I once took my oldest son to see his favorite basketball player, Giannis Antetokounmpo, play against the Orlando Magic. We had general admission tickets and stood outside in a long line for quite some time waiting to go through security. When we finally made it inside the arena, we bought two bags of popcorn and two bottles of water for about $230 (slight exaggeration), then made our way to the middle stands to settle into our hard seats. Other patrons had to step over us to get to their seats, so we were regularly faced with strangers’ backsides or bellies as they scooted down the row.

It was a very different world when my husband and I were invited to sit courtside at an Oklahoma City Thunder game. First, we were offered special VIP parking in a garage right next to the arena. Then instead of waiting in line, we walked up to a special VIP entrance where our things were quickly passed through an X-ray machine. After the twenty seconds that took, security escorted us to a private lounge where a James Beard Award–winning chef had prepared the meal for the evening. Drinks of all types were free and plentiful, and when it was time for the game, security escorted us to our plush seats. When the game ended, we were escorted to a private exit, where we climbed into our car and left without fighting traffic.

When I was on the Oklahoma City Thunder’s VIP list, I experienced a number of amazing perks because of the price that was paid for my ticket. But as amazing as those perks were, they don’t begin to compare to the perks of being on God’s VIP list. Unlike any VIP list created by a human being, God’s VIP list is not based on wealth or celebrity. It is simply based on the condition of your heart.

After the prophet Samuel asked Jesse to have his sons pass before him, the first son he saw was the eldest, Eliab. When Samuel looked at Eliab’s outward appearance, he was convinced that Eliab was God’s next chosen king of Israel (1 Samuel 16:6). He was undoubtedly attractive and probably even had some of the features that made King Saul stand out (1 Samuel 9:2). He looked royal, but he was far from it. God told Samuel in 1 Samuel 16:7, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”

Even though Eliab was pleasing to Samuel’s eye and his name was on Samuel’s VIP list, it was David who was pleasing to God’s heart and had his name on God’s VIP list. God chose David because he was the fulfillment of 1 Samuel 13:14: he was a man after God’s own heart. God didn’t choose David because man had chosen him. God chose David to prove that God’s opinion is the only one that matters.

After Samuel had met seven of Jesse’s sons, the Bible says in 1 Samuel 16:10–11,

“The LORD has not chosen these.” So [Samuel] asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?”

“There is still the youngest,” Jesse answered. “He is tending the sheep.”

Samuel said, “Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.”

I imagine this moment was pregnant with frustration as Jesse and his sons were forced to stand and wait for someone they had not even invited to the sacrifice.

So he sent for him and had him brought in. He was glowing with health and had a fine appearance and handsome features.

Then the LORD said, “Rise and anoint him; this is the one.” (1 Samuel 16:12)

Samuel was impressed by David’s physical appearance, but it wasn’t his physical appearance that qualified him in the eyes of God. God saw what Samuel couldn’t see.

So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the LORD came powerfully upon David. (1 Samuel 16:13)

Pay close attention to something. The Bible says Samuel anointed David in the presence of his brothers. Samuel anointed David in the presence of the people who had left him out in a field tending sheep by himself while their father invited them to have an audience with God’s prophet. Everything God does is purposeful, and when I consider this scene, I believe the reason why God had Samuel anoint David in the presence of the people who had rejected him was because God wanted to teach David and his family an important truth.

No matter who overlooks you, abandons you, or leaves you in a field by yourself tending sheep, when God is for you, no one can oppose you. When God is for you, the people who rejected you will have to watch him promote you. When God is for you, the favor of God will make your enemies your audience.

The manager who denied your promotion, only to have their boss promote you anyway because of your impressive record of impact.

The guy who broke up with you over text and now has to watch you walk down the aisle with his college friend who asked you to marry him.

The teacher who told you that you would never be anything but then showed up to your book signing and asked you to sign their copy.

That last one happened to me. I couldn’t help but thank God that he has the final say in my life. And he has the final say in your life too!

Many people love to quote Psalm 23 to remind themselves that God is faithful in trials and tribulations. Pay special attention to verse 5, which says, “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.” When you learn to see rejection as a gift, you will realize that the people who rejected you are simply the audience for whom God is preparing the table of your purpose. Instead of lamenting who rejected you, praise God for what he is preparing because of them!

What God created you to do is not dependent on the acceptance of other people.

While people can reject you, no one can reject your purpose. Your purpose is never hindered by someone who walks away from you. Your purpose is never hindered by a situation that didn’t work out for you. Instead of blocking your future, the gift of rejection simply reveals the end of some people’s roles in your destiny.

The post God’s VIP List first appeared on Live Original.

In order to win spiritual battles, the first thing you have to know is what you’re wrestling with.

Sit with this list a moment: rulers, authorities, cosmic powers, and spiritual forces of evil in the heaven lies.

These battles are not against flesh and blood, but against unseen forces. Understanding this is critical.

We are facing a battle that goes beyond our human capacity, and it demands spiritual weapons.

Today, a spiritual battle rages around us. The concept of womanhood is under attack from all sides—culturally, socially, and spiritually. As daughters of God, we stand at a crossroads. Will we sit on the sidelines and watch as our identity is eroded, or will we rise up, reclaim our divine identity, and engage in this fight? It’s a choice we must make, and it requires both courage and faith.

