The Evolution of Our Faith | Raw Grace

“To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly be broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness.”
~ C.S. Lewis

At times I am tempted to build a wall around my heart. I feel safe behind my barrier of accomplishments and harden my heart towards past pains. I put on a facade and hide behind a fake smile. Over time, however, I have learned to break down this wall through letting God’s love, grace, mercy, peace and joy shine a light through the cracks and tear down my Jericho. 

Love and grace go hand in hand. I have found that to truly love someone, I must hold tightly to grace and humility. Christ is the supreme example of this. Philippians 2:8 describes how Jesus humbled Himself through laying down his life for all mankind. Somehow, through faith and His sacrifice of unconditional love, we may know the encouragement and comfort Christ brings. The consolation of love may fully be felt in the fellowship we experience with the Spirit. It is in this fellowship that our hope deepens, our joys are fulfilled, and His affection and compassion for us are experienced. This love prompts me to recall one of the Hebrew words for love, which is Hesed. This encapsulates His profound lovingkindness, steadfastness and loyalty towards humanity. His affections are bound to us through His covenant fulfilled in Christ. His display of faithfulness for us enables me to mirror this Hesed love towards those in my closest circles of relationship. It is there that I partake in a fathomable, real love and grasp the heights and depths of His and their love towards me. 

Over time I have learned to differentiate grace from mercy. Grace is His unmerited favor or blessings that we receive freely with no requirement of repayment. Mercy, on the other hand, is when He withholds the negative repercussions of our choices and spares us from the natural consequences of our mistakes. The promise in Romans 8:28 reminds us of how God, who deeply loves us and is concerned greatly for us, causes all things to work together as a plan for good according to His amazing purposes. 

In 2 Corinthians 12:9 Paul writes of how the Lord has said to him, “My grace is sufficient for you, My lovingkindness and My mercy are more than enough, always available, regardless of any situation.” For my power is being perfected and completed through showing itself most effectively in weakness. Therefore let us rejoice in our weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may completely dwell in us. I have found much solace also in Hebrews 4:16, which describes how when we approach the throne of grace and God’s gracious favor, with confidence and without fear, we may receive mercy for our failures so that we may fully experience His amazing grace to help us in times of need. 

One of my life verses is Joshua 1:5b-9, which reminds me to approach life with a courage that only the LORD can bring and restore. In this strength I can boldly follow wherever He may lead and run this race He has set before me with endurance. He lifts me up on eagle’s wings and enables me to soar to new heights and discover all that He has in store for me.

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About the Author

Mollie is married to her wonderful husband Dustin. She is a Wound Care RN at McKenzie Willamette Hospital. She enjoys being creative, getting outdoors and spending time with friends and family.

Think About Such Things | We have a Choice

What is your mind focused on? What do you dwell on when your thoughts tend to wander? Do you focus on your own abilities and ideas? It is easy to get caught up in our own capabilities and measure our self worth on our own perceptions or others’ input. But God calls us to fix our minds on things above. If we dwell on His excellence and glory, we are able to move mountains. Philippians 4:8 beckons us to ponder on thoughts that are true, honorable, worthy of respect, right, confirmed by God’s word, pure, wholesome, lovely, peaceful, admirable, of good repute, excellent and worthy of praise. We are to continually think of these things and center our minds and hearts on them.

When you reminisce about the past, are you filled with regret or hope for the future? God is always doing something new, so don’t get caught up in what could have been. Fix your mind on what’s ahead. Yes, learn from the past, but don’t get discouraged or compare your current circumstances to what was. Be thankful for what the Lord has brought you through and hopeful for what is to come.

It is so easy to get distracted. So many things bombard us for our attention. But we have a choice. We can change our focus to what is commendable and worthwhile. It is a choice though. We have to consciously set our mind on heavenly things. When we think about what God is capable of - His omnipotent traits, then we will be filled with peace and hope. So don’t get bogged down by your problems or the mundane. Forget what lies behind but strain forward for what is ahead. Press forward towards his goal. Empty your mind. Clear space for what God has for you. Know that you have a heavenly calling. You are bound for beautiful and marvelous things. Keep your focus on the heavenly prize that awaits you, when you are finished running this race.

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About the Author

Mollie is recently married to her wonderful husband Dustin. She is a Wound Care RN at McKenzie Willamette Hospital. She enjoys being creative, getting outdoors and spending time with friends and family.

Who is Our Rock? | Stand Firm

When I was little, I learned a song in Bible School about the wise man that built his house upon the rock and when the rains came down, the house on the rock stood firm. However, the foolish man built his house upon the sand and when the floods came his house went SPLAT! Growing up, that truth stuck with me. I learned how if I put my hope and trust in the LORD, when the storms of life come I can stand firm because Christ is my foundation and my fortress. He draws me out of deep waters and sets my feet on higher ground.

He is true to His promises, which shows that we can trust in Him and He will never fail us. These are just a few of His promises:

• Psalm 145:9 The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.

• Isaiah 26:3 He will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in Him.

• Jeremiah 29:11 ‘For I know the plans I have for you’, declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

• Deuteronomy 31:8 The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.

There are times when I put my trust in myself, or in money, or in another person, and I am always let down. The things of this earth can not hold up to the troubles that come. What are you finding your security in besides God? How can you take that faith and place it on the one who always stands the test of time?

