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Resources for Living the Christian Life: Tools You Can Use Today

Welcome to Faith Lived Out Loud Resources Welcome to our Resources for living the Christian life Home Page, designed to help you learn how to live the Christian life. If you want to know more about prayer, discipleship (including Bible study), community outreach, or women’s ministry, we can help. Please check the drop-down menu or click on the links below for free, practical help with a variety of topics. Prayer Resources for Living the Christian Life Click here for access to frequently asked questions about prayer, including “How to Pray,” “How to Hear God’s Voice,” “What if I’m Mad at God?” and more. You’ll also find links to blog posts about prayer and access to how-to information on fasting, drive-through prayer, prayer stations, and more. Community Outreach Resources Look here for a comprehensive list of area agencies and resources, as well as a link to information about point-in-time counts and their importance. You’ll also find information on homeless outreach and food outreach. Detailed information is available on the preparation of personal hygiene packs, weekend backpack programs, and stocking a school snack pantry. Need a downloadable PDF? You’ll find it on this page. Discipleship Resources for Living the Christian Life You’ll find resources to help with everything from How to Become a Christian to dealing with sin, Scripture memory, forgiveness, obedience, and more. Free Bible studies are also available for download here, including exclusive links to unpublished YouTube videos of an in-depth Bible study of the book of Ruth. Women’s Ministry Resources: Coming soon. Look here for information on Whisper Women’s Ministry, including retreats, online discipleship, and more. In the meantime, check out our other website, WhisperGathering.com to learn more about the Whisper Women’s Ministries. We continue to add resources so be sure to check back often. If you don’t see what you need, drop us a note and we’ll be glad to help. Free Resource of the Month Yes, more free stuff. Every month we offer a theme-based freebie of the month. You can access them by clicking here: Freebie Page There’s a different freebie every month, so be sure to check back often. Let’s keep in touch! Sign up for our Faith Lived Out Loud Twice-Monthly Devotionals here: FLOL DEVOTIONALS. In addition to encouragement and inspiration, it’s a great way to keep up to date on the latest improvements and freebies on our website. Your likes, shares, and pins make a huge difference in our reach. Thanks for your help! Photo by Ricardo Esquivel from Pexels) 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 we might make a few cents from your purchase but it will not change the price you pay)

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Miracles Still Happen: The $100 Miracle

1 Comment / Discipleship, Miracles / leannahollis

Have you ever wondered if miracles still happen? I was right there with you but one surprising experience changed my doubts. Several years ago, worn out and burned out, I took a much-needed break from practicing medicine to write. The plan was a return to medicine after the turn of the year, just two months later. As it turned out, I never went back, and the two-month break turned into a divinely-orchestrated training-in-faith school. The money I’d saved was enough to carry me through the short, planned break. It wasn’t quite enough for the much longer breaker. Before too long, money was in short supply. As a frugal woman, I tightened my belt and trusted God to provide. He did. Money got tighter and my belt did, too. Once again, God provided. Every time. There came a day, however, when my bank account was down to $37.00. An automatic draft was scheduled for the next day. Someone owed me enough money to more than cover the expense but, on the day they’d agreed to pay, they could only give me a small portion of what they owed. My heart sank and I struggled not to cry as she counted the partial payment into my hand. I hoped miracles still happen… The money she paid wasn’t enough to cover my draft and I had no idea what to do. A sense of foreboding quickly turned into fear and threatened to overwhelm me. I believed miracles still happen, or maybe I hoped they did, so I searched my house in anticipation of an unexpected stash of cash. I looked between the chair and sofa cushions, in jacket pockets, and in old purses where I found spare change and a few dollars, but not enough. The money spread out before me on the kitchen table, I sat down, head in hands, and wept. Tears streamed down my face as I prayed, “Lord, you have never let me down before. What’s up with this? What am I supposed to do?” Have you had one of those moments when the still, small voice of God was maddening and incomprehensible? This was one of them. “Take it to the bank.” Miracles still happen but obedience isn’t optional The money wasn’t enough. Why take it to the bank before God provided the full amount in some way? I wanted to wait for the rest of the money, but the still, small voice in my heart was relentless. “Take it to the bank.” I counted the money over and over. I was nearly $60 short. Finally, since I didn’t know what else to do, I gathered up the money and headed to town. The drive-through furthest away from the window allowed me to avoid looking at the teller’s face. Shame rushed through me at the idea of seeing her look at me, with my previous big bank account, now down to only $37. I slipped my tiny deposit into the vacuum tube, hit the send button, and prayed as I waited for the teller to send back the deposit slip. Miracles still happen, but I didn’t expect one to happen for me that day. The first hint of a miracle… After a few minutes, she buzzed with a question. “What do you want to do with this extra money?” “What extra money?” “There’s another $100 in here you didn’t add to the total.” My breath caught in my throat. $100 would make the deposit more than enough. My heart pounded as I replied. “Are you sure? I counted that money several times.” “Yes, ma’am. I’ve counted it three times. There’s definitely an extra $100.” It’s true: Miracles Still Happen I sat in stunned silence, unable to answer, as tears ran down my face. “Dr. Hollis. What did you want me to do with this extra money?” “If God added $100 to my deposit, please put it in my account.” I laughed, cried, praised, and shouted hallelujah as I waited for the deposit slip. That day, God did something big–both in me and for me. The $100 wasn’t the biggest miracle I’ve ever seen, but it was the most desperately needed. It showed me, in the most compelling way imaginable, that I could trust God on my journey of faith. It was fun in a roller-coaster-ride kind of way and left me wanting more: more God, more miracles, more evidence of His favor and love. Money has never been in quite that short supply again, but, even when it’s tight, I’m no longer frightened. At the deepest part of my being, I know God will supply all my needs. Every single one of them. Life After a Miracle… Several years have passed since that exciting day and I now work full-time as a peer-to-peer funded missionary doing community outreach and intercessory prayer. My former patients still ask if I’ll ever “go back” to medicine. It’s not hard to decide. I miss my doctor-salary and the ease of certain income but they don’t compare to the joy of knowing God will provide. As long as I’m doing what He calls me to do, in His way, God will fund His projects and provide for me. What about you? If you’re in one of those only-God-can-help situations now, take courage. We serve an on-time God who is more than able to provide. He’s not only able to provide; He’s also willing. Have you faced a situation in which only a miracle could carry you through? I’d love to hear your story, so please comment below. “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God… And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6, 19 nasb Want to read more like Miracles Still Happen? Thanks for stopping by and sharing your time with us today! If you enjoyed this content, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest, sign up for the twice-monthly mailing list to