Women are increasingly being marginalized, silenced, and objectified. Dark forces are at work to undermine the God-given identity of women, attacking the safety of our children, the health of our marriages, and the stability of our families. These forces aim to destroy what God has declared good. This is not just a cultural battle—it’s a spiritual one. And it’s far too great for us to fight in our human strength. We need divine intervention.

The fight to reclaim what it means to be made in the image of God, particularly as women, requires Heaven’s involvement.

This battle is not just a social issue—it’s a spiritual one, and that principle applies to every spiritual battle we face. Whether fighting for our identity, our marriages, or our children, we must recognize that the root of the conflict is spiritual.

So, what do we do? The first step is to invite God into the battle. We have spiritual authority only when we are under His authority. This is a key truth. We don’t fight in our own name or strength but in the name of Jesus. Through Him, we engage our battles with Heaven’s strategy—and this is where we experience victory.

Our battles are won when we wrestle first in prayer. Prayer is our most powerful weapon because it invites God’s power, wisdom, and strategy into our situation. When we pray, we acknowledge our own limitations and invite God’s strength to take over. He steps in when we surrender to Him, and that’s where victory is found.

Ephesians 3:20 reminds us, “Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think” (NLT). The key here is God’s mighty power working in us. Victory doesn’t come from our own strength or wisdom, but from God working through us.

No matter who we are or what we face, submission to God is the key to winning spiritual battles. David modeled this repeatedly throughout his life. Though a skilled warrior, he always sought God’s counsel before engaging in battle. He knew that victory depended on God’s direction, not just his own abilities.

Our warfare requires God’s grace and guidance. Though it may seem counterintuitive, overcoming spiritual battles begins with surrender. It’s not about fighting harder; it’s about yielding more fully to God. When we surrender, we exchange our weakness for His strength, our confusion for His wisdom, and our plans for His strategy.

James 4:6–7 says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” First, we submit to God, then resist the devil, and the enemy flees. Submission is not weakness—it is the pathway to divine strength.

When we submit, pray, and obey God’s Spirit, His kingdom authority comes to bear on our challenges. We are no longer fighting in our own limited capacity; we’re backed by Heaven’s resources. Surrender places us under God’s authority, where His protection and power flow into our lives.

I encourage you today to lift up your heart in surrender to your Heavenly Father. Lay down your fears, your plans, and your worries. Trust that through Christ, you will have victory over every demonic attack. It may not happen immediately or look the way you expect, but when you invite God into your battle, you position yourself for divine victory.

Spiritual battles are real, but so much greater is the power of God. When we surrender, pray in faith, and stand firm in His authority, we will see the enemy defeated. Victory has already been won through Jesus Christ—our role is to step into it through obedience and surrender. Rise up, daughter. Your victory is assured.

Lisa Bevere is an internationally known speaker, a New York Times bestselling author, and host of The Fight for Female podcast. Lisa has been married to her husband, John, for over forty years, and together they have four sons and nine grandchildren. You can connect with Lisa on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, X, and LisaBevere.com

The post The Key to Overcoming Every Spiritual Battle first appeared on Live Original.

Watch the full message linked here – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9W0rpBi92jI&t=89s

The post The Danger of Compromise first appeared on Live Original.

In today’s world, we are constantly told we need a plan of where we want our lives to go or we are asked where we see ourselves in 5 to 10 years.

I graduated college almost three months ago and to be very honest with you all, I was scared half to death. During college, we are constantly lectured that when we graduate we need to have it all figured out, know exactly what we want to do, where we want to live, and have the next 5 years of our lives planned out or we will not be successful. Excuse me? As a girl who majored in one of the broadest majors there are did not know the answer to any of these questions, and it honestly made me feel like a failure or that I was disappointing the people around me. I am here to tell you as a 3-month post-grad girly, I am still living in the complete unknown of what I am doing and what is coming next, but guess what? That’s okay! The beauty of it is that we do not have to have it all figured out because we know the One who holds tomorrow!

The unknown seasons of our lives can truly be such a beautiful time if we allow it to be. I heard a comparison of our life plans to a wet bar of soap. I know this sounds crazy but stick with me. If you hold a wet bar of soap too tight, it will slip right out of your hands. If you just allow it to sit in your open hand, it’ll move around, but stay in control. This is how we should view holding on to our plans for our lives. It’s okay to have dreams and desires for your life, but don’t hold onto them so tight that you aren’t open to the plans God has for you.

This comparison has helped me to see that for a while I was holding onto Dacey’s plans a little too tight and not being as open as I should be to the plans God had for me. If anyone knows me, I am an extreme planner. I like to plan out every day to the T. I was the kid that at the age of 10 knew exactly how I wanted my life to pan out. I wanted to finish school, be married at 19 (like my parents of course), have 3 kids by 30, and be a stay-at-home mom. This plan sounded so perfect to me, and any other plan just sounded horrible. Well, I am here to tell you today, that I am 22, and Dacey’s 10-year-old self’s plan is not working out how she thought it would. But that is okay!! Just because my plans aren’t going how I thought they would, that just means God has a better plan in store for me and you if you can relate to 10-year-old Dacey’s plans! I encourage you to loosen the grip on your plans even though it may be a little scary at first! Remember the One who created you and everything around you knows what is best for you and what is to come in your life! Trust Him, He’s got it under control!

