God’s Power to Endure (a word study)
God’s Power to Endure (a word study)

We are all waiting with anticipation for Christmas to arrive. “I can’t wait for Christmas,” might sound cute during the Christmas season, but what if you are in a more difficult season and your “can’t wait” sounds like this: “I can’t do this! I can’t stand it one more day. Not one more day of this”?

I wonder if Mary felt that way too during this season 2000 years ago. Like a very pregnant Mary, we must all endure the wait for Christmas.

What are you enduring in this season? In the Bible, the word “endure” is always linked to the One with the power to endure. We are able to endure so much more than we think we can because God will give us the power to endure.  

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Blog, Bible Study MethodsNicole O'Mearaadvent, endurance, word study Comments
The Gratitude Paradox
The Gratitude Paradox

Thanksgiving is NOT for spurring us on to obedience to God.  What?!  If gratitude isn’t to spur us to obedience, what IS gratitude for?  We are to let gratitude fuel our faith.

There are situations in which it would be completely inappropriate to even ASSUME we could repay a kindness, a grace.  For example, Christ’s sacrifice on the cross.  He alone could pay our sin penalty.  We will forever owe him a debt of gratitude.  What we do about that says a lot about how we view gratitude. 

We either let gratitude build our faith and adoration or we let gratitude burden us with guilt, driving our behavior without grace.

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BlogNicole O'Mearagratitude, desiringgod.orgComment
Book Review: Remarkable Advent + 5 Advent Activities for Kids
Book Review: Remarkable Advent + 5 Advent Activities for Kids

In Remarkable Advent, Shauna tells the Christmas story blanketed in imagination but with gentle care given to historical and biblical accuracy. In 25 devotional readings, each just 4-5 pages, we will visit each of the main characters on the path to the birth of our Savior. Shauna’s stories start with a scriptural reading, then an imaginative reading, and then a short prayer. Just the right stories with just the right pacing. Perfect. Keep reading for my Top 5 Favorite Advent Activities.

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Blog, Book ReviewNicole O'Mearabook review, ChristmasComment
Book Review and Author Interview: Loving Your Friend Through Cancer with Marissa Henley
Book Review and Author Interview: Loving Your Friend Through Cancer with Marissa Henley

Marissa Henley is a cancer survivor. Her book, Loving Your Friend Through Cancer is what I fondly call the textbook on how to be the most supportive friend you can be to your friend in crisis. Marissa shares how her amazing community walked with her through cancer but the practical lessons inside apply to your friend with any severe or chronic suffering. It could have been titled, Loving Your Friend Through Lyme’s Disease, or Loving Your Friend Through Divorce, or so many similar titles.

We cove topics including: knowing your place in the Circles of Friendship and Jen Hatmaker’s Ring Theory; matching your friend’s tone; and how to speak to your friend in The Pit. We finish up with a chat about Survivorship.

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Blog, Book ReviewNicole O'Mearabook review, cancer, surviving, crisis support, undiagnosed Comments
Book Review and Author Interview: Breathe Again with Niki Hardy
Book Review and Author Interview: Breathe Again with Niki Hardy

Niki Hardy wanted to stop merely surviving. She wanted to start thriving.

“Yes, Jesus came to give me abundant life but I’m in a storm right now, that he also said we’d have, so I’m gonna get through this storm and then abundant life will be waiting for me when I’m through this. So we start waiting.  But, for so many Cancer Thrivers, they didn’t know it would ever be over.  This is true for people with depression too or chronic pain or a child with challenging special needs.  These things aren’t going to go away.  What these Thrivers helped me realize is that this abundant life that God has for us is available right now in the middle of this storm.”

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Blog, Book ReviewNicole O'Mearabook review, thrive, Switchfoot, cancer, interviewComment