Giving Your Best in Spite of Difficult People
Have you ever been in a position where you not only love what you do, but you love who you do it with or do it for? Maybe it was a teacher who not only challenged you to learn, but was also a great deal of fun. Or maybe it was a boss who empowered you and valued your work. Maybe it was a teammate who had a great attitude and was cooperative. It just motivates you to get up in the morning and go to work or school, doesn’t it? But what if it that is not the case?
He is in the Details
Sometimes I wonder if the details of my life matter to God. I mean with billions of people in the universe, why would the details of my life matter before God? But when I read through the book of Leviticus in the Bible, I realized how much God is in the details. You see the book of Leviticus very specifically lists the food that the people of Israel could and could not eat. The first question that stands out to me is if God has given us the freedom of choice, why did it seem like he was restricting what
Set Apart
My father was the pastor of my church when I was growing up, and I was the eldest child. Given this position, I would constantly be reminded to set an example for the other women in our church in my attire and attitude. It was a tall order. Most first-born children understand this pressure. People were watching me, and I knew that any slip-up could convey a negative impression on my father, so I was careful. At the time, I didn't fully understand my parents’ requirements on dressing modestly or refusing certain social events, but I obeyed their rules. With
My Timnath Serah
As I exited the highway, I noticed a sign in an empty grass lot across from my subdivision . It read, "Upscale Grocery Store, Coming Soon." My heart literally skipped a beat. I know what you're thinking...Wow, this girl gets oddly excited about the construction of a new grocery store. Maybe I should explain. I had been praying for a job closer to home. When I saw the sign, my mind began to race. Could this be it? Will the store have a pharmacy inside of it that I could work at? And if it does, will they even hire
Determined Friends
When my son first became involved in sports, he did so through a league for children with special needs. One of the unique aspects of this sports league is how they assigned buddies, who were teenagers, to the athletes in need of assistance when playing. A buddy could be seen helping an athlete swing a bat, running alongside an athlete to get a home run or pushing an athlete in a wheelchair down the football field to score a touchdown. To witness these interactions was heartwarming. It was evident that the athletes were encouraged by their buddies and their selfless
More Like Samson Than You Think…
Samson was Israel's judge for 20 years. He began his life as a man set apart by God, born with the purpose of rescuing Israel from the Philistines (Judges 13:5). That's a heavy plan for a young man with a temper and an affinity towards bad chicks. Samson's life was definitely colored by struggle and conflict. In Judges 14, we read the story of his first marriage. His parents don't approve, and verse 4 tells us that his mother and father didn't realize that "the Lord was at work in this, creating an opportunity to disrupt the Philistines, who ruled
Unconditional Love
Did you ever have conversations like these when you were growing up: “I’ll give you a piece of gum if you give me your toy.” “I’ll give you $5 if you wash the dishes for me.” As an adult, those comments sound silly and even comical. Yet, we tend to do the same even as we mature. It just sounds a bit different: “I bought him an expensive gift. This is all he got for me?” “They’re not kind to me. I’m not going to be kind to them.” We may not want to admit it, but most of us
Forgiven and Free
Last week, I had one of those days. I was easily irritated and touchy, and my husband could sense it in the way I was interacting with the family. I knew he noticed my mood, although he chose not to say anything in that moment. Looking back, I felt ashamed at my behavior, and even though I could have come up with a few excuses, it wasn’t enough. I was still responsible for my words. That night, I sat next to my kids as I put them into bed and asked them for forgiveness. I confessed it to my Father
Letting Go Isn’t Easy
It all happened so fast. I blinked and somehow I went from carrying a very heavy car seat to staring at a stack of college introductory letters. My husband said it best, "When I saw those letters on the table, it just hit me. One day they’ll be gone.” Moses was just a baby when his mother, Jochebed, had to let him go. Remember the story? An insecure Pharaoh ordered all Hebrew baby boys be put to death. So Moses’ mother devised a plan and constructed a waterproof basket in hopes to save his life. But what if Jochebed held
Game On
My nephews have always been pretty easy to please. Give them a basketball and a hoop and they are good to go. Years ago, before they were even teenagers, I took them to the court at our neighborhood amenity center. I watched. They played. We hadn’t been there too long when a group of guys started walking toward the court, with a basketball in hand. Before the guys even said a word to us, I told my nephews, “Let’s go” and we left the court. I immediately regretted doing that. We were there first and had no reason to