In Matthew 6:34, God calls us to not be anxious about tomorrow because if He clothes the grass of the field, will He not clothe you even more than the grass? God wants us to believe that He will provide for us, and we should not worry about what is to come in our futures. This is why the unknown seasons and times of our lives can be such sweet and faithful times with the Lord. When we have no plans at all for our lives, it allows us to be more open to the plans God has for us. In this unknown season of my own life, I have no plan like my 10-year-old self did. I still have dreams and desires of being a wife and mom one day, but right now, God has a different plan for my life and those dreams and desires will come in God’s perfect timing if it is His will for me to be a wife and a mom one day.

Changing our perspective of the unknown from scared to excited allows us to open our eyes and hearts to what all God could do in this season of our lives! When we have no idea, God knows it all. He knows where we are going to be in 5 years even though we don’t. He knows where we will live tomorrow or in the next few years, even though we don’t have a clue. I encourage whoever is reading this and myself who feels like they have no idea what they are doing in life right now to do whatever we do with open hands for God’s plan and to be expectant of what He can and will do in our lives. Do I understand everything right now? Of course not, but I am thankful we love and follow a God who calls us to trust Him and lean not on our understanding. Being in the unknown is okay, even if you have been told your whole life you need to have it all figured out.

In this season of life, lean into Him and trust that He will lead and guide you to exactly where you are meant and called to be. Fully lean into Him. God knew you before you were in your mother’s womb. Girl, He knows you by name, and His love for you is unmatched.

The Creator of the world knows you, and in Jeremiah 29:11, He tells us that He knows the plans for our lives. If this isn’t reassuring, I don’t know what is. Believe this and this season of your life might just become the most exciting one yet!

Dacey Triplett is an LO ambassador and has been writing for LO since 2023! She just graduated from Appalachian State University with a Bachelors in Public Relations. 

“A big part of who I am is that I was born with Achondroplasia dwarfism. I know that’s a really big word but all it means is that I was born with short limbs which means I’ll only be about 4ft tall for my whole life. It would have been easy for me to let this define who Dacey would be, but God had something else in mind. He took what the world would have called a mistake and turned it into a blessing. God can turn anything around, and He definitely did in my life! He used my dwarfism to give me a story, and now I get the opportunity to tell my story to thousands of people! If you can learn anything from me, I’d encourage you to be the you that God created you to be!! “

Keep up with Dacey on social media – @dace.trip 

The post Be Excited for the Unknown first appeared on Live Original.

Oftentimes when you want to be something or do something, you have a role model or mentor. Someone who has already become a so-called “expert” in the subject you are trying to master. You watch this person closely and hang onto their every word in hopes to find some bit of the map to your desired destination. Piece by piece, word by word, story by story you’re closer to unveiling how to accomplish this ambition. Your mind begins to expand and your heart smiles as this goal of yours is slowly becoming a reality.

Our first thought for someone who is an “expert” on strength is probably someone with immense physical strength. Like Goliath in 1 Samuel 17, a man of enormous size and physical capabilities. His physical strength was so monstrous that he terrified an entire army and kept them from battle. Yes, an entire army. And if I’m honest, this will never be my kind of strength. I am 5’7. Paralyzing an army from my sheer physical strength and stature is not in the cards for me.

The kind of strength I desire is not this physical strength demonstrated by Goliath or what we typically think of described in the first definition of strong: “having the power to move heavy weights or perform other physically demanding tasks.”^[1]

The kind of strength I desire is that of David in the Goliath story. He exemplified the second more encompassing and true definition of strength that I believe is far more valuable than just the physical, to be “able to withstand great force or pressure.” ^[2]

When every soldier in the entire army trembled in fear at Goliath’s physical strength, David revealed what it means to be truly strong. He had every pressure to back down from battle but he withstood.

Fully aware that he was just a shepherd and not a soldier, David begged to go into battle against Goliath.

Fully aware that Goliath was a GIANT, David begged to go into battle against Goliath.

Fully aware of the warnings of fellow soldiers that he was not capable of winning, David begged to go into battle against Goliath.

When I read this story, I couldn’t help but wonder how David was able to withstand. How could David be so strong when everything in this world points to just giving in?

It actually took me flying 23 hours across the country, passing out in freezing weather, and climbing the tallest free standing mountain in the world to figure this one out. So I pray and hope this streamlines your process a bit.

The 23 hour flight was to Tanzania. Tanzania is home to a 19,341 foot Goliath of a mountain called Mount Kilimanjaro. I had the incredible opportunity to hike this mountain this summer to raise awareness and funds for Compassion International, an organization committed to freeing children from poverty in Jesus’s name. And that mountain is home to the freezing weather I mentioned a bit ago. For 6 days, this mountain was my home as well.

We ate on this mountain, talked on this mountain, laughed on this mountain, slept on this mountain, and yes…. went to the bathroom on this mountain. But more importantly, we hiked on this mountain.. for hours and hours. The first four days were honestly bliss. All my months of training for this trek had paid off. On the fourth night you wake up at midnight to climb the remaining 4000 feet to the top of the mountain. You eat breakfast in the pitch black with only stars and the moon illuminating the sky and begin your summit to the top.

