We’ve been sitting in this pot for awhile now. I’m referring to this world we live in, but my reference isn’t limited to those who are over a certain age– this situation we’re in now, it’s been a slow boil for all of humanity. We’re like the boiling frog who didn’t know he was in danger. You see, if a frog is ...
I met a girl recently who talked to me the entire time with her arms folded across her chest and her head tilted slightly to the side as if she was keeping the door in her peripheral view. She was a beautiful girl. I’d say she talked to me, but actually I did most of the talking. Her body language ...
I want to encourage you today to believe the best of every person. You will have opportunity to see the faults in others and therefore, it’s inevitable that you will be disappointed in the actions (or inaction) of people. This is especially true when it’s family or someone you’ve developed a close relationship with, but… Never set your eyes on ...
What happens when a person’s reckless living meets the reckless love of God? A.W. Tozer is quoted as saying something that makes me think of fathers. He said, “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing to us.” Obviously, my answer to this (as I already pointed out) is the word Father. That’s ...
Addressing racial injustices, I see two major steps. Racial profiling has to STOP. Pre-judging a person based on the color of their skin has to STOP. I hope to God I’m not addressing Christians here, but sadly these issues were seeded in our country and homes a long time ago and therefore some were raised with prejudices that have never ...
This article first appeared on The Inspired Woman Blog | Jesus gave us a command that had such power He immediately had to follow it with a warning. The command was: “…that you love one another” (John 15:17). Sounds simple enough, but it’s the most powerful instruction any of us could follow. It takes greater strength and self-discipline to love than it does to ...
I grew up in a home where Santa was welcomed at Christmas. And even when my own children were young, we had a tradition of Santa gifts under the tree on Christmas morning. But in the Christian world, this is quite the debate. One thing I can assure you is this, it’s up to each individual to live their convictions. ...
We know “God is love” (1 John 4:8). Yet, I meet Christians every day who seem to think God is only about the do’s and don’ts of His Word–and they totally miss that any suggestion or command He may have for us was birthed out of His character of love. I was thinking about this for two reasons: I heard ...
If you’ve tried to rent a movie lately, or even scrolled through your TV guide to watch something, you’ve noticed the plethora of scary, frightful, even downright evil that has taken over the media industry. Personally, I dislike it. And as Christians we need to understand this truth: Fear is the polar opposite of God. How, you ask? The Bible ...
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 ...
Have you ever been surprised by sudden emotion? I mean, really surprised? Like, where did that come from? I have, and I’ve discovered some of the reason why we, as Christians, are overtaken with surprise emotions on occasion. Before I explain, let me clarify that I’m not referring to sudden outbursts of wrath or hysterics–or anything remotely resembling a lack of ...
I was born on February 13, 1969 — so if you do the math, this is the big 5-0, a birthday most would dread. I’ve chosen to embrace it. As a friend of mine said, wisdom and revelation come with age; so, why wouldn’t we be excited to learn more about God and grow closer to Him every year? I ...
When you develop your relationship with the Holy Spirit and maintain a steady diet of God’s Word, the Lord will speak things to your heart. For example, I was praying and thanking God for a new day (one I desperately needed after feeling unnecessary pressure from the previous one) when this scripture rose up in my spirit: The blessing of the ...
The author is unknown. In fact, I don’t remember where I first heard this story, but it perfectly illustrates the love of our Father and the price Jesus paid to set us free. A man was walking through town one day when he saw a young boy coming toward him swinging an old, rusty birdcage. In the bottom of the ...
Have you ever wondered (like I have) what Jesus meant when He said there will be some who will call Him Lord but He never knew them? I’ve studied this out before because if it’s possible to hear those words, I want to avoid whatever it is that would make Him say that to me. What I first discovered was ...
In the famous children’s novel, Alice in Wonderland, the Queen of Hearts is an interesting character. Overseeing the kingdom with the King of Hearts, she changes from pleasant to enraged every other minute. At the slightest offense, she shouts, “Off with their heads!” It seems ordering executions is one of her hobbies. However, as the story goes, very few were ...
Our fear (respect & love) of God must far outweigh our fear of man. At the airport, we realized three other mission teams from across the United States were also on our flight to Honduras. I looked at a member of another team and said, “Jesus sure loves Honduras.” Every summer I travel with a missions group to minister in ...
When we think about something being “permanently fixed,” we’re referring to anything that is fastened, attached, or placed so firm, it’s not readily movable. This could be anything from a palm tree to a cement bunker. In the same manner, Jesus asked us to be permanently fixed in two things: His Word and His Love. If you’ve ever used super glue to repair ...