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Homelessness in America: Up Close and Personal

1 Comment / community outreach, Culture, Discipleship, Resources / leannahollis

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. How to Effectively Impact Homelessness in America The glamour of a vintage evening gown, a coveted award, and a luxury hotel faded in the rearview mirror as the blinding rain slowed my progress toward home. My snail’s pace through the storm left far too little time to swap suitcases, snuggle dogs, and nap before boarding a plane for Los Angeles, land of Hollywood and movie stars, and a heartbreaking example of homelessness in America. From Rodeo Drive to Skid Row Maseratis lined the streets of Rodeo Drive. Both men and women in designer clothing spent thousands to purchase baubles they’ll soon discard. This trip, however, wasn’t filled with glamour, but the exact opposite. We headed to Skid Row where homelessness abounds, and hunger, need, and lack of basic hygiene are part of everyday existence. Fifty-four city blocks of tragedy and poverty are lined by tents on the sidewalks, pallets of cardboard, and discarded humans whose hope is gone. On Skid Row, mere miles from the mansions of the rich and famous, pregnant women sleep on bare concrete and shuffle down the streets in worn-out, discarded clothing hoping for a handout. Men, plagued by addiction, loss, and both mental and physical illness, wander as if in a fog. No job. Pockets empty. Hope long gone. One of the most affluent neighborhoods in the Los Angeles area is Hidden Hills, where the median income is $250,000+/year. In stark contrast, the median income in downtown LA (in which Skid Row is located) is only $19,887/year. A one-bedroom apartment in LA costs, on average, $2,437/month. ($29,244 annual cost) Two-bedroom apartments, on average, rent for $3,309/month. Imagine paying $39,708 per year in rent alone, before childcare, groceries, clothing, school supplies, health insurance, or transportation to and from work. It’s no wonder the “under-employed,” especially minimum-wage-earners, end up on the streets. This is Homelessness in America? Yes. it is. The images in my head from my two-week whirlwind of travel and service are not from the posh hotel or the glitter of a Gala. Instead, my memories are full of porta-potties, worn-out clothing, men smoking joints on the sidewalk, the smells of marijuana, urine, and unwashed bodies thick as smoke. Acrid odors hung in my nostrils for days. The faces of homelessness in America are still there and, I suspect, always will be. Before we went into Skid Row for the first time, a young man named Taylor gave us wise advice. “Clothe yourselves with compassion,” he said. I did, but I had to surrender my expectations, pride, and judgmental, critical spirit to do it. In the first tent, we visited on Skid Row a mother, stoned out of her mind, slept on a makeshift cot. Her two-year-old daughter sat on the cot beside her. A man in a chair at the entrance to the tent guarded her, I suppose, as he talked with a friend from the streets. Porta-Potty Prostitution A few steps away, beautiful young women in skimpy clothing and heavy makeup entertained their customers in four porta-potties at the park entrance. They’d posted schedules on the doors and had a steady business. Prostitution in the most unsanitary place imaginable. What kind of man treats women with such disrespect? What kind of woman allows it? My indignant questions soon found an answer — hopeless men and women who don’t know the love of Jesus. A young mother, obviously pregnant, pushed a double-stroller in which two young children sat as she made her way down Skid Row in the dark. A man, also shabbily dressed, staggered along beside her. We gave them socks, t-shirts, and bags of cookies, but they needed so much more. The Tiniest of Beginnings It was long past dark and my hand-out bag was nearly empty when Travis,* a gray-haired man with a grizzled beard and rotted teeth, approached me. “I’m cold,” he said and stared at my bag. “All I have are short-sleeved t-shirts, but it’s warm at the Dream Center,” I told him. “Yeah?” “There’s food there, too. You ever think about coming off the street?” “They wouldn’t take me,” he said. “I have a dishonorable discharge. 240 kills on patrol.” It took me a minute to understand what he meant. Finally, recognition dawned. Vietnam vet. He’d been the first in line on patrol. He hadn’t gunned down everyone he’d seen, but he’d killed a lot. Fear will do that to you. Fear combined with drugs will do even worse, and they did. He returned home with a dishonorable discharge at a time when all Vietnam veterans, even the heroes, were scorned and rejected. He couldn’t find a job and drifted from one place to another. The drugs he’d first used in Southeast Asia became his constant companion and he did whatever it took to get them. Not Too Late He’s an old man now and off drugs, but he’s been on the street for too many years, yet another shattered life trapped in the depths of homelessness in America. “I think they would take you, Travis. If you really want to come off the street, you can have a fresh start. Jesus can change everything.” I connected him to someone from the Dream Center and we made a plan. I rested a hand on his shoulder and prayed the biggest prayer I could for Travis. He shuffled off with a t-shirt and a bag of chips in hand. I turned to the DC worker. “You think he’ll show up?” He shook his head. “Probably not this time, but maybe eventually. When it

