You’ve probably seen the quote before. “Be kind. Everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.” ~Ian MacLaren Everyone carries the burden of emotional baggage. Baggage that can so easily turn into fear, anxiety, frustration, anger, or overwhelming sadness. Everyone gets out of bed each morning with a need for enough strength and courage to…
I began my cycle of fear and worry as a very young child and I worked hard to perfect my skills for way too many years. Rather than bore you with the ugly details, I hope to bless you with a truth I wish I’d learned and applied years ago. You see, I had a terrible…
Have you ever had a time when you were so overwhelmed by life’s circumstances that although you wanted to pray . . . you just couldn’t find the words. All you could think about was that you wanted and needed to talk with God about what was going on but your emotions were so powerful…
It seems that so many of the people I talk with lately are overwhelmed with feelings of frustration and discouragement. They feel like they’ve been praying for months or longer and their waiting never seems to end. And that’s just addressing the current year’s problems. Many of us have things we’ve prayed about for years…
I spent several days recently studying the book of Job. I have to admit that I can’t get my brain around his story. Many can relate to having some kind of loss and heartbreak but losing everything … family, possessions and financial security, and health all in a few short days. Just thinking about it…
It’s hard to believe we’re about to start the last quarter of the year. And it’s been a crazy one for many of us. I never have been very good at setting goals and consistently planning my days to work toward those goals. I can have good intentions but I fall short when it comes…
It’s so easy to get caught up in the dailiness of life. I get busy just doing and living and somehow forget to fill moments with thankfulness and praise. Oh, I can be convincing when I talk about it in this space but the doing it, the consistently offering an attitude of thankfulness and praise…
Worry, anxiety, envy, anger, frustration, discouragement, self-pity, etc. It’s everywhere! And it’s hurting our mental health and our relationships. At the moment it seems worse than ever. The news is depressing and everywhere you look people are frustrated and discouraged. But the truth is, it’s always been this way. Negativity is just part of life….
When our daughter was a toddler she found the difference between today and tomorrow very confusing. We’ would say, “We are going to to do (something fun) tomorrow.” And she would always respond with delight and great enthusiasm. But the next morning when she got up she would ask, “Is it tomorrow?” Of course, we…
What do you do when you feel like God is the One who is allowing your pain and suffering? You’ve prayed to get well, to be free of pain, for a healed relationship . . . for the desire of your heart. The Bible says, “Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you your heart’s desires.” Psalm 37:4…
Stop with me for a moment and think about the following two quotes: You’re a soul made by God, made for God, and made to need God—you were not made to be self-sufficient. ~Dallas Willard “[Jesus] is a portion that exactly and directly suits the condition of the soul. The desires of the soul, and the…
It’s been a weird season for friendships, hasn’t it? We’ve spent much less time with each other in person and our online relationships seem to be burdened by the overshadowing of divisive views and opinions being tossed in the air like confetti. It’s funny! Some friendships seem effortless and last a lifetime and others crash…
What do you think of when you hear the words “praise and worship”? Is it something you do on the weekend or the music you sing along to at home or in the car. What if it’s more basic than that? What if praise is simply the expression of worship and worship is… Well, let’s…
One of the hardest sentences in my life has been… “Lord, not my will but Yours be done.” I’ve had more than a few times when I’ve gone into and through things kicking and screaming that seemed to be God’s will, or at the least, they were things He allowed! Honestly, the idea of completely…
I don’t know about you, but I’m over this! I’m tired of social distancing and wearing masks. I miss seeing faces and sharing smiles with random strangers. I’m saddened by civil unrest and riots. The truth is, I can be patient for a long time . . . but I’m ready to be done! I’m…
“Be afraid. Be very afraid.” (The Movie – The Fly, 1986) Those words have been repeated again and again. And even if the actual quote isn’t being reiterated . . . it can seem like there is an intentional effort by the enemy to overwhelm us all with anxiety and fear. If you’re a frequent…
Too many lives are being destroyed by the overwhelming power of addiction. Too many families are suffering because of the pain caused by addiction. Addiction is defined as a persistent, compulsive dependence on a behavior or substance. Researchers speak of two different types of addictions: substance addictions (for example, alcoholism, drug abuse, and smoking); process addictions (for example, gambling, spending, shopping eating, and…
Although it happened many years ago, I can still remember it like it took place yesterday. I was involved in a rather intense Bible Study group discussion about God’s characteristics and qualities. And I was passionate about the information and faith that inspired my side of the conversation. I remember saying, “my God is…” And…
Have you ever found yourself deep in a pit of despair? Yeah, me too. Maybe you’re there now. And the truth is, it stinks. One of the worst parts is that when you and I find ourselves in that dank dark place with our feet stuck in the muck, it’s really hard to see our…
Self-righteousness is an attitude of moral superiority that is derived from the idea that a person’s beliefs, actions, or affiliations are of greater virtue than those held by anyone who doesn’t hold to the same beliefs and attitudes. Or to say it more succinctly – self-righteousness says I’m right and therefore superior to anyone who…
Occasionally, I have a day when I wake up and I feel strong enough to handle whatever the day throws at me. But then there are the other days when I open my eyes and I’m not sure I have what it takes just to get out of bed. I’m guessing I’m not alone… Sometimes…
