Don’t you wish liars’ noses grew and their pants did catch on fire? It would be much easier to confidently know the truth if we could quickly identify and reject lies and deception. I’ve shared before how much I hate lying. It seems like our culture assumes it’s just part of life but look at…
There’s a strong storm going through our area as I type these words and I’m hoping we don’t lose power. Storms without or storms within … life’s storms leave us insecure and unsettled. When the sky darkens and sirens start blaring we want to feel safe and strong enough to make it through. David wrote……
What would you say if someone asked you about the meaning of worship? Many think of worship as the time spent in church lifting praises and listening to the Word. Wikipedia says… Worship is showing regard with great respect, honor, or devotion. This may be encountered in religious settings. John Piper said… “All true worship is…
Maybe, like me, you’ve had something you’ve been praying about for years but as time goes on … hope fades. You need hope now but wonder if you should just let it go or continue to pray persistently. Your loved one is still ill. Your pain is overwhelming. Your relationship is still broken. Your finances…
Is there anyone who doesn’t need a blessing? What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think about needing a blessing? The words “bless, blessed, or blessing” can be found in the New Living Translation of the Bible 427 times. The first is in the first chapter of Genesis, and the last is…
Everyone faces disappointment. Circumstances may be disappointing. People may disappoint us. And more often than we care to think about … we disappoint ourselves. What are we supposed to do when we’re disappointed? We all know how it feels but how do we describe what it is? The dictionary defines disappointment this way: Children know…
Do you have times when your need is so great or you’re so emotionally invested that you don’t know what to pray? Times when it’s hard to put your need into words or you’re not even sure if what you think you need is … what you need? I can remember one time in particular…
For many, Mother’s Day is a day to celebrate but for others … not so much. Simply put – we all have to manage the blessings and challenges of Mother’s Day. So, we’ll look at both… Let’s start with some positive words of truth to encourage us on the motherhood journey… A Poem for Mother’s…
This is unconditional help for the one who… This is unconditional help for the one who… This is unconditional help for the… This is… Verses and prayers of God’s overwhelming love and unconditional help. 5 Verses to Pray…God’s Overwhelming Love and Unconditional Help John Bunyan wrote… “No child of God sins to that degree as…
If you look at my hands closely you’ll see scratches, puppy nips, a few age spots, and a few scars. Those are visible reminders of past events. What you won’t see are the scars on my heart from loss, lies, accusations, betrayal, and rejection. Those are the emotional scars I tend to keep to myself. Why?…
Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! Philippians 4:4 So, how’s that going for you? Do you find your joy in Jesus? If Jesus was all you had would you still be joyful? Did you know Paul wrote his letter to the Philippians from a Roman prison? Is it possible…
On a scale of 1-10, how good are you at living in the moment? How often do you replay or fret about the past? How much time do you spend worrying about the future? There’s a phrase that Rev and I repeated often… “I don’t want to lose today because I’m clinging to yesterday or…
I don’t know about you, but I can be my own worst enemy. Why is it so much easier to think about wh0 I’m not rather than remembering God’s unchanging truth about who I am? You’d think that after years of living with this bad habit, I’d learn to consistently take my negative thoughts captive…
What is grace and what does it mean to embrace grace? Max Lucado wrote… God answers the mess of life with one word, “Grace.” I’ve often heard it said that grace is God’s “undeserved favor.” I typically share the following definitions for grace and mercy… And one more says… For Christians, grace is the free…
What does it mean to have faith? Do you define your faith by the church you attend? Is it based on your feelings or outlook on life? Does it change based on the latest popular opinion or philosophy? What do you do when you want to grow in faith? A verse in Hebrews defines faith…
Do you like the “sound of silence”? Do you thrive in stillness? Years ago, I could easily spend time with the only sound being the thoughts rattling around in my head. But in recent years, it seems like I’m restless when it’s completely quiet. I used to need total darkness and quiet to sleep but…
I don’t know about you, but this is the time of year when I really need a bit of encouragement. The fun of the holidays is long past, the anticipation of the new year has fallen into a winter routine, the resolutions I believed would be good habits are sporadic at best, and well, it’s…
I used to think that God’s love for me was determined by my behavior. That a better attitude and actions would result in God’s greater love and a better life. Now, while it’s true that living in obedience may prevent some of life’s immediate negative consequences . . . it’s not true that God’s love…
I recently reread Priscilla Shirer’s book – Fervent. This time I added a journal . . . taking notes and writing prayers. I have felt the need to go to battle in my war room more often lately because everywhere I look it seems like the enemy is ramping up his attacks on the people…
Who is the God-Man – Jesus? In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through Him, and nothing was created except through Him. John 1:1–3 Jesus is the Word made flesh . . . God-Man. 100%…
Have you ever doubted God’s love or His willingness to care for you? Maybe you had a heart’s desire prayer that He didn’t answer as you’d hoped. Maybe one of His followers broke your heart or betrayed you and you blamed God. Maybe life’s circumstances have you in a pit of despair and you feel…
