Kristi Woods

Encouraging Women to Walk Deeper with God

God Refines Us Through Suffering

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Woman sitting on a rock with back toward us

God refines us through suffering…and we often think “big” at the mention. Martyrs. Missionaries. Losing something large for the cause of Christ. But sometimes it’s not in the eye-popping, “wow” things, but rather the littles and every day situations where God refines us in His righteous ways.

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The blog’s still on break until late August (or maybe early September–no concrete decision yet!), but I’m guest posting over at Lyli Dunbar’s place.

(Have you read about Lyli’s super powers yet?)

Here’s a special link to the guest piece at her site. It centers on a stellar opportunity for you and me. On the other end, encouragement waits.

Grab it and run the race well, friend–read the piece then walk away, offering those every day parts for His refining glory.

Enjoy & Be Refined

Enjoy as you read how God refines us through suffering. (Don’t gulp too hard. You might be surprised!)

And during this break, don’t forget to peruse the Free Christian Resources page as well as the Subscriber Library for faith-building printables, fiction and nonfiction book lists, and graphics to keep you encouraged or to share with a college student heading off for the first time

Happy July, and glory to God!

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Do You Ever Feel Unwanted? Hope Threaded Here

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Winter lake scene with empty picnic table. Written across the top: Do you ever feel unwanted? Hope threaded here.

Do you ever feel unwanted?

What about that friend who always makes plans–but never includes you? Let’s talk about that spouse who walked out the door–forever. Or, maybe the child who never comes around or calls leaves us in tears or dismay.

Feeling unwanted hurts.

It sooths about as much as stepping on a sandbur (or regular, old field burs) with our bare feet. Ouch!

I’ve faced times when I’ve felt this way, especially in those formative younger and teen years. Think teenage dating scene.

And you know what?

Those situations, ones that seemed benign or deemed as a typical part of the growing up years (just “get over it”, but I didn’t) helped seed lies I believed for YEARS.

Years. Decades. Oy.

We wrestle not with flesh and blood….

…but against darkness and spiritual wickedness. (Eph. 6:12)

It’s not people we battle. Darkness wages war. We stand in the crosshairs–anything to keep focus and glory from Christ.

Isn’t it crazy how we believe or handle life and reactions to events based on a misplaced notion?

(Find more helpful posts for overcoming pesky wayward emotions here.)

But in Christ, we find hope for feeling unwanted. In Him, WE ARE WANTED.

Recently, I wrote a guest piece for Alisa at Flourishing Today. Alisa and I befriended each other in a COMPEL Training Critique Group a few years ago. Both of us harbor hearts for helping folks grow in their faith.

Come on over to Flourishing Today and grow. We’re threading the hope of Jesus Christ into your story and ours.

Click here to join us.

See you there!

Why Are Folks So Excited About These Popular Posts?

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Why Are Folks So Excited About These Popular Posts?

Do you like blogs–their popular posts?

Do you like a good, meat-worthy, faith-building post–one that helps keep eyes on Jesus?

Meeeee too.

Popular Post Question

Several writer friends/Jesus girls kindly responded to a “popular post” question I posed recently. Many of their posts exclaim His strength, His healing, His hope.

And hope is one thing I read about this week in my own Bible time. I’ve been immersed in the Chronological Life Application Study Bible (NLT), settling among the gospels during Christmas. One thing I noticed about Jesus’ and John’s births is that our God doesn’t discriminate. And that’s hope.

Our God doesn't discriminate--and that's hope. Click To Tweet

He chose an older woman to birth John, a young, unmarried version for Jesus. And none of the facts relating to either pregnancy and subsequent birth made sense. Yet, in the grand scheme, the seemingly senseless facts created a perfect picture.

Our God accepts the young and the old, male and female. He refuses condemnation thanks to Jesus Christ–the hope of the world. What a gift!

It is my prayer that we enjoy Jesus not only in this Christmas season but throughout the year.

And the below links–some from 2018, others from previous years–rush to help us.

Post Authors

They’re authors, some who shared their hearts in this Envy Round Table series last year plus a few other beautiful encouragers, keep ministry and Jesus central. And how beautiful stands a life–theirs, yours, and mine–when centered on Jesus Christ.

2018 Popular Posts You Don't Want to Miss on KristiWoods.net

If I may set a challenge… Share several of these posts with friends. Grab the ones that grab you then pin ’em on Pinterest. Email or message them. Somehow, share them with the body of Christ or a “searcher.”

Bring a Friend

Bring a friend to the doors so they, too, can enter and eat of the fruit the Lord offers within.

May 2019 be our strongest year yet walking in faith. And as always, may God Almighty gather 100% of the glory.

Father, we are Yours.

As we celebrate Christmas soon then wave goodbye to 2018, let’s recap these popular posts.

Popular Post Recap:

Coming January 8th….

Who AM I? on KristiWoods.net

Here’s a tool to hide God’s Word in your heart AND reinforce your identity in Christ.

Don’t forget to sign up at KristiWoods.net and share about Who AM I? — our 2019 memory verse program.

(And remember, by signing up, you’ll receive memory verses every 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month as well as regular email updates, access to the Subscriber-Only libraray, and “3”, our monthly Family Newsletter.)

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