Yesterday I wrote a devotion for Proverbs 31 Ministries. In light of all that happened in Texas this past Sunday, I’m thinking maybe you might need this encouragement too. I had to go back and read the words I wrote to remind myself of the truth of 2 Corinthians 4:18. Yep, sometimes we need to preach to ourselves. Read more…
Living in God’s Yes and Best
“I can do everything through him (Jesus) who gives me strength,” (Philippians 4:13 NIV).
Several years ago, my husband and I decided to go zip lining on the island of Kauai. After being jostled and tossed like ragdolls in the back of a retired army jeep, we finally made it to the top of the mountain from which we were going to zip down—risking life and limb I might add. Read more…
Seeing Your True Value
Do you remember the day you came to saving faith?
Perhaps you’re still considering a relationship with Jesus.
Perhaps you can’t even remember a time when you didn’t know Him.
For me, it was on a summer night when I was fourteen years old.
When I think about how God brought me out of a home filled with alcohol, Read more…
Free to Start Anew
Let me tell you about one of my dear friends from college…Laura.
Laura lived in a small town with parents who were morally sound and family oriented. She went to church from her earliest remembrance and was baptized when she was 12 years old. In high school, she began dating Barry. After Laura went off to college, both of Barry’s parents died. Read more…
When You’re Struggling with Bad Thoughts and Habits
Someone once asked me if I had ever struggled with a stronghold in my life. To be honest, at the time I wasn’t even sure what a stronghold was. So I did a little digging.
A stronghold is one of those churchy Christianese words that’s hard to wrap your mind around. It’s not a word we use everyday. Read more…
You Are Who God Says You Are
Today I’m writing over at www.proverbs31.org for their Encouragement for Today devotion. In case you missed it, I wanted to share it with you too! Lived blessed! You are.
“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!” 1 John 3:1 (NIV)
I became a Christian when I was a teenager. Read more…
When You Don’t Want to Go Back to the Way You Were
I just got my braces off…again.
I have had braces on my upper teeth three times. Count them. One. Two. Three.
As the orthodontist explained, “Teeth have a memory. They always want to go back to the way they were.”
As soon as he said those words, I felt convicted. I have a tendency to go back to the way I was. Read more…
Power Verses to Help You Live Big
Congratulations to Sandra Hogge, the winner of a copy of Take Hold of the Faith You Long For from the random drawing from the comments of last blog post!!!
When Shame Weighs You Down
I sat on my back porch, wrapped in my fuzzy worn robe—the one that’s twenty years old but I just can’t seem to get rid of.
The birch tree leaves shivered in the cool morning crispness and the gerbera daisies that had been sleeping beneath the soil through the winter months, stretched their faces to the sun . Read more…
How Taking Hold Makes All the Difference
I was alone, or at least I felt that way. Women huddled in happy clusters chatting about first one thing and then another. Some propped babies on their hips. Others clutched Bibles in their hands.
Most wore smiles on their faces. I wore one too. But it wasn’t a reflection of what was in my heart. The upturned lips were simply the camouflage I wore to blend in—to avoid being found out. Read more…