Every year I like to send out a piece that I wrote many years ago to help our family keep Christmas in proper perspective. I hope it blesses you and your family as well.
God Sees What You’re Going Through
I’m posting over at Proverbs 31 Ministries’ Encouragement for Today. I thought this might be an encouragement for you too. God sees what you’re going through!
One day I was sitting on the patio with my new stepfather, Pete, waiting for the grill to heat up before placing steaks on to cook. My mom opened the door and gave Pete his orders — telling him what to do and how to do it. Read more…
Gratitude Changes Everything
I just love Thanksgiving! It is my favorite time of year. A time to remember all that we have to be thankful for!
But what about the times when we just don’t feel very thankful. When the job stinks or the kids get on that last nerve. When we’ve got too much to do and not enough me to do it. Read more…
When You Feel Discouraged
Have you ever gone through a period of discouragement? Perhaps you’re in one right now. Believe me, I’ve been right there with you. I’ve hidden in the cave with Elijah, under the gourd plant with Jonah, and in the dessert with Moses.
Discouragement comes when there is a gap between what you expect and what you experience—when there is a gap between what you hoped would happen and what actually does happen. Read more…
Thank God for My Dirty Floor
A friend told me of sitting with his father discussing the distribution of his “worldly goods,” when the time came to do so. “My dad had very little joy in his life,” Mike explained. “As we sat there discussing who was going to get what when he died, I saw a pride in him I had never noticed before. ‘I did all this,’ he said as he waved his hand around the room like Vanna White. Read more…
Making God Easier to See
When I turned forty, all of a sudden small letters and numbers got smaller. A trip to the ophthalmologist proved that I needed reading glasses.
But I had a hard time keeping up with them, so the doctor fitted me with mono-vision contact lenses. In my left eye I wear a contact lens for close up and in my right eye I wear a contact lens for distance. Read more…
What You Miss When You Don’t Forgive
This post is personal…really personal. I pray God will use it in your life. Live free, my friend.
One last wish.
The longing of a dying mother’s heart.
A wish that only one person could have satisfied. But he didn’t.
If you’ve read any of my books, you know that my childhood was a cauldron of violent arguments, Read more…
When You’re Afraid to Jump Into the Deep End of God’s Will
Have you ever been afraid to say “yes” to God? I have. Today I’m writing over at Proverbs 31 Ministries. I thought you could use the encouragement too. Let’s jump in together!
I was sitting on the balcony, listening to excited squeals and splashes as children played in the swimming pool below.
One particular little girl caught my attention. Read more…
Sometimes You Just Need to Breathe
It was one of my favorite trees. And it was dying.
We live on a lake, and my dying tree was truly a “tree planted by streams of water.” So how could it be dying? How could branches right in the smack dab middle of the bushy green be turning into kindling? It didn’t make sense.
I called an arborist to come out and take a look. Read more…
When You Feel Like Giving Up
I’m writing over at Proverbs 31 Ministries’ Encouragement for Today this morning. I wanted to share this with you too. By the way, if you haven’t been over to P31’s website, check it out!
Can I make a confession? Sometimes I quit too soon.
I’ve quit when what I really needed was to press on and press through. Read more…
