Author: Yancey Valdez
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How to Embrace the Mystery and Be Obedient When It’s Obvious
The LORD led His people by a cloud during the day and a pillar of fire by night. They were called to pursue and embrace the mystery during the day and the obvious at night. God is not about the business of not giving us what we need to follow Him. His presence, wisdom, strength, leading and courage…
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How Can Our Thanksgiving Reveal God’s Next Step for Our Lives?
Happy Thanksgiving!! — A Word of Encouragement and Prayer for You Thanksgiving is one of the ways we finish well, make things right, and honor God for His presence and supply in our lives. It is one of the ways God works in us to right wrongs, extend mercy, and recalibrate our lives. Giving thanks…
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God’s Word Really Works in the Lives of Those Who Believe!
Truth can pierce through the lies and deception like light in the darkness. But you have to welcome it, you need to listen to the One who calls you to Himself, into His own Kingdom and glory. The call to come to Him is not a lie. And when you begin to take it seriously,…
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In the Wilderness, Not an Oasis
On this particular day, the presence and power and glory of God was found and could be seen in the wilderness, not in an oasis! When we find ourselves going through a dry season in life when water seems scarce and we are spiritually dehydrated, we often wonder where God could possibly be in all…
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How To Set Your Prayer Before the Lord
Sometimes we pray in order to check our “prayer time” off our TO DO list. The paradox, however, is that we don’t want God to hear our prayers to just check us off His TO DO list. King David wanted His prayers to be set before the Lord like incense; A rising, aromatic presence that…
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God Still Has The Power to Make Things Beautiful in His Time
Have you ever been here? This was absolutely breathtaking. Jill and I just stood there in wonder over God’s creation. This is Crater Lake, the deepest lake in North America. Jill and I had the privilege of visiting this awe-inspiring wonder a few weeks ago. It’s waters are pure, crystal clear with a deep blue…
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How to Not Carry Things You Were Not Meant to Carry
Life can become much more discouraging and frustrating on the trail when you’re carrying things you were not meant to carry. I’m talking about things that bring no intrinsic value while out in the wild, no business being in your backpack, but in fact, weigh you down, slow you down, and drain your energy. They…
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Why God Sometimes Allows Our Vision To Be Hindered
Sometimes we experience seasons in which it is harder to see than in others. An arctic front started coming in yesterday. Temperatures dropped to below freezing. And we woke up this morning to snow, ice and howling winds. It’s cold and winter has definitely made her presence known here in the northwest. When you experience…
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How To Save Yourself from Yourself
Let’s be honest. When we blow it, we are often hardest on ourselves. We are our worst critic, feeling terrible for what may have happened or for something that did not turn out the way we had intended. Doubting ourselves, we begin to question what we could have done differently. Sometimes we even know what we…
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How To Recover From a Bad Start
Imagine yourself competing in the 1972 Summer Olympic Games in Munich, Germany. The event is the 800 meter final in track and field. You’re competing for your country and it has yet to win its first gold medal. You just got married. You’ve been on your honeymoon. The 800 meters isn’t even your event. You…