Staring up at the stars, in the 9 degree weather, I looked up to the heavens and told God “this is one of the best days of my life”. I danced for the next 2-3 hours as I walked step by step up the mountain until something funny happened. I began to feel lightheaded. And then I would pass out. As I am climbing up rocks and in the snow, I begin to pass out for 1-2 seconds at a time and catch myself just before I hit the ground with my handy hiking poles.

Long story short, I did this for the next 2 hours of the hike. All my months of training never prepared me for this moment. My physical strength was gone. My mental strength diminished every time I passed out. I was not strong like David. The very real pressures of this circumstance were weighing on me like I had never experienced weight before and I was entirely too weak to withstand.

I started to pray and ask the Lord for strength because I no longer had it. I was absolutely desperate. And in my desperation, the Lord reminded me of the lyrics of the first song I ever sang in Church “I am weak but thou art strong”.

Step by step. I hiked this mountain for 6 more hours singing this song to myself.

“I am weak but thou art strong.”

And step by step. The Lord gave me strength. Strength to withstand the pressures and summit Mount Kilimanjaro.

I realize that this is how David did it. This is how David withstood the pressures and entered battle. This is how David slayed Goliath. This is how David was made strong.

By first recognizing He is weak but thou art strong.

He didn’t have the strength, but He walked with a God that did.

As I have been home I’ve faced days where the pressure feels like it’s coming from every side. And instead of trying to find the courage, I just simply surrender to God and say “I am weak, but thou art strong.” I put God back on the throne of my heart, I make Him the source of my strength, and humble myself that I am not strong.

And then I walk with the one that is. Just like David did. The song I sang on the mountain is actually a hymn called “just a closer walk with Thee”. How beautiful? I don’t have to muster up the strength, I simply need to walk closer to thee.

You don’t have to muster up the strength. Simply surrender. Say “God I am weak, but thou art strong.” And then walk with the one that is.

Remember how earlier I mentioned finding an expert, role model, or mentor? Jesus is that. He is my expert, role model, and mentor. He walked this earth and exemplified to us perfectly how to walk with thee. How to be strong amidst the pressures of this world. And He is so much more. He is the source of this very strength and life I desire.

I’ve learned that if I want to walk with thee, I need to study the one that did so perfectly. And you know what’s beautiful? As I study and read about Jesus’s life, pray, and surrender this crazy thing happens:

Piece by piece, word by word, story by story I’m becoming stronger although I am weak. My mind is expanding and my heart is smiling. Perhaps even doing a dance. And this goal of being strong, through Jesus has become a reality.

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13

And through Christ, it can be your reality too.

Maia Mae Huff is passionate about spreading love, truth, and light to all people. Whether that be through phone calls with a friend, her In This Together podcast, speaking, or any way that God leads.

Keep up with Maia Mae Huff on Instagram @maiamaehuff

The post I Am Weak, but Thou’ Art Strong first appeared on Live Original.

Think of this idea as a painting. We may spend hours staring at a painting, constantly looking it over and still, we are unable to grasp the painter’s intention. We might even wonder why on earth someone would paint something like that. Now, let’s say we are staring at a painting and the original painter is right beside us. We might be able to see their vision for the painting while getting to hear the purpose behind it— their desire for their design. Now isn’t it true that it’s far easier to know someone’s desire for their design when they are close to us? A close friend will know your heart behind a tough decision, over someone who watches your life from the internet. Someone who has seen you at your worst will be able to fully celebrate you at your best, over someone who hasn’t seen how hard you’ve fought. Moms have a sixth sense when it comes to knowing what their babies need because of how close their bond is. So what if as Christians, as we spend time with God who is the one true designer, we might start to understand the beauty of His desire a little better? And if the designer is God, then you my dear friend, are a product of his ultimate desire.

We may never know why things take the shapes they do, or why people in certain circles have it harder than others. One does not tell the mountains how they should look, nor does someone tell the ocean how to behave. So we may never know the purpose in the details of our design. However, I will say that the more we spend time with our designer, the more our desires will eventually come into alignment with his design. We don’t have to be the designer, but our desire can grow for what God has designed. In the Old Testament, the prophet Isaiah said,

“Yes, Lord, walking in the ways of your laws, we wait for you; your name and renown are the desire of our hearts. My soul yearns for you in the night; in the morning my spirit longs for you…” (Isaiah 26:8-9).

One of the ways our desire grows is by walking in close proximity with God. There were times when the Israelites walked close to God and they followed his laws, they obeyed his commands and they were walking in his presence daily. God had a desire to be near to them and they had a desire to be near to Him. Then there were other times when the Israelites waited on God. They waited for him to come through, they waited for his promises, they waited for him to tell them which ways to go and yet they did this in close proximity to God. Now like any journey with God, there are times when we fall off. We tend to go our own way and we often think that what we know is better than what God knows. But at the end of the day, our heart’s desire is for God. When we go off on our own, there is still something inside of us that’s searching for meaning greater than ourselves. Therefore, God’s design is supposed to be our greatest desire.

