Listen to Laura's interview with Dr. Sheri on her Where Medicine Meets Ministry podcast. This is a great conversation between two fantastically positive and engaging women of faith.

It's hard to judge someone else when your head's in a trash can

Especially when I’m looking forward to something… like my flight leaving on time. But it’s often while we’re waiting that God gets our attention and gives us our next assignment. This week, let’s play a quick game of Uno as we learn four faith strategies to help us while we’re waiting.

What is it about shame and regret that has such a powerful hold on us? If you’re like me, there are some things that are very, very hard to let go of. But letting go is exactly what Jesus wants us to do. He cares more about who we are becoming than where we’ve been. So this week, let’s do the walk of shame together, let ourselves off the mat, and allow ourselves to accept his forgiveness.Here are this week’s 3 Circle Questions to reflect on alone with Jesus and with a few trusted friends this week. 1. Drop the Rock of Shame – Can you think of a “Walk of Shame” your feet have traveled? Where were you? What did you do? Who saw you? In Psalm 34:5 God promises, “Those who look to Him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.” Imagine yourself looking into Jesus’ eyes. What would He say in grace to you? What truth would He also share?2. Drop the Rock of Regret – God cares more about who you’re becoming than where you’ve been. How does God use our mistakes to make us more like Jesus? What area of your life is He working on right now?3. Drop the Rock of Un-forgiveness - When you confess your sins to God, He remembers them no more. Why is it so hard for us to forgive and forget when we hurt ourselves or we’re hurt by others? You are forgiven to forgive. How can you take a step of forgiveness this week?

When was the last time you stood face to face with someone who told you you’re not enough?Not smart enough. Not pretty enough. Not skinny enough. Not rich enough.It hurts right? This week in our Face to Face series, we look at the Samaritan woman at the well and see how she may have been misjudged - both by the women at the time and by ourselves, as modern day readers.But despite that judgement, Jesus looked past her labels, allowing her to walk with confidence into the plans God had for her. God wants you to do the same!

Did you know that Jesus’ first miracle in the Bible was to turn water into wine? A lot of wine. Some scholars estimate it to have been 180-200 gallons. Maybe Jesus was trying to show us that he could be just an average guy when He wanted to…I read the other day that when COVID -19 started shutting down the US in March 2020, alcohol sales increased by 55%. Sales of it online went up 243%. So…even if you don’t have a relationship with alcohol, I bet someone you care about does.I certainly do. And at times it’s been a little too close for comfort.This week, I sit down and exchange a few words of affection with a few bottles of booze. See if you can relate..

Today, we start a series I’m calling Face to Face. It’s about what happens when ordinary people, like you and me, stand face to face with Jesus. We’ll be looking at people in the book of John, but what happened to them can just as easily happen to us when we “look Jesus in the eyes.” It’s a face to face encounter that will change our lives forever!

When you walk close to Jesus, you can expect that God will give you new insights and a few “Ah-ha!” moments. It’s in these moments when you see Jesus more clearly or hear God’s still-small voice. It can ignite an unstoppable faith and change your life.God is searching the earth looking for people like you & me who want to see Jesus more clearly and hear His voice. Key question – When God is searching, will YOU be found by Him?

It's got its ups and downs, but every single one is worth the trip. Because you never know when the ride will end.