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 live life to the fullest? Have you ever thought about it? I have. Why, you might ask? Because there were times when Rev and I were thought to have been missing out on full life living. I’ll bet you’d love to know why. We thought it might be because we were content just…
How do you know when to confront someone who hurt you? You can’t believe… You’re upset. And yes, you’re angry too. So, now what? Should you confront them or not? Jesus said… “If your fellow believer sins against you, go and tell him in private what he did wrong. If he listens to you, you…
Occasionally, the Lord has used a dream to plant His voice of truth in my heart. I want to tell you about a dream where He reminded me of my need to trust and follow His will. Like many others, this dream took me back to high school… I was getting ready to perform in…
When we talk about God’s heart, we typically talk about His grace, mercy, and perfect love. We don’t like to consider the things that break His heart. When I traveled to Bolivia with a group blogging for World Vision, I learned the following quote… “Let my heart be broken for the things that break the…
The dictionary defines wisdom as having insight, knowledge, and good judgment. Author Patience Johnson wrote: “Wisdom is knowing the right thing to do and doing it at the right time to get the desired result. It is also the correct application of knowledge.” But what is Godly wisdom? The Bible says… The fear of the Lord is…
Some days I get up thinking about the big picture of life wondering what God wants me to do with however many years I have left. But most of the time, I want to just get through today. We all know the verse. Maybe you even know the song. This is the day the Lord has made. We will…
What is sin? We typically think of sin as not obeying God’s Commandments, but James added… Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it. James 4:17 It’s challenging when culture’s view of what we ought to do differs from what God’s Word tells us to do. I…
When the sun is shining and life is perfect we’re less likely to believe we need God’s help. When our days are comfortable and happy, it’s easy to feel self-sufficient and confident. If you’re like me, you may even have a short list of things you’re convinced you can handle independently. Minor things God has…
Have you seen the videos of people rewarding people for showing kindness to a stranger? I had a surprise moment several years ago. I stopped by a local store to buy a screen saver for my iPad. I don’t remember doing or saying anything special, although I typically try to remember to smile and say…
I don’t know about you, but it’s hard for me to imagine a time when I would need to be bold that I could also experience peace. I think of being bold, strong, and courageous in times of crisis and the words peace and crisis do not typically go together in my world. Peace is…
Are you tired? Do you feel like giving up? I’m here to tell you … don’t! Don’t give up! It’s easy for us to look around and wonder what in the world is going on. Inflation. Wars and rumors of war. Crime. Relationship failures. Illness. Debt. Loss. Failure. Weakness. Sin. And on and on and…
I can’t tell you how many times in the past few months I’ve cried out to the Lord praying, “I can’t do this. I need You.” Life is hard sometimes, isn’t it? I hate the storms of life! I want clear skies and still water but like the disciples in the boat when the storm…
What do you do when life is painful? If you’re like me, you’re tempted to pull the covers over your head and hide. Wouldn’t we all prefer a life of comfort, peace, and contentment? The world wants us to believe peace and contentment are found in financial security, a successful career, and perfect relationships. The…
When life is hard and it feels like our prayers are bouncing off the ceiling the enemy of our souls plants his favorite seed of doubt… “Did God really say?” (Genesis 3:1) And behind those words are the subtle doubt enticing questions… Jeremiah wrote these words after the Babylonians attacked, tortured, killed, and captured God’s…
What’s your purpose? It took me a long time to understand that I have just one primary purpose. Especially when I consider the definition of the word purpose… The reason something was made or created. The reason it exists. I used to believe that my purpose was to be a wife, a mom, a teacher, and…
You’ve heard the saying, “Pride comes before the fall.” And that’s what I thought it was … a saying our mothers told us to try to keep us humble. But as Rev would say, “That’s downright Biblical.” Solomon wrote… Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall. Proverbs 16:18 What exactly is pride? What…
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…
How would you define faith? What would you say if someone asked you to define your faith in God? How do you explain what it means when you say you believe? Several years ago, God gave me the word SEEK as my word for the year; by the end of that year, I had determined…
As I sit quietly in my favorite chair, my Bible is on my lap and my journal is beside me. And in the stillness, I ask the Lord to speak to me … I want to listen to the Spirit and hear His voice. I thank Him for His promises and loving words of encouragement…
The message of the world is—do what makes you happy. The following quote sums it up well… “Happiness isn’t an accident. It’s a decision to prioritize yourself and enjoy your life.” – Unknown Is it? If that’s the case, why are so many people miserable at the moment? Maybe that’s the reason why God’s Word prioritizes…