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Transformed by Christ: Up Close and Personal

9 Comments / Discipleship, Scripture Truth / leannahollis

Are you praying for someone you love to be transformed by Christ? What about someone who’s trapped in bondage to drugs or alcohol? If so, this story of one woman transformed by Christ may be an encouragement to you. A stronghold of drug and alcohol addiction destroyed her life…until she found freedom in Christ. Now, her old life is completely gone. Not long ago, she gave her testimony at a Christian gathering and invited me to hear her speak. The long drive was worth every minute of the trip. We see each other fairly often for women who live more than sixty miles apart. We’re in a small group together and an online group, as well. She’s one of the most consistent, godly women I know, generous, loving, forgiving, and serving. Transformed by Christ Her life is Christ, but it wasn’t always. I’m so accustomed to the Jesus in her that I rarely consider there was a time before Christ, a time when sin ruled and she spent her days and nights partying, drinking, smoking, promiscuity, doing drugs, and selling drugs. It is easy to forget she was arrested several times for “minor” crimes, and hard to believe she was ever in prison, but she was. She shared her story of coming to Christ. In 2007, my friend entered prison for selling drugs. All she carried with her was deodorant and a Bible because that’s all they allowed. Everything was stripped away – drugs, sex, alcohol, family. The cell, a bunk bed, the Bible, and the hurt inside her were all that remained. Without the distractions, she opened her Bible and began to read. Living Scripture did its powerful work. “ For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12 As she read Scripture, she soon learned the truth of Hebrews 4:12. After six months, she read Jesus’ call to those who are worn down by burdens and the Sword of the Spirit slashed straight into her heart. “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28 Face down on her bed, she wept into her pillow and surrendered her weariness, hurt, and burdens to the One who promised rest. She relinquished her sin and was transformed by Christ. Jesus changed everything. Jesus did exactly what Scripture says He will do. He healed her hurt and changed her desires. The Scripture became her lifeline during the remainder of her prison term, and she grew like a long-neglected plant finally given the water and nutrients it needs. Transformed by Christ: The old has gone. The new has come. Her old life is completely over, and she’s transformed. She’s clean and sober and has been for more than a decade. My sweet friend is happily married and the leader of a women’s small group, with adult children and beautiful grandchildren. She’s active in her church, participates in mission trips often, and is a faithful prayer supporter. Did the people who knew her in the “old” days expect God to transform her so completely? Probably not. Was there someone praying? I imagine so. As I listened to my friend share her testimony, I sat in awe of the miraculous transformation God has done and prayed for the people I know who desperately need that same transformation. Hope blossomed again. God is still in the business of redemption. He still changes lives. Before she entered prison, she lived in the inescapable bondage of sin. She entered that penitentiary and found God waiting for her. Inside those walls, He set her free, and she still is. Many of us love someone whose choices have taken them from bad to worse, perhaps even to addiction, crime, and prison. My friend is living proof that there’s always hope. As long as there’s life, there’s a chance of surrender, forgiveness, and redemption. If you’re waiting for someone you love to turn around, let’s remember my friend, and keep on praying. “So, if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” John 8:36 Want to know more about how to be transformed by Christ? If you’re looking for an in-depth Bible study that will transform your life, consider the new James study, now available in an e-book format from Amazon.com. You might also like: Is it Possible to Walk the Blameless Path? While you’re here, check out these blog posts: How to Trust God in Hard Times The Benefits of Repentance Promises of God Fulfilled What Does it Mean to Be Beloved? What Does it Mean to Be a Disciple of Jesus? Why We Should Choose Humility and Let Go of Pride Thanks for sharing your time with us today. Before you go… Sign up for our twice-a-month newsletter to receive exclusive stories, freebies, and more. Leave a comment and share this post on your social media pages or through email. Bookmark our website so you can visit us often. Take a look at Today’s Encouragement before you go. We add to this every weekday. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest Join our Faith Lived Out Loud Facebook group to have a community of believers seeking to live the disciple life Jesus intended.

