Aligning With the Enemy or Overcoming Him?

The enemy wins when we engage others with his own tactics. Angry, hateful accusations tread on his territory. Election season must be a fruitful season for his work to be accomplished, but no special occasion is necessary. Gossip, criticism, and disrespectfulness can become daily habits in our homes and churches. Election season will just magnify …

Meditations in the Fire’s Forging

Real faith upends the pre-conceptions of who Jesus is from the tiny box of human expectation and understanding. The apostle Peter and the other eleven walked the crucible of disappointment as Jesus revealed Himself to the world, not as the reigning Messiah, but as the suffering Servant. Those three black days of Jesus’ silent occupation …

Happy Best Friends Day!

Life offers up some lonely places at times. Our family has moved so many times, I refuse to count anymore. With each tearing up of roots comes new growth opportunities, but it does take time to build new friendships. It also takes intention. As I read the story of Jonathan and David yesterday, I was …

Intentionally Thinking on Jesus

Do your thoughts ever seem to get locked in the negative? Critical, anxious, painful thoughts that swirl over and over in your mind? It takes intentionality to redirect those thought patterns. I was listening to a podcast about a woman who lost her daughter as a teenager. She and her family knew the Lord, but …

Another Wakeful Night

Another wakeful night Rocking restless babe, Quieting toddler’s fears, Shushing back to sleep. Another wakeful night Waiting for the teen, Praying that they walk In all they have been trained. Another wakeful night Weeping on her knees. Begging God to find The lost to intervene. Another wakeful night Searching out His Word, Listening for His …

Pro-Life Ministry in the Church

Women who go to church seek abortions. Is this a shocking statement to you? It shouldn’t be. All church attendees are imperfect people. Everyone is a sinner in need of a Savior. Some sins, such as gossip or backbiting, are less shocking, but temptation beckons everyone into its trap. Where does a pastor’s daughter go …

Stewarding Well the Plan B Path

A Biblical Counseling Series #4 “It is not supposed to be this way.” Right now I see many believers walking difficult paths on my social media feed. A teenage Pastor’s daughter died in a random accident. A young girl is on her journey toward Heaven from a brain tumor. A family is dealing with the …

Robbed or Rewarded

A Biblical Counseling Series #3 Have you ever been left home by your parents with a list of chores to do before they return? I remember one Saturday morning when my parents went grocery shopping. Each of my siblings and I had a room to clean, but we knew we had several hours. We spent …

Defining Expectations

Study #2 in the Biblical Counseling Series Defining Expectations A Biblical Counseling Series Early in our marriage, I found myself very frustrated with my husband’s inability to see the overflowing trash can. Growing up in my house, my stepdad always took out the trash. It never occurred to me that my husband would not relish …

Grieve the Thorns

In my mind, I can still picture the room in the far corner of my heart stuffed to the brim with the pain and sorrow of undealt with hurts. Anytime a new grief would surface, it would be shoved back into that room, sometimes with great difficulty. Until the door just would not shut anymore, …