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…
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…
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…
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 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…
As you might imagine, I spend a lot of time thinking about words. And I’ve been thinking about the importance of having strong and healthy conversations if we want to have strong and healthy relationships. The words we choose can too often erode the edges of our friendships and families … until there’s little to nothing…
On a scale of 1 to 10 – If 1 is proud (completely self-focused) and 10 is humble (completely God and others focused), where would you fall? Proud 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10…
Jesus told His followers to shine the light within them… “You are the light of the world.” “If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, the whole body will be full of light, as when the bright shining of a lamp gives you light.” Matthew 5:14a and Luke 11:36 (NKJV) I’ll be honest, I don’t always…
Do you find it awkward or easy to share your faith? Do you know someone who expresses their “Christianity” through judgments, accusations, rules, and arguments? Christians who consistently “look like they were baptized in pickle juice” rarely make the people around them want to join the family of faith. But, on the other hand, do you know someone, or…
I love this quote about being a true friend… “A true friend knows your weaknesses but shows you your strengths; feels your fears but fortifies your faith; sees your anxieties but frees your spirit; recognizes your disabilities but emphasizes your possibilities.” ~William Arthur Ward We all need good friends … people who believe in us,…
Are you patient? What do you do when you need to be patient? How about in traffic? With your kids? When you’re waiting in line or for an appointment? If you’re like me, it depends on the circumstances or your mood. I know if I’m tired or not feeling well, running late, or it’s the fifteenth…
We live together, work together, study together, play together, and worship together. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could all get along easily? If people were always pleasant, helpful, and encouraging, appreciative, forgiving, and fun. Sounds like heaven! However, relationships are complicated, and even the people we love the most can drive us crazy at…
We want our relationships to be blessed, but too often we wonder… what in the world we could have been thinking. The relationship ended, and we wonder how we could have been so foolish. The signs were there all along. How did we miss them? You and I were created to be close to God and…
Yesterday, Rev and I would have celebrated our 54th wedding anniversary. Over the decades we spent together, we learned that… Having a love story that lasts takes intentional effort; it doesn’t happen by accident. Years ago, I asked him to help me compile a list of things that we believed would bless every marriage, and…
Are you an encourager or someone quick to express criticism? Rev was one of the best encouragers I’ve ever known. He loved to build people up with verbal pats on the back, always generous with words of appreciation and praise. I recently shared Rev’s message about the mentor who had a profound impact on his…
Do you remember when your parents taught you the importance of having good manners? Lately, I’ve been wondering if we’ve lost some of our courteous social behaviors over the years. I learned years ago that… “Good Manners” show respect, care, and consideration. Being kind and courteous helps the recipient feel respected and appreciated, and the…
Are you generous with the blessing of simple encouragement? Paul closed his second letter to the people in Corinth with these words: Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you. 2 Corinthians 13:11 Today, I want to share one of Rev’s…
Do you know why you celebrate Christmas the way you do? With full calendars and long to-do lists, we can start to panic as we wonder how in the world we’ll get everything done. Let’s pause for a moment and ask an important question… Why do I celebrate Christmas? I did a quick Google search about…
Based on conversations with some of her friends, my daughter asked me to feature this post of tips for parents of adult children. As we approach the time of year when families will gather to celebrate the holidays, we thought this might be the perfect time. The Most Important Ways toLove Your Adult Children I’m…
I don’t know what it’s like at your house, but it doesn’t seem like it’s getting easier for families to slow down and connect over meaningful conversations. It can be difficult to find time for conversations that encourage our families and make our relationships closer. Even for those who try to organize their schedules to…
