I refer to myself as “Blessing Counter” on all social media platforms. So, the question I want to ask today is . . . what exactly is a blessing? Or to put it another way… What is being blessed? The Dictionary defines a blessing as: a special favor, mercy, or benefit. a favor or gift bestowed by God, thereby bringing happiness. the invoking of…
Has your life changed because of Jesus? I wonder if we sometimes resist growing closer to Jesus because we don’t like the idea of change. I bought our dog, Sadie, new dog dishes the other day because I was told that the ones that are elevated off the floor are healthier and better for their…
Who is the God-Man – Jesus? In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through Him, and nothing was created except through Him. John 1:1–3 Jesus is the Word made flesh . . . God-Man. 100%…
Have you ever doubted God’s love or His willingness to care for you? Maybe you had a heart’s desire prayer that He didn’t answer as you’d hoped. Maybe one of His followers broke your heart or betrayed you and you blamed God. Maybe life’s circumstances have you in a pit of despair and you feel…
I wonder if it isn’t hard for people to admit their need for a Savior. We are taught from little on to be self-sufficient . . . to find ways to fix what’s wrong and succeed on our own. We are always on the look for ways to supply and satisfy ourselves. How often do…
I hate chaos and confusion. So, I have to admit this has been a hard year for me. It’s been a time when mixed messages have been used to mislead and manipulate . . . and I have found myself feeling discouraged and disheartened. The source of chaos and confusion is the enemy of our…
Do you need hope? It can be hard to feel hopeful when we’re exhausted from carrying life’s burdens. Then we look around and the world is overwhelmed by problems and confusion. I don’t know about you, but I have times when it’s hard for me to look past my momentary feelings and view the future…
Not long ago as I was scrolling through Pinterest notifications, I noticed a comment critical of the 35,000 Christian sects and denominations. I don’t know if the commenter had the facts right or not but I do know there are plenty of things about which self-proclaimed Christians disagree. You and I can see evidence of…
How is it possible for a group of people to attend the very same event or hear the very same message and share completely different accounts of what they saw or heard? How can something be the truth one day but the exact opposite be cited as truth the next? I have absolutely no patience…
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….
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…
Are you tired of all of the conflicting messages out there? People all claiming to know the truth but differing in their “facts?” I don’t know about you … but I’ve grown weary of it all! I need more! When the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream asking: “What do you want? Ask, and…
I’ve been challenged on social media lately to defend my view of the idealogy that science is based on facts and faith is based on feelings. The truth is . . . the Bible is a book of facts that have withstood the test of time. Archeological finds support the historical details of the Bible….
I have always struggled with the idea of loving myself. As someone who was at church every time the doors were open … I was taught a lot about the importance of loving others but not so much about loving myself. But if you look around today … talk about “self-love” is everywhere. For example,…
How humble are you? It sounds like a trick question doesn’t it? The truth is … the measure of our humility will always be in direct proportion to what we believe to be the truths about God. Simply put – greater God equals lesser me and that translates into humility. So, to inspire myself toward…
I had an AHA moment not too long ago … I realized Christians often get something wrong. At least, I know I occasionally get it wrong. What’s it? Obedience. We get obedience wrong when our motives are wrong. (Wait, don’t leave now. I promise, it’s a good thing to obey anyway but we’ll talk about…
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 movie, The Passion of the Christ. I’d read the Bible and knew the account well but it was always easier to imagine the scene through cleaned up artwork and Sunday School…
Anne Graham Lotz wrote… Why did Jesus have to die? If there was any other way to offer us forgiveness of sin, to reconcile us to God, to give us eternal life, and to open Heaven for us when we die, God would have found it. He never would have sent Jesus to die on the…
I have the January blahs! I began the year with all the normal enthusiasm that comes with a fresh start. Three weeks ago, I had a writing plan that excited me, a healthy diet and exercise plan that seemed doable, books I couldn’t wait to read, family and friends who delighted me … I was…
I absolutely love John’s Gospel. In fact, I read it multiple times each year. And every time I do, I feel myself being wrapped in God’s love. In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God.He existed in the beginning with God.God created everything through Him, and nothing was created…
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…