In Psalm 125, it says that “Those who trust in and rely on the Lord [with confident expectation] Are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved but remains forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, So the Lord surrounds His people from this time forth and forever.” So when we trust in the LORD, he makes us like his Son. We cannot be shaken because he is always faithful and trustworthy and always comes through for his children. His plans always prevail and never fail.

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About the Author

Mollie is recently married to her wonderful husband Dustin. She is a Wound Care RN at McKenzie Willamette Hospital. She enjoys being creative, getting outdoors and spending time with friends and family.

Living in Our Moments | Mindful Self-Care

At times, I find it quite difficult to live in the moment. My mind wanders on to other priorities and I can’t focus on the present. In these times when I want to be present, it is helpful to perform some mindfulness exercises. This centers me and enables me to be in the moment.

Mindfulness is a practice of deliberately focusing one’s attention on the moment. It is also known as grounding. When your mind is swirling it enables one to be present and still. By becoming more self aware, one can become attuned to their thought life, emotions, and sensations. In this time, it is important to not assign a negative or positive belief to what one is thinking or feeling, but simply name it and experience it. I like to imagine myself floating in an ocean and my anxieties or intrusive thoughts just floating away from me. I simply acknowledge that they are there but do not let them weigh me down. I imagine placing them in God’s hands and trust and know that He is big enough to handle them.

Another way I practice mindfulness when my mind is going a million miles a minute is by taking a deep breath, holding it and then slowly letting it out. I then at times try and think of a song or a verse that has brought me comfort. This enables me to slow down my mind and refocus on something positive.

Practices like these are so important when it comes to self care. As a nurse I need to practice self care daily to prevent burn out. Whether it’s taking a bath, tuning out in front of the TV, spending time with family and friends, meditating on scripture, or doing a piece of artwork, self care keeps me in tune with myself and the world around me. Jesus took time for self care too. He would seclude himself, and go away and commune with His Father, or just spend time with his disciples. Examples of when Jesus would go away by himself are Matthew 14:23, Mark 6:46-47, John 6:15, and Luke 6:12. Obviously Jesus found it important to make time for just him and God and his friends. So I challenge you to take some time to practice mindfulness or self care. Observe how it makes you feel and see if you want to make time for it more often.

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About the Author

Mollie is recently married to her wonderful husband Dustin. She is a Wound Care RN at McKenzie Willamette Hospital. She enjoys being creative, getting outdoors and spending time with friends and family.

Inspiration & Revelation | Thin Place

Each morning, before heading into work, I arrive five to ten minutes early and just dwell in my car. Often I listen to meditations on different scriptures to center my mind and heart on the word of God. However, one morning, I felt drawn to one song and made it my prayer. It starts off recognizing that Christ has torn the veil and enabled any place to be a thin place. A place where we can commune with Him. I pleaded with God that throughout the day He would make my work environment a thin place. That He would be very present in the clinic rooms, nurses station, break room, offices, etc. He did indeed make that place a sacred space that day. After work, I was given that opportunity to share my testimony with one of my coworkers and ask if she needed prayer. I prayed with her and was reminded that the Holy Spirit was interceding on our behalf.

After that day, He has emphasized that any place can be holy ground as He abides in me and I can meet with Him anywhere. He is never far away. In Psalms 84, He reminds us that His dwelling places are lovely and that we should long and greatly desire to be in His courts. In His presence we find strength for the day and hope for tomorrow. He makes our hearts highways to Zion. We are blessed and greatly favored when we trust in Him, rely on Him, commit our ways to Him, and have confident hope and expectation in Him. 

Thin Place

This is a thin place
This is where You meet with us
This is sacred space
This is where You meet with us
Holy ground
We are standing on
Holy ground
Just by being here with You
You are never far away
Mountain high or darkest day

Deep in doubt or filled with faith
You walk with us along the way
This is where You meet with us
This is where You meet with us
This is where You meet with us
This is where You meet with us
This is where You meet with us
We love being here with You
We love being here with You

This is a photo of a piece of artwork I created after listening to this song and being inspired by the Holy Spirit.

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About the Author

Mollie is recently married to her wonderful husband Dustin. She is a Wound Care RN at McKenzie Willamette Hospital. She enjoys being creative, getting outdoors and spending time with friends and family.

Like a Child | Bright Eyed Wonder

“May we never lose our wonder
Wide eyed and mystified
May we be just like a child
Staring at the beauty of our King.”
-Wonder, by Bethel

Children look at the world in a different way than adults do. They are filled with curiosity. They have an innocence to them. They are not jaded nor judgemental. They take people at their word and trust them. This is how we should approach our relationship with Christ. We are to expect miracles from him, not question his capabilities. It is easy to ask little things of God. But, what about the big things? Think about a child before Christmas they have big expectations. They don’t ask for socks. They ask for bicycles. In the same way we should ask big things of God and believe Him for the impossible. As a child trusts their loving parents to give good gifts, so should we entrust our hopes to Him who delights in fulfilling the desires of our hearts.

Now don’t get me wrong. I am not writing about a prosperity gospel where God is a vending machine or a genie. It is not an ask and you shall receive relationship. Instead, it is a hopeful, trusting dynamic, where we place our faith in the one who knows the desires of our hearts and knows what is best for us and delights in giving good gifts to His children. Thinking back on my own journey of my expansion of faith, I remember asking God to nurture and grow friendships in Eugene when I first moved to town. Little did I know that he would build a strong support system around me and establish for me a new and rewarding life here. He blessed me with a community at CitySalt that is now like that of a family. I was given the joy of sharing a duplex with one of my now best friends, Jessy. Even when I did not know what to expect or seek out, God was faithful in answering my prayers beyond my wildest dreams.

