Discipleship

[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text] Last night, the local TV station reported a winter weather advisory with a band of snow en route to Northeast Mississippi. My home is sandwiched between the areas expected to get 1/2 – 2 inches of snow and 1-3 inches, beginning around 2 am. In Mississippi, snow hampers morning travel, to say the least. We’re accustomed to mosquitoes, ticks, sweaty-hot summers, and flip-flops in December, not winter-wonderlands of snow. I, along with snow-loving children of all ages, went to bed expecting a scene of fluffy white this morning. I awakened before 5 am and thought, “SNOW!!!” What a disappointment it was to look outside and see the usual brown winterscape and patchy remnants of ice. My dogs hate walking on cold, slick layers of ice. Mamie usually stops after only a few steps and refuses to go even an inch further. Snow, however, is a different story. Maggie experienced a big snowfall once before. She loved bounding through soft, powdery snow. Mamie would love it, too. There wasn’t any snow this time though and I was surprisingly disappointed. The storm system moved slower than expected, but snow’s coming, or so they say. I’ve been disappointed about snowfall before. I didn’t know whether to hope or not, so I proceeded with my morning routine, doubtful about a disruption. The heartache of unmet expectations: Expectations bring excitement and energy. They’re fun, until they’re not. Unmet expectations break our heart, fuel anger, and breed bitterness, don’t they? We’ve all had them: – the job offer we expected but didn’t receive – the cancer that wasn’t cured – the raise we hoped for that wasn’t given – the child who strayed – the pregnancy that never happened – the spouse who wouldn’t go the distance – the death that came too soon – the health that didn’t last How to deal with disappointment: What we expect isn’t always what we receive. When the unexpected and unwanted arrives, we can greet it one of two ways. Accept its arrival with anticipation that God will use it in a positive way in our lives or allow anger and disappointment to direct our responses. It’s all too easy to become bitter and push away those who would comfort us and help us through. How, then, can we deal with disappointment in a more productive way? Six ways to deal with disappointment: 1. Give thanks Start by giving thanks for the positive blessings we’ve already received: A roof over our heads, warmth in cold weather, food on our tables, friends or family who love us, a God who never leaves us nor forsakes us. (1 Thessalonians 5:18) 2. Release anger quickly. According to an article cited by Webmd.com, people with unresolved anger issues are 19% more likely to have a heart attack. Seething anger is accompanied by a cascade of consequences that can be worse than the disappointment we’ve experienced. Choose to let go of anger and replace it with peace. (Ephesians 4:26) 3. Look for the lesson Look for the lesson in the disappointment. Is our health issue due to poor choices? What can we learn? How can we make better choices going forward? Was our raise denied? Is there something different that might make it a possibility later? (James 1:2-5) 4. Embrace change It’s easy for suddenly-widowed women to be overwhelmed by the increase in responsibilities and physical work that must be done. Choose to learn new skills. Missing a promotion may be an opportunity to start a side-business of your own. Try a new health skill. Walk a little further every day. Maybe God’s doing a new thing. It’d be a shame to miss it. (Isaiah 43:19) 5. Grieve well. If the unmet expectation is a result of loss or death, take time to grieve. Give yourself extra grace. Tears will come at the most unexpected times. Let them fall. Navigating through grief takes time. Don’t get in a hurry. (Lamentations 3:31-33) 6. Choose hope. As believers, our hope is in Christ alone. We look to a future in heaven when we’ll be reunited with all those we love. Healing will come. Joy will return. Hang on to hope. (1 Thessalonians 4:13) We all experience the disappointment of unmet expectations. How we respond to the hard times determines, in large measure, how life will look on the other side of hurt, sorrow, or loss. We can allow our faith to sustain us and demonstrate the power of the light of Christ to a dark and lonely world…if we will. “Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” Isaiah 43:19 esv Leannahollis.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. This blog post contains affiliate links, which means if you click on the link to make a purchase, I may make a small amount of money (usually a few cents) from your purchase. It will not increase the price you pay in any way. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_column_text] Thanks for stopping by and sharing your time with me today! I’ve glad you stopped by. If you enjoyed this content, follow me on Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest, sign up for the twice-monthly mailing list (below) to be notified about my future blog posts, or click here to get a 5-day free Bible study and the twice-monthly newsletter. Before you leave, would you mind taking a moment to pin to Pinterest and share on social media? It helps extend my digital reach in ways I can’t do myself. Thanks again! See you soon. Want to read more? Here are links to a few other posts: Will We Make Room for God in Our Lives? How to Trust God in Hard Times How to Memorize Scripture Repentance: It’s Not Optional On Being Beloved Daffodils: Harbingers of Hope  Repentance and the Benefits Package [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_column_text] Here’s an in-depth, life-changing digital Bible study to help you grow

