I love the anticipation of a new year. A clean calendar. A new beginning. A fresh start. But… When January 1st, 2nd, and 3rd arrive, I realize I’ve once again carried the junk of the past year with me into the new. The truth is the new year has the same great need … to…
I spent way too many years of my life terrified of “what ifs.” Life can be hard and bad things happen. And that thought that frequently sent my anxiety levels through the roof. Maybe you struggle with fear and anxiety. And maybe, just maybe, you’re tired of living with the knot in your stomach that’s…
It happened again the other day… I was scrolling through Facebook when I came upon a random conversation between pastors, kids of pastors, and members of churches about the recommended salaries for pastors next year. Unfortunately, the conversation got ugly. There were a few in the thread who felt it was more important to be…
Jesus promised that when He returned to heaven, God would send the Advocate, the Holy Spirit to guide His followers… But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—He will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you. John 14:26 I can’t imagine trying to figure out…
As families gather and we join together to celebrate… I’m stopping for a moment to simply pray. God, Thank You for the Gift of The Word Made Flesh Father God, King of kings and Lord of lords. Creator. Redeemer. Comforter. Father, Friend. Thank you! May I faithfully hold Your Word close to my heart and…
“Joy is a state of mind and an orientation of the heart. It is a settled state of contentment, confidence and hope. Joy isn’t just a smile or a laugh. Joy is something that is deep within and doesn’t leave quickly. Joy is given by God and something that He wants us to have…” ~ Theopedia…
Everyone seems to be a little more kind and gentle at this time of the year and we all love it… But Christmas passes and the new year begins and everything – goes – back – to – normal! Life overwhelms us, patience wanes, and we find ourselves being more negatively reactive than positively proactive….
If you’re like me, your level of patience is realized on a case by case basis. I can have “the patience of a saint.” I can also be like a spoiled child waiting for Christmas morning. It all depends on the circumstances and how often I’ve previously played my patience card on any given day….
The first Bible verse most of us learn is… For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 God’s only Son, Jesus … His amazing and gracious gift of love. The Bible also says about Jesus: “There is…
My number one post by far is 5 Ways to Know if Something is From God. I believe as followers of Jesus, you and I want to know and trust God’s will for us. But the world shouts and God whispers. On top of the noise, Jesus said that as His followers, “you will have…
Many of us personally claim the promise God made through Jeremiah to the exiled Jews living in Babylon: I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11 And the awesome thing is … you and I…
I shared last week that the number one prayer request on the Blessing Counters Pray Page is one that asks for God to heal broken relationships. The next most asked for prayer is one for God to provide help at a time of financial distress. So today, we’re going to pray about our finances and…
I wonder if part of the appeal of social media is that we’re able to have lots of “friends” without the inconvenience of actually making the friendships work. We’re learning that more and more people struggle with sadness and loneliness because their “real life” friendships are suffering due to the distraction and rush of likes,…
The “church” is made up of all of us who trust and follow Jesus. In one of His last recorded prayers, Jesus prayed… Father, I am in them and You are in Me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know You sent Me and that You love them as much as You love…
There is a quote that says… Having somewhere to go is a home. Having someone to love is a family. Having both is a blessing. Although, I believe most would agree that having a home and a family is a huge blessing, based on prayer requests I receive … many families need God’s blessings of…
Addiction is defined as a persistent, compulsive dependence on a behavior or substance. And almost everyone knows someone who suffers from addiction. Many of you have been praying for years for someone you love to be delivered from addictions painful consequences. So, please pray with me… God, Please Help My Loved OneWho Suffers from Addiction…
How quickly and easily my thoughts and emotions can betray me and send me into a downward spiral of negativity and dissatisfaction. I really do want to be emotionally strong … better able to stand against the things that trigger anxious what-if thoughts. Oh, how I want to consistently control my feelings so that I am…
I know so many of you live with illness and chronic pain. So today, I’m inviting you to pray this prayer for yourself or for someone you know and love… God, Please Restore My Health with Your Mercy and Grace Father, living in a world that includes so much illness and pain is hard and…
Since the moment they were born, who am I kidding, since before they were born, I’ve worried about my children. And even though, I know I’m not supposed to worry – I’ve often been known to stress over the slightest little thing when it comes to my children and their well-being. But Jesus said, “Let…
One of the most frequently used sections of Scripture read at weddings is found in Ecclesiastes, where Solomon wrote… Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help … Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm … two…
The most frequent prayer request on the Blessing Counters Prayer Page is one asking God to heal and restore a broken relationship. I’m not surprised. We all have at least one broken relationship with … a friend, a fiancé, a spouse, a parent, or a child. And broken relationships leave us with broken hearts. Sometimes…