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Life After COVID-19: Choosing Change Now

Leave a Comment / Culture, Discipleship, Scripture Truth / leannahollis

This article, “Life After COVID-19: Choosing Change Now” was written at the beginning of the pandemic. The recommendations in this article are still valid, and we’re still doing the things we began back then. Our Zoom Bible study now meets twice a week and just celebrated our second anniversary. We’re not fluent in French but a lot more proficient, and we memorized most of the Sermon on the Mount. The choices made at the beginning of the pandemic served us well and made the years of struggle count. W emerged stronger and with a greater sense of calling than ever before. If you weren’t as successful, don’t worry. It’s not too late to re-think life after COVID-19. Life After COVID-19: What We Thought Two Years ago “It’s not too early to start thinking about life after COVID-19, isn’t it? We’re only two years into the pandemic quarantine… “No. Wait. “Maybe it’s two weeks. Or three. Possibly a month… “I hate to admit it but, unless I check the calendar, I’m not sure how long I’ve worked from home in this ongoing, never-ending, please-God-over-soon quarantine. My hope for an end to this sometimes falters and I suspect I’m not the only one. “Can’t researchers make a vaccine any faster? A cold is a virus so another virus is no big deal, right? Why won’t people stay at home? Wear masks? Quit meeting?” You know the questions we all asked and probably the solutions we secretly proposed because we were all in this together and we still are. We shared many of the same questions and frustrations. Today, I want to shed a little hope and light on our mutually tough time. There is life after… It didn’t seem possible for a long time, but there is life after COVID-19 and the pandemic. An enormous global opportunity lay before us. We had the rare option to use the time during the pandemic and resulting quarantine to seriously consider our lifestyles, keep what was honorable and good, and let go of the vain and meaningless. We had a chance to choose a better path than the one we were on. To choose change. Most of us worked from home for a while. We built new patterns, new work habits. We learned fresh ways to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays. Maybe we cooked at home more because eating out was not as easy an option as before. Our shopping habits, and likely our spending habits, changed considerably. Surviving Pandemic Life Pandemic life was seriously different from our “normal” lives but it wasn’t all bad. Our quarantine forced us to slow down. Be still. Spend more time with our immediate families. Enjoy our children in new ways. Make an effort to stay connected to friends and family. It forced us to face the possibility of catastrophic illness and death and to evaluate the substance of our lives. As a closet introvert, I probably struggled less with quarantine than my extrovert friends and I have to admit—I loved the isolation. The quiet. The stillness. The lack of crowds. I missed you all and would have loved to give everyone I’ve ever known (and a few I don’t) a huge hug and maybe a kiss on both cheeks in the Middle Eastern way just to regain a little personal contact and sense of touch. Life After COVID-19: The Opportunity The COVID-19 pandemic was without a doubt a global tragedy of illness, suffering, and death but the greater tragedy is to fail to learn from it and seize the opportunity to choose change as we go forward. We could cling to our former lifestyle and attempt to return to the same hectic, insanely busy pace as before but why would we? Many of us were stressed to the max, exhausted beyond belief, and frantic with our out-of-control schedules before the pandemic. Why resume what was likely to kill us? Why not choose a different path as we go forward? Imagine for a moment what life would be like if we chose to keep our slower pace. What if we kept some of the changes we’ve made after we return to the workplace? Shop locally more often. Give up some of our busyness to spend more time with the people we say we love. Enjoy homemade fun. Write notes of encouragement. Embrace snail mail. Take long walks with our children and family. Picnic outdoors. Exchange fast food for slow-simmered delicacies. Learn new skills. Look out for our neighbors. See needs and meet them. Life After COVID-19: The Choice of a fresh start A new, slower pace and a fresh start is worth it. Within a few months of the pandemic, we missed the blessings we took for granted…family, friends, church families, hugs, gatherings. What if we cherished them enough to keep them close as we go forward? Safeguard our connections. Strengthen our faith ties. Continue to spend time reading our Bibles, studying, and prayer. The most important choice: What if we gave up our sense of entitlement and our me-first attitudes and, in life after COVID-19, chose to hunger and thirst after righteousness? During an early Whisper Connection Zoom call, we talked about what it means to hunger and thirst for righteousness. Choose Blessings “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” We asked the question, “For what do we hunger?” and came up with a variety of answers. Health Peace Prosperity Meaning in life Serve where we can be seen Connections Power Reputation Righteousness We do want righteousness but it wasn’t on the top of anyone’s list. The dictionary defines righteousness as freedom from guilt and sin. In practical terms it means so much more. When we hunger and thirst for righteousness, we allow God to correct what is wrong, sinful, less than godly in our lives and make it right, righteous, godly. We open our hearts to Jesus and allow Him to make us more like He intended. I can say with confidence born of experience this process

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Whisper Gathering 2019: A Life-Changing Women’s Retreat

