Lent began on Ash Wednesday, marking the forty days before Easter. Ash Wednesday is the day of remembering our human condition of sinfulness and our need for God's forgiveness. Lent can be a time …
Ending One Year, Preparing for the Next Year
Ending one year and preparing for the next year with purpose takes thought and prayer. Teach us to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom. Psalm 90:12 NIV Another year will soon be …
Imagine Mary’s Deep Trust in God
Imagine the deep trust shown by Mary when the angel Gabriel came to her, changing her life (and ours) forever. "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you." Luke 1:28 …
What’s the Difference Between Praise and Thanks?
What the difference between praise and thanks? Many times we use them interchangeably in our prayers. Both of the words are nouns and verbs. Each word has a specific objective, yet the words …
Can You See Plentiful Blessings?
Can you see plentiful blessings around you? We moved into our new home the end of summer, when the mature oak trees provided wonderful shade. Many large trees in our neighborhood are beautiful as …
Choose Faith and Hope
What do you turn to when you learn of yet another tragedy, be it the force of hurricanes, earthquakes, or tragic massacre of innocent folks? Questions arise in our shock. How can we understand …
Transitions Abound
Transitions abound during this time of year. The summer routine is over as the school year begins. Bedtimes become more regular. Kids are in different classrooms with new teachers. Students …
Random Thoughts: Where Has My Brain Gone?
Random thoughts jump around in my head, sometimes like fleas and other times like galloping horses needing corralled. Focus? It's nearly gone. Writing projects are temporarily put on …
Heavenly Father, Perfect Father for All
Our father can rescue us from peril. I took a dare from my older brother to climb the big poplar tree in our front yard. The branches were the perfect distance apart for my little legs to reach and …
A Message for Moms: Your Worth is in Christ! You Are Enough!
Moms, have you ever judged yourself as not good enough? Always coming up short of what is expected or needed? As I’ve observed moms of all ages throughout the decades of my life, I’ve seen a common …
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The Unfolding of Redemption
The week leading up to Easter is often busy with anticipation of celebrating spring, family get-togethers, and egg hunts. As the week unfolds, we live out the plan of our preparations. If we get too …
What Do Your Words Say About You?
Have you noticed the harsh words that bombard us? The noise of the world through television, social media, and talk shows constantly invade our lives. Are the words we hear encouraging or …
Wrap God’s Love Around You
Wrap God's love around your heart. Try to grasp how wide and far and deep and high it is, like standing on the ocean shore seeing the infinite sky and water. Find comfort in reading the words of …
Why Trust the Sovereign God?
Trust. A simple but powerful word that is the belief that someone or something is reliable, good, honest, effective, etc. The all-knowing, sovereign God is trustworthy. When we can't see through …
Seven Questions for Year-End Review
A year-end review enlightens us with understanding for future days. Learning from the past helps prepare us for the new year. God guides us through as we look to Him. A year-end review is …
Are Stress and Peace the Rhythm of Life?
Peace is often hard to find in a world full of stress. We anticipate something to happen one way, but it turns out another. Stress increases. We live in the tension between stress and peace. Our …
A Broken Mess?
We live in a broken mess. On the news we hear about fires raging out of control, earthquakes rattling communities, and unresolved wars. People made homeless due to natural disasters or joblessness. …
How is Your Gratitude Perspective?
I love the reminders to be thankful during this season, but am saddened that it lasts only a few weeks in November. A gratitude perspective is hard to maintain throughout the year with the pressures …
A Thankful Surprise
The winds of autumn blow through the trees, swirling yellow and red leaves to the ground. Brown crunchy leaves line the streets. Temperature fall; days are shorter. Autumn is here. Each season has its …
Improve Your Perspective: Release Disillusionment and Embrace Faith
A new perspective is hard to come by when life seems unfair. Disillusionment clouds our thinking; all we can see is the injustice around us. We grumble that we didn't get the promotion or …
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