The more we get to know our Creator, the more we get to see how truly beautiful His design for His creation is. When we sit with him in the mornings, we are met with his presence before anything else has a chance to sway our desires. When we pray to God for answers before turning to other people, we give him the space to share with us his design. When we are questioning life and the path that we must take, the very one who designed our path is waiting to tell us where to go. Again, we don’t have to understand God’s design, but the more time you spend with him, the more you will understand his desire. And spoiler alert, you are God’s ultimate design and the product of his greatest desire.

If he is the designer and you are his masterpiece then he sees underneath the mess, underneath the smudges, behind the layers and into the depths of the darkest paint in your life. He painted it! He designed you, He formed you in the secret place and He loved you completely before you ever achieved a single thing! Now your life might feel bleak, hopeless, worn out, tired and stuck, but there’s a designer who’s in the business of making his design into something beautiful. Friends, the more time you spend with your designer, I pray the more you will experience the desire he has for you. And my goodness is it ever beautiful.

So may his design, become your greatest desire.

The post God’s Design Over My Desire first appeared on Live Original.

According to Newsweek, the United States is home to around 12,000 different summer camps which over 20 million campers attend each summer. What you are doing matters. Getting dressed up, playing games, and dancing to music is something that happens at camps across the country on any given summer night. Each event and party with a purpose helps friends, and soon-to-be friends, connect and break down barriers. The energy, laughter, and fun reverberates over all the noise from the outside world. Everything you are doing matters. Here are my two takeaways from working at different summer camps over the past 7 years.

1. Ask them their name and invite them in. This is practical for every day, but especially at camp. Campers are coming from all over the place, more often than not by themselves. They are in an unfamiliar place and surrounded by new people. Ask them their name, before they even have to introduce themselves. Jesus throughout scripture calls people by their name, often before they even know He notices them. In Luke 19:3-6 Jesus calls a man by the name of Zacchaeus out of the crowd and by his name.

3 He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.5 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.

I would have loved to be in the crowd to see Zacchaeus’ expression when Jesus called him by his name. Names are so important. When we get to know people, we learn more about Jesus’ character. Take time to learn names and take time to hear stories from the campers and staff you are with during the summer. Show campers that they are known and invite them in. This seems plain and simple at first, but this is so important. This characteristic of Jesus is so evident throughout the Bible and with how he encounters and sees the unseen people, the people on the outskirts. Invite people into conversations, moments, and friendships.

2. Hold everything with an open hand. Ask anyone who has ever shared a cabin with me, I am an overpacker. But I like to call myself an “over-packer, with a purpose.” There are so many events and moments at camp that call for different apparel. Whether it be a skit night, an Olympic theme day, or Tie-Dye Tuesday, there’s always an occasion and something to get dressed up for. For me, there’s a special feeling when I get to share with my friends. This not only goes with belongings but also with time. Time is one thing that there never seems to be enough of during the day. My first summer volunteering at a Young Life camp that is nestled in the mountains of North Carolina we memorized Philippians 2:1-11. Since then I have continuously returned to these verses.

2 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. 5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature[a] God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature[b] of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

When working in a community, especially a community where everyone sleeps, eats, and plays together for a couple of months, it is so important to know your “why.” Philippians 2: 1-11 clearly outlines our purpose. Our purpose is to move our lives to having the same mindset as Christ. Through this mindset, we can humbly serve our community with open hands and an open heart. Be prepared to share. Thoughts, scripture, clothes, but maybe not your toothbrush, they are on their own if they don’t have that. I like to say, hold everything with an open hand… if someone needs to borrow something or you have something that would help make their life easier, share it or offer it to them.

I love summer camps and how they bring people together so they can make memories, have fun, and give a mission to those who choose to take it on. But truth be told, that nostalgic feeling of excitement will wear off. The games and dances might start to feel redundant. You might not want to be running around all day in the lingering summer sun. But what you are doing matters. The campers and staff that show up to camp can get a glimpse of what a Kingdom-built community looks like. Campers might just get a glimpse of who Jesus is because of how you and your co-staff love them.

I pray that as we enter this next month of summer camping across the United States, that each camper, staff, and family doesn’t leave the grounds without knowing more about Jesus. I pray that each of you feels known and “purpose-filled.” I pray that you set your eyes on Jesus, even when the sun is hot and the time in the day never seems to be enough. I pray that your hearts, minds, and eyes are fixed on Jesus.

Love you, friends,

Hannah Black

Keep up with Hannah on Instagram @hannaheblack!

For more encouragement read: Hebrews 12:1-2. 12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

The post The Beauty of Summer Camp first appeared on Live Original.

FOLLOWER

DEFINITION: Someone that follows the opinions or teachings of another and imitates the other.

As someone who grew up in a time when social media was being created and continually growing, I joined each new platform as they were introduced. Once my accounts were established, my attention began to be drawn to how many followers I had. At this point, my idea of following someone or even being followed by someone only related to a number on my social media account. My days would be consumed with thoughts like these:

Has the number gone up today on my list of followers? Did I lose any followers? Who unfollowed me? Why did they unfollow me? Why did that picture get less likes than my others? What about that picture made people like it more? What can I do to be sure that I don’t lose any more followers? What do I need to do to make sure more people want to follow me?

