    “Change is inevitable. Growth is intentional.”

    Sara knew quite a bit about change.

    Her life changed in ways she never would have chosen. Illness eventually took away her ability to work, travel and even leave her home.

    Those changes happened to her. But what she did with them?That was something different.

    Sara once wrote a blog post about one of her life goals: to be intentional in all things. She believed that everything we do—even the smallest things—has an impact.

    A smile. A compliment. Stopping what we’re doing long enough to really listen. Paying attention to someone else’s need. Choosing the way we speak to ourselves when we wake up in the morning. Responding when we feel God tugging at our hearts.

    None of those things seem particularly dramatic. But they are the places where growth happens.

    Sara wrote:

    “The way for me to make sure I’m living intentionally is to first be sure I’m really present in the moment.”

    Present in the moment. Maybe that’s where intentional growth begins. By paying attention.

    Are We Paying Attention?

    Sara admitted that as her physical world became smaller, it would have been easy to let the world pass her by. Instead, she made another choice.

    She wrote:

    “But it’s my intention to be open to whatever God has in store for me.”

    And then she said something that has always struck me:

    “My biggest fear is that He has a purpose for me and if I’m not paying attention, I’ll miss it.”

    What if spiritual maturity requires us to pay attention?

    Pay attention to God. Pay attention to His Word. Pay attention to our thoughts. Pay attention to the person standing in front of us. Pay attention to the little opportunities to obey. Pay attention to that nudge to encourage someone, forgive someone, call someone, serve someone or simply stop long enough to listen.

    Maybe we sometimes miss opportunities to grow because we’re waiting for God to teach us something new while He’s giving us opportunities to practice what He’s already taught us.

    Think about some of the truths many of us already know.

    We know God is trustworthy. But then something happens that doesn’t make sense.

    Now we get to practice trust.

    We know Scripture tells us to forgive. Then someone hurts us.

    Now we get to practice forgiveness.

    We know we’re supposed to take our thoughts captive. Then fear starts telling us everything that could possibly go wrong.

    Now we get to practice replacing lies with truth.

    We know we’re supposed to love others. Then God puts someone difficult in our path.

    Now we get to practice love.

    We know we’re supposed to obey God. Then obedience requires something uncomfortable.

    Now we get to practice obedience.

    This is where truth moves from our heads into our lives.

    And I think this is exactly what Hebrews means by being “trained by constant practice.”

    Believe It. Think It. Do It. Live It.

    Throughout our Walk With Me journey, we’ve been talking about a simple progression:

    Believe Right.
    Begin with biblical truth. What does God say?

    Think Right.
    Allow that truth to shape the thoughts and desires of our hearts.

    Do Right.
    Choose obedience—even when our feelings haven’t caught up yet.

    Feel Right.
    As our hearts and minds are continually brought under God’s truth, we begin experiencing the contentment and peace that come from walking His way.

    Growth happens as truth travels through that process again and again.

    We believe.

    We think.

    We choose.

    We practice.

    And little by little, through the work of the Holy Spirit, we change.

    That’s discipleship. That’s maturity. That’s growth.

    Growth Isn’t Perfection…

    There’s one more thing Sara said in that post that I think we need to hear.

    After describing her desire to live intentionally, she admitted:

    “I drop the ball on it all the time… I mess up with the best of them. But my intention is to always keep trying.”

    I love that honesty.

    Because intentional growth is not perfection.

    It’s practice.

    You will get distracted. Practice coming back.

    You will respond poorly. Practice apologizing.

    You will believe the fearful thought for a while. Practice replacing it with truth.

    You will miss an opportunity to obey. Pay attention when the next opportunity comes.

    We aren’t earning God’s love by getting everything right.

    We’re walking with the One who already loves us, allowing Him to train us as we follow.

    And training requires repetition.

    Again.

    And again.

    And again.

    Constant practice.

    So maybe the question this week isn’t:

    What do I need to learn?

    Maybe it’s:

    What has God already taught me that I need to practice?

    Is it trust?

    Forgiveness?

    Gratitude?

    Patience?

    Generosity?

    Encouragement?

    Surrender?

    Taking your thoughts captive?

    Being fully present with the people God has placed in front of you?

    Taking that step of obedience you’ve been putting off?

    Don’t make a list of twenty things you need to change.

    Ask God for one.

    Lord, what truth have You already taught me that You want me to practice today?

    Then pay attention.

    Because the opportunity to practice may show up in a conversation you weren’t expecting. An interruption you didn’t want. A person who tests your patience. A thought that needs to be captured. A prompting that would be easier to ignore. Or a circumstance you desperately wish God would change.

