Hope grows during December through the anticipation of the holiday activities, Christmas gifts and family gatherings. Kids anticipate their favorite toy or new electronic gadget under the …
Is Peace at Christmas Possible?
Christmas stirs a range of feelings from excitement to nostalgia to sadness. Children get excited anticipating the fun of gifts and parties. Adults become nostalgic, remembering holidays from long …
Preparing for December
December brings all kinds of preparations that can either be fun or overwhelming. The list includes special meals to prepare, gifts to purchase, lights to hang, and the Christmas tree to put …
Giving Thanks – Learning Gratitude In Real Life
Learning gratitude in real life takes effort. It is taught in our homes. When a child receives a birthday gift from someone, the mom usually cues the child, “What do you say?” It’s a …
Taste and See the Goodness of God
The goodness of God is all around us. Autumn in the Midwest brings crisp air, colorful leaves, and s'mores by the fire pit. The season also means that pumpkin spice is everywhere on foods …
Do You Need Soul Satisfaction?
Do you need soul satisfaction? We are too easily satisfied with the things of this world. Contentment is elusive. We become too busy with our everyday lives that we neglect the source of …
Pray for Hope in the Mess
Do you need hope in the midst of the mess and chaos in the world? When we look at crisis after crisis, it is natural to feel despair. On a large scale, the terrorist attacks, …
Marriage in Tandem
Marriage is a tandem ride. Recently Rick and I celebrated our forty-sixth anniversary. How did that happen? I remember standing at the altar as a bright-eyed but naïve twenty-year-old …
Reflections on Freedom: Pray for America the Beautiful
America, the Beautiful stirs my heart whenever I hear it sung. The fabric of our country has been woven through the centuries with the strength and faith of her people. The courage of early …
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Ready for Spring Cleanup?
Spring cleanup takes a lot of forms, from cleaning inside the house to sprucing up the yard. The other day I tackled some long overdue yard work, raking old leaves from fence line and …
Words of Worth for Your Soul
Do you feel like you're doing your best but still coming up short? Feelings of inadequacy are overwhelming and possibly crippling. Do need some words of worth for your …
How Can We Abide in the Lord?
In spring, each day brings something new. The leaves on trees and blooms on flowers appear, especially after rain. Birds are building nests, selecting safe places for their young. Many nests are …
Need Rest and a Change of Scenery?
Have you ever needed rest and a change of scenery? The pandemic has limited social involvement and entertainment. One of my favorite hashtags of the past year is #stuckathome. Can you …
Celebrating the Resurrection
Continue celebrating the Resurrection every day! It's not a"one and done" deal. Reflect on memories but keep it's importance in the forefront of your mind. Do you have Easter memories from …
God’s Power in Creation, a Cradle, and the Cross
An intense, powerful storm passed through our area. Lightning flashed like strobe lights, pounding thunder shook windows, sheets of rain poured from the angry sky. Lights flickered. Would we …
Three Ways Joy Changes You
Have you ever purchased something that you thought would bring joy, but later you were disappointed by it? The other day I felt discouraged. My mood matched the overcast skies. …
3 Keys to Live with Confidence in a Changeable World
Spring is coming, bringing the hope of change to warmer weather. A few warm days teased me to think winter is over. It’s time to put away the heavy winter sweaters. But then a late winter …
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Why Is Heart Posture Important?
Posture is important in life. "Straighten up!" If I slouched as a teenager, Mom poked me between my shoulder blades, as if her words weren't enough of a reminder. Musicians know …
How Can I Gain a Pure Heart?
It's hard to keep a pure heart with the noise of the world through television, social media, and the internet constantly invading our lives. Are the words we hear encouraging or …
How do You Guard Your Heart?
"I thought you'd call sooner." The voice on the phone was full of criticism and disappointment. I sensed coldness as she continued talking about the stress in her life. I listened, …
