Some say that when you learn life lessons the hard way, they leave a lasting impression. I suppose that’s true. There is something about lessons learned through pain that leaves life-changing scars. Even as a child, I tried to avoid learning hard lessons and being someone who desperately wanted to avoid challenging consequences… I listened to…
We all have personal goals. Maybe yours include… Those are just some of the possibilities. So, pause for just a couple of moments and list the personal goals you’d like to accomplish. We need to know what they are if we’re ever going to achieve them. Now, let’s consider some wise advice from William Arthur…
Some churches focus their attention on the power of the Holy Spirit, and others barely mention Him at all. It’s easy for most of us to talk about God the Father and Jesus, the Son and our Savior, but it can be harder for us to express what we understand about the Holy Spirit. God’s…
I want to tell you about a season of my life when God taught me the truth about having no other gods in my life… You, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. Psalm 86:15 (ESV) I’m overwhelmed by God’s patient love for countless…
Do you find it awkward or easy to share your faith? Do you know someone who expresses their “Christianity” through judgments, accusations, rules, and arguments? Christians who consistently “look like they were baptized in pickle juice” rarely make the people around them want to join the family of faith. But, on the other hand, do you know someone, or…
Here’s a story about one of Rev’s adventures and the angel God used to help him finish well… To make sure I could tell it well, I looked through an old memory box and found a letter and a press article from that time. For the 50th Anniversary of the Lutheran Hour Broadcast, Rev ran/jogged/walked…
Without wisdom, life is often marked by a series of foolish choices and consequences. You and I need wisdom! Ideally, it would be nice if everyone could be wise. I’ve always understood wisdom to be “knowing what to do and doing it,” based on this dictionary definition… Wisdom is defined as knowing the right thing…
You’ve read the self-help books and done everything you can to have the marriage, family, career, and extended relationships that match the perfect life portraits you read about online. My family might tell you that I used to read the Bible like a self-help book. And in some ways, it is, but it is so…
I love this quote about being a true friend… “A true friend knows your weaknesses but shows you your strengths; feels your fears but fortifies your faith; sees your anxieties but frees your spirit; recognizes your disabilities but emphasizes your possibilities.” ~William Arthur Ward We all need good friends … people who believe in us,…
I woke up this morning with an anxious heart and a long list of calls, emails, and appointments to accomplish. I prayed and asked the Lord to fill me with His peace, but my insides continued to feel like a cage full of mice running to find the exit. I considered Paul’s words… The Lord…
It feels impossible. You don’t know how you’re going to survive, let alone thrive with your broken heart. Who didn’t love you? Your boyfriend? Girlfriend? Parent? Your spouse? Your best friend? Your child? The truth is, life’s relationships are hard, and people can be selfish. Sadly, we can’t make everyone love us. And I’ve come to understand…
Are you patient? What do you do when you need to be patient? How about in traffic? With your kids? When you’re waiting in line or for an appointment? If you’re like me, it depends on the circumstances or your mood. I know if I’m tired or not feeling well, running late, or it’s the fifteenth…
We live together, work together, study together, play together, and worship together. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could all get along easily? If people were always pleasant, helpful, and encouraging, appreciative, forgiving, and fun. Sounds like heaven! However, relationships are complicated, and even the people we love the most can drive us crazy at…
Living with the right attitudes is essential for anyone wanting to enjoy a peaceful life. How often do you get to the end of the day, realizing that it would have gone much better if only you or your children, spouse, boss, friend, neighbor, or parent had not been so grumpy, ungrateful, angry, or annoying?…
How would you describe your faith? Would you describe yourself as having really big faith? Recently, I thought about my faith and the content of my prayers. My prayers tend to be short-sighted and focused on my temporary needs. Here are some of Rev’s thoughts… God Wants Us to Have Really Big Faith Our wants…
Are you a heart hoarder? Heart hoarders aren’t focused on faith, hope, and love as they count their blessings. Their hearts are stacked high with things they should have gotten rid of long ago. Things like hurt feelings, failures, frustrations, anxiety, bitterness, impatience, and shame. It’s easy to accumulate clutter that gets in the way…
Have you ever wondered if you’re really living life to the fullest? Rev and I were accused, more than once, of not living life fully. I know you’re dying to know why, aren’t you? Because we were content with what is often considered a very simple life. We were not party-ers. We didn’t have to…
What do you do when you need to pray but you can’t find the words? When your circumstances are so upsetting, and you’re so worried, that, as much as you want to pray … it feels impossible. I remember a time when I was overwhelmed and exhausted, already feeling pushed beyond what I could handle,…
What are you wearing? You know it’s one of the most important things about you. No, I’m not talking about your fashion choices. I’m talking about the attitudes you wear. And I’m pausing to check mine, too. Paul wrote… Since God chose you to be the holy people He loves, you must clothe yourselves with…
Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! No statement in the world holds more truth or importance. You and I deserved punishment. Christ Jesus endured it. The Spirit inspired Paul to write… The wages of sin is death… Romans 6:23a And the Life Application Bible Notes say it like this—”the currency of sin is eternal…
Baskets filled with candy and tiny treasures. Head-to-toe new outfits. And the fragrance of flowers and festive music fills our church sanctuaries. We love to celebrate Jesus’ resurrection, but it’s hard to look at all He endured before… He used His servant body to carry our sins to the Cross so we could be rid…
