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The purpose of a doctor is to help sick people get well, not to make them feel good about being sick.

The purpose of a road map is to help us get where we need to go, not to make us feel good about being where we are.

The purpose of a plumber is to fix your pipes, not to make you feel good about having a leak.

Despite some modern exceptions, the purpose of schools and teachers is to educate children, not to make them…

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Now, if you know the Plant City congregation, you might say we have plenty of Davids already! At present our number includes eight fine men by that name. Some of us have even joked about changing the name on our sign to “The House of David.”

But of course that’s not what I’m talking about. I’m referring to King David of Israel. He was not perfect, but God called him a man after His own heart (1 Samuel 13:14). This church, like every church, needs men and women like that. Specifically, every…

The shift must happen inside of you before it manifests on the outside in the living, breathing world. The shift is like applying slight pressure to reposition you on your heels, and then, suddenly, your whole body adjusts in an uncommanded rhythm. When your hand swiftly moves in and out of grooves to ensure you […]

Make room Everything you’re hoping and praying for requires you to make room. The good stuff God wants to give you requires you to open up your hands, your heart, your home, and your life in new and challenging ways. The beauty of the breaking you’ve experienced is a blessing. 2019 has been generous to me, and I’m […]

The past is always pawing for our attention; It is an itch we fight to scratch, a sensational that comes out of thin air and weighs over you almost like a security blanket that instead of making us secure, suffocates us. I’ve cautioned myself, many times this year, as I focus forward, to ignore the […]

When we look back over the years of our lives we can see so much more, now, than we ever could when we walked forward step by step. Forward is a process, a steady one, and too often we grow tired and frustrated because we want to be there already. But where is there? Right before Jesus’ […]

“Don’t look back, you’re not going that way” I did a poll on Instagram to inquire about what topics ladies were interested in reading about for this week’s devotional email and someone responded with my favorite topic: focus forward. Naturally, and with huge bias, I decided to use it 🙂 What does “focus” mean to […]

“Thus the Lord God showed me, and behold, there was a basket of summer fruit.” – Amos 8:1 When “To Be Praised” first launched, it was November. The Earth had just begun to stiffen, and the cold air surrounded us as we sipped pumpkin flavored coffee and tea. It doesn’t seem that long ago. We had less than […]

If you build it, they will come. Last Saturday, To Be Praised hosted a Cinco De Mayo themed Chat & Chew. It was our first installment of the in-person Bible studies under the new name “the Hive”, but to be honest…a name is a name. The energy, the vibe, the encouragement, love, and sisterhood was […]

Join us for a two-hour chat + chew to engage the creative, intrepid, and brave woman of God. “the Hive” is a place where women nurture their power and create meaningful connections with other women. What to expect: -Cinco De Mayo themed catered lunch -Resources/worksheets to use during our discussion -Actionable takeaways on how to […]