It was my birthday last week. As a lay in bed recounting the wonderful blessings I received that day, I prayed God would give me just one word to carry for the coming year. I waited in anticipation for him to lay on me some grand word of action or accomplishment. I fought to be still – and ready to […]
“Listen to your father, who gave you life.” – Proverbs 23:22 NIV I celebrated my last Father’s Day with my dad almost 20 years ago. At the time, cancer was sucking the life out of him. He looked more like a passing shadow than the man who had raised me. As I see my husband […]
“I Thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength to do his work. He considered me trustworthy and appointed me to serve him.” – 1 Timothy 1:12 NLT Mother’s Day is sweet. Then Monday comes and I remember … I’m a mother to teenagers. I’d like to say this feat has […]
“You are mine.” – Isaiah 43:1 ESV The message was crystal clear. In the days before Valentine’s, a message was made quite plain … On a cupcake. Be mine. Two small words that say, “Look, I’ve started something, now it’s your turn to respond.” Be mine because I’ve already chosen to be […]
“Do two people walk hand in hand if they aren’t going to the same place?” – Amos 3:3 MSG It’s February, and love is in the air. For most of us, love is the guy who misses the hamper, eats without a plate, and puts dents in our sofa cushions every evening. He’s […]
“As soon as you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God … then you shall set out from your place and follow it.” – Joshua 3:3 ESV They must have stood on the shores of the Jordan River filled with anticipation and hope. After 40 years of walking in desolation, […]
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given. – Isaiah 9:6 NIV Can I be honest? I’ve lost the Christmas spirit. Ornaments, cookies, and gifts just don’t interest me. I’m not excited about Christmas cards, Christmas carols, or Christmas lights. The rushing, shopping, cooking, and partying have all […]
The Sovereign Lord is my strength. – Habakkuk 3:19 NIV And so it begins… For the next six weeks we’ll work and plan and busy ourselves to exhaustion. Our home, family, and life will display perfection of the highest order. Turkeys, Christmas lights, and shopping sprees signal lofty expectations we’ll have of ourselves […]