As I think about my own outlook on God, I question if He wants to care for me, and if He has my best in mind. I do this at times, because I know what I have in mind for my well being and I wonder why God does not answer me the way I want him to. Why does he not fulfill my greatest imaginations for me and bring all I want to pass? I may never have the answer to these questions, but I have learned that God is always faithful. Our finite minds cannot comprehend all that God has in store for us. He may reveal it just one step at a time, like walking through a fog. Or he might welcome us into the vast expanse of an open field and open our eyes to his fresh beginnings. Other times there may be a veil that covers us as a hedge of protection and the truth may not be uncovered until we reach Heaven.

As a wise father or mother, Christ knows what is best for me even when I do not. And He will always look out for me and have the best intentions. He is in control and cares for each one of His children uniquely and equally. We are adopted into His family and made new in his image. He has great plans for us. All we are to do is listen to him, trust him and know him. As we walk in His ways and are obedient to him, He will care for us and guide us in ways everlasting.

In Mark 10:13-16 Jesus proclaims, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” Children have a vast imagination. If they were asked to believe Christ about heaven they likely would. They are able to imagine and share Christ’s vision for eternity. They have a bright eyed wonder about the future. They are optimistic. And so should we be. 

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About the Author

Mollie is recently married to her wonderful husband Dustin. She is a Wound Care RN at McKenzie Willamette Hospital. She enjoys being creative, getting outdoors and spending time with friends and family.

Who Does God Say I Am | His Temple

When was the last time you felt the presence of God flourishing in you? Ephesians 2 explains how God made us alive in Him. Through his grace He bestowed His favor on us. We are His workmanship. We are His work of art, created in Christ Jesus, spiritually transformed, and renewed for good works. He has fashioned us as His temple. The Holy Spirit dwells within us as 1 Corinthians 6 describes.

1 Peter 2 reveals to us that He chose us and made us into living stones that are being built up into a spiritual house. We are His cathedrals. He has fashioned us into exquisite, ornate creations that he desires to live in.

 Have you ever just looked out over the land from a mountaintop? Or gazed across the unending ocean and stood in awe of the grandeur of it all? Does it give you a sense of peace? Just think of how when God looks at us He sees us as more beautiful than any of these scenes. It brings Him rest and He chooses to rest in us. In Acts 17, it is explained that God does not live in temples made by man. He dwells in us so that “we may know Him and seek Him and feel our way towards Him and find Him.” For in Him we live and move and have our being. When David attempted to build the temple, God said no because he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else (Acts 17:25).

In Hebrew the term for temple is “Helkal” which means a large public building or palace. The scriptures describe both tents and intricately detailed structures built for God as “the house of God.” In 1 Chronicles 22 God chose a man of peace, David’s son, to build a temple to honor God’s name. God granted him wisdom, understanding, and courage. God bestows on us the same qualities and privilege to build him a temple, ourselves.

So take pride in yourself. Honor yourself. For God lives in you and delights in you. He resides in you and takes up space in you. He has made you his magnificent cathedral, a beautiful work of art. He takes pleasure in you and finds peace and rest in you. We are made holy through Him. We are a part of his body, the church, and he is preparing for us a place for us to exist with him forever. 

I am most aware of God’s presence in me when I am experiencing a holy moment and I feel chills descend from my head to my toes. At times I hear him whisper wisdom to me. It may be in my own inner voice, but I know it is from Him. I know He is well pleased with me and finds favor in me as I feel his gaze upon me like the sun shining its warmth upon my head. When I have difficulty sensing his presence, I reflect on my week or day and find qualities He has instilled in me that could only come from Him. He grants us the fruit of the Spirit as He prompts us to walk in His ways.

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About the Author

Mollie is recently married to her wonderful husband Dustin. She is a Wound Care RN at McKenzie Willamette Hospital. She enjoys being creative, getting outdoors and spending time with friends and family.

In the Midst of Chaos | Waters of Hope

In Genesis 1, the earth is described as “formless and void or a waste of emptiness, and darkness was upon the face of the deep.” Has your life ever felt like this depiction? Have you ever experienced hopelessness or helplessness? Thinking back over my own journey, I can recall multiple times my life felt chaotic and left me feeling desperate. Generally speaking, those times included a lack of health or mental soundness. Beyond the stigma and various diagnoses of psychosis lies a variety of symptoms that individuals struggle with from time to time. For me, these encompass racing thoughts, a lack of ability to focus, grandiose beliefs, over-spiritualizing everything, and decreased sleep. Once I come down from this cliff, I often find myself in a deep pit of despair. I can’t think straight. All I want to do is scream and cry. I have no energy to do anything. I feel worthless and alone.

My deepest point of desolation occurred during a period of hospitalization in a Behavioral Health Unit; while I should have been enjoying one of the most joyous parts of my marriage, my honeymoon. I endured two weeks of what felt like the deepest pit of isolation and confusion. Little did I know that just like in Genesis, “the Spirit of God was moving and hovering” over my life just waiting to speak light into my darkness. I felt a longing for familiarity and closeness with God during that time.

I don’t know about yours, but my life seems to be a cycle of me falling apart and the Lord graciously putting me back together again. When I am weary, dry and parched, then the LORD speaks to me saying, “I the God of Israel, will never abandon them. I will open up rivers for them on the high plateaus. I will give them fountains of water in the valleys. I will fill the desert with pools of water. Rivers fed by springs will flow across the parched ground. I will plant trees in barren deserts. I am doing this so all who see this miracle will understand what it means, that it is the Lord who has done this, the Holy One of Israel who created it.” (Isaiah 41: 12-20).

