Early in our tenure at a church my husband and I were members of, a woman told me that people didn’t like her after about three to four years. A few years ago, a friend told me they’ve observed that there seems to be a three to four-year church honeymoon period. Many people leave a…
When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise—in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me? Psalm 56:3-4 NIV We were greeted by the cats in the yard as we walked toward her home. Once we pet the kitties we went into the…
“Look carefully how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of time, because the days are evil.“(Ephesians 5:15-16 ESV) “If you have never missed a plane, you are spending way too much of your life in airports.” That’s my friend Catherine’s counsel and, as someone who knows what it’s like…
Being too close to our own spiritual lives can mean we miss blind spots that need addressing. “Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.” Psalms 119:18 (KJV) John Newton, the author of the famous hymn Amazing Grace, became the captain of a slave-trade ship a year after his…
If there was one word to describe our lives today it might be uncertainty. We are uncertain about the potential of full-scale wars, economic upheaval, political divisions, racial unrest, school shootings, protest mobs, immigration crises, and the never-ending possibility of a new virus. Big issues which cause angst. Closer to home we don’t know about…
When you’re faced with unexpected circumstances, how can you respond in a way that is God-honoring and helpful? You know what it’s like. You have this vision of how you believe things will (or should) go. It’s a lovely vision–neat and tidy. But as things begin to unfold, they aren’t what you imagined and it’s…
Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.Mark 1:35 What does it really mean to be alone? Getting alone is getting harder and harder in our culture. There is a constant noise that surrounds us and it…
Trusting in God’s character spreads across every aspect of our lives — including how we choose to live. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. 2 Corinthians 9:8 (ESV) Lately, I’ve been studying…
Sometimes we don’t even realize how powerful God’s grace is in our lives until we find ourselves broken. “I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.” Revelation 3:8 ESV Laying in bed, I felt like a failure as a mother. I’d prided…
Sometimes we have seasons when we pull away or aren’t very intentional about drawing close—but we can still find our way back to God. “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.” James 4:8 ESV The warm water poured down over my head, as my brain relaxed and soaked in the reset…
The normal, ordinary days can feel small and mundane. But these days are the make-up of our lives and help renew our strength. “Blessed by the Lord, who daily loads us with benefits, the God of our salvation!” Psalm 68:19 In my opinion, the winter months feel at least three times as long as the…
“Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.” Romans 12:15 ESV “Friendship doubles our joys and divides our griefs.” I’ve read that quote countless times over the years, starting in high school when my English teacher chalked it on the top right corner of the blackboard. The thought made sense to me then,…
Our children will learn real faith through real life. But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 19:14 ESV I was bent over my phone, fully absorbed in a text message when I heard my nine-year-old son behind me,…
Missing out on God’s word slowly dries out our soul. God is calling us to Himself so we can stop withering away. “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.” Isaiah 40:8 ESV I heard a small voice in the back of the van singing something. I wasn’t…
We all have room for growing in grace as we follow the Lord’s leading for our lives. “You, therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus…
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