Tonia Woolever 
Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful. John 14:27 (NASB) Consider this: Jesus first spoke these words to His disciples on the verge of their most terrifying moment. They …
The very first Scripture I ever read was John 14:27: Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. I had just poured out my heart, confessing every sin and failing to …
For He has satisfied the thirsty soul, and the hungry soul He has filled with what is good. (Psalm 107:9 NASB) This is just one of many Scriptures that tantalize us with the idea that knowing God is meant to be supremely satisfying to the soul. I don’t meet enough satisfied souls. In fact, my …
I noticed it the first time I read through the Gospels. Jesus repeatedly acknowledged man’s hunger and thirst, promising they would be satisfied. I understand now what I didn’t then: that He spoke out of the depths of His human experience. A man who lived in a body with appetites, who possessed a soul that …
One morning as I sat with the Lord, I wrote in my journal, “One of the things I love about you, Lord, is you’re so — human!”
Is it blasphemy to say such things? Am I trying to bring God down to my level?
No, because He already did that when he sent Jesus to live among us, as one of us!
Lord, I know you are with me. I have your promise…in how many ways? “Emmanuel, God with us…” “I am with you always….” In faith I cannot doubt you are with me, but in fact it is too easy to ignore your gentle and quiet presence! You are with me when I awake, and when …
The Apostle Paul admonishes us in Ephesians 5:17 to “be filled with the Spirit.” What exactly does that mean? The tense of the Greek translated here as “filled” is one that means being continually filled with the Spirit — as an ongoing state of being. You may think this is mysterious or difficult spiritual exercise, …
One of my favorite teachers and authors on the Old Testament is Malcolm Smith, a pastor who shares my passion to understand and teach on the new covenant relationship God offers us in Christ. In his book, “The Lost Secret of the New Covenant,” Pastor Smith devotes a chapter to God’s promise that in the …
As I read my Bible, I am always on the hunt to discover the heart of God. Not just the history, the rules, or even the promises — wonderful as they are — but things that reveal the core of God’s being. Also, when we start getting close to Advent, I have two things on …
It was one of those days: I didn’t feel like a woman in ministry, I felt like a juggler. Tense from head to toe, mind rushing ahead to everything I needed to accomplish that day, and even Jesus was on my TO DO list. Counseling, cooking, housework, writing assignments, watering my wilted flowers…. and as …