When I was finally released from that prison of broken dreams and the whirlwind of emotions, I found myself seeking Him and Him alone. I knew He was the only thing that could mend my fragmented heart. As soon as I was home from the hospital, I spent hours listening to sermons and worship music. I would set aside contemplative time for meditative quietness. Then, I experienced what is described in Jeremiah 31:3-4a “The Lord appeared to me saying, ‘I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you and continued My faithfulness to you. Again I will build you and you will be rebuilt’.” And just as he always does, he lived up to his promise. He rebuilt my life from the ashes. He blessed me with a loving, understanding, compassionate husband, a challenging and rewarding job, a sound mind, and fervent passion for His wisdom and love in my life.

I have learned as in Romans 12:12 to “rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, and be constant in prayer.” Sometimes hope seems so distant and too far off. That is when I have found it helpful to be faithful in just one step. I am unsure of where you find yourself, but I challenge you to ponder what the one step towards hope could be in your life. Be encouraged by Romans 5:5 “Such hope (in God’s promises) never disappoints us, because God’s love has been abundantly poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”

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About the Author

Mollie is recently married to her wonderful husband Dustin. She is a Wound Care RN at McKenzie Willamette Hospital. She enjoys being creative, getting outdoors and spending time with friends and family.

Joyous Lament | A Psalm of Desire for Direction

LORD, I cry out to you in the midst of my confusion.
Give me passion. 
Direct my desire. 
Let me delight in you.
Lead me into the wide open field of freedom You have for me. 
You have designed a path for me to walk in.
Direct my steps.
Open the door and shut the windows.
LORD use all things for good according to your purposes.
You know the plans you have for me. 
Plans for a hope and a future.
Plans not to harm me but to heal me. 
Make me whole.
Mold me into your image.
LORD, you have searched me and you know me.
You know when I sit and when I rise.
You perceive my thoughts from afar.
I lift my eyes up to the hills.
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from you, the maker of heaven and earth;
The one that knit me together in my mother’s womb. 
You have fashioned every part of me, flaws and all.
May my weaknesses bring me closer to you. 
May I depend on you more each day.
Why O LORD do I face trials?
Why do calamities come my way?
May I find purpose in the pain and wisdom in the hurt. 
Why do I feel like I fail when I try to find my way?
How do I hear from you?
Speak to me. 
Make your voice and direction clear. 
Take away my questions and insecurities. 
May you influence my expectations.
May the groans of my inmost heart resound of your Spirit.
Be my peace, my shalom. 
May I find rest in you. 
Teach me how to be still. 
Let me lie down in green pastures. 
Lead me beside quiet waters.
Bring me perfect peace for my mind is fixed on you.
LORD I trust in You!

The Psalms are a compilation of prayers, songs of lament and praise. Many are written by King David, a man after God’s own heart, who longs to know more about God and be known by Him. I’ve always admired and been inspired by the Psalms. It’s pretty much my favorite book. I enjoy the way these prayers and songs express the writer’s brokenness and hope in the LORD. I never thought I’d be worthy of or capable of writing a psalm. But, after meditating on scripture, feeling the movements of the Holy Spirit, and listening to His still small voice within me, I begin to overflow with words. Sometimes it’s just a single word or series of seemingly random words, while other times it’s complete sentences. As I sit with these sacred thoughts, the Lord reminds me of His truths from the Bible. I bring my questions to Him and the deep longings of my heart, and He reassures my soul. At times, I close my eyes and envision images that inspire me to express my ideas in pictures. 

I’ve shared this recent drawing as an example of an interpretation of God’s freedom. He leads us into wide open space and guides us in paths of righteousness for His namesake. Even when we follow our own way, He can use our steps for His good and glory. He holds the key and is in control but also grants us the option to choose our journey. He pulls us towards Him with His love, grace, mercy, and compassion.

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About the Author

Mollie is recently married to her wonderful husband Dustin. She is a Wound Care RN at McKenzie Willamette Hospital. She enjoys being creative, getting outdoors and spending time with friends and family.

The Joy of Being Human | Relax in Grace

A big part of being a Christian is to just enjoy being a child of God and know that you are saved. You are not saved because of anything you’ve done but because of grace. Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God, not by works so that no one can boast.” Because of this we can relax in Christ. This does not mean that we do not try to be a good person, it just means that we do not have to be perfect.

For me it is hard to not try and be perfect. If you ever heard of the Enneagram, then you will know that the “achievers’ (Type 3) try very hard to be perfect and won’t be satisfied with anything less. Because of this, they can be workaholics and dedicated to doing things right. I often feel defined by my achievements. I am goal oriented and can find my worth in my accomplishments. I am driven and find it hard to relax. I have a difficult time napping and turning my mind off. I have a type A mentality and a strong drive for self improvement. I have a fear of failure and not measuring up. Because of this, I have a hard time accepting that God's grace is enough. I try to earn my salvation and be as good as I can be, instead I need to learn how to lie back into the arms of grace and know his love enough.

But just because we have grace does not mean we can slack off. James 2 talks about how faith is alone is not enough. It needs to produce good deeds. If it doesn’t, then it is dead and useless. So we need to find the right balance of doing what is right and basking in the grace of God. And on this journey, we can also remember that there is nothing we could ever do to make God stop loving us. We need to find that right balance of being good for the right reasons, not to earn God’s love or salvation but to be the person God inspires us to be, a person after God's own heart.

