In "Masks of God - people doing God's work," Rev. Jeffrey Leininger notes that Luther described people doing God's work as masks of God.

In "The vine or the branch?" Kyle Idleman says when you do things your way, you stop being the branch and start trying to be the vine.

In "laying hold of God's willingness," Susie Larson cites Martin Luther's statement that prayer is laying hold of God's willingness.

"Slow to chide and swift to bless" is the June Short Meditation from Crown of Compassion and includes the hymn "Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven."

In "Processing our thoughts and perceptions," Lysa TerKeurst exhorts us in processing our thoughts and perceptions in life-giving ways.

In "Comprehensive framework = faith," Timothy Keller stresses the importance of Christian faith as a comprehensive framework for all life's choices.

In "A prolonged sense of attentiveness," Rich Villodas underscores that contemplation requires a prolonged sense of attentiveness.

In "A ray of sunlight - pretty please," Mark Batterson compares the phrase pretty please to a ray of sunlight. More effective than brute force.

In "That jolt into the unknown - disorienting," Tina Boesch states that jolt into the unknown become disorienting when it turns into a way of life.

In "Eloquent in His seeming silence," Max Lucado says "God is still eloquent in His seeming silence." God need not be loud to be strong.

In "Not on the itinerary - amazing moments with God," Heath Adamson notes that a storm on the Sea of Galilee sent Jesus to a place not on the itinerary.

In "Signature move - practice in action," Alli Patterson notes that each of us has a signature move from which we put our practice into action.

In "Discouragement dial - turned up," Kyle Idleman stresses that when you don't have any control over your situation, your discouragement dial gets turned up.

In"Cognitive reappraisal - flipping the script," Mark Batterson says cognitive reappraisal means telling yourself a different story.

In "The bootstraps factor - ego appeal," Kyle Idleman describes the bootstraps factor as a feeling of self-sufficiency we get when we rely on our own strength.

In "Supernatural joy in the midst of suffering," Tina Boesch says blessing includes a "promise of . . . supernatural joy in the midst of suffering."

In "Quiet servants - the supporting cast," Max Lucado says that quiet servants provide the supporting cast for the kingdom of God.

In "Envision your sin erased," Alan Wright stresses your need to envision your sin erased by Jesus' intervention. Don't downplay your sin or brood over it.

In "Unglamorous gift of plod," Alicia Britt Chole encourages us to develop a greater appreciation for the unglamorous gift of plod.

In "Go faster to get home?" Ann Voskamp counsels that you don't have to go faster to get home. Your heart needs to slow down.

In "The embroidery of humankind," Max Lucado observes that, like a weaver, "Jesus steadily interweaves the embroidery of humankind."

In "Mordecai moments coming your way," Max Lucado observes that Mordecai moments are coming their way to all people of faith.

In "A practice for a lifetime," Alan Wright underscores that learning to look at life through Jesus' eyes is a practice for a lifetime.

In "Unblessed lives - rarely focused," Alan Wright asserts that unblessed lives are rarely focused. They drift amidst the confusion.

In "God looks at the heart - the sacred chase," Heath Adamson reminds us that God looks at the heart and for wholehearted commitment to the sacred chase.

In "Okay or Not Okay - tune in," Jennifer Allen discusses what to do if you are having trouble figuring out whether you are Okay or Not Okay.

In "The Goldilocks principle - just right," Aundi Kolber says we all have a Goldilocks principle, a range of experiences that's just right.

In "Confuse theology with psychology?' Susie Larson cites Pete Greig, who observes that people often confuse theology with psychology.

In "This God who reaches within," Sara Hagerty talks about this God who reaches within our hearts to meet us with wonder and delight.

In "The shades of existence," Jennifer Allen says that when we truly feel our feelings we get all the shades of existence, not just the gray.

In "Real love stands against sin," Timothy Keller cites Rebecca Manley Pippert, who underscores that real love stands against the sin that destroys.

In "Crumbling places - digging past," Alli Patterson exhorts us to get straight into the crumbling places with our shovels to reach firmer ground.

In "Passion and excellence in serving others," Jeff Manion asserts that "serving others with passion and excellence requires heart-focus."

In "The miracle worker - hold on to Jesus," Sheila Walsh stresses our need to hold on to Jesus, the miracle worker. Not the miracle itself.

In "Witness versus with-ness," Aundi Kolber discusses the key difference between witness and with-ness. In with-ness a person resolves to be with us.

In "The antidote to our indifference," Kyle Idleman states that compassion is the antidote to our indifference, begins with eyes-open prayer.

In "The best sermon, book, or podcast" Sara Hagerty asserts that even the best sermon cannot change how we view the fence line.

In "Applause of nail-scarred hands," Mark Batterson advises us to live for the applause of nail-scarred hands. We die by criticism if we live on compliments.

In "Functioning like the masterpiece you are," Dr. Tony Evans says you feel like the masterpiece you are by functioning like the masterpiece.

In "Only redeeming aspect of shame," Chip Ingram suggests that the only redeeming aspect of shame involves leading us to God and His answers.

In "When uncleared rubble obstructs your vision." Kyle Idleman notes that we want to give up when uncleared rubble obstructs our vision.

in "A pretty comfortable life," Timothy Keller asserts that one must lead a pretty comfortable life to not want a God who punishes sin

In "Supernatural provision in the context of community," Tina Boesch says supernatural provision took place as the bread and fish multiplied.