I’m keeping it simple today… There has been a lot of talk over the past days about being thankful. We’ve counted our blessings and listed the good things we enjoy. We’ve feasted with family and friends and now, the day after it seems like it’s time to move on to all-things Christmas. But before we…
I’m jumping into the holidays this weekend … prepping the kitchen for Thanksgiving and decorating for Christmas. I know I may be breaking some kind of unwritten code by putting up my Christmas tree before Thanksgiving but the gratitude holiday is so late this year, I just can’t wait any longer. Even with all planning,…
What does it mean to glorify God? Henry Blackaby wrote: “Will God ever ask you to do something you are not able to do? The answer is yes–all the time! It must be that way, for God’s glory and kingdom. If we function according to our ability alone, we get the glory; if we function…
It’s November! What?! We’re less than three weeks away from Thanksgiving and it always seems like Christmas follows in a blink after that. And for most of us, we can’t help but think about what that means for us and for the other people with whom we’ll interact over the holidays. Because there are always…
I’ve recently come to the conclusion that the enemy has one primary form of tempting God’s children. It’s the same thing he’s used since the Garden… “Did God really say…” Genesis 3:1a He is all about tempting us to doubt. Doubt God. Doubt the Bible. Doubt Jesus. And if all else fails … he wants you to doubt…
I’ve spent a lot of time this week thinking about hope. You see, I’d never really stopped to think about the differences between the way secularists and people of faith perceive hope. For the secularist, hope is based solely on the strength of their inner desires and the belief that they will achieve or receive…
I always believed there would be a point in my life when I would anticipate and be ready for life’s inevitable spiritual battles. But unfortunately, there are still times when they catch me by surprise and I’m unprepared. Honestly, I’m most susceptible after a period of smooth sailing or an awesome mountaintop high. It seems…
I can sing my heart out along with Casting Crowns anytime I hear – Praise You in this Storm. And I’ll praise You in this stormAnd I will lift my handsThat You are who You areNo matter where I amAnd every tear I’ve criedYou hold in Your handYou never left my sideAnd though my heart…
I always struggled to put my prayers into words. And in all honesty, most of the time, I tried to figure things out on my own before I’d pray about them. When the kids were acting out, I’d read a couple of parenting books. When one of us had health issues, I’d do a symptom…
I’m taking my “all used up” feelings to the Lord. I’m taking my circumstances and all used up feelings and laying them at the throne of grace. Then I’m going get away with Jesus to a quiet place and rest with Him.
It’s Bonus Day 4,383. How do I know? Because Rev writes the number on his calendar every single morning. 12 years and counting … since the miracle.
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…
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…
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…
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 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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
When the challenge your facing feels overwhelming and it’s hard to be strong, it’s time to pray. These 5 Bible verses and prayers will help when it’s hard for you to find the words.
