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# Kelly Levatino

✝️ Christian Speaker | 😆 Clean Comedian

## Sitemaps

- [XML Sitemap](https://kellylevatino.com/sitemap.xml): Contains all public & indexable URLs for this website.

## Posts

- [Exodus 17: Water on the Rocks](https://kellylevatino.com/2018/12/07/exodus-17-water-on-the-rocks/) - In Exodus 16 the Israelites got hangry; in chapter 17 they get thangry (thirsty + angry...no?). To the point of sending Moses death threats. Later in the chapter, the Israelites get attacked for the first time since they crossed the Red Sea. Check out the details in my video on Exodus 17.
- [Exodus 18: the Chapter All Fathers-in-Law Love](https://kellylevatino.com/2018/12/14/exodus-18-the-chapter-all-fathers-in-law-love/) - In Exodus 18 the Israelites find themselves at Mount Sinai. Moses' in-law comes for a visit and offers some unsolicited advice. (And people think the Old Testament isn't relevant to their lives!) Lucky for Mo, it turned out to be pretty wise advice. Check out my Exodus 18 video for more.
- [Exodus 19: the One with the Mountain](https://kellylevatino.com/2018/12/19/exodus-19-the-one-with-the-mountain/) - In Exodus 19 Moses and friends see and hear God descend to the summit of Mt. Sinai in a cloud of smoke. Only Moses is allowed to climb the mountain to go converse with God at the top. Watch my Exodus 19 video to find out how that goes.
- [Exodus 12: Wherein Pharaoh Kicks Out the Hebrews](https://kellylevatino.com/2018/11/09/exodus-12-wherein-pharaoh-kicks-out-the-hebrews/) - In Exodus 12 Pharaoh finally comes to his senses and not only allows the Hebrews to go worship, He forces them to go. And not only is he forcing them to go for the allotted 3-day weekend Moses had asked for, Pharaoh forces them to go permanently. To find out why, watch this handy dandy video.
- [Exodus 16: When the Israelites Get Hangry](https://kellylevatino.com/2018/11/30/exodus-16-when-the-israelites-get-hangry/) - At the start of Exodus 16, the Israelites have been on the road for a month, and supplies are dwindling. So much so that they feel like they are going to starve in the desert. They lash out at Moses and Aaron as a result of being hangry, and, once again, God responds in miraculous
- [Exodus 7: The One with All the Blood](https://kellylevatino.com/2018/10/26/exodus-7-the-one-with-all-the-blood/) - Chapters 1-6 set the scene for the infamous 10 plagues God would inflict upon Egypt as judgment for not letting His people go worship Him. In chapter 7, God gets down to business. The first plague is the "Plague of Blood," during which a lot of, most of, or all of--you be the judge--Egypt's freshwater
- [Exodus 8: Frogs, Gnats, Flies, Etc.](https://kellylevatino.com/2018/10/30/exodus-8-frogs-gnats-flies-etc/) - Plagues 2-4 are outlined in Exodus 8 because, apparently, Pharaoh was none too worried about a "God" who turned the entire Nile River into blood on command. So God threw some other phenomena at him. God knew Pharoah wouldn't be impressed by frogs or gnats or flies either, but other Egyptians would begin to realize
- [Exodus 10: That Time They Almost Get Away but Don't](https://kellylevatino.com/2018/11/05/exodus-10-that-time-they-almost-get-away-but-dont/) - In Exodus 10 Pharaoh starts to catch on that, perhaps, his life will continue to be plagued with plagues if he doesn't play ball with Moses/Yahweh. To mix metaphors, Pharaoh offers Mo the chance to play Let's Make a Deal, to which Moses responds, "Let's not." Check out the tense tension in the Exodus 10
- [Sermon: What, Exactly, is His Grace Sufficient For? Part 2](https://kellylevatino.com/2018/09/24/sermon-what-exactly-is-his-grace-sufficient-for-part-2/) - Yesterday, I posted Part 1 of my 2-part sermon on God's sufficient grace. As promised, here is Part 2!
- [Who's Laughing Now?](https://kellylevatino.com/2014/10/03/whos-laughing-now/) - It's almost laughable...how life is just one sucker punch after another. Just when you think you've recovered from one crushing situation, just when you've gotten back up on your feet and are in a semi-upright position, another seemingly catastrophic circumstance hits you in the gut, and down you go again. I don't know why this
- [So You've Had an Abortion...](https://kellylevatino.com/2013/01/23/so-youve-had-an-abortion/) - Yesterday was the 40th anniversary of legalized abortion in the U.S. Both sides marked the occasion by posting emotional Facebook status updates, perplexed by the fact that the other side can't see how morally wrong they are. (You can read my status here.) The pro-choicers and the pro-lifers both fight for rights, women's rights on
- [Do You Know Who God Is?](https://kellylevatino.com/2012/08/14/do-you-know-who-god-is/) - Our pastor challenged us on Sunday to evaluate whether or not we have an accurate view of how holy God is. The implication is we tend to humanize God and lose awareness of how majestic and grand and wholly above us in rank and perfection He truly is. And when we are not consciously aware
- [Shine](https://kellylevatino.com/2012/02/08/shine/) - This blog focuses on tying the Bible together with real life. And real life, as you may have noticed, is full of struggle, discontent, and confusion. That being the case, most of the posts you read here address the undesirable effects of being human. I try to make some sense of life in light of
- [Should We Love with All Our Hearts?](https://kellylevatino.com/2012/06/23/should-we-love-with-all-our-hearts/) - Don't worry, I'm not gonna gush about Mumford and Sons in this post. Because I did that last month, and you people will only put up with so much of that nonsense. But. I am gonna share some thoughts their lyrics are responsible for causing me to think. The song is called White Blank Page,
- [What to Do When You're Depressed](https://kellylevatino.com/2015/05/03/what-to-do-when-youre-depressed/) - Tonight was one of those nights I casually flipped through my Bible looking for something to speak to the crap in my heart. Usually, I can rely on David to put pen to paper for me, so I broke open the Psalms and started reading at random. About ten minutes into it, I found what
- [Helping God](https://kellylevatino.com/2015/05/28/helping-god/) - There's a slightly crazy story in the Bible that speaks to the slightly crazy in my life, even though some of the details are a bit different. Abraham. God chose this nothing-special-about-him man to be the patriarch through which God would grow His people and, eventually, through which He would birth Christ to save the
- [How to Be Helped](https://kellylevatino.com/2015/05/29/how-to-be-helped/) - David makes a simple observation in Psalm 28 that has stuck with me for a couple of weeks now, so perhaps it is important... He writes, "The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me," (Psalm 28:7). Now, I don't know if David believed this when he wrote
- [Hostages of Hope](https://kellylevatino.com/2014/05/02/hostages-of-hope/) - I'm not really sure how it happened. Maybe it's because I keep re-reading that crazy gratitude book. Or maybe it's because I've spent more time in the Psalms this year than any other book of the Bible. Or maybe it's because I finally got fed up with being fed up and did something about it.
- [When All Feels Lost](https://kellylevatino.com/2014/06/07/when-all-feels-lost/) - When the world starts to turn upside down and my stomach turns with it, it can feel like the whole globe has run clean off its orbital path, veering into the vastness of dark space waiting to swallow it whole. When order and routine and the expected and all that is right get disrupted, it's
- [Cheap Grace](https://kellylevatino.com/2015/03/29/cheap-grace/) - I started reading a Bonhoeffer book last week. He wrote it in the 1930's, but it reads as if he wrote it yesterday. Is the price that we are paying today with the collapse of organized churches anything else but an inevitable consequence of grace acquired too cheaply? We gave away preaching and sacraments cheaply; we
- [Living Open-Handedly](https://kellylevatino.com/2014/03/07/living-open-handedly/) - So I am starting something new. (Well, new to me. I actually stole the premise for it right out of Ann Voskamp's book.) Ann talks about living with your hand open, a metaphor for being willing to receive whatever the Lord gives - good or bad - with thanksgiving. And once He gives it, we are
- [Learning to Wait](https://kellylevatino.com/2014/04/06/learning-to-wait/) - I'm doing a whole lot of waiting these days. Deadlines are getting pushed back, people are taking their sweet time following up with me, answers are taking longer to come than I appreciate. In at least four major areas of my life, it seems "wait and see" is the name of the game. But the
- [A New Thing](https://kellylevatino.com/2014/01/01/a-new-thing/) - This is what the Lord says - "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland." Isaiah 43:18-19 I am guilty, as I'm sure you are,
- [How to Diffuse Anger](https://kellylevatino.com/2014/01/15/how-to-diffuse-anger/) - My phone chimed once, twice, three times (although, not a lady). I read the messages, trying to make sense of them because when will Apple figure out how to deliver successive texts in the order in which they were sent? I feel like it shouldn't be that difficult... I digress. I read the texts and
- [All I've Ever Wanted](https://kellylevatino.com/2013/11/21/all-ive-ever-wanted/) - I drank the verses slowly, letting them swirl around in my heart like the velvet coffee in my mouth. I was warmed by both. "Remain in me," Jesus said, "and I will remain in you," (John 15:4). It took only moments for me to realize that's all I've ever wanted... from anyone. A promise to
- [How to Develop Self-Discipline (From the Valedictorian of I Don't Want To)](https://kellylevatino.com/2013/12/11/2846/) - Self-discipline has always been my forte. (They say you should open with a joke.) Actually, I am as self-disciplined as a newborn. And we all know how ridiculous they are... cute, but entirely self-centered. I don't know that you much care why I lack the ability to make myself do things I don't want to do.
- [Developing Self-Discipline One Frame at a Time](https://kellylevatino.com/2013/12/13/developing-self-discipline-one-frame-at-a-time/) - On the heels of my last post, there are some things I feel like I can't choose to do. I just can't seem to will myself, to discipline myself, to do and/or not do various things. And all you optimists are saying, "Well, that's obviously a lie. We are in total control of our own choices." And you're mostly
- [Choosy People Choose God](https://kellylevatino.com/2013/11/06/choosy-people-choose-god/) - A concept that fascinates me in the scriptures is the idea that God chooses people. In the Old Testament, He chose a lot of individuals to do a lot of different things (2 Samuel 6:21, 1 Chronicles 15:2, Nehemiah 9:7), but, overall, He chose the nation of Israel to be His people (Deuteronomy 10:15, Psalm 33:12). In
- [On Account of You](https://kellylevatino.com/2013/11/13/on-account-of-you/) - I've read about Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead a time or two. But when I read John's account again last week, something new grabbed my attention. Which is something I adore about scripture. But that's a different post. After Jesus, exhibiting God-like qualities, raised Lazarus from the dead, John reports that a lot of
- [Mistaking Good for Great](https://kellylevatino.com/2013/09/30/mistaking-good-for-great/) - As it seems to go with Him, the Lord is bringing to my attention a certain concept a lot lately. It started last week when Bono was on Letterman. I am way too old to stay up to watch that sort of thing, but I caught the playback the next morning. As always, Bono gave
- [What Should We Picture When We Pray?](https://kellylevatino.com/2013/10/04/what-should-we-picture-when-we-pray/) - Christians often struggle with focusing their minds during prayer. We rattle off our lists of thanks and requests, but what do we picture while we have our eyes closed? I've had different approaches over the years... I used to picture Jesus on the cross, but I'd get side tracked by the possibility of my being historically inaccurate
- [How Could I Not?](https://kellylevatino.com/2013/10/12/how-could-i-not/) - I don't really fear Satan. I believe in God's power over him and don't worry that Satan will somehow usurp God's good plan for me. Satan can only do what God allows him to do (Job 1,2), and I have confidence God will use Satan's schemes for my greater good and His greater glory (Jeremiah
- [An Undivided Heart](https://kellylevatino.com/2013/09/20/an-undivided-heart/) - A healthy human heart, biologically speaking, is divided into 4 chambers. Each chamber has a specific purpose - either pumping or receiving blood - essential to the function of the heart. These physical divisions are necessary and good. This is what came to mind yesterday when I read Psalm 86:11, "Teach me your way, Lord,
- [Why I Can't Love My Neighbor as Myself](https://kellylevatino.com/2013/08/17/why-i-cant-love-my-neighbor-as-myself/) - A common misconception is that Old Testament Jews were saved by keeping the law. A lot of people think if those who lived before Christ obeyed all the Jewish rules and/or made all the appropriate sacrifices when they did wrong, God would let them into Heaven. Wrong. Keeping the Law never saved anyone. Paul, who
- [Feeling Let Down By God](https://kellylevatino.com/2013/09/04/feeling-let-down-by-god/) - It's been a long time since I've wept tears of frustration over the scriptures. In fact, I don't know if I've ever done that... But I did Sunday night. Uncontrollably. There are a lot of theological "issues" I can't wrap my mind around, but most of them I can say, "I don't know," about, and leave them
- [The Power of Grace](https://kellylevatino.com/2013/07/19/the-power-of-grace/) - Today at 12:30 PT, a couple plans to abort their 20 week gestation daughter. The doctors told them a couple weeks ago she has a pretty serious heart defect. So they're choosing to end her life in the hopes they will get pregnant with a healthy child instead. If you know anything about abortion procedures,
- [Inner Peace](https://kellylevatino.com/2013/07/24/inner-peace/) - In order to cope with life, we all have to find a source of peace. The emotional turmoil that we call life has to be quelled by something, or we'll all end up in a mental facility. Most Americans derive inner peace from outer sources. Exercise. Hobbies. Travel. Nature. Sleeping. Any number of things allow
- [Some Truths About Your Purpose](https://kellylevatino.com/2013/08/02/some-truths-about-your-purpose/) - Every year about this time, at summer's end, prepping for another school year, another year of ministry, I question my "purpose" and my "calling". Truth be told, I hate those words. Mostly because I struggle to pinpoint what my purpose and calling are. God hasn't given me the blue print to my life, so I
- [Loving Well](https://kellylevatino.com/2013/06/20/loving-well/) - It's hard to be a good writer without also being honest. And being honest is tricky because sharing my life necessarily means sharing others' lives, at least where their lives intersect with mine, and others don't always want to be as open as I am willing to be. So, out of respect for them, I
- [Why this "New Creation" Often Feels Old](https://kellylevatino.com/2013/06/30/why-this-new-creation-often-feels-old/) - I've always had a hard time wrapping my mind around the idea that when we become Christians, we become "new creations". Actually, I don't so much have a problem with the "new" part as I do with the the idea that the "old" things are no longer a part of us (2 Corinthians 5:17). And for
- [Spiritual Gangrene](https://kellylevatino.com/2013/07/08/spiritual-gangrene/) - In my last post I tossed out the idea that when we choose Jesus to be our Lord and our Savior, our “old things” pass away… but, like gangrenous tissue, they are still apart us, threatening our new lives in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). Although the old things no longer have the power over us they
- [Winning at Failing](https://kellylevatino.com/2013/04/27/winning-at-failing/) - I'm not sure how it happened, but I seem to be friends with more and more people who are "green" and "organic" and "work out" and "don't eat crap". They never eat anything not grown in their own backyards, they make their own shampoo, and they'd have their doctorates in homeopathy if the Internet could
- [How to Forgive Anyone for Anything](https://kellylevatino.com/2013/05/18/how-to-forgive-anyone-for-anything/) - (Yikes. Hope this article can really live up to that title...) (It's ok, it's not the words in this post that inspired that title. Scripture inspired that title. So I can go that big with that claim.) (I probably shouldn't start a post with a dialogue between me and myself.) (It's ok, my readers have come
- [How to Have Hope in the Hopeless Times](https://kellylevatino.com/2013/05/22/how-to-have-hope-in-the-hopeless-times/) - There are times we feel stuck in suffering. We look around and see no way out. The hurt is so deep, so constant, and everything we've tried to counteract the pain so ineffective, we feel helpless and hopeless. Or, as Paul put it, "in our hearts we felt the sentence of death," (2 Corinthians 1:9). That's
- [The Forsaken Children](https://kellylevatino.com/2012/09/26/the-forsaken-children/) - A few years ago some friends of mine got a crazy notion that God wanted THEM - American newlyweds from Memphis, TN, with no training whatsoever - to do something about the orphan crisis in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Six or seven years later, they've developed quite a ministry - The Forsaken Children. I could tell you
- [The Problem with Reading Through the Bible in a Year](https://kellylevatino.com/2013/07/27/the-problem-with-reading-through-the-bible-in-a-year/) - Last year I jumped on the band wagon and read through the entire Bible in a year. I'm glad I did it. It forced me to read parts of the Bible I rarely venture into, and it gave me a good overall view of all that Scripture contains. When I finished, I started over. Mostly
- [That's Impossible](https://kellylevatino.com/2011/05/05/thats-impossible/) - There's a song called "What Faith Can Do", and it is playing like crazy on Christian radio right now. When I heard it this morning, this lyric really grabbed my attention:Impossible is not a word; it's just a reason for someone not to try.I think it hit home because I am NOTORIOUS for claiming that
- [You Too](https://kellylevatino.com/2011/07/07/you-too/) - Last weekend I went to the best concert of my life. I knew before I walked through the gates of the stadium that it was going to be the best show I would ever see. And I was right. As U2 took the stage, Bono's charisma was palpable. The entire crowd watched his every move.
- [The Good Life](https://kellylevatino.com/2011/10/04/the-good-life/) - One Republic has a song on regular rotation on your local pop station these days. It's called, "Good Life". It is nothing to write home about, but it caught my attention this morning because a) it was the second time in 24 hours I had heard it, and b) it was positive despite not being
- [Who We Are](https://kellylevatino.com/2018/06/02/who-we-are/) - In the evangelical Christian world, we often treat "witnessing" as something on our to-do list. It's what we are supposed to do (but very few of us do it...). Never mind that non-Christians aren't tasks to be checked off but human beings to be loved. That's an entirely different post. Or maybe it isn't. We'll just have
- [What to Do When Pain Overwhelms You](https://kellylevatino.com/2015/02/24/what-to-do-when-pain-overwhelms-you/) - I've had a heavy heart the past week or so. I've been blaming gray winter clouds hiding the sun that I need to light me up and the beige walls of my home closing in as winter weather held our family hostage all last week. And maybe they have something to do with it. But
- [What to Do with Grief](https://kellylevatino.com/2015/08/08/what-to-do-with-grief/) - It's hard, this life. This summer, in particular, has felt like one gasp after another - personally, globally. Murder is everywhere, in every form. The pre-born, the just born, the born not-long-ago, the bearing, the bearing arms, the unarmed, the armed forces, the forced to bear arms, the forces of faith and fortitude born within
- [Rely](https://kellylevatino.com/2015/01/26/rely/) - I'm going through Beth Moore's Loving Well Bible study. Again. For the third time. This is partly because it's the study the director of women's ministry at my church chose. But, let's be honest, it's mostly because I don't love well. Anyway, the bulk of the study focuses on the latter half of 1 John
- [Spiritual Legacy: Getting Over My Fear of Church](https://kellylevatino.com/2012/03/13/spiritual-legacy-getting-over-my-fear-of-church/) - After I decided Jesus was legit, and after I started reading the Bible some, the next logical step was for me to start attending a church. (Logical to the believers around me, that is; the concept was lost on me for quite awhile). But that idea terrified me. So I spent the next 5 months
- [Spiritual Legacy: A Passion is Born](https://kellylevatino.com/2012/03/17/spiritual-legacy-a-passion-is-born/) - As a former skeptic, when I became a believer in high school, I was insanely focused on knowing why I believed what I believed. For my own sense of security, I needed to discover the facts behind the doctrine I was being taught at church. So I dove into the Bible. I read. And I had questions.