Leave a Comment / Discipleship, Resources / leannahollis

The Whisper Gathering 2019 is scheduled for September 5, 6, 7 at the beautiful FCR Crows Neck retreat center. Check-in begins at 1 pm on Thursday but we don’t start scheduled activities until 6 pm with dinner. Closing activies are Saturday morning and our last scheduled activity is lunch on Saturday. Registration is now open. I hope you’ll make plans to join us. What is Whisper Gathering 2019? This is a women’s retreat focused on learning to hear the gentle whisper of God’s still, small voice and obey. This year’s theme is The Beauty of Brokenness. What can I expect? Great worship led by a team including Vickie McAnally and Vivien Lee, both experienced worship leaders and gifted musicians. In-depth Bible study led by Leanna Lindsey Hollis M.D., frequent retreat leader and Director of Intercessory Prayer and Outreach at Global Outreach International. Devotions and Lord’s supper/communion led by Pastor Robbie Crane on Saturday morning as well as a powerful testimony from Mycah Parrish (Massey House) during the weekend and a beautiful dramatic/musical presentation by Dana Mann. There’ll also be plenty of prayer time, reflection, repentance, laughter, bonfires, cabin choirs, yummy food, evening s’mores, and fun, so bring a willing spirit and a ready laugh. Last year, we established traditions of the things women loved from previous Whisper Gatherings. We’re continuing those traditions and adding a few tweaks to make sure Whisper Gathering 2019 is better than ever. New this year, we’ll also have a few guests throughout the weekend. Massey Place will join us with their pop-up store and FCR’s gift shop will be open if you want to do a little Christmas shopping. What do people say about Whisper Gathering? We asked former attendees to summarize the Whisper Gathering in two or three words. Here’s a little of what they said: Freeing. Hearing God’s voice. Reconnection with Jesus. Awakening. Fellowship. Renewal. Refuge. Reassuring. Reconnecting. Rest. Respite. Renewing. Life changing. Inspiring. One woman who attended the first Whisper Gathering in 2017 said this about last year’s retreat, “I hesitated to come again because I thought the first Whisper Gathering was the best it could ever be, but I was so wrong. This year was better than ever.” Scroll down to see photos from last year’s event. I want to come but my schedule doesn’t work… Attending the entire retreat is optimal, but we don’t want you to miss it entirely. If you can come for only a part of the weekend, message/contact Leanna directly. We are happy to work with your schedule to help arrange for you to attend “Half-A-Whisper.” How should I prepare for Whisper Gathering 2019? If we want God to move in life-changing ways, we must prepare our hearts in advance. Two ways we can do this are through prayer and fasting. No one expects (or recommends) a long fast without any food. Instead, consider limited fasting of a single food item or an occasional meal between now and the retreat. Use the time until the retreat to seek God about areas in your life in need of change. Friend me on Facebook and ask to join the Whisper Gathering closed group. (https://www.facebook.com/whispergathering/) I’ll post devotionals and prayer thoughts during the 21 days leading up to the retreat beginning August 15, so be sure to check back often. How much does the Whisper Gathering 2019 cost? The cost is $150 and covers two nights’ lodging, six meals, and snacks. The event fee also helps cover often-unseen costs such as camp fees for each attendee, printing handouts, craft supplies, door prizes, and honorariums for guest speakers and musicians. (The event T-shirt is extra.) Is there an event t-shirt? Yes. Short-sleeved and V-neck only. Please note: The T-shirt image is crew neck but the T-shirt is V-NECK ONLY. Inspirations for Women is handling our shirts, so the price is in addition to the registration fee. Your purchase price includes tax and fees. $2o for Small to XL $22 for 2XL and 3XL What to bring? Bible, notebook, pen, toiletries, bed linens, pillow, blanket, light jacket. Comfortable clothes. Come with a sense of anticipation of God’s presence and ready to meet with God, repent of sin, and surrender to His will. Ready to register? Ready to register? Follow this link to the Registration Page to register online. If you’d rather mail your registration, make your check out to The Whisper Gathering2019/Pinion and send the following information to Global Outreach/Whisper Gathering, PO Box 1, Tupelo MS 38802 (Be sure to put Whisper Gathering 2019 on the “for” line. DO NOT put my account # on the check, as this will not go through the Global account) Name: Phone Number: Mailing address: Email: Emergency Contact: Phone number: Any special needs: Do you want a t-shirt? What size? Send your form and the amount listed to the above address. $150 for The Whisper Gathering only $170 for The Whisper Gathering plus T-shirt sized S, M, L, or XL $172 for The Whisper Gathering plus T-shirt sized 2XL or 3XL Share the news: Because of Leanna’s

