The Temptation of "If"
"He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the LORD" (Psalm 40:3 ESV)....
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Barb Lownsbury
- May 19
- 5 min
Press On: Developing Spiritual Grit
"Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ...
Barb Lownsbury
- Apr 21
- 5 min
Scrapping and Sanding the Soul
The Holy Spirit gives us the wisdom needed to change our thinking as we seek to find joy even amid our brokenness.
Barb Lownsbury
- Apr 8
- 5 min
Victory at the Cross
They were down 32 points. They needed 5 touchdowns to win. F-i-v-e. Everyone had written them off. The Houston Oilers had scored 21...
Barb Lownsbury
- Feb 24
- 7 min
Diffusing the Darkness
When meanness and a lack of kindness abound, choose to diffuse the darkness.
Barb Lownsbury
- Feb 3
- 4 min
Ugly Thoughts
Desperate for something, anything different than my current mental state of war, I opened my Bible. And God showed up.
Barb Lownsbury
- Jan 6
- 5 min
Chips of the Soul
That cold look. The ugly email. The person who tries to stir up conflict again and again, all while claiming to be the victim. Chip,...
Barb Lownsbury
- Dec 23, 2022
- 2 min
The Night Before Christmas
‘Twas the night before Christmas And all through the house I wandered alone, my joy somewhat doused. See, the stockings were hung and the...
Barb Lownsbury
- Dec 9, 2022
- 4 min
The Ebb and Flow of Faith
I quietly sit in the softness of the sand, mesmerized by the steady roaring and crashing of the mighty ocean’s waves. I know the tide is...
Barb Lownsbury
- Nov 18, 2022
- 4 min
Meaningful Prayer
I have this vivid memory of a prayer night I participated in back in my college days–so vivid that all these years later, I still...
Barb Lownsbury
- Nov 4, 2022
- 5 min
Fighting the Slow Fade
I sat raptly at the end of the church pew, my head cocked sideways, face askew with skepticism. The words floated around me, but I...
Barb Lownsbury
- Oct 14, 2022
- 5 min
Understanding the Mind of God
Have you ever wondered how God feels about you in the midst of a bad choice or dark place? Or how he wants you to handle those decisions...
Barb Lownsbury
- Sep 23, 2022
- 5 min
Intimacy with God
I had a rather interesting dream recently. I am sitting close to the stage at the Oscars, settled between two successful actresses you...
Barb Lownsbury
- Sep 11, 2022
- 8 min
My Messy Prayer
Prayer isn't always simple, humble or easy. Yet often it is within our messy prayers that God's true power really begins to shine.
Barb Lownsbury
- Aug 20, 2022
- 5 min
God-in-a-Box
I used to try to fit my Christianity into a box. Ever been there? I had a checklist that needed to be in place in order to feel good...
Barb Lownsbury
- Jul 30, 2022
- 6 min
Push Past Fear
Ever been paralyzed by fear? I certainly have. The what if's and the obstacles overwhelm me before I even start. Fear of pain, both...
Barb Lownsbury
- Jul 8, 2022
- 3 min
Gaining Perspective
A shift in perspective can shift your life experience for the better.
Barb Lownsbury
- Jun 17, 2022
- 3 min
The Right Timing
Jesus was asked to do things he didn’t necessarily feel he was ready to do. Picture him in the earliest days of his ministry. He had...
Barb Lownsbury
- May 27, 2022
- 4 min
Remarkable Impact
A young Jewish girl is captured by a conquering nation and made into a servant-slave. There is nothing particularly special about her,...