- [Spiritual Legacy: How I Lied to Get a Bible](https://kellylevatino.com/2012/03/09/spiritual-legacy-how-god-got-me-a-bible/) - (For the story of my salvation, read Part I, Part II, and Part III.) I became a Christian through a long process that culminated in November, 1999. Once I decided that Jesus was really who He claimed to be - the One True God and the only Savior that could make amends for my failures
- [Spiritual Legacy: What Difference Did God Make?](https://kellylevatino.com/2012/03/03/spiritual-legacy-what-difference-did-god-make/) - (For Part I of my story, read Spiritual Legacy: I Once Was Lost.) There I was, 14 years old and finally willing to believe that there was a God. But my everyday life didn't change. I was still a disgruntled teenager with no hope for the future. I was bitter and cynical and depressed. I
- [Spiritual Legacy: Discovering Jesus](https://kellylevatino.com/2012/03/07/spiritual-legacy-discovering-jesus/) - (For Part I of my story, read Spiritual Legacy: I Once Was Lost. For Part II of my story, read Spiritual Legacy: What Difference Did God Make?) I was 16 when I relied on God for the first time. It was more like I threatened God, telling Him that it was His responsibility to get
- [How to Be Satisfied with God When You Feel Dissatisfied with God](https://kellylevatino.com/2015/01/08/how-to-be-satisfied-with-god-when-you-feel-dissatisfied-with-god/) - Sometimes it's easy to feel God's love. For whatever reason, every worship song you hear and Bible verse you read floods you with absolute confidence in the Lord's personal affection for you. You walk around with a smile on your face, knowing, like the psalmist, that His love really is better than life, and you have the warm
- [New Message](https://kellylevatino.com/2015/01/10/new-message/) - Hey! I had the opportunity to speak at a church this morning and thought I'd share the recording with you all if you're so inclined to give it a listen. The message is on intercessory prayer and focuses on Jesus' prayer in John 17. Happy listening, Kelly
- [She Speaks 2014](https://kellylevatino.com/2014/08/02/she-speaks-2014/) - Last week I attended the annual Proverbs 31 conference for women communicators in ministry, She Speaks. A lot of you prayed for me (many thanks) and have been asking how it went. Given that I spent 28 of 48 hours in meetings, there are about 100 different facets I could get into, but most of those
- [Rest](https://kellylevatino.com/2014/08/09/rest-2/) - The baby wiggled uncomfortably in my arms, whining with his eyes closed. Over-stimulated and over-tired from the overflow of love my young daughters had been pouring on him all morning, my best friend's baby boy needed rest. But he had no idea how to get it. I held him close to my chest, put his
- [The One Thing We Can't Lose](https://kellylevatino.com/2014/08/25/the-one-thing-we-cant-lose/) - My heart fell as I watched this pastor whom I've never heard preach, whom I've never met personally, whose books I've never read, and whose church I've never set foot in tearfully apologize to his congregation for, in his own words, choices he has made that were "wrong". Yes, his humility struck me. In this
- [Thoughts for the Anxious Christian](https://kellylevatino.com/2014/03/04/thoughts-for-the-anxious-christian/) - Anxiety is a broad term for a lot of different psychological and physiological responses. And people use it in a myriad of ways. Psychologically speaking, some people say they are anxious when they are mildly worried about something. Others don't consider passing worry to be anxiety until it becomes obsessively debilitating worry - worry that's often
- [Ministry Update](https://kellylevatino.com/2014/06/30/ministry-update/) - Hey! I appreciate each one of you reading my offerings on this blog every week, whether you're brand new to Calculating Grace or you've been reading for years. I'm oh so grateful for your comments and encouragement along the way. I want to take a few minutes to update you guys on how the Lord
- [Spiritual Legacy: God-Sized Dreams](https://kellylevatino.com/2014/07/20/spiritual-legacy-god-sized-dreams/) - So Thursday morning I'm going to wake up earlier than I want to and board a flight to the rest of my life. (How's that for an opening line?) Actually, I really have no idea if or how my Thursday-through-Sunday excursion will impact the rest of my life given the whole I'm-not-omniscient thing, but I
- [Next Class: One Thousand Gifts](https://kellylevatino.com/2014/01/04/next-class-one-thousand-gifts/) - There's a book out, and depending on how long you've been reading this blog or following me on the social media, you've heard me plug it a few or a million times. Because I think it's a game changer. So I'm going to teach it. Again. A couple of years ago, I taught New York
- [New Podcasts: One Thousand Gifts](https://kellylevatino.com/2014/02/01/new-podcasts-one-thousand-gifts/) - This past Wednesday I kicked off my teaching series I'll be in for the next 5 weeks, One Thousand Gifts. As with the past two series I've taught, I am recording each lesson and posting them here. If you're still considering coming to the course, give Lesson 1 a listen to see if the class
- [A Holiday Survival Guide for Moms Who Hate Crafts](https://kellylevatino.com/2013/11/30/a-holiday-survival-guide-for-moms-who-hate-crafts/) - Hey, Moms, Thanksgiving has come and gone. I think I managed to have the children complete 6 out of 28 "things they are thankful for leaves" for our Thanksgiving tree. I can't decide whether I'm proud of that number or embarrassed... On the one hand, I'm surprised we got that many done, given that this
- [When it's not Okay to Leave Your Church](https://kellylevatino.com/2013/12/20/when-its-not-okay-to-leave-a-church/) - Can I be honest with you? Thanks. I've been thinking A LOT about biblical church membership this past year. More specifically, I've been trying to come up with a good rule of thumb for when it is okay for a church member to leave their church and go find a new one. Unfortunately, my church
- [Why Church Membership is Important](https://kellylevatino.com/2013/12/27/why-church-membership-is-important/) - So my last three posts - When it's Not Okay to Leave Your Church, When it's Okay to Leave Your Church, and What to do if You're Unhappy at Your Church - all started with a basic presupposition: church membership is important. But there is an ever-increasing number of Jesus-loving people who don't share that
- [The One Thing God Will Never Ask You to Sacrifice](https://kellylevatino.com/2013/11/26/the-one-thing-god-will-never-ask-you-to-sacrifice/) - I wrestled long through the night, trying to convince God my situation is the exception to His rule...to His Word. He listened while I presented my argument 1,000 different ways, but my logic couldn't change His mind. God is God so He is always right. When I awoke the next morning, I was tired. From
- [The Lord Delights](https://kellylevatino.com/2013/08/11/the-lord-delights/) - Two of my favorite concepts in Scripture are the Lord's unfailing love and His delighting in us. And I think they go hand in hand. The phrase "unfailing love" appears 39 times in the NIV, and it is only used to speak of God's love, never man's. Telling, isn't it? The Lord loves much more
- [Spiritual Legacy: He Provides](https://kellylevatino.com/2013/09/23/spiritual-legacy-he-provides/) - I've never had a full-time job. As in, NEVER.I guess that's what happens when you marry an "established" man before you graduate college. Elian had a great job that met our needs. I finished my degree a year after we said, "I do," working part-time along the way.Once I graduated, our plan was to have
- [How to Study the Bible](https://kellylevatino.com/2013/08/13/how-to-study-the-bible/) - At the end of the month, my church is rolling out a new program called EQUIP to help our congregants become mature believers who impact the world for Christ. I'm pretty excited about it. As a part of this program, I'm going to teach a new course called How to Study the Bible. My aim is to teach women
- [Does God Ever Give Us More Than We Can Handle?](https://kellylevatino.com/2013/05/15/does-god-ever-give-us-more-than-we-can-handle/) - I shared an article on my Facebook wall the other day in which a pastor makes the case that God does give us more than we can handle. I happened to agree with this suffering Christian. However, a friend of mine who loves Jesus and the Catholic Church and knows Scripture took issue with the article.
- [When it's Okay to Leave Your Church](https://kellylevatino.com/2013/12/21/when-its-okay-to-leave-a-church/) - Yesterday I struck a nerve by writing an article called When it's not Okay to Leave Your Church. My main point was it's not okay to be selfish, and leaving your church because your personal preferences aren't being catered to is unbiblical. I would be remiss, however, to leave the discussion at that. Because the
- [The Obligatory Year in Review](https://kellylevatino.com/2012/12/31/the-obligatory-year-in-review/) - Wordpress is kind enough to put together a little Year in Review, annual report about my blog each year. Last year the three most important stats were: This blog was viewed 3,200 times There were 88 new posts, bringing the total post count to 225 The busiest day of the year was August 11th with 111 views
- [Hope in the Struggle](https://kellylevatino.com/2013/02/23/hope-in-the-struggle/) - I was all set to write an article about how there's no such thing as a "good Christian." It was going to be all about how oxymoronic that phrase is - none of us are good, that's why we need Christ in the first place. Except I didn't actually write the article. I just thought about
- [Now is our Time for Grief](https://kellylevatino.com/2012/11/13/now-is-our-time-for-grief/) - My kids and I talk about Heaven a lot. My 3 year old is just trying to wrap her brain around the concept of Heaven. She knows it is a place where God lives, and if you love Jesus, you get to go there. When I remind her of these facts, she inevitably says, "I
- [Light in the Darkeness](https://kellylevatino.com/2013/11/18/light-in-the-darkeness/) - I was in the Ozark "Mountains" over the weekend. I use quotes because I was born in the Rockies. So the Ozarks are mere hills. Nevertheless, they were still beautiful, especially to someone who lives in the flat lands of Memphis, Tennessee. There are many pictures I wish I had taken, but I only took one.
- [Honorable Mention](https://kellylevatino.com/2012/11/09/honorable-mention/) - I remember my first marathon. Maybe because it was my only marathon. I ran the whole thing - from the starting line, around the playground, around the open field behind the school, and to the finish line. Fifth grade Field Day. I was hand-picked by my P.E. teacher, along with 8 others, to compete in
- [One Question You Should Never Ask Yourself](https://kellylevatino.com/2012/10/05/one-question-you-should-never-ask-yourself/) - This semester I am teaching James a la Beth Moore, and let me tell you, it's not for the faint of heart. James is a pretty blunt guy who doesn't seem to put up with any excuses. Thursday we were discussing the infamous faith and works verses the made Martin Luther want to tear the whole
- [For Me](https://kellylevatino.com/2012/08/25/for-me/) - You don't really need to read this. But I need to write this. So I am. For me. I don't know what's wrong. But I know SOMETHING is wrong. My younger daughter, Allie, is 3 years old. For 3+ months she has been complaining her back hurts. For awhile I chalked it up to
- [Prayer = Service](https://kellylevatino.com/2012/08/28/1896/) - I've been considering the idea of prayer as an act of service the past couple of weeks. There's no telling what got this idea rolling in my head. In fact, I'm not entirely sure it's my idea. I may have heard it from Kennon Vaughan and mistaken it as my own. If so, thanks, Kennon! Either
- [Life After Death](https://kellylevatino.com/2012/07/28/life-after-death/) - After yesterday's post, I'm Dying, I'd be remiss to not mention their is life after death. I'm not talking about eternal life, although I do happen to believe heaven awaits those of us who have bowed our knees to Jesus Christ. Today I am referring to the idea that dying to ourselves, no matter how
- [The Question Every Non-Christian is Asking](https://kellylevatino.com/2012/05/22/the-question-every-non-christian-is-asking/) - There's an important question every non-Christian is asking. And we Christians, at least in my demographic, are just now beginning to realize it. Every unbeliever is asking us Christians, "Will you love me even if I don't accept your Jesus?" For too long I, and most evangelicals I know, have approached sharing the Gospel as
- [The Roller Coaster Ride that is Deciding to Go or Not Go on a Mission Trip](https://kellylevatino.com/2012/06/16/the-roller-coaster-ride-that-is-deciding-to-go-or-not-go-on-a-mission-trip/) - I've been debating for four months about traveling to Uruguay in October with some people from my church. We know some incredible missionaries down there whom our church visits each year to do ministry alongside them via service projects and relationship building with non-believing Uruguayans. Back in March I was pretty set on going. I'd never been
- [(Dis)Unity](https://kellylevatino.com/2012/04/10/disunity/) - Our church is entering a time of transition. A couple of weeks ago, our senior pastor of almost 9 years announced that he and his family are headed to the mission field full-time. They leave in less than 3 months. And so the process of finding an interim senior pastor and, eventually, a permanent senior
- [Telling God No](https://kellylevatino.com/2012/04/17/telling-god-no/) - Peter. God love him. He is the disciple that I relate to most. From the excessive pride, swearing he'll never deny Christ, to letting his emotions dictate his actions, cutting off that guy's ear who came to arrest Jesus, Peter is a relatable dude. After Christ's resurrection, Peter maintains his uncanny ability to fail in
- [Is That Too Much to Ask?](https://kellylevatino.com/2012/03/13/is-that-too-much-to-ask/) - Do you ever wonder what God wants from you? Honestly, I just wish He would spell it out in black and white sometimes. What's that? You say He did spell it out in black and white? In Deuteronomy 10:12-13, Moses says, "'And now, O Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to
- [Soul Sick](https://kellylevatino.com/2012/03/15/soul-sick/) - Some things about life suck. This has nothing to do with my natural bent toward pessimism or my forgetting to take my depression medication. It has everything to do with the Fall. (The event, not the season.) When sin entered the world, it ruined stuff. And ever since then, stuff has had the propensity to
- [Retroactive Obedience](https://kellylevatino.com/2012/03/10/retroactive-obedience/) - In yesterday's Spiritual Legacy post, I mentioned that God is never pleased with doing the right thing the wrong way. The good, beneficial, godly ends never justify disobedient, hurtful, hateful, or otherwise corrupt means. I didn't chase that rabbit trail yesterday, but a great example of this concept showed up in today's chronological Bible reading.
- [Spiritual Legacy](https://kellylevatino.com/2012/02/28/spiritual-legacy/) - Soooooo many times in the Bible people are encouraged to remember what the Lord has done for them. Why? Because we tend to forget His work in our lives. When we don't ACTIVELY pursue remembering, we forget. And when we forget how He has been faithful to us, how He has provided for us, how
- [When the Bible Doesn't Help You](https://kellylevatino.com/2012/02/25/when-the-bible-doesnt-help-you/) - Sometimes we have to make decisions about which the Bible does not speak. We have to choose what college to go to, where to live, whether or not to have another child, etc., etc., etc. These specific situations are not spelled out for us in the Bible. There is no verse to which we can
- [Do Christians HAVE to Read the Bible?](https://kellylevatino.com/2012/02/14/do-christians-have-to-read-the-bible/) - When we miss the point of reading the Bible, sometimes we ask ourselves (and those in spiritual authority over us) why we have to read the Bible everyday. "Show me in the Bible where we are commanded to have daily quiet times," we say, looking for a way to alleviate our feelings of guilt over the fact
- [Does God Care HOW We Worship Him?](https://kellylevatino.com/2012/02/23/does-god-care-how-we-worship-him/) - There is a popular idea out there that it doesn't matter how you choose to worship, as long as you are sincere. Within this idea is an unspoken conclusion that, somehow, no matter which religion turns out to be right, the god(s) of that religion will honor the valiant efforts of those who believed falsely, as long
- [On Being Mistaken for David Crowder's Wife](https://kellylevatino.com/2012/02/04/on-being-mistaken-for-david-crowders-wife/) - Thursday night David Crowder played a free acoustic show in Memphis. And I went. And it was fabulous, as he always is. I've seen him several times, but this time I was with a friend who knew the head of security at the venue. And that friend graciously hooked us up with front row seats.
- [I am the Solution](https://kellylevatino.com/2012/01/27/i-am-the-solution/) - Last week I was wracking my brain, trying to solve a problem. Fix. Win. End. A problem. And in so doing, I communicated with several friends about the problem. My friends have been a vital part of my sorting out the problem. I owe them a debt of gratitude for grounding me when I am
- [What's My Point?](https://kellylevatino.com/2012/01/13/1369/) - As the New Year rolled around, the resolution-making and the goal-setting and the Purpose Driven Life questions filled my Facebook wall, my Twitter feed, and my Google reader. Sigh. My first inclination is to always resist the popular trends. But I just couldn't help but consider, just for a second, some possible goals. And the
- [Why Everybody Isn't Going to Heaven](https://kellylevatino.com/2012/01/17/why-everybody-isnt-going-to-heaven/) - Christianity is often distinguished from all other religions because it is the only religion (except maybe universalism, which says everyone goes to Heaven no matter what) that is not works-based. While the other world religions require men to be good - to do good - to earn their way into blissful eternal life, Christianity freely
- [We Can Learn From Blockheads](https://kellylevatino.com/2012/01/03/we-can-learn-from-blockheads/) - (Apparently, I've been watching too many Charlie Brown holiday specials because "blockhead" is my new favorite insult). (Is it bad to start a blog post with a digression? No? How about two digressions?) In my last post I quoted one of Job's blockhead friends, not to point out his inability to understand God's dealing with Job, but
- [Well, Looky Here](https://kellylevatino.com/2012/01/01/well-looky-here/) - My church is inviting everyone to read through the Bible chronologically this year. And to make it more exciting, they've recommended a website, YouVersion, to help. (And, seriously, it makes it more exciting! I love the change of pace of reading the Bible on my computer, and I really love the ability to make notes on
- [Grace: Not Just a New Testament Doctrine](https://kellylevatino.com/2011/12/17/grace-not-just-a-new-testament-doctrine/) - I had the pleasure of spending time with some remarkably brilliant women on Thursday morning. We were training to lead a new Bible study in January, but really what we were doing was dissecting Genesis 1-3. Yeah, THAT Genesis 1-3. The section of the Old Testament we've all read a million times. The accounts of
- [When Famine Comes](https://kellylevatino.com/2012/01/24/when-famine-comes/) - This semester I am teaching something called Chronological Bible Discipleship. As you might infer, we're going through the Bible chronologically in order to better understand the Bible as ONE story, not 66 independent books. All that to say, we spent some time in Genesis 12 this week. It is in this part of the story
- [The Meaning of Life](https://kellylevatino.com/2011/10/21/the-meaning-of-life/) - I've been busy lately. Elian and I went to Nashville last weekend to visit some friends and attend a most exciting Georgia football game. And this week Lexi has been on Fall Break from preschool. Which means she thought it'd be a good time to get pneumonia. All that to say I haven't had time
- [How to Make a Difference](https://kellylevatino.com/2011/10/28/how-to-make-a-difference/) - It's a common thing for Christians to desire to make an impact for the Lord. We want our lives to matter beyond our mundane jobs and our time-filling hobbies. At the end of the day, we want to know that we have made some sort of a spiritual difference in the lives of those around us.
- [What Leviticus Teaches Us](https://kellylevatino.com/2011/11/03/what-leviticus-teaches-us/) - Leviticus. That's possibly the book I care least about in the Bible. Is it heretical to say that? I'm sure there are some legalists sharpening their pitchforks somewhere... Either way, the truth is the book of Leviticus is a snooze fest for me. God lays out His laws for the Jews to follow in an
- [A Greater Hope](https://kellylevatino.com/2013/09/11/a-greater-hope/) - I don't like to spend money. So whenever there is an opportunity to acquire a free pen, I do so. I'm sure that's how this particular pen found its way into my purse. I have no recollection of when I got it or where I got it from, but I know why I picked it
- [By Faith](https://kellylevatino.com/2011/10/10/by-faith/) - This Christianity is a strange business. The juxtaposition of faith and logic never seems to baffle me. That's not to say that all of Christianity is illogical, but, let's just admit it, a lot of it is. By human standards, it makes zero sense that God would give up His son for mortals full of copious
- [What's Now vs. What's Next](https://kellylevatino.com/2011/10/07/whats-now-vs-whats-next/) - It is no secret that I want to write and teach professionally. I think I teach the gospel in a unique way that connects with people more personally than it usually does. I get inside the scriptures and explain how they relate to me - an American woman in her 20's - and you - a reader
- [Kingdom Vision](https://kellylevatino.com/2011/08/16/kingdom-vision/) - When God wants to teach me about a concept, He typically paces Himself. Maybe it's because He knows how long it is going to take me to catch on... Anyway, the theme of the summer has been living a Spirit-led life. God set out to teach me what that means, why I should do it,
- [Are You Breathing?](https://kellylevatino.com/2011/08/25/are-you-breathing/) - "To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing." - Martin Luther I came across this mind-boggling quote in that book I'm reading on the Holy Spirit. My first reaction was one of disagreement. Salvation is not earned through prayer. Duh, Martin! Wasn't this the guy who emphasized
- [It's What We Do](https://kellylevatino.com/2011/08/30/1120/) - Most of the times that I find myself lacking, I ask, "Why am I not ______?" I ask it as though I expect that "normal", "good", "healthy" people are ______ by nature, but, for some reason, I am not. I search for an answer. I read books. I talk to counselors. I ponder my childhood.