Maybe these are some thoughts or questions that have filled your mind more times than you would like to admit like they have mine. Maybe these are some thoughts that have become like second nature to you and you don’t even realize that you are thinking them anymore.

If this is you currently or has been you before, I want to challenge you today to a question and share some truths that have truly changed the way that I walk through my life here on this earth in the midst of a social media driven culture.

What does it mean to be a true follower of Jesus Christ in today’s culture?

In the same way that my mind used to only think of social media when I thought about having followers or being a follower, my mind now immediately thinks of a couple of biblical synonyms to the word. I now hear the word follower and immediately think about discipleship and the beauty of truly, wholeheartedly following the most important person you could ever choose to follow. I now hear the word follower and immediately think about being an imitator of Christ in all that I do here on this earth.

The question we ought to be asking ourselves in today’s culture isn’t, “Do I have a big following on social media?” The question to ask ourselves is, “Who am I following above all else, and who am I pointing others towards in the midst of my pursuit?”

Now trust me, like many of the good things that we are offered in Christ, I know that this shift in mindset is much easier said than done! I know that this mindset is easy to desire, and a lot harder to put into action. I know this from my own walk with the Lord, and I want to encourage you today that believing in the truth of this new mindset is the first step in walking a life completely, sincerely, sold-out for the growth of the Kingdom of the Lord. Which, by the way, is a calling that each and every one of us is responsible for!

It is said in Matthew 28:18-20, “Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Y’all! That wasn’t just a suggestion that Jesus mentioned to His disciples before His time here on this earth with us was finished. That was the greatest commission that Jesus spoke for ALL of us as the body of Christ to get to step into! What a joy it is to know that the Lord has invited us into doing kingdom work alongside Him and that His spirit will be with us through it all until the very end of the age!

So now that we are here, we may be to the point that we can agree that our mindset needs a shift. We may be at the point that we believe that the question we should be asking ourselves is, “Who am I following above all else, and who am I pointing others towards in the midst of my pursuit?” So what next? How do I truly live out a life devoted to following Jesus Christ above all else?

In my personal experience, it takes realizing that this life is out of your control to begin to realize that you need God to lead you through it. Maybe you have been a believer of Jesus for a long time but you haven’t truly been following Him wholeheartedly. I want to encourage you that you are in the right place today to encounter God in a fresh way. Even if you have been running or settling for the lies of this world, you are always in the right place to have an encounter with Jesus Christ. He is simply waiting for you to turn your face to Him and surrender all. And ultimately, for us to truly follow Christ in a way that we become imitators of Him, we must set out to know Him intimately in order to discover how to become more like Him to the people around us.

What if instead of only thinking of our followers on socials for our own glory, we actually viewed each and every number in the same way that Jesus sees and loves them. What if we actually saw each and every number as a human being who can either be pointed towards or away from the cross through the stories, pictures, and captions we choose to post. What if we viewed social media as one of our greatest mission fields to go out and share the love of God with all people we come in contact with. For it is said in Romans 10:14-15,

“How, then, can they call on him they have not believed in? And how can they believe without hearing about him? And how can they hear without a preacher? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news.”

Lord, may the desires of our hearts be to be the hands and the feet who bring good news to a generation that is desperate for a savior to follow. Lord, may we not care if it costs us followers, as long as we are following YOU!

Lydia Walker is a member of LO Worship and an Area Representative for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes in Northeast Louisiana. She lives in Louisiana with her husband Reeves and her golden doodle, Teddy. Keep up with Lydia on Instagram @lrd.walker!

The post Follower first appeared on Live Original.

Jesus loves me, this I know,

for the Bible tells me so.

Little ones to him belong;

They are weak, but He is strong.

I can still hear my Sunday school class sing this song all together. I sang with such confidence that it was true. I just loved it, and I loved the lyrics. I mean, who doesn’t love being loved? I sure do. I’m guessing you do, too. We all have this desire to be seen, known, and loved.

As we get older and experience more life, opening ourselves up to love can feel absolutely terrifying over time. As Tim Keller explains, “To be loved but not known is comforting but superficial. To be known and not loved is our greatest fear. But to be fully known and truly loved is, well, a lot like being loved by God. It is what we need more than anything.”

Although I didn’t fully grasp how true these lyrics were at five years old in my Sunday school class, I understand now that the Bible actually does tell us so. The Word of God is full of Jesus’ love for us. And we discover the depth of love Jesus has for us, only then can we begin to open ourselves up to being known and loved by another human being. Jesus first, relationships second. Always.

In John 4, we meet a sweet friend who was looking for water, but needing so much more. We don’t know her name, but we learn a lot about her and Jesus from this conversation surrounding a water source:

A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” (For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.) The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?” (For the Jews had no dealings with Samaritans.) Jesus answered her, “If you know the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” (John 4:7–10)

That’s only the beginning of her interaction with Jesus. I encourage you to read the rest of her beautiful story in John 4:11–30. But here’s what we learn about her from her time with Jesus.

She was culturally seen as “lesser than” because she was a Samaritan. Being one meant that she was generally hated by Jews for religious and racial reasons. On top of that, Samaritans were known for having unstable theological beliefs, not fully rooted in Scripture. All of this is the perfect storm for prejudice and cultural tension between these two people groups.

