Why in the world do we talk about Lent anyway? Many churches have stopped making much of this season of preparation but I’ve always found it a blessing to slow down a little and prayerfully think about all Jesus has graciously done for me through His life, death, and resurrection. I see comments out there…
It’s true! It is absolutely impossible to experience God’s peace when I’m reliving yesterday or pre-living tomorrow. Peace simply cannot be applied to yesterday’s mess nor can it be pre-applied to tomorrow’s worries. Have you ever gotten to the end of the day and regret the amount of time you wasted on guilt, worry, and…
The cards, flowers, chocolate, and “I love yous” have all been shared. And yet, I wonder how many of us are left longing because someone left us wanting … failing to fill us up the way we expected, hoped or believed we needed. I keep thinking about Jenny Lind’s song in The Greatest Showman… All…
Love… It’s a fickle thing, isn’t it? We don’t want it to be. In fact, most people are desperately looking for a love that is guaranteed to last. Oh, we promise to love our spouse forever but nearly half of all marriages end in divorce. We hope our families will remain united and loving from…
So, how well are you resting? With all the discussion about the importance of self-care and taking time to rest… I wonder, how’s that going for you? I’m guessing that you, like many others, struggle to actually relax and rest occasionally … that’s why so many articles are being written and people are talking about…
How do you picture God? Who do you see when you pause to pray? A fireman who will put out the fires in your life?A genie or fairy godmother who will grant your every wish?A judge who will punish you when you fail?A hard to please parent who always expects more?An administrator who makes decisions…
Jesus promised that when He returned to heaven, God would send the Advocate, the Holy Spirit to guide His followers… But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—He will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you. John 14:26 I can’t imagine trying to figure out…
The first Bible verse most of us learn is… For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 God’s only Son, Jesus … His amazing and gracious gift of love. The Bible also says about Jesus: “There is…
I was about five years old when my parents convinced me to ride a Ferris Wheel. As the car inched upward … I stopped breathing as the grip of fear overwhelmed me! My dad frantically waved at the ride operator, screaming at him to stop the giant rotating hoop and let us off after only one…
I was afraid and I hated it! I knew I had a need to reject fear but felt helpless to change… We went years without traveling far because I was too afraid to get on an airplane. Praise God, I just returned from spending last weekend in Denver with beautiful friends. I failed to set…
As I worked on Monday’s post, Jesus’ Commandments and Why You Need to Know Them, I can honestly tell you I found myself squirming a little. Let me explain… I think it’s possible when you and I use the original Ten Commandments as our guide for right and wrong, to come to the conclusion that…
I believe we all know someone struggling to overcome addiction. According to the Addiction Center: Addiction is more common than many realize. There were approximately 20.6 million people in the United States over the age of 12 with an addiction in 2011. Over 20 million Americans over the age of 12 have an addiction (excluding…
Earlier this week, I shared a post about an email exchange I had with a reader who said… “I’ve had a problem all of my adult years. I’ve been unable to feel God’s love.” You can read the rest here. I could relate to her email … I’ve had times when God felt distant and…
Earlier this summer I received the following email from a reader… I’ve had a problem all of my adult years. I’ve been unable to feel God’s love. He is always very remote for me. I have almost constant feelings of guilt. I try to be a Christ-like person, but too often fall short in my…
I need God’s forgiveness! No matter how hard I try, I mess up the obedience and love part of my life every single day! I don’t obey God the way He wants me to. I don’t even obey Him the way I want to. I tell Him how much I love Him but with all my heart, soul,…
It’s hard to think about the reality of Jesus’ suffering and death on the cross. I’ll never forget the first time I watched The Passion of the Christ. I’d read Scripture and knew the story well but it was always easier to imagine the scene through cleaned up artwork and Sunday School drawings. I don’t…
I’ve wrestled with this post for a while. It’s so much easier to write those feel-good grace-filled posts that remind us of God’s abundant goodness and mercy. And we’ll get to that, too … because that’s where we must land after we’ve come face to face with who we are without Him. But after…
I’m guessing you’re like me and that you share my struggle. You have the voice in your head that remembers and repeats every hurt-filled accusation. And a mirror that faithfully points out every little imperfection. You know the whispers of lost friendships that want you to believe you’re just not worth it. And you count every…
If you’d known me growing up you would have seen a girl who could comfortably play the piano and organ in front of large groups of people, who could stand in front of groups and give presentations with little or no fear, and who thrived on memorizing lines and performing in plays and musicals. If…
I always find it amusing when I see the word “believe” everywhere at this time of the year. Just believe – all by itself. It begs for answers. Believe in what? Believe in whom? When you and I “believe in” someone or something – we have faith in it. And having faith means we have…
My email inbox overflows every day with advertisers trying to woo me with this years must have gift ideas. Kids of every age have made their list of wants and wishes they hope to find under the tree. I’ll admit I’m beginning to feel a sense of panic as I watch the days until Christmas…
