Snip Snip
Let's talk about fruit. Can you imagine, if you were a fruit tree, what it must feel like to have your branches trimmed back or cut off altogether? Doesn't sound like fun. But wait… the Bible says God's [...]
Living Victoriously
People pay big money to attend seminars on how to be successful. It's in the heart of every person to succeed (at something). It's our heart because God wired us that way. And although I could [...]
The Leaf and the Dreamer
With flashlight in hand, I carefully made my way down the uneven dirt path. As I walked, I prayed. I poured my heart out to God in the stillness of the night. It was cold, yet [...]
The Amazing Honor of Two Men
You may or may not have heard this story before, but I want to look at two men who both did something honorable. Remember, righteousness isn't only what Christ has done for us, but what we [...]
Do the Math
Here's a quick lesson in reconciling: Most of you have some type of bank account, and every month you receive a statement from the bank showing the pluses and minuses for the month. Now whether you [...]
Reclaiming Identity
In my humble opinion, I believe there's an attack on identity like never before. It may be more prominent in the United States, but I believe it's world-wide. It's an outright attack on people made in [...]
An Intentional Farmer
This article first appeared on The Christian Broadcasting Network Funny story: my stepdad doesn’t like tomatoes but he planted 120 tomato plants this year. He’s not a farmer. He’s a retired plumber. He doesn’t grow anything [...]
No Longer An Outsider
People who struggle with insecurity know what it feels like to be an "outsider." Whether they really are or not, there's a real feeling of being left out or pushed to the back. It's a tool [...]
The Struggle is Real
I had to look up the definition for clarity. As I was praying for several people around me, I realized the common denominator was struggle-- they were all struggling in some form or fashion. The dictionary [...]
Are You Tired?
Do you have things in your life that were once exciting that now feel like a chore? Maybe it's your job, or your studies, or (God forbid) your marriage. My point is, we should never be [...]
Make Yourself At Home
When my husband and I first married, he had to get used to an extended family— not because he married into mine, but because my side of the family had multiples. My parents were divorced and [...]
His Presence is Heaven
There's an old song that rises up in my heart occasionally. The lyrics start out like this: Who is like You, Lord in all the earth?Matchless love and beauty, endless worthNothing in this world can satisfyJesus, [...]
It’s Called Living
When you think about it, emotions are an interesting attribute of our human make-up. And yet, God saw it fit to equip us with these feelings that influence our behavior. Emotions cause us to laugh, cry, [...]
When the Pedestal Falls
Years ago, my husband and I decided to paint the trim of our house one summer. We only had one ladder so I had the bright idea that an old milk crate, turned upside-down, would be [...]
Samples for Everyone
As you know, in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, the Bible describes how Jesus went from place to place ministering to people. For example, in Matthew 9:35, the Bible says, "Then Jesus went [...]
God is Proud of Our Faith in Him
"Beware of mixing even a little of self with the mortar with which you build, or you will make it untempered mortar, and the stones will not hold together. If you look to Christ for your [...]
Victory at the Cross
"But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the kingdom of God" (Luke 9:27). The first time I studied this, I thought "What did Jesus mean? [...]
Avoid the Trap of Offense
"Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscious seared with a hot [...]