[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]My favorite kind of day is one in which I get a lot of things done. I love a long, written list to start the day, especially if I can end the day with every item marked off. I admit I’m one of those people who add to the list just so I can check it off. A completed list may not make a perfect day to me, but it’s a pretty great one. My schedule changed dramatically after my neighbor, for whom I spent several years providing ever-increasing personal care, passed away. Suddenly, I had some free time again and I hated to waste it. Instead, I wanted to use my extra time to get a lot more done and wondered if I needed more than a super-long to-do list. Maybe a secret productivity key could help. I found it in Mark 1. Immediately: The Secret Productivity Key IMMEDIATELY. Mark used the word forty times in his account of Jesus’ life because it describes how Jesus used His time. When He had something to do, He did it immediately. Jesus didn’t make a list, ponder how He would do it, or get distracted and do five or six other things before He got to the one thing He intended to do immediately. He didn’t stop to look up something on His phone and end up spending an hour there. How might the key impact my actions? 1. Awaken in the morning and get up immediately, instead of lying in bed, halfway between sleep and waking, wasting another fifteen minutes (or more). 2. After I finish using something, put it away, rather than leaving it where I used it. 3. Remove my clothes at night and put them in the laundry hamper instead of leaving them on the floor of the bathroom to accumulate until there’s a big pile. 4. Fold and put away the clothes as soon as they come out of the dryer or off the clothesline. 5. Work online at my specific task until its complete instead of taking a digital segue to something else. 6. Stop putting off and start doing. Immediately. Immediate in action Yesterday, I decided to give immediately a try. A bit of a fence needed repair because of a fallen log but my chain saw wouldn’t start. I considered calling someone with a functioning saw to help, but because of immediately I used an old hand saw to cut the log. It was hard work but took less time than walking back to the house to find my cell phone, calling someone, and waiting on them to arrive. I was tired after sawing and wanted to spend a few minutes congratulating myself, but I didn’t. Instead, I set to work on the wire and installed a new t-post. Afterward, I realized I needed to add a couple of staples to tighten the wire. What I wanted to do was let the horses out of the barn and take a break. I considered it but immediately came to mind, so I went back to the barn, put a few staples in my pocket, grabbed my hammer, and headed back to the fence. I didn’t stop until the fence was finished. Then I let the horses out, put the tools back in their places, and took a break. Immediately continued It was a snowy day, and I wanted to spend the rest of the day drinking hot tea before a roaring fire. Instead, I made a pot of soup and, while it simmered, I resumed work on my blogging course. In the spirit of immediately, I kept at it until 5 pm. I took an occasional break to get a cup of tea, start a load of clothes, or switch them to the dryer. Immediately, though, I returned to my work, every single time. Yesterday, I studied my Bible, wrote a blog, cleaned out stalls, prepped the barn for the falling temperatures, repaired a fence, and finished four lessons in my blogging course. I also washed, dried, and put away a load of clothes, made soup and cornbread, cleaned the kitchen, and dreamed about my new blog (planned blog topics). I replied to emails, helped a missionary with a crisis, comforted someone in their grief from hundreds of miles away, and cast a vision for a new outreach. Before I was done, I had a clear picture of the new project and so much enthusiasm about how it would be done that I wanted to start the preparation immediately, even though it was way too cold for any more outdoor work. The price of productivity All of that, and more, before 5 pm. How was so much accomplished? Because I worked from immediately. I completed many tasks, but I still had time to text with my family, dream, cast visions, and plan because I didn’t waste time. I didn’t watch TV or YouTube videos, play games on my phone or scroll through Twitter, Instagram or SnapChat. With my to-do list as a guide, I simply did what needed to be done. If you’d like to use your time wisely and accomplish more than ever before, why not give immediately a try? If it worked for Jesus, it will work for us, too. I can’t wait to hear about your immediately day, so be sure to check back and comment about how it went. Have fun! “And Jesus said to them, ‘Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.’ And they immediately left the nets and followed Him.” Mark 1:17-18 nasb Leannahollis.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. This blog post contains affiliate links, which means if you click on the link to make a purchase, I may make a small amount of money (usually a few cents) from your purchase. It will not increase the price you pay in any way. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_column_text] Thanks for stopping by and sharing your

[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]We stood at the entrance of the synagogue in Capernaum and gazed out at the ruins of the village stretched before us. The remaining stones gave a clear outline of houses, rooms, common areas. “Where’s Peter’s house?” someone asked. “You’re looking at it,” our guide explained. “Under the modern building ahead. It was built over-lying the site to protect it.” Peter’s house, where his wife’s mother lay dying, was only a few feet away from the door of the synagogue. I stared at the site and pondered what it must’ve been like that day… Mrs. Peter was probably at her mother’s side, desperate with worry. She probably dipped soft cloths in cool water and made compresses (or what my family calls suffering rags) for her mama’s head and body because in those days there was neither acetaminophen nor aspirin. Maybe someone made an herbal tea or a medicinal ungent. A few of the other women likely hovered nearby, ready to assist or weep and wail as the situation unfolded. Why depend on ourselves when Jesus is near? Help was only a few steps away, but their hope was in nothing more powerful than a bowl of water, a damp cloth, and some weak tea.  Peter was inside with Jesus who was widely known for doing miracles of healing. The men stood in the synagogue and listened to Jesus read from the Torah while Peter’s mother-in-law’s condition worsened.  By the time the men left the service, she was near death. Someone “spoke to Him about her” in an act of faith and immediately Jesus went to Peter’s mother-in-law. (I’ve always believed the faith-asker was Peter.) Jesus didn’t wait for someone to wash His feet, serve Him tea, or offer him a snack. Instead, He went to her, reached out His hand, and drew her up. By the time she reached a sitting position, her fever was gone. That good woman didn’t waste a moment lounging around. She didn’t rest and recover. Instead, she rose up from her bed, healed, and began to serve her Healer. It’s still possible to experience the healing touch of God. I want to be like Peter’s mother-in-law, to experience the touch of Christ, receive healing, and immediately serve. I’m afraid, however, that I’m more like the women with the damp cloths, desperately making compresses to lower fever when healing of the disease is available for the asking. Jesus is not the problem. Friends, we serve a wonder-working, immediately-acting Lord who hears and responds. He cares about us. If we pray in faith, He will hear and respond. God may not do exactly what we asked, but He will never do nothing. The problem lies not with Jesus but with us. All too often, we place our faith in what we can do to help ourselves. The adage, “God helps those who help themselves” is not Scriptural. God helps those who put their trust in Him. Today, let’s give up our suffering rags and our dependence upon ourselves, put our faith in the One who can handle every difficulty, and bring our needs to the One who stands ready to hear and help all who call on His name.  “And immediately after they had come out of the synagogue, they came into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was lying sick in bed with a fever, and immediately they spoke to Him about her, and He came to her and raised her up, taking her by the hand, and the fever left her, and she waited on them…Mark 1: 29-31 nasb More questions… When the question of healing is raised, it’s always accompanied by more questions: Does God still heal instantly and miraculously? Yes. He does. Did Jesus heal everyone who was sick? No. Scripture tells us He healed the people who asked for healing, but indicates He did not heal everyone in a town nor every sick person He saw. What does it mean if I’m not healed when I pray? Healing can be accomplished in many ways. Sometimes it’s instantly. Sometimes medical treatments or a lifestyle change are required. There are times when sickness is allowed to continue in order to accomplish the purposes of God. In heaven, there is no sickness. All those who are disciples of Jesus are healed, either in this life or in eternity .Why ask for a miracle if I don’t know what God will do? Not