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Advent: Beginning December

Leave a Comment / Discipleship, Scripture Truth / leannahollis

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. I’ve read the book of Isaiah every December for more than two decades. Despite my familiarity with the text, I’m still surprised by the power and the sharp-as-a-knife cut of the words. In the opening pages of his book of prophecy, Isaiah related a divine vision in agonizing detail. The scenes he saw were deep, true and painful. He couldn’t hold back. He was compelled to tell everyone the future God showed him. We’re breaking God’s heart… (The Leanna paraphrase from Isaiah 1 is coming up, but you’ll want to read these verses for yourselves.) “Listen up, world,” Isaiah said. “We’re breaking God’s heart. He’s cared for us like sons and we don’t even know Him. We don’t get Him at all, so we’ve done exactly what He told us not to do, and it’s killing us. Yeah. Literally making us sick, just like He said it would. “Look what a mess we’ve made of our lives. Can’t you see what devastation we’ve caused in our world? Our land? We didn’t think we needed God, so we’ve thrown off His tender watch-care. We’re devastated without Him. If He hadn’t continued to give us the protection we didn’t want, we’d already be gone. “Sure. We’re still rich. We’re still giving big offerings, and we’re still going to church like we always did. Our heart’s not in it, though, and we know it, but we won’t admit it. We’re just doing religion because it’s what we’ve always done on the Sabbath. This is not what God wants from us. He wants our hearts to change. Why not do what He says? Let’s wash our hands and our hearts and turn back to Him now.” Advent – A time to wait and prepare There’s a lot more, of course, but these words set the theme for Isaiah and the theme of the Advent season. It’s not merely a time of waiting. It’s a time of preparation. More than six hundred years before Jesus’ birth, Isaiah called people to return to God and to prepare their hearts for the One to come. They needed time to get ready for Jesus, and we do, too. As we begin our progress toward Christmas and our celebration of the birth of our Savior, we have time to get ready. Let’s use the coming days to examine our hearts and prepare them for our Savior. Do we view God as a demanding tyrant or a loving Father? Are our acts of worship merely rote habit or the overflow of a grateful heart? Do we hide a heart full of sin behind the facade of religion or have we allowed God to strip away all the fake until only real faith and love remain? Is our heart ready for Jesus? Is our heart ready for Jesus? If not, we have time. Over the next few weeks, we’ll prepare together. Today, let’s ask God to help us see our hearts the way He sees them and understand Him the way He most desires. “Come now, and let us reason together,” says the Lord, “Though your sins are as scarlet, they will be a white as snow, though they are red like crimson, they will be like wool.” Isaiah 1:18 nasb Thanks for sharing your time with me today! I’ve glad you stopped by. If you enjoyed this content, follow me on Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest or sign up for the twice-monthly mailing list (below) to be notified about my future blog posts. 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 the most recent posts: On Being Beloved The Whining Season Giving Tuesday: Life on Mission Always Begin With Love If you’re looking for an Advent devotional guide, consider this one: The Road to Bethlehem: An Advent Prayer and Devotional Guide It’s available in Kindle format ($0.99) and paperback ($6.00) (this is an affiliate link, so I may make a few cents if you make a purchase using the link, but it won’t increase your price in any way) Are you interested in helping with the upcoming Massive Packing Party? We’ll pack all the Christmas holiday food for food-insecure students, prepare their Christmas stockings, and pack at least 100 personal hygiene packs for those experiencing homelessness. Join us at the Global Outreach office on Thursday, December 13, at 5:30 pm. Soup provided. If you’d like to help with the homeless outreach supplies, here’s a link to the Homeless Shopping List on Amazon.

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The Whining Season and How I Stopped it

Leave a Comment / Discipleship / leannahollis

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. Several years ago, I walked into my laundry room and was surprised to see a steady stream of water running out of the ceiling. A puddle rapidly expanded atop the clothes dryer. I stuck a large bowl under the leak, dashed upstairs to tell my son to turn off the shower, and called my plumber. He was quick to arrive but, after a brief look, gave a dire pronouncement. To find the source of the leak he needed to make an exploratory incision into the sheetrock of the ceiling. “There’ll be a lot of dust,” he told me. “What about my mama?” I asked. She was on oxygen and in a hospital bed in the next room, recovering from pneumonia. “Gonna be a lot of dust,” he told me again. I put an “out of order” sign on the shower door and waited. Time flew past. My mother died. The holidays came. I fractured my hand, had surgery, and wore a splint for months. A good time for a mess in my home never arrived, especially since the laundry room entrance is just past the front door. Eventually, another plumbing crisis arose. The toilet in my bedroom ran non-stop. My regular plumber had a family emergency and couldn’t get by, so I called Substitute Plumber. He said my toilet was too old to fix and I should just get a new one. As a dedicated DIY fix-it-upper, a new toilet seemed an absurd solution. Why not buy a kit at Lowe’s and install it? He gave me a detailed explanation I didn’t want to hear and totally ignored. Ignoring good advice I called my original plumber again and begged him for help. He assured me he would check the toilet when he came to fix the shower, but he was really busy and it would be a while. He didn’t have time for two problems. The constant water running drove me crazy and kept me awake at night, so I devised a very clever solution involving kitchen twine and the float in my toilet. Problem solved. Sort of. I figured it was enough of a fix to keep me sane until the plumber arrived. I really hated the twine device, so I went to the toilet store, just in case Substitute Plumber was right. All I found were porcelain models of the large intestine masquerading as toilets. Of course, you can’t see that if you are seated, but if you are in my bathtub, there’s a great view of the porcelain large intestine. I was certain I could design a more attractive porcelain potty, so I refused to buy a Large Intestine Toilet. Instead, I decided to wait for the real plumber. Eventually, I prepared myself to endure the dust, but my delay cost me the front place in line. The plumber now had eighteen new houses to finish. “I’m tough as nails,” I told him. “I can take it.” Truly, I thought I could. It could only get worse…and it did. Next, my shower handle broke. I found my pliers and went to work. Unfortunately, I made the problem worse instead of better. After my intervention, the only way to change from bath to shower mode required the pliers and a good grip. I despaired of my DIY skills. By this time, the guest bathroom shower was out of commission, my toilet was tied together with kitchen twine, and the only way to switch from shower to bath now required pliers and more skill than I had. Nearly crazed by the plumbing, I called the plumber again. He still had eighteen houses but he assured me he would get to me soon. I wondered what he had been doing while my plumbing was falling apart but wisely didn’t ask. You’re probably thinking, “Get another plumber!” but he was the only plumber in my town AND he thought he could “probably” fix my toilet. I was willing to endure anything if I could avoid the Large Intestine Toilet. The breaking point I finally reached the breaking point. When I called the plumber again, he uttered the most beautiful words I’ve ever heard. “I’ll be there tomorrow,” he promised. He arrived right on time. We had a family Thanksgiving wedding that weekend, but I felt comfortable leaving the plumber in charge. After all, I’d waited years for him to come. Well, really months, but it seemed like years. He took one look at my toilet and said, “This toilet is too old and you can’t get parts for it anymore. The best thing to do is replace it.” I wanted to cry but didn’t want to mess up my mascara since I was headed out of town. “You mean I waited all this time just to replace the toilet after all?” “Yes, ma’am, you did. Ain’t no choice. You gotta replace this throne.” He probably saw the tears about to escape because he assured me it was no problem. “I have a really nice toilet I can install. Don’t you worry about anything. I’ll take care of it while you’re gone.” What choice did I have? I went to the wedding and left him hard at work. The big surprise Two days later, I returned home to a real surprise. My old toilet was waiting for me on my front porch. I hurried upstairs to check my bathroom and the supposed “really nice toilet.” I stood there in abject horror and could not believe my eyes. My plumber had installed a Large Intestine Toilet in my