    And perhaps right there—in that very ordinary moment—God is growing you.

    Sara was right.

    Change is inevitable. Growth is intentional.

    But Hebrews helps us take it one step further.

    Growth requires practice.

    Not just knowing truth. Not just agreeing with truth. Not just highlighting truth in our Bibles.

    Living it.

    And perhaps spiritual maturity isn’t always God giving us something new to learn. Sometimes it’s God giving us another opportunity to practice what He’s already taught us.

    So this week, let’s pay attention. Let’s listen. Let’s obey. Let’s practice.

    And when we drop the ball, let’s get back up and practice again.

    Because we’re not trying to arrive at perfection.

    We’re learning to walk with Jesus.

    And as we walk with Him, it’s time to grow.

    Change is inevitable. Growth is intentional. Practice is how intention becomes transformation.

    Walk with me.

    With love and joy,

    Laura

  • I Choose to Encourage: The Power of Words

    “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” — John 1:1 (NIV)

    Words are powerful.

    With a few carefully chosen words, we can inspire someone to keep going, mend a broken relationship, or offer hope in a difficult season. Yet words can also wound, discourage, and leave scars that last for years.

    Think about the words that have impacted your life. Perhaps someone spoke encouragement over you when you doubted yourself. Maybe a teacher, mentor, friend, or family member saw something in you that you could not yet see in yourself. Their words helped shape who you became.

    Unfortunately, many of us can also recall hurtful words that have lingered long after they were spoken. Words have a way of embedding themselves in our hearts and influencing how we see ourselves and the world around us.

    That is why John 1:1 is so profound:

    “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

    John identifies Jesus as the Word. Before creation, before time itself, the Word existed. Through Him, God brought life, order, and purpose into the world.

    God chose words to create.

    Throughout Scripture, we see the power of God’s spoken Word. He spoke light into darkness. He spoke truth into confusion. He spoke life where there was nothing.

    If words matter so much to God, they should matter to us.

    As followers of Christ, we have an opportunity every day to reflect His character through the words we speak. Our conversations can bring healing instead of hurt. Our comments can build confidence instead of tearing people down. Our encouragement can help others see what God is doing in their lives.

    Encouragement is more than simply saying something nice. It is intentionally speaking truth, hope, and life into someone else’s journey. Encouragement reminds people that they are seen, valued, and loved by God.

    The world offers plenty of criticism, negativity, and division. Social media feeds, news headlines, and daily conversations can quickly become places where people feel attacked rather than uplifted.

    What if Christians became known for encouragement?

    What if our words reflected the heart of Christ?

    What if we paused before speaking and asked ourselves, “Will these words build up or tear down?”

    Every day presents opportunities to encourage:

    • Thank someone for their faithfulness.
    • Speak hope to someone who is struggling.
    • Send a text of appreciation.
    • Pray with a friend.
    • Remind someone of God’s promises.

    Small words can have a lasting impact.

    Today, choose to encourage.

    Let your words reflect the One who is called the Word. Let them bring light into someone’s darkness and hope into someone’s uncertainty.

    Because words are never neutral. They shape how we see ourselves, others, and God. They can unite or divide, heal or harm, inspire or discourage.

    May we use our words wisely and intentionally, choosing encouragement wherever we go.

    Reflection Questions

    1. Who has encouraged you with their words recently?
    2. Is there someone in your life who needs encouragement today?
    3. How can your words better reflect the love and truth of Christ?

    Sometimes the simplest choice—choosing words that give life—can make the biggest difference.

    With love and joy,

    Laura

    This reflection connects with Day 13: “I Choose to Encourage” from the Today I Choose devotional. Each day offers practical encouragement and biblical truth to help you make intentional choices that strengthen your faith and impact those around you.

  • Irrevocable: Living in the Confidence of God’s Calling

    “For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.” — Romans 11:29 (NASB)

    Have you ever questioned whether God could still use you after a failure, disappointment, or detour in life? Perhaps you’ve wondered if you missed your opportunity to fulfill God’s purpose. Maybe you’ve looked at your circumstances and thought, “Surely God has moved on to someone else.”

    Romans 11:29 offers a powerful reminder:

    “For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.”

    The word irrevocable means something that cannot be taken back, withdrawn, canceled, or reversed. When God gives a gift or places a calling on a person’s life, He does not change His mind. His purposes are not based on our perfection but on His faithfulness.

    That should bring great comfort to every believer.

    God’s Gifts Are Given with Purpose.

    God has uniquely gifted each of us. Some gifts are obvious, while others develop over time. We may be gifted to encourage, teach, serve, lead, create, give, or show mercy. These gifts are not accidents; they are intentional expressions of God’s grace in our lives.

