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Selfless | Lent 2024
As I journey very slowly through the passages of scripture that cover the hours of the Last Supper and the walk to the garden of Gethsemane, I am overwhelmed by the selflessness of Jesus. Everything I need to know about what it means to love someone is in the narrative. Jesus and His twelve disciples share Passover, then take a walk together. He uses the time to prepare His inner circle for what’s coming in the next few hours and beyond. Jesus has taught His followers to depend entirely upon Him, so He knows that His impending departure is going to send them reeling. And their dinner conversation (the download…
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Thankful | Lent 2024
Twice in the final week of Jesus’ life leading up to the cross, He is anointed for burial, (Jesus, Love to the End, pages 43-46). In both instances the room is teeming with people, but as significant as these events are, Jesus and only one single other person understand what’s happening. All the others present are in different head spaces. My melancholy tendencies want to grieve for how clueless almost everyone is. But this morning as I write, I’m overwhelmed with gratitude that Jesus is seen by someone in both these scenes. And not just seen__ these two women also take action on His behalf. No one understands isolation and…
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The Closing of Jesus’ Public Life | Lent 2024
We are in week three of Lent which begins the day after Jesus triumphal entrance into Jerusalem, (Jesus, Love to the End, pages 31-50). These are some of the most compelling days in history. As you read your entries this week, I pray you will afford yourself enough time to become immersed in the story of the final days of Jesus public ministry. There are far more details recorded in the Gospels than you might imagine. If it was Monday and you knew that on Friday you would be betrayed and murdered, what would consume your thoughts and how would you spend your last few days? What would matter to…
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Jesus’ Ways | Lent 2024
I’m meditating on the words of Jesus found in Luke 6:27-36, (Jesus Love to the End, pages 20-22). He talks about love in a way so foreign to me, even though I have belonged to Him for decades. I wonder if this is the same for you too. A statement like “Do good to those who hate you” is an action statement. It’s more than thinking nice thoughts about that person. To love the one who hates you requires an act of goodness toward them. That’s next-level living if I’m being honest. How about this__ “Bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you”. Again, action statements. While…
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Jesus’ Person | Lent 2024
Jesus’ connection with the Holy Spirit is well represented within the Easter narrative. You’re going to read a few Lent entries about this in week two which begins tomorrow. It strikes me that the Holy Spirit, whom Jesus has been in relationship with from eternity, is Jesus’ key person. There’s more mystery in that supposition than I can possibly grapple with. But what’s on my mind today is this__the Holy Spirit indwells me just as He did Jesus. He means to engage with me the way He did with Jesus. So one of the questions I’m asking as I write is: Do I consider Him my person? Because when I…
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Consider Him | Lent 2024
I was struck, as I read today’s Lent entry, (Jesus, Love to the End, pages 4-6), that the Lord Himself is offering me an opportunity to commune with Him. Each day, He invites me into a dialogue where I can talk to Him and He can talk to me. I know that is painfully obvious, but today that reality strikes me deeply. I’m asking Him to let that reality come to life for you too. This is dream-come-true kind of stuff. Enjoy the presence of God today. Wherever you are at this moment, He is there too. Peace to You,Anne
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Lent 2024
Today marks day one of Lent. If you don’t have a Lent tradition I encourage you to explore what’s available so that your journey toward Easter (yes, it’s right around the corner) will be meaningful for you and those around you. I’m prayerfully recommending Jesus, Love to the End as a devotional for you this Lent season. It’s available on Amazon. The story of the life of Jesus, particularly the roughly ten days leading up to His crucifixion, are among the most compelling in all of history. A slow walk through them was life-changing for me and I think it will be for you too. It’s fitting that the first…
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Complimentary Audio Book
Hi Readers, Happy Tuesday to you! The Fourth Chair is now available as an audio book. My publisher send me a chunk of promo codes (free download of the book) which I’d love to share with you in exchange for a short Amazon review. If you think you’d like to listen to the book and then write a one paragraph review on Amazon, please respond to this email and I’ll get you your code ASAP. Thank you!! Have An Amazing Week, Anne
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The Fourth Chair in E-Book
Hello Faithful Readers,The Fourth Chair e-book is officially for sale through Barnes & Noble and Amazon. The audio version of the book will be available soon. I’ll let you know about that when it happens. Physical book sales are going well and for now are available exclusively through thefourthchairbook.com. It’s been wonderful to hear from some of you as you’re reading the book. I’m always grateful for your input, so thank you so much for that. Have a fantastic rest of your week. Gratefully, Anne
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Book Launch Today!
It’s today–the official launch of The Fourth Chair! The books have arrived at the publisher’s and are ready to ship. I’m very excited and also grappling with the book’s unknown future (heart on my sleeve alert). What does God have in mind for this book? Who does He have in mind to read it? Time will tell, and I get to practice what I preach by ensuring He remains in charge of the whole endeavor. If you’d like to help, here’s how you can:1. I have books to give-away to 10 people willing to read and write a short review that will post on the book’s website and my social…
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July News
Dear Readers,I pray each of you are enjoying the summer months. Yesterday I was thinking there is something special about the feel of summer vacation even when I’m still busy working. I hope you experience something similar! At the moment, I’m recording the audio book for The Fourth Chair | Uncovering Your Invitation to Come Home. I’ve taken over my mother’s walk-in closet and turned it into a temporary recording booth (not kidding). Her hanging clothes, blankets and foam sound absorbers (I added those) make it feel like a pretty epic kids fort. It’s a hoot being in there! This is my maiden voyage into the waters of audio books.…
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New Book | The Fourth Chair
Hi Everyone,Happy Friday and an early Happy Father’s Day! I pray you are able to connect with your peeps and celebrate your dad and all those who have been father figures to you. I’m very happy to announce that August 2nd is the release date for The Fourth Chair, Uncovering Your Invitation to Come Home. This is a book I am VERY eager share with you. It takes a good long look at what is means to enter into the company of our Triune God and live life from that place of intimate community. The book breaks down into three broad headings: The Invitation, Exposure to God, and Coming Home.…
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Summer News
Hi everyone, As you settle in to the summer months I pray you are hope-filled– and aware of the nearness and active presence of the Lord. You make known to me the path of life; in Your presence there is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore (Psalm 16:11). I have been busy transitioning from the pre-Easter release of my devotional, Jesus, Love to the End, to get ready for the launch of my new book The Fourth Chair, Uncovering Your Invitation to Come Home. More about that soon. In the meantime, the web site has had a long overdue face-lift so I’ll hope you’ll pop on annebarbour.com and take a…
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In the Meantime | Waiting For Forgiveness
What is your mood as you wait – either to be able to forgive or to receive forgiveness? I’m asking because I’m reminded that God is always at work on behalf of His children. That means when you and I perceive that NOTHING is transpiring toward the righting of a conflict, God is in fact active and at work. If this is really true (it is) you and I might need to shift our perspective a little (or a lot). We need our perceptions to align with reality. What I’m getting at is this – I don’t often wait particularly well, whether forgiveness needs to come from me or come…
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How Much Does It Matter
“I tried apologizing, but we ended up arguing and we are worse off than before!“ “She said she was sorry but it wasn’t sincere so I called her on it. We ended up raging at each other and parting ways without any resolve.” Why don’t these kind of skirmishes resolve easily? What’s happening between two people who love God, that keeps them from being able to work through conflict? I’m talking about what I would call entry-level conflicts: “He said something mean.” “She treated me disrespectfully.” “He made a mistake and he doesn’t want to apologize.” These people aren’t arch enemies. They are brothers and sisters in Christ and in…