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Giving Tuesday: Life on Mission

Leave a Comment / Discipleship / leannahollis

I was just a girl when the story of Isaiah’s vision in the temple first came alive for me, and it rocked my world. It took place the year King Uzziah died. I imagine everyone was sad, especially since his wicked son replaced him as king. We don’t know if Isaiah was in the temple that day as a matter of routine or because he was heartbroken and overwhelmed with grief at the loss of the good King Uzziah. Regardless, Isaiah entered the temple and had an up-close encounter with Almighty God, who was seated on His throne. It was a glorious sight when the train of His robe filled the temple. Seraphim flew around as they praised God and did His bidding. One glimpse at the holiness of God and the prophet knew he was a goner. Instantly, he was stricken with a heartbreaking understanding of his sinfulness. “Woe is me…I’m a man of unclean lips!” As soon as his confession left Isaiah’s mouth, God did something so remarkable I wonder why we don’t speak of it nonstop. He took Isaiah’s iniquity and guilt away with the touch of a burning coal from the altar, proclaimed him forgiven, and gave him a job to do. Who will go? The sequence of events stuns me. Isaiah confessed and God forgave. Instantly, God put him to work. “Whom shall I send and who will go for Us?” Without a moment’s hesitation, Isaiah said, “Here am I. Send me.” (Isaiah 6:8) Just like that, Isaiah’s life took a quick segue to a deep and suffering place of service. I read those words as a girl and prayed, “Here am I, Lord. Send me.” For a long time, it looked as if God heard those words and said, “Sorry, kiddo. You’re not the one.” It took years to understand a different path from Isaiah’s is no less a surrendered path. Life on mission August 15, 2016, I walked into Global Outreach and the second office on the left as an “appointed missionary.” In reality, though, I’d been a missionary for a long time because that’s how it works. We begin to serve and gradually it becomes a full-time lifestyle. Earlier this month, I was commissioned by the board of Global as a full-time missionary. It was just one more step on my journey of obedience. I expected to be a missionary to the digital world but it didn’t work out quite that way. First, I focused on prayer and the Untapped Power Grid was born. The program connects senior adults in long-term care facilities with missionaries in the field. Next, my heart went out to troubled teenagers. Eventually, I learned many of those teenagers had food insecurity issues and we began to provide supplemental food for the weekends. The problem of homelessness seemed too big to tackle so I started with one step. We made personal hygiene packs and gave them to those in need. It went from there, as it often does. Now, I help with everything from visiting the homeless to helping with items needed for re-housing them. Being and doing There’s a lot of doing in my work, but it wouldn’t be worth a thing if there wasn’t “being” to go along with it. Lessons in Discipleship provides in-depth Bible studies in an in-your-place, at-your-pace format. Each study takes a tremendous amount of time to write because each one takes a tremendous amount of study. When you dive deep into the word of God, it changes you. I can’t write the study if I don’t allow the Bible to transform me first. That’s the being part. Hosea. James. Psalm 51. 1 John. If you want to study God’s word in a deeper way, these studies are for you. I almost left out the blog and my writing. That’s a huge part of my ministry and one I’ve sadly neglected the last few months, but I’m finally back. The internet makes it possible for my words to go literally around the world, but blogging at this level is not easy (or cheap). There are programs for social media scheduling, formatting and designing pins, emailing and managing courses, hosting the website and supporting the blog as well as courses to stay current on the latest trends. I haven’t mentioned the women’s retreats, frequent speaking, and mission trips (both domestic and international) but they’re a part of this ministry, too. My sending church, Hope Church Tupelo, asked me to take five minutes and tell about my ministry during a recent service. In preparation, I made a list of all my ongoing projects and realized something very important. I’m not woman enough to do this many projects. It’s a good thing we serve a mighty God who is more than able to handle it all. Giving Tuesday and missionary support Many of you help support this ministry with your prayers, your hands-on assistance, your encouragement, and your financial support and I am deeply grateful for your partnership. Today is Giving Tuesday, a day when we turn our focus toward support of non-profits. Giving to those mission organizations proclaiming the good news of Jesus is a fitting beginning to what is often a hectic shopping season as we prepare to celebrate His birth. If you’ve been blessed by this ministry, I hope you’ll consider giving a one-time or ongoing donation to help continue the work. My ministry budget for this year is just under $22,000. It includes my salary of $310/month but not my living expenses. Those are separate and I handle them. (Missionaries are required to draw a salary of some amount.) You can donate online at our Global Outreach website or send your check or money order to Global Outreach, P.O. Box 1, Tupelo MS 38802. Be sure to put Account #4841 in the memo line. I’d be remiss if I didn’t remind us of an important truth. We’re all called to live and serve on mission, and I hope you’ll serve alongside me.

