Devotionals
In 2015, I was given the opportunity to write devotionals for LandMAX Properties and Timber Company, where I worked part-time. The "Words of Encouragement" devotional series was originally inspired by LandMAX’s owner, Chad Smith, whose heart has always been to be a light to others through his daily work. Though my husband, Matt, and I took on a new ministry role out of town shortly after this began, I’ve continued writing for LandMAX ever since (and sometimes Matt jumps in to write as well)!
We’re incredibly grateful for the many years we’ve been part of this wonderful vision for the LandMAX community, and now we’re excited to extend these devotionals to you, too!
The Source
Turning to the logical solution isn’t the wrong thing to do. But leaning on that alone omits the very Source—the source of all wisdom in modern medicine and things we haven’t even discovered yet. The source of every financial solution, because not only does He own everything, but He made it all, too. The source of all hope, joy, peace, and every good thing. What would Asa’s story have looked like if he had turned to God first?
Correction or Criticism?
We live in a world where, thanks to so much of our lives being lived online, we hear an opposing opinion for almost everything we see. Content created with good intentions gets picked apart online daily. People often assume things about the person who created it—their motives, their financial status, etc.—picking the person apart piece by piece. Let’s take it a step further—the comments themselves get picked apart, too! Have an opinion? Rest assured, the opposite will be argued if you share that opinion online.
Spread the Word
We’re wrapping up the last of our Mississippi camps this week before our new journey in South Carolina begins! I always get so emotional as I watch the students respond at the altars, and I am so grateful that Matt and I had the opportunity to steward the ministry that changed our lives as teens. It was at youth camp for Matt and at youth conference for me that we were both called to ministry when we were teens ourselves. Some of the first interns Matt volunteered with at camps years ago are now leading our kids camps this week. It’s a generational cycle. I know that, in watching these teens—and children now this week—I am watching the next generation of the Church come to life. Statistically, 77% to 83% of Christians give their lives to Jesus before age 18. I have always loved working with young people in the church because of this. There is nothing like seeing the generations behind us carrying the torch of sharing the gospel with others.
Intentional Details
Matt and I are back in Mississippi this week to finish our ministry assignment here, wrapping up the summer camps we’ve been so blessed to lead every year during this most recent season of our lives. My heart has been so full of gratitude as we get to watch students encounter Jesus night after night here in Mississippi one more time.
Why?
I have been battling some chronic health issues over the past couple of years. I chose to start with a holistic approach in searching for a remedy. While I have nothing against traditional medicine, I love that holistic doctors usually search for the root cause of an illness. Is it chronic stress? Mold exposure? Too many toxins in our food? Genetic predisposition? As I started exploring the root cause of what was going on in my body, I found myself asking the question, “Why?”