Going Through the Motions
Every year, our church does a fast in January. I love that they perfectly time it to be done in time for the Super Bowl (because chips/queso/wings aren’t on the Daniel fast the last time I checked.) Ever year, I do the fast with my church. This year was no different. Not everyone does the same thing but just whatever they feel led to do. So, I figured out my fast and felt good about it...until the 21 days started. I guess it isn’t a fast if you don’t feel like you are depriving yourself in some way, which I
Jealous Much?
Has jealousy ever driven you to say and do things that you are not proud of? When I was a young girl, my best friend and I had a lot in common. We were the same age, we loved to talk, and we had a favorite older friend. This friend was the one we looked up to because she had the prettiest clothes, the trendiest toys, and she always had bubble gum. In other words, she was cool and we wanted to be just like her. As much as my best friend and I adored each other, you wouldn’t know
How can I help you?
If you look around - at work, at home, and maybe even at the grocery store...there is always a problem. And guess what? God has given you and I specific gifts and abilities to help solve these problems. With the help of the Holy Spirit, we are uniquely equipped to do what others cannot. Joseph was a great example of this. His story is found in the Old Testament. From a young age, God spoke to Joseph in dreams. God revealed to Joseph that he would one day be in a position of power. Unfortunately, Joseph was young and prematurely
Rescued
My husband and I were newlyweds when we traveled overseas to the Dominican Republic. The beaches there are beautiful. We rode on horses, took a bike ride through the outskirts of the resort we were staying at, and had dinner on the beach. But, we also some more memorable moments, like getting seasick on a speedboat and having gas siphoned from our 4-wheeler in the middle of a ride. And then..there was that near-death experience. The sun was setting, and my husband and I were enjoying a walk on the beach. The waves felt refreshing against our feet, and before
Hope for the Hopeless
Has a certain circumstance left you feeling hopeless? No matter how much you pray, it seems as there is no change, no hope. Suddenly, you feel forgotten by God. Even worse, maybe those around you don’t seem to have an inkling of how to empathize with you. You just feel alone and misunderstood. I always knew that I wanted to be a mother. In fact, folks used to call me “Mother Hen” when I was as young as 10 years old. So you can only imagine how very excited I was when I learned that I was pregnant. I
Answered Prayers
I came home from work yesterday, and my husband and son were outside with a few neighbors. The kids were riding their bikes and the adults were hanging out nearby. My daughter and I went across the street to join them. Our temps were back in the 60s, so it was the first day that we had been able to get outdoors in several weeks. The kids were enjoying chasing each other with their bikes and my dog was enjoying his rub down from all the neighbors. We spotted a car and told the kids to get out of the street.
The Day Lightning Struck…
Some people are natural givers. I’m not one of those people. I am a natural saver. My husband, on the other hand is one of those people. He is a natural giver, but he is also a natural spender. So, as one might expect, our first few years of marriage were interesting. My husband wanted to give/spend, I wanted to not give/save. It was a constant tug of war. But after a few years, with the help of our financial advisor (who also served as our marriage counselor), I thought we were doing pretty good. We tithed, we gave to missions.
At the Right Time
Timing is everything. Just a few weeks ago, my husband turned the big 4-0. (Insert “over the hill” joke here). As I thought about this milestone birthday for him, I remembered a phrase used in scripture… “At the right time…” There are lots of different scenarios that follow that phrase but each time, it was God ordained. We see how He divinely orchestrated things to happen according to His perfect plan. I thought about that phrase and connected it to my husband’s birthday. If he had been born sooner or later, would we have met? When I
Cherish the Moments
I was looking down at my cell phone as my daughter was trying to get my attention. "Mommy! Look at what I made!" She was trying to get my approval on her drawing. I didn't look up and murmured, "Hmm..that's nice." "No, Mommy, look!" She insisted. I had no choice but to draw my eyes away from my phone and focus on her. Sadly, I realized that this pattern had gone too long, and things needed to change. My daughter was growing fast, and these were moments that I should cherish. Plus, my behaviors are setting her up for similar
Confessions of a Not so Great Test Taker
The test scores were in. I breathed a sigh of relief, told my son I was proud of him and went to bed. The next day, I couldn’t resist. I told my boys, “Don’t ever let a test dictate what you can or can not accomplish.” I was thankful my son did well, but what if he hadn’t? I don’t want my children to ever doubt what God can do through them. Plus, I was speaking from experience. The experience of a not so great test taker. Tests can make us feel really smart, and believe the sky’s the limit,