- [The Soil of Our Souls](https://kellylevatino.com/2011/07/29/the-soil-of-our-souls/) - Sometimes the Holy Spirit tweaks my soul ever so slightly just to let me know that whatever I am doing or thinking about is a problem. Without bossing me around, the Spirit gently says, "Hey, you need to address this. Soon. Before it eats you alive." In the recent past, I'd typically reply, "No thanks.
- [Hang Loose](https://kellylevatino.com/2011/08/01/hang-loose/) - There was a quote in my Bible study book that said, "Whatever you are holding onto in this life, hold it loosely so it won't hurt when the Lord has to pry your fingers open to take it away." Wow. I don't know about you, but that's the kind of cynicism I can relate to!
- [Spiritual Prostitutes](https://kellylevatino.com/2011/07/26/hosea/) - I've crossed paths with the book of Hosea three times in the past two weeks. The third time I said to myself, "Hey, maybe God is trying to teach me something." I'm pretty astute that way. My previous knowledge of this short Old Testament book comes from two sources. The first source - Francine Rivers'
- [On Faith](https://kellylevatino.com/2011/06/14/on-faith/) - On Thursday the Bible study group I am a part of watched a video lesson by a woman named Jennifer Rothschild. She lost her eyesight at age 15 due to a degenerative eye condition she was unaware she had. She's taken that experience and written a Bible study called Walking by Faith. The video we
- [Unfair](https://kellylevatino.com/2011/06/28/unfair/) - You don’t have to live very long to realize life isn’t fair. If my almost-two-year-old had “It’s not fair!” in her vocabulary, she’d say it constantly. Her big sister gets to do a lot more things than she does. Allie can’t go to Vacation Bible School. Allie can’t ride a bike. Allie can’t read a
- [Represent](https://kellylevatino.com/2011/06/01/represent/) - There was nothing I hated more in school than the dreaded group project. There are two types of people in this world: those who carry the group and those who expect the group to carry them. I always fell into the first class of students, and when group projects were assigned, I just KNEW I'd have
- [Unconvinced](https://kellylevatino.com/2011/06/04/unconvinced/) - I'm pretty good at rationalizing things.Take donuts, for example. Why do I get two donuts when my four year old can only have one? Because I have a bigger stomach, of course. Never mind that they are completely devoid of any nutritional value. Wait, no they aren't! Surely there is SOMETHING in a donut that
- [The Kind of Ultimatum God Loves](https://kellylevatino.com/2011/06/07/the-kind-of-ultimatum-god-loves/) - My four year old is an endless fountain of questions. The other day she asked me why it is summer. I was stumped. (Seriously, what would YOU have said?!) So I gave my stock answer, "Because it is." She was satisfied not because that was a stellar explanation but because her mind had already moved
- [Cook Chicken](https://kellylevatino.com/2011/06/10/cook-chicken/) - I am the type of person who reads all the directions before attempting to assemble something. I read every word of the syllabus when I start a new course. I Google how to do everything if I have the slightest inclination that I might not know what I'm doing. I want to know exactly what
- [And Now For Something Completely Different](https://kellylevatino.com/2011/05/26/and-now-for-something-completely-different/) - I have some friends that are very ordinary. But they did an extraordinary thing. They responded to God's leading them in a direction they never would have walked in under "normal" circumstances. He told them to leave Memphis, move to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and start being part of the solution to the worldwide orphan crisis.
- [Better](https://kellylevatino.com/2011/05/31/better/) - God is pretty tricky. He lures us into wanting to have kids by making newborns adorably snuggley. Their heads smell good, and their outfits are so cute we can't stand it. LexiAllieThen they start to grow. They learn to talk and think and ask questions. They study your every move and file away every word that
- [Overcoming Weariness With Ice Cream](https://kellylevatino.com/2011/05/19/overcoming-weariness-with-ice-cream/) - Sometimes I am tired.I am not talking about the I-need-a-nap kind of tired. I am talking about the I-don't-have-the-emotional-energy-to-do-life-another-second kind of tired. Weary. Spent. Done.When I'm feeling this way, my solution is a three-step process:1. Complain to others.2. Consume ice cream.3. Check out in front of the TV.We can call it The 3C Approach to
- [A Penny for Your Praise](https://kellylevatino.com/2011/05/21/a-penny-for-your-praise/) - In case you've ever wondered, the key to winning my affection is to praise me a whole lot.Like a puppy in obedience school, my tail wags, and I jump up and down uncontrollably anytime anyone throws a compliment my way. Since childhood society has been teaching me that if I perform well, I get metaphorical
- [The Kind of Encouragement You Don't Want](https://kellylevatino.com/2011/05/23/the-kind-of-encouragement-you-dont-want/) - There is a downside to the fact that God wants what is best for us: He is willing to do whatever it takes to get us to cooperate with His plan. If you subscribe to the concept of free will, then God is never going to force us to do anything. But He will arrange
- [How to Rejoice When You Don't Want to](https://kellylevatino.com/2011/05/09/how-to-rejoice-when-you-dont-want-to/) - When life sucks, I have a hard time rejoicing. But God wants believers to rejoice always (Philippians 4:4).Always?Surely God doesn't mean always. Because that's impossible.How can we be expected to rejoice when we're stuck in a job we hate? Or when our kids are sick? Or when our marriage is at an all-time low? Or
- [Come Be Enough](https://kellylevatino.com/2011/05/11/come-be-enough/) - I wish it were socially acceptable for me to handle not getting what I want like my toddler does. Allie's main goal in life is to run away from me in crowded and/or dangerous situations. Are we shopping in a mile-wide department store? She'll take off as fast as her twelve-inch legs can carry her,
- [Plans](https://kellylevatino.com/2011/05/14/plans/) - Life would be a lot easier if I would do things God's way the first time.Instead, I try my way first. I usually jump into something headlong without giving much thought to what God would have me do. If, by chance, I do give thought to God's preference, I typically don't give it a second
- [Extreme Makeover: Kelly Levatino Edition](https://kellylevatino.com/2011/05/16/extreme-makeover-kelly-levatino-edition/) - Since January 1st of this year, God has been jack-hammering away in my life. I guess He finally got tired of letting me operate out of my baggage. He wants more for me. And, clearly, I wasn't going to pursue that willingly with Him. So five and a half months ago, He declared my heart
- [Let's Be Honest...](https://kellylevatino.com/2011/05/06/lets-be-honest/) - There is a movement of sorts taking place in my generation. We could call it the Cut the Crap campaign. Or the We're Not Stupid initiative. Or the Who Do You Think You're Kidding drive. Whatever you want to call it, the idea is the same: we want blatant honesty.We want transparency from our leaders,
- [Don't Judge a Book By Its Cover](https://kellylevatino.com/2011/04/23/dont-judge-a-book-by-its-cover/) - Several years ago a popular series of books crowded the bookshelves of Christian book stores across America, including the one in which I worked. You may remember the series: Every Man's Battle, Every Woman's Battle, Every Young Man's Battle, Every Young Woman's Battle, Every Crotchety Old Man's Battle, Every Crabby Old Woman's Battle, etc. Ok...I
- [Daily Dose of Grace](https://kellylevatino.com/2011/04/27/daily-dose-of-grace/) - I hope you never get tired of hearing about grace. I guess if you did you would've stopped coming here a long time ago. A writer I enjoy, Jon Acuff, wrote about grace today, and he marveled at the idea that a holy God is also a God of second chances. Actually, this side of
- [Hope For the Hopeless](https://kellylevatino.com/2011/04/30/hope-for-the-hopeless/) - I'm not an optimistic person.I know, I know, those of you who know me are shocked. The truth is I'd like to be an optimist, I just don't think it will happen.Although I prefer to call myself a "realist" in lieu of being a self-proclaimed "pessimist", I think it is more accurate to say I
- [What to Do When You Don't Know What to Do](https://kellylevatino.com/2011/04/05/what-to-do-when-you-dont-know-what-to-do/) - At least once a week, my three year old, Lexi, asks, "Mommy, when am I gonna get to go to Heaven?" And I say, "I don't know; only God knows that." Her response is always the same, "I wish I could go to Heaven now. I just can't wait to see Jesus!" And my response
- [Love (Not to Scale)](https://kellylevatino.com/2011/04/14/love-not-to-scale/) - I never wake up in the morning and determine, "Today I am going to look for love in all the wrong places." I never make a To Do List that includes "Entrust my heart to fallible humans", sandwiched between "Grocery shop" and "Fold laundry". I never remind myself to forget that God's love is better
- [I Killed Jesus](https://kellylevatino.com/2011/03/14/i-killed-jesus/) - In Revelation 12:10, we are told that Satan stands in Heaven, day and night, accusing us before God. "Accusing us of what?" you might ask. Job 1:9-11 indicates at least one thing Satan accuses believers of - not really loving God. We're only in it for the blessings, Satan says. Day and night, Satan tries
- [Jesus: Not Just Another Rent-a-Cop](https://kellylevatino.com/2011/03/23/jesus-not-just-another-rent-a-cop/) - Insecurity.We all struggle with it. Especially us women.We are insecure about everything - how we look, how we don't look, who we're friends with, how many people we're friends with, why we don't have more friends, what we know, what we don't know, how well we fulfill our numerous roles, our value to others, our
- [What Do You REALLY Want?](https://kellylevatino.com/2011/03/25/what-do-you-really-want/) - Most of the time, when God is trying to teach me something by allowing me to experience pain, I sit around and complain. I tell Him that I hate what He's doing, and I want Him to stop. I tell Him I want out of whatever particular circumstance is grieving me at the moment. And
- [When Church is Messy](https://kellylevatino.com/2011/02/22/when-church-is-messy/) - In the past four months, two men on senior staff at my church have resigned. By all accounts, these men love the Lord, His Word, and His Church with their whole beings. Yet, on separate occasions, each man stood before the congregation and announced his decision to step down, but neither man said why. Both
- [What God Isn't Telling Us](https://kellylevatino.com/2011/03/05/what-god-isnt-telling-us/) - I started kindergarten as the only kid in my class that could read books by herself. When I was in fourth grade, my classmates nicknamed me The Human Dictionary, and my teacher thought I had what it took to become America's first female president (that's a compliment, right?). In eighth grade, when I moved to
- [Do You WANT to Be Healed?](https://kellylevatino.com/2011/03/11/do-you-want-to-be-healed/) - If you've been on this planet for any measurable amount of time, you've been hurt. You've been beat up emotionally by people who love you, by people who despise you, and by all the people whose affections lie somewhere in between. People have harmed your psyche deliberately and unknowingly. There is no escaping messy relationships.
- [Moms: 6 Easy Ways to Get More God in Your Day](https://kellylevatino.com/2011/02/10/moms-6-easy-ways-to-get-more-god-in-your-day/) - I wrote a guest post for 6:33 Woman today. This website is chock full of tidbits for moms and Christians. Whether you're looking for recipes, craft ideas, coupons or daily devotionals, this site has something for you. So check out my article and take a spin around the rest of the site! And thanks, Amy
- [How to (Not) Start the Day](https://kellylevatino.com/2011/02/16/how-to-not-start-the-day/) - Most mornings start the same way at my house. One of the girls jars me out of my sleep, I scowl at the clock, and then I wonder how long I can ignore my children before the 3-yr-old wants breakfast or the 18-month-old's sweet jibber-jabber turns into, "GET ME OUT OF THIS CRIB, WOMAN!" screams.
- [Bible Study Resources: Rev. 7-9](https://kellylevatino.com/2011/02/09/bible-study-resources-rev-7-9/) - Selected commentary on Revelation 7, 8 and 9 adapted from David Guzik at Blue Letter Bible.Rev. 7Who are the 144,000? Characteristics: The “children of Israel” (7:4), protected and triumphant through the period of God’s wrath, meeting with Jesus at Mount Zion at His return (14:1), celibate and “the beginning of a greater harvest” (14:4), marked by
- [The Book of Life](https://kellylevatino.com/2011/01/28/the-book-of-life/) - I am teaching a Bible study on the Book of Revelation right now. Luckily, I have a little help from Beth Moore. (Ok, a lot of help.) Yesterday in our small group we studied the letters to the 7 churches in Rev. 2 and 3. There was one idea, the Book of Life, that we
- [Free Samples of Grace and Mercy](https://kellylevatino.com/2011/02/04/free-samples-of-grace-and-mercy/) - I've heard a lot of people say that the reason you should forgive someone who has hurt you is so you won't be weighed down by holding a grudge. It doesn't matter if the other person is sorry or if he is even aware that he has something to be sorry for. It's not about
- [Loneliness Defined](https://kellylevatino.com/2011/01/22/loneliness-defined/) - A friend and I were talking awhile back about a book that suggests all people, at their core, are alone. We feel this loneliness, and it motivates us to invest in relationships that will counteract our lonely feelings. We long for quality community with others because we experience love within relationships, and love is the
- [On Love and Fulfillment](https://kellylevatino.com/2011/01/20/on-love-and-fulfillment/) - I heard something interesting from the honorable Beth Moore today. She said, "If we don't love God, we'll love anything."It's probably no surprise to you that I think she's right. All people are created with a God-shaped hole in their emotional hearts. God did this on purpose because He desires a relationship with us (and,
- [Why Thanksgiving Day Comes Before Christmas Day](https://kellylevatino.com/2010/12/17/why-thanksgiving-day-comes-before-christmas-day/) - (For those who are impatient, the last sentence tells you why.) Each morning I bring my 17 month old baby downstairs, and she points at the Christmas tree. With an urgency that isn't necessary, she repeats, "YIGHTS! YIGHTS!" She looks at me expectantly. If I don't move toward the tree fast enough, she toddles over
- [Calculating Grace (and Finding it Doesn't Add Up)](https://kellylevatino.com/2011/01/10/calculating-grace-and-finding-it-doesnt-add-up/) - In case you aren't a details person, I changed the name of the blog. It's been 2.5 years since I started this gig, so it was time for a face lift. "Observations of the Ordinary" was a blog I started to have a space to preserve and share the funny, interesting, and otherwise noteworthy experiences
- [One Reason I Know There is a God](https://kellylevatino.com/2011/01/03/one-reason-i-know-there-is-a-god/) - Life has been putting me through the wringer lately. Actually, most of the time, I've been putting myself through the wringer via my own stupid choices. But that's neither here nor there.I went to church Sunday feeling particularly empty of hope, joy, peace, energy, etc. And as I sat on the pew (Do we still
- [Dare to Dream](https://kellylevatino.com/2010/12/06/dare-to-dream/) - As I walked on the treadmill with “What Can I Bring?” (Jeremy Riddle) playing on my iPod, I felt God say, “Dare to dream.” It was a message that He had given a friend earlier in the day. I read on her Facebook status that He was asking her to dream, and I thought, “That’s
- [New Feature: Podcasts](https://kellylevatino.com/2013/09/05/new-feature-podcasts-2/) - I'm entering new territory with the How to Study the Bible course I started teaching at my church last week: my classes are being recorded (audio only, whew) and posted on the web for the ENTIRE INTERNET TO HEAR. Praise the Lord I am not being LIVE BROADCASTED like some poor souls (Beth, Priscilla, pastors everywhere, I
- [New Women's Bible Studies](https://kellylevatino.com/2010/11/27/new-womens-bible-studies/) - Ladies,Come join me for the next batch of women's Bible studies. I will be leading a small group on Thursday mornings as we study Revelation via Beth Moore's workbook and video series. I cannot describe how the Lord blessed the women in our Bible study last semester. If you are looking for other women who
- [General Jehoshaphat's Wacky Warfare Worship](https://kellylevatino.com/2021/02/26/general-jehoshaphats-wacky-warfare-worship/) - [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.8.2″ hover_enabled=”0″ custom_margin=”-2vw||||false|false” sticky_enabled=”0″][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.27.4″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”] (Say THAT three times fast. I’ll wait.) This isn’t your typical battle plan. The Lord had told Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, a VAST army was coming to attack him and his people. Jehoshaphat was a
- [No Plan](https://kellylevatino.com/2021/02/09/no-plan/) - I am acutely aware of my frailty. I was gonna use the word "suckiness" instead. And, apparently, I still am. But that’s a tad more negative than how I really feel. I am acutely aware that I do not have the power or determination to will myself into writing, much less writing a book (which
- [How to Not be Wrong](https://kellylevatino.com/2019/11/11/how-to-not-be-wrong/) - [et_pb_section][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text] I hate being wrong. Hate. HATE. HAAAAAAAAATE! (My counselor can give you all the reasons why, if you’re into that sort of thing.) Lucky for me, Jesus tells me how to not be wrong! Surely, if I employ His little formula, I’ll never be wrong again! Muhahaha! (Of course, no one can perfectly
- [Slow down.](https://kellylevatino.com/2019/12/27/slow-down/) - I started reading 1 Thessalonians today because yesterday I wound up in chapter 3 and remembered just how fantastic these letters are! I won't drone on and on about how Paul was a verbal genius (run-on sentences aside), but, I will repetitively remind you his words are weighty. Paul doesn't waste words. He packs theological
- [Pray like Paul.](https://kellylevatino.com/2019/12/26/pray-like-paul/) - In his first letter to the Thessalonians, Paul told them to pray without ceasing. And, like a good leader, he practiced what he preached. Paul prayed a ton. In each of his letters, he tells the recipients things like, "God...is my witness how constantly I remember you in my prayers at all times," (Romans 1:9-10).
- [Sometimes I feel like a turtle.](https://kellylevatino.com/2019/12/13/sometimes-i-feel-like-a-turtle/) - Sometimes I get frustrated with my turtle-paced sanctification. I have a desire to be more like Jesus because God deserves followers who are Christlike. But, turns out, transforming a sinful human into the likeness of Christ isn't an overnight process. (I wonder why that is... God is sovereign. He designed this whole system. He could
- [Do you live near Nashville?](https://kellylevatino.com/2019/12/02/do-you-live-near-nashville/)
- [Ministry Update](https://kellylevatino.com/2019/11/27/ministry-update-3/) - I sent out a ministry update today via the ol' electronic mail. If you didn't receive it and feel sadness in your heart about that, please, by all means, read the update here. Then, to avoid future sadness, sign up for my mailing list here. Thanks!
