I don’t know about you, but one of the hardest parts of walking in faith for me is keeping my focus on Jesus. It’s easy for me to get tossed around by my circumstances and my thoughts about those circumstances. Like the disciples, I can get so frightened by the storms that I fail to…
There certainly seems to be a wide range of views on what it takes to be a Christian and unfortunately, there seems to be more finger-pointing and judging of other people’s Christianity than there is humble and prayerful introspection. So, I decided to take a look to see what the Bible says about the ways…
This verse has been rattling around my head and stirring my heart this week… Why do you have so little faith? Matthew 6:30 I keep thinking about the times Jesus’ followers allowed their fears and worries to overshadow their trust in the Lord. And if I’m being honest, I have to admit I have times when I’m guilty….
Would you describe yourself as someone who is strong? What about your faith? Is your faith strong? I would like to be able to answer with a resounding “yes” consistently but the fact is, I’ve had times when I’m humbled by the strength God has given me and times when I’m ashamed at the way…
I love praying Scripture. Each morning, I sit with my Bible and journal … writing the verses the Lord uses to speak to my heart. Then I write the prayers those verses inspire. At the bottom of each journal page, I have a section where I list the prayer needs of friends and family as…
I’m a recovering people-pleaser. I say “recovering” because like any intense inner need … there is always a danger of relapse. On the surface, people-pleasing looks like a good thing. Almost Biblical. Didn’t Jesus say, doing for others was like doing for Him? The King will answer, “I tell you the truth, anything you did…
If I had a dollar for every time I’ve been confused by life… Well, you know the saying! And I’m sure you know the feeling too! Those times when you don’t understand God’s plan. When you’ve prayed and prayed and waited and waited and nothing changes. It’s hard to understand… Infertility Infidelity Rejection Terrorism Hatred…
I don’t know what it’s like at your house but it doesn’t seem like it’s getting any easier for families to slow down long enough to connect over meaningful conversations. Even for those of us who try to organize our schedules so we can sit down together over dinner … countless people tell me how…
You and I want so many things for our children and grandchildren as a new school year begins. We want them to have a love for learning and creativity. We hope they’ll be happy, strong, and kind. And we’d love for them to be successful and well-liked by their teachers and classmates. We hope they…
Does it feel like the summer passed by in a blink? Our summer break was shortened because of last year’s numerous snow days. So, it seems even harder to believe that it’s time … already! Whether you’ve taken your first day of school photos or you have a few more days or weeks of anticipation … going…
Many of us have spent the week praying for hurting families in El Paso and Dayton while at the same time trying to get their heads around the unsettling feeling that the places we’ve always believed we were safe, may not be. It’s understandable that some of us are feeling anxious and afraid. In the…
I had another post written for today but… Yesterday morning after church, my Bible study time included 1 Corinthians 13. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others,…
I can be patient with people most of the time. It’s a little easier now that our children are grown. Although, I can still remember how daily demands and interruptions, bad attitudes (theirs and mine) and plain old mom exhaustion made for more than the occasional loss of my desired calm composed kindness. Yep, being…
How are you doing with the whole patience thing? I think consistently practicing patience is one of life’s most difficult challenges. Whether I’m waiting in a long check out line, stuck in a doctor’s waiting room or anxious for the results of medical tests, dealing with an irritating individual or waiting for the answer to…
I think a lot about words! Of course, I do. I’m a writer and as I said earlier this week … a talker. But it’s more than that… Words of affirmation are my love language. Positive words fill my love tank and yes, negative words have the opposite effect. Although not everyone feels the impact…
In my dreams, I’m winsome, witty, and engaging. In my dreams, I’m the kind of person you’d want to sit and talk with for hours. And of course, I’m also an excellent listener who is emotionally supportive offering just the right balance of encouragement with wise advice. But remember, I said, “in my dreams.” In…
I can remember sitting with a friend over lunch. Her daughter had recently returned home from college for summer break. My friend was thrilled to have her daughter home but also a bit concerned. You see… Her daughter had arrived upset with everyone! Her profs and teachers were uninformed and unhelpful. Her friends were unkind…
Everyone filters life through a self-defined perspective but the only thing that will make you happy is to look at life through a different filter. #Faith #Love #Perspective #BeHappy
Simply stated, a legacy is something that is handed down from one generation to the next. Originally, it was thought of as property, wealth, or other personal property that is left to descendants or heirs. But over the years leaving a legacy has come to mean anything left behind … how you and I will…
If you are a writer or blogger, I have a question for you. Who do you picture as you write? In writing courses, this imaginary person represents your ideal reader or customer. Some call it writing for your “avatar.” You create this imaginary person by determining your ideal reader’s… Goals and values. Sources of information….
I’m stopping today to thank God for the blessing of growing up and living in the United States. And I’m asking Him to bless America for future generations. We’re a people with conflicting ideas and a long list of things we could do better but friends, we are free! I looked up the Bill of…