everyone receives the miracle they want, but you don’t receive a miracle at all if you don’t ask. We don’t have because we don’t ask. James 4:2-3 gives us a few reasons for seemingly unanswered prayersr… We don’t ask. If we need to be healed, we should ask for healing in the name of Jesus. Wrong motives. Asking amiss. If we have an illness caused by an action, habit, or addiction we need to ask for deliverance from our the addiction first. It would be easy to assume God requires a special asker or a special way of asking before He will do a miracle but nothing in Scripture supports this. Our Father loves us and He expects us to take our needs to Him. If a perfect “ask” won’t get a miracle, what will? Submit to God. (James 4:7) Resist the devil. (James 4:7) Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. (James 4:8) Humble yourself before God. (James 4:10) If you’re suffering, pray. (James 5:13) If sick, call for the elders to anoint you and pray for healing. (James 5:14) Confess your sins and pray for one another. (James 5:15)     Leannahollis.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. This blog post contains affiliate links, which means if you click on the link to make a purchase, I may make a small amount of money (usually a few cents) from

[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]Dusk had begun to fall when I headed to the barn to feed. Just outside the tack room, I saw a deep indention in the soft, moist soil. A hoof print. I groaned. The fresh track could only mean one thing. At least one of the horses was out. I opened the back door of the barn. Two of my three horses trotted inside to their stalls. Belle looked at me from the other side of the fence. She was out of the pasture, and not at all happy about being separated from her herd. When “good enough” isn’t. After I redirected her to the stall, I walked the fence line to find the problem. I was almost to the far corner when I found it. Just before the New Year, Ryan and I worked that stretch of fence. I thought the wooden post, though not perfect, was good enough. It wasn’t. The post in which I’d put my trust was flat on the ground, the barbed wire still attached. It was no problem for a curious horse to step over the downed post and explore the adjacent ground. Belle had probably wandered a few steps over the fence, nibbled a little grass, wandered a few more steps. In no time at all, she was separated from the other horses. Later, she noticed her plight but was too far from the opening to easily return. Judging from her hoof prints, she’d paced back and forth in front of the barn, uncertain what to do. Prone to wander Robert Robertson’s 18th-century hymn, “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing,” uses a phrase that describes the human condition quite well. We, like Belle, are “prone to wander.” A missed quiet time here, a skipped church service there and before we know it, we’ve wandered away from our church fellowship and from a close relationship with our Lord. The purpose of the fence is to keep the horses in a safe place, with easy access to the shelter of the barn and the blessing of twice-a-day feed. The purpose of the restriction of our faith is not to keep us from something good or pleasurable, but to protect us from harm and give us easy access to the blessings of God.  Restoration requires surrender Belle could only be restored to the rest of the herd by surrendering to my direction and following me to the barn. In that same way, we will be restored when we recognize our situation and surrender to our Lord, who stands ready to lead us back to Him. Today, let’s do a proximity check. How close are we to our Lord? Our fellow believers? Have we wandered? Failed to follow in any area? Do we feel separated from God? If so, the solution is simple: repent and return. Recognize our plight and cry out to the One who longs to restore, then follow where He leads. “My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his should form death and will cover a multitude of sins. James 5:19-20 nasb Leannahollis.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. This blog post contains affiliate links, which means if you click on the link to make a purchase, I may make a small amount of money (usually a few cents) from your purchase. It will not increase the price you pay in any way. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_column_text] Before you leave, would you mind taking a moment to pin to Pinterest and share on social media? It helps extend my digital reach in ways I can’t do myself. Thanks again! See you soon. Want to read more? Here are links to a few other posts: Will We Make Room for God in Our Lives? How to Trust God in Hard Times Repentance: It’s Not Optional On Being Beloved Daffodils: Harbingers of Hope  Repentance and the Benefits Package [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_column_text] Here’s an in-depth, life-changing digital Bible study to help you grow in your Christian faith: (This is an Amazon affiliate link, which means I might make a few cents from your purchase but it will not change the price you pay) [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_column_text][/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text] Want to know more about Leanna Hollis and her ministry of prayer and outreach? Click here to find the latest ministry newsletters Scroll down to sign up for her blog/writing newsletter. It also includes links to current ministry newsletters. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]The settings section of my phone lists my name. It’s correctly spelled every single time. Seri, however, has a little trouble with the pronunciation. Her “Leanna” often sounds nothing like my name. That’s been a lifelong problem for me. When I was a girl, the usual combination of “Lee” and “Ann” was Leanne, not Leanna. Sometimes, Leanne was spelled “Leigh Ann.” My name was uncommon. The efforts at pronunciation were even worse than the spelling difficulties. I’ve been called Leanner, Leeanne, Louanne, and Leander, among others. Because of the confusion surrounding my name, it’s precious to me when someone gets it right the first time. It’s also caused me to take note of others’ names and try to get them right. The importance of knowing names Yesterday, I spoke with a group of teenaged students. They aren’t usually the most welcoming group, and not often as responsive as I’d like, but I made an effort to learn everyone’s name. For once, their names “stuck” in my head. As I spoke, I called the students by name and invited them into the conversation. It caught them off guard, and they participated in a way they never had before. Not all their stoniness crumbled, but a little of it did. Some of the names were non-traditional and multi-syllabic. They weren’t easy names, but they were no less important to the students. Last evening, I pondered our time together. I’m convinced using their given name correctly made a difference.  This morning, I’m reminded that God knows our names. He never misspells them nor mispronounces them. He gets them right every single time.  When the Good Shepherd calls a sheep, it’s generally grazing, satisfying its hunger. A sheep is trained to stop nibbling, look up, and follow. It’s life and safety depend upon the promptness of its response. How to respond when God calls our name The difficulty in following Jesus is not whether He knows or uses our name. It’s not even whether or not we hear Him call us. He calls. We hear. We know we’re supposed to obey. The difficulty comes when He requires us to walk away from our grazing and follow Him. Will we stop our efforts to satisfy our own hunger and allow Him to lead us to greener pastures? To lusher grazing? To still water? He calls us by name. Our job is to respond. Instantly. Today, let’s listen for the Master’s voice and choose to turn from seeking our own satisfaction and follow Him. “To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.” John 10:3 esv Leannahollis.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. This blog post contains affiliate links, which means if you click on the link to make a purchase, I may make a small amount of money (usually a few cents) from your purchase. It will not increase the price you pay in any way. img class=”alignnone size-large wp-image-67205″ src=”https://leannahollis.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/respond-instantly.-PicMonkey-Image-488×1024.jpg” alt=”” width=”488″ height=”1024″ data-pin-description=”When God calls our name, we should respond instantly. Read here to learn why. #heknowsmyname #christian #disciplelife #faithlivedoutloud” data-pin-url=”https://leannahollis.com/when-the-god-of-the-universe-knows-our-name” [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_column_text] Thanks for stopping by and sharing your time with me today! I’ve glad you stopped by. If you enjoyed this content, follow me on Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest, sign up for the twice-monthly mailing list (below) to be notified about my future blog posts, or click here to get a 5-day free Bible study and the twice-monthly newsletter. Before you leave, would you mind taking a moment to pin to Pinterest and share on social media? It helps extend my digital reach in ways I can’t do myself. Thanks again! See you soon. Want to read more? Here are links to a few other posts: Will We Make Room for God in Our Lives? How to Trust God in Hard Times Repentance: It’s Not Optional On Being Beloved Daffodils: Harbingers of Hope  Repentance and the Benefits Package If We’ve Been Liberated Why Don’t We Live Free? Becoming A House of Prayer: 5 Simple Steps to Change Your Life[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_column_text] Here’s an in-depth, life-changing digital Bible study to help you grow in your Christian faith: (This is an Amazon affiliate link, which means I might make a few cents from your purchase but it will not change the price you pay) [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_column_text][/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text] Want to know more about Leanna Hollis and her ministry of prayer and outreach? Click here to find the latest ministry newsletters Scroll down to sign up for her blog/writing newsletter. It also includes links to current ministry newsletters. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]Summer on a farm is a time of intense work but winter has its challenges. Harsh temperatures and inclement weather make every chore more difficult, but they’re an opportunity to learn how to find good in hard times. Horses, like humans, have distinct personalities. Toby, my first horse, has always been sassy and full of zip, but he’s slowed quite a bit. He’s more than thirty years old now, and his personality is a little more zap than zip. He’s slower to come up than he used to be and his final days are near. Toby’s especially slow about eating, and it shows in his gaunt physique. I added extra feed, wormed him more often, checked his teeth. No change. He’s always been thin, but he’s gotten thinner as the years have passed. “Just like me,” Sam, my farm manager of nearly 30 years, always said. “We’re both thin. It don’t matter a bit.” Most of the time, I feed the horses together in one trough at the edge of the pasture. The younger horses eat quickly. Toby chews on every bite. It takes him a while, and he’s often at the trough long after the other horses have wandered away. Hay’s always available, so he’s never without something to eat, but I worry about him. Finding good even in cold weather When single-digit weather came, I moved the horses to the pasture behind the barn and fed them in their stalls again. The first day, the young horses finished eating long before Toby. I waited a bit to turn them out, and Toby finished his grain. Last night, I dumped feed into Toby’s pan and ran my hand down his side. He was still lean, but his ribs weren’t quite as prominent. He gained a few pounds while he was in the barn. “Hey, Toby, I think the freezing weather has helped you, old buddy.” He kept his head in the feed. The cold snap brought low temperatures, ice, frozen pipes, and extra work, but the effort wasn’t wasted. Toby’s a little better. It’s a bit of good in the midst of the hard. How to find good in hard times  I’ve been through plenty of hard times in my life, but one thing’s been true of every difficulty. We can always find good in hard times IF we’re willing to look for it.           We all go through hard times. It’s easy to lose sight of the good in the midst of the hard. If you want to find good in hard times, consider these three questions. Your answers may change your perspective: What growth has God brought from my difficulty? How am I becoming more like Him because of this situation? How has blessing come from the hard? God is always at work, no matter what situation we face. If we look for His blessing, we’re sure to find it. “Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?…But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.” Romans 8:35, 37 nasb Let’s Chat: How have you found good in hard times and blessings in the midst of trials and difficulties? I’d love to hear your story! Leannahollis.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. This blog post contains affiliate links, which means if you click on the link to make a purchase, I may make a small amount of money (usually a few cents) from your purchase. It will not increase the price you pay in any way. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_column_text] Thanks for stopping by and sharing your time with me today! I’ve glad you stopped by. If you enjoyed this content, follow me on Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest, sign up for the twice-monthly mailing list (below) to be notified about my future blog posts, or click here to get a 5-day free Bible study and the twice-monthly newsletter. Before you leave, would you mind taking a moment to pin to Pinterest and share on social media? It helps extend my digital reach in ways I can’t do myself. Thanks again! See you soon. Want to read more? Here are links to a few other posts you may enjoy: Promises of God Fulfilled When the God of the Universe Knows Your Name How to Trust God in Hard Times Repentance and the Benefits Package Will We Make Room for God in Our Lives? Contentment Regardless of Circumstances How to Memorize Scripture Repentance: It’s Not Optional On Being Beloved [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_column_text] You’ve helped me reach around the world through your likes, shares, and pins. Thank you! Please keep up the great work. It makes a huge difference. Here’s a pinnable image for Pinterest. Thanks for pinning and sharing! Here’s an in-depth, life-changing digital Bible study to help you grow in your Christian faith: (This is an Amazon affiliate link, which means I might make a few cents from your purchase but it will not change the price you pay) </p [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column column_width_percent=”80″ overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ medium_width=”0″ mobile_width=”0″ shift_x=”0″ shift_y=”0″ shift_y_down=”0″ z_index=”0″ width=”1/3″][vc_column_text][/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Want to know more about Leanna Hollis and her ministry of prayer and outreach? Click here to find the latest ministry newsletters Scroll down to sign up for her blog/writing newsletter. It also includes links to current ministry newsletters. