Don’t be afraid. Just stand still and watch the LORD rescue you today. . . . The LORD himself will fight for you. Just stay calm. Exodus 14:13–14, NLT When anxiety tries to overcome us, it can feel much like it did for the Israelites as Pharaoh’s army chased them after they left Egypt. We look at…
“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanual” (which means God with us).Matthew 1:23 Hope Deferred It was Christmas Eve thirty years ago, sixteen months after my wedding. Sixteen months of unanswered prayers for a babe in my womb. Sixteen months of hope deferred when only one…
What comes to your mind when you hear the word patience, or be patient? Perhaps a groan or a response, “that’s easy for you to say but I…” Patience is not a pleasing thought, but a longed-for character trait. We have so little of it. The lack of it shows up early. Our toddler stomps…
Who has despised the day of small things?Zechariah 4:10, NKJV When I came to pastor the Brooklyn Tabernacle decades ago, we had just a handful of people. At first I had natural enthusiasm. I wasn’t seminary trained, and my sermons were bad, and the offerings were pitiful—the first one I collected was eighty-five dollars—but I…
“Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” I Thessalonians 5:11 (ESV) I don’t know why I hadn’t picked up on it earlier. But one early Friday evening, I looked out to see my husband walking by with his shoulders slumped and his stride too slow. He moved as…
Bess and Gary couldn’t wait for the empty nest. Raising their kids had been tough. They had different approaches to discipline, they’d struggled on a tight budget, and they’d postponed many of their dreams in order to be with their kids. Now the last one was leaving the nest, and they felt they had done…
“May the Lord cause you to flourish, both you and your children.“Psalm 115:14 NIV It’s been a minute since I’ve done the back-to-school thing, but whether you’re sendinga toddler to preschool with a nap mat under her arm or a teenager to college with a new mattress topper and a whole bed-in-a-bag, I imagine you…
“But because the LORD loved you and kept the oath he swore to your ancestors, he brought you out with a strong hand and redeemed you from the place of slavery, from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt.“Deuteronomy 7:8 Have you ever struggled to make a decision? For me, I struggle to know if…
When joy fades, we can rediscover it by focusing on God’s promises, reaching out to others, and gaining a fresh perspective. Do you sometimes feel like your joy is slipping away, eroding or stale? I do too. It happens to each of us at different times and for a variety of reasons. I remember standing…
Even without fully understanding someone’s pain, we can carry our friends to Jesus, offering the love, comfort, and support only He provides. “Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men.”Mark 2:3-5 (NKJV) “Mom, you need to come see this!” My daughter’s muffled voice rose over the steam of my…
Connect with God through a simple four-step practice that can align your goals, daily life, and heart with God’s guidance and presence. “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” Jeremiah 33:3 It Began Here I sat on my couch, journal in hand, the…
Here are a few gifts for your kids that are the lasting treasures we can give them through prayer and trusting Him. “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” (James 1:17 ESV) My husband and I were in full agreement. There…
Facing fear means God calls us to recognize His work, remember His faithfulness, refocus on His greatness, and rest in His promises. Do you have fears? I certainly do. And I really don’t like this about myself. Afterall, I think I should be able to trust God. But it’s not so easy, is it? We…
Reflecting on the joys, challenges, and timeless truths every mom must know can guide you in trusting God’s faithfulness through parenthood. For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Psalm 139:13-14 In a few short weeks my oldest, my…
Taming the tongue can be tricky…especially when we process through talking. What if we took that talking to prayer first? “Words kill, words give life; they’re either poison or fruit—you choose.” Proverbs 18:21 MSG It’s been said that the tongue is the strongest muscle in the body. That’s not actually true; the top honor goes…
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