When my oldest son and daughter-in-law lead their youth camp each summer, I get the privilege of keeping my grandchildren, Roman and Nova. They are both at a fun age, especially Nova, as she has recently learned to walk and explore, curious and easily entertained, but definitely still a bit needy. Roman, on the other hand, is a big help ...

“Dear, dear Corinthians, I can’t tell you how much I long for you to enter this wide-open, spacious life. We didn’t fence you in. The smallness you feel comes from within you. Your lives aren’t small, but you’re living them in a small way. I’m speaking as plainly as I can and with great affection. Open up your lives. Live ...

After having some difficulties with my computer once, my husband suggested I get a software program to run systematic scans that would find and fix any problems or files that simply needed to be securely trashed. I found one that was in fact called Find & Fix. The first time I ran it, the scan found over 1,700 junk or ...

Soul wounds are real. They are the result of our mind, will, or emotions being so abruptly jolted that a wound is made upon the soul, leaving a scar that must be dealt with. I’ve had many soul wounds in my life — each one bringing me to the brink of despair. The death of a loved one, family strife, ...

“…because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:16). These words were written by the Apostle Paul to the church in Ephesus almost two thousand years ago. If it was true then, it is even more true today. But thankfully, it wasn’t just a simple observation. God gave Paul clear instructions for the church as to how to navigate successfully through evil ...

I recently tweeted: The inevitable cycle (good or bad): We make choices. Our choices make us. When you wake in the morning, you make a choice: get up or stay in bed a little longer? When you make that choice, then another choice must be made… then the next… and so on. All day, every day– our lives are a ...

When you think about it, emotions are an interesting attribute of our human make-up. God saw it fit to equip us with these feelings that influence our behavior. Emotions cause us to laugh, cry, yell, and sigh. They produce giggles, sobs, joy, and peace. And as I’m sure you know, some emotions are attached to sin, and yet God uses ...

I remember the first time I read Psalm 8 and the question David asked God: “What is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him?” Psalm 8:4 (NKJV) I thought it was the perfect question to ask of God. I had always struggled with self-worth. It was easy to see my shortcomings and therefore ...

While traveling recently, I found a random Christian radio station in my car. Between songs, the host commented that Jesus did not come to bring us happiness “as some preach hoping to bring others into the kingdom.” He went on to give his reasonings for making such a statement and I didn’t disagree, but at the same time, something didn’t ...

God has been trying to help me recognize and understand the distractions in my life.  In fact, I’ve learned: “Whatever is not your assignment is your distraction.” You might think this would be a simple lesson, but I have found it to be a difficult one. Every day we have opportunities before us, but which to choose?  How do we ...

A few weeks ago, I stumbled upon a word that made me take a second look. The word was mundane. I figured it meant ordinary, routine, blah, or ho-hum. And these are correct synonyms (words that mean the same). But actually, Webster’s defines mundane as “of or pertaining to this world or earth as contrasted with heaven.” Really? This is ...

There’s a difference between being a beggar and being a believer. And then there’s also this thing called persistence. Jesus said, “Suppose you went to a friend’s house at midnight, wanting to borrow three loaves of bread. You say to him, ‘A friend of mine has just arrived for a visit, and I have nothing for him to eat.’ And suppose ...

In 2006, Steve Wynn, an art collector and real estate developer from Las Vegas, put his elbow through an expensive Picasso he owned, while showing it to friends. According to NPR, the painting was scheduled to be sold within days of the damage for $139 million to his friend Steve Cohen. A restorer said the painting would only be worth $85 ...

This article first appeared on The Christian Broadcasting Network | We’re all guilty (some more than others). We post something to Facebook or Instagram and then we watch … will anyone like this? How many people will like? Will they comment? Or share it? Twitter is no different – only the question we ask ourselves – did anyone retweet it? Tag ...

How many of you have been excited about a dream …only to have life happen? I mean, the wheels were turning, your heart was beating wildly with anticipation, and the vision was coming in faster than you could write it down –and then one day, you found yourself wondering what happened? I think this scenario is pretty relatable to most ...

There is an awful law at work in every Christian. It is a stumbling block for both the instigator and the witness. We would be lost if God’s Word didn’t help us understand the battle within… “What I don’t understand about myself is that I decide one way, but then I act another, doing things I absolutely despise. So if ...

How many of us have been afraid of the dark before? Either as a child, or as an adult walking across a parking lot late at night feeling a bit eeby-jeeby because you can’t see beyond the shadows? I’m going to guess it’s all of us at one point or another. But let’s flip it around… how many of us ...

Trust isn’t earned by showing off only your Sunday best. “You see, God is a Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” This was the final explanation Jesus gave to the woman at the well (John 4:1-26). She was already fascinated that a Jewish man would speak to a woman, much less one from Samaria. But He ...