POPULAR MESSAGE TOPICS
Waiting on God
Proverbs 13:12 says, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.” In our lifetime, most of us will come to understand hope deferred to some degree or another. But what if hope has been deferred even after you’ve petitioned the Lord in prayer for months? What if the months turn into years? What if after a season of faithful prayer, that thing you’ve been praying for STILL goes unanswered? During these times, God doesn’t just seem distant: He seems inattentive, uncooperative and sometimes even late. What do we do with seasons like this? People tell us to pray more. They even tell us to have more faith. But what does the Bible say? In three sessions, (perfect for a retreat setting) ML we will explore the lives of three men from the New Testament, each loved by God, but all wondering when God would move in their situation.
Prayer That Moves the Mountain
We all know the importance of prayer. But do you wonder if your prayers are ever getting through? Have you prayed but not seen the results you were hoping for? Jesus himself tells us how to pray. Let ML take you on a journey through time as you find out HOW and WHAT Jesus taught us about prayer. You don’t want to miss this one!
Extravagant Worship
So, what does worship look like? Is it singing on Sunday morning within our church setting? Hands lifted up, or is that not your thing? Is it listening to a Christian radio station and singing along as we be-bop down the road? Well, sure it is! There are many times we can (and should) lift our voice to our beautiful, risen Savior and best friend. Singing out loud chases the blues away, as well as our enemy! But worship is much more than that.
Worship, true worship, is a sacrificial life. It’s taming our tongue when we’d rather lash out. It’s honoring and giving preference to others when we’d rather put ourselves first. It’s eating healthy and exercising because we understand that our body is a temple. It’s honoring the marriage bed and keeping it pure. Worship is a lifestyle that we daily live. It’s us saying, “God, I don’t belong to myself. You’ve redeemed me at a very GREAT price. It is my honor and joy to reflect you throughout my day. Show me how I can conduct my life that it may point others to YOU!” …..Now, THAT’s worship! Worship is many things, but at its core it’s a sacrificial life.
Singled Out
Being singled her whole life, ML knows a thing or two about this topic. Whether you’re single by choice or a life circumstance placed you there, single people often feel “singled out”…like they don’t fit, or that others question their singleness. Often, they feel judged. ML has an encouraging, delightful message on the ins and outs of being single. How to walk tall and enjoy the journey during the season of singleness. And if you think this message is only for singles, you’re mistaken! Galatians 6:2 says we are to “bear one another’s burdens”. Those who are married and sitting in for this message will come to understand singles and see them in a whole new way. They’ll learn how to encourage and pray for them. Now, that’s walking in love and bearing each other’s burdens.
How to Hear the Voice of God
God has been speaking to us since he first created the world. In Genesis, the Bible tells us that the earth was without form and darkness was on the face of the deep…. Then God SAID, “Let there be light!” He didn’t imagine it. He didn’t wish it. He opened his mouth and spoke it. In fact, the very first thing He wants us to know about Himself, is that He speaks! He talks! ....and when He talks, darkness goes away, and the lights come on.
Job 33:14 says “For God does speak – now one way, now another – though man may not perceive it.” WHAT?! We may not perceive it? How can that be? We are talking about God Almighty here, right? How can He speak and we NOT hear Him?
ML explores the different Biblical ways that God speaks and teaches her audience the three things every believer needs to have to hear His voice: A pure heart, a hearing ear, and a responsive life. Intrigued? You should be! This is such a fun and enlightening topic.
The Pain and the Promise of Obedience
Sometimes, there is pain in the promises of God. Sometimes, in the promise of what could be…. there’s a pain of losing what is. Sometimes, you must be willing to walk away from a good season to walk into the next. Walking into the promise of what could be means leaving the comfort of what is. And that does not feel good. It’s painful. It’s called the “Pain of Obedience”.
Obeying God can be painful. It goes against the deep yearning of comfort, the need for control, and wanting things to stay the same. Even if things are bad, we want them to stay the same because at least it’s familiar vs. the unknown. Still, God reaches in and says He wants to change things. But are we willing to be obedient to make the change?
There’s also a “Promise of Obedience”! YAY, GOD! Now THAT’S what I’m talking about! Let’s talk about THAT! Sorry, you’ll have to hear the message to learn about that. Dang, I knew there’d be a catch!
Forgive AND forget?
Not happening! It was wrong. It never should have happened. I didn’t deserve it….and now I’m told I must forgive? And so, after I muster up all I have and bring myself to forgive my perpetrator, I’m told I haven’t truly forgiven if I still feel “the sting” and I can’t forget. WHAT?! Now, that’s just asking a little too much. I can’t help it if my mind won’t “turn off”.
Actually, you can. This message teaches how to capture your thoughts, how to repeat a new story enough to delete an old one, and how to veer from the path that takes you around that same old mountain again and again.
got topic?
If you’re gathering/event is looking for a particular subject matter to be taught, just let ML know. She’s pretty transparent. She’ll let you know if it’s a topic she has knowledge and experience with. Chances are, she does!