Tag Archives: hope in Jesus

“Momma, you GRUMPY”

In the years after my first husband took his life, I began to heal. Good days were still coupled with days when I just wanted to cry. And sometimes a good, snot-making cry seemed to help. I tried to hide my tears from my boys, but sometimes their sweet little hugs would bring on moreContinue reading ““Momma, you GRUMPY””

Don’t put ANYONE on a Pedestal

I’m not sure if anything comes as close to rattling my faith as when people, I thought godly, walk away from Jesus and do ungodly things. This was exactly what was happening in the church in Corinth. We see it today as some continue to choose the praise of men and compromise with the worldContinue reading “Don’t put ANYONE on a Pedestal”

How about this on your CHRISTIAN t-shirt?

Hard words. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a bumper sticker or Christian T-shirt that read, “Jesus came to send fire on the earth” or “Jesus came to bring division”. No. We like unity. We like peace. Those T-shirts sell. Those messages grow crowds. So what do we do when we bump into Luke 12:49-53?Continue reading “How about this on your CHRISTIAN t-shirt?”

Real hope even from a place of pain

My friend Beth wrote this and I asked her permission to share it on my page. It’s heartfelt truth in a time of horrendous pain. I think you’ll be encouraged as you read her words to remember where our hope is found— 4 weeks ago today, I hugged and kissed my husband for the lastContinue reading “Real hope even from a place of pain”

Happy Mother’s Day!

From my Momma Heart this Mother’s Day 🌺 Almost twenty-nine years ago a squirmy, wet, beautiful, little creature was laid upon my belly, crying, filling his lungs with air. My heart exploded with emotion because everything in me knew I had never loved another human being as much as I instantly loved this tiny one.Continue reading “Happy Mother’s Day!”

Even the faithful feel hopeless sometimes.

We don’t talk openly about it very often. It’s usually a whispered discussion if we say anything at all . But this thought occurs for many of us, sometime over our lifetimes. Those who are of the faith, sometimes feel hopeless. Sometimes,circumstances,are so very bad,we even despair of life. We don’t think we can goContinue reading “Even the faithful feel hopeless sometimes.”

Have you ever comforted yourself with these thoughts?

I wonder, have you ever comforted yourself by wishing harm on someone who has harmed you? You know, have you ever lay in bed plotting how you’d get them back? In Genesis 27, Esau is enraged over the deception involving the blessing and birthright, and Rebekah tells Jacob, “Surely your brother comforts himself concerning youContinue reading “Have you ever comforted yourself with these thoughts?”

You can’t see everything just yet…

Isaac is about to bless Jacob in one of the most famous stories of deception ever told. (Gen 27) It’s a hard story. Culturally, the whole idea of a blessing like this is foreign to us. It can even seem unfair on the surface. But let’s remember, the surface is all our human eyes canContinue reading “You can’t see everything just yet…”

Sunday Thoughts

We sat together last night and talked about Jesus, the Word, and the world. His tattoo reads, “Finish Well.” And I thought to myself, it’s just pretty cool that we ever even started this journey of faith. My cousin and I don’t come from a long line of faith. In fact, just a couple ofContinue reading “Sunday Thoughts”

Go ahead and lay that down…

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 “Go ahead and lay that down…”

The Question No One Can Answer For You

You know, no one can answer the question for you. And I know, the whole thing, the nails, the Bloody Cross, -the thought is horrific. We’ve heard the story. We’ve been told, it’s not about bunnies and that day, it changed everything. That day, that Good Friday, looked anything but “good”. Early in the morningContinue reading “The Question No One Can Answer For You”

A Prayer for this Tuesday of Holy Week

It’s Holy Week. Palm Sunday’s church songs are growing faint in our ears. We find ourselves busy and distracted. But our busy, distracted hearts long to see Jesus. We long to behold the glory of the One who died for us. When I slow down and turn my eyes to Him, I stand in aweContinue reading “A Prayer for this Tuesday of Holy Week”

Sodom and Gomorrah, our Culture, and Loving those caught up in sin…

Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen 19). The story is so very familiar to many who grew up in church. It’s also so very strange. As a young girl, in what was called “Sunday School”, I remember sitting in the hard wooden chair thinking about Lot’s wife being turned into a pillar of salt. I remember imaginingContinue reading “Sodom and Gomorrah, our Culture, and Loving those caught up in sin…”

If I’m honest, let me tell you…

If only…my happiness wasn’t so closely tied to whether my blessings outweigh my burdens on any given day. If only…I could be more self controlled and gentle and not mess up again today. If only…I could always walk in truth and not fall once more to the lies of the enemy. If only…my hope neverContinue reading “If I’m honest, let me tell you…”

You know HE knows what you may think is too hard for Him, right?

You realize, The Almighty God (El Shaddai) , the God Who Sees (El- Roi) knows our doubts and our worries. God knows what it is we think is too hard for Him. Here’s one reason we can know this— In Genesis 17, God makes the covenant with Abram to multiply him exceedingly and give himContinue reading “You know HE knows what you may think is too hard for Him, right?”

So often, God comforts us with His Word.

So often, when I’m struggling with hard things in this life, God will remind me of something from His Word. I guess this is why I’m so passionate that we should seek Him daily through our Bibles. You know, when we suffer through hard days, as many are seeing right now, it is easy toContinue reading “So often, God comforts us with His Word.”

This is YOUR sign. Go to CHURCH tomorrow!

Go to church.No, really, GO to church tomorrow.Plan right now to do this. No doubt, a fuzzy blanket, a cup of piping hot coffee, pajamas and a podcast have become “worship” for some. I know some people are in seasons of life where they are home bound for various reasons, but I’m not talking toContinue reading “This is YOUR sign. Go to CHURCH tomorrow!”

One day every sad thing will become untrue

As Christian’s, there is something we have to do that is incredibly hard to do. We have to be okay with not understanding everything. I’ve talked with so many people, in just the past week, who are walking through incredibly hard things, or dealing with situations that just make no earthly sense. Something devastating hasContinue reading “One day every sad thing will become untrue”

I feel so inadequate to tell anyone they need Jesus…

I prayed with a young woman last night who is walking an incredibly hard road. I was astounded by her lack of bitterness and her pure heart. I couldn’t help thinking how I wish my faith had been that strong when I was her age. The fruit of the spirit seems so very apparent inContinue reading “I feel so inadequate to tell anyone they need Jesus…”