Month: January 2026

Speaking Engagements

Report Back: Beautifully Rooted Conference

Michelle Lesley

Ready to schedule your spring, summer, or fall 2026 women’s event? I’d love to come share with the ladies of your church or organization. Click here for more information,
or to find an upcoming event near you!

Images courtesy of Beautifully Rooted conference.

In early November, I had the privilege of speaking at the Beautifully Rooted conference at Southern View Chapel in Springfield, Illinois. I had a wonderful time fellowshipping with the ladies of Springfield and the surrounding area.

Sadly, this lovely photographic mural in the St. Louis airport was pretty much the extent of my sightseeing in the area. It was a quick trip, flying up Friday and flying home Saturday, but I wanted to be home for the birth of a new grandbaby who was due in a few days!

I got settled in at my hotel Friday afternoon…

Always a fan of funny hotel numbering systems!

A lovely gift bag from my hostesses!

We got things kicked off Friday night with Foundations of Discernment, which dealt with building a solid foundation of prayer, study of the Word, and faithfulness to the local church as the basis of discernment.

Photos above, courtesy of Priscila G. Photography

On Saturday, Discernment 101: Learn to Discern was first on the agenda. This session covers some practical aspects of how to determine whether or not someone is a false teacher, who some of today’s most prolific false teachers are, and popular forms of false doctrine in the church.

Rounding out the day, Saturday, was Hooked on a Feeling. So often, we, as Christian women are led around by the nose by our feelings. We talked about why this is unbiblical, and some practical ways of avoiding temptations to sin.

Photos courtesy of Priscila G. Photography

There were also some wonderful breakout sessions taught by ladies of the church, and by my friend Susan Heck. She is a delight, and I always love catching up with her.

You can listen to the audio from all of the main sessions and breakout sessions here.

And, of course, we had a wonderful time of worship led by these sweet and talented ladies of SVC…

Breaking bread and spending time together around the table is such an integral part of events like this. It’s one of the ways God designed women to build each other up in Christ. The food was delicious and the fellowship was even sweeter!

Delightful decor and door prizes!

Lots of great exhibit tables!

Merch!

I love meeting the ladies!

Especially the young ladies!

I was so glad to meet Bro. Gary Gilley who not only pastors at SVC, but also has a wonderful discernment ministry, Think on These Things. (Bro. Gary has done extensive work on John Mark Comer {whom many of you have asked me about}, which I’ve linked up at the Popular False Teachers & Unbiblical Trends tab in the blue menu bar at the top of this page. I’ve also added Bro. Gary as a discernment resource here.)

Before I left, one of the pastors’ wives, Priscila Gilley, blessed me with an unbelievable and invaluable gift – new publicity photos (which I desperately needed, since mine were about five years old). Priscila is an incredibly talented photographer (you pretty much have to be to make me look this good!), and I would highly recommend her if you live in the Springfield area. Check out her website and the lovely photos she took at the conference.

And yes, despite a flight delay that forced me to spend the night in the DFW airport on the way back, I got home with plenty of time to spare to welcome Baby A into the world!

It was such a fantastic day with the ladies of Southern View Chapel. Thanks so much to Pastors Gary Gilley and Brian Gilley for trusting me to teach these incredible women. Thanks to Dawn, Susan, and all the other ladies for making me feel right at home and working so hard to host a fantastic conference. If you’re ever in the area and need a good church to visit, make plans to spend the Lord’s Day with these wonderful brothers and sisters.

If your church or organization is ever in need of a speaker for a women’s event, I’d love to come share with your ladies as well. Click here for more information, or to find an upcoming event near you!

Photo Credits

All photos by Michelle Lesley and other conference attendees except those credited to Priscila G. Photography and Beautifully Rooted Conference.

Holidays (Other), New Year's

5 Ways to Be Discerning About Your New Year’s Reading Goals

Michelle Lesley

Originally published January 3, 2024

Good news: book nerd is in. And these days, that doesn’t just mean you have your nose stuck in a book all the time. No, you’ve really got your nerd on – you’ve got a reading goal for the year.

Whether it’s merely a certain number of books you want to read, total, or you’ve got it broken down into goals for various genres of literature, feeding your mind by reading is a worthy pursuit, especially if you’re feeding it good theology. (You might even want to join other Christians in a reading challenge such as this one from G3.)

