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[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]Maggie the Wonder Dog is usually the most placid of early-morning risers. She wakes up just enough to go outside for a quick potty trip, then hurries back upstairs to snooze on the end of the bed while I study, write, shower, and get dressed. Mornings are not her favorite. Today, however, I put her back on the bed after her visit outside and she sniffed something interesting on the covers. She went nuts, sniffing, scratching, and trying to get under the sheets. Nothing I did helped settle her down. She’d had a bone on the bed a few days earlier, but long since moved to a better place. I retrieved it in the hope of calming her frantic search. The bone wasn’t “it.” I offered her a stuffed bear, a chew toy, and another sliver of bone. She rejected them all. I commanded her to sit. She ignored me, completely intent on her search. Finally, I opened my Bible and left her to it. She sniffed, scratched and searched all through my quiet time. “That dog is driving me crazy, Lord. You’ll have to speak loud for me to hear over her scratching,” I prayed. (I know. Maybe not the most churchy of prayers.) Seek and you will find… What I read next made me laugh out loud. “And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.” Jeremiah29:13 nasb The words of Jeremiah came alive as I watched Maggie’s focused, relentless, energetic search. She was so much like us humans. Some search for power, control, peace, or security, but we’re all searching for something. Our quest gives direction to our lives and, in some ways, our destiny. For what are we searching? What is the one thing we want more than anything else? Do we seek God with unrelenting focus? If so, we have an iron-clad guarantee. If we turn from the things of this world and seek Him with all our heart, we will find Him. Today, let’s turn our hearts heavenward. Put our search for God and His ways before all the worries and concerns of this world. Seek Him, His Kingdom, and His righteousness and everything else will fall into place. “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things will be added to you.” Matthew 6:33 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 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 a few other posts: Will We Make Room for God in Our Lives? On Being Beloved Daffodils: Harbingers of Hope  Worship at the Judas Rock: When We Identify With the Betrayer When the God of the Universe Knows Our Name Asking Why and Finding Answers 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 unlock_row=”” row_height_percent=”0″ overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ column_width_percent=”100″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″][vc_column column_width_percent=”100″ position_vertical=”middle” 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=”1/1″][vc_column_text] I was at the bedside of a dying woman some years ago. In her last few days, she talked about her brother. She didn’t describe what he’d done, but she was still angry more than 75 years later. The memory gnawed at her all her life and left a root of bitterness so deep it became anchored in her heart. We talked about the importance of forgiveness, but she chose to hold the memory and the anger close as if it were a kind of prize. Holding the memory was a prize, but it wasn’t hers. Her tight-fisted hold on the past was a trophy for the evil one. When bad things happen, and they will, we can process the bad thing, forgive, and find the healing only Christ can give, or we can hang onto it and let it devour us with anger and bitterness. The choice is ours. Which one makes sense to you? Overcome evil with good Evil abounds in this world, but we are to overcome evil with good. That’s not my own Pollyanna-style foolishness. It comes straight from Scripture. “Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.” Romans 12:21 NLT Sometimes, terrible things are done to children, and they leave a lasting impact. I hate those wicked deeds. There are acts of betrayal that feel like you’ve been kicked in the gut and trampled in the mud, and they can leave a lasting impact, too. I hate those acts of betrayal. What I hate more, however, is the way those terrible deeds and acts of betrayal gain the upper hand and destroy the rest of our lives. They can, in a way, train us to believe we deserved the evil or that everyone betrays, everyone will act in an evil way. Those are lies from the evil one and there is no freedom in them. Choose freedom “It is for freedom that Christ set us free…” (Galatians 5:1) Christ died and rose again to give us freedom over the wickedness in our own hearts and the wickedness of others perpetrated on us. Processing our hurts may not be easy and freedom isn’t cheap, but it is possible and we can have it if we want it. If we’re willing to work for it. I’ve had my share of hurt and betrayal and I’ve tried to let God heal it all. Recently in staff devotions, I mentioned a beautiful thing that happened. Years ago, someone said terrible things about me and was unkind. I forgave it, mainly because forgiveness was better for me than holding on and letting bitterness have a root. God eventually restored the relationship. I now enjoy the sweetness of restoration. “I know she hurt me, but the odd thing is I can’t remember what she did.” That’s healing. Not only has the hurt lost its power over me, but it’s also lost its hold in my head. I took those thoughts captive and asked God to remove them, and He did. Is it possible to forgive and forget? “I can forgive but I can’t forget” is a common adage, but it’s not Scriptural wisdom. Let’s agree to stop quoting this bit of trickiness from the evil one. If God can help us forgive, He can handle forgetting, too. You may not believe this right now, but, it is possible to forgive and forget. If we’ll take our thoughts captive and give them to our Heavenly Father, He’ll deal with them. We can’t keep pulling them out of the capture-bag and massaging them to see if they still hurt, though. Do we want a free heart and free head or not? It’s easier than we might think. Here are a few simple steps to forgive and forget: Remember the beginning of the hurt. Examine the original hurt an look for all its roots in our lives. Address each area, “dig it up,” then forgive it. Offer the hurt to God in a metaphorical capture-bag. Continue, one by one, through the hurts in our lives until the thought-capture-bag is full, then hand it over to the Only One who can remove it. Stop rehearsing the hurt. When the memory resurfaces, speak forgiveness again. That sounds simplistic, I know, but the theory is right. Only God can help us process the biggest of hurts, but He’s more than able. He stands ready and willing. He’s waiting for us to choose freedom. We may need help from a pastor or Christian counselor, and it may take time, but we can be released from all our hurts if we want it. Today, let’s choose freedom. When we do, we’ll find we’ve made more room for God “.…and to know that love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.” Ephesians 3:19   /> 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 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 a few other posts: Will We Make Room for God in Our Lives? On Being Beloved Daffodils: Harbingers of Hope  Repentance and the Benefits PackageMissed Lessons and the Failure to Change Finding Good in the Midst of