In Romans 8:29-30 Paul explains that “those whom He foreknew [and loved and chose beforehand], He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son [and ultimately share in His complete sanctification], so that He would be the firstborn [the most beloved and honored] among many believers. 30 And those whom He predestined, He also called; and those whom He called, He also justified [declared free of the guilt of sin]; and those whom He justified, He also glorified [raising them to a heavenly dignity].” It is tempting to get so caught up in the fact that God calls us to a great purpose that we forget that he has justified us and glorified us. He has sanctified us, saved us and given us salvation before we even discover our calling. As soon as we believe in Him, he gives us grace which grants us the power to find that purpose he has called us to. So work hard at that purpose that God has destined you for but don’t forget to relax in His gift of love, peace, joy, hope and grace that he lavishly bestows on his children.

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About the Author

Mollie is recently married to her wonderful husband Dustin. She is a Wound Care RN at McKenzie Willamette Hospital. She enjoys being creative, getting outdoors and spending time with friends and family.

In His Image | Abba Father

Have you ever lost something so important and so valuable and then found an even better replacement? This happened to me when I was eleven. My parents decided to divorce and I moved away from my father and lived with my mom. During this time I felt so alone and broken. But God found me and showed me that He was my Father. I learned to love and respect Him for who He truly is. I found acceptance and adoration from Him. I turned to Him for approval. I spent all the time I could with Him. I went to church every opportunity I had and learned everything I could about Him. He filled this void in my life, this empty hole. He gave me purpose. He was my passion and I was made alive in Him. He replaced my earthly Father and I found all I needed in Him.

As I grew, my love for Him matured. I dedicated my life to Him and everything I did was for Him. I decided to go from a Christian school to a secular school because I wanted to share my love for Him with people that didn’t know Him. I went on mission trips every summer, joined the worship band and served in the youth group.

Our Father deserves our love and devotion. He poured out His life for us, died a gruesome, painful death, all so we could be a part of His family. It says in John 1 that if we believe and accept Him, then He gives us the right to become children of God and we are reborn. In Galatians 4:6 it describes how “God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts prompting us to call out Abba Father.” Abba is an Aramaic intimate term to characterize a personal relationship with God. Abba was a word used by children to call their father daddy or papa. It describes how we are dependent upon Him like little children. 

 Do you know God as your Father? Are you dependent on Him like a little child? Do you search for ways to serve Him and please Him? Have you grown to love Him and desire to honor Him? God calls us His children. He has adopted us into His family. How can we return the favor?

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About the Author

Mollie is recently married to her wonderful husband Dustin. She is a Wound Care RN at McKenzie Willamette Hospital. She enjoys being creative, getting outdoors and spending time with friends and family.

Trusting our Mysterious God | Discerning Dreams

Though it was months ago, this dream has stuck with me like it was yesterday. Have you ever had a dream like that? A dream that seems so real and impacts you so deeply that you can’t shake it, can’t let it go?

My dream consisted of the LORD revealing to me something mysterious that made me ask questions and try to discern the meaning of the dream. It started off with me shutting my eyes and instead of utter darkness, I saw kaleidoscopes of color and pictures. I envisioned shifting symbols and stars and galaxies. The Lord reminded me of Abraham who was promised blessings beyond stars in the sky. Then, it seemed my mind awoke, but my body was still asleep. I was rising above my perilous circumstances, and the Lord was directing me and speaking purpose into my ear. He uttered to me words of courage that gave me strength and everlasting boldness. I listened to His design for His future glory and Christ’s return to Earth. 

It is still largely a mystery to me and I occasionally doubt my revelation, but I have faith the LORD appeared to me for a reason. In my dream, I felt the anointing of the Holy Spirit upon me and that the LORD bestowed favor on me. He wanted to empower me to help bring heaven to Earth. I know that Christ is waiting for the perfect, merciful, miraculous moment to return in glory and power; but in the meantime, He grants me wisdom and courage to fulfill his divine purposes in my everyday life. He guides my thoughts, words, and actions as I submit to him in obedience and humility. 

 God desires to speak to us and empower us. All we need to do is make room in our lives to listen and believe. He is always moving, always working. He opens doors and shuts windows. He gives powerful yeses and resounding nos. He desires to direct us and guide us down the road He has designed for us. Oftentimes, when I am at a loss of what to do or what decision to make, I clear out time in my life to sit with Him in silence, journal and reflect, discuss ideas with other godly individuals, and speak with the LORD in prayer. I find the LORD works in times of rest. He is the Prince of Peace. He rested on the seventh day, created the Sabbath and made it holy. It is in the calm quiet spaces that He speaks. In 1 Kings 19:12, the LORD spoke to Elijah in the still small voice instead of the earthquaking fire. If we are able to drown out the noises around us and within our minds and tune into his voice that rests in our souls, we can hear His echoes of encouragement, direction, trust, and design.

 Do you sometimes question whether it was really God speaking to you? The LORD wants to assist you in interpreting the dreams he gives you and how to apply them to your life. Scripture is here to guide us with our inquiries and clarify answers. If our dreams come from the LORD they will never contradict scripture, but be enhanced by it. Job 33:14 states, “For God speaks once, and even twice, yet no one notices it. In a dream, a vision of the night [one may hear God’s voice], when deep sleep falls on men while slumbering upon the bed, then He opens the ears of men and seals their instruction.”

