Have you thought recently about your purpose in life?
We live in an age of consumerism, constantly being bombarded with ways to make our lives “better”: more comfortable, more enjoyable, more exciting. At the same time, there is an underlying pressure to succeed, to prove our worth, whether through the superficial measures of income and occupation, the social status in number of Facebook friends or followers, or even the moral/spiritual evidence that we are “making a difference” for Christ. But when we try to achieve, even in the name of serving God, we take the focus away from Him.
God didn’t make us to glorify ourselves. He made us to bring glory to His Name.
I am slowly learning more about what it means to live for God’s glory, and along the way encountering the gracious love of God in many ways. In the midst of my own failures I discover how His power is made perfect in our weakness (2nd Cor. 12). How exciting it is to discover His ability to use us when we surrender our lives and our wills back into His hands!! Will you join me in this journey?
Discover more about the Tree of Life program!
The Tree of Life model is about thriving, not just surviving, and helping others do the same. It addresses brokenness and trauma as part of one’s history, a place to find healing.
El Camino de Santiago:
A Devotional
Many have heard of El Camino de Santiago, or the Way of St. James. Some have had the opportunity to experience it, to walk one of the numerous routes to Santiago de Compostela. Far more have read the book of St. James, perhaps multiple times.
In this month-long devotional we will follow both of them. I’ll be sharing what I learned along the way, walking from Porto to Santiago de Compostela, while reading through the book of James. Each day a new devotional post will be available.
My Blog
To the Churches Whose Missionaries Have Come “Home”
It was 2001. My family had arrived in Kazakhstan in 1996, the first American family in our town, and been joined by other Americans and Aussies over the next several years. It was a fairly isolated place, and we certainly didn’t have Facebook and Zoom to remain...
Trauma According to Paul: Resilience in Relationships
We are equipped for survival in the present, but once the danger is past, it is not always easy to move forward “as usual.” Yet, we read of Paul’s accounts of being beaten, imprisoned, stoned and left for dead, and each time getting up again.
Trauma According to Paul: Reality and Reactions
I recently returned from Nigeria, where we work with many who have a heart to help the hurting, and who usually can relate from their own experiences of pain, fear, loss, and sorrow.
Humble Leadership (Part 3)
(Click Part 1 or Part 2 for the first two posts.) Leaders are influential not only through instruction of others, but by the example they set. One of the challenges of being in a position of authority is that every word and action is more carefully observed. As a...
Humble Leadership (Part 2)
(To read the intro, click Humble Leadership, Part 1) When we think of influential people, rarely do we get a picture of someone asking for help. From the perspective of the audience, a powerful speaker may seem to have everything under control, to be fully in charge,...
Humble Leadership (Part 1)
Humility is the antithesis of worldly politics, where it is all about proving one’s strength, demanding respect, and elevating oneself above rivals.
The Unclear Trail: When Life Looks Uncertain
The trail started out very clearly trodden, even though blanketed with a recent layer of leaves. Every so often a white, spray-painted mark on a tree would confirm that we were still on track, even after climbing over tree trunks that lay across the path and sloshing...
When Things Go Wrong
The steep road was the kind where those who get car sick (me) have to avoid looking out the window. We were not quite sure of our exact destination (attempts to contact a local pastor had not yet been successful) as we headed up a mountain in the center of the island...
Faith or Foolishness
Part 1: March 2017 It seemed like an awesome opportunity! I had connected with a non-profit organization working in Iraq and they expressed interest in bringing me out there to provide trauma training. Since I was already planning to go in the summer to Africa, I...
Emily Hervey, PsyD
May God’s grace abound in your heart today!