Do you ever question God’s love? Have you ever doubted His plans and purposes? I’ve been reading Joseph’s story in the Book of Genesis this week. His father favored him, and His brothers sold him into slavery. A bitter woman lied about him, and he was thrown into prison. Joseph was 17 when his brothers…
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…
I don’t know when it began in my family. I’ve learned it’s more commonly used in the U.K. Family memories credit my aunt, but wherever and whenever it began, my family often said, “honor bright” to affirm their word as truth. We used it as a question and a statement. Honor Bright If you questioned…
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…
Jesus is the reason lives can be filled with faith, hope, and love. He is the reason for our Christmas Prayer. God graciously gave us the greatest gift ever given in the person of a tiny babe born in Bethlehem. Through Him, He gave the gifts of mercy and grace, forgiveness and compassion, sacrifice and…
Can you say, “Jesus is enough?” I read this devotion by Louie Giglio several years ago, and it still speaks to my heart. He wrote… Jesus doesn’t just give you what you need; Jesus is what you need. Your heart was created by Him, for Him. You can fight and claw to gain the world,…
We’re less than a week from the official start of winter. Those of us in the Northern Hemisphere are turning our lights on at 4 or 4:30 PM, instead of at 8:30 or 9 PM. I asked the internet how the lack of light affects us, and found… Lack of light can disrupt our circadian…
It can be hard to accurately express our feelings in words, especially when we’re struggling. It’s the time of year when we hear the words ‘hope’ and ‘joy’ more often. Although we want to enjoy both, many of us face the holidays thinking about loved ones we miss every day—people who are absent due to…
Does the idea of living with perfect peace consistently feel like it’s just beyond your reach? On our own, it is! But with God’s help, it’s not only possible—it’s promised. Isaiah wrote… You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in You, all whose thoughts are fixed on You! Isaiah 26:3 We’re not promised a perfectly…
It’s the perfect time of the year to SEEK the Lord intentionally, to take Jesus’ words to heart and apply them to our lives… Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you. Matthew 6:33 (CSB) Every faith journey begins with a heart that responds to…
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…
Let’s talk about what you and I need to ooze joy… Think about the person with whom you’d most like to spend an afternoon. I’m not sure, but I’m guessing you didn’t choose the grumpiest person you know. Who wants to spend time with a person who is cranky and miserable? I’m not talking about a…
When is the last time you paused to “be still?” The definitions of being “still” are: Based on those definitions, I’m not great! At this time of the year, being “still” can feel impossible. But what if this is the very season when we need it most? God prompted David to write… “Be still, and…
It’s time to celebrate Thanksgiving. I love joining my family for a day of gratitude, food, football, and sharing our thankful hearts around the dinner table. But I don’t want a heart full of appreciation limited to Thanksgiving. I want to be faithful and thankful every day. What if we could make our expressions of…
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 paused today to write Thanksgiving prayers, because… I’m getting ready to spend a busy weekend prepping the kitchen for Thanksgiving and decorating for Christmas. I know I may be breaking an unwritten code by putting up my Christmas tree before Thanksgiving, but the gratitude holiday is so late this year, I can’t wait any…
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…
How well do you KNOW Jesus? Some individuals seem to have a distorted view of Him. People who mold Him into who they want Him to be, not who He really is. What does it mean when someone says they are thankful for Jesus? As I read comments and articles, I realize there are some…
Are you grateful and kind when you talk to yourself, or are you your own worst critic? I’ll admit that I’m prone to severe self-criticism. I want to enjoy the blessing of a positive attitude, but it’s hard to remain positive when we focus on our flaws and failures. Did you know that there are…
How proficient are you at staying focused and living one day at a time? I have to admit it depends on the day. It’s a goal I’m working towards. Yes, I’ve read Jesus’ words thousands of times… “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.”…
