by Brenda Crouch | May 19, 2026 | Brenda Crouch
I sat in a crowded café’ of the old city, Jerusalem comforted by the sound of boiled water being poured over fresh mint twigs and the arising aroma, which carefully made its way to my pallet. Sipping after-dinner tea, I quietly observed my surroundings in a mix of local and touristy company. Oddly, I felt at home listening to the downpour of rain beating on cobblestone pavement just outside the open entrance where cool damp air mingled with my steamy cup of goodness.
Being the only woman at a table full of ministers from around the world, I thought about my mother’s longing to travel and serve the globe with her missionary heart, but her time had come and gone.
Then I thought about my sheltered upbringing and how much I really still had to learn from the spiritual generals that now surrounded me about the world, it’s global cultures and our relevance here.
People are people wherever you go. They have the same desire for love, acceptance and identity regardless of their values and language barriers, which is evident in the laughter and tears flowing genuinely and universally among us.
My mother had a unique gift of communication with people of all nations and she understood something beyond the walls of our cultural differences simply because her heart was so full of the love of Jesus. Somehow I seemed to miss the element of human commonality in my shallow youthful perceptions of the world until I was delivered from the fears, which had kept me from experiencing the kind of love for people that Jesus has given me.
One Without The Other is Incomplete
The bible exhorts us not to love in word or talk but in deed and truth in 1John 3:18. But too often our best efforts lean toward one or the other, unable to pinpoint the error of our ways. We cannot have love without truth as much as we cannot have truth without love. They are one and the same as they are the heart of Christ, who is the Way, the Truth and the Life. He came to bring love and dignity to our human existence by restoring us to the Father, but as He did so He exposed the lies that continue to bind us.
Love without truth is an inferior human love based in emotion and unequipped to change the atrocities of this world while truth without the love of God is judgmental and without mercy – equally inefficient. We are promised in God’s word that Love never fails and it conquers all. This kind of power lies in the complete and total immersion of love and truth, which can only be ours for the giving and receiving through Christ, His Son.
The Mirror of God’s Glory
The most effective assault on the human identity is the lie of the enemy, which clouds our self-perception. We cannot love others if we are filtering our own self worth through the lens of fear and false bravado and the only way to love ourselves is to see ourselves as Christ sees us.
We will only see ourselves in the light of truth and love as we come to Him with an unveiled face (total honesty and humility) allowing Him to show us every bit of truth about ourselves. It is here that we see the blind spots that hinder our journey and gain desire for inward change. It is here that we repent and become more dependent on Him as we recognize our lack of understanding and realize the vastness of His infinite love!
And we all, with unveiled face, continually seeing as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are progressively being transformed into His image from [one degree of] glory to [even more] glory, which comes from the Lord, [who is] the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:18 AMP
The Moment of Truth
Will you heed the call of Jesus as He beckons you toward the mirror of His Glory? Will you dare to stand courageous and honestly naked before Him, ready to see yourself as He sees you and be clothed in His radiance? If your answer is yes, you will forever be changed as you look into His Glory with unveiled face and accept the correction about who you are and who you are not.
The good, the bad and the ugly, which you’ve tried to fix with finite reasoning, are waiting to be redefined by the love and truth of your Savior, Jesus. The King of Kings came low to meet you at the place of your need so that He could crown you with His glory and dignity forever!
by Brenda Crouch | May 19, 2026 | Brenda Crouch
It was an especially painful time in my life. I was alone staring at my shattered dreams and by all intents and purposes, I’d hit rock bottom. My trail of failures were a constant reminder that I may never be loved the way God had designed for a woman to be loved. While I did my best to appear happy to the unsuspecting community around me the thought of being alone seemed worse than death and I wasn’t sure I had enough fight left to climb out of my pit of despair even though I knew I needed to.
Dragging myself to church that Sunday morning, I sat on the edge of my seat as the speaker gave a compelling illustration taken from a story in Greek mythology. In Homer’s Odyssey, Odysseus is told of a magnificent song sung by the sirens of the sea, but one that would lure unsuspecting sailors dangerously close to the rocky shore. Lacking the discipline to stay safely away from the rocks but close enough to hear the sirens’ tantalizing tune, previous sailors had sailed closer and closer to the sweet sound until their ships were dashed into the depths.
Odysseus’ solution was to have his seamen fill their ears with beeswax, so they could not hear the sultry song and therefore be tempted to sail too closely to shore. It was his plan to have them tie him securely to the ships mast so that he would be able to bask in the mirthful melody of the beautiful sirens, but unable to escape and force the sailors to steer even closer. Even if he shouted the sailors could not hear him keeping their ship on an exacting and safe course.
FREEDOM FROM TEMPTATION
We all deal with temptation on every level. For me it was in the area of relationship but for others it could be any number of things such as lust for power, addiction or projecting an outer persona. Regardless of the invitation, the most tenacious allurements are rooted in the areas of our deception.
We find ways to convince ourselves that we are immune to the entanglements of our greatest enemy when, in fact, we’ve only tied ourselves to the mast of denial. For Odysseus to truly be free, He would have to not only, recognize the dangers that lie ahead, he would need to awaken to a sweeter sound than the temptation that beckoned him.
