Beauty for Ashes
Our first Thanksgiving in Texas was quite memorable, but not because of a festive dinner. We were in the emergency room with our infant son and eventually learned that he had suffered from a stroke. In the months to follow, we saw its impact on his little body. The left side had been affected entirely. While we recognized that it could have been a lot worse, we were struggling to count our blessings at that time. Our lives felt a like a heap of ashes. What was most noticeable was how our son’s left hand was constantly closed
He is Moved
The past few weeks my heart has been moved by prayer requests for really heavy situations….a single mother whose teenage son has been diagnosed as bipolar and exhibits self destructive tendencies, an acquaintance who hasn’t spoke to her twin sister in decades, a friend who is heartbroken over the end of her marriage. And the list goes on and on. These are all from faithful believers, who love Jesus, but yet dealing with a situations that seem hopeless. Words fail me when I hear their stories. I know how powerless I am to change their situation. I know
If We Don’t Lead…
I’ve never thought of myself as a leader. Even something as simple as heading a baby or bridal shower gives me stress. How about I make the spinach dip and someone else be in charge? Please!!! But every now and then, whether I like it or not, life (and God) throws a situation my way. And as I look around to see if someone out there is going to do something about it, I see God pointing His finger....right at me. In Mike Hayes’ book, “Influence,” he states, “Whether we were born to lead or not, at some time in
Know Your Enemy
The Old Testament’s historical account of the Israelites, their time as slaves in Egypt under Pharaoh has been often metaphorically compared to a Christian’s life before accepting Christ. Reading through Exodus, the obvious enemies for the captive Israelites were Egypt and Pharaoh. Let’s first look at what Egypt represents for Israelites and for the sinner. The entire section from Hebrews 3:14-4:11 is one extended metaphor comparing Israel who left Egypt, which the Hebrew writer uses to symbolize Christians who have also left the World of Sin and slavery. Leaving “Egypt” takes one that is a slave to sin to being freed from that
Luggage Free
My junior year of high school was focused on just one thing: the SATs. I prepared. I practiced. I prayed. But none of that seemed to matter. My stomach felt as if it was in a perpetual state of being in knots. Worry filled my mind constantly. I worried that my score wouldn't be high enough. I worried that I wouldn't be accepted to the college of my choice. I worried that I wouldn't be eligible for a scholarship. My body could only handle so much of this worry. Before I knew it, my jaw began to hurt tremendously and
Blessed
My husband and I lived in an apartment for 7 years before we bought our first home. There were several reasons for waiting, but the most important one was timing. At first, it was just the two of us, but when our first child was born, we realized that there was not much room for a large, bulky stroller and a crib. So, the stroller was squeezed into the space between the wall and the living room couch. My daughter's room doubled as her daddy's office, and our kitchen was just a stone's throw from the coffee table. Then baby
My Ram
I stood in my closet after getting ready for work. I looked up and had a conversation with the Lord. “God, I need you. I need you to provide. Without your provision, I honestly don’t know what I’m going to do.” Then the thought came to me and I said it out loud. “Lord, I need a ram in the thicket.” I’ve heard the story countless times. The story of Abraham and Isaac. Abraham is asked by God to offer a very unique sacrifice. His son, Isaac. After a three day journey, Abraham makes his way up Mount Moriah. When
The Good Fight
“If you can see him, he’s not your enemy.” We know this is true but just because we know it, doesn’t make it easier, does it? While the real enemy is at work in the situation, we also have to deal with the people we are seeing face to face. John the Baptist was known for his no-nonsense approach. He told it like it was, no matter who it was. He had one of these types of conversations with Herod who just so happened to be a king. John didn’t approve of Herod’s current family arrangement and told him
The Cross Has the Final Word
I don’t know where you find yourself today, but I want to encourage you to not listen to the lies of the enemy that brings condemnation, fear, shame, and doubt. Jesus took the weight of all of that on the cross when he died. God knows exactly what you are going through and He is working out a plan for your good and for His glory. The cross of Christ has the final word over your life. “Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of
November 1st
November 1st is a bittersweet day for my family. 6 years ago, on this day, my husband was laid off from his job. He worked from home and was notified by his boss that he needed to go in for a "meeting". On his way back home, he called me to say that he wanted to stop by my work for a few minutes He knew that I was on my lunch break so we could talk. We were both completely blind sided by the news. I have to be honest, my first thought was "But, God, we tithe. Don't