    Too often, we compare our gifts to someone else’s and conclude ours are less valuable. Yet God never intended for us to all serve in the same way. Just as every piece of a puzzle has a unique place, every believer has a unique purpose within the body of Christ.

    The gifts God has given you are not random talents. They are tools designed to glorify Him and bless others.

    Life doesn’t always unfold as we expected. We make mistakes. We take wrong turns. We experience loss, hardship, and seasons of uncertainty.

    Yet God’s calling remains.

    That doesn’t mean we can live however we want and still experience the fullness of His plan. We have choices to make. We can choose obedience or disobedience. We can choose to follow Him or follow our own desires.

    God’s call is irrevocable, but our response requires intentionality.

    Each day we are invited to say, “Yes, Lord. I will follow where You lead.”

    Many people spend years asking, “What is God’s will for my life?”

    While God may not reveal every detail of the future, He does provide ways for us to discern His direction.

    1. Through Prayer

    Prayer is not simply presenting our requests to God; it is also listening for His voice.

    In a world filled with noise, we must intentionally create space to hear Him. Sometimes we rush into decisions before ever seeking God’s wisdom. Other times, we spend all our prayer time talking and never listening.

    God often speaks through gentle promptings, conviction, peace, and clarity that align with His character and His Word.

    The more time we spend with Him, the more familiar we become with His voice.

    2. Through His Word

    God will never lead us contrary to Scripture.

    His Word serves as our compass when we are unsure of the path ahead. It reveals God’s character, His promises, and His desires for His children.

    Many times, we ask God for direction while leaving our Bible closed. Yet some of the clearest guidance He gives is already written on its pages.

    When we consistently read, study, and meditate on Scripture, our hearts become aligned with His will.

    3. Through Obedient Listening

    Listening requires more than hearing; it requires responding.

    Sometimes God reveals His call one step at a time rather than giving us the entire roadmap. We want all the details, but God often asks us to trust Him with the next step.

    As we faithfully obey what He has already shown us, He often reveals what comes next.

    The question is not always, “What is God’s calling?” Sometimes the question is, “Am I listening and obeying what He has already said?”

    Romans 11:29 reminds us that God’s gifts and calling are irrevocable. He is not surprised by our struggles, failures, or delays. His plans are not fragile. His purposes are not easily undone.

    That does not mean we should become passive. Rather, it should inspire us to pursue Him more intentionally through prayer, Scripture, and obedience.

    God has gifted you for a purpose.

    God has called you for a reason.

    And because His gifts and calling are irrevocable, you can move forward with confidence, knowing that the One who called you is faithful to complete what He began.

    So today, listen carefully. Open His Word. Spend time in prayer. Take the next step of obedience.

    The God who called you has not changed His mind.

    With love and joy,

    Laura

    P.S. This post is an expansion of I Choose God’s Call from the Today I Choose 30-Day Devotional.

    Purchase through Amazon… https://amzn.to/449JjZH

  • When Purpose Looks Different Than We Imagined

    Most of us don’t struggle with wanting purpose—we struggle when purpose doesn’t look the way we pictured it.

    We often imagine God’s plan as a clear, orderly path: steady progress, answered prayers, doors opening right on time. But then life happens. Detours appear. Prayers go unanswered. Seasons stretch longer than we expected. And we begin to wonder if we missed our purpose altogether.

    Scripture gently reminds us that purpose is not something we design and ask God to bless. Purpose is something God invites us into—often through a journey we would not have chosen.

    “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord.
    —Isaiah 55:8

    Purpose is about who we are becoming.

    We tend to define purpose by outcomes—what we accomplish, where we end up, and how others see the result. God defines purpose by transformation. He is far more concerned with who we are becoming along the way than how quickly we arrive.

    The journey shapes our faith.
    The waiting grows our trust.
    The uncertainty deepens our dependence on Him.

    What feels like a delay is often development.

    God’s journey also typically involves detours.

    Biblical stories are filled with people whose purpose unfolded in unexpected ways. Joseph’s purpose didn’t bypass the pit or the prison. Moses’ calling included years in the wilderness. Even Jesus’ earthly journey involved rejection, suffering, and surrender.

    These weren’t obstacles to purpose—they were the very places where God’s purpose was formed.

    “In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.”
    —Proverbs 16:9

    The first step is letting go of our picture of the journey.

    One of the hardest parts of faith is releasing our picture of how things should go. We want purpose without pain, growth without discomfort, calling without cost. But following God means trusting Him even when the road feels unfamiliar.

