What does it take for you to live your self-worth? Every advertisement wants us to believe we’re not enough. You and I can’t look at our phones, open our laptops, or walk into any store without being bombarded with ads that tell us we need to purchase their products because without them we’re not ……
It seems a little silly to talk about here but Rev and I have an enemy that is conspiring against us. No matter how hard I try or what I do to deter them, we have some squirrels chewing branches off the shrubbery and attempting to build a cozy little den at the top of…
Have you ever wondered what it really means to trust Jesus? One of the first verses almost everyone learns is John 3:16 “For this is how God loved the world: He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.” So, let’s start by looking…
It’s the season of comparisons. Advertisers tempt us to compare every part of our celebrations so they can entice us to make purchases that will “make us feel better about ourselves.” Theodore Roosevelt once said… “Comparison is the thief of joy.” And I believe he was right. The enemy of our souls uses comparisons in…
Are you a purposeful planner? Do you set goals for the future and intentionally plan the steps necessary to accomplish them? Solomon wrote: Get all the advice and instruction you can, so you will be wise the rest of your life. You can make many plans, but the Lord’s purpose will prevail. Proverbs 19:20–21 Setting goals…
The Season of Advent also called the “Season of Waiting” begins this Sunday. Let’s face it! Most of us don’t like to wait. We live at a time when most things happen fast and when they don’t . . . well, we’re not happy. But the Season of Advent calls us to wait with expectation….
It seems like people are finding plenty of things to complain about lately. What do you think? How often do you catch yourself complaining? But wait, it’s supposed to be that time of year when we encourage each other to talk more about those things for which we are thankful. And… Aren’t we told that…
Are you hopeful? Martin Luther wrote, “Everything that is done in the world is done by hope.” If everything is “done by hope”, maybe we need to take a closer look at what that means. Hope is defined as… Believing that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best….
You’ve decided you want to live with Godly wisdom but… Have you ever taken advice from someone and later realized you’d made a huge mistake? Yea, me too. You went shopping with a friend and overspent your budget so you could get matching bags. You listened to and based your opinion on a friend’s gossip only…
Every day we are faced with difficult decisions . . . some because of problems and some opportunities. Where should we live? How can we best help our child? What is the best path forward with this health problem? What career/job is the best choice for me? Where should I go to school? Where? What?…
How much time do you spend thinking about what-if questions? You know… What if I had done this? What if I hadn’t done that? What if I’d reacted sooner? What if I hadn’t posted this or reacted to that? It’s called “second guessing” and it’s defined as . . . criticizing or questioning someone or…
Both David and his son, Solomon wrote: Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true wisdom. Psalm 111:10 and Proverbs 9:10 Solomon also wrote that the “fear of the Lord” led to: True Knowledge (Proverbs 1:7) Understanding (Proverbs 2) Life (Proverbs 19:23) And Luke wrote in the Book of Acts: The church had peace . . . and it became stronger as…
Is your soul satisfied? Let me ask another way, “Is it well with your soul?” If we want to know if our souls are satisfied, we should probably begin by identifying what a soul is. Simply stated, the soul is—a person’s mind, will, and emotions. John Ortberg put it this way… “Your soul is what…
The Bible is full of wonderful truths about God! But before we take a look at some of them . . . how do you define the word – wonderful? I like this basic definition – something or someone that awakens feelings of wonder. But I think my favorite is – someone or something that…
Are you happy? Do you want to be? If so, what are you doing about it? There are plenty of people who say that personal happiness is the goal and purpose of life. Although, I believe the “purpose of life” is God-given and found in Knowing, Loving, and Trusting Him. I do believe that God…
When someone’s choices, actions, or behaviors cause circumstances that painfully change your life . . . it can seem like you’ll never feel okay again. I get it. I’ve been there . . . curled up on the bed for days wondering how I’d ever be able to breathe again. At that moment, the idea…
[Jesus said], “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn others, or it will all come back against you. Forgive others, and you will be forgiven.“ Luke 6:37 We know Jesus told His followers to forgive each other. But I think most of us have experienced a time when it…
Father God,I’m not strong enough.I can’t. I’m afraid. What’s the thing you fear most? That thing that makes your palms sweat and your heart race? The thing you beg God not to allow—telling Him you can’t, you’re afraid . . . you’re not strong enough. But when you finally get the courage to talk to a friend…
What if God asked you for permission before He allowed your life to get painful and messy? I imagine like me, you would quickly reply, “I don’t want to!“ “I don’t want to . . . endure, suffer, grieve, lose, forfeit, repent, surrender, forgive, etc. It’s too hard. It’s too painful. I’m not strong enough . . ….
I frequently hear from people who are struggling with feelings of doubt… They doubt God’s goodness. They question God’s forgiveness. They’re afraid or worried about the future. They’re disappointed, hurt, or just beaten down by life. They don’t feel His presence and wonder about His love. The enemy of our souls works overtime to keep us…
Do you ever feel like everywhere you look, the world is in crisis? You will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won’t follow immediately. Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in many…