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Philippians 4:8

But, as always, you’ve got to be discerning about the books you choose. In years past, I’ve seen some of my friends posting about book reading goals for the new year and asking for suggestions of Christian books. And I’ve seen some of the suggestions that have been made. Yikes. Some of those “Christian” books your friends are suggesting are written by false teachers.

Yikes. Some of those “Christian” books your friends are suggesting for your reading goals are written by false teachers. Here are 5 ways to exercise discernment about the books you choose.

May I offer some help for being discerning about the books you choose?

1.

Stay immersed in your Bible. That way, if you come across false doctrine in a book you’re reading, you’ll know it conflicts with Scripture. Need help? Check out my Bible reading plans and Bible studies.

2.

If you’re not already a faithful member of a doctrinally sound local church, find one, join it, and sit under good preaching and teaching every chance you get. This will also help you detect false doctrine when you’re reading. (Use my Searching for a new church? resource if you need help locating a good church in your area.)

3.

Vet the author of every book you read prior to reading it. Here are some quick and easy resources that can help:

4.

Don’t fall for the “chew up the meat, spit out the bones” fallacy or the “But this author has helped me so much!” argument. See #3 & 8: Answering the Opposition- Responses to the Most Frequently Raised Discernment Objections.

5.

Try a book by one of these doctrinally sound authors: Recommended Bible Teachers.

Happy (and holy!) reading!

Most of these linked resources can be found in the blue menu bar at the top of the blog.

Additional Resources:

Do You MIND? : Five Reasons for Pastors to Mind What Their Brides Are Reading

You Don’t Need A Book, You Need THE Book

Do you have a reading goal or plan for the year?
Which book(s) are you looking forward to reading this year?

Holidays (Other), New Year's

Sanctification Over Resolutions: 6 Ways God Could Sanctify You in the New Year

Michelle Lesley

Originally published January 1, 2018

Happy New Year!

There’s just something about the beginning of a new year that brings with it a yen for getting a fresh start. We think back over the past year, evaluate what we’ve spent our time and efforts on – or what we should have spent our time and efforts on – and, invariably, there’s a desire to make this year better.

Lots of people make lots of resolutions on January 1: to lose weight, to stop smoking, to exercise more. And by mid-February, some 80% of those people will have failed and given up on their resolutions.¹ Why? Partly because (statistically speaking) most of those people are lost and the flesh is exceedingly hard to tame by sheer “pull yourself up by your own bootstraps” willpower. Even Holy Spirit-indwelt Believers can testify to the pull of the flesh.

Should we, as Christians make New Year’s resolutions? Is it OK to set a goal to get a certain area of our lives under better control? Sure, there’s nothing wrong with that. But, is it possible there’s a bigger picture we need to take a look at?

Should we, as Christians make New Year’s resolutions? Sure, there’s nothing wrong with that. But, is it possible there’s a bigger picture we need to take a look at?

The Christian life is not one of putting out fires via resolutions. We don’t tackle one problem, get it under control and then move on to each of the other five problems that popped up while we were working on the first one. It’s more like fire prevention. We get up every day and hose down the house and yard by resting in Christ, communing with Him through prayer and the Word, and seeking to obey Him throughout the day. Sanctification is not mainly reactive, it’s proactive. And it doesn’t come by our own outward effort and striving, but by Christ growing us, changing our hearts, and enabling us to obey Him from the inside out.

Sanctification is not mainly reactive, it’s proactive.

And guess what? Along the way as Christ is conforming you to His image, you’re going to fail. You’re going to give in to temptation, and you’re going to sin against your Master. But here’s what biblical sanctification offers you that New Year’s resolutions cruelly withhold:

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
Lamentations 3:22-23

You don’t just get a fresh start once a year. You get a fresh start every time you confess your sin, repent, and receive Christ’s cleansing and forgiveness. You get the mercy of Christ, the grace of God, and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit to move forward in submission to God’s Word. You get the steadfast, never ceasing love of the Father who is out for your good rather than the unfeeling “do more, try harder, be better” taskmaster of New Year’s resolutions.

So, bearing all that in mind, how might God be trying to grow you in Christlikeness this year? What are some ways you can get up each day and proactively rest in, and obey Christ? Let’s prayerfully consider the following aspects of our walk and ask God to sanctify us and help us submit our will to His as we follow Him in this new year.

