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 thought of Mother’s Day can produce a whole range of feelings. The emotions of Mother’s Day can be thrilling and heartbreaking! So, maybe like me – you’re already anticipating the annual all-over-the-place highs and lows. I’ve experienced motherhood as a biological mother, an adoptive mother, a foster mother, a mother-in-law, and a substitute…
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…
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could protect our children from difficult painful emotions? Fear Anger Grief Anxiety Frustration Heartbreak It would be wonderful if we didn’t have to deal with them ourselves. I imagine it was a very sad day for our Heavenly Father when Adam and Eve decided they wanted to know “good…
Christ came at just the right time. Not early. Not late. At just the right time. When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Romans 5:6 Are you waiting on God? Do you wonder if, with all that’s going on in the world, your circumstances are too…
He is risen! The other day I woke up with the following words running through my mind. “Why are you looking for the living among the dead?” Luke wrote this account of Resurrection Morning: On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came to the tomb, bringing the spices they had prepared. They found…
What is the truth of the cross? The world says: Man is inherently good.The cross says: Man is a sinner in need of saving. The world says: You can be good enough to save yourself. The cross says: Only Jesus saves. The cross says: God’s love is so perfect and complete that He gave His…
I often hear from readers who are walking through heartbreaking circumstances. They share that although they have prayed and prayed, God hasn’t moved and it seems as though He may allow the heart-wrenching circumstances they feared. You may have been there or maybe you’re there now. You can’t find a job and your savings is down…
Do you trust easily? For many, it all depends on the extent to which they’ve been disappointed and betrayed in the past. Trust is defined as confident reliance on the integrity, strength, ability, and promise of a person or thing. Trust relies on consistent reliability! Many of you shared Proverbs 3:5–6 as your favorite verses….
What is sin? Sin is defined as anything that is contrary to the law or will of God. It includes doing what is wrong and failing to do what is right. The Hebrew word for sin used in the Old Testament is בלי (hhattah). The Greek word used in the New Testament is ἁμαρτία (hamartia)….
Adam and Eve had never experienced fear prior to that first temptation and sin. Now, thousands of years later, we’re still struggling with those feelings more often than we’d like. Sometimes, since the arrival of the Covid virus, it feels like fear is the norm rather than the exception. But, if it’s a given ….
Years ago when our son was little, I’d take him to the mall to burn off the fidgets on days he couldn’t run around outside. I can still remember one particular visit like it happened yesterday… We were enjoying our time together when he looked up at me and said, “Wait right here Mommy, I’ll be right back.”…
