Even with all the chaos and confusion, it’s a blessing to grow up and live in the United States. Oh, I know we’re full of conflict and our list of things we could do better is long . . . but friends, at this point, we are free! I looked up the Bill of Rights… Read More
I prayed until my knees were raw. Day after day, week after week and months led to years and the wait never seemed to end. I imagine you’ve experienced a time when you have had to wait on God too. Maybe your going through one of those times right now. Your heart longs for: A… Read More
I’ve been challenged on social media lately to defend my view of the idealogy that science is based on facts and faith is based on feelings. The truth is . . . the Bible is a book of facts that have withstood the test of time. Archeological finds support the historical details of the Bible.… Read More
When I was a little girl, a look of disappointment or disapproval was the only thing my parents or teachers needed to do to change my attitude and behavior. Yep, I am a firstborn people-pleaser! Even as a teen and young adult, I carefully evaluated my words and actions and did what I could to avoid… Read More
On the list of things most of us wish Jesus hadn’t said … this would be at the top! But it’s right there in Matthew… “You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!” Matthew 5:43–44 Love your enemies! Really?!… Read More
I have always struggled with the idea of loving myself. As someone who was at church every time the doors were open … I was taught a lot about the importance of loving others but not so much about loving myself. But if you look around today … talk about “self-love” is everywhere. For example,… Read More
I want to stop and celebrate the blessing of friends today. Not our list of Facebook friends with whom we share the edited versions of our stories but the close group of people who know our real stories … those stories we keep hidden away from most of the world. I want to celebrate the… Read More
I found several definitions for gossip: Casual or unconstrained conversation or reports about other people, typically involving details that are not confirmed as being true. A rumor or report of an intimate nature. Conversations or reports about other people’s private lives that might be unkind, disapproving, or not true. And it’s everywhere, isn’t it? We… Read More
Terrorism, politics, illness, heartbreak, loss, and pandemics… Sometimes this broken world feels like it’s too much … too painful. Too hard. Then I stop and remember Solomon’s words: History merely repeats itself. It has all been done before. Nothing under the sun is truly new. Ecclesiastes 1:9 Nothing’s new. It’s all happened before. No, I’m… Read More
I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will never stop doing good for them. I will put a desire in their hearts to worship me, and they will never leave me. Jeremiah 32:40 It sounds perfect, doesn’t it? David Jeremiah wrote the following about worship… “Since the days of our first parents in… Read More
I wish I’d read this quote years ago… “Parents can only give good advice or put them on the right paths, but the final forming of a person’s character lies in their own hands.” Anne Frank She certainly shared a lot of wisdom for her young age … and for someone who never lived long… Read More
There’s a saying out there that the average person has about 50,000 thoughts per day. Some say that number is too high. But many neuroscientists who have investigated the issue believe that most people have about 35 thoughts per minute, or one thought every other second. So assuming you take time for sleep … most… Read More
Do you trust God’s goodness? We say God is good, but do we really believe it? I recently shared this on social media… After you have suffered a little while, [God] will restore, support, and strengthen you. 1 Peter 5:10 And an individual responded by saying … “a load of nonsense.” I don’t think you… Read More
How humble are you? It sounds like a trick question doesn’t it? The truth is … the measure of our humility will always be in direct proportion to what we believe to be the truths about God. Simply put – greater God equals lesser me and that translates into humility. So, to inspire myself toward… Read More
Do you ever feel frustrated with yourself when you read… Jesus said, “The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. And you must love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.” Mark 12:29–30 I don’t know about you, but… Read More