How do we stand fast when the world is falling apart?

“Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle.” (2 Thess 2:15) One of my favorite preachers, Doug Sager, who is with Jesus now, used to say “When you are reading the Bible and see “therefore” ask what it’s there for.” I can still hear hisContinue reading “How do we stand fast when the world is falling apart?”

A few thoughts on marriage from a slow learner…

I am convinced more than ever that marriages, particularly those in the church, are under attack. And so, I felt led to share a few things I’ve learned as a wife over the years. I’m sure many of you could add more and are welcome to do so in the comments below. Here are mine—Continue reading “A few thoughts on marriage from a slow learner…”

Let’s hear it for the MEN!

Dear young men— We so appreciate you standing up for this country and our flag and inspiring others to do the same. Those who have discriminated against you, those who have called your masculinity toxic, and those who have done their gut-level best to belittle your God-given gender in every way they can are, themselves,Continue reading “Let’s hear it for the MEN!”

Pain Place

I still live in the same town where my first husband took his life. My life still takes me to the place where the detectives told me they had found his body; and I sometimes have to drive very near the place where he killed himself. Many years have passed. Life has moved on, andContinue reading “Pain Place”

HOPE for us and this nation.

Our country feels kind of hopeless right now. But I don’t have to look further than my own family to know Jesus can change things quickly. I thought about my cousin. He’s a pastor. A while back we had sat together and talked about Jesus, the Word, and the world. His tattoo reads, “Finish Well.”Continue reading “HOPE for us and this nation.”

Are we seeing evil forces at work as American students protest for Hamas?

With sadness, I watched a video last night of a Jewish student being denied access to the campus of UCLA by fellow students protesting in support of Hamas and Palestine. Are we just going to sit idly by again while racism happens in America? What if he had been a black student being denied accessContinue reading “Are we seeing evil forces at work as American students protest for Hamas?”

Fullness of Joy

In His presence is fullness of joy. (Psalm 16:11) I’m not sure I’ve so closely observed anyone who exudes the truth of this more than my son, Ben. God is Ben’s go to. Even as a little boy, he seemed to have God on his mind so often. He’d come to me with spiritual thoughtsContinue reading “Fullness of Joy”

A note from my daughter…

As I open my news feed to see professing Christians defending and arguing with other Christians about the suggestion that Taylor Swift’s new album is something to stay away from (the lyrics are anti-God), this note from my daughter popped up in my FB memories. It truly put everything in perspective as she began withContinue reading “A note from my daughter…”

Don’t let what someone did to you be more than what Jesus did FOR you.

Don’t let what someone did to you be more than what Jesus did for you. We will all be sinned against. None of us will escape this life unscathed. Some will be horrifically wounded by no fault of their own. I do not like it or understand it. However, I do know there are demonicContinue reading “Don’t let what someone did to you be more than what Jesus did FOR you.”

Unexpected Peace

Does your brain ever get stuck on something, or is that just me? After reading Genesis 22, I’d like to just move on and stop thinking about God asking Abraham to sacrifice his son, to surrender all, to hold nothing back. But I keep thinking about it. To be honest, I’d like for God toContinue reading “Unexpected Peace”

Does this beautiful thing ever happen to you?

It still amazes me when I come across a passage of Scripture that seems to flash like a neon sign. Though the words have been there for thousands of years, sometimes, they seem beautifully brand new. I’ve even smiled a little bit in my prayers, saying, “God, did you just put that there?” His WordContinue reading “Does this beautiful thing ever happen to you?”

When you remember there’s a wedding coming…

Kentucky lost one of its best basketball players to the NBA yesterday, Reed Sheppard. My son, Ben, is a HUGE Kentucky fan.He was pretty upset when he read the news. But then. He looks up from his phone and gets the biggest smile, and says, “But I’m getting married.” And a week from Saturday, BenContinue reading “When you remember there’s a wedding coming…”

Stopping the up and the down

The seventy return to tell Jesus “even the demons are subject to us in Your name.” (Luke 10:9) Those who had been sent out came back amazed at what had happened. Their eyes had seen the power of God at work through them. But Jesus tells them “do not rejoice because the spirits are subjectContinue reading “Stopping the up and the down”

Trusting ourselves too much and God too little.

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? (Rom 8:31) God is for us, not against us. I recently heard a pastor say, “Don’t you think if God we’re out to get you, He would have gotten you by now?!” We laugh. We say weContinue reading “Trusting ourselves too much and God too little.”

Her Journal.

She was just twelve when I snapped this picture of her journal. A few years have passed but she’s still seeking God. She’s studying. She is trying to understand. She’s hiding God’s Word in her heart. For years, she’s watched her parents do the same. A while back, she and I were discussing a passageContinue reading “Her Journal.”

Do your friends truly love you? Do you truly love them?

I heard a pastor once say, “You can’t preach peace to those who walk in disobedience.” The truth is, as much as we want others to experience the rivers of peace we know because of Christ; those who insist on walking their own way, in disobedience to the ways of God, will never experience theContinue reading “Do your friends truly love you? Do you truly love them?”

Need some peace??

I’m a slow learner, but I can say with certainty, peace comes not from “fixed” circumstances -but rather from a heart fixed on God. Specifically, to find peace, we must keep our thoughts fixed on Who He Is more than what we observe Him to do. For if we tie our peace only to whatContinue reading “Need some peace??”

Tuesday after Easter

About now, I think about those who only attend church on Easter and Christmas. Something draws them there—maybe it’s sweet childhood memories, maybe they are trying to check a box, maybe they are looking for God but are not sure if they can go “all in”. After all, there’s a lot about faith in aContinue reading “Tuesday after Easter”

It’s all true!

The ground shook.The angel appeared.The stone rolled away.The soldiers fell like dead men.The grave empty.Death defeated!The Way Made!Victory complete. JESUS ROSE FROM THE DEAD AND DEFEATED SIN AND DEATH! This changed everything! When Christians say, “He is Risen”, it’s not that we are saying Christianity is useful. We are saying that it is TRUE! AllContinue reading “It’s all true!”