hope

To my fellow sojourner in this lost world

It was a small circle of women. Just a few. We had gathered to pray for revival in our country and our world. These were church women, ministry leaders, and pastors wives. The talk was light at first. Ballgames and bagels. But soon tears showed up as the conversation shifted to stories, one by one,Continue reading “To my fellow sojourner in this lost world”

“Just Call Me Bitter“

One thing about the Bible, it is real. Things aren’t sugar-coated. Even those God used mightily are shown to have flaws. They aren’t always strong, joyful, or without sin. (see David in the Psalms, Jeremiah in Lamentations, Peter in the Gospels). And the book of Ruth, isn’t all sunshine and love story either. When Naomi,Continue reading ““Just Call Me Bitter“”

Let’s study THE BOOK OF RUTH

I’m so excited to study the book of Ruth with you!! I think the backstory to this book is so incredibly interesting. Let’s set the stage…God’s people had been delivered from Egypt into the Promised Land which would flow with milk and honey as long as the people followed God. But, the people would followContinue reading “Let’s study THE BOOK OF RUTH”

SILENCE

Silence. That day after the Savior had died. The pounding of the nails, the jeers of the crowd, His cries of pain. Now Silent. His body in the tomb. What now? They surely longed to hear His comforting voice. But Silence. They had left jobs, families, everything to follow Him. Now what? Silence. Nothing.But.Silence. Confused,Continue reading “SILENCE”

Palm Sunday night…thoughts

That Palm Sunday night, after He rode in on the donkey, as the crowd cheered, I wonder did He look around at His disciples? Did He wonder if they remembered what He had told them? Were they so caught up in the celebration, in the moment, that they had forgotten His words? The , “LetContinue reading “Palm Sunday night…thoughts”

Yes, God will give you more than you can handle.

If you’re like most, your plate is full this week. You’re well aware of the problems in our country, and this world, and worry is camped right outside your door. You’ve got a list for your lists this Monday morning and your not even sure if you’ve got time to read this post. 😉 Here’sContinue reading “Yes, God will give you more than you can handle.”

The Thing Is People Don’t Die for a Lie

If we only study the Bible for intellectual knowledge, or to check off some box, we are missing the point. If we think doing what God says will lead to an easy life, we will be disappointed. Those who have followed Jesus the closest have died martyr’s deaths. They could have recanted their testimonies, theyContinue reading “The Thing Is People Don’t Die for a Lie”

I wonder was it a forbidden love or….

I don’t want to ever forget they were real people. They felt emotion, they worried, they hurt, they rejoiced, they fell in love. Timothy’s parents were real people. I wonder was it a forbidden love? Or was she forced to marry him? Just how did Eunice, a devout Jew, find herself married to a Greek?Continue reading “I wonder was it a forbidden love or….”

As Wrong is called Right—Here’s some HOPE!

Paul loved Timothy like a son and wanted him to be prepared to walk this life without his faithful guidance as he knew he would soon be executed. Paul knew Timothy would receive the letter with sorrow, yet he longed to fill his young friend with hope. Real hope. In this hard moment, Paul setsContinue reading “As Wrong is called Right—Here’s some HOPE!”

3 a.m. thoughts

I woke up at 3 a.m. thinking about another friend who had lost a loved one to CoVid. This virus is no respecter of bank accounts. You can’t buy yourself immunity from it. Your position, your zip code, your resume, or your political party, can’t keep you from catching it. You may run ten milesContinue reading “3 a.m. thoughts”

Does your heart need a reset to hope this Monday morning?

The Apostle Paul is writing to Timothy about how the church should conduct itself, but his words in 5:6 cause me to pause. “But she who lives in pleasure is dead while she lives.” (1 Tim 5:6) She who lives for herself and her own pleasure is dead. Dead.Empty.Never satisfied. Living for ourselves, will neverContinue reading “Does your heart need a reset to hope this Monday morning?”

A Bad Dream

The dream felt like it lasted all night. I was running, hiding, jumping up and hiding again. I was locked in a house with others. We were all hiding. We saw the evil person coming. We had no power against her. I shook with fear frantically looking for some place to hide. And the alarmContinue reading “A Bad Dream”

This Work leads to Hope

The Apostle Paul is practical. Straightforward. He doesn’t mince words. In his letter to Timothy, he gives detailed qualifications for church leaders. For the church to be healthy, it’s leaders need to live lives marked by high standards. Truly, we all do. These traits are not talents, giftedness or what you’d likely see on aContinue reading “This Work leads to Hope”

When God seems silent

The things which are impossible with men are possible with God”. (Luke 18:27) No seriously, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.” (Luke 18:27) This hard year, I see so much that seems impossible. Will this pandemic ever end? Will our country ever come together in unity? Will we stop fightingContinue reading “When God seems silent”

When I am afraid

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 that they would find hope, joy, and peace in You. Oh God, that some would finally just surrender to You. In the middleContinue reading “When I am afraid”

Oh my heart …and a Christmas wedding!

I burst into tears at the sight of my daughter’s messy room. Clothes were everywhere as she had been packing for her honeymoon. Her honeymoon! I realized she would soon clean up her room for the last time. And the tears about choked me. I thought back to a few years ago, when one ofContinue reading “Oh my heart …and a Christmas wedding!”

Hard things just seem harder at Christmastime. And honestly, I thought, by this point in the year 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? It’s beenContinue reading “HOPE”

Even in this

I originally shared this several years ago, but felt led to share it again for myself, and maybe for someone else who stumbles across it today. 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 hadContinue reading “Even in this”

When the hard things pile up

Sometimes, the hard things pile up, and we can feel like Job. Even those who don’t read the Bible know about the tragedies of Job. In the midst of it all, the Bible tells us, Job walked forward, but could not see God. He looked backward, but could not perceive Him. (Job 23:8) Where wasContinue reading “When the hard things pile up”

Why our shaky world keeps shaking us up

There’s that word, “all”. “Trust in the LORD with all your heart” (Prov 3:5) But honestly, isn’t it enough to trust in the Lord with MOST of my heart? Can’t I trust the Lord, and the government, and my bank account, and my health, and …… Does “all” really mean, “all”? Isn’t it okay, toContinue reading “Why our shaky world keeps shaking us up”