When I’m afraid, He helps me trust Him again.

I know, God, You love them more than I do….those whose names are heavy on my heart. I often find myself trying to say or do just the right thing in hopes they would find hope, joy, and peace in You. Oh God, that some would finally just surrender to You. In the middle ofContinue reading “When I’m afraid, He helps me trust Him again.”

Is this the way you came?

I sit thinking of friend after friend.Story after story.Every one of them.Not one of them came another way. Those I know well, who love God so deeply, whose trust is rock-solid, who possess the sweetest peace and unshakable hope…they each have this in common—they came the way of suffering. I bet you know them too.Continue reading “Is this the way you came?”

Jesus is the Reason…for more than you think.

Jesus is the reason.And not just for the season. Jesus is the reason. He is the ABSOLUTE guarantee for those who call Him Lord. The Apostle Paul said, “For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for hisContinue reading “Jesus is the Reason…for more than you think.”

When you need HOPE!

Honestly , I thought, by this point in these hard days of these two hard years, I’d be able to explain what God is doing and tie everything up in a really good devotional. But things are still hard, and no end is in sight. And it’s Christmastime. I’ve struggled. Have you? I’ve shook myContinue reading “When you need HOPE!”

THIS is the great lie of the pro-choice movement

We have all sought our own way, to the detriment of others and have ultimately come up empty and miserable. The abortion debate, in front of us, is such a perfect example of this. Because of technology, like ultrasounds, we all know it’s a baby—a life. The issue is no longer, “is that a life”,Continue reading “THIS is the great lie of the pro-choice movement”

LIGHT in the darkness

The house is still and dark.No one else is up. There’s nothing quite like the Christmas lights in the darkness. I soak up this moment sitting by my tree.….nothing quite like LIGHT in the darkness. I’m drawn to it. Are you? Sitting in the stillness, I’m reminded of the words from Zechariah’s holy prophecy, theContinue reading “LIGHT in the darkness”

In THE PRESENCE of our enemies…

This Thanksgiving week, as I have counted my blessings, I’ve found myself counting something as a blessing I didn’t think I ever would. A couple of years ago, our family faced what felt like a true enemy in another flesh and blood person. It all seemed to begin right after we shared our faith withContinue reading “In THE PRESENCE of our enemies…”

When God Doesn’t Seem Fair

When God Doesn’t Seem FairFrom Two Moms’ Hearts Five years ago. The surgery waiting room was packed with family and close-as-family special friends. We had been told the day before my tall, dark, and handsome twenty-three-year-old son’s mass was cancer. This second surgery would reveal if the cancer had spread to Will’s lymph nodes. (ItContinue reading “When God Doesn’t Seem Fair”

Is everything sad going to come untrue?

Therefore, stand fast in the Lord. (Phil 4:1) StandFastInTheLord. Not in your own strength.Not in your own thoughts.Not in your own resources.Not in your own ways. Stand fast.In the Lord. All other ground is sinking sand. Paul has just talked about eternity, our true home, and how one day our lowly bodies will be transformed.Continue reading “Is everything sad going to come untrue?”

God’s Word doesn’t sugarcoat what it sometimes feels like to be a Christian.

Thousands of years ago, the children of Israel would lift the words of Psalm 143 to the Lord, a song begging for guidance and deliverance. The words were written by David, who first garnered attention in the courts of King Saul for the soothing songs he would play on his harp—but Saul’s adoration would soonContinue reading “God’s Word doesn’t sugarcoat what it sometimes feels like to be a Christian.”

For those wrestling to understand

Jacob wrestled with God. That’s too much for my mind to even conceive. Except, I’m wrestling. Not in the physical sense, but certainly in that I’m trying to understand what God is doing through some exhaustingly hard things in my life. I know it’s true that God routinely does things we do not understand forContinue reading “For those wrestling to understand”

Ancient words of encouragement for our hard days.

Tender words. Paul had lived them. “What was gain to me, these things I have counted loss for Christ” (Phil 3:7) As he sat in a Roman prison writing this letter, Paul looked back at all he had before he had radically encountered Jesus on the road to Damascus. He recounts these things in PhilippiansContinue reading “Ancient words of encouragement for our hard days.”

How can we find CALM in our CRAZY WORLD?

The Apostle Paul has just written those famous words, “To live is Christ, and to die is gain.” (Phil 1:21) He goes to say, he wasn’t sure which he would choose. He knew being with Christ would be far better, but he also knew serving out his purpose on earth, shepherding the flock, would reapContinue reading “How can we find CALM in our CRAZY WORLD?”

Let’s hold that up to some sunlight and share what we see!

It’s very likely the Apostle Paul would find himself in trouble in our culture as he did in his. Given the opportunity to stand for truth or remain safely accepted by this world, Paul chose to be a truth-teller. He probably would have had his Twitter suspended and his ministry page on Facebook restricted ifContinue reading “Let’s hold that up to some sunlight and share what we see!”

Though this world seems out of control…

Have you noticed when we first come to know the Lord, our joy is tremendous, we find peace we have never experienced, and we walk in hope we never had before? BUT THEN, time and daily life begin to creep in and the hard realities of this “not-yet” side of Heaven begin to wear manyContinue reading “Though this world seems out of control…”

All true, but what can we do?

Yesterday, I shared a concern about where we are heading. Many of you shared it and the question was raised, “but what can we do?” Let me preface this by saying, I do believe- This pandemic is serious and confusing. Some people are dying, while others only get the sniffles, if that, when infected. OurContinue reading “All true, but what can we do?”

Are we approaching the End of Days with a missing America?

It’s easy to shake our head at all that is going on with our country. Honestly, I wonder if we are about to lose this great nation. Are we approaching the End of Days where America seems to be missing, or at least, irrelevant? How long will God have mercy on us? How long willContinue reading “Are we approaching the End of Days with a missing America?”

Will God really sustain us to the end?

God will sustain us to the end (1 Cor 1:8, ESV). And even after reading those words, the “buts” and the “what-ifs” begin to assault my mind. Even after years of Bible studies and church attendance, my mind, can imagine circumstances so hard, it feels like God would stop sustaining me. But the truth is,Continue reading “Will God really sustain us to the end?”

Remember there’s a battle you can’t see, and PRAY!

I couldn’t sleep. I woke up early thinking about this world (and, to be honest, my own little world). I was reminded of my study of Daniel about a year ago— Daniel is praying fervently as the Lord, through Gabriel, explains the things which are to come— the destruction of Jerusalem, the coming of theContinue reading “Remember there’s a battle you can’t see, and PRAY!”