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]A dear friend commented about yesterday’s blog: “I remember reading about the frigid temperatures of the past and thinking, ‘Why doesn’t she just sell those farm animals, freeing herself of all that work?’ Hauling water by wagon to those animals was beyond me. But, through the years, I’ve learned that’s part of who you are.” Many people feel the same way about my animals. Yes. I know I could have an easier life if I sold whatever is causing my current challenge. Easier, however, does not always mean a richer life. I didn’t grow up with livestock or horses, but there was always a picture in my head of black and white cows on rich, green pastures. When I arrived at the farm for the first time to “take a look,” I saw the picture in my head in living color, alive and breathing in the field. I was home. Within a few months, I had a farm, chickens, guineas, a horse, and a farm hand, Sam. Toby (pictured above), now 30+ years old, was my first horse. He taught me to ride and jump ditches. He quieted my fears. Once a week, I rode across the land on horseback to check fences and pastures. I soon bought a second horse, and Sam rode along. Those were some of the sweetest days of my life. Before long, I had cows, a bull, and calves. I love cows, and their slow, gentle meandering. I love to see their babies running and playing in the fields. I sold my cows a few years ago, and I’ve regretted that decision many times. I’m not ready to tie myself down to cattle again, but I miss them. My husband left the animals to me most of the time, but Ryan loved them as much as I did. The year he learned to ride the horse alone, he spent most of the summer riding. I took sandwiches to him so he could eat lunch on horseback.  He and Toby were inseparable. Ryan joined 4-H and our fun really began. He showed cows, horses, goats, and pigs. It was a wonderful time of life, and we both grew up in many ways during those years. He still rides the horses in pretty weather when he’s home. What I seldom talk about is the picture that’s still in my head. Long before I came to the farm, I envisioned a place where women could come to retreat for a day or two, get exercise taking care of small animals, and learn about health, and life, and faith. I envisioned families coming to camp in tents, long before “glamping” was a word. The picture’s still in my head, a vision yet unfulfilled. The animals are a part of who I am, but they’re also a part of what I still expect to do, one day in the not-too-distant future. Part of that vision is already a virtual/digital reality, as you share my adventures through the words I write. Selling the last of the animals and leaving the farm would mean giving up my dream. One day, I believe it will be an actual reality. I’m willing to wait. I recognize that the life I’ve chosen is not the life most women want, and that many people can’t understand. For me, this life is not just a choice, it’s who I am.  I see God in the animals, the azaleas Sam and I planted, the lake, the fish, and the grass in the pasture. I see God here, and that means everything to me. It’s my refuge, but it’s also a place of worship for me. There’s nothing holy about my land, but holiness begins to happen here, because I leave the noise of the world behind and focus on Him. I’m refined here. I sort out the issues of the day here, and there’s no where else on this earth that happens with such depth and efficiency. I’m never closer to God than right here on this farm. I commune with Him as I muck out stalls, feed horses, and haul water. What’s more precious than that? Nothing. In 1989, God placed me on this land. He put the dreams in my heart, and He’s made some of them a reality. I love this life, with all its challenges and hardships. I don’t have the kind of life many of my friends have, but, to me, I have so much more. The dream continues to unfold, and, as long as God allows, I’m hanging on for the ride. It’s the sweetest place I know. “Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4 esv [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]I opened my computer to write this morning and the only topics on my mind were single-digit temperatures and frozen water pipes. If you follow me on social media, you probably saw a few of my whining complaints that the pipes at the barn froze and I’ve had to haul water for the horses. I dread January because of the problem of the pipes. This morning, I flipped through blog posts from Januarys past and found that, several years ago, I had the same problem, only bigger. The pipes and automatic waterers froze back then, too. I hauled water just as I’m doing now. In 2014, however, I