God may give us dreams to instill in us divine purpose and direction. Trials and hardships may come our way and try to dissuade us from following His path for our lives. It is in those times that we require supernatural courage and encouragement to take even just small steps towards Him. I pray that if you are experiencing doubt, that the Lord reveals himself to you soon in a very real way. I hope you carve out time to intentionally seek Him out and listen to how the Holy Spirit is moving in the depths of your soul. May He speak to you in ways that move your body, mind and spirit. May He speak to you like he spoke to the Israelites like it describes in Joel 2:28 “It shall come about after this that I shall pour out My Spirit on all mankind; And your sons and your daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.”

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About the Author

Mollie is recently married to her wonderful husband Dustin. She is a Wound Care RN at McKenzie Willamette Hospital. She enjoys being creative, getting outdoors and spending time with friends and family.

Fruits of the Spirit | Faithful Through It All

Like a tender Bridegroom He longs for us, 
His church,
To beckon his call.
He desires to caress us with his love,
And envelope us with His warm embrace.
He is true to His promises,
He fulfills them all.
When we make our case,
He lends a loving ear.
He leans in to hear our cry.
He is faithful through it all.
Like a beloved Father He cares for us.
He desires to fulfill our every need.
He wipes away every tear that falls. 
He plants and sows the seed.
Deep down in our hearts,
We heed the call.
His beautiful Bride
Will never again fall.
As He redeems his blessed Body.  
We abide in his faithful love.

I wrote this psalm while pondering the promise and symbol of the rainbow. This picture expresses my trust and hope in The LORD, my Rock and firm foundation. In The Message Bible, by Eugene Perterson, he expounds in Hebrews 11:1-2 that “The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It’s our handle on what we can’t see. The act of faith is what distinguished our ancestors, it set them above the crowd. By faith, we see the world called into existence by God’s word, what we see created by what we don’t see.”

He will remove every man-made obstacle and help us overcome every hurdle. He has placed His faith in those that trust in Him, in those that are called according to his purposes. We can have confidence in the LORD. In turn, He enables us to dwell in this land and securely rest in His faithfulness no matter what trials or tribulations come our way. Like Job, when we delight ourselves in the Lord, He will grant us the desires of our heart as we commit our ways to Him and patiently wait and lean on His fatherly goodness (Psalm 37).

He is the Loyal Gardener and the hearty vine. As we are pruned and sanctified to mirror His likeness and characteristics, He delights to remain in us. We are able to bear the spiritual fruit of faithfulness because of His character and truth. As his disciples we are his branches. Apart from Him we can do nothing. If we abide in Him, and He in us, then whatever we (and the Holy Spirit) desire, will be done for us, and the Father will be glorified through His good gifts, that He bestows on His children. We complete His joy when we are faithful and keep our promises, His commandments, and teachings. He delights in us as His good children. We are called to unselfishly seek the best for one another, just as He does for His Body. He calls us His friends and reveals to us His great mysteries. He has chosen us, appointed us, and purposely planted us to go and bear good fruit; and keep on bearing it daily, in the small and mundane and grand ways. We are His bond servants as we choose to remain in his service. As his beloved bride, we are to do all that He has commanded us in His word and prompted us to do through his Spirit (John 15:1-17).

Proverbs 3:3-6 explains how you should bind His loyalty around your neck. Let his mercy, kindness, truth and love define you. Write His promises on the tablet of your heart. Rely confidently on the Lord and do not lean on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know and acknowledge Him. Grow to recognize His promptings, and He will make your paths straight and smooth.

The LORD, the Great I am, My Great Physician, and Good Counselor abounds in constant fatherly dedication, and lavishes on me His agape love. The Holy Spirit, almighty, omnipotent, and omnipresent creator, has fashioned me in the depths of my soul. He daily sustains me with every inhalation, exhalation, and guides my thoughts and feelings. He protects my heart and satisfies my desires, grumbling hunger pains, and quenches my parched mouth. In my dry deserts and low valleys He is my compass, protector, and guide. Because of His sustaining presence in my life and His spirit dwelling inside me, my soul can stir up strong and empowering qualities that enable me to overflow with faithful goodness, peace, patience, joy, gentleness, meekness, love, mercy, grace, generosity, and self-control. As a Registered Nurse, my job requires me to draw from this well of attributes daily. Each morning I try to resonate my soul with The Spirit, so that I might be able to show; compassion, sympathy, empathy, and lend a healing hand, and or a listening ear. Throughout the day I can sense His power and He grants me the wise words and enables me to counsel the ill and hurting individual or families at any given moment. I am in constant conversation through prayer with God throughout the day and the Holy Spirit groans on my behalf.