- [What is eternal life?](https://kellylevatino.com/2019/11/25/what-is-eternal-life/) - Perhaps the most famous Bible verse is John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." Jesus said this during a conversation with a higher-up Jewish leader, Nicodemus. He believed Jesus was a teacher especially empowered
- [The key aspect of effective discipleship. (Spoiler alert: Oreos ARE involved.)](https://kellylevatino.com/2019/11/05/the-key-aspect-of-effective-discipleship-spoiler-alert-oreos-are-involved/) - I've been co-teaching a three-semester Systematic Theology class at my church for the last 18 months. (And it has been a BLAST! If you're in the area, I highly recommend joining us the next time we teach it.) Our class is coming to an end in a couple of weeks, and one of our students
- [Staying Free](https://kellylevatino.com/2019/07/19/staying-free/) - Being free is hard. It sounds easy...being rid of the metaphorical chains that bind you to literal misery...having the ability to move about, run away, make your own choices... But being free is hard. Because it takes intentional effort and vigilance to remain free. The Israelites are a good case study. (Aren't they always?) They
- [Unanswered Prayers and "Ask and it WILL be Given to You"](https://kellylevatino.com/2019/03/15/unanswered-prayers-and-ask-and-it-will-be-given-to-you/) - There is a super famous Bible verse that is super misused, causing two super problems. So that has got to stop. In Luke 11 Jesus is teaching His followers about prayer. He models prayer for them via what we know as "The Lord's Prayer," (as if He only prayed the one time...). Then He tells
- [How to be a Good Friend](https://kellylevatino.com/2019/01/16/how-to-be-a-good-friend/) - In Luke 5:17-26, Luke recounts the time Jesus miraculously heals a paralytic. At the time Jesus' popularity was swelling. All kinds of people wanted to be around him for many different reasons. Some wanted Him to provide miracles in their lives. Some were intrigued by His mysterious teachings and healings. Some wanted to follow Him
- [Exodus 15: From Praising to Complaining in Three Verses](https://kellylevatino.com/2018/11/21/exodus-15-from-praising-to-complaining-in-just-three-verses/) - After God delivers them through the Red Sea, the Israelites break out in song. And then three verses later they break out in complaining. Just like you and I do. Check out the rest of chapter 15 here.
- [Exodus 14: Something about a Sea](https://kellylevatino.com/2018/11/17/exodus-14-something-about-a-sea/) - Sometimes God tells you to do crazy sounding things...like turn around and go back to where you've just come from so the hard-headed, tyrannical king to whom you used to be cruelly enslaved can attack you. At least that's what He tells the Hebrews to do in Exodus 14. And when they obey this madness,
- [Exodus 13: Remember the Alamo. And What God Did in Egypt.](https://kellylevatino.com/2018/11/14/exodus-13-remember-the-alamo-and-what-god-did-in-egypt/) - God's big on passing down stories from generation to generation. Particularly stories that show new generations God's faithfulness. Why? Because hearing another person's testimony about something or Someone can be the single drop of gasoline that starts a fire in someone else. It's one thing to know about God; it's another to hear people tell of
- [Exodus 11: Moses and Pharaoh's Last Coffee Date](https://kellylevatino.com/2018/11/07/exodus-11-moses-and-pharaohs-last-coffee-date/) - Just kidding. I know these tense meetings between Pharaoh and Moses were serious and ought to be respected. Which is why I'm sure they were probably actually having tea, not coffee. Anyway, the Exodus 11 video is up for your viewing pleasure, and, you'll be happy to know, it's my shortest video to date!
- [Exodus 9: More Miraculous Miracles](https://kellylevatino.com/2018/11/02/exodus-9-more-miraculous-miracles/) - In this video we'll look at plagues 5-7 and enjoy my inabilities to snap and to pronounce the word "spelt".
- [Exodus 6: Wherein God Says His Name 4,091 Times](https://kellylevatino.com/2018/10/24/exodus-6-wherein-god-says-his-name-4091-times/) - In Exodus 6 one of God's main points is for Moses to understand who God is. So He repeats His name approximately 4,091 times. (Not really, but it's a lot.) ((And if I don't clarify that He didn't literally say His name 4,091 times in chapter 6, one day, when I'm 53, someone will dig
- [Exodus 5: That Time Moses Got Lippy with God (Again)](https://kellylevatino.com/2018/10/19/exodus-5-that-time-moses-got-lippy-with-god-again/) - The Exodus 5 video is now live for your enjoyment. At the start of chapter 5, everyone is still high from worshiping God upon hearing of His amazing plan to free them, as was recorded at the end of chapter 4. By the end of chapter 5, everyone hates Moses and he takes it out
- [Exodus 4: That Time Moses Kept Arguing with God](https://kellylevatino.com/2018/10/17/exodus-4-that-time-moses-kept-arguing-with-god/) - Today's video on Exodus 4 highlights Moses' penchant for letting fear and self-doubt prompt him to argue with God for a really long time. Moses' fear of failing was greater than his fear of God. I'm glad I don't struggle with that ever. Oh, and don't forget, the entire time Moses is throwing out excuses
- [Exodus 3: That Time God Appeared to Moses in a Burning Bush](https://kellylevatino.com/2018/10/15/exodus-3-that-time-god-appeared-to-moses-in-a-burning-bush/) - Chapter 3's video is live! Let's talk about the weirdness that was God torching shrubbery in a desert in order to communicate with Mo. If you've missed the videos for chapters 1 and 2, you can find them on my YouTube channel.
- [Exodus 2: How Moses was Born, Killed a Guy, and Wound Up Married](https://kellylevatino.com/2018/10/12/exodus-2-how-moses-was-born-killed-a-guy-and-wound-up-married/) - I've just posted my second video teaching through Exodus. It covers Moses' life from conception to marriage, so it is a smidge longer than I prefer (about 13 minutes). Check it out over on my YouTube channel!
- [Exodus 1: How Moses was Almost Never Born](https://kellylevatino.com/2018/10/10/exodus-1-how-moses-was-almost-never-born/) - Clearly, I am in no mood to write. However, I am still having the thoughts about the stuff. So I am trying a new medium for awhile: YouTube. That's right, I am leaping into 2005! The idea is to share 5-10 minute videos every other day-ish that cover 1 chapter of the Bible. I'm starting
- [Sermon: What, Exactly, is His Grace Sufficient For? Part 1](https://kellylevatino.com/2018/09/23/sermon-what-exactly-is-his-grace-sufficient-for-part-1/) - I wrote a post back in 2013 that has been my most-read post to date. In it I set out to answer the question, "What, exactly, is God's grace sufficient for?" Apparently, a lot of you have asked that question, because over 57,000 of you have taken to the Google, entered a form of that question,
- [How to Have Faith in the Face of Unanswered Questions](https://kellylevatino.com/2018/07/20/how-to-have-faith-in-the-face-of-unanswered-questions/) - There are things about God you and I will never understand. I'm being reminded of this a lot lately. As I teach through the entire Bible, chapter by chapter, questions arise. Questions I once asked but now know the answers to... Questions I once asked but never found the answers to... Questions I once asked
- [How to be a Great Bad Leader](https://kellylevatino.com/2018/06/23/how-to-be-a-great-bad-leader/) - I'm reading through the book of Acts, and I just came across Stephen's speech to the official assembly of Israel's elders in chapter 7. Turns out the assembly was full of less-than-stellar leaders, and you, too, can be a great bad leader if you follow their example. (Or you can use their example as what
- [How to Struggle](https://kellylevatino.com/2018/05/25/how-to-struggle/) - This morning I read Romans 15, and I became fixated on one verse in particular. Verse 30 says, "I urge you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me." Paul is wrapping up a long letter to the
- [What to do when You're Sinning](https://kellylevatino.com/2018/05/17/what-to-do-when-youre-sinning/) - A lot of times when I am going through a time of not caring about much, having a "meh" attitude about life, I slip into some pretty comfortable sins. Perhaps my favorite one is not doing the good I know I ought to do, per James 4:17. I don't use my time for His purposes...I don't intentionally
- [How to be Ineffective and Unproductive](https://kellylevatino.com/2018/05/07/how-to-be-ineffective-and-unproductive/) - (If you read the title of this post and thought, "I can be ineffective and unproductive right now by reading this blog instead of doing ______," then we're going to be great friends. Sarcasm is my spiritual gift, and I salute your wittiness.) Now, in Peter's second letter to believers in Rome (presumably), Peter opens
- [Overflow](https://kellylevatino.com/2018/02/28/overflow/) - May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13 Paul wrote this to the Christians in Rome as a blessing after exhorting them to be unified and accepting of one another.
- [How God Uses Our Stupid, Sinful Choices](https://kellylevatino.com/2018/02/21/how-god-uses-our-stupid-sinful-choices/) - I don't know why, but it struck me this morning how comforting it is that God uses our sins for good. I'm not saying our sins are good, obviously. I'm saying He takes our stupid decisions and eventually uses the results for good purposes. Of course, the go-to verse on the subject is Romans 8:28. Paul
- [Above All](https://kellylevatino.com/2018/02/18/above-all/) - I have a love-hate relationship with relationships. I love them when they're going well, but I hate them when they're going poorly. I love them when they are well-established and comfortable, but I hate them when they are new and awkward. I love them when they fulfill me and make me happy, but I hate
- [What to Do while You're Waiting (Even if You Don't Know What You're Waiting for)](https://kellylevatino.com/2018/02/16/what-to-do-while-youre-waiting-even-if-you-dont-know-what-youre-waiting-for/) - As I hang out in a bit of a limbo phase in life, post seminary but pre whatever is next, I'm struck by what Jesus' calling of Peter and buds to follow Him is teaching me about waiting. The longest account of the calling is in the gospel of Luke. So let's start there. Luke
- [What to Do When You Go through a Trial](https://kellylevatino.com/2018/01/05/what-to-do-when-you-go-through-a-trial/) - Hi. My name is Kelly. I used to write here. Often. And I used to love it. And some of you enjoyed it, too. But in January, 2015, I started working on my master's and all but totally stopped writing here. And I missed it. A lot. And some of you missed it, too. Fast forward 3
- [Preparation K](https://kellylevatino.com/2017/08/17/preparation-k/) - As in preparation Kelly. What did you think I meant? Anywho, it seems God is teaching me about three different things right now in an effort to "prepare" me for something terrifying and difficult that is coming down the pike. I don't know what that something is, per se, I just sense that it is
- [Pleasing People Versus Pleasing God ](https://kellylevatino.com/2017/04/04/pleasing-people-versus-pleasing-god/) - Pretty much everywhere Paul went, he shared the gospel. He was compelled to let people know the truth and love and saving grace Jesus had shown him because he wanted other people to experience that amazingness too. And pretty much everywhere Paul went, people got cranky with him for sharing the gospel. They thought what
- [The Difference between Peacemakers and Peacekeepers ](https://kellylevatino.com/2017/03/14/the-difference-between-peacemakers-and-peacekeepers/) - There is a temptation for believers who find themselves in conflict to quietly keep the peace by acquiescing in the hopes of quelling the conflict as soon as possible. It's unfortunate because these otherwise godly believers have been misled into thinking that their peacekeeping is biblical and conflict is to be avoided. After all, Romans
- [How to Become Wise and Make Those Around You Wiser](https://kellylevatino.com/2016/07/10/how-to-become-wise-and-make-those-around-you-wiser/) - I'm reading through Proverbs right now (not right now, but you know what I'm saying), in which Solomon writes ad nauseum about wisdom. I guess that makes sense since that was his forte, but still, he repeats himself over and over (which I realize is redundant, but I like redundancy...I also like to say things
- [Chronic Peace](https://kellylevatino.com/2016/06/02/chronic-peace/) - "You seem really at ease with yourself these days." My friend's comment came after my recounting a sad circumstance in my life right now. It's a circumstance that has been around a long time and caused way more than its fair share of heartache. But as I described the latest development, instead of pain I
- [On Darkness](https://kellylevatino.com/2016/03/27/on-darkness/) - At our Easter service the pastor said something to the effect of, “Darkness cannot eliminate darkness; only light can eliminate darkness.” Of course, the darkness is our sinfulness and/or pain we experience because we are fallen people in a fallen world, and the light is Jesus, but I don't know that I’ve ever thought of
- [On Doctrine and Why You Don't Have to Have it All Figured Out](https://kellylevatino.com/2016/02/13/on-doctrine-and-why-you-dont-have-to-have-it-all-figured-out/) - While studying Church history from Christ's death to Martin Luther (1500s), it is interesting to me that I have yet to agree 100% with any one person's doctrine. I don't even fully agree with those who, like I do, hold scripture to be the highest authority and earnestly seek to believe and apply all that
- [No, God isn't on Your Side (At Least not Unequivocally)](https://kellylevatino.com/2016/01/16/no-god-isnt-on-your-side-at-least-not-unequivocally/) - There are mostly two kinds of people in this world: the kind that think God is always for them and the kind that think God is always against them. I've met very few inbetweeners. But the thing is it's only the inbetweeners - those who don't think God is for them or against them - who
- [How to Not Sin When You Don't Like God's Plan](https://kellylevatino.com/2016/01/09/how-to-not-sin-when-you-you-dont-like-gods-plan/) - I'm thinking of starting a series called, "Stuff Jesus Did that We Label Sin but Shouldn't Because Jesus Did that Stuff". (It's a working title.) As I read through the gospels, I see a lot of things that fall into this category. I am often scratching my head (not literally though; my dandruff is under
- [How to Reduce Fear and Increase Faith](https://kellylevatino.com/2015/12/26/how-to-reduce-fear-and-increase-faith/) - In Mark 4 Jesus asks His disciples two questions I think He asks you and me pretty regularly, too. His inquiries are made to the disciples at the end of the story of how He speaks to the wind and the waves in a "furious squall" and they immediately die down. After calming the storm
- [True and False Disciples](https://kellylevatino.com/2015/11/05/true-and-false-disciples/) - "Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven." - Jesus As I read Matthew 7 this morning, this verse caught my eye. Actually, the heading above this verse that the NIV publishing people added
- [The Perfecter](https://kellylevatino.com/2015/10/06/the-perfecter/) - Apparently, I am becoming a monthly blogger. I'd apologize, but I don't have time to. (And, also, I'm not sorry. Sad, but not sorry. Another post for another day...) Our pastor preached on Hebrews 12:1-2 Sunday - that familiar passage about throwing off sin and running the race of faith and looking at Jesus. Although
- [Control. Sigh.](https://kellylevatino.com/2015/08/20/control-sigh/) - I'm angry. Fuming. More than mildly annoyed. The short version of why is we had some work done on our house, and the workers suck. I am sitting here waiting for them to come back FOR THE THIRD TIME to correct work they should have gotten right the first time... simple things, like making sure
- [Trials and Temptations](https://kellylevatino.com/2015/06/30/trials-and-temptations/) - “…the Lord knows how to rescue godly men from temptations…” (2 Peter 2:9, NASB) I hadn’t ever heard it put that way before. I could use a God like that because, frankly, I can’t rescue myself from temptations. I know me. I know my flesh. I know the allure temptations have. I know my propensity
- [Relying on God](https://kellylevatino.com/2015/06/18/relying-on-god/) - If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. - 1 John 4:15-16 The chick on the Bible study video, Kelly Minter, honed in on the word "know" this morning... she pointed out the
- [Spiritual Legacy: God Provides (Again), Edition How He Got Me a Job](https://kellylevatino.com/2015/06/11/spiritual-legacy-god-provides-again-edition-how-he-got-me-a-job/) - I've been seriously looking for a job since March, 2014 (unseriously for even longer...) If you've looked for a job recently, you know how fun it is. My journey went something like this: March, 2014: had small crisis that was more than likely going to require a lot of money to resolve. Decided I needed
- [What is the purpose of the Church?](https://kellylevatino.com/2015/05/14/what-is-the-purpose-of-the-church/) - "What is the purpose of the Church?" The question gave me pause. I didn't have a memorized answer I could just spout off when I read those words a couple of months ago. I guess that's because I hadn't really taken the time to consider the purpose of the Church... I knew the purpose of
- [How to Pray Better](https://kellylevatino.com/2015/04/17/how-to-pray-better/) - One thing I love about Paul is his ridiculously eloquent and powerful prayers. Every opening and every closing and, usually, somewhere in the body of each letter, Paul tells whoever he is writing to that he is praying for them. But he doesn't just say, "Hey - I'm praying for you, brother," and then totally
- [New Message](https://kellylevatino.com/2015/04/10/new-message-2/) - I had the privilege of speaking at a Mothers of Preschoolers meeting Wednesday morning. I got to speak on the conversation between Jesus and His disciples from Matthew 16 in which Jesus asks two questions: 1) Who do people say the Son of Man is? 2) Who do you say I am? It was a
- [Dictating to God](https://kellylevatino.com/2015/03/14/dictating-to-god/) - The other day I read the account of poor Thomas (dude doubted ONE TIME, and he's never lived it down... maybe we ought to have a little grace and stop calling him Doubting Thomas? Or start calling ALL Christians Doubting ? I digress.), and something new popped out at me. If you'll recall,
- [Security](https://kellylevatino.com/2015/02/15/security/) - Right before he died, Moses gave a blessing to each tribe of Israel (Deuteronomy 33). I'm not sure what avenue he used to do this - did he speak the blessings or write them down? Did he communicate them to some large general assembly or to just a select group of leaders? Did each tribe
- [100 Times](https://kellylevatino.com/2015/02/05/100-times/) - I love Peter. He's not afraid to say what everyone else is thinking, and he wears his heart on his sleeve, for better or for worse. I think we'll be good friends in heaven. (Until we call each other out and get into a fist fight...) Anyway, I read an interaction between Peter and Jesus
- [Grief and Joy](https://kellylevatino.com/2015/01/12/grief-and-joy/) - I've been mulling over an oxymoron the last 24 hours or so. At church yesterday, somebody (Keith Thomas - give props where props are due) brought up the idea that, as Christians, we can have hope and joy in the midst of grievous situations. We can trust Christ is at work - doing His best
- [A Conversation within a Conversation](https://kellylevatino.com/2014/12/16/a-conversation-within-a-conversation/) - Have you ever prayed mid-conversation? Not out loud, but just silently in your heart? Have you ever been having a conversation with someone, and while they are speaking or during a pause, you start talking to God about the conversation you are having with that person? Confused yet? It's a conversation between you and God
- [Dream](https://kellylevatino.com/2014/12/09/dream/) - It was about 2 o'clock in the morning, and I hadn't slept yet. I stared at the ceiling, weighing pros and cons of a major pending decision - where to get my master's degree. I rehearsed the countless variables and possible outcomes; I recalled the details of the diligent research I'd done; I reflected on
- [Trust](https://kellylevatino.com/2014/11/27/trust/) - So, to understate things, Israel had some trust issues with the Lord. (I'm glad to know I'm not the only one.) The Old Testament spends a lot of time chronicling the ways in which Israel failed to believe God would/could take care of them, despite His promise that He would and His continual actions that showed
- [In Which I Totally Waste Your Time](https://kellylevatino.com/2014/11/25/in-which-i-totally-waste-your-time/) - Apparently, I've been taking a writing hiatus. I wish I could say it's because I've been holed up in my office scribbling down all kinds of brilliancy for a New York Times' bestseller I'll be releasing in May. But, really, I've been holed up in my bedroom watching endless hours of Gilmore Girls (dang you,
- [From a Blessing to a Curse](https://kellylevatino.com/2014/11/04/from-a-blessing-to-a-curse/) - It has happened to all of us. We've taken a gift from the Lord, and the next thing we know, it's mysteriously transformed from a blessing to a curse. We're left scratching our heads, asking ourselves, "HOW DID THAT HAPPEN?!" It happened to the Israelites, too, and we just might figure out how this kind
- [How God Heals](https://kellylevatino.com/2014/10/31/how-god-heals/) - When my daughter was three years old, she fell down our stairs. Her ongoing tears told me she had broken her arm. A few hours later an x-ray confirmed my deduction; she had broken both bones in her left forearm. So, we were ushered into the casting room of the orthopedic office. I watched the
- [Self-Sacrifice on My Own Terms](https://kellylevatino.com/2014/10/15/self-sacrifice-on-my-own-terms/) - The other day my daughters and I had a conversation that struck me. My 5 year old, whose favorite Bible story is "Jesus Died on the Cross", randomly said, "It hurt Jesus to be nailed to the cross." "Yes, it did. It hurt very much," I somberly affirmed. Then my 7 year old reflected, "I
- [Spiritual Fathers](https://kellylevatino.com/2014/10/06/spiritual-fathers/) - Yesterday I read through 1 Thessalonians because I had a question about the rapture. (Why didn't I just read "the rapture verses" (4:13-18), you ask? Because reading through entire books of the Bible all at once gives you invaluable context for the oft quoted verses we Christians like to lob out to people. I recommend
- [How He Loves Us](https://kellylevatino.com/2014/09/29/how-he-loves-us/) - "Jesus looked at him and loved him." This sentence stole my breath yesterday. I came across it in the Gospel of Mark, where an account of Jesus' interaction with a rich man is detailed. Mark 10:17-22 reads like this, 17 As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his
- [Ministry Update](https://kellylevatino.com/2014/09/26/ministry-update-2/) - You may remember my going to the She Speaks conference back in July, and you may remember that I had an interview with a company called iDisciple during that conference to potentially become a contributing author for their ministry. Per their own website, "iDisciple delivers all of your Christian resources in one place! Enjoy personalized
- [Why We Need to Know Why We Believe What We Believe](https://kellylevatino.com/2014/09/24/why-we-need-to-know-why-we-believe-what-we-believe/) - The woman overheard me telling someone else I am teaching high schoolers at church. That must've piqued her interest because she asked in a positively curious tone, "Oh, what are you teaching?" "Apologetics," I told the 30-something year old Christian. "Oh....what does that mean?" she asked, her tone now more confused than perky. "It means
- [Leave Your Jar](https://kellylevatino.com/2014/09/05/leave-your-jar/) - I love it when I read a super familiar story in the Bible and a phrase jumps out at me that I've never noticed before. It's especially neat to me when I had no intention whatsoever to read that particular story, but God "made me" because He wanted to say something specifically to me through
- [How to Survive Depression as a Christian](https://kellylevatino.com/2014/08/17/how-to-survive-depression-as-a-christian/) - I've probably read about 30 articles on depression and suicide since Monday night. From the well-known writers and publications to the amateur bloggers, it seems every writer has an opinion on the subject, and most are saying the same thing: depression and suicide are complicated, and those who aren't familiar with them need to learn
- [How to Stop Feeling Disappointed](https://kellylevatino.com/2014/08/01/how-to-stop-feeling-disappointed/) - Sometimes I feel disappointed. You too? It really doesn't take much to cause us to feel disappointed. That's kind of just life's default setting. Even for you optimists it takes effort and intentionality to overcome our hard-wired inclination to feel less than impressed with a lot of facets of life. But why do we feel
- [It's Clear Above the Clouds](https://kellylevatino.com/2014/07/28/its-clear-above-the-clouds/) - If I had to guess, I've flown about 100 times in my life. As a military kid, flying was a way of life. Whether we were moving halfway around the world or traveling to visit extended family members we weren't privileged to live near, I spent more time at 34,000 feet by the time I
- [God the Compassionate Father](https://kellylevatino.com/2014/07/19/god-the-compassionate-father/) - Sometimes it's hard to understand God. He's complex. He is, mysteriously, 100% just, 100% merciful, 100% righteous, 100% graceful, 100% kind, 100% holy and 100% compassionate all at the same time. (Actually, He is infinitely all of these things, but let's not quibble.) And our brains and hearts simply cannot process this 100% correctly. It's
- [When We Suffer](https://kellylevatino.com/2014/07/11/when-we-suffer/) - Paul. I can't begin to understand the fervency of this dude's faith. I think part of it is just his personality. He was a zealous Jew before he became a zealous Christ-follower. He seems to just be one of those people that never does anything halfway. It's all or nothing for Paul. As such, his
- [When Life is Hard](https://kellylevatino.com/2014/07/05/when-life-is-hard/) - There are days (and weeks and months and years...) that life is one heartache after another. That just kind of comes with the territory living on a broken planet among broken people being broken ourselves. Things don't go right very often. And it hurts. It hurts me. It hurts you. It hurts everyone around us.
