“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…
What makes forgiveness such a hard choice? Why do so many of us struggle with offering forgiveness? Choosing to forgive in this world often seems like we are validating the act; that in some way, we are saying what happened is okay. Forgiveness can be seen as a sign of weakness or a sign…
Have you ever been reading through scripture, or just living life and run into a BIG QUESTION for God? Or maybe you’ve run into a circumstance or struggle that made you question God’s character, sovereignty, authority, or goodness? I know I have, and for many years I really just shied away from those confusing stories…
You may be able to rattle off the blessings of this year or you may be feeling the load of loss upon your shoulders. Regardless, today is a day set aside by Americans to give thanks, but God tells us to give thanks always. He tells us to rejoice and then tells us again…