Growing in the Word

1. Daily personal Bible study. Do you set aside daily time for the personal study of God’s Word? Have you ever read the Bible from cover to cover? Have you considered, maybe just for this year, putting away all of the Bible study books and materials authored by others and using only the Bible during the next 365 days of your personal study time? Evaluate your daily time in God’s Word. Here are some resources you might find helpful:

📖 Bible Study Resources (how to study the Bible)
📖 Bible Studies
📖 Bible Reading Plans for the New Year- 2026
📖 You’re Not as Dumb as You Think You Are: Five Reasons to Put Down that Devotional and Pick Up the Actual Bible

2. Scripture memorization. This is something God got a hold of me about several years ago. It’s important to store up God’s Word in our hearts as a weapon against temptation, for comfort, for prayer, and to encourage others. Try starting with verses you’re already somewhat familiar with. Many find it easier to memorize Scripture in song form, or by typing it out. If your pastor is preaching through a certain book, memorize a verse or passage out of each chapter as he comes to it. I’ve found it helpful to recite my verses in my head in bed at night. It helps me fall asleep faster, and there’s actually research that shows retention is improved if you study right before bed.

🧠 Scripture Memory with Susan Heck at A Word Fitly Spoken

Growth In Prayer

3. Daily prayer time. Of course we should be talking to the Lord throughout the day as we go about the routine of life and work, but that’s not a substitute for having a daily block of time set aside for focusing all of our attention on communicating with God. Jesus set this example for us, and we should follow it. Do you have a daily time of prayer? Do you know how to pray in a way that’s pleasing to God and helps you grow in Christ?

🙏 Prayer
🙏 After this Manner Therefore Pray
🙏 Basic Training: 8 Things You Need to Know about Prayer
🙏 Sweet Hour of Prayer (Bible study on prayer)

Growth in the Body of Christ

4. If you don’t have a solid church, find one. Physically gathering with the Body of Christ for worship, teaching, fellowship, prayer, baptism, the Lord’s Supper, giving, serving – and so much more – is not optional. It’s vital to your growth in Christ.

⛪ Basic Training: 7 Reasons Church is Not Optional and Non-Negotiable for Christians
⛪ Six Ways Not to Forsake the Assembly
⛪ Searching for a new church?

5. Faithful church attendance. At a minimum, Christians should be at Sunday morning worship and Sunday School/Bible study class/small group every week unless Providentially hindered (circumstances beyond your control: illness, emergency, the rare out of town trip, occasionally having to work). That’s not legalism, that’s loving the Bride of Christ and having your priorities in line with Scripture. Contrary to popular metrics, habitually missing Sunday worship twice or more a month (when you could be there if you made it a priority) is not faithful attendance. If you’re lackadaisical in church attendance, examine your heart. What’s going on in your spiritual life that’s keeping you from wanting to gather with your brothers and sisters in Christ? (And if it’s a problem with the church itself, see #4.)

6. Don’t just “go to church,” invest yourself in it. Are you serving your church in some capacity? Do you regularly and fervently pray for your church, your fellow church members, and your pastors, elders, and teachers? Have you poured yourself into personal relationships with others at church for fellowship, care, and discipling? Do you regularly, sacrificially, and joyfully give offerings? Are you sharing the gospel with the lost? As with anything else, you get out of it what you put into it. God loves you and wants you to invest yourself in His Bride for His glory and for your joy.

⛪ The Servanthood Survey
⛪ Let Me Count the Ways: 75 Ways Women Can Biblically Minister to Others
⛪ Servanthood
⛪ Top 10 Ways to Pray for Your Pastor
⛪ To Tithe or Not to Tithe…
⛪ Evangelism

How might God want to conform you more to the image of Christ this year? Could it be in one of these areas? Maybe another area? New Year’s resolutions are often about how you want to shape your life. Sanctification is about how God wants to shape your life. Not just for the new year, but for eternity.

New Year’s resolutions are often about how you want to shape your life. Sanctification is about how God wants to shape your life. Not just for the new year, but for eternity.

¹Luciani, Joseph. “Why 80 Percent of New Year’s Resolutions Fail.” U.S. News & World Report. December 29, 2015. Web. December 29, 2017.