Entitlement is 1) the condition of having the right to have, do, or get something 2) the feeling or belief that you deserve to be given something. Entitlement is the Opposite of Gratitude. It is a greedy, self-serving “I deserve it” attitude about life. What do you and I deserve? I turned to the internet, where I…
I didn’t choose my life verse. It chose me. And then a few years later, it chose Rev too. Psalm 73:26 literally jumped off the page as I sat reading my Bible with a crumpled and defeated heart. Physically I was fine but emotionally I was wrecked. Then just a couple of years later, Rev’s…
I wasn’t feeling very thankful. In my defense, I was pregnant and raging hormones were affecting my thinking. It seems silly in retrospect, but there I stood in the closet grumbling to myself as I moved Rev’s suits and dress pants from wire hangers back to suit hangers. Kind of funny considering all the parenting…
Do you want to know something funny? If you wanted, you could almost make gratitude a priority for purely selfish reasons. Seriously, it’s that good for you! 10 Wonderful Reasons Gratitude is Good for You Gratitude will make you happier. You choose . . . appreciative or dissatisfied. I know which one can tank…
“Since the days of our first parents in the Garden of Eden, worship has walked a tightrope between lifestyle and liturgy. When God walked in the Garden with His first children in the cool of the day, Adam and Eve worshiped Him as we should—without interruption. The Creator and His creatures experienced a continual, ongoing…
I remember the pastor who said he hoped he was dead before the next new hymnal was introduced . . . all the complaining and arguing convinced him that he never wanted to do it again. I remember the woman who said she’d leave our church if I didn’t add more Christmas songs to the…
Are you a peacemaker or a peacekeeper? As I ask that question, I want to make the point that this isn’t about military or law enforcement peacekeepers . . . today we’re talking personal and relational! You see… I hate conflict and for much of my life, I was a peacekeeper. I did whatever it took…
If you and I want to experience peace, we must live one day at a time. Peace can’t be tacked on to an agitated yesterday or pre-applied to tomorrow’s unknown. Have you ever gotten to the end of the day and regretted wasting it on worry and anxiety? I know I have. No more. I’m…
This is for you, the one who’s exhausted. The one who feels like they’ve poured themselves into others until there’s just nothing left. You know “goodness does.” You want to pour out love and care for others but for today . . . you are goodnessed out! Your tank is empty and you’ve got nothin’ left….
I’m going to be perfectly honest with you, some days I just don’t want to do good. Seriously, don’t you have days when it’s all you can do to try to avoid the don’ts? Don’t covet. Don’t gossip. Don’t waste. Don’t judge. Don’t worry. So, those mornings when I get out of bed and there…
Am I the only one who writes a post and then decides it doesn’t work? I’ve been thinking about how God pours out His goodness. How you and I pour out our hurts, fear, and confusion to God and He pours patience, grace, mercy, kindness, and love into us. The wonderful part . . ….
A very wise friend once said, “If everyone is annoying you and getting on your last nerve . . . you have to stop and think about the common denominator. Maybe the problem is you.” How’s your attitude? When I’m cranky and irritable it’s easy to blame everyone and everything. To look around and grumble…
You might be a hypocrite if: you expect God to forgive you but can’t forgive others. you point out the sins of others while ignoring your own sins. you hate anyone. you don’t think you’re as bad as ______________. If the log in your eye never keeps you from seeing the speck in someone else’s eye. Or…
Are you blessed and happy? Do you want to be? If you’re like me, you’re thinking . . . doesn’t everybody? Looking around it’s easy to draw the conclusion that happiness is the result of our circumstances and desires aligning. But Jesus answer to finding happiness is very different. How to be Blessed and Happy Very…
This has been a hard month. I knew it would be. Humility was hard. But for me, patience has been harder. It seems like I’ve been challenged and come up short again and again. So, if you’re struggling with where you fall on the patience scale, you are not alone! Here’s a quick recap of…
Ooh, you’re angry. You want to let them have it . . . a full-blown verbal attack. Or even better, you could tell your friends. Really, people should know. It could protect them in the future. And it would feel so good. Because . . . well, this was just wrong and you’re furious! I understand. I’ve been…
I had two goals for this month-long look at humility. To have humility in my: Relationship with God To know God more . . . not about Him but Him. To sit at His feet with awe and wonder. To pay closer attention to what He is doing around me. To spend less time thinking…
They’re everywhere. You may even live with one or two or… The proud, entitled, gotta have it my way, overbearing, snooty, difficult to get along with… whatever you call them. It’s hard not to get caught up in their drama. It’s hard not to lose your temper. It’s hard not to let them rob your…
I’m not normally a stubborn person. Really. I’m not. But when the nurse stuck her head in pre-op and told me it was time to leave I didn’t budge. Thankfully, the lovely woman shaving Rev’s chest agreed—her affirmation helped me stay by his side a little longer. A little later the kids told me a…
You would think love would be an easy subject, wouldn’t you? We toss around the word all the time. I love this or that post. I love good coffee. I love Ted Drewes Custard (it’s a St. Louis thing). I love babies and puppies and quiet afternoons. And that’s just the top of the list…
How to love the unlovely. I planned this in my editorial schedule weeks ago. Back when it seemed far away and easy to write. But it’s not at all easy… This is a hard. I wonder if it’s hard for you too. Loving the unlovely. The less than lovable. Loving when everything in you and me…
