Blog Archives

Casual Assassination

We may not realize how much harm our words can do.

BY JUDITH FOLKERTS

She was angry and felt rejected, and she shared bits and pieces of conversations that she had. These conversations had been held, never believing that confidential moments would be publicly aired. But they were being aired now. “He said this, and I said that….” Those sentences, spoken freely months ago, were now pinned up for inspection, criticism and judgement. My friend had broken up with her boyfriend. The last time I had seen someone so passionately plead their case was after a family had left a church, feeling misunderstood and insignificant. Hurt and offended, they spoke, believing they needed to be heard and understood. In both cases, mutual respect had been thrown to the wind.

7/31/2017

Comments

Book Review: The Essential Guide to Prayer

Dutch Sheets

BY JUDITH FOLKERTS

CULTURE / BOOK REVIEWS

When someone understands the power behind prayer, that person prays, and is always wanting to pray most effectively. I went to a gathering of intercessors this week. I sat in a beautiful cherry-stained wooden chair with textured burgundy leather cushions, one of rows of identical seats in a prominent meeting place. In these sturdy seats sat Prayer Warriors among Prayer Warriors. Two or three dozen people had traveled from various locations to learn more about prayer and to prayer together. As we sat and amassed shared wisdom and prayer strategies, I was overwhelmed. Each of these people understood prayer’s power with every ounce of their being, so much so that they had made it their lifestyle. These were people I was honored to sit among, people that I wanted to know.

7/27/2017

Comments

Unprayed Things That Could Have Been

What hasn’t happened because we didn’t pray?

BY JUDITH FOLKERTS

GOD / PRAYER

If I had several extra millions of dollars, I’d commission an updated Christian version of the movie, It’s A Wonderful Life. In it, an angel would lead a person through the past, present and future, showing this person the changes that were the result of his or her prayers. It would be an awesome movie that would stir us to passionately engage in the changing power of prayer.

7/18/2017

Comments

Whatever Thoughts

When we focus on positive thoughts, things change.

BY JUDITH FOLKERTS

LIFE / DAILY

We planned on visiting relatives, anticipating snug and sardine-like accommodations. We were undaunted, as always, by our impending stay and a few mildly inconvenient days because the trade-off was awesome. Our hosts, however, had other ideas about our visit. We were welcomed with news regarding our sleeping arrangements. Surprise! We would be staying in a camper! They had purchased a used one, parked down the winding country road, back in the woods. I don’t like camping, at all.

7/14/2017

Comments

Do You Make Meals for Those Who Are Hurting?

Sometimes obligations are actually opportunities to show love.

BY JUDITH FOLKERTS

GOD / CHURCH

There are websites for just about everything, and the meal sign-up link was easy to click on. The page was straight forward to fill in, but the spaces on my screen were mostly blank. This was also the case the last few times I clicked on a meal sign-up page. One time I had commitments three nights in a row, and another time it was a holiday weekend. That poor family had just faced tragedy before a busy weekend. It seemed the simple blessings of friends would be more scant for them.

7/7/2017

Comments

Not Outwitted, Not Ignorant

Avoid trouble and pain by being aware of the enemy’s devices.

BY JUDITH FOLKERTS

LIFE / RELATIONSHIPS

*Ping!* It was a instantaneous, subtle, but very negative reaction to my friend’s mention of another person’s name. The other person was a sister in the Lord, and I hadn’t seen her for a couple of years. I was tempted to roll my eyes, or say something unkind. Instead I stuffed the unpleasant memories that began to surface and moved on in the conversation.

7/4/2017

Comments

Who Do You Think You Are?

Knowing your identity in Christ empowers your prayers.

BY JUDITH FOLKERTS

GOD / PRAYER

Before they begin their projects, I pray over them, asking the Holy Spirit to rain down creativity, new ideas and the necessary skill that they need to complete their task. Sometimes we forget, and end up going through the this prayer process later, mid-project, when things seem stuck. It’s the secret to creativity, I believe. Does God expect us to be that dependent on Him when we do things? Maybe not. But it works. My kids know that God is behind their creations, and without His involvement, things can seem less significant.

7/1/2017

Comments

Categories

Archives

Casual Assassination

Book Review: The Essential Guide to Prayer

Unprayed Things That Could Have Been

Whatever Thoughts

Do You Make Meals for Those Who Are Hurting?

Not Outwitted, Not Ignorant

Who Do You Think You Are?