The apostle, Paul encouraged the Galatians to walk in the Spirit, that they would not gratify the desires of their flesh. Naturally when we read that we tend to think doing so requires religious performance and gargantuan self-discipline. Not so at all! There is a sound, which can only be heard by the Spirit and it carries the good news of Jesus Christ to the hungering soul.
As I sat in the service that morning literally on the edge of my seat, I heard the trustworthy whisper of the Holy Spirit say to me, “Untie yourself from the mast.” He knew how deeply hurt I was, when others could not discern my pain. I was a child of the Almighty God. I knew I was one of His beloved, yet the enlightenment of His overwhelming and satisfying love was not fully perceived in my identity.
My history of rejection and being devalued by men had left me fixated with the temptation to find one who might love me. Yet repeatedly, I found my ship dashed on the rocks of disappointment and my heart sinking to the bottom of the sea. May I ask, what is keeping you tied to the lie that continues to charm you with an empty promise but slowly killing you? Would you dare to untie yourself and let it go?
JOY UNSPEAKABLE
There is an undeniable joy, which cannot be explained! It can’t be sold, and it cannot be contained. It is freely accessible, but it can only be discovered in the surrender of the counterfeit. All you must do is seek its unlimited source and your greatest joy will be found.
It is with the greatest satisfaction that I can tell you I did respond to that sweet sound of the Spirit as I willingly untied myself from the place of emotional bondage where I longed to be loved. This is where I finally drank from His living water and my thirsty soul was satisfied beyond my expectations. I have never looked back after that day as I found something sweeter than anything I’d ever experienced.
His great love is the music your heart and soul eagerly search for and it will satisfy your longings over and over again. I pray you let it be your compass that charts the course of your purposeful voyage and that it will carry you into the deepest of discoveries.
Sermon Credits: Kenny Thacker – Lead Pastor, Lighthouse Christian Fellowship Prosper TX. https://www.lighthousentx.com
by Brenda Crouch | May 19, 2026 | Brenda Crouch
It is often right about now, as we creep toward the end of January, that passions for goal setting start to dim and the best of intentions begin to crumble under the strain of unforeseen challenges. This is all the more reason to keep a fluid and positive attitude instead of a rigid one that demands perfectionism.
Can you relate to the picture of my grandson who’s exhausted from being a super hero? I certainly can and on the daily I’ve discovered that I must adapt to certain unavoidable interruptions with a can-do attitude also making time to recharge and refocus weekly so that I can sustain for the duration.
I have a personal bent toward perfectionism, which also lends to procrastination and control on certain levels, but I’ve learned that reaching even three quarters of my goal is better than none at all. As they say, elephants are eaten one bite at a time not all at once and for some of us there’s an endless line-up linking trunk to tail so we’re better off throwing an elephant eating party to delegate those time sensitive tasks that might keep us from progress.
Some days, I surpass my to do list while others leave a questionable impression over how well the previous 24 hours were managed. I think it’s important in all our “doing” that we extend the same grace and forgiveness to ourselves that we would to someone else acknowledging the difference between constructive discipline and self-condemnation when analyzing progress. After all it is more about the journey than the destination, right?
EXTINGUISH THE HOT SPOTS
Personal growth is an equal opportunity for everyone at any level or circumstance but unfortunately, we often get in the way of our own progress when we fail to deal with negative mindsets. You can’t afford to pitch your tent on dead-end roads simply because you’ve run out of ideas, inspiration or energy. It’s imperative in those detours, which threaten to terminate your dreams, that you DE-terminate the vision with the right perspective. The Bible points the way for you to have the mind of Christ so that you will successfully achieve your divine purpose wherever that may be.
Anything worth doing usually comes with opposition and as a believer you must recognize that you don’t wrestle with flesh and blood but with powers and principalities. If you are fulfilling your purpose on this earth, you might be encountering the kind of opposition that doesn’t want to see you succeed!
Knowing this requires wisdom and discerning of spirits because its too easy to blame the devil for failures that he had nothing to do with when God wants you to be accountable for your part of the equation. It’s equally important to remember that you are perfectly equipped with the authority needed to reign over every challenge in front of you when God has called you to the task. Discernment will teach you to navigate through spiritual warfare and recognize the reason to especially not give up in this case!
DISSOLVE THE DOUBT
Knowing that whatever God starts He also finishes is your key to living in peace, confidence and positivity! Subsequently, there are times we must reevaluate the timing along with our motives when a project doesn’t leave the ground or drains every resource instead of becoming fruitful. These are the life-lessons, which build character for partnering with God. Such is the ever-balancing walk as we learn to follow our Chief Advisor and Protector of our faith.