- [Standing in Grace](https://kellylevatino.com/2014/07/02/standing-in-grace/) - "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand." Romans 5:1-2 Every word in scripture matters. Every word. God inspired Paul to use the word "stand" for a reason. A posture
- [Sometimes We Just Need to Hear This From the Lord](https://kellylevatino.com/2014/06/27/sometimes-we-just-need-to-hear-this-from-the-lord/) - I am the everlasting God. I have no beginning, and I have no end. With Me, one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day. I created time. I am outside of time. And I love you. You. YOU. I have chosen you. I have called you by
- [How to Abide in Christ](https://kellylevatino.com/2014/06/25/how-to-abide-in-christ/) - There is this concept that sounds like it is straight out of the mouths of powerhouse Christians from the 1800's: abide in Christ. In fact, one of those dudes, Andrew Murray, wrote a book by the same name, and I happen to be reading it now. (You can, too, for free, here.) Turns out Murray
- [How to Be Strong](https://kellylevatino.com/2014/06/23/how-to-be-strong/) - The other day I was reading in 2 Timothy, and a beautifully unique phrase jumped out at me. Paul says to Timothy, "You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus," (2 Timothy 2:1). I know I've read this book of the Bible several times, but this verse seemed brand
- [The Best Approach to Apologetics](https://kellylevatino.com/2014/06/13/the-best-approach-to-apologetics/) - Before I became a Christian, I realized something pretty quickly about the teenagers in my public high school who believed in God: they had no idea why they believed what they believed. They couldn't give me much of a reason to trust their belief system over mine. As an atheist I was skeptical at best
- [Our Father](https://kellylevatino.com/2014/06/06/our-father/) - I spent last week here: Yeah, I'm rubbing it in. But more to the point, my husband and I went to the beach with 130+ high schoolers from our church for a retreat. As retreats tend to go, we had a great time connecting with the Lord outside of our normal daily routines. The most
- [Turning Over Tables](https://kellylevatino.com/2014/05/19/turning-over-tables/) - One of the stories in the gospels that intrigues me is when Jesus got so ticked off He started turning over tables like a mad man. When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple courts he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting
- [How to Grow Spiritually](https://kellylevatino.com/2014/05/08/how-to-grow-spiritually/) - Most mornings I read Oswald Chambers' daily devotional, My Utmost for His Highest. If you're not familiar with him, Oswald is like a Christian superhero, right under C.S. Lewis, but well above Larry Boy. Somehow I started reading Chambers straight out of the gate when I became a Christian almost 15 years ago. I like him
- [What to do When People Hurt You](https://kellylevatino.com/2014/04/27/what-to-do-when-people-hurt-you/) - Sometimes people hurt us. Insightful, no? Accidents happen. Feelings get hurt. Egos get bruised. People get overlooked. And, every once in awhile, people may purposefully take a stab at our hearts out of anger or bitterness. Most of the time this kind of thing happens in isolated incidents. Especially the hurting that is inadvertent. We
- [Spiritual Legacy: God Guides](https://kellylevatino.com/2014/04/22/spiritual-legacy-god-guides/) - About a month ago I started having a symptom that commonsense told me I should have checked by a doctor. It wasn't bothersome, but knowing it might be a bad sign, I called the doctor. And she told me to come in. Of course, she was pretty nonchalant. She gave me the once over, ordered a
- [Who You Are](https://kellylevatino.com/2014/04/15/who-you-are/) - Believers, Do you know who you are? Do you know who you are? You are not your choices. You are not your ideas. You are not your accomplishments or your abilities or your accolades. You are not your career. You are not your talents or your treasures. Your inherent worth as a human being doesn't come
- [Us Versus Them](https://kellylevatino.com/2014/04/14/us-versus-them/) - In any kind of conflict, we humans instinctively feel defensive. Whether it's a tiff with a spouse, a disagreement with a friend, or an argument with a boss, we immediately adopt an "us versus them" mentality. It's just how we're wired. Which would be fine if that were how God is wired too. But it's not.
- [How to Take Things One Day at a Time](https://kellylevatino.com/2014/03/31/how-to-take-things-one-day-at-a-time/) - I know, it seems pretty self-explanatory. And yet, it's so difficult to literally take things one day at a time. Our minds whir past today and worry about the next day, week, month, year. I don't think we spend too much time thinking about the future because we've got nothing better to do. No, we
- [How to Have the Same Mindset as Christ Jesus](https://kellylevatino.com/2014/03/21/how-to-have-the-same-mindset-as-christ-jesus/) - It's been a crazy two weeks for our family. An unexpected event has turned our world upside down. We've grieved. We've felt angry. We've felt hurt. We've had to process those emotions with the Lord and with others. And then we had to start making several significant life changes for our family that weren't even on
- [Next Class: Evangelism without Confrontation](https://kellylevatino.com/2014/03/10/next-class-evangelism-without-confrontation/) - The majority of Christians understand that we have a responsibility to share the Good News of salvation through Jesus Christ with others (Matthew 28:19). But we don't do it. For a lot of reasons. In part, we just don't care enough about others' salvations. We're caught up in our own lives and don't make sharing
- [One Reason God Loves Us](https://kellylevatino.com/2014/02/26/one-reason-god-love-us/) - I don't know a lot about knitting. But I know it's a verb, and I'm assuming it requires the knitter's attention to turn out halfway decent. I bring this up because the Bible says God knit us together - you and me and every other person - in our mothers' wombs (Psalm 139:13). That means
- [Right Hands](https://kellylevatino.com/2014/02/22/right-hands/) - Countless times in scripture God is depicted as holding us or leading us or guiding us by our right hands (ex. - Psalm 16:8, 17:7, 20:6). It's curious to me that He never holds us by our left hands. I have some thoughts as to why this is. Where are you going? What's that? You
- [What do you want me to do for you?](https://kellylevatino.com/2014/02/19/what-do-you-want-me-to-do-for-you/) - "What do you want me to do for you?" (Matthew 20:32). Jesus had asked this question of two blind people. And you can guess how they replied. "Lord, we want our sight," (Matthew 20:33). And you know what Jesus did? "Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and
- [Grace and Peace to You](https://kellylevatino.com/2014/02/14/grace-and-peace-to-you/) - I drove in the winter sun, feeling warmed not just by the rays streaming in through my windows but from somewhere inside my body. I'm not sure how many miles I covered before I realized it - I had been smiling the whole way. I noticed the feeling of warmth and the curve of my lips
- [How to Combat Spiritual Warfare](https://kellylevatino.com/2014/02/12/how-to-combat-spiritual-warfare/) - I'm a little Type A (my score: 14/16). I'm also slightly sarcastic. But you know this already. I have a point. It's coming. It will be here soon. Oh, yes, when I am told to do something at which I am inexperienced, I need instructions. Step by step, tell me how to do it, on
- [What to Do When You're Sinking](https://kellylevatino.com/2014/02/08/what-to-do-when-youre-sinking/) - We all know the story of Jesus and Peter walking on water, but some things about it struck me differently today. First, Jesus made the disciples get into that boat and sail on ahead of Him INTO A STORM while he wrapped up a long day of teaching with some solitary prayer time (Matthew 14:22-23). In other
- [Do You Want to Get Well?](https://kellylevatino.com/2014/02/07/do-you-want-to-get-well/) - When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?” - John 5:6 Jesus had said this to a man 2000 years ago, but He may as well have said it to me. To you. The man
- [How Sanctification Works](https://kellylevatino.com/2014/01/31/how-sanctification-works/) - When we become believers, we're given a couple of gifts. 1) We get to go to Heaven when we die. 2) We get to have a relationship with God now. What we're not given is instantaneous spiritual maturity. We are the same ole shmucks we were before we accepted Christ, screwing things up, refusing to cooperate with God
- [New Feature: Messages](https://kellylevatino.com/2014/01/13/new-feature-messages/) - Just want to let you know I've added a page under the Podcasts menu called Messages. What, pray tell, is the difference? Well, it's simple: all messages are podcasts, but not all podcasts are messages. :) Up until this point, my podcasts have been of me teaching small groups how to study the Bible. They
- [Give Jesus](https://kellylevatino.com/2014/01/10/give-jesus/) - On the hard days - the days I want to walk away from all this faith stuff - I put one foot in front of the other and walk anyway... I drive past the shotgun houses - every other one boarded up - and a man drinking a 40 at 9 AM on a Tuesday.
- [Is Anything Too Hard for the Lord?](https://kellylevatino.com/2014/01/08/is-anything-too-hard-for-the-lord/) - I love when the Lord asks people (us) questions in scripture. He's never asking for His benefit; He knows all answers to all questions, being that He is God and whatnot.No, He asks questions to spur us on to examine our thinking about Him so we can discover where we might be erring.In Genesis Abraham
- [True Security](https://kellylevatino.com/2014/01/06/true-security/) - I don't know if it's a female thing or a human thing, but I seem to spend a lot of time and energy working toward one thing: feeling secure. Safe. Stable. Accepted. We can find security in a lot of different places... how much money is in our bank accounts... a significant other to come
- [Isaiah 43:11-13](https://kellylevatino.com/2014/01/03/isaiah-4311-13/) - Isaiah 43:11-13. I read it and smile. Because the Old Testament always points to the New. The Bible isn't 66 books - it's one book pointing us to our need for the one God. "I, even I, am the Lord, and apart from me there is no savior." God said this to the Israelites some 700 years before
- [On Spiritual Warfare](https://kellylevatino.com/2013/12/28/on-spiritual-warfare/) - Some days truth doesn't come quite as easily as others... Feelings are loud, and lies even louder, as the suffering promised us dials up. Peter. He said it would be like this. "Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the
- [What to do if You're Unhappy at Your Church](https://kellylevatino.com/2013/12/23/what-to-do-if-youre-unhappy-at-your-church/) - The fact is there are lots of awesome church people out there that have decided it's not okay for them to leave their churches because they don't really have biblical reasons to do so. So they are staying. Right where they are. And, truth be told, they are miserable. They find it difficult to be at
- [Everlasting Father](https://kellylevatino.com/2013/12/16/everlasting-father/) - Some 700 years before Jesus was born, a prophet said of Him, "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace," (Isaiah 9:6). The Trinity... right there in the
- [How Far Will God Go to Get Our Attention?](https://kellylevatino.com/2013/12/04/how-far-will-god-go-to-get-our-attention/) - "Sometimes it feels like I am being swallowed whole. Like this life is too much. Like I am too much." I said that to God. And a truth popped into my head almost instantly: there is someone who knows what that feels like. Jonah was literally swallowed whole... and why? Because he wouldn't do what
- [I Want to See You Be Brave](https://kellylevatino.com/2013/11/28/i-want-to-see-you-be-brave/) - There's something they don't tell you about this Christianity thing when you sign up. I'm not saying it would be a deal-breaker if you knew about it on the front end, but I am saying we'd think longer and harder about declaring Christ to be not just our Savior but also our LORD - our
- [Can Separation Ever Be Good?](https://kellylevatino.com/2013/11/27/can-separation-ever-be-good/) - The Lord has been trying to get me to agree with Him on something for months... or has it been years? I can't remember. Anyway, He finally found a way that even I - the woman who could have been a lawyer - can't argue with. If you like your life the way it is,
- [How to Get Joy and Peace and Hope](https://kellylevatino.com/2013/11/10/how-to-get-joy-and-peace-and-hope/) - There's this idea out there that, unfortunately, I think is biblical. It's that Christians are supposed to be marked by joy and peace and hope, no matter what's happening in their lives (Romans 12:12, John 16:33, Romans 8:25). You optimists are probably wondering why I find this idea unfortunate. These are rich benefits of being
- [Leave Room](https://kellylevatino.com/2013/10/30/leave-room/) - We all have two gods (at least). There's the god we make up in our minds, and there is the actual God. And to the degree we allow scripture to shape our notions of who God is, our version of god comes to resemble the real God more and more. The Jews in Jesus' day
- [How to Trust God](https://kellylevatino.com/2013/10/28/how-to-trust-god/) - John tells a story about a royal official whose son is dying in Capernaum. The official hears Jesus is hanging out in another town and decides his son's only chance at survival is a divine healing from Jesus (John 4:46-47). According to one source, this official had to walk 20-25 miles uphill to get to Jesus
- [You and I in Psalm 106](https://kellylevatino.com/2013/10/23/you-and-i-in-psalm-106/) - Israel. Throughout the Old Testament, the nation of Israel is reamed for failing to worship God the way they were supposed to. Sometimes they forgot. Sometimes they remembered but refused. You and I are just the latest models of Israel. We may wear better clothes and have superior technology - more bells and whistles, if
- [Holy Moments](https://kellylevatino.com/2013/10/09/holy-moments/) - It's true what they say: you can't help people who won't help themselves. But, oh, how I love to help people who truly want the things of Christ but have temporarily lost sight of how to get to them. I love the feeling of being in relationships with people who share with me when they
- [Should Church Members Be Allowed to Serve Any Way They Want To?](https://kellylevatino.com/2013/09/27/should-church-members-be-allowed-to-serve-any-way-they-want-to/) - To save you some time, I don't have an answer to this question that works across the board. But just asking it might inspire some beneficial dialogue about it. Most of us have heard, as church members, that part of our job is to serve the church. Sometimes that means sweeping a floor, working in
- [Reflections on Psalm 102](https://kellylevatino.com/2013/09/14/reflections-on-psalm-102/) - Psalm 102 begins with this caveat: "A prayer of an afflicted person who has grown weak and pours out a lament before the LORD." Intriguing. I read on. "Hear my prayer, LORD; let my cry for help come to you. Do not hide your face from me when I am in distress. Turn your ear to
- [Wherein God Sounds Like a Broken Record](https://kellylevatino.com/2013/09/10/wherein-god-sounds-like-a-broken-record/) - My 6 year old daughter attends a Christian school. Every week the students have to memorize a passage of scripture. Last week it was Proverbs 3:5-6, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." It's
- [It's Not Too Late](https://kellylevatino.com/2013/08/31/its-not-too-late/) - Last week I started teaching the new course I've been advertising, How to Study the Bible. My church is recording each class (audio only, whew) and creating podcasts for students who have to miss a week here and there. And boy am I learning a few things. Like how crucial it is to make sure
- [One Thing Millennials Need From Their Church](https://kellylevatino.com/2013/08/09/one-thing-millennials-need-from-their-church/) - If I read another article about Millennials and the Church, I am going to lose my mind. But I'm totally fine with writing one. Rachel Held Evans wrote a piece a couple of weeks ago on the subject (two pieces, actually), and now it's all anyone in the blogosphere can talk about. It's sparked a lot
- [How to Love People Better](https://kellylevatino.com/2013/06/14/how-to-love-people-better/) - You know how sometimes God puts together cute little lessons for us that all revolve around a central theme? (He could be a party planner that way. He could be on Pinterest.) Well, the lessons of the month for me are all about learning to love better. God is showing me I've previously approached relationships with
- [Prayer: Conflict Resolution with God](https://kellylevatino.com/2013/06/11/prayer-wwe-style/) - Unable to sleep despite needing to sleep, I went downstairs for the next best thing - coffee. I paced the length of my kitchen as the machine sputtered. The coffee maker struggled to brew as I struggled to order my thoughts. I began speaking aloud to the Lord, using Him as a sounding board for my
- [When We Shouldn't Share the Gospel](https://kellylevatino.com/2013/06/07/when-we-shouldnt-share-the-gospel/) - I spend my Tuesday mornings intentionally engaging in conversations about God (among other things) with women who don't share my views. Some think they believe what I believe about God, but their lifestyles communicate otherwise. Some don't know what they believe. Some don't really care to figure out what they believe. We spend thirty minutes one
- [One Benefit of Being a Sinner](https://kellylevatino.com/2013/05/27/one-benefit-of-being-a-sinner/) - Over the weekend, a teacher at my church blew my mind. Allow me to plagiarize him so your mind can be blown too. (It's okay, he probably read this idea in a book he didn't write.) He said when Christ comes back and establishes the new earth, it will not be a "return to Eden" type of
- [The Problem with Comfort Objects](https://kellylevatino.com/2013/05/08/2134/) - God wants more for us than we want for ourselves. Which is awesome and terrifying all at the same time. Our hearts are so broken and bent toward sin that if someone were to ask us what we want in life, our list would be pretty self-centered. My list contains things like happiness, fulfillment, healthy
- [What, Exactly, is His Grace Sufficient For?](https://kellylevatino.com/2013/05/04/his-grace-is-sufficient-for-what/) - One of the go-to verses for Christians in pain is 2 Corinthians 12:9. In it God told Paul, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Of course, the context is important. So bare with me while I rehash that for us. Corinth was a city of wealth, commerce,
- [A Memo From God to Christians Old and New](https://kellylevatino.com/2013/05/02/a-memo-from-god-to-christians-old-and-new/) - To: My Followers From: God Subject: Life There will be no doing this yourself. Living a life with Me as your Lord - it's not possible in your own strength. I don't say this because I have a superiority complex (I'm actually quite justified in feeling superior, but that's another memo). I say this to
- [Is Anxiety a Sin?](https://kellylevatino.com/2013/04/28/is-anxiety-a-sin/) - My pastor said something I didn't like today. He read Philippians 4:6 - "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God," - and then he offered this interpretation: being anxious is a sin. To be honest, I stopped listening. I wasn't angry
- [The Exact Opposite of 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (A Fresh Look at a Familiar Passage)](https://kellylevatino.com/2013/04/20/the-exact-opposite-of-1-corinthians-134-8/) - Love is not impatient. Love is not mean. Love is content. It is modest. It is humbly confident. It honors others. It is selfless. It is extraordinarily calm. It lets go of offenses. Love delights in goodness but mourns over falsity. It never endangers, never suspects, never loses hope, never quits. Love always triumphs.
