The world is hard. Let’s plant our feet in truth. Let’s read 1st John!

This world is full of temptation, trial, and false teachers. It’s easy to get discouraged, distracted and tired. This is exactly why we need God’s Word every day. For sometime now, I’ve been drawn to the book of First John. John. The beloved disciple. The son of Zebedee who, with his brother James, were calledContinue reading “The world is hard. Let’s plant our feet in truth. Let’s read 1st John!”

Purpose, Peace, and Joy comes from this.

As we follow Christ in obedience and seek to bring honor and glory to Him, rather than ourselves , we find great purpose, abiding peace and inexplicable joy. And though Christ followers are already citizens of Heaven (Phil 3:29), we still live in this world and still feel the pull of sin and flesh (RomContinue reading “Purpose, Peace, and Joy comes from this.”

My Son is Saved! Listen to his words

So many of you have prayed for my son! Thank you! What a Savior!! He pursues the lost and the prodigal! He brings salvation and peace! Nothing is too hard for Him (Luke 1:37). I pray that Will’s words at his baptism yesterday will encourage others to run to Jesus! Let’s keep praying for eachContinue reading “My Son is Saved! Listen to his words”

Were your feelings hurt this Christmas?

Did you get your feelings hurt at Christmas? Was an expectation unmet? Did someone let you down? Did someone not treat your kid or grandkid how you wish they had? Gathering with others just seems to present all kinds of opportunities for hurts to happen. Are you still thinking about it? Is it starting toContinue reading “Were your feelings hurt this Christmas?”

Hold on in HOPE!

I’ve seen the Lord work, and He didn’t need me at all. He did everything. His Holy Spirit moved in ways I never expected and the evidence is clear. I wish I could tell you that I never worried or doubted that He would move. I wish I could say I never tried to takeContinue reading “Hold on in HOPE!”

Peace of CHRISTmas

Peace It’s sounds like such a calm, relaxing, silent night, kind of word. But to better understand the peace of CHRISTmas, we need to think of peace as in terms of war …war and peace. The Bible says, we were God’s enemies. (Rom 5:10) Not just lost, or confused, or mistaken.We were hostile to God.Continue reading “Peace of CHRISTmas”

Have you noticed this to be true?

Can you imagine the emotion, with which Peter (known to be emotional) wrote these words: “Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that he no longer should live the rest of his time inContinue reading “Have you noticed this to be true?”

You’ve got to (lovingly) speak up…even at the family gathering.

I’m thinking of picking up this hammer and hitting my thumb. How many of you would just stand there, and watch, and say nothing? Yet, this is what so many of us do when we see others walking in and toward misery-making sin! We say nothing. We even tell others to not bring it up.Continue reading “You’ve got to (lovingly) speak up…even at the family gathering.”

Don’t fall for this.

They were his closest friends. They had walked miles of dusty roads together. They had seen Him delight over the little children, raise the dead, heal the sick, walk on water, feed the thousands and watched Him weep. They had sat with Him as He taught with authority. They had been chosen among the worldContinue reading “Don’t fall for this.”

Monday Morning HOPE

Honestly when I take my eyes off Jesus, I get off base. When I look at this world, it’s the same. When I look to Jesus, it is there, and only there that my thinking becomes clear. There is only ONE hope for man. There is only One Name by which man may be saved.Continue reading “Monday Morning HOPE”

Are you walking in FEAR or FAITH?

When Christians lose hope, it’s a sign to the lost world that we don’t really believe what we say we believe. (See Phil 1:28-29) People who have lost hope are driven by fear. But what does fear look like in the day to day? It’s not that we often see fellow Christians running around screamingContinue reading “Are you walking in FEAR or FAITH?”

To remember in your hard things..

What’s your “this”? As Paul famously sat imprisoned for the faith, he knew “this” would turn out for his deliverance through prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ (Phil 1:19). He needed prayer and he needed the Holy Spirit to earnestly hope he wouldn’t be ashamed, but that Christ would be magnifiedContinue reading “To remember in your hard things..”

Don’t forget, PEACE comes through surrender (again and again)

Surrender is a hard thing. Hebrews’ final chapter exhorts believers to “obey those who rule over you, be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account.” (13:17) In my flesh, I don’t want anyone to rule over me. I don’t want to be submissive to my husband or anyoneContinue reading “Don’t forget, PEACE comes through surrender (again and again)”

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.”

Ouch and Amen.

I woke up and checked my phone. Sure enough, the world is still crazy and there are still hard things going on for those I love. But God is still on the throne. He’s still at work in a thousand ways I cannot see. But He is also at work in some ways I can.Continue reading “Ouch and Amen.”

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.”

Trying Harder? Frustrated with your own sin?

I think it’s HUGE that we understand this! What exactly does Jesus mean when He says, “When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none. Then he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when he comes, he finds itContinue reading “Trying Harder? Frustrated with your own sin?”

God, I don’t understand

It is not popular to say, but God will do things we don’t like or understand. In Luke 6, Jesus heals a man on the Sabbath and the religious leaders were filled with rage. Rage. Not awe and adoration that a miracle had been performed right before their eyes. Not celebration for the man whoseContinue reading “God, I don’t understand”

I need to read these words today…

I needed to read these words from the old preacher-teacher, Oswald Chambers, today (pictured with his daughter)– “Put Trust in God First. Our Lord never put His trust in any person. Yet He was never suspicious, never bitter, and never lost hope for anyone, because He put His trust in God first. He trusted absolutelyContinue reading “I need to read these words today…”