Also, she struggled with shame and isolation. We see in verse six that she came at the “sixth hour,” meaning around noon. Culturally, women would travel in groups in the early morning hours (the coolest time of the day) to draw water from the well. But our friend not only showed up at the hottest hour of the day, but she also came alone.

When we feel shame, we pull away from God and from others. Isolation is one of the biggest tools the enemy uses to keep us in our thought patterns of shame, guilt, and regret. That’s where we find her. That’s right where Jesus found her. And He had something to say about it.

Lastly, she had a questionable past when it came to relationships. “The woman answered him, ‘I have no husband.’ Jesus said to her, ‘You are right in saying, “I have no husband” for you have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true’” (John 4:17–18).

When we’re not rooted in Jesus, we have no idea what to look for. Our friend here had men give her attention, maybe even fulfill certain desires that she had (to be loved, to be taken care of, to be seen), but she was never truly satisfied because no man could ever give her what she truly longed for. She was looking for a love that stayed. A love that wasn’t based on emotions and feelings but on commitment and Christ. She was looking for living water. And although she hadn’t yet found it, the Living Water found her.

Here’s what we learn about Jesus.

Jesus will take the unlikely path to pursue you. Because of the cultural hostility that the Jews had toward Samaritans, Jewish people typically didn’t travel through Samaria when going from Judea to Galilee. Culturally, the hate was so real that they took the long route just to avoid the entire town. The tension was also real. But see here that Jesus didn’t take the path most others took. Instead, verse 4 says, “And he had to pass through Samaria.” This was a “had to” not out of a place of obligation or expectation but out of necessity to reach her.

Jesus will take any route He needs to take to get to your heart and your hurts. Not only did He take the unlikely route here, but He also waited for her. We see here that Jesus is willing, able, and eager to wait for us. Just like He was with this woman, He’s abundantly patient and never late for an encounter with His children.

Next, Jesus will break any barrier to pursue you. In that day, it’s important that we understand the role that women played in society. They were seen as the lowest class. On top of being not just a Samaritan, but a Samaritan woman, sister-friend didn’t have a whole lot going for her. But we see here that Jesus wasn’t too concerned with cultural barriers when it came to pursuing those He was after.

“Jesus said to her, ‘Give me a drink’” (John 4:7). Not only did Jesus speak to her, but He humbled Himself to ask her for something. He knew they were going to have a hard conversation, and He wanted her to know that she had a Savior that wasn’t afraid to get on her level and meet her where she was.

Lastly, Jesus will enter into your mess to pursue you. Are there parts of your life that just feel messy? Unhinged? Falling apart? Me, too. Same for our friend here. She had parts of her life that she would probably do anything to hide. But Jesus wasn’t afraid of those areas. On the contrary, those were the exact areas He was excited to dig into with her.

I’m not proud of this, but I’m a pretty messy person by nature. I remember when Ryan and I were engaged, so many people would warn me that living with a boy is messy and that I better prepare myself. I rarely commented back, but I always remember thinking, Actually, I feel bad for Ryan that he has to live with me. Yes, I am the messy one in our marriage.

One of the main messes that I make is what I like to call “my piles.” If you are a pile maker, you know what these are. They are piles of clothes. After trying on multiple outfits a day, I will form a pile in a corner of our room instead of hanging those clothes up. It’s become a running joke because if Ryan sees a pile, he can’t understand how it could be anything but dirty clothes. But with lots of patience, I explain to him that there is a difference between a clean pile and a dirty pile. In fact, most of my piles are clean! Men, right?! Just kidding! It’s a real problem, and I’m working on it 😉

I think sometimes we also compartmentalize the messy part of our lives. We have the “not so bad piles,” the “dirty piles,” and even the “looks clean on the outside piles.” But at the end of the day, a pile is a pile. And Jesus came to enter into our piles, no matter how dirty or put together they may seem. If something isn’t where He calls it to be, He will enter in and address it—even the piles we’re afraid for anyone to see.

That’s what He did here with our friend at the well. He wasn’t afraid to have the hard conversations about her relationships. He addressed the reality of her past without judgment or heaping shame onto her. Just like her pile of past broken relationships, we each have hard areas that Jesus is sitting, waiting, and ready to be welcomed in.

Friend, Jesus will never enter a situation that He doesn’t fully plan to redeem. His pursuit always has purpose. Let Him into the hard piles, the messy piles, and even the piles you’ve come to accept, and watch what He’ll do. This is the best kind of loved. Fully seen, fully known, fully loved.

Morgan Krueger is a Jesus follower, wife, mother, and author who found her voice connecting with women seeking freedom from the brokenness of past shame. Passionate about the redemption found in following Jesus, Morgan aims to keep that at the center of all she does. Morgan works at Faithfully Restored, a ministry that offers the hope of Jesus in the midst of suffering. Her first book, Goodbye Hiding, Hello Freedom: Trading Your Shame for Redemption in Jesus, releases in September 2024.

In her downtime, you can find Morgan enjoying the significance of the mundane, including spending time with her two sons, encouraging women through words, and watching British baking shows with her husband, Ryan, in Franklin, TN. You can connect with her on Instagram @morganwkrueger and at morgankrueger.com.