We were fashioned in His handiwork and made alive in His Spirit. We all fail at times and live in our passions of the flesh, and are governed by our own selfish desires: But, He has made us new. Because of Christ's fulfillment of the prophecies, and new covenant; We are made alive, through His grace, undeserved favor, and mercy. He raises us up and seats His disciples/followers in the heavenly places; So that, in the ages to come, He might clearly show the immeasurable and unsurpassed riches and redeeming kindness towards His creation through Christ Jesus’s triumph over death, return and restoration of the New Earth, and eternal reign to come. For it is through His remarkable compassion and favor that He has drawn us to himself and bestowed on us the gracious gift of salvation, because of Christ’s great sacrifice. Our inheritance cannot be earned by our good works or keeping all the rules. Instead He has fashioned us, as his workmanship and created us in Christ Jesus, birthing us from above and spiritually transforming and renewing our minds, hearts and will, which He has prepared in advance for us to walk in and empowers us to chose moment by moment (Ephesians 2:1-10)

We can have ultimate confidence, steadfast reliance and absolute trust in His Son. We are sufficiently qualified to fulfill His plan. We are His witnesses and He has bestowed on us His glory, and splendor to proclaim His very good news. We are able to act and speak in courage, boldly unveiling His tender heart and redeeming story and plan for mankind. He is faithful through EVERY circumstance and miniscule detail. He delights to hear our every request and loves to give good gifts to His children. We are able to keep our word, and let our yes be yes and our no be no. When we are true to our word, He calls us blessed, spiritually mature, morally courageous, and makers of peace. We are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. We cannot remain hidden. He has designed us to glorify His faithful Father and let our light shine before men in a way that they may see our good deeds and moral excellence, and recognize, glorify, magnify, worship, and honor our Father. Through him, we are able to fulfill our vows to His people and to the LORD, not making meaningless oaths (Matthew 5). I urge you to be brave and courageous and lean fully on the Spirit in you, trusting him to hide you in the shadow of His wings, let you soar like an eagle and run this race with endurance.

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About the Author

Mollie is recently married to her wonderful husband Dustin. She is a Wound Care RN at McKenzie Willamette Hospital. She enjoys being creative, getting outdoors and spending time with friends and family.

Truth in Love | Love Oneself

I am my own worst critic. I have negative self-talk. It’s difficult to speak encouraging words towards myself. I think I am too fat, or too stupid, or I will always make mistakes. I am a perfectionist and will never accept anything less. An example of this was when I got in trouble at work for being too slow. I instantly jumped to the worst conclusions thinking I can’t do anything right and I was going to get suspended or fired. When I met with my manager I found I wasn’t in trouble, they just wanted to let me know ways to improve.

The voice of the one who loves me speaks words of affection towards me. Psalm 139:13-14 says that he created my innermost being, he knit me together in my mother’s womb and that I am fearfully and wonderfully made. He thinks I am beautiful. It may be difficult to speak truth in love into my own life. That is why I need to listen to the words of God and others in my life. When I get down on myself I just need to remember who I am in Christ. I am a loved daughter of the king and that I am forgiven and made new in him.

God wants me to have confidence in myself because of who he has made me to be. This is not pride or arrogance but a truthful representation of myself. God says in 2 Corinthians 12:9 that even in our weaknesses we are strong because that is when God’s power is made perfect and rests on us. It says in 2 Timothy 1:7 that “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love and self discipline.” Jeremiah says I am blessed when I trust in him and have confidence in him. I can have confidence in myself when I have confidence in him.

So I can start speaking truth in love towards myself. I can tell myself that I am capable and smart. I can do anything I put my mind to. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. I need to extend God’s grace towards myself and accept his love towards me.

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About the Author

Mollie is recently married to her wonderful husband Dustin. She is a Wound Care RN at McKenzie Willamette Hospital. She enjoys being creative, getting outdoors and spending time with friends and family.

Ephesians 4 | Spirit Filled Thoughts

Ephesians 4 is a calling to live a sanctified life. We are to “live a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called” (Ephesians 4:1), exhibiting godly character, moral courage, personal integrity and mature behavior. In order to have actions and words that represent Christ and his love for humanity, we need to have a thought life that is honorable to Christ. Verse 23 of Ephesians 4 prompts us to continually renew the spirit of our minds and put on the new self that is created in the image of God, thinking of things that are righteous and holy and true, and being thankful to God for all he has done for us.

In Philippians 4:8 it says
“Finally believers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable and worthy of respect, whatever is right and confirmed by God’s word, whatever is pure and wholesome, whatever is lovely and brings peace, whatever is admirable and of good repute; if there is anything worthy of praise, think continually on these things.”

For us to live a life of joy and peace, we must think of things that are true and lovely to God.

My mind is prone to anxiety, doubts and a lack of self confidence. It is easy for me to play the “what if” game in my mind and not trust God with my future. I start to think about worst case scenarios and worry about my finances, health, or relationships. However, God calls me to control my thought life and think about his plan and purposes and peace. So now, when I begin to get anxious I think about the character of God. Psalm 86:15 describes God as a loving, compassionate Father who is slow to anger and is always faithful. This reminds me that even when I do face hardships, God will be there with me to provide comfort and He will never give more than I can handle. To think continually on the things of God, I need to have a healthy prayer life and be in constant communication with Him. Later in Philippians 4, it discusses how not to be anxious about anything, but to pray about everything. It is easy for me to depend on my own strength to get things done. Instead, I should be dependent on the Lord and seek his wisdom and guidance.

In my own power I cannot live a godly life with God-filled thoughts. I am a depraved human that is made new by the power of the Holy spirit, who dwells in me. He is the great counselor and helper who directs my thoughts as I submit to Him. He transforms me into the image of His Son and purifies my mind. He knows my thoughts from afar. We cannot flee from his Spirit. He is the still small voice inside of us prompting us to think how He would think, say what He would say, and do what He would do. So how do we live a sanctified life? We get to know the Spirit better, be in tune with Him, spend time with Him, worship Him, have conversations with Him and be sensitive to where He leads.

Romans 8:5-6 states
“For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on things of the flesh, but those who live according to the spirit set their minds on things of the Spirit. For to set the mind that is set on the flesh is death, but to set their minds on things of the Spirit is life and peace.”