- [There is Only One Thing Worth Being Concerned About](https://kellylevatino.com/2013/04/13/there-is-only-one-thing-worth-being-concerned-about/) - Any given day, I'm concerned about a lot of things. Most of those things are trivial, as those of you who follow me on Twitter can attest to. (I'm just trying to expose you to quality music, entertain you with funny things my kids say, and wow you with heart-shaped pizza - if these things
- [Orphaned Souls](https://kellylevatino.com/2013/04/03/orphaned-souls/) - I heard a phrase on the radio the other day I can't get out of my head - orphaned souls. K-Love was plugging an organization that gives shoes to orphans, and they call their benefactors orphan souls. But the DJ on the radio kept saying orphaned souls, and that misspeak intrigued me. When I heard
- [Why I Think Judas is in Heaven](https://kellylevatino.com/2013/03/29/why-i-think-judas-is-in-heaven/) - Today is Good Friday, the day Christians mark the anniversary of Jesus' crucifixion. To focus my heart on the event, I cracked open Matthew 27 to read about the details. I got 5 verses in and stopped to ponder Judas, the disciple who betrayed Jesus to the Jewish leaders who wanted Him dead. I think
- [Get Comfortable](https://kellylevatino.com/2013/03/28/get-comfortable/) - Last Sunday our pastor talked about the Holy Spirit as a Comforter. Matt used the illustration of our children having comfort objects - blankets, stuffed animals, etc. - they can't get to sleep without. For whatever reason, these raggedy objects calm our children in times of stress. So should the Holy Spirit for believers. As
- [The Key to Greater Intimacy with God](https://kellylevatino.com/2013/03/12/the-key-to-greater-intimacy-with-god/) - Do you wish God would talk to you more often? I mean really speak to you, Spirit to spirit, communicating clearly with you even though it may be inaudible to the human ear? Are you tired of never knowing what God wants you to do? Are you bored with the Bible and often think to yourself
- [MythBusters: Faithful Failures](https://kellylevatino.com/2013/03/02/mythbusters-faithful-failures/) - There is a rumor going around in the hearts and minds of a lot of us that God can't and won't use us to positively change the world until we are better. "Better" is different for all of us. Your "better" is directly related to your areas of weakness. So, for the person with low
- [How to Amaze Jesus](https://kellylevatino.com/2013/02/27/how-to-amaze-jesus/) - Have you ever been amazingly disappointed in someone? Jesus has. He spent 30 years, give or take, in the same place: Nazareth. His neighbors and family knew him as Mary and Joseph's boy - nice, stayed out of trouble, not much of a looker. Per the culture, Jesus adopted his dad's trade as a carpenter.
- [Boundaries in Church](https://kellylevatino.com/2013/02/18/boundaries-in-church/) - Years ago a book called Boundaries was released. I haven't read it, but I hear it helps you decide when relationships are harmful and how to enact healthy limits to prevent permanent damage to your soul. There have been a bunch of spin-offs - Boundaries in Dating, Boundaries in Marriage, Boundaries with Kids, etc. To my
- [How to Help Your Husband Be the Leader of the Family](https://kellylevatino.com/2013/01/21/how-to-help-your-husband-be-the-leader-of-the-family/) - I felt the anger begin to churn in my core. My muscles became concrete, my jaw locked. I tried to stop the emotion, but it kept coming. I diverted my eyes because I knew they would burn a hole right through him if I looked up. The Bible study I had been in - I
- [Why I Don't Evangelize](https://kellylevatino.com/2013/01/15/why-i-dont-evangelize/) - Sunday morning I sat in a class at my evangelical church, and the subject of sharing our faith with non-believers came up. We brain-stormed why our church and the churches in our community aren't growing, and we decided it's because we aren't telling non-believers about the salvation Jesus offers. And that conclusion begs this question:
- [Instructions for Life](https://kellylevatino.com/2013/01/03/instructions-for-life/) - There is a rule of thumb for how we ought to live. It's pretty simple, straight-forward. And I found it in Genesis 4 the other day. God is speaking with Cain after he offers a sacrifice to God Cain knew would be inadequate. If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But
- [How to Deal with Pain Well](https://kellylevatino.com/2012/12/27/how-to-deal-with-pain-well/) - It's not often I read the same book twice in a year's time, but it happened this year. Partly because it is an excellent book. And partly because I am quick to forget what I "learn". (Have we really learned something if we forget it?) If you've read this blog before, you can probably guess the book
- [Why I (Don't) Believe in God](https://kellylevatino.com/2012/12/21/why-i-dont-believe-in-god/) - I don't really want to write anything about Newtown, Connecticut, given I have no new insight to offer. I don't need to summarize what you already know about the situation, and I don't want to offer my opinion on theological debates because it's all been said ad nauseum. You have your opinion on where God
- [When to Confront Someone](https://kellylevatino.com/2012/12/14/when-to-confront-someone/) - Last week I had an issue with a friend. I felt wronged and disrespected. I felt unloved and unvalued. And, for some reason, I felt like that person ought to know how I felt. Why do we do that? Why do we feel we have to tell someone when they hurt our feelings? What's really behind that
- [Eyes to See](https://kellylevatino.com/2012/12/04/eyes-to-see/) - I like God's sweet reminders that He is intimately involved in, and, indeed, arranges the details of my life. Last night I read this out of that fabulous book I recommend to all people everywhere: I have to seek God beauty. Because isn't my internal circuitry wired to seek out something worthy of worship? Every
- [Go Without](https://kellylevatino.com/2012/11/23/go-without/) - As a daddy leads a fearful, hesitant child toward a new situation, the Lord has been gently encouraging me - never forcing me - down a new path. He's been quietly, compassionately, and consistently reassuring me, "Come this way. You'll be okay. I am with you. I know you're scared, but come, you can trust
- [Straight Up](https://kellylevatino.com/2012/11/06/straight-up/) - Don't worry, Paula Abdul will not be referenced in this post. (Anymore than she already has). There's this verse in Proverbs you've probably heard before. It says, "...in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight," (Proverbs 3:6). I've typically thought of "straight" as "not crooked". Direct. Not weaving in and
- [What's Oil Got to Do with It?](https://kellylevatino.com/2012/10/26/whats-oil-got-to-do-with-it/) - Truth be told, I'm not comfortable with the whole idea of anointing people with oil. It's a mysterious, wacky religious right practice that I just don't understand. It's not a practice I'm very familiar with, having grown up with no religious upbringing in suburban America. And, frankly, my intellectual pride screams at the top if
- [The Secret to Persevering](https://kellylevatino.com/2012/10/22/the-secret-to-persevering/) - Persevere with joy... Crazy James talks about this. He says, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance," (James 1:2-3). I guess "mature Christians" are able to do this... I, however, am not. I have not one ounce of
- [A Tale of Two Desires](https://kellylevatino.com/2012/10/19/a-tale-of-two-desires/) - While studying James 4 the last two weeks, I noticed a verse that'd never sunk into my soul before. In my estimation, it is the most beautiful verse in all of James. The chapter starts out with James addressing Jewish converts who are trying to navigate new territory as Christ-followers in a region that sees
- [The Constancy of Change](https://kellylevatino.com/2012/10/13/the-constancy-of-change/) - It has taken me nearly 30 years, but I've finally come to understand that everything is in a constant state of change. I understood a variation of that statement early on in my life. As a kid, I understood change happened every time I celebrated turning a year older or started a new grade in
- [Why Christians Can't Keep Their Religion to Themselves](https://kellylevatino.com/2012/10/02/why-christians-cant-keep-their-religion-to-themselves/) - I'm not enough of a biblical scholar to know for sure, but I feel safe in saying that one of the first examples of evangelism (if not the first) occurred before Jesus' death and resurrection. In fact, the incident I am talking about occurred before Jesus had done much of anything in the way of communicating His
- [Why Does God Discipline Us?](https://kellylevatino.com/2012/09/21/why-does-god-discipline-us/) - In my post The Longest Time Out Ever, I let Jeremiah show us how God exercised His right to severely discipline the Israelites. Jeremiah makes a good case as to God being just in disciplining. He is holy. We are not. He tells us to obey. We don't. Therefore, it is fair for Him to discipline us. But
- [We're All the Same](https://kellylevatino.com/2012/09/18/were-all-the-same/) - A woman about my age sits at the table next to me at Starbucks. I notice her prefect hair - styled, straightened, gently falling down her back. Her flawless makeup, just the right hues, accentuates her beauty. Her cute outfit is straight off the Banana Republic mannequin. A longing stirs in me to be THAT. That
- [The Longest Time Out Ever](https://kellylevatino.com/2012/09/15/the-longest-time-out-ever/) - Once upon a time, Israel disobeyed God year after year after year. Like a patient parent, He warned them time and time again, "Please don't do this. Choose to obey." He took the time to explain to them they were headed toward destruction and pain. They wouldn't listen. Finally, God had to follow through and
- [How to Receive God's Mercy](https://kellylevatino.com/2012/09/01/how-to-receive-gods-mercy/) - Yesterday we looked at Jeremiah 2 and saw ourselves in Israel's rebellion. Like the Israelites, sometimes we choose to abandon God and go find substitute gods. We stop trusting the Lord and trust ourselves instead. We lose our awe of the Lord; we harden our hearts; we refuse to call sin sin. We leave God
- [How to Commit Idolatry](https://kellylevatino.com/2012/08/31/how-to-commit-idolatry/) - One thing I love about the Bible is that it's about me. And we all know how much I love me. I'm my favorite subject. I was reading Jeremiah 2 and 3 yesterday and saw myself in nearly every verse. That's really bad news if you know anything about Jeremiah 2. But it's really good
- [Are You Staggering?](https://kellylevatino.com/2012/08/22/are-you-staggering/) - Sometimes life isn't all roses. We struggle to make sense of things. We are afflicted - by self and by people and by circumstances outside of ourselves. We don't always (ever?) understand why God allows or causes things to happen the way they do. There's an oft quoted verse in the Bible people lob out
- [Feel Good Article of the Year](https://kellylevatino.com/2012/08/07/feel-good-article-of-the-year/) - One thing I haven't come to grips with yet about this life is that friendships don't last forever. In fact, all relationships are fluid. People move in and out of our lives as time goes on. It's just a fact of life. A fact of life I despise. Whether it's circumstances, choices, disagreements or death,
- [Why I Hate Love](https://kellylevatino.com/2012/08/02/why-i-hate-love/) - Certain words make me angry. Tolerance is one of those words. So is religion. And love. I'm bothered by these words because they are so often used incorrectly. Somewhere along the line people decided they could define these words however they want, but they can't. The very nature of a word is that it has
- [What to Do When You're in Trouble](https://kellylevatino.com/2012/07/31/what-to-do-when-youre-in-trouble/) - I've said it before, and I'll say it again (as long as you keep reading it): the Old Testament is relevant TODAY. I'm 20 days behind on my read-through-the-Bible-in-a-year-chronologically plan. Impressive, no? I thought I'd have totally given up by this point in the year. You, too, can continue to read your Bible plan even
- [I'm Dying](https://kellylevatino.com/2012/07/27/im-dying/) - In Philippians 2 it says, "[Christ] humbled himself and became obedient to death - even death on a cross!" (Philippians 2:8). I read this on Sunday, and the phrase "obedient to death" jumped off the page. Yes, this is what God calls us all to. You and I may not have to die a physical death to
- [Lose Yourself](https://kellylevatino.com/2012/07/16/lose-yourself/) - God has been trying to teach me something huge the past 18 months. And, in pure human fashion, I have been slow to learn. It got to the point where a couple of weeks ago I more or less pleaded with the Lord, "WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO TEACH ME?! I DON'T GET IT! MAKE
- [You'll Make It](https://kellylevatino.com/2012/07/07/youll-make-it/) - Sometimes when we are in the middle of a storm, all we want is for someone to say, "You'll make it. I went through the exact same thing, and I made it. You'll make it, too." No matter the crisis we are in, that's what we want to hear. We want to know that it
- [The Most Powerful Way We Can Help Others](https://kellylevatino.com/2012/07/03/the-most-powerful-way-we-can-help-others/) - No one enjoys struggling. But some people enjoy coming alongside those who are struggling and helping them in any way they can. I think of counselors, pastors, those who serve the community vocationally and/or voluntarily. Something inside of them takes pleasure in helping those in need. I wish I was made this way. But I'm
- [Certain Hope](https://kellylevatino.com/2012/06/28/certain-hope/) - Hope. Or maybe I should say certain hope. Yes, certain hope - sure, confident, and able to be trusted. Guaranteed. Unwavering. Unconditional. Unparalleled. This is the kind of hope you and I have access to through Christ Jesus. Life, in order to be lived without fear, requires this kind of hope. People, circumstances, religious systems, money,
- [All is Grace](https://kellylevatino.com/2012/06/19/all-is-grace/) - Ann Voskamp has a favorite saying, "All is grace." There is something good about everything, namely that everything affords us the opportunity to grow closer to God. Even the bad things that happen have a good component. Extreme tragedies, for example, are our invitations to deeper intimacy with the Lord as we wrestle in conversation
- [Rules](https://kellylevatino.com/2012/06/11/rules/) - The hardest part of being a Christian for me is I don't get to make up the rules. I'm not in charge. I'm not running this gig and calling the shots. I don't get to cross out verses in the Bible I don't like and still be a true follower of Christ. That's hard to
- [Why Sin is a Big Deal](https://kellylevatino.com/2012/06/08/why-sin-is-a-big-deal/) - Sometimes I sin and actually tell myself, "This is no big deal. Sure, God doesn't like it, but it's petty sin. Like petty theft - it doesn't really hurt anyone." That's what I say. And I am wrong. Because sin - any sin - is lot more destructive than that. Why? Well, what is sin? I'm thinking the
- [Captured](https://kellylevatino.com/2012/06/02/captured/) - My mind wandered as I drove back roads in ruralish Mississippi. My body drove this well-worn path from our house to our church without any necessary guidance from my brain. So I began to reflect on the two little girls in the back seat. As hard, as physically draining, as mentally exhausting as being a
- [Rediscovering Music](https://kellylevatino.com/2012/05/29/rediscovering-music/) - I know I am late to the party on the whole Mumford and Sons thing. Surely you are coming to expect that from me; I'm often a day late and a dollar short when it comes to what is "popular". I hear about trends and shelf them a year or two, letting the dust settle
- [Repentance Without Remorse?](https://kellylevatino.com/2012/05/26/repentance-without-remorse/) - I've spent the last week or so asking God to convict me about something so I could repent and then begin to repair what I've broken through my sinning. While I was freely admitting in my mind that my action had been sin, I didn't feel bad about it. I wasn't sorry. I felt justified.
