Our Guest: Elisa Morgan
Elisa Morgan (MDiv) has authored over twenty-five books including The Beauty of Broken, Hello, Beauty Full, When We Pray Like Jesus, You Are Not Alone, Christmas Changes Everything and her newest book, Fruitful Living. For twenty years, Elisa served as CEO of MOPS International (The MOMCo) and now is President Emerita. She writes for Our Daily Bread Devotional and co-hosts Discover the Word and God Hears Her for Our Daily Bread Ministries. Connect with Elisa at www.elisamorgan.com and on Facebook and Instagram. With her husband, Evan, she has two grown children and three grandchildren who live near her in Denver, Colorado. Her constant companion is Mia, an elderly Jack Russell who shadows her every move.
Key Thoughts and Scriptures:
Matthew 5-7 NIV The Sermon on the Mount “…Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven…”
- God’s Kingdom is an upside down kingdom.
- Our human expectations of life are usually so divergent from God’s plan. We can quickly become disillusioned if we cling to our expectations when things don’t go according to our plan.
Philippians 2:13 NIV For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.
- When did you feel most alive in your life?
- “Be on a platform of vulnerability. Let your deficits come into My hands and I’ll make them your offering.”
- Each day is one that He needs to make sense of for us.
- God taught Elisa about modeling brokenness as a leader.
- Being broken doesn’t have to excommunicate you or disqualify you. It reminds us of our need for God.
- It can be helpful to self-reflect, but it can also set us into a minefield of shame and despair.
- We have to confess when we’re full of pride.
Luke 7:36–50 NIV …Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”..
- Are you being the woman anointing Jesus’ feet or are you being Simon?
- God loves you and there’s nothing you can do about it.
- Try sitting five minutes every day and let God love you.
Elisa learned that when we take our brokenness and put it into Jesus’ hands, He can use this more powerfully than He could before we were broken.
Jeremiah 29:11 NIV For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
- But prospering isn’t always money and security. Sometimes prospering is a spiritual heritage that becomes our investment in the world around us.
- People don’t learn very much from perfect people. They learn from people who are in process just like them.
- The younger generations are attracted to authenticity, vulnerability is believability. And it makes Jesus very attractive to others when they see how we need Him and how He meets our needs.
Galatians 5:22-23 NIV But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
- God doesn’t ask us to ratchet that stuff up. He just says, cooperate with Me as I grow those qualities in your life.
- The Lord used a hard season in Elisa’s life to both break her and to heal her.
- Elisa sensed God asking her to lay down her ministry and be willing to be a part of what He wanted to do next
- “And the Lord was really clear, I want you to attach yourself to Me.”
- God carries us through, but it doesn’t mean it’s without some struggle.
Abigail’s Story
I Samuel 25 NIV David, Nabal, and Abigail
- Abigail was married to a fool, Nabal, and his name even meant fool.
- When David came to kill Nabal, she confronted him boldly and in truth and told him, trust God to protect you.
- Nabal died and David married Abigail.
- But it doesn’t always work out that way.
- If you’re in a domestic violence situation, get help. (National Domestic Violence Hotline- 800-799-7233 or text BEGIN to 88788)
- Abigail was convinced that God would care for her and she took God at His word and she clung to Him.
James 1:2-4 NIV Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
- Look beyond the natural to see by faith that God is doing what He promised to do.
Isaiah 61:3 NIV And provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.
- The ultimate goal is the glory of God and He works in each of us to bring about things that will glorify Him.
- Christ was broken for us so we would not have to live in brokenness.
1 Peter 5:10 NIV And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.
Links:
- Website: https://elisamorgan.com
- Podcast Link: God Hears Her
- Podcast Link: Discover the Word
- Playing Badminton with Myself
- National Domestic Violence Hotline 800-799-7233 or text BEGIN to 88788
Books:
- The Beauty of Broken
- Hello, Beauty Full
- When We Pray Like Jesus
- You Are Not Alone
- Christmas Changes Everything
- Fruitful Living
Connect with Us:
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