Church Basements -Holy Places

Our family lost a great one this past week—Uncle Larry. As we sat in the same basement of the same church, my sweet mother-in-law reminded me of these words God had laid on my heart as we had gathered to bury Larry’s sweet wife three years ago— They are holy places.Church basements. As I walkedContinue reading “Church Basements -Holy Places”

We those who know God’s ways are better to find their voices.

Paul says,”hold such men in esteem” (Phil 2:29) Hold such men in esteem. What kind of men? Well, men and women like Epaphroditus. Epaphroditus didn’t only have a strange name, he was a rare one. He’s only mentioned once in the Bible (Phil 2:25). But this much is clear from the text, Epaphroditus was rare,Continue reading “We those who know God’s ways are better to find their voices.”

Vote in order to best thwart evil.

Evil seems to advance when “good men do nothing”. Studies show, almost half of those who call themselves evangelicals will not vote in this election. What holds us back from engaging in our world and standing on truth in this once great country of ours? Some say neither choice is good, but the thing is,Continue reading “Vote in order to best thwart evil.”

I hope you have this gift…

I’m headed to a retreat weekend with my home church. My HOME CHURCH. I hope you have one.There’s nothing like people who love God loving you and you loving them. And especially in these hard days, church is such a gift. There have been so many times I was tired, weak, discouraged. I was, atContinue reading “I hope you have this gift…”

This Name!

I shared this a couple of years ago. I needed to remember again… I know, in the Bible, God spoke to His people through dreams. I’m certainly not suggesting that this is what happened the other night; but I am certainly not saying our Father could not speak this way today, should He choose toContinue reading “This Name!”

Right now! He is at work!

Love.Consolation.Hope.Grace.Comfort. Yes, I’ll have a heaping helping of each. Right now.Especially now. And this is just what our Father gives His children. His well never runs dry. Paul penned words of this blessing to the believers being persecuted in Thessalonica. “Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has lovedContinue reading “Right now! He is at work!”

Questions To Ask Yourself When Trouble Comes

There’s a reason there’s hearts there in my Bible. Unless the very REAL, faithful Father had been my help and hope in my times of trouble, I would have given up. I would have.But God. And no matter what you are facing, The Most High is with you. Run to Him. Psalm 94:17-19 God laidContinue reading “Questions To Ask Yourself When Trouble Comes”

No communes for me.

The Apostle Paul urges believers to live a life that is characterized by an increasing love for others, a steady, quiet calm, and hard work. (I Thess 4:9-12). There is so much to unpack in these few sentences. We are to love others with an increasing love. And that one, hit me hard. (Like rightContinue reading “No communes for me.”

Thoughts on the election

I truly believe the pastor in the short video below shares truth we all need to consider. I encourage you to listen to all of his points, especially at the end. It’s less than 6 minutes. I encourage you to share this with others, and I really hope you’ll vote. It’s unfathomable to me thatContinue reading “Thoughts on the election”

I will praise you in this storm.

Before a horrific storm hit my life, my affection for Jesus was short-lived. Oh, I’d call on Him here or there when I had a problem; but I remained in control of me. When the storm came, every false idol, every bit of sinking sand was washed away; and I found Jesus to be faithful,Continue reading “I will praise you in this storm.”

Soap Bubbles

I cried with two different people just yesterday. I spoke with several others dealing with hard, stressful things. I love them all. My heart hurts with each of them. My heart hurts with things of my own. I want to fix every problem.I can’t. I want to take away the heartache.I can’t. I want toContinue reading “Soap Bubbles”

Marriage. So good. So hard.

Because marriage is so GOOD and also so HARD, I’m sharing what God laid on my heart a while back— There absolutely will be the days your eyes meet and your heart flutters. The days you melt into each other’s arms and your heart swells with emotion. There will be those mountain-top, romantic moments withContinue reading “Marriage. So good. So hard.”

Scary circumstances?

When I look at my circumstances, I’ve been fearful and worried; but when I turn my eyes to Jesus, when I remember His faithful promises, when I trust Him again and again, my faith grows stronger. Paul talks about Abraham’s faith. He pens his letter emphatically assuring his audience of new believers (both Jew andContinue reading “Scary circumstances?”

Is God shaking us?

What if we all have to go through hard days for there to be real revival—for more lost to be found? Am I okay with that? Are you? Let me be clear, I want the election to go the way of conservatives, and values, and religious freedom. I’ll vote that way and think others shouldContinue reading “Is God shaking us?”

Cares of this world, I’m laying them down

Cares of this world are jumbled in my mind, vying for my attention. But my heart is drawn to the Rock who is higher than I, the steady in the storm, the One who beckons me to turn my eyes to Him.(Ps 61:12) He calls me to sit and remember, that He is a faithfulContinue reading “Cares of this world, I’m laying them down”

If tomorrow never comes…

It’s 9/11.And we ought to all stop.And remember. Today, we should think about those who died —the heroes who ran in and those trapped, huddled in fear. It took five years to build the twin towers. It took 102 minutes from the first impact on the north tower for them both to fall. In 102Continue reading “If tomorrow never comes…”

Hold on. It’s worth it.

Surely, I’m not the only one who used to believe that once you become a Christian life will go easy. But the truth is, real faith is far from easy. The book of Luke tells us, Simeon’s eyes finally beheld the Promised One. Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, thisContinue reading “Hold on. It’s worth it.”

What would you do?

What would you do?What would you choose?Could you stand strong? It’s famous. We know the story. And we are tempted to breeze right through it. But slow down… This dilemma, (listen, that we may all face sooner, rather than later, the way our world is headed), is sobering and makes for far greater than aContinue reading “What would you do?”

And so I’ll rest…

Well okay, my life is Yours God.But it’s still mine, right? You wouldn’t ask me to go through THIS, right? Really? But God, truly, if I’m honest, I feel like perhaps I’ve already gone through so much. Haven’t I learned what You’ve been teaching? What, there’s more? But God? I really don’t think I canContinue reading “And so I’ll rest…”

More time? Maybe not.

The book of Daniel, chapter 5, tells about a new king assuming the throne. Belshazzar holds a great feast for thousands and many drink from the vessels taken from the temple of God. As they drank, they worshipped the gods of gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood and stone. (If plastic would have been around, surely,Continue reading “More time? Maybe not.”