hauled water for cows and chickens, as well as horses. The amount of water I toted was enormous. The fix is in the box Why haven’t I solved this problem in the 28 years I’ve lived here? I asked myself the same question every day since the cold snap began. I’m ashamed to admit the “fix” is in the tack room of my barn, ready to be installed. A frost-proof hydrant is still in the box. A few years ago, all the water lines from outside my house to the barn froze. I did a little research and found my difficulties could be solved (or greatly diminished) by a different hydrant, with an underground valve. I bought one and Sam (who worked on my farm) used it to replace the hydrant at the garden. He thought something was wrong with the new hydrant, so I bought another to replace it. As it turned out, the leak was due to an installation error, so I ended up with an extra hydrant. My winter water problems would be solved if I’d installed the second hydrant in the hallway of the barn. I carried the hydrant to the barn and stored the hydrant there, but never installed it, partly because I forgot about it. Delay didn’t help When I saw the weather forecast for frigid weather, I remembered the frost-proof faucet. By the time temperatures plummeted, it was too late. The difficulties I’ve faced in the last few days are my own fault. They were also mostly preventable. I don’t have a good solution for the automatic waterers because of their distance from a source of electricity. The frozen water faucet, however, could’ve been prevented. Sam didn’t worry about frozen pipes because he had a plan that worked. He wrapped the pipes with towels, stacked hay around them, then covered them with a big rug. I thought Sam’s way made a mess in the barn and seemed iffy at best, even though it worked most of the time. This year, I used foam insulation caps over the hydrants instead. They weren’t messy, but they also weren’t enough. Sam knew that, but I didn’t believe him. I do now. The last second chance In a few weeks, the temperatures will improve, the pipes will thaw, the water will flow. I’ll have another second chance to have the faucet installed and solve my difficulties. Not every problem comes with a second chance, however. One day, Scripture tells us, Jesus will descend from heaven with a shout. We who are alive will be caught up and meet Him in the air. On that day, all the second chances will be over.  It won’t matter what we planned to do or whether or not we intended to follow Christ eventually. If our eternal destination is not secured when Christ returns, it will be too late. Let’s address the most important question of all for a moment. Where do I stand with Jesus? Am I a disciple or merely an interested bystander? Jesus never called anyone to sit on a pew or serve on a committee. He calls us to follow. If we belong to Him, that’s what we’ll do. Today is our second chance, so let’s use it well. Jesus is coming again. Live ready. “For the Lord Himself will descend with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and thus we shall ever be with the Lord.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16,17 nasb Leannahollis.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. This blog post contains affiliate links, which means if you click on the link to make a purchase, I may make a small amount of money (usually a few cents) from your purchase. It will not increase the price you pay in any way. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_column_text] Thanks for stopping by and sharing your time with me today! I’ve glad you stopped by. If you enjoyed this content, follow me on Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest, sign up for the twice-monthly mailing list (below) to be notified about my future blog posts, or click here to get a 5-day free Bible study and the twice-monthly newsletter. Before you leave, would you mind taking a moment to pin to Pinterest and share on social media? It helps extend my digital reach in ways I can’t do myself. Thanks again! See you soon. Want to read more? Here are links to a few other posts: Biting Cat and the Spring Clean Up of Repentance The Prodigal Puppy and the Rescuer Who Brought Her Home Will We Make Room for God in Our Lives? How to Trust God in Hard Times Repentance: It’s Not Optional On Being Beloved Daffodils: Harbingers of Hope  Repentance and the Benefits Package [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_column_text] Here’s an in-depth, life-changing digital Bible study to help you grow in your Christian faith: (This is an Amazon affiliate link, which means I might make a few cents from your purchase but it will not change the price you pay) [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column column_width_percent=”74″ overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ medium_width=”0″ mobile_width=”0″ shift_x=”0″ shift_y=”0″ shift_y_down=”0″ z_index=”0″ width=”1/3″][vc_column_text][/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text] Want to know more about Leanna Hollis and her ministry of prayer and outreach?