On Monday of Holy Week, Jesus cleared the Temple of merchants and money changers. Jesus entered the Temple and began to drive out all the people buying and selling animals for sacrifice. He knocked over the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those selling doves. He said to them, “The Scriptures declare, ‘My…
Crowds lined the road that first Palm Sunday, shouting… “Praise God! Blessings on the One who comes in the name of the Lord! Hail to the King of Israel!” John 12:13 And as they proclaimed You the One who would save them from Roman rule and oppression, Jesus knew the truth… Jesus knew what was…
We’ve been praying 40 Days of Mountain Moving Prayers each morning on my Facebook Page since Ash Wednesday. If you missed out … you can find them all here. Lent is traditionally described as the 40 days between Ash Wednesday and Easter when you skip the Sundays. We didn’t skip the Sundays; so, our 40…
I have times when I am overwhelmed by God’s presence when I’m praying and I also know the feeling of loneliness as my pleas seem to simply hang heavy in the air around me. I know God’s promises to hear the prayers of His children. Promises like… The Lord is close to all who call…
Waiting is my favorite … said no one ever! Entire industries have been developed because we want what they want and we don’t want to wait for it! We hate waiting in lines. Traffic jams make our heads spin around. We pull our phones out to pass the time in waiting rooms and still we…
I was supposed to read the Bible from cover to cover in college while taking the required Old Testament 1 & 2 and New Testament … I have to be honest with you and say it was a daunting task I never quite accomplished. I’ve spent most of my adult life attending church and participating…
I was so blessed by Melanie’s guest post last week – 5 Verses to Pray for Your Daughter’s Spiritual Sensitivity and Growth, that I was inspired to write a post of verses we could pray for our sons as well. I’ve said often that the one thing I wish I had done more often when…
We all want to be happy! Something the dictionary defines as a state of well-being or contentment. Yet, I’m not sure that’s the definition most of us are trying to attain. Why? Because then happiness wouldn’t be something to be attained in the next big thing… The next vacation, purchase, or relationship. If happiness is…
On the darkest days, when I feel inadequate, unloved and unworthy, I remember whose daughter I am and I straighten my crown. Author Unknown That’s what I want not only for myself but for my daughters as well. Being a teen girl is hard. I remember! I remember it was hard for our girls too….
I used to be a world-class worrier. Of course, I was … fear and worry go hand in hand. I craved a smooth water life and anything that could potentially stir the water was worth worrying about. So, I worried about just about everything and anything that could happen to me or to someone on…
Why do I put myself out there week after week telling you about my struggle with worry and anxiety? Because I hated it! And if, by God’s grace, one or two of you might be spared the emotional, mental, and physical suffering that accompanies perpetual worry … I will shout my story from the rooftops….
The average temperature at that time of the year was 36°F. But on this day, March 11, in 1972, the sun was shining and the winds calm. It was a balmy and beautiful 49°F in Birmingham, Michigan. Why do I remember the weather on this day 47 years ago? Well, you may have guessed ……
Why in the world do we talk about Lent anyway? Many churches have stopped making much of this season of preparation but I’ve always found it a blessing to slow down a little and prayerfully think about all Jesus has graciously done for me through His life, death, and resurrection. I see comments out there…
I know I don’t typically publish a post on Wednesdays but the Lord gave me a nudge that I just couldn’t ignore. It all started Monday morning, as I sat down with my Bible and a cup of coffee for my time of prayer and study. My first reading was Joshua 23, where Joshua begins…
What do you do when it feels like the enemy is trying to discourage you, defeat you, or silence your voice? Let me explain… Last weekend, I got up early Saturday morning with a post running through my head. I was so excited to share this message with you as I enthusaistically started writing. The…
Sometimes I think I was born anxious. Seriously, I can remember way too many middle of the night worry session as a child. And although I’d love to tell you that all disappeared when I grew up … you wouldn’t believe me anyway. Everyone knows there are countless things to worry about as an adult,…
It’s true! It is absolutely impossible to experience God’s peace when I’m reliving yesterday or pre-living tomorrow. Peace simply cannot be applied to yesterday’s mess nor can it be pre-applied to tomorrow’s worries. Have you ever gotten to the end of the day and regret the amount of time you wasted on guilt, worry, and…
I shared earlier this week that the number one prayer request on the Blessing Counters Pray Page is one that asks for a family relationship to be healed and/or restored. So, I wrote what I believe to be the 5 Best Ways to Bless and Strengthen Your Family. Not because I believe I have the…
“A family is a place where principles are hammered and honed on the anvil of everyday living.” Charles Swindoll If you and I are supposed to believe every happy photo we see on social media … almost all of our friends have perfect relationships with their parents, siblings, spouses, children, and grandchildren. But… If you…
The cards, flowers, chocolate, and “I love yous” have all been shared. And yet, I wonder how many of us are left longing because someone left us wanting … failing to fill us up the way we expected, hoped or believed we needed. I keep thinking about Jenny Lind’s song in The Greatest Showman… All…
Love… It’s a fickle thing, isn’t it? We don’t want it to be. In fact, most people are desperately looking for a love that is guaranteed to last. Oh, we promise to love our spouse forever but nearly half of all marriages end in divorce. We hope our families will remain united and loving from…
