The Holy Inconvenience of Christmas
Christmas is days away. Are you ready? Tree up. House decorated. The flurry of shopping, wrapping, attending programs, baking, meal preps, and cards sent. And then something inconvenient gets added to …
Keys to Learning Gratitude
Learning gratitude in real life takes effort. It is easy to have a thankful heart during Thanksgiving week, but when tough times come throughout the year, gratitude in real life takes discipline. Even …
Do You Suffer From Identity Forgetfulness?
Do you have the “talent” of forgetfulness? This is a hidden talent for many of us. We can walk into a room and then wonder why we are there. However, our forgetfulness can go deeper. When things don’t …
The Best Dwelling Place
Our home, our dwelling place, has been a place of rest and security for me, especially during my health challenge of cancer and treatments in the past year. We can choose where we physically dwell but …
The Powerful Love of God
When was the last time you considered the powerful love of God? This love is simple enough to sing in a child’s song, yet powerful enough to draw us to relationship with the God of Creation. The …
Christian Marriage Foundational Scriptures
Rick and I joined the 50 year club, celebrating our Golden Anniversary in July. We reminisced about humorous moments in our marriage. We are grateful for all the Lord has done in us and through us. …
Jesus Surrendered for Our Redemption
Passover. The Last Supper. The Garden of Gethsemane. The betrayal and arrest. The beatings and crucifixion. The tomb. When you think of the events of the final days of Jesus’ life on …
Faithful God, Year After Year, in All Seasons of Life
Do you need a reminder that God is still working? The end of the year often brings a time of reflection, of looking back at the past twelve months. Flip through the calendar from the previous …
The Beautiful, Unusual Manger Gift Foretold in Isaiah
Have you ever gotten an unusual Christmas gift? The first Christmas that Rick and I were married, we didn’t have much and needed a lot of things for our household. That year, my parents had …
5 Ways to Cultivate a Thankful Mindset
What fills your heart? Gratitude or gripes? Is it words of thanks or complaints about lacking of something? Studies have shown that thankfulness makes us healthier. In one study, one …
Do You Know Your Identity in Christ?
Do you know your identity in Christ? We can define ourselves by our roles, our work, or our family but those descriptions are not our true identity. So many situations challenge …
Time for a Change of Attitude?
Autumn brings many changes and challenges, one of which is the time change. Twice a year we repeat the phrase “fall back, spring forward” to hopefully avoid confusion about …
The Greatest Life Story
The greatest life story, that of Jesus Christ, shaped the world and the Christian faith. Other religious leaders died, were buried, and remain in their graves. Jesus Christ is the only one who …
Because of Love, No Turning Back
The master plan for our redemption was in the heart of God from the beginning of time in the Garden of Eden. The Old Testament points to the story of Jesus. This plan reached …
Are You Thirsting for God?
Are you thirsting for God? On our recent trip to Israel, we were told to have plenty of available water to keep hydrated. Although the temperature was moderate, once we got into the Judean …
Living as a New Creation in Christ
As we start the new year, we read a lot about resolutions, goals, or selecting one word for the year. The year unfolds on day at a time. Our daily choices shape our lives. How will this year be …
Packing Up, Sweeping Away, and Looking Forward
The week between Christmas and the new year is unique. Our activities usually involve packing away the Christmas decorations, sweeping away bits of wrapping paper, and munching on the goodness …
Far Reaching, Life-Changing Christmas Love
Christmas images of love stir sentimental scenes created from movies where people are cozy and happy. However, often real life is the opposite of those images. The love of God given …
Joy from the Manger for Everyday Life
Out culture shows Christmas as a perpetual happy time. In our minds we create images of people smiling, being comfortable with each other, and celebrating. The reality is that life is hard, not …
Where is the Peace?
Peace is elusive in the the world today. International conflicts raise tensions in far away places. Financial or health uncertainties steal peace of mind. The caregiver of a terminally ill person …
