One thing that has surprised me about getting older is the near impossibility of losing weight. About ten years ago, I made a lifestyle change that helped me lose 35 pounds. Ten years later, I thought that if I reimplemented that same plan, the weight would fall off again. Not so. In fact, what …
Heaven Sent Humility
First-century Rome championed an honor-shame society. What this means is that above happiness, pleasure, or prosperity, honor and reputation ruled men's highest goals. Aristotle, from the 4th century B.C., wrote that "Honour and reputation are among the pleasantest things, through each person's imagining that he has the qualities of an important person; and all …
Coming Out of the Dark
Yesterday, two dear friends and I met to discuss John 9. We read the story of the man, born blind, who was unexpectedly healed when Jesus passed by him that day. He did not ask Jesus to heal him. He had probably never even entertained the idea that He would ever see. He did, …
Blessed Are They That Mourn
Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Matthew 5:4 Last June, I sat in the hospital with one of my children alone. Only one parent was allowed at a time, and there was no cell service there. It was a fear-filled time with so much still unknown. It was a time to …
Doest Thou Well to be Angry?
The following statements may surprise you. Anger is not a sin. Anger is not a result of the Fall. Anger is not straight out of Satan's toolbox. Anger, instead, is part of God's image that He placed within man at creation. The emotion of anger stems from God's holiness and His love. More than …
The Prince of Peace
A movie set in the 1950's reminded me that mistrust and divisions between race, political parties, and classes are not new. They are woven into human DNA. Hatred stems from Adam's first decision to disobey God, which resulted in the murder of his second son. Abel's innocence did not protect him from Cain's rage, and …
Hope Has a Name
One of my son's best friends recently signed a multi-million dollar deal to play a sport in his final year of college. He even had his picture and name on a billboard in Times Square. Of course, we are thrilled for his success, and we pray that he will be a light for the Lord …
A Fixed Hope
Hope There is always something about reading the final chapters of Revelation in the days leading up to the new year that reignites my momentum for what is ahead. This year, I enjoyed looking back to the beginning of my Scripture journal to see how His Word shaped my thinking throughout 2025. In January of …
A Broken Christmas
Teaching Latin has introduced me to the history of the Roman Empire surrounding the time of Jesus's birth. For example, the Latin words for the numbers seven-Septem, eight-Octavus, nine-Novem, and ten-Decem all align with the ending months from our calendar. However, the numbers are off by two. September is now our ninth month, October our …
Beautiful Women of Faith:
Overcoming the Generational Divide with Love To be honest, her tone cut deep that day. My young son was having an allergic reaction at church, and I was not carrying medicine in my purse. When I asked an older woman whom I respected if she had any, she reproved me with brusque words. "You …
His Song in the Night 