We all have valleys, big and small. My mom has been sick with shingles for three weeks now and this has been a valley for her. What started as a couple of irritating spots has turned into a full-blown shingles outbreak that has been filled with extreme nerve pain. It has pushed her to her…
September 17th, 2022, began as a normal day for our family. An overcast and quiet, yet beautiful, day. Watching our son play baseball, lunch with the kids, and a date day planned together. My husband, Cameron, and I had been planning this day for weeks. We told the kids we loved them, and headed out…
“Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is ” (Ephesians 5:15-17 NIV). I’m in a quandary—a state of uncertainty or distress involving a difficult situation. I am not…
“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful” (Colossians 3:15 NIV). Once upon a time there was a perfect church. The choir never sang a wrong note and the music minister picked songs that everyone liked to sing. Church members…
Following God can be challenging for those of us who love control. We know who we are—the ones who like to drive the bus, plan outings with friends, and strive for perfection and excellence. Loving control can manifest in many ways, but as believers, we must stay aware of our tendency to seek and cling…
“Have you prayed about it?” If you’re reading this, you’ve most likely been asked this question at some point in your life. Oftentimes, when talking to a fellow believer about a difficult season you are walking through, that is the first thing they think to ask. Everything in your body wants to scream, “YES! Don’t…
When the Red Bird Came Calling… I am sitting today with my Mom at Southwest Christian Care while I wait for her to make her way to heaven. There is a clear double glass door that allows us to see outside to the trees and the sky, but there is one special red bird that…
This week I found myself in the middle of a completely unexpected conversation. I have the propensity to frequently walk straight into interactions without even glancing for oncoming traffic. Can anyone else identify with me? Everything is just fine and then suddenly, you’re looking around like a Talking Heads song and thinking, “How did I…
Have you ever been convicted in a T.J. Maxx? No? Just me? Yesterday I was in a hurry; I had too many things on my list and no time to get them all done. One of my errands was to pick up some bedding items from T.J. Maxx. I should have had a game…
Trust. I thought I had this one in the pocket. Years ago, I was so excited to finish writing a Bible study with this topic because I thought it would be an easy one for me. I thought I had conquered the issue of trust many, many years ago. I was stunned when I began…