[vc_row unlock_row=”” row_height_percent=”0″ overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ column_width_percent=”100″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″][vc_column column_width_percent=”80″ position_vertical=”middle” align_horizontal=”align_center” 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=”1/1″][vc_column_text css_animation=”bottom-t-top”] The Unfaithful Servant Jesus told the parable of a master who entrusted a bag of gold coins to each of three servants. He didn’t give them detailed instructions. Instead, he trusted them to do something with what they’d been given. When the master returned to receive their report about the money, two servants heard the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant,” but one did not. The unspoken expectation was for them to use the money to make a profit. One servant was afraid and hid the money in a hole. When the master asked for an account, the money was safe but the servant had no profit at all. He made all kinds of excuses. He didn’t trust the master, but he was also afraid of him. The faithless servant wanted to do the safest thing. The master accepted exactly none of his excuses. The Leanna paraphrase is coming up: “You knew I expected you to do something with what I entrusted you and you did nothing. I’m done with you.” He turned to one of his other workers. “Take the money I entrusted to him and give it to my best servant, the one who did the most.” No doubt the faithless servant felt it was unfair. He probably whined all the way out the door but his excuses made one thing clear. He knew his master expected something from him, yet he refused to make even the least effort. His lack of effort brought no reward and, in fact, reflected both his poor understanding of his master and their tenuous relationship. Well done, good and faithful servant The other two servants understood their master’s expectation for a return on his investment and were eager to please him. They made a profit from the money they’d been given and presented it with enthusiasm. In return, the two faithful servants heard the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant,” from their master. It was high praise from an exacting taskmaster. Jesus compared their experience to the final judgment when He sits on his throne. The sheep on his right will be surprised by his commendation. (The Leanna Paraphrase is coming up again.) “Well done, good and faithful servant. You served me in so many ways. Come on in and receive your reward.” Those servants will be so surprised! “Jesus, I don’t remember doing any of that.” He’ll just smile. “Dear one, I saw every act of service as if you’d done it to me. Thank you.”  (from Matthew 25:34-40) Those are not the exact words, of course, but you get the gist. How to be a good and faithful servant: Know whom you serve The first step in becoming a good and faithful servant is to know the one we serve. The faithful servants clearly knew their master well. They knew he had high expectations but was also fair and rewarded hard work. Their efforts reflected their relationship with the master. In the same way, we serve Jesus most effectively when we know Him in an intimate way through time spent in prayer, in-depth Bible study, and steadfast obedience. When we make an effort to know Jesus in a personal way, we begin to learn what He expects of us and the kind of selfless, loving service He expects. How to be a good and faithful servant: Recognize your talents  Last night, I had an experience with my little dogs that brought the moment of “Well done, good and faithful servant” into focus in a new way. I let Maggie and Mamie, my two Shih Tzus, out the back door one more time before we went to bed. Mamie was surprisingly efficient and was back inside in no time.  Maggie, however, was another story. The rumble of the train as it passed through our town was barely audible in the distance. Maggie doesn’t like the deep rumbling sound so she barked her hardest to make it stop, just as she always does. I finally grew tired of the barking, stepped outside, and walked toward Maggie. Her little barking did nothing at all to stop the big train, but I said what she waited to hear. “Good job, Maggie. You can come in now.” It’s a Shih Tzu’s job to be territorial and protect its owner. When Maggie barks at the train, she’s doing what she was born to do and waiting for affirmation of her faithfulness. Like Maggie, we are also uniquely created and equipped to serve in specific ways. Whether we are best equipped to preach, teach, sing, or serve meals to hungry people, we all have gifts and abilities we can use for the kingdom of God. We were never intended to keep our “talents” to ourselves nor to hide them in a hole. How to be a good and faithful servant: Do something with what you have The master didn’t expect the servants to make a million dollars from their bag of coins. He simply expected a good effort and he rewarded those who did something with what he’d entrusted to them whether they’d made the biggest return or not. In the same way, Jesus does not expect us to preach the greatest sermon ever heard, sing the most popular song in the world, serve the most hungry people, or give every penny we have to the poor. He doesn’t expect us to bring every person in the world to Him on our own. Jesus simply expects us to follow where He leads and serve with the gifts and abilities He’s entrusted to us. If we are gifted in childcare, he expects us to serve children with love to the best of our abilities. He expects a cashier in a grocery to serve faithfully, honestly, with love and good cheer. If we’re a writer, He expects us to write and let someone read what we’ve written.