    Purpose doesn’t always feel meaningful in the moment. Sometimes it feels confusing, heavy, or slow. Yet God is still present, still guiding, still working.

    Our role is not to map the journey—it is to walk faithfully in the steps in front of us.

    When the journey looks nothing like we expected, we’re invited to shift our focus from control to trust. God sees the whole story. We see only the page we’re on.

    And even here—especially here—He is faithful.

    “The Lord will fulfill His purpose for me.”
    —Psalm 138:8

    That promise doesn’t depend on how clearly we understand the journey. It depends on who is leading it.

    Our purpose is not found in a perfectly planned path. It is found in walking with God, step by step, through the journey He is writing.

    We may not recognize purpose while we’re in the middle of it—but we can trust that God is shaping something meaningful through it.

    Sometimes, purpose isn’t about arriving where we thought we were going. Sometimes purpose is learning to trust God when the journey looks nothing like the picture we had in mind.

    And in that surrender, we discover that His way—though different—is always faithful, always intentional, and always good.

    With love and joy,

    Laura

  • Discovering Joy When Life is Hard

    A reflection on James 1:2-4

    "Consider it pure joy...whenever you face trials of many kinds." - James 1:2-4

    With my motto being ‘Choose Joy,’ I receive a lot of questions about how this is possible. I hear from individuals comments like, “My feelings are my feelings, how can I just choose joy?”

    These comments and questions are very appropriate, and I pray that this post brings clarity and definition to the phrase “Choose Joy.”

    At first glance, James’ words feel almost impossible. Joy and trials don’t seem like they belong in the same sentence, let alone the same experience. When life feels heavy, confusing, or painful, joy often feels out of reach. And yet, James doesn’t say feel joy—he says consider it.

    That one word changes everything.

    First, let’s look at Finding Joy vs. Discovering Joy.

    There’s a difference between finding joy and discovering joy.
    Finding joy implies we stumble upon something pleasant—something that makes us smile or brings relief. Discovering joy, however, suggests something deeper. It means uncovering what God is already doing beneath the surface, even when circumstances are hard.

    James isn’t telling us to enjoy the trial. He’s inviting us to discover joy within it—by recognizing what God is producing through it.

    Now let’s tackle Trials vs. Temptation.

    It’s important to distinguish between trials and temptation. Trials are the pressures and challenges we face in a broken world—loss, uncertainty, waiting, disappointment. Temptation, on the other hand, tries to pull us away from God’s truth and character.

    Trials test our faith.
    Temptation tests our obedience.

    God does not tempt us, but He does allow trials—and He never wastes them. James tells us that trials produce perseverance, and perseverance matures us, making us “complete, not lacking anything.”

    Resistance vs. Acceptance.

    Our natural response to difficulty is resistance. We fight the situation, replay it in our minds, or carry the weight of “I need to deal with this.” But resistance often leaves us exhausted and discouraged.

    Acceptance doesn’t mean approval or denial of pain. It means shifting the burden from “I need to fix this” to “God needs to deal with this.” Acceptance says, Lord, I don’t understand this, but I trust You are at work.

    That shift is often where joy begins to grow.

    Joy vs. Pleasure

    Joy is not the same as pleasure. Pleasure depends on circumstances—it fades when comfort disappears. Joy is rooted in confidence that God is present, purposeful, and faithful.

    Joy does not mean the absence of sadness. You can grieve and still have joy. You can feel overwhelmed and still walk in joy. Joy is not pretending everything is okay; it’s choosing to believe God is still good.

    Joy Is a Focus, Not a Feeling.

    This is where James’ instruction becomes practical. We cannot choose our feelings. Feelings come and go, often without our permission. But we can choose our focus.

    Joy is not something we wait to feel—it’s something we choose to focus on.

    We may not feel joyful in the middle of a trial, but we can focus on:

    • What God is teaching us
    • How God is strengthening our faith
    • The promise that this season is producing something eternal

    That focus doesn’t deny pain—it redeems it.

    You Can Have Joy Without Feeling It.

    James doesn’t ask us to manufacture emotions. He invites us to adopt a perspective shaped by trust. Joy is an act of faith before it ever becomes a feeling.

    When we choose to see trials through God’s lens instead of our own, joy quietly takes root. Not loud. Not forced. But steady and deep.

    And over time, we discover that what once felt unbearable has become a place of growth, maturity, and grace.

    Joy isn’t found when the trial ends.
    Joy is discovered when we trust God within it    .

    Choose Joy defined:

    The unwavering trust that God knows what He is doing – not despite my circumstances, but because of them – bringing an inner lightness not earthly weight can take away.

    With love and joy,

    Laura