- [We All Have Two Gods](https://kellylevatino.com/2012/05/15/we-all-have-two-gods/) - Christians, I'm talking to us. We profess belief in and worship of one God - the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, three persons in one essence. We study this God in the Bible. We learn about Him, talk about Him, and pray to Him. We tell others about Him. Our doctrine says there is no other God apart
- [Keeping Up with God](https://kellylevatino.com/2012/05/08/keeping-up-with-god/) - The Christian life has been likened to walking with God. When a believer asks another believer, "How's your walk?", Believer A is not interested in Believer B's gait. He is inquiring about the quality of relationship Believer B is currently experiencing with the Lord. As I wrap up my reading of One Thousand Gifts, I
- [Spiritual Legacy: My Second and Third Colleges](https://kellylevatino.com/2012/04/24/spiritual-legacy-my-second-and-third-colleges/) - It's been awhile since I wrote about my first year in college, but you may remember that I was somewhat dissatisfied with the college I chose to attend. (The sarcasm, it is thick and heavy like the quilt your grandma made for cold winter nights in the cabin your grandpa made with his own two
- [A Change Would Do Me Good](https://kellylevatino.com/2012/04/20/a-change-would-do-me-good/) - God has been hard at work trying to teach me about perspective lately. My default perspective is hopelessness. Is something in my life changing? Despair! Is something in my world unpredictable? Insecurity! Is something in my environment not exactly (or not at all) how I want it to be? Kill me now! Yes, these are
- [Who Do YOU Say I Am?](https://kellylevatino.com/2012/04/03/who-do-you-say-i-am/) - It's a big week for Jesus. You know, Easter and all that. So, as long as we're all thinking about Him to one degree or another, He's got a question for us. (Actually, it was initially for Peter. But it's for you and me, too.) Jesus was standing around shooting the breeze with the disciples
- [A Journey to Joy](https://kellylevatino.com/2012/04/02/a-journey-to-joy/) - A lot of folks have been talking about a book called One Thousand Gifts, by Ann Voskamp. I didn't read it for awhile. For whatever reason, I am usually behind the times by a year or two on reading the latest craze books. Maybe I figure if they are really that good, people will still
- [Jesus is Praying For You Today](https://kellylevatino.com/2012/03/30/jesus-is-praying-for-you-today/) - Prayer is good. Praying for each other is good. And I appreciate people who pray for me in the privacy of their own minds. But I am taken to a whole new level of honored when someone prays for me out loud in my presence. I am humbled. I am touched someone would take time out
- [The Truth About God's Promsies](https://kellylevatino.com/2012/03/27/the-truth-about-gods-promsies/) - Sometimes the Old Testament seems irrelevant. I yawned my way through the dividing of the Promised Land among the tribes of Israel (Joshua 13-21). And when I was just about to nod off, one gem of a verse caught my heart and made all that boring reading worth it. When the land was completely allotted,
- [Spiritual Legacy: My First College](https://kellylevatino.com/2012/03/25/spiritual-legacy-my-first-college/) - As high school drew to a close, I knew two things about my future: I wanted to play soccer in college I wanted to study the Bible in college I used my human intellect - not the power of prayer or the resources of godly people around me - to choose a college. My lack
- [Preparation](https://kellylevatino.com/2012/03/23/preparation/) - I've mentioned more than once that I hope God will, I think God might, I imagine God could use my writing and teaching in a huge way. In other words, I REALLY hope He does! I'm talking Beth Moore sized/type of ministry. Traveling to teach the Word of God all over the world. Writing Bible
- [How to Misunderstand God](https://kellylevatino.com/2012/03/12/how-to-misunderstand-god/) - In Deuteronomy 4:2, God says to Moses (and, subsequently, to the Israelites and the Christians and today's believers), "'Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the Lord your God that I give you.'" Why would God say such a thing? Because He knows man's
- [What Silence Really Says](https://kellylevatino.com/2012/03/06/what-silence-really-says/) - In the olden days, God set up a system the feminists are none too pleased with. Nonetheless, it existed, and it was described in Numbers 30. The gist of the system was that two types of women couldn't make vows or pledges without being given the okay. First, unmarried women were checked up on by
- [Spiritual Legacy: I Once Was Lost](https://kellylevatino.com/2012/03/02/spiritual-legacy-i-once-was-lost/) - I was not raised in a Christian home. My parents were both raised Catholic, but neither practiced that religion once they became adults. In fact, they raised my brother and me without any religious influence whatsoever. They wanted us to choose for ourselves what religion, if any, we'd subscribe to. As a military family, we
- [Spiritual Freedom Isn't Free](https://kellylevatino.com/2012/02/11/spiritual-freedom-isnt-free/) - People are under the impression that they aren't free unless they are allowed to do whatever they want. But that definition of freedom is lacking. Due to human nature, when we are allowed to do whatever we want, we freely choose to do things that will eventually enslave us. The Israelites proved this a millionty
- [You Are Not Able](https://kellylevatino.com/2012/02/10/you-are-not-able/) - We sprinted through the book of Joshua yesterday in Bible study. With only one documented screw up (Joshua 9), Joshua was one of Israel's most faithful leaders. He was big on Bible reading and made it a priority for his people to know the Word so they could obey God (Joshua 8:34-35). And Joshua led by example,
- [A Little Help Believing](https://kellylevatino.com/2012/02/01/a-little-help-believing/) - On Sunday our pastor preached on Genesis 12. Verse 1 reads, "The Lord had said to Abram, 'Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you.'" (The previous Thursday I taught on the same passage. It appears the Lord was really trying to get something through
- [A Little Change of Perspective Goes a Long Way](https://kellylevatino.com/2012/01/10/a-little-change-of-perspective-goes-a-long-way/) - Hi, my name is Kelly, and I am a rebel. I'm sure this is true of all people to some degree or another, but I feel particularly prone to resist authority. I blame my older brother. He modeled rebellion well for me, for which he spent the better part of the 90's grounded. I also
- [Cheap Hope](https://kellylevatino.com/2011/12/28/cheap-hope/) - I marvel at people who don't have any religious beliefs. Depending on the website, between 2% and 11% of the world's population are atheists, agnostics, or have no religious beliefs. Assuming a world population of 7 billion, that translates to between 140 million to 770 million people in the world today that do not believe
- [Discipline is a Blessing?](https://kellylevatino.com/2011/12/26/discipline-is-a-blessing/) - I don't often have never thought to myself, "I'm so thankful the Lord is using this event in my life to correct foolishness in my heart. What a blessing!" I'm just not a take-discipline-with-a-smile kinda girl. I prefer to whine and complain like my two-year-old when she doesn't get to have candy canes for breakfast. I like
- [An Unlikely Response to Tragedy](https://kellylevatino.com/2011/12/21/an-unlikely-response-to-tragedy/) - I just read Job 1. You know, that uplifting account of this righteous guy that Satan attacks because God is confident that Job will still praise Him. And verses 20 and 21 stopped me in my tracks. Job has just learned that he has lost all of his children in a "freak" accident (actually, it
- [I Lied](https://kellylevatino.com/2011/12/13/i-lied/) - But not on purpose. Yesterday I wrote this: "In no way, shape, or form is my approach to life biblical. Nothing in it speaks of serving others, living a life of love, or dying to self." Those statements are true in all facets of my life except one. (Therefore, those statements aren't true, for those
- [Seize the Future](https://kellylevatino.com/2011/12/12/seize-the-future/) - My chief objective in life is to meet my needs and satisfy my wants myself right now. Call it human nature. Call it self-preservation. Or call it what it really is - sin. In no way, shape, or form is my approach to life biblical. Nothing in it speaks of serving others, living a life of love, or dying to self.
- [Service Over Self(ishness)](https://kellylevatino.com/2011/12/06/service-over-selfishness/) - Saturday a friend invited my husband and me to serve in an area of Memphis we don't normally encounter. It was going to be an all day thing where we would connect with prostitutes, former prostitutes, and the poor, trying to show them love, grace, and acceptance. But we didn't go. Elian had a men's
- [It Takes Time](https://kellylevatino.com/2011/11/27/it-takes-time/) - The majority of the time my posts are hard to stomach. I often write about getting real. And the reality about getting real is that it means we have to call sin sin. When we stop to read the scriptures, we see ourselves on the pages. We see the Bible call our sin what it is
- [Spells of Waiting](https://kellylevatino.com/2011/11/22/spells-of-waiting/) - I think I am in a "season of waiting" right now. I say "I think" because I've been wrong before about God and His ways. And I say a "season of waiting" in quotes because I really can't stand that word "season". We Christians throw it around a lot, and it annoys me. "That's just
- [On Sin](https://kellylevatino.com/2011/11/19/1248/) - I know I am late to the party on this one, but I am finally getting around to reading Francis Chan's Crazy Love. And something he said has been reverberating in my mind for a week or two. I don't have the book with me, so forgive me if the quote isn't verbatim. Or don't.
- [Something New](https://kellylevatino.com/2011/11/15/something-new/) - Today I experienced God in a new sort of way. My prayer life as of late has been pretty one-dimensional. As in I list a bunch of things I want God to do, telling Him what I think I and others need, pausing for .2 seconds in case He has a response, and wrapping things
- [Walled In](https://kellylevatino.com/2011/11/11/walled-in/) - I got on a Hosea kick over the summer. I wrote a handful of posts from some verses that knocked me over. God really spoke, and I really listened. But somewhere in there, I must not have applied what I learned. Three months later, I am back in this book. I am rereading it and
- [Over Analyze](https://kellylevatino.com/2011/11/08/over-analyze/) - Let me just start by saying I hate politics. But not for all the usual reasons. Well, for all the usual reasons, but for more reasons than the usual reasons. I live in Mississippi, so I had to vote today in a general election. Not only do I feel uninformed despite my attempt to get
- [Where In I Freak Out](https://kellylevatino.com/2011/11/05/where-in-i-freak-out/) - I am teaching my first Bible study sans pre-fabricated material on Thursday. There will be no Beth Moore...no Priscilla Shirer...no fill in the blank workbook... There will just be me. And whatever I come up with - or don't - is all these women will get. Yikes. I've decided to teach Hosea. I wanted to
- [Even Better](https://kellylevatino.com/2011/10/31/even-better/) - Like most four year olds, my daughter, Lexi, has a best friend. Her name is Kelsey, and they have been friends their WHOLE LIVES. I was looking at "old" pictures the other day, and because Kelsey's mom and I are also friends, these two girls have been together since before they were born. They were
- [More - Tapping into the Power of the Holy Spirit](https://kellylevatino.com/2011/09/30/more-tapping-into-the-power-of-the-holy-spirit/) - I sat with 6 other women and listened to them tell their spiritual journeys. Some were born into the church, knew all the right answers and all the things they are supposed to do to be “good Christians”, but they described their current relationships with the Lord as “stale” and “bland”. Others had stories involving
- [Chatty God (As Opposed to Chatty Cathy)](https://kellylevatino.com/2011/09/27/chatty-god-as-opposed-to-chatty-cathy/) - Over the weekend 1,399 other women and I traveled to Birmingham, Alabama, for a mommy retreat called Dot Mom. We spent 36 hours worshiping, listening to 4 incredible speakers, and attending 4 mini-sessions on specific parenting topics. We also enjoyed sleeping through the night, getting to eat our food while it was still hot, and
- [(Dis)Obedience](https://kellylevatino.com/2011/09/20/disobedience/) - Lately I've been challenged with the idea of "complete obedience". The legalist in me wants to think that if I do what God tells me to do, that should "count" as obedience. The Lord should be happy with me, and He should bless me accordingly. But the Scriptures say that obedience is more than going
- [Now or Later](https://kellylevatino.com/2011/09/17/now-or-later/) - Sometimes when God is calling us to choose between disobeying Him or obeying Him, He is really saying, "Do you want to be happy now or later?" Disobeying Him now = present happiness but sorrowful future. Obeying Him now = present sorrow but happy future. (Note: I said sometimes. Obviously, other times obeying God can
- [Remember When](https://kellylevatino.com/2011/09/15/remember-when/) - To be honest with you, God and I aren't seeing eye to eye right now. He's asking me to do something I don't want to do. Actually, He's telling me. He's telling me to completely give up one of the most important friendships I have ever had in my life. I tried telling God, "No,
- [Then You Will Know](https://kellylevatino.com/2011/09/13/then-you-will-know/) - This morning I read one of the most bizarre passages in scripture I've ever come across. It was Ezekiel 37:1-14. Go ahead and read it. I'll wait. Weird, right?! I can't say I've ever read it before. But this new Bible study I am teaching called The Power of a Woman's Words instructed
- [It's Called "Flexibility"](https://kellylevatino.com/2011/09/08/its-called-flexibility/) - I didn't realize I was a control freak until my first child was born. Or maybe that's when I became a control freak. Either way, I was bound and determined to do everything in my power to be the best and provide the best for my baby. That's a noble goal, but I was forgetting
- [Believe](https://kellylevatino.com/2011/09/02/believe/) - The Bible is full of all kinds of promises for believers. And as soon as I became convinced that the Bible is completely true, I immediately bought into all those promises. Never again did I struggle with believing things that were untrue. Not once since I was 16 years old have I lost track of
- [When to Speak Up](https://kellylevatino.com/2011/08/20/when-to-speak-up/) - Yesterday I found myself in the middle of some Facebook evangelism. You know what I mean, right? I got sucked in to a religious debate via social media. I don't usually recommend this. Any serious conversation about faith that takes place through a non-face to face (or at least voice to voice) medium means two
- [This Hurts.  God Loves Me.](https://kellylevatino.com/2011/08/12/this-hurts-god-loves-me/) - This morning I heard a song that I've heard many times before. For whatever reason, today the opening lyric decided to reach through the speakers, grab me by my proverbial collar, and say, "HEY! YOU! I'M TALKING TO YOU!" The chick from Addison Road sang this: "If everything comes down to love, then just what
- [This Time of Year](https://kellylevatino.com/2011/08/11/this-time-of-year/) - When summer break ends and real life starts up again, the same unwanted visitor always drops by my house, asking if he can spend a week or two on my couch. He never waits for me to answer him. He just pushes past me, drops his duffel bag, and takes a seat. He rearranges the
- [How to Forget the Lord](https://kellylevatino.com/2011/08/07/how-to-forget-the-lord/) - Chapter 13 in the book of Hosea is a classic example of an Old Testament rant from God. He rails against Israel because they've forgotten about Him despite all He has done for them. He lists their sins and voices His intense anger. He took care of them; He provided for them; He loved them.
- [Until](https://kellylevatino.com/2011/08/05/until/) - It's not often I can squeeze two articles out of one verse in scripture, but here goes. Last week I wrote about Hosea 10:12, which says, "...break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the Lord..." I stopped there not because I like to take verses out of context to use them
- [Plans](https://kellylevatino.com/2011/08/03/plans-2/) - Last week a friend asked me after my first post on Hosea if I was going to stay in Hosea for awhile. And because my first impulse is always in line with God's plan, I immediately answered, "No, I am going to go back to Jonah since that is what I am preparing to teach
- [Forfeiting Grace](https://kellylevatino.com/2011/07/12/forfeiting-grace/) - I was reading through Jonah today, and this verse stopped me in my proverbial tracks. "Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs" (Jonah 2:8). "Wow," I thought, "that is really sad." I know firsthand how priceless grace is, and the thought of anyone forfeiting grace - willingly giving grace
- [Undivided](https://kellylevatino.com/2011/07/06/undivided/) - I was thumbing through Psalms the other day and came across this verse that I loved and hated at the same time. Psalm 86:11 reads, "Teach me your way, O Lord, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name." I thought, "Yes, Lord! Give me
- [We Might Have Hope](https://kellylevatino.com/2011/06/21/we-might-have-hope/) - I have heard people say that they don't read the Bible because they already know all the stories. They learned about Noah and Abraham and Moses and Jesus in Sunday School as a child. What would be the point in continuing to read the same stories over and over again? We don't do that with
- [The Point of Pain](https://kellylevatino.com/2011/05/03/the-point-of-pain/) - A popular argument agnostics and atheists like to use to justify their unbelief in God is that if God existed, there wouldn't be pain in this world. If God existed, they say, He'd be powerful enough and good enough to make our lives pain-free. There would be no tornadoes, no Osama bin Laden's, no domestic
- [I Can't Make Me, but You Can](https://kellylevatino.com/2011/03/30/i-cant-make-me-but-you-can/) - Truth be told, I don't like to obey. Doesn't matter what is being asked of me, my immediate reaction is, "No." I suppose it is my way of maintaining my senses of being in control and independent. And since I am the smartest person on the planet, it's imperative that I don't follow anyone else's instructions.

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- [Blog](https://kellylevatino.com/blog/) - [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Header” _builder_version=”4.0.11″ background_enable_image=”off” background_position=”top_center” custom_width_px__hover=”1080px” custom_width_px__hover_enabled=”1080px” custom_width_percent__hover=”80%” custom_width_percent__hover_enabled=”80%” locked=”off” gutter_width__hover=”3″ gutter_width__hover_enabled=”3″ parallax_1__hover=”off” parallax_1__hover_enabled=”off” parallax_2__hover=”off” parallax_2__hover_enabled=”off” parallax_3__hover=”off” parallax_3__hover_enabled=”off” parallax_method_1__hover=”on” parallax_method_1__hover_enabled=”on” parallax_method_2__hover=”on” parallax_method_2__hover_enabled=”on” parallax_method_3__hover=”on” parallax_method_3__hover_enabled=”on” use_background_color_gradient__hover=”off” use_background_color_gradient__hover_enabled=”off” background_color_gradient_start__hover=”#2b87da” background_color_gradient_start__hover_enabled=”#2b87da” background_color_gradient_end__hover=”#29c4a9″ background_color_gradient_end__hover_enabled=”#29c4a9″ background_color_gradient_type__hover=”linear” background_color_gradient_type__hover_enabled=”linear” background_color_gradient_direction__hover=”180deg” background_color_gradient_direction__hover_enabled=”180deg” background_color_gradient_direction_radial__hover=”center” background_color_gradient_direction_radial__hover_enabled=”center” background_color_gradient_start_position__hover=”0%” background_color_gradient_start_position__hover_enabled=”0%” background_color_gradient_end_position__hover=”100%” background_color_gradient_end_position__hover_enabled=”100%” background_color_gradient_overlays_image__hover=”off” background_color_gradient_overlays_image__hover_enabled=”off” parallax__hover=”off” parallax__hover_enabled=”off” parallax_method__hover=”on” parallax_method__hover_enabled=”on” background_size__hover=”cover” background_size__hover_enabled=”cover” background_position__hover=”center” background_position__hover_enabled=”center” background_repeat__hover=”no-repeat” background_repeat__hover_enabled=”no-repeat” background_blend__hover=”normal” background_blend__hover_enabled=”normal”
- [](https://kellylevatino.com/healthcare/) - [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.22″][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.5.6″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” hover_enabled=”0″] Thank you for subscribing! Download your free e-booklet! Ministry Updates!Get updates from Kelly with her quarterly newsletter. As a thank you, enjoy Kelly's free e-booklet, "How to be Helped: Encouragement from Psalm 28:7"! SUBSCRIBE! You have Successfully Subscribed!
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- [Sample Page](https://kellylevatino.com/sample-page/) - This is an example page. It's different from a blog post because it will stay in one place and will show up in your site navigation (in most themes). Most people start with an About page that introduces them to potential site visitors. It might say something like this: Hi there! I'm a bike messenger
- [Permissions Policy](https://kellylevatino.com/permissions-policy/) - Hey, there. I so appreciate your interest in the content you've found on this website. Before you re-post, re-use or otherwise re-purpose content, please peruse the legal, yet readable, jargon below. Thanks so much. Permissions Policy I, Kelly M. Levatino, own the content on this website. It is copyrighted in my name. I want to
- [Evangelism without Confrontation](https://kellylevatino.com/evangelism-without-confrontation/) - Did you miss my course Evangelism without Confrontation? No problem! Podcasts of the classes are posted below. You can also download handouts I reference. Study along with me at your own convenience. 3/19/2014 - Lesson 1: Why witness? Why use questions to witness? Listen here. 4/2/2014 - Lessons 2 & 3: Living authentically and putting fear in its place.
