I’ve studied the books of Isaiah and Jeremiah. And I have to admit, I feel bad for the prophets. I’ll bet they didn’t get invited to many parties! They spent their lives proclaiming God’s impending judgment on His people for their failure to trust God through obedience and love. The more I read and studied, the more…
I had no idea how many of you, like me, struggle to live one day at a time. Trusting and following God’s will for today without dwelling on the past or the future may be one of our greatest challenges. Truthfully, I shouldn’t have been surprised! I don’t know anyone over the age of five…
“He is a portion that exactly and directly suits the condition of the soul. The desires of the soul, and the necessities of the soul, and the wants of the soul, and the longings of the soul, and the prayers of the soul. The soul can crave nothing, nor wish for nothing, but what is…
I recently wrote the following about my faith: If I’m wrong and there is no God, if Jesus isn’t the Way, Truth, and Life … I wouldn’t change a thing. My life has been full of hope, unexpected joy, impossible to understand peace, indescribable strength when I needed it most, and miraculous healing. I’m blessed. My life is…
It’s hard to think about the reality of Jesus’ suffering and death on the cross. I’ll never forget the first time I watched The Passion of the Christ. I’d read Scripture and knew the story well but it was always easier to imagine the scene through cleaned up artwork and Sunday School drawings. I don’t…
One of our pastors recently asked us — “What do you think heaven will be like?” What do you think? There are a few things we know from Scripture about The New Heaven and the New Earth. He [Jesus] will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like His own, using…
I can’t even begin to tell you about the many nights I’ve spent with eyes wide open, worrying about everything. Rather than bore you with the details, I hope to bless you a truth I wish I’d not only learned but that I’d applied years ago. I was a chronic worrier which really isn’t surprising. Worry…
Do you ever go into your prayer time at a loss for words? I can remember times when I felt so overwhelmed by life that I didn’t know where to begin. I wanted to lean into the Lord in prayer but I just had no words. Since I thought there might be a possibility you…
And they lived happily ever after. You read the stories as a little girl. The ones that ended with the beautiful wedding and those six words that stuck in our hearts and filled our dreams. Walk down the aisle and your good to go. Right?! Maybe. Maybe not. Marriage is full of blessings but it also…
What do you do on those exhausted days when the last thing you want to do is deal with anyone? Nope, you just can’t people today! Most days are full of people. You have your family, they’re your HAVE TO people. Your coworkers. The people with whom you do ministry and the random people you…
Guilt. Everyone has it. We all have something, maybe multiple somethings, that makes us cringe and want to hide. I thought about putting a list of examples here but that then I decided it would be a distraction because all that really matters is … what’s on your list. I know what’s on my list….
I should have known it would happen. It happens almost every time. And when I anticipate it, I seem to handle it better. But this time, I wasn’t paying attention. I wasn’t prepared. What’s “it?” A spiritual battle! I’ve been in a battle ever since I published the post — This is for You –…
Family! Marriage. Parenting. It seems the closer the relationship the more complicated the living. From the moment we walk down the aisle and say our “I dos” the challenges of balancing expectations and reality put stressors on the love we’ve just declared to our families and friends. That’s why I’m thrilled to share this post…
I’ve wrestled with this post for a while. It’s so much easier to write those feel-good grace-filled posts that remind us of God’s abundant goodness and mercy. And we’ll get to that, too … because that’s where we must land after we’ve come face to face with who we are without Him. But after…
Jesus replied, “The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.” Mark 12:29–31 On…
Jesus replied, “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.” The second is equally important: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” No other commandment is greater than these.” Mark 12:30 What does it mean to love God with, “all your heart, all your soul, all…
How can you and I know God’s will? I mean, what is His will exactly? Even when you and I want to follow God’s will for us … the world gives us mixed messages. Goodness, I think even the different church denominations and non-denominations send out mixed messages when it comes to God’s will. So,…
I’m guessing you’re like me and that you share my struggle. You have the voice in your head that remembers and repeats every hurt-filled accusation. And a mirror that faithfully points out every little imperfection. You know the whispers of lost friendships that want you to believe you’re just not worth it. And you count every…
Who would have thought that a 17th Century monk, faithfully working in the kitchen in a small monastery with an unwavering attitude of devotion could touch the hearts and minds of countless believers for generations? The next time you question whether or not anything you’re doing matters … stop and remember Brother Lawrence. After spending…
It’s hard to surrender! One of the hardest things to do in life is to be able to say… “Lord, not my will but Yours be done.” In fact, I’ve had more than a few times when I’ve gone into and through circumstances both kicking and screaming! Surrender is a word that used to terrify…
Can you imagine what it will be like when you and I finally get a glimpse of the glory of God in person? I often wonder what it must have been like for Moses on his second journey to the top of Mt. Sinai. Be ready in the morning to climb up Mount Sinai and…
