Available as a podcast, click here to listen. As a Christian, you are not allowed to “do you.” By definition of the word, YOU belong to Christ. You have agreed by proclamation, wether that was baptism or confession before another, that He is your Lord and that you will live a life dedicated to Him. … Continue reading
Category Archives: The Mapps Quest
My personal journey and sanctification.
The Struggle is REAL.
Writing this for my class at Liberty University.. and thought that it was worth sharing… If I were to apply a biblical world view to my desires it would look like Philippians 2:3-5, “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only … Continue reading
coming unglued
This week has been a convicting one. I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have … Continue reading
Stuck.
I know I’m supposed to be content.. and I’m going to get a good ‘talking-to’ after writing this.. but I just want what Jesse McMillan has. You can read about what he is going through at his wife, Ashley’s, blog here. Jesse recently found out he has a massive tumor on his brain. I’m not … Continue reading
Kristy, we have a problem..
Today there was this ‘good’ vs. ‘bad’ thing going on in my head during church. Or maybe it was more like a ‘spirit’ vs. ‘flesh’ thing. This has been going on for some time each Sunday as we come in to service and begin to sing. Part of me does NOT want to sing… and … Continue reading
TBH
(That’s: to be honest, for us old fogies.) This morning as I was preparing to go for my morning bike ride I remembered a pastor that had been recommended to me for listening. I found his page, got the first video I could find ready, and set off. I knew by the title of the … Continue reading
Israel – a preface
Today I leave for my first trip over the Atlantic Ocean. It’s pretty amazing to think about all the little events and new people God has placed in my life to bring me to this point. I wanted to write it down so that someday when I’m looking back, I will remember how His hand … Continue reading
alone
Last week as I was doing my study of Matthew 26 & 27 we were prompted to think about Jesus as he pray in the garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36-46). As I read the notes over the passage I was drawn to these statements: The Lord Jesus was far lonelier than you will ever be. … Continue reading
the Short Leash
We left the house to do our usual routine of dropping the kids at school and then Jack & I headed out for our long morning walk. Jack is a smallish dog, a mix between a dachshund and a pit-terrier. He always gets excited when we first come out of the house, and he happily … Continue reading
Watching Him Work
Well, it’s been 4 months since I wrote about what was going on personally in my life. I just can’t seem to find the time to blah about myself amidst the desire to study God’s word, and do my regular wifely duties. I’ve been so in awe lately of how close God is. It seems … Continue reading
Faith Seeds
This morning as Ethan and I were sitting in my bed doing our devotionals, he stopped and wanted to read me part of his. It was about when Jesus talks about having faith as small as a mustard seed. “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, … Continue reading
To be, or not to be?
Lately I’ve been internalizing how to cope with knowing who I am in Christ, and still being part of this world. It seems like a silly notion to be confused about this kind of thing, but my mind wanders to a place where rest can truly be found. I’m caught in a sort of middle … Continue reading
Fal$e Teacher$
Sweetness… Fal$e Teacher$ By Shai Linne Special dedication to my brothers and sisters on the great continent of Africa: To saints to Malawi, Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Zimbabwe. Don’t be deceived by what America’s sending y’all, man. Let me begin While there’s still ink left in my pen. I’m set to contend For truth you can … Continue reading
my Hiding Place
How is it possible to be so happy and so horribly depressed at the same time? One minute I’m elated at what I can clearly see God doing, and the next I am in tears because I don’t know what He wants me to do. There is an inward struggle at work. I already know … Continue reading
Getting ready.
This past week has been a difficult one when it comes time to get Ethan up and ready for school. It’s usually about 7:20 when I come into his room and start patting him. Once he’s coherent I will read a the morning devotion from Morning & Evening by Spurgeon (there’s an app). He likes … Continue reading
Rats!
Please excuse the vulgarity of this example, but it was on my mind this morning, and I think you will see why I wanted to write it down. Let’s say we are several rats in a maze. There is no race, though some think there is, and there are several exits. Only one exit has … Continue reading
Prayers Answered
So many wonderful things are going on around here! I have just been so elated lately that I guess it’s time to write about it. So here goes… first up, my husband. For some time now we have been discussing the need for sound doctrine to be taught to new believers, before they ever get … Continue reading
You are what you eat.
Like me, I’m sure you’ve heard that saying a thousand times. You are what you eat. This never really made an impression on me until yesterday. My husband and I were discussing the difference between what we consider useful to ‘ingest’ and what was of no use. The more I pondered on it, the more … Continue reading
Carry Me
God has been working on my anger, stubbornness, and exaggeration issues. I know this because in all the study I am doing the words jump out at me to be in line with the Spirit. The fruits of the Spirit are: “love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” – Galatians 5:22-23. In contrast, scripture clearly describes what … Continue reading
I’m still not tired.
When I first announced that I had turned over my life to Christ I received some interesting comments and sideways stares. I could almost feel the questions behind the reactions… ‘What does that mean?’. For some this announcement came with the usual reaction of, ‘we’ll see how long this adventure lasts’. It is true that I have … Continue reading