Kristi Woods

Encouraging Women to Walk Deeper with God

Is Something Missing in Life? Grab This.

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The little, white church pleaded with me every time I drove by its quaint steeple, clad with a big, ‘ol bell, and its colorfilled, stained glass windows.

 

Something was missing.

 

Putting a finger on it – filling that void – seemed elusive.

 

Folks walk around all the time filling their own vats. They – we – have empty spaces, and we’ll toss all sorts of nonsense in there.

 

  • Money
  • Leisure activities
  • Dating relationships
  • Cars
  • Botoxed bodies and more.

 

It wasn’t until I walked through the little, white church’s doors that the plead and need in my own life filled.

Amid its pews, I found Jesus.

 

I grew up a “good girl.” My perfectionist bent appeased teachers and parents alike. It filled the grade cards nicely, too.

Fast-forward to adulthood.

When my pastor’s wife challenged my salvation, I got a little toasty under the collar. Call me a card-carrying good girl member. How dare she challenge that?!

 

“Kristi, are you sure?”

“Of course I’m saved.”

 

I’d been raised in the pews of a Methodist church. I’d even participated in a musical trio that traveled to nearby churches, tickling the ivories with Christian songs. I followed life’s rules and fit the “good girl” category nicely. (Sounds a little like Paul, doesn’t it? Read his story here. )

 

But good gets no one to heaven.

 

Paul’s life pleads that cause fully.

“Good” stands on the trophy of our own works – not God’s.

 

Only Jesus saves. Believe in him.

 

So today, I challenge you.

If your activities, abilites, involvement – those things based on your strength – determine your salvation,

please think again.

 

Good is not biblical.

 

Paul, a religious of the religious, was headed straight toward hell without the intercession of Christ.

 

Make certain heaven is your eternal terrain.

Jesus – Savior for the world – is key.

Through Him alone, man is saved from our filthy sins.

 

There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12 NLT

 

I’ll whoop out a big ‘ol yes – I am saved.

What about you?

Have you asked Jesus to forgive your sins, to wash you clean?

Is Jesus your Lord?

 

They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” Acts 16:31 WEB Click To Tweet

 

 

Easter, the time we celebrate Jesus’ resurrection is upon us. Like Paul, let’s allow Him to resurrect our life here on earth.

Why delay?

Jesus saves.

 

 Here’s a prayer for salvation. If you’re not 100% certain that Jesus is your Lord, grab belief then this prayer. Feel free to use it for your own.

 

Dear Jesus,
I surrender my life to You. Thank You for welcoming me. Please fill the empty spot in my heart, Lord. I confess that You are Lord and ask You to forgive my sins. Wash me white as snow, Lord. I want to be clean. Thank You that I can count on spending eternity with You in heaven, and thank You for putting the “old” behind me. I love You, Lord.

In Jesus’ name,
Amen

 

More…

Interested in memorizing Scripture? We’d love to have you join us here! 

Have a desire to pray for your spouse, but starting seems to be the problem? Check out this piece I wrote for iBelieve.com called 10 Scriptures to Pray Right Now for Your Spouse. 

 

Happy Easter, friend! 

Do You Doubt God Hears You? Grab this Piece of Truth.

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Do you ever wonder if God hears you?

 

Maybe that small voice sends taunting questions your way. You begin to question whether God hears you. After all, nothing’s changed. Maybe God set out the “do not disturb” sign when your request came His way. Yes, maybe.

 

But when we peer into God’s Word, we see truth squelching the taunts of temptation.

 

God hears you.

 

Grab this memory verse, the 6th in a series of year-long ditties to hide deep in the heart this year. Mull its truth around with your spiritual taste buds. Take a taste and watch the lies flee.

 

God hears.

 

Find past verses here.

This One Parenting Point Caught Me Off Guard & What I Did About It

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Sometimes Christians need practical advice, especially concerning parenting, don’t they? I’m raising two hands here!

My husband and I claim three kiddos in our house. (And sometimes those kiddos claim us.) Trust me – we need practical Christian parenting advice often.

I awoke one morning to find a surprise: 3 TEENAGERS! Wasn’t it just yesterday that our littles played with tractors in the mud and doddled with dolls?

 

Outta nowhere, life changes. With kids, too.

 

Three teens now roam the halls of our house, finding their beautiful way through life and in faith, tossing “smarter than thou” attitudes here and there from time to time, grabbing keys as they celebrate 16, and waxing all googly-eyed as they dive into the dating scene.

I sat wide-eyed a bit as these parenting tornadoes hit. I should have expected them, I guess. And maybe part of me did.

For good parenting’s sake, Tony and I tossed little seeds of preparation to the kids over the years. I highly recommend it.  I can’t tell you how many times I’ve sighed in relief when realizing a tossed seed is bearing fruit in front of my eyes. Dare I doubt Jesus?!

Over the years, we read books and gleaned wisdom. (Keep watch below for a listing of some of our favorites.) I ooh’d and aah’d, highlighted, drooled, and verged on committing the sin of dog-earing a book page. Much of the advice was and is THAT good.

 

But one parenting question lingered. It caught me off guard.

 

What if the material doesn’t fit the flow of a family? We had yet to slide into our “perfect glove.”

Much of the dating content leaned conservative – quite conservative. It housed good material, and we used portions, but the flavor of our family tends to run a little more leanient than much of what we read. So what’s a parent to do when that point catches them off guard?

 

How about freak out?

Yeah, okay, don’t go that route. Tears and head-banging await. A much better path waits.

Why not lean on the Lord? As I did this, I scirbbled notes.

Those notes formed into an article and found their way to Crosswalk.com. 

 

Will you help me get 5 Ways to Help Daughters Prepare for Dating into the hands of those who will glean from it?

 

Forward this post to a friend. Share the article from my FB page, Pinterest, or directly from Crosswalk.com’s page.

 

And while we’re at it, below are several helpful parenting resources – books, kits, and a website. Enjoy!

 

 

Linking with other Jesus lovers and writers here: #chasingcommunity, #heartencouragementThursday, #faithonfire

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