Read Your Bible
Growing up I memorized A LOT of scripture. I can remember attending a private Christian school for the first few years of my elementary education and beginning in Pre-K we were required to memorize scripture as part of our weekly assignments. And after that I memorized even more scriptures as part of my church’s annual memory verse competition. I was pretty competitive, so I was pretty motivated to memorize as many scriptures as I could. But is it really that important to read the Bible and to learn God’s word? As a child trying to win a competition, I definitely
Til Death Do Us Part
Since I was a young girl, my parents have had family friends who were more like family to us. There was one couple in particular who I thought of as my own uncle and aunt. I referred to them as Appachen and Ammachi. Having a background that hails from South India, I realized that public displays of affection were uncommon in our culture. But how Appachen and Ammachi related to one another as husband and wife broke the mold for me. I watched how this sweet couple walked alongside each other. They had affectionate nicknames for each other. Appachen and
Get Thee Behind Me Satan
“Get thee behind me Satan” That probably wasn’t the caption you expected to read when you saw the picture of me and my sweet boys. Strangely enough, over the past few months, those 5 words (found in Matthew 16:23) have been ringing in my ears when I think of them. Keep reading and I’ll explain. In Matthew 16, Jesus asks His disciples, “Who do you say that I am?” Peter responds, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus commends Peter, “Blessed are you, Simon…and I tell you that you are Peter (the rock), and on this
Encourage Others
Two weeks ago, I sat in a waiting room at a children's hospital with my son and reality hit me. It would be our last visit there because he will be turning 18. After receiving services there for nearly 15 years, the chapter was coming to a close. My son and I were caught in a flood of emotions as we began reminiscing. We remembered packing lunches for the long visits. We listed each professional we interacted with and how they had been wonderful to work with. We chuckled about how each appointment ended with a visit to the popcorn
God’s Grace is Sufficient
Dear Friend, Maybe today feels like one of those days. I don't know what you be may be walking through, but here's a reminder that God's mercy and grace are sufficient for today. This song has ministered to my heart and I hope it encourages you, too. ~Joyce
Love and Marriage
This past week, my husband and I celebrated our 24th Valentine’s Day together. The impact of time is pretty mind-blowing. On our first Valentine’s, I was gifted with a beautiful box of chocolates and I was head over heels. Oh, how I was in love with the idea of being in love. Fast forward to the most recent Valentine’s and my husband and found ourselves giggling like children as we saw a celebrity at the restaurant where we were having dinner. Oh, I’m so grateful for the deep love we share. I want to tell you that it’s been picture-perfect
Trust the Process
I enjoy getting my nails done for special occasions. When I realized that the trend was to get a dip powder manicure, I thought I would give it a try. I began combing through pics for the perfect color and finally found one I could show to the technician. I planned to ask for a french ombre - where the color goes from pink to white. I just couldn’t wait to see the final product! Having been in nail salons before, I figured I knew what to expect. That was until I sat down and began the process. My nails
Joy
My husband and I each have two siblings, the youngest being 10 years apart from us. That means while our children are in their teens and twenties, our nieces and nephews range from 6 months old to pre-teens. I absolutely adore the variety of ages and stages in our family. Just this past week, we attended our 3-year-old niece’s dance recital, and later we watched our 6-year-old niece be the “candle lighter” at their church’s candlelight service. Pure, unadulterated joy was written all over their sweet faces. Eventually, once we were home we found ourselves watching videos of our kids
Finding Joy in the Midst of Sorrow
It’s such a special time of year. Families and friends getting together. Feasts of delicious food being prepared. Festive decor and music surrounding us. But the reality is that you may be reading this and struggling with feeling merry. You may be sitting in a hospital room. You may be alone. You may be without a job. Whatever is weighing on your heart today, the truth is that this season can feel anything but special. I can relate. For years, the holiday season has been a time of mixed feelings for me. On the one hand, there’s the grief of
Anonymous Season
I learned long ago that I am a doer. When I lived in New York, I found myself doing many things: engaged in public speaking, working as a social worker, and organizing events for the youth at church. Without a doubt, it was a fruitful season and I enjoyed every moment of it. As seen in nature, seasons change. So it went with my life. Upon arriving in Texas, my days were occupied with non-stop care for young children and navigating through medical stuff. The season felt barren and I felt hidden. But God impressed upon my heart to be