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About the Author

Mollie is recently married to her wonderful husband Dustin. She is a Wound Care RN at McKenzie Willamette Hospital. She enjoys being creative, getting outdoors and spending time with friends and family.

Unity | Prayer of Unity

Have you ever prayed for something so fervently that you could not think of anything else? Something that consumed you? Think back to that thing.

Did you ever attain it? How did it feel if you did?

For me the thing I prayed for and longed for was a husband. Two years ago, I pursued that with all I had. That was all I wanted. I prayed for it daily. I made a list of all the things I wanted in a husband and sought long and hard after that. Little did I know that my future husband was also praying to find someone. He got down on his knees every night and prayed to find a wife.

What if we as the church were united in our prayers? What if we longed to be one and prayed for it daily? What if we valued unity as much as Christ does? How would this change our lives and prayer habits?

Christ wanted something so much that when he prayed for it he sweated blood. His desire was unity for believers. In John 17:20-23 it says,

"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one. I in them, you in me, so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me."

He desired for us to be one as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are one. They are in perfect unity.

One always pursues the best for the other. They are never seeking their own interests because they trust that the other will take care of them. This is how it should be with the church.

The bible describes the church as a body. The body needs every part to function properly. Each piece cannot be of any good on its own. It requires the whole body to achieve its purpose. In the same way, the church needs every member to fulfill its purpose. Unity is an act of worship and it is spiritual warfare. Satan wants us divided – he wants us to argue about small disagreements in theology. He wants division in the Church, while Christ wants fellowship.

I’d like to share my prayer for unity to inspire more prayer amongst us and bring us closer together as the body of Christ.

Dear Lord,
I lift up the church as a whole to you. You see the cracks amongst us. I pray that you will mend us and make us whole. Bring us together Father. As you are one in the trinity, I pray that we would be one with you and with each other. Give us eyes to see one another and look for each other’s needs. Let nothing divide us. Let us look past our differences but instead look at each other in love. Unite us as one body of believers. Give us vision for your church. Let us be united in our passion. Give us grace that abounds. Lord, we desire what you desire. Show us your heart for unity and let us pursue that and pray for that as you did.
Amen

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About the Author

Mollie is recently married to her wonderful husband Dustin. She is a Wound Care RN at McKenzie Willamette Hospital. She enjoys being creative, getting outdoors and spending time with friends and family.

Rhema | Sorrowful Joy

Hebrews‬ ‭4:15-16‬ ‭AMP
“For we do not have a High Priest who is unable to sympathize and understand our weaknesses and temptations, but One who has been tempted [knowing exactly how it feels to be human] in every respect as we are, yet without [committing any] sin. Therefore let us [with privilege] approach the throne of grace [that is, the throne of God’s gracious favor] with confidence and without fear, so that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find [His amazing] grace to help in time of need [an appropriate blessing, coming just at the right moment].”‬‬

Ever since I was in high school I have felt the calling of the Lord heavy on my life. The Lord strengthened me with verses like Joshua 1:9 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not be terrified or dismayed (intimidated), for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” He sent me out on mission trips and I was able to see and be a part of great works that strengthened my faith. This last September, I experienced another life-changing experience in my life that built my testimony.

It all started with getting married and dedicating my life not only to the Lord but also, to my husband, Dustin, and what the Lord wanted for our lives, as one body. Unfortunately, a time that was meant for joyous celebration and deep union was traded for intimate sorrow. During the second day of our honeymoon we had to return home and I was hospitalized for a week for mental health reasons.

My testimony since I was 18 has somewhat reflected that of Paul’s. I have a thorn in my flesh that keeps me humble and dependent on God. In college, I was diagnosed with a chronic mental health illness. With time and the help of God, I have learned to find strength in my weakness and sufficiency in His grace.

When I got out of the hospital, God started to emphasize the book of Isaiah in my life. It started with Isaiah 43 and God revealed to me that he was refining me through fire and filling my broken cracks with his gracious gold. He mended me daily with love from others and scripture. Unfortunately, the same week I was released from the hospital I was also faced with the dilemma of possibly not having a job to return to. I decided to go on a prayer walk and upon returning, looked at what jobs were available and updated my resume. I saw a job posting as a Wound Care RN at McKenzie Willamette Hospital. Two years ago, I was a Wound Care RN at a long term care facility and I had always dreamed of this position that was now available. In faith, I applied and began seeking the Lord daily for wisdom, guidance, and strength.

I was able to return to work as a dialysis RN, but every day I was off work, I would fast from TV and instead seek quiet time with the Lord whether it was meditating on scripture or listening to sermons. The Lord seemed to speak to me in resonating ways each day. He had Rhema words for me.

Before this season, my love for scripture was dying like embers on a fire. Now scripture is like a dancing flame spreading like a forest fire, not only in my life but in the lives of those around me as God has placed in me a passion to share his words.

The Lord answered my prayer and I was offered the job at the Wound Care Clinic. I have worked there for a little over a month now and I am loving it. The Lord has granted me a job that I am good at and enjoy, with great hours. So, what started out as a very sorrowful and unexpected trip to the hospital ended up in a rewarding surprise. The Lord truly works in mysterious ways.

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About the Author

Mollie is recently married to her wonderful husband Dustin. She is a Wound Care RN at McKenzie Willamette Hospital. She enjoys being creative, getting outdoors and spending time with friends and family.