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Always Begin With Love

3 Comments / Culture, Discipleship / leannahollis

While we enjoyed a sweet time of repentance, revival, and retreat at the Whisper Gathering, a man I can’t understand slaughtered worshippers at a Jewish synagogue in the name of I-don’t-know-what. I returned home to a Facebook feed filled with justified anger over this wanton act of anti-Semitism and yet another mass murder. This time, it hit close to home. I’m not Jewish, but I love plenty of people who are. The thought that someone might enter their synagogue and massacre them fills me with horror. Friends despite the differences I grew up in my grandmother’s home across the street from Mrs. Alice, one of the sweetest women I’ve ever met. Mrs. Alice and my grandmother were great friends. One Jewish and one Christian, those two women talked about religion, recipes, family, and life. They probably disagreed about a few things, including religion, but my staunchly-Southern Baptist grandmother never mentioned it. I don’t know how Mrs. Alice felt about Grandma, but I know Grandma loved her, and I did, too. Mrs. Alice’s granddaughter was one of my friends growing up. We hung out together after school and in the summer. Our group of friends spent time at her home many Saturday nights. We didn’t get together on Friday nights because that was “church time” for the Katz family. No, the Katz family didn’t call it church. They called it synagogue, but, back then, I didn’t see the difference. We didn’t get together on Sunday mornings or evenings either because most of the rest of us had church then. There were lots of different church buildings. The place the Katz family worshiped was just one among many. We didn’t like or dislike anyone based on the building in which they worshiped nor the God they served. Liking and disliking were based on the kind of person you were. It still should be. Their home was a cool place to be, and we were safe there. Mr. Ralph and Miss Carolyn were two of the most elegant, loving, kind people I’ve ever met. I’ve always wanted to be more like them, but I still have a long way to go. Anti-semitism still exists. Someone slaughtered people like the Katz family? On purpose? Because of their religion? The terrible deed sickens me. I longed to help in some way, but how do you help in the face of this kind of evil? I wanted to write something heartfelt and moving. Something that could somehow make the hurt and horror better. I worked for weeks to write a blog post sufficient to catch the essence of my Jewish friends’ heartbreak. It took a while to realize I will never speak with their feelings or from their faith perspective. Instead, I’ve decided to try to communicate with mine because it’s what I know. My faith informs every part of my life, just as the faith of my Jewish friends informs every part of their lives. That’s how it should be. Jewish people of America (and of the world) I’m so sorry about the anti-Semitism and hate you’ve endured and the evil done to you. I wish I could undo the great wickedness you’ve experienced, but I can’t. Instead, I offer my deep regret and sorrow, but I recognize it’s a paltry gift. I wish I could promise this kind of evil will never happen again, but, unfortunately, I can’t. I don’t understand why he slaughtered the people in your synagogue. There is no excuse strong enough to justify such wanton destruction. There is no reason sufficient to bring sense to a senseless act of stupid, evil wickedness. No matter your faith background, “Do not murder” seems an extremely reasonable tenet to follow. Enough already. I’ve seen enough vitriol spewed the last few years to last me more than a lifetime. Enough anger, hate, evil, and killing. Enough. We reached the point of “enough” a long time ago, America. I’m angry and disappointed and, in truth, a little disgusted, too. If you don’t think hate-filled thoughts lead to hate-filled speech and, eventually, to hate-filled acts, think again. As a man thinks in his heart, so is he, my scripture tells us. Those words are true, no matter what your religion. It’s time to button our mouths and open our hearts. Feel free to call me a Pollyanna, unrealistic, or spiritually excitable. I’ve heard it all before. The world would be a much better place if there were a good bit more compassion, kindness, and, yes, love—especially for those who are different in some way. Life in the minority isn’t so great. Although I don’t know what it’s like to live my entire life as a minority, I’ve been in the minority more than once. It wasn’t a warm and fuzzy place. In some of those situations, my faith put me in the minority. In a few of the countries I’ve visited, the number of fellow Christians was astonishingly small. It wasn’t always a comfortable situation. I know people who’ve lost homes, jobs, family, finances and had to flee their homeland—all because they’re Christian. Their experience broke my heart. Not long ago, I was denied an opportunity because I’m “too Christian.” It was a surprise to me, but it wouldn’t have been a surprise to some of my Jewish friends, or to my Sikh and Muslim friends. They aren’t shocked when they’re denied because of their faith because it’s not unusual in their world. My LGBT friends aren’t shocked when they’re denied, either. The problem is in our hearts. The world can be a hard, mean place, especially to those in the minority. The problem is not faith or persuasion. The problem is in our hearts, and it is there where true prevention lies. Unfortunately, you can’t legislate morality. We can, however, examine our own hearts. Reach out to those who are different from us in some way. Get to know them. Accept others, despite our differences. Whether we view those differences as right or wrong, they surely aren’t

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