What do you do when you need hope to weather one of life’s storms? Before we know what to do, we need to know what hope isn’t and what it is… Hope is not optimism. It is not a Pollyanna denial of life’s challenges. And it does not require a Susie Sunshine attitude 100% of…
You know you should pray for your family, but… how often do you actually do it? I’m not talking about your spouse and children. I mean your parents, grandparents, in-laws, siblings, nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and cousins. It’s a long list, isn’t it? Did you know people have severed ties with family members over religious…
We’ve had lots of storms in our area this year. My phone seems to buzz at least once a week to alert me of a potentially dangerous storm approaching our community. As I thought about this post, I wondered how it would feel to have a warning system that alerted us to incoming life storms….
I’ve been thinking about “open door surrender.” It all began with a dream. You see, I don’t typically remember my dreams. Occasionally, I can recall bits and pieces, but most of the time I can’t put enough of those glimpses together to learn from them. It’s one reason why I’ve been surprised whenever the Lord…
We all want real peace. Peace we can count on. Peace that’s true, deep, and lasting. But I’ve been learning that the only way to experience real peace is to live fully right now. You and I can’t enjoy inner peace when our thoughts are filled with regret, resentment, and worry. If we’re carrying yesterday’s…
It feels like being critical has become a popular pastime, especially on social media… people seem to love ridiculing the flaws they see in others. Criticism comes in many forms; today we’re going to focus on two: Random criticism that doesn’t care about an individual’s feelings is always destructive. It is intended to make the…
Are you a peacekeeper or a peacemaker? I’m not talking about military or law enforcement peacekeepers. I’m talking about our personal relationships. I’m asking as someone who hates conflict, so for much of my life, I was a peacekeeper. I did whatever I could to avoid controversy and contention. Although it took longer than it…
They told us “never forget”… I’ve always remembered dates. Most of them are good: anniversaries of special events, new beginnings, celebrations, and moments of Joy. Some are not so good, and others are downright terrible. Days we’d like to forget, but sadly, are imprinted on our lives through powerful mental images. Like a scrapbook of…
People everywhere are looking for ways to experience more peace in their lives. But there’s a battle going on inside each of us; a battle for our peace of mind. Sure, the enemy incessantly works to keep people from knowing and loving Jesus and rob them of their eternal futures, but if he can’t succeed…
It’s a hard truth to accept, but I believed the enemy’s lie. Like Eve, I failed to walk away. I stood at the tree and listened as he hissed… “God’s holding out on you.” For God knows that on the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will become like…
When life feels overwhelming, do you wonder if God knows the details of your struggle? A couple of sparrows built a nest on my daughter’s front porch last year. Although they were rather messy little things, it was fun watching momma sit on her eggs, faithfully feed her little ones, and eventually see them fly…
Wouldn’t you love to have a great day, every day? Me too. But if you’re like me, you’re inconsistent about doing the things that help to make today great. Too often, I wake up focused on the list of things I don’t want to do. Then I do a little mental complaining about my stiff…
Are you a hypocrite? You might be a hypocrite if: ♥ If you’re human! The truth is, everyone occasionally gives in to hypocritical thinking. Jesus said… “Do not judge, so that you will not be judged. For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. Why…
In this sinful and broken world, God pours out His goodness. He invites us to bring our pain, fear, failures, and confusion to Him, and by His grace through Jesus and the power of the Spirit, He pours patience, mercy, kindness, and love into us. Then He uses us to pour His goodness into the…
It’s not easy to understand or explain how grieving hearts truly feel. It’s been two-and-a-half years since Rev went home to the Lord. My daughter and I were talking recently about dealing with the fact that some days it feels like it’s been five minutes, and others like it’s been five or more years. The…
They’re everywhere. You may even live with one or… Prideful Entitled People! The overbearing, snooty, difficult to get along with, have to have it their way individuals. Whatever you call them, it’s hard to avoid getting caught up in their drama. They seem to have the ability to suck the joy out of every event…
Do you ever have days when you feel unlovable? Days when you can’t stop thinking about your weaknesses, flaws, and failures. Days when your self-awareness turns into self-focus, and the things bothering you are louder than those blessing you. Me too. More often than I’d like. The times we feel unlovable may be one of…
Have you ever stopped to consider that God’s command to “be still” is important for both our faith and health? It’s interesting how the health and medical experts have started stressing the importance of finding time for rest and stillness in our lives. We shouldn’t be surprised. God told us to take a Sabbath Day…
Do you find it hard to resist the enemy? Have you ever noticed how he seems to attack the areas where God is working and helping you grow? I recently reread The Jesus Creed, by Scot McKnight. His challenge to begin and end each day with the Shema, the sacred prayer and ultimate declaration of…
Do you struggle to make the most of today because thoughts about tomorrow keep getting in the way? When our daughter was a little girl, she struggled to understand the concept of time and the difference between today and tomorrow. For example, if we told her… “We’re going to __________ tomorrow.” Like most littles, she’d…
What do you do when you’re frustrated and need more patience? I’ve found a challenge that I believe will help us all. Norman Vincent Peale wrote… “Change your thoughts, and you change your world.” I’m not sure I completely agree with him, but I do believe that changing our thoughts can adjust our attitudes, and…