- [One Thousand Gifts](https://kellylevatino.com/podcasts/one-thousand-gifts/) - Did you miss my course based on Ann Voskamp's One Thousand Gifts? No problem! Podcasts of the classes are posted below. Study along with me at your own convenience. 1/29/14 Lesson 1: Chapter 1 - saying "yes" to God while living "no". Listen here. 2/5/14 Lesson 2: Chapter 2 - exploring thanksgiving in scripture; chapter 3 - the dare to
- [How to Study the Bible - Micah](https://kellylevatino.com/podcasts/how-to-study-the-bible-micah/) - Did you miss my How to Study the Bible course? No problem! Study along with me at your own convenience using the podcasts and downloadable materials below. Week 1 Podcast - Course Overview, Introduction to Micah, and Observation Steps 1-3 Week 2 Podcast - Observation Step 4 Week 3 Podcast - Observation Steps 5-6 Week 4 Podcast -
- [How to Study the Bible - Philippians](https://kellylevatino.com/podcasts/how-to-study-the-bible-philippians/) - Did you miss my How to Study the Bible course? No problem! Study along with me at your own convenience using the podcasts and downloadable materials below.Week 1 Podcast - Course Overview and Overview of Principles of ObservationWeek 2 Podcast - Introduction to Philippians and Application of Observation Principles 1-3Week 3 Podcast - Application of Observation Principle 4: PeopleWeek 4
- [Podcasts](https://kellylevatino.com/podcasts/) - Past Teaching Series: Evangelism without Confrontation (6-week course) Philippians (7-week course) Micah (6-week course) One Thousand Gifts (6-week course) Messages/Sermons: Check out my latest messages here. Have questions, comments, or snide remarks? Contact me below. [contact-form subject='Comment on How to Study the Bible podcasts'][contact-field label='Name' type='name' required='1'/][contact-field label='Email' type='email' required='1'/][contact-field label='Website' type='url'/][contact-field label='Comment' type='textarea' required='1'/][/contact-form]
- [What Others Are Saying](https://kellylevatino.com/about/what-others-are-saying-2/) - "Kelly's writing is honest, direct and from the heart. She writes like she teaches, with an open heart, wisdom, research and experience. She is concise with words and pure with her motives. Above all her motivation is Christ-driven. Her intent is that anyone listening to her or reading her message know the heart of Jesus
- [Behind the Title](https://kellylevatino.com/about/behind-the-title/) - I first started this blog in July, 2008. Originally, it was called "Observations of the Ordinary". I used this site as a space to preserve and share the funny, interesting, and otherwise noteworthy experiences of raising a child. My firstborn gave me plenty of material. But I've found that when it comes to writing, my

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- [1 Peter](https://kellylevatino.com/category/1-peter/)
- [1 Samuel](https://kellylevatino.com/category/1-samuel/)
- [1 Thessalonians](https://kellylevatino.com/category/1-thessalonians/)
- [1 Timothy](https://kellylevatino.com/category/1-timothy/)
- [2 Chronicles](https://kellylevatino.com/category/2-chronicles/)
- [2 Corinthians](https://kellylevatino.com/category/2-corinthians/)
- [2 Kings](https://kellylevatino.com/category/2-kings/)
- [2 Peter](https://kellylevatino.com/category/2-peter/)
- [2 Samuel](https://kellylevatino.com/category/2-samuel/)
- [2 Thessalonians](https://kellylevatino.com/category/2-thessalonians/)
- [2 Timothy](https://kellylevatino.com/category/2-timothy/)
- [abortion](https://kellylevatino.com/category/abortion/)
- [Acts](https://kellylevatino.com/category/acts/)
- [Addison Road](https://kellylevatino.com/category/addison-road/)
- [advent](https://kellylevatino.com/category/advent/)
- [amendment 26](https://kellylevatino.com/category/amendment-26/)
- [Andrew Murray](https://kellylevatino.com/category/andrew-murray/)
- [anger](https://kellylevatino.com/category/anger/)
- [Ann Voskamp](https://kellylevatino.com/category/ann-voskamp/)
- [anxiety](https://kellylevatino.com/category/anxiety/)
- [apologetics](https://kellylevatino.com/category/apologetics/)
- [believe](https://kellylevatino.com/category/believe/)
- [Beth Moore](https://kellylevatino.com/category/beth-moore/)
- [Bible](https://kellylevatino.com/category/bible/)
- [Bible study](https://kellylevatino.com/category/bible-study/)
- [blessings](https://kellylevatino.com/category/blessings/)
- [Bono](https://kellylevatino.com/category/bono/)
- [Boundaries](https://kellylevatino.com/category/boundaries/)
- [C.S. Lewis](https://kellylevatino.com/category/c-s-lewis/)
- [Cain](https://kellylevatino.com/category/cain/)
- [Christmas](https://kellylevatino.com/category/christmas/)
- [Church](https://kellylevatino.com/category/church/)
- [college](https://kellylevatino.com/category/college/)
- [Colossians](https://kellylevatino.com/category/colossians/)
- [conflict](https://kellylevatino.com/category/conflict/)
- [Connecticut](https://kellylevatino.com/category/connecticut/)
- [Crazy Love](https://kellylevatino.com/category/crazy-love/)
- [crucifixion](https://kellylevatino.com/category/crucifixion/)
- [David Crowder](https://kellylevatino.com/category/david-crowder/)
- [depression](https://kellylevatino.com/category/depression/)
- [Deuteronomy](https://kellylevatino.com/category/deuteronomy/)
- [discipleship](https://kellylevatino.com/category/discipleship/)
- [discipline](https://kellylevatino.com/category/discipline/)
- [Dot Mom Retreat](https://kellylevatino.com/category/dot-mom-retreat/)
- [doubt](https://kellylevatino.com/category/doubt/)
- [Ecclesiastes](https://kellylevatino.com/category/ecclesiastes/)
- [elders](https://kellylevatino.com/category/elders/)
- [Elton John](https://kellylevatino.com/category/elton-john/)
- [Ephesians](https://kellylevatino.com/category/ephesians/)
- [EQUIP](https://kellylevatino.com/category/equip/)
- [eternal life](https://kellylevatino.com/category/eternal-life/)
- [evangelism](https://kellylevatino.com/category/evangelism/)
- [evil](https://kellylevatino.com/category/evil/)
- [Exodus](https://kellylevatino.com/category/exodus/)
- [Ezekiel](https://kellylevatino.com/category/ezekiel/)
- [Facebook](https://kellylevatino.com/category/facebook/)
- [faith](https://kellylevatino.com/category/faith/)
- [Fall](https://kellylevatino.com/category/fall/)
- [family](https://kellylevatino.com/category/family/)
- [Father](https://kellylevatino.com/category/father/)
- [fear](https://kellylevatino.com/category/fear/)
- [forgiveness](https://kellylevatino.com/category/forgiveness/)
- [Francis Chan](https://kellylevatino.com/category/francis-chan/)
- [freedom](https://kellylevatino.com/category/freedom/)
- [friendship](https://kellylevatino.com/category/friendship/)
- [Galatians](https://kellylevatino.com/category/galatians/)
- [Genesis](https://kellylevatino.com/category/genesis/)
- [George Clooney](https://kellylevatino.com/category/george-clooney/)
- [giving](https://kellylevatino.com/category/giving/)
- [God](https://kellylevatino.com/category/god/)
- [Gospel](https://kellylevatino.com/category/gospel/)
- [grace](https://kellylevatino.com/category/grace/)
- [Great Commission](https://kellylevatino.com/category/great-commission/)
- [grief](https://kellylevatino.com/category/grief/)
- [growing](https://kellylevatino.com/category/growing/)
- [happiness](https://kellylevatino.com/category/happiness/)
- [healing](https://kellylevatino.com/category/healing/)
- [Heaven](https://kellylevatino.com/category/heaven/)
- [Hebrews](https://kellylevatino.com/category/hebrews/)
- [Holy Spirit](https://kellylevatino.com/category/holy-spirit/)
- [hope](https://kellylevatino.com/category/hope/)
- [Hosea](https://kellylevatino.com/category/hosea/)
- [identity](https://kellylevatino.com/category/identity/)
- [iDisciple](https://kellylevatino.com/category/idisciple/)
- [idols](https://kellylevatino.com/category/idols/)
- [Isaiah](https://kellylevatino.com/category/isaiah/)
- [Jacob](https://kellylevatino.com/category/jacob/)
- [James](https://kellylevatino.com/category/james/)
- [Jeremiah](https://kellylevatino.com/category/jeremiah/)
- [Jesus](https://kellylevatino.com/category/jesus/)
- [Job](https://kellylevatino.com/category/job/)
- [John](https://kellylevatino.com/category/john/)
- [Jonah](https://kellylevatino.com/category/jonah/)
- [Joseph](https://kellylevatino.com/category/joseph/)
- [Josh McDowell](https://kellylevatino.com/category/josh-mcdowell/)
- [Joshua](https://kellylevatino.com/category/joshua/)
- [joy](https://kellylevatino.com/category/joy/)
- [Judas](https://kellylevatino.com/category/judas/)
- [Judges](https://kellylevatino.com/category/judges/)
- [Kingdom Vision](https://kellylevatino.com/category/kingdom-vision/)
- [KLOVE](https://kellylevatino.com/category/klove/)
- [Kurt Cobain](https://kellylevatino.com/category/kurt-cobain/)
- [Lamentations](https://kellylevatino.com/category/lamentations/)
- [Law](https://kellylevatino.com/category/law/)
- [leadership](https://kellylevatino.com/category/leadership/)
- [Leviticus](https://kellylevatino.com/category/leviticus/)
- [love](https://kellylevatino.com/category/love/)
- [Luke](https://kellylevatino.com/category/luke/)
- [Mark](https://kellylevatino.com/category/mark/)
- [Mark Driscoll](https://kellylevatino.com/category/mark-driscoll/)
- [marriage](https://kellylevatino.com/category/marriage/)
- [Martin Luther](https://kellylevatino.com/category/martin-luther/)
- [Mary](https://kellylevatino.com/category/mary/)
- [Matt Maher](https://kellylevatino.com/category/matt-maher/)
- [Matthew](https://kellylevatino.com/category/matthew/)
- [meaning of life](https://kellylevatino.com/category/meaning-of-life/)
- [mercy](https://kellylevatino.com/category/mercy/)
- [Messages](https://kellylevatino.com/category/messages/)
- [ministry](https://kellylevatino.com/category/ministry/)
- [Ministry update](https://kellylevatino.com/category/ministry-update/)
- [missions](https://kellylevatino.com/category/missions/)
- [More Than a Carpenter](https://kellylevatino.com/category/more-than-a-carpenter/)
- [Moses](https://kellylevatino.com/category/moses/)
- [Mumford and Sons](https://kellylevatino.com/category/mumford-and-sons/)
- [nashville](https://kellylevatino.com/category/nashville/)
- [Nehemiah](https://kellylevatino.com/category/nehemiah/)
- [Newtown Massacre](https://kellylevatino.com/category/newtown-massacre/)
- [Numbers](https://kellylevatino.com/category/numbers/)
- [obedience](https://kellylevatino.com/category/obedience/)
- [One Republic](https://kellylevatino.com/category/one-republic/)
- [One Thousand Gifts](https://kellylevatino.com/category/one-thousand-gifts/)
- [Oswald Chambers](https://kellylevatino.com/category/oswald-chambers/)
- [pain](https://kellylevatino.com/category/pain/)
- [parenting](https://kellylevatino.com/category/parenting/)
- [Paul](https://kellylevatino.com/category/paul/)
- [peace](https://kellylevatino.com/category/peace/)
- [Peter](https://kellylevatino.com/category/peter/)
- [Philippians](https://kellylevatino.com/category/philippians/)
- [plans](https://kellylevatino.com/category/plans/)
- [podcast](https://kellylevatino.com/category/podcast/)
- [politics](https://kellylevatino.com/category/politics/)
- [power](https://kellylevatino.com/category/power/)
- [prayer](https://kellylevatino.com/category/prayer/)
- [pride](https://kellylevatino.com/category/pride/)
- [Priscilla Shirer](https://kellylevatino.com/category/priscilla-shirer/)
- [Proverbs](https://kellylevatino.com/category/proverbs/)
- [provision](https://kellylevatino.com/category/provision/)
- [Psalms](https://kellylevatino.com/category/psalms/)
- [quiet time](https://kellylevatino.com/category/quiet-time/)
- [redemption](https://kellylevatino.com/category/redemption/)
- [relationships](https://kellylevatino.com/category/relationships/)
- [remember](https://kellylevatino.com/category/remember/)
- [resurrection](https://kellylevatino.com/category/resurrection/)
- [Revelation](https://kellylevatino.com/category/revelation/)
- [Romans](https://kellylevatino.com/category/romans/)
- [rules](https://kellylevatino.com/category/rules/)
- [Ruth](https://kellylevatino.com/category/ruth/)
- [sacrifice](https://kellylevatino.com/category/sacrifice/)
- [salvation](https://kellylevatino.com/category/salvation/)
- [sancification](https://kellylevatino.com/category/sancification/)
- [Sandy Hook](https://kellylevatino.com/category/sandy-hook/)
- [Satan](https://kellylevatino.com/category/satan/)
- [self worth](https://kellylevatino.com/category/self-worth/)
- [service](https://kellylevatino.com/category/service/)
- [She Speaks](https://kellylevatino.com/category/she-speaks/)
- [significance](https://kellylevatino.com/category/significance/)
- [sin](https://kellylevatino.com/category/sin/)
- [speaking](https://kellylevatino.com/category/speaking/)
- [spiritual gift](https://kellylevatino.com/category/spiritual-gift/)
- [spiritual growth](https://kellylevatino.com/category/spiritual-growth/)
- [Spiritual legacy](https://kellylevatino.com/category/spiritual-legacy/)
- [spiritual warfare](https://kellylevatino.com/category/spiritual-warfare/)
- [Stephen](https://kellylevatino.com/category/stephen/)
- [suffering](https://kellylevatino.com/category/suffering/)
- [teaching](https://kellylevatino.com/category/teaching/)
- [temptation](https://kellylevatino.com/category/temptation/)
- [testimony](https://kellylevatino.com/category/testimony/)
- [thankfulness](https://kellylevatino.com/category/thankfulness/)
- [The Forsaken Children](https://kellylevatino.com/category/the-forsaken-children/)
- [the good life](https://kellylevatino.com/category/the-good-life/)
- [thomas](https://kellylevatino.com/category/thomas/)
- [Titus](https://kellylevatino.com/category/titus/)
- [tolerance](https://kellylevatino.com/category/tolerance/)
- [tragedy](https://kellylevatino.com/category/tragedy/)
- [trials](https://kellylevatino.com/category/trials/)
- [trust](https://kellylevatino.com/category/trust/)
- [truth](https://kellylevatino.com/category/truth/)
- [U2](https://kellylevatino.com/category/u2/)
- [unity](https://kellylevatino.com/category/unity/)
- [universalism](https://kellylevatino.com/category/universalism/)
- [video](https://kellylevatino.com/category/video/)
- [waiting](https://kellylevatino.com/category/waiting/)
- [wisdom](https://kellylevatino.com/category/wisdom/)
- [witnessing](https://kellylevatino.com/category/witnessing/)
- [works](https://kellylevatino.com/category/works/)
- [worry](https://kellylevatino.com/category/worry/)
- [worship](https://kellylevatino.com/category/worship/)
- [writing](https://kellylevatino.com/category/writing/)
- [Zondervan](https://kellylevatino.com/category/zondervan/)
- [Praise](https://kellylevatino.com/category/praise/)

## Tags

- [2 Chronicles](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/2-chronicles/)
- [2 Corinthians](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/2-corinthians/)
- [2012](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/2012/)
- [Abortion](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/abortion/)
- [Abraham](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/abraham/)
- [Abram](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/abram/)
- [Adam](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/adam/)
- [Addis Ababa](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/addis-ababa/)
- [Advent](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/advent/)
- [anger](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/anger/)
- [Ann](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/ann/)
- [Anointing](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/anointing/)
- [Anxiety](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/anxiety/)
- [assurance](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/assurance/)
- [atheism](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/atheism/)
- [atheist](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/atheist/)
- [Authority](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/authority/)
- [Babylon](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/babylon/)
- [Belief](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/belief/)
- [believers](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/believers/)
- [Bible](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/bible/)
- [Bible Study](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/bible-study/)
- [biblical truth](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/biblical-truth/)
- [Blessings](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/blessings/)
- [Blog](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/blog/)
- [blogging](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/blogging/)
- [Book of Genesis](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/book-of-genesis/)
- [boundaries](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/boundaries/)
- [Brave](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/brave/)
- [calling](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/calling/)
- [Canaan](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/canaan/)
- [Christ](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/christ/)
- [Christiainty](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/christiainty/)
- [Christian](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/christian/)
- [christian resources](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/christian-resources/)
- [Christianity](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/christianity/)
- [Chronological Bible](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/chronological-bible/)
- [Church Membership](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/church-membership/)
- [comfort](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/comfort/)
- [communication](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/communication/)
- [community service](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/community-service/)
- [Conflict](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/conflict/)
- [conflict resolution](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/conflict-resolution/)
- [control](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/control/)
- [Cross](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/cross/)
- [D&C](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/dc/)
- [Dave Ramsay](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/dave-ramsay/)
- [David](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/david/)
- [David Crowder Band](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/david-crowder-band/)
- [Death](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/death/)
- [delight](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/delight/)
- [depression](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/depression/)
- [disappointment](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/disappointment/)
- [disciple](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/disciple/)
- [disobedience](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/disobedience/)
- [disunity](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/disunity/)
- [doctrine](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/doctrine/)
- [doubt](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/doubt/)
- [doubting](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/doubting/)
- [Dying to self](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/dying-to-self/)
- [Easter](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/easter/)
- [Elihu](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/elihu/)
- [Eliphaz](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/eliphaz/)
- [emotional wounds](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/emotional-wounds/)
- [endurance](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/endurance/)
- [Epistle to the Philippians](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/epistle-to-the-philippians/)
- [Ethiopia](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/ethiopia/)
- [Eve](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/eve/)
- [evil](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/evil/)
- [Exodus](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/exodus/)
- [expectations](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/expectations/)
- [facts](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/facts/)
- [failure](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/failure/)
- [faith](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/faith/)
- [Family](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/family/)
- [Father](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/father/)
- [fathers](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/fathers/)
- [fear](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/fear/)
- [feelings](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/feelings/)
- [First Epistle of John](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/first-epistle-of-john/)
- [Friendship](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/friendship/)
- [Garden](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/garden/)
- [Goals](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/goals/)
- [God](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/god/)
- [God the Father](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/god-the-father/)
- [God's love](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/gods-love/)
- [God's promises](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/gods-promises/)
- [Gospel](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/gospel/)
- [Gospel of Matthew](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/gospel-of-matthew/)
- [Gratitude](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/gratitude/)
- [Grief](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/grief/)
- [growth](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/growth/)
- [Happiness](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/happiness/)
- [healing](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/healing/)
- [Heart](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/heart/)
- [heart attitude](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/heart-attitude/)
- [Heaven](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/heaven/)
- [Hebrews](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/hebrews/)
- [Holidays](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/holidays/)
- [hope](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/hope/)
- [Husband](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/husband/)
- [idisciple](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/idisciple/)
- [idolatry](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/idolatry/)
- [intellectual Christianity](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/intellectual-christianity/)
- [isis](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/isis/)
- [Israel](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/israel/)
- [Israelite](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/israelite/)
- [Israelites](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/israelites/)
- [Jeff Goins](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/jeff-goins/)
- [Jehoshaphat](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/jehoshaphat/)
- [Jesu](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/jesu/)
- [Jesus](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/jesus/)
- [Jews](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/jews/)
- [Jillian Michaels](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/jillian-michaels/)
- [John](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/john/)
- [John 3:16](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/john-316/)
- [John the Baptist](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/john-the-baptist/)
- [joy](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/joy/)
- [K-Love](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/k-love/)
- [kelly levatino](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/kelly-levatino/)
- [Lambuth University](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/lambuth-university/)
- [Lazarus](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/lazarus/)
- [Letterman](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/letterman/)
- [Lord](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/lord/)
- [Love](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/love/)
- [Luke](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/luke/)
- [Lysa TerKeurst](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/lysa-terkeurst/)
- [Made to Crave](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/made-to-crave/)
- [Manitou and Pike's Peak Railway](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/manitou-and-pikes-peak-railway/)
- [Marcus Mumford](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/marcus-mumford/)
- [Mark 6](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/mark-6/)
- [Mark Driscoll](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/mark-driscoll/)
- [Matthew](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/matthew/)
- [mental illness](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/mental-illness/)
- [mercy](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/mercy/)
- [message](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/message/)
- [Messiah](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/messiah/)
- [Michael Hyatt](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/michael-hyatt/)
- [Millennials](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/millennials/)
- [ministry](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/ministry/)
- [ministry update](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/ministry-update/)
- [Miracle](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/miracle/)
- [Miscarriage](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/miscarriage/)
- [Missions](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/missions/)
- [Moses](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/moses/)
- [Mumford & Sons](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/mumford-sons/)
- [New Testament](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/new-testament/)
- [New Year](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/new-year/)
- [Newtown Connecticut](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/newtown-connecticut/)
- [Old Testament](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/old-testament/)
- [One Thousand](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/one-thousand/)
- [orphans](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/orphans/)
- [Oswald Chambers](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/oswald-chambers/)
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- [Repentance](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/repentance/)
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- [The Greatest Gift](https://kellylevatino.com/tag/the-greatest-gift/)
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