You have an empty canvas staring back at you as the new year unfolds so don’t allow double-mindedness to eat up all of your potential. Spending intentional time with God will give you the confidence to set your sights and never look back! May this new season bring fruition to whatever God has called you to do and may you leap tall buildings with great DE-TERMINATION!!
by Brenda Crouch | May 13, 2026 | Brenda Crouch
Walking through a forest of towering eucalyptus trees that morning my heavy heart tugged at my conscience like a toddler pulling her mother’s shirt hem. Working overtime it pounded vigorously for the extra pounds that had snuck upon me without warning. Life had become a blur of managing mental noise and meeting the exhausting demands of our fast paced schedules, but suddenly the Spirit seemed to speak like a by-gone friend, “How long has it been since you really laughed from a place of pure joy?”
Pausing for an honest answer, I rustled through low hanging branches inhaling their penetrating herbaceous fragrance in hopes to feel a twinge of happiness but all I could muster was a gestured smile through pressed lips. My praise for the sweetest things had become like wooden doves propelled into the air with a hard landing. A feeling of grief had slowly consumed my soul amidst the performance of balancing life and ministry while processing the reality of great loss. When I heard His whisper I suddenly realized how frozen I’d become.
Crossing the trickle of a narrowing creek I noticed the rugged beauty of river rock buried in glistening sand when the Spirit took His scalpel to the soft heart of the matter. “You keep rehashing on the wound every time your offender flaunts their ugly betrayal and it has hijacked your joy!” Immediately I thought of an earlier time in life where joy was a central part of my everyday wardrobe.
Even though I had very little in terms of earthly possessions there was a song on my lips and my heart was full of big dreams. I believed in things that others called impossible, because I knew the power of my God to deliver what He had promised but now I was facing the tangible threat of giants ruling the land, which I knew I was to occupy. I was angry and afraid.
Dream Thieves
I realized my dreams were not dead they had just become overshadowed by the increasing weight of responsibility I felt to forgive a community that had rejected and intimidate me. The constant upheaval of a deep debilitating wound, which I constantly prayed to forgive, had become routine pain management because I had allowed the rejection of the “chosen ones” to creep into my soul. It had been too long since I’d thrown my cares to the wind and simply danced in the goodness of God’s amazing grace!
I have learned a few things about myself and how I’m wired. I am a deep thinker motivated by compassion and that is why I see beyond the veil most people protect and project. This is often a gift God uses to minister to the hurting and the broken but while it is my strength, it is also my greatest weakness at times and I’m learning to navigate those potential pitfalls with Divine wisdom. If you’re a deep well and a thinker like me, perhaps you’ll relate. I’m usually the first to ask forgiveness in an argument and always self-examining before the Lord because my deepest desire is to be more like Him and to grow healthy relationships.
Holy Cow!
I’m a work in progress and I rejoice in the uncomfortable interruptions that God brings as He shakes me out of my slumber. This is what awakens the inner warrior called to throw down the lies of the enemy and take a stand for righteousness. But as I examine my own process I’m reminded of the digestive physiology of cows. Their stomachs are made up of four compartments, which play a role in the break down of nutrients. Cows chew feed without sorting through it in the initial mastication but it is later regurgitated and chewed again and again in a process called rumination. This is how their food is eventually digested where foreign matter, like wire, rock and fencing are trapped in their own separate compartment.
Relating to a cow isn’t pretty but I must admit to having a predisposition of gullibility where I trusted too much in my early years and I wasn’t equipped to sort through information the way I am today. So often the experiences that lead to our deepest wounds will resurface long after we thought we were over them and we spend so much time revisiting or analyzing our wounds that it begins to sour in our mouth!
While I do believe in the honest process of revisiting an issue that has merely been compartmentalized, there comes a time when we must recognize the difference between God’s prompting and our propensity to chew and chew until our mouths have soured. We must decide to move on when the infliction has paralyzed us and keep fighting forward in the hope and confidence of God’s Word where we transition from victim to victor!
Healing for the Heart
The book of Proverbs reads that Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs it down, but an encouraging word makes it glad. (Proverbs 12:25) The passage continues, Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the desire is fulfilled, it is a tree of life. (Proverbs 13:12) The bible is telling us that stress and deep HHhhhdisappointment makes the heart, sick and it’s imperative that we understand laughter is good medicine for the soul and that our joy is our strength.
This strength infusing kind of joy can only be found in your honest exchange with Christ, as He whispers and you listen… finally ready to surrender your trust to Him and let go of self-preservation. It is not the kind of joy, which is drawn from community. It was in that very moment where the beauty of nature could once again, penetrate my awareness and just the thought of laughter lightened my load.
I have made up my mind to dump my cares at the feet of Jesus right where they belong and to believe that He will always finish the work of Grace and forgiveness within my heart over the wounds that I am incapable of removing by myself. Friend, It is your turn to laugh again, to dream again and to believe that you can ask God for more than you ever dared to. He loves you and His plan is for your good!
The best news we could ever receive is to know that we win because God is faithful to those who love Him! If your road has been difficult, I encourage you to enlarge your vision in the sanctuary of praise and believe in the God of the impossible where impossible wounds are healed. Without a vision people perish… Learn to laugh in the face of adversity and declare the goodness of God when it hurts like nothing you’ve ever experienced.
It isn’t about staying dry when the storms come without warning… your weakness is where God-Almighty shows off… it’s about learning you can dance in the rain and experience something you’d otherwise never have known in the birthing of your great purpose.