The post His Pursuit Always Has Purpose first appeared on Live Original.

Plan

plural noun: Plans

I know majority of us are not a stranger to the idea of “plans” or the word in general.

I feel like I hear this word 10+ times a day.

Whether it’s as simple as “What are your plans for the day?” Or as broad as “What are your plans for the future?”

Or even better, when someone asks you “Where do you see yourself in 10 years?”

Everything in life seems to have a “plan”.

Planning a schedule, a practice, a race or execution of a game, a hard conversation, a test, a result, a response, a date…etc.

Maybe I’ve turned my ear towards the idea of “plans” in this season of my life more than ever. I’ve never been much of a “planner”

Well, unless it comes to how many hours before I race I need to eat food so I’m not seeing it twice (lol).

But, seriously…

I’m about to start my senior year of college, and last year of collegiate athletics, and the question I’m receiving most is…

“Well, Allie! What are your PLANS for after college?”

And ya know what, to be transparent…

I don’t have one!

Sure, I have hopes and desires on my heart I know the Lord sees (Psalm 37:4). I’d love to put that hard worked degree to use, get married to my love, have a family, and continue to work towards goals.

But I’ve also learned this year (more than I thought I lifetime could teach me) because I’ve seen it unfold in my life…

It is truly GODS PLAN that prevails, not always what we have in our mind.

That does not mean He does not care what we have on our hearts, though.

Proverbs 19:21 —

“Many are the plans in a persons heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.”

I saw my sister’s life flip upside down this year. A big part of our lives flipped upside down, too.

Just weeks before she was going to be getting engaged to her high school sweetheart of 7 years, God brought him home after a hard fought battle with cancer. I’ve shared about Ben in blogs before. A faithful servant and fearless warrior.

Ben had plans, just like the rest of us. Plans to become a doctor (he was so smart and driven), plans to marry my sister, and many wonderful hopes and dreams most 22 year olds have desired for themselves. And that is good! It is good to have desires and work for things, and plan for the future to an extent. Ben was such a planner, but He was never “unrealistic” and ALWAYS more confident in the plan God had for Him. Never once did He doubt Gods plan for His life. Even in sickness. I want to live more like that. With a confidence like that.

And yes, God had different plans. Do I understand why it had to be this way? Or why the things Ben worked for didn’t come to fruition? Well, most of the time, no. 

It is hard some days to sit and wonder what could have been, and in my human thinking, in my eyes, what should have been.

God does have a plan…. But when that road has tragedy it is very hard to go,

“Oh yeah, God has a plan!”

I am sure many of you reading can relate.

This is where faith comes in and is tested. Where hope must stay alive, and confidence in Our Jesus must outweigh the doubts of evil.

Ben is not physically still here with us, but I know Ben is alive, new, healed, and in the paradise of Heaven with Jesus. The safest place to be.

Gods plans are NOT to discourage us. Even when life can be hard and scary to understand sometimes.

We aren’t always going to understand, but we are called to trust. He will provide strength. (Isaiah 41:10)

I believe it will all be revealed to us one day, maybe just not always on this side of Heaven.

We live in a fallen world. Horrible, unjust things happen. Usually, those things don’t fall into our idea of “ideal plans” we picture for our lives.

Romans 8:28 —

“God works ALL things together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.”

It does not say, ALL THINGS ARE GOOD. We can name 1,000+ things that are NOT.

But, even if, He is still good.

Romans 8:18 — Paul writes,

“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us.”

Thankfully, we know from Jesus’  life that there is  purpose to our pain we walk through. God doesn’t waste anything, including suffering.

He doesn’t always remove us from trials, because He plans to use them.

2 Timothy 2:11-12 —

“Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him.”

Jesus joins us in the suffering, but we will also rise with Him in victory.

Pain that we endure in our life is not God’s punishment. Jesus Christ paid that price on the cross. 

We serve a God of love, grace, truth, protection, and power.

A God who will finish what He started.

What He says He will do, HE DOES.

What He says He can do, HE PROVES.

What He says He can heal, HE TRANSFORMS.

ALL hurt, confusion, damage, distress, doubt, failed plan, and death —

HE CONQUERED ON THE CROSS.

The blood of Jesus Christ covers it all.

EVERYTHING that has left you hurt in this life of sin, will be made right in the throne room of Heaven when we meet face to face with Him.

A game changer perspective God is teaching me is turning my “whys” to TRUST that God is making all things work out for HIS glory and not our own.

Why would I spend my time caught up in the 1,000 “Why’s” of why it didn’t go the way I perfectly pictured?

Ephesians 3:20 —

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”

If my Jesus can do IMMEASURABLY MORE than I can EVEN IMAGINE — going beyond what the human brain can bear… why would I doubt the plans God has for me?

Why would you doubt what God has for you?

As Christ followers, if you are currently reading this, you are Earth bound, serving your purpose here for His glory, while ultimately working your way HOME bound.

Where all is made right.

Eternity with Jesus.

There is protection, prosperity and purpose, in every part of Gods plan. 

Trust it. Believe it. Receive it. Live it.

I love you, friend!

LOVE, AW

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