I used to wake our children up by singing – “Rise and shine and give God the glory! Children of the Lord!” They loved it when they were little . . . not so much when they were teens. This morning I awakened with the words of Isaiah 60:1 running through my mind… Arise, shine,…
On a scale of 1 to 10 – if 1 = perfect peace and 10 = all-consuming anxiety… How are you doing? I want to be around 1 or 2 but if I’m being honest . . . I often run somewhere above 5. We live in a hurry—late for everything, behind on payments, racing…
Everyone loves a compliment or a good pat on the back but what if that compliment is just flattery? Flattery is defined as: Excessive or insincere praise. You know I had to turn to God’s Word to learn what He has to say about it. And I found that Jesus’ half-brother Jude wrote: These people…
If asked, could you define your core values? Okay, maybe we should start by explaining what the phrase”core values” means. Core values are the fundamental beliefs that help people and organizations make decisions and focus on goals. Knowing our core values can help us make choices, manage our time more effectively, and balance our careers,…
Have you ever asked God to give you stronger faith . . . deeper roots? It’s kind of like asking God for patience. As a young mom, I used to ask God to give me more patience until I realized that He didn’t miraculously instill patience in us . . . He allows opportunities for…
Do you know people who have tunnel vision . . . focused on a single objective or point of view? Do you have tunnel vision? I asked myself a few questions lately wondering if I ever refuse to look at the perspective God wants for me because of my stubborn narrow focus. * How often…
What thoughts float through your mind whenever the subject of the Commandments comes up? Are you guilty? Uncomfortable? Disinterested? Proud? Do you believe there are a couple that are antiquated and just don’t apply anymore? Do you ever mentally run through the list and think, “Hmm, I’m doing a pretty good job?” Whatever your reaction…
As my fingers start to move across the keyboard, my eyes fill with tears but there’s a smile on my face. That’s what happens when I think about my mom. It’s been 14 years since I’ve been able to celebrate Mother’s Day with her, and I still miss her like crazy. My mom, like so many, was…
Just the mention of Mother’s Day can produce a whole range of emotions in us. Maybe like me – you’re already anticipating that all over the place wave of feelings. I’ve experienced motherhood as a biological mother, an adoptive mother, a foster mother, a mother-in-law, and a substitute mother. I’ve had a mother, a…
There’s a Twitter user who seems to take pleasure in challenging followers of Jesus and the Bible. This individual often replies to faith posts with comments like… “Faith is believing something without sufficient evidence. Faith is pretending to know things you don’t know.” Is that right? Is faith belief without evidence? This is how the…
Do you ever feel insignificant? Do you feel like you’re trying hard to do your best yet you’re just not measuring up? Welcome to the club! The enemy of our souls wants us to believe that without popularity, possessions, prestige, and power . . . we are insignificant. But how did Jesus describe the enemy?…
One thing is certain in life . . . things change. Some love it and others find it terrifying. I think most of us get excited about positive changes but just the thought of unpleasant changes can make us anxious. If the season is difficult, hearing the words “this too shall pass” may be encouraging…
