Posts by Erica Wilson
A Word to the Lonely, Unsatisfied, Frustrated or Frazzled on Valentine’s Day
Ah, Valentine’s Day.
On a day like this, our thoughts naturally turn to the sentimentality of love. We can’t help it! Since before the Black Friday sales were complete, pink and red hearts have been lining the aisles of stores, and the pop-up banners all over the web are convincing us to buy flowers, jewelry, and chocolate for those we love. The world has trained us well in this sentimental version of love through its movies, novels, music, and marketing.
In effect, you may be feeling lonely. You may not have a significant other in your life. Or perhaps the crazy-in-love-fairytale your marriage was supposed to be isn’t living up to that ideal. Maybe you are anticipating the let-down you know Valentine’s Day will inevitably hold. Perhaps you even feel like the love you’ve shown to others is underappreciated or not reciprocated. Let me encourage your heart today.
His Compassions Fail Not
Lamentations 3:22
Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not.
While reading 1 Kings this morning, I was faced yet again with the fact that whenever I think I have the Lord “figured out,” that what I’m thinking is what He’s thinking, He blows my mind… a fresh revelation of what Isaiah 55:9 proclaims:
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways,
And My thoughts than your thoughts.
Crucifying the Self-Life: A Word from the His Land Our Land Conference
On the last weekend in June, The Inn held the 5th Annual His Land Our Land Conference. This is always a powerful time as we hear from Lance Lambert and Dave Kubal and learn how we can effectively direct our prayers of intercession on behalf of our nation and the nation of Israel.
With each year comes a strong word for us as well, His Church. I will share briefly here the admonishment and encouragement from Lance that so powerfully touched us the final night of the conference.
Snake Management 101 (Excerpt from Hold the Starch)
The following essay is found in the book Hold the Starch: Brief Thoughts About God, Me, and You by Bunyan J. Towery (who is actually Dr. Jeff Morton, Pastor of Discipleship at Hillside Baptist Church in Dickinson, ND). Entitled “Hold the Starch”, this collection of essays is not “stiff” or pretentious, but the author communicates simple yet deep nuggets from every day life in an easy to understand way. I like to keep this book by my bedside for a little nighttime encouragement and something to ponder. I read this essay a little while back, and it’s truth has just stuck with me. (Besides, I too hate snakes!) Overcoming the power of sin through Jesus Christ is one of the wonderful promises of the Gospel of life! Hope you enjoy!
Life is Relationships
“Life is relationships. If you’re having a good life it’s because you have good relationships. If you’re having a tough life, it’s because you have problematic relationships.” – Jay Fesperman
Jay’s quote is such a truism. Relationships are so vital and central to life that it is a wonder we can be so negligent at times of our relationships – our relationship to God and our relationship to others. It is when we become careless in our relationships that our lives can become tough.
Consider this…