He Sees Me
Back in elementary school, my class gathered together in the gym to learn square dancing. Yes, square dancing. (It is Texas after all). We were all assigned a partner and I was paired up with one of the more popular boys in the class. I should mention...dancing is not one of my “strengths”. The following week, the teachers asked us to pair up again with our partner. They also mentioned if you couldn’t remember who your partner was, to go stand in a specific area and they would reassign you. Well, apparently, my square dance buddy, who didn’t suffer from
In Appreciation of Pastors
It’s Pastor Appreciation Month! I love how this time has been carved out to express gratitude for those who serve faithfully in obedience to the Lord. Words can’t describe how incredibly grateful I am for all of my Pastors and their families. Each of them is loving and kind and I am thankful we are truly family in Christ. Every one of my pastors and their families has demonstrated how to live this life the best we can for the glory of God. They model the disciplines of a believer through worship, giving, prayer and fasting, and having a spirit-filled
It’s Snack O’Clock
As I was munching on pretzels yesterday, I began reminiscing about sitting in my neighbors’ home. They were an elderly couple who lived across the street from my family when I was a little girl. While my brother and I would play outdoors, they would invite us to their home and my parents encouraged us to go. As we were entertained by the parakeet happily tweeting, the elderly man would reach into his wood cabinet and pull out a bag of pretzels. As we gobbled them down, he would share stories of his past with us. We listened attentively and
My Big God
Recently I was overcome with fear and anxiety about a very difficult situation in my life. What I had hoped and planned for was suddenly in question. My stomach was in knots and I barely slept. I woke up the next morning still feeling the heaviness of the uncertainty of what was going to happen. I couldn’t take it anymore. I called up my friend and prayer warrior. I explained the situation to her and just asked her if she could pray. And pray she did! Through her prayer, I was reminded of God’s great faithfulness in my life. He
Thank You For Being Faithful
I had just walked off the stage after speaking to a group of women. I was greeted by gracious cheers and people patting me on the back. Then, I came face to face with someone who I deeply admire. “Thank you for being faithful.” Now granted, much of my talk was about being faithful so I was very thankful for the sentiment. I guess maybe I was hoping for a follow-up statement too. Something like, "That was amazing” would have been...well...amazing! If I’m being honest, being faithful in Christian circles sometimes feels equivalent to “having a good personality” in dating
Our Treasure
There was a small closet in the narrow hallway of my house when I was a young girl. The hallway led to the living room from the bedroom that I shared with my sister. You would open the closet at your own risk because you never know what could fall out. Sheets were stuffed into a few shelves along with odd objects, like Dad’s typewriter. But way down on the floor of the closet was a tired cardboard box that was busting at the seams. It held a white album that gingerly held pictures from my parents’ wedding. I treasured
Just Do It
There's been a problem in my household that has been worsening over the last few months. I will ever so sweetly tell my kids to do something- pick up their trash, put their shoes in their room, put their markers away, and then, I just wait. I wait and wait and wait. I will leave the room and come back 10 minutes later and the chore still hasn't been done yet. I come back 10 minutes after that and it STILL hasn't been done. Then, I start to get annoyed. "GUYS! I said to pick up your stuff! This is the
Our King’s Decree
From the time my boys were old enough to ask questions, my husband’s response to difficult topics has not changed. “Boys, it’s not about what I say or think about a particular issue or what you or your friends say or think about that issue....all that matters is what the Bible says about the issue.” Despite the eye rolling and their, “Daddy, we know,” response, I am hopeful something is sinking in. It’s important to know why we do what we do and why we believe what we believe. In the book of Ezra, after seventy years of captivity, King
When Life Gives You Lemons
Our fun family tradition on Fridays is having a pizza and movie night. Our kids decide on the movie we’ll watch, while my husband and I order the pizza for a relaxing evening together. It has been a great way for us to unwind from the week and share some hearty laughs. The past month has been a period of unexpected transition for our family. With transition comes change, which feels sad and challenging occasionally. So with the changes we’ve had to make, it seemed as if we would have to omit this tradition during this period. As I’ve been
Obedience
I think it took a long time for me to understand the power of obedience. The laws of the land in their intent are always meant to protect us. Without laws, civil unrest would break out and anything would go. While laws are put in place to keep things fair and in order, sometimes they are painful to follow. But when followed they can be powerful to help us be successful. God’s laws are like that too. Whether we like them or not, if we follow them, there is a reward for doing so. King Jotham of Judah was
