Sin hurts! Our lives are hurt by our sins, the sins of others, and the general effects that sin has had on our world since that first sin in the Garden. Sin is a problem that requires help and change which the Bible tells us are found in the love and forgiveness that is given…
When was the last time you thought about your need for discernment? Well, maybe we should begin by asking… What exactly is discernment? Got Questions defines it like this… “Discernment is “the quality of being able to grasp and comprehend what is obscure; an act of perceiving something; a power to see what is not…
Pay attention! I can remember saying those words to my students and my children. Distractions and daydreams were frequent attention thieves that often required a reminder to focus on the things that had lasting value and needed to be remembered. Solomon wrote… My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to my words.Don’t lose…
Could you use some practical suggestions for wise and effective living? Me too! There are so many voices insisting that their way is best, that knowing how to live wisely and effectively can be both difficult and confusing. There are cultural voices, generational voices, religious voices, government voices, and probably a few more I haven’t…
Where do you turn when you need encouragement? I think we all need an extra dose of optimism and encouragement toward the end of January. We’ve had a month of winter and those cold gray skies are getting old. The hope of Spring still seems further away than we want making it easy to feel…
What does it mean to “guard your heart”? Got Questions defines heart guarding like this… “Guarding our hearts is about protecting ourselves from external and internal factors. We must be mindful of the things we think about, the things we set our affection on, and the things we give our attention to.“ Why? Because what…
Several years ago, I had a dream that I will never forget … a reminder to let God direct my life. I was in school. (Please tell me I’m not the only one who returns to school in her dreams.) I was getting ready to perform in a musical. But nothing was going right. I couldn’t…
As I’ve been thinking about God’s discipline this week, I’ve wondered … how can we know if our difficult circumstances are the result of God’s discipline or something else? And then a reader commented that she was wondering, too. How do we know if our circumstances are God’s discipline? What do we do when we…
We want to believe that discipline will help by bringing about the change and improvement we want in our children. But… It can be so very frustrating when we need to discipline them repeatedly for the same bad behavior. Right?! And truthfully, it’s hard not to wonder at times if God gets frustrated with me…
I’m having a hard time writing this. I scheduled it on my editorial calendar, but when it came time to start writing, I almost changed my mind. No one likes to think about God’s discipline and we like talking about it even less. The writer of the letter to the Hebrews shared the following truth……
Do you ever feel like screaming … I just want the truth? Please just tell me the truth! I think that’s why I love God’s Word so very much. I believe that the Bible is absolute truth. It is where I have learned God’s unchanging and everlasting promises. David wrote… “God’s way is perfect. All the Lord’s…
What are the important things you need most in life? What if I told you the four things the Bible says you and I need most aren’t “things” at all? Solomon wrote… Get the truth and never sell it;also get wisdom, discipline, and good judgment. Proverbs 23:23 More than anything we need… Last time, we…
How badly do you want to know the truth? There’s a general belief that everyone lies. Some lie to avoid confrontation. Some lie to be kind. Some lie to get away with unacceptable behavior. And some lie because they are liars and it’s what they do. And sadly, the truth seems to be determined by…
I believe what we need most is Godly wisdom coming from God’s Spirit guiding and directing our lives. The truth is when I looked it up, many of the definitions for “spiritual wisdom” were not God-given but originated with a secular view encouraging people to follow their hearts and trust their instincts. But God created…
What is the truth about trusting God? Solomon wrote… Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take. Proverbs 3:5–6 We use the word trust in our closest relationships but I wonder, what is the truth about trusting?…
Happy New Year! It’s time to celebrate New Beginnings with New Hope! Each new year with the hope of new opportunities and fresh starts.But for those who love the Lord, every day is a new beginning…A forgiveness covered, begin again, 24 hours to approach with anticipation and hope. Here are some quotes that are encouraging me…
As we close out the year, I want to take this opportunity to say THANK YOU! You bless me every single day! You inspire me with your faith and encourage me with your words of encouragement. I thank the Lord for each of you! As we look forward to and prepare our hearts for the…
It’s hard to believe we’re only a few days away from the end of the year. I don’t know about you, but I feel like 2023 has flown by; it seems like just a moment ago that I invited you to join me in studying the Book of Psalms and experience a “powerful life-changing friendship…
Merry Christmas! Jesus the Savior is Born! For a child is born to us,a Son is given to us.The government will rest on His shoulders.And He will be called:Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.His government and its peacewill never end.He will rule with fairness and justice from the throneof His ancestor David for all…
Praise the Lord! The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display His craftsmanship.Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make Him known.They speak without a sound or word; their voice is never heard.Yet their message has gone throughout the earth, and their words to all the world. Psalm 19:1–4 All creation was made…
As Christmas approaches, now is the perfect time to praise God for victory and the amazing gift we have been given in Jesus. As I read the first verse of Psalm 149, I couldn’t help but think that New Testament believers have a new song to sing because of the New Covenant we have received…
