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The Lord is Near

Does it feel like the Lord is near to you? Do you feel like you can cry out to Him with the deepest longings, secret hopes, and unspoken sorrows buried within your heart? Does it feel like God is watching you from afar, neglecting to hear your cry for help? Maybe you feel abandoned by God, as your circumstances rest heavily upon your shoulders. No matter where you find yourself right now, the reality is that there are times in our lives when we question the nearness of God. We all wonder whether His promises apply to us, particularly when we…

Extending Kindness with Lucinda Secrest McDowell {Podcast #544}

By Elisa Pulliam

What is kindness? Is it something we do? Something we feel? How do we extend authentic kindness to others? And to ourselves? In this episode of the More to Be Podcast, I’m joined by long-term friend and mentor, Lucinda Secrest McDowell, for a chat over coffee (from a virtual distance, of course) to discuss kindness, passing on wisdom, and her latest book, Soul Strong: 7 Keys to a Vibrant Life. We chat about the seven core principles in her book, which Lucinda has learned throughout her life, and the advice she wished she had known earlier on. If you want…

God is Our Abba, Father | Encounter God #27

By Elisa Pulliam

So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children.[a] Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” Romans 8:15 NLT Abba, Father. Is that who God is to you? Or do you find that think of Him as your eternal Father is challenging in like of your experience with your earthly father. It’s understandable, of course, when the very human that is supposed to model for us unconditional love and protection and provision fails in any regard. Whether our daddy’s ability fell short of our expectations and…

The Lord is Our Messiah | Encounter God #26

By Elisa Pulliam

Today in the city of David a Savior was born for you, who is the Messiah, the Lord. Luke 2:11 CSB Have you ever noticed how God will bring something up again and again when He wants you to learn something? So if you find it strange that we’re studying about Jesus as our Messiah this week, compared to Him being our Savior last week, you might be feeling like this is a bit redundant. I challenge you, however, to take a pause and consider what more God would like to speak to you about as you reflect on who Jesus is…

Navigating Midlife with Michelle Van Loon {Podcast #541}

By Elisa Pulliam

Are you struggling to understand the season you are in, especially as your faith matures and your life priorities shift? Do you wonder what steps to take next or what to turn to as you navigate midlife? While it is easy to find books and blogs and podcasts focusing on parenting tips, marriage, addictions, and hangups, it is noticeably lacking in resources for those entering their second half of life. On the latest More to Be Podcast Episode, we’re joined by Michelle Van Loon, who gives us context for understanding the different stages of life, especially in terms of spiritual…