Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, in the same way that I had mercy on you? And the lord, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he should repay all that was owed him. My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from his heart.

Matthew 18:33-35

You will pay for it somehow.  It might be in sleepless nights, your health, your family life, your relationships with others.  Unforgiveness will find you out.

You aren’t cleverly hiding anything.  God already knows.

Let it go.

Weekends in the Word is a ministry of Raising Arrows meant to offer a time of worship and encouragement specifically for those mommies who find themselves, due to circumstances beyond their control, unable to attend worship services with other believers. However, all are welcome here each weekend to feast on His Word.

By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish along with those who were disobedient, after she had welcomed the spies in peace.
Hebrew 11:31

We’ve been reading Joshua in our family devotions at night.  As we read about Rahab, I was struck by how this really bad woman was used by God and eventually ended up in the line of Jesus Christ.

On the surface, that’s one of those, “WHAT?!” moments.  It makes no sense.

Until you read Hebrews.  Two little words…

by faith

She believed.  She trusted.  She was changed.

But the “harlot” title still followed her down through the ages.  However, that title, as demeaning and icky as it is, speaks volumes to the change in her life.

You never know who from your past might see who you are now and be led to Christ.

I once was lost, but now am found.

Weekends in the Word is a ministry of Raising Arrows meant to offer a time of worship and encouragement specifically for those mommies who find themselves, due to circumstances beyond their control, unable to attend worship services with other believers. However, all are welcome here each weekend to feast on His Word.

Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong. Do not be quick with your mouth; do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few. — Ecclesiastes 5:1,2

I talk.

A lot.

I write.

A lot.

It’s my teacher nature.  It’s my sin nature.  They are two sides of the same coin.

The one is helpful and encouraging.  The other believes I have an answer to everything…even when I don’t.

One stems from the fruit of the Spirit.  The other from pride.

I must learn that often the people in my life need a listening ear far more than they need a lecture.  They need a hug more than they need an answer.  They need a smile more than they need a sermon.

I must learn that having nothing to offer isn’t a sign of weakness, but rather a sign of wisdom.

I must learn the art of being quiet.

Weekends in the Word is a ministry of Raising Arrows meant to offer a time of worship and encouragement specifically for those mommies who find themselves, due to circumstances beyond their control, unable to attend worship services with other believers. However, all are welcome here each weekend to feast on His Word.

You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.
Matthew 5:14

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:16

It always amazes me when people recognize me in public.  I’m just some homeschool mom who writes some blog.

Nobody really.

But every time someone says they read the blog or they appreciate my candidness or they enjoy coming here, I remember that this is my city.

As I raise my little arrows, I am building a city.

When my husband goes to the office, he is building a city.

When we all go out in public to get groceries, we are all building a city.

And we cannot be hidden.

Our family is not perfect.  Never will be.  In fact, we are a bunch of nobodies.  But with Christ, we are a city.  A city that shines no matter where we are because of Christ.

As harried mothers, we sometimes wonder where our calling is, where our mission field is, how we can do more to further the kingdom and totally miss the fact that we are already building a city and when we shine, we shine Christ’s love in the darkest recesses of the world.

Whatever hill you are on, whatever city you are building {that Jesus is building through you}, you cannot help but shine.  For if Christ is truly in you, there is no hiding that, no snuffing that out.

So, thank you for visiting this city.  I pray Christ always shines here.

Weekends in the Word is a ministry of Raising Arrows meant to offer a time of worship and encouragement specifically for those mommies who find themselves, due to circumstances beyond their control, unable to attend worship services with other believers. However, all are welcome here each weekend to feast on His Word.

Save now, I pray, O LORD;
O LORD, I pray, send now prosperity.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD!
We have blessed you from the house of the LORD.

Prosperity.

One of those words we shy from…afraid of greed, afraid of dirty looks, afraid of pride.

Yet, David says

“Send now prosperity.”

These words were a balm to my soul this week because prosperity is exactly what I need right now.

Not financial prosperity.

Peace of mind, abundant life prosperity.

The kind of prosperity that offers hope.

It is perfectly alright to pray for prosperity.  It isn’t greedy or proud.

It is supplication for a better day.

Send now prosperity.

Weekends in the Word is a ministry of Raising Arrows meant to offer a time of worship and encouragement specifically for those mommies who find themselves, due to circumstances beyond their control, unable to attend worship services with other believers. However, all are welcome here each weekend to feast on His Word.