For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for His name in serving the saints as you still do. Hebrews 6:10 Behind the Scenes Sports were a significant part of our family life. During my children's high school years, they participated in volleyball, cross country, track, and basketball. Wanting to support them in a meaningful way, I volunteered on several athletic booster club boards. We raised funds, coordinated overnight trips for tea

I was reading the book of Haggai recently, and I was struck by its call to rebuild the temple, the importance of obedience to God's call, the blessings promised through obedience, and His promises to Zerubbabel. It is a very short book, but it is so rich in Gods glory. As I read, I couldn't help but think that since we, as born-again believers, are now the temple of the Holy Spirit, maybe it is time for us to examine and rebuild our own temple. Are we spending time with the L

“Oh, victory in Jesus, my Savior forever, He sought me and bought me with His redeeming blood. He loved me 'ere I knew Him and all my love is due Him, He plunged me to victory beneath the cleansing flood.” — Lyrics, Victory in Jesus An Unexpected Visit I arrived in Colorado with the news that a friend was not doing well. She had been suffering through a major health crisis and had been temporarily moved to a care facility to regain some strength. I was staying with Amy from

How Do We Endure? A dear friend recently shared with me the heartache of watching her daughter undergo treatment for breast cancer. As we talked, I was reminded that sometimes it is even more difficult to witness the suffering of someone we love than to endure suffering ourselves. Helplessly watching a child battle like my friend is, can bring a unique kind of pain. During our conversation, she told me she was striving to have "brave faith." Those two simple words stayed with

What happens to us when we hold onto bitterness? Do our hearts become hardened? Perhaps when we hold onto bitterness in our hearts, it creates a kind of spiritual blindness that keeps us from truly seeing. I am reminded of the story of Saul in the book of Acts. Saul’s Story We first learn of Saul in Acts chapter 7. Paul, then known as Saul, was a tentmaker (Acts 18:3) from Tarsus, born into a Jewish family and raised among the Pharisees, a strict Jewish sect devoted to rigid

"Therefore, keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour." Matthew 25:13 (NIV) Ever since I was a young girl, I have loved sitting near a campfire. It evokes a deep sense of comfort within me. I always look forward to roasting marshmallows for s’mores, watching the flames dance in the darkness, and feeling the warmth that wraps around everyone gathered in the circle. Best of all, I love the smoky aroma that seeps into everything, creating a lasting memory of time s

God has many ways of getting our attention. Sometimes He speaks through circumstances, sometimes through other people, and most often through His Word. But there are also times when He speaks through dreams and visions. That’s me. I know that God speaks to me through dreams, visions, and of course, most often, through His Word in the Bible. The other night, I woke up from a dream that I could recall in vivid detail, and it brought a smile to my face. The Dream The dream began

Who is the planner in your house? Is it you, or is it God? And who is the better planner? If we believe we are the better planner, we may eventually find ourselves wondering why nothing seems to change in our lives. We wonder why things remain the same even though... We believe. We worship. We pray. Yet our faith can still feel off balance. Why? Because self was never meant to be at the center. God is. Who is Your Center? When our plans, desires, and understanding take priori

What is it about music that allows it to touch our hearts in ways words alone often cannot, while also bringing people together in a unique and powerful way? It has a way of communicating beyond words, fostering connection and creating bonds between individuals and communities. For example, when the national anthem is played, many of us feel a deep love for our country and a sense of unity with those around us. A favorite love song may transport us back to precious memories w

Deep Green Driving the backroads of Oklahoma in spring, where dense forests stretch for miles, reminds me of the children of God and their relationship with Him. Looking across the trees is like opening a large box of Crayola crayons filled with the varied and plentiful shades of green; from bright spring green to rich forest green. Every hue is distinct, yet together they create a breathtaking landscape. In many ways, the trees become a picture of faith and the beautiful pro

One of my favorite series growing up was Anne of Green Gables. Not the modern remake, but the original 1985 version with Colleen Dewhurst, Megan Follows, and Richard Farnsworth. It’s an absolute classic! The story follows an orphan girl named Anne Shirley who is adopted by an elderly brother (Matthew) and sister (Marilla) who had actually intended on, and thought they were getting, a boy. She is brought to live at Cuthbert’s Farm (Green Gables) on Prince Edward Island, a chi

Sunday, May 24th, churches around the world celebrated Pentecost (Shavuot in Hebrew). For Christians, it’s a day that marks the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Jewish believers in Jerusalem, thus beginning the spread of Christianity throughout the ancient world. The Promise In the last chapter of the gospel of Luke, Jesus gave His disciples a very important message: “Then He said to them, ‘Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise

I have read and re-read this verse often. “And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light.” - Genesis 1:3 Often, my focus was drawn to the opening verses describing the earth without form, the Spirit moving over the waters, and the darkness from which God separated the light. Yet during a recent reading of the opening chapter of Genesis, I found myself drawn into a new discovery. Have you ever noticed that in verse 3 God says, “Let there be light,” and then later, i

One of the first Bible studies I ever did, I did on my own. I was a new believer, hungry to learn Scripture, and drove to a Christian bookstore near me when I was living in Atlanta, Georgia. I remember vividly walking up to an employee and saying, “I need to learn the Bible…I’m behind.” She smiled and then pointed me to a study on the Old Testament. I didn’t care where I started. I just knew I needed to start. As I worked my way through that workbook, I came across a passage

I’ve thought about it long and hard and have decided there’s something I need to confess… I think I’ve become a birder. I just finished filling four different bird feeders. There’s the suet feeder, my “squirrel-proof” everyday feeder (which, let’s be honest, is more of a suggestion than a guarantee), the one filled with my “hot” treat that, mysteriously, every bird seems to love, and then my oriole feeder packed with jelly. My sister has me hooked on the Merlin Bird ID app, s

But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. — James 1:5 NASB Something God has been really impressing upon my heart lately is Wisdom, and our deep need for His. We appear to have more access to information than any generation before us, yet this access has not produced wisdom…at least not the kind I’m referring to…the heavenly kind. We can gather facts, study perspectives, and stay informed

“It’s nice to see a Christian who knows the Bible.” Those were the words I heard mid-conversation when two Jehovah’s Witnesses came to my door the other week. When I answered the knock, two kind women stood there and asked if they could talk to me about Jesus. “Absolutely,” I said. Immediately, they turned their reading device toward me and began pointing to a passage in the Gospel of John. “Wait a minute,” I said, “let me go get my Bible.” I know that some groups use their o

In the midst of our busy, often chaotic lives, it's easy to lose sight of the quiet, steady power of God's grace. While reading through Titus the other day, I was reminded of how Paul's letter brings us right back to the heart of the gospel. God's grace isn't just about forgiveness; it's the active force that shapes our lives once salvation has appeared to us. Amid all the tension and noise surrounding us, we can so easily forget how this grace is meant to guide our daily wal

What tribe do you belong to? It’s not a question we hear very often today. We’re much more used to being asked about our nationality, or maybe where our family comes from. Some people even spend years digging into their ancestry, trying to trace their roots and understand their story. As I was studying the twelve tribes of Israel (Gen. 49:28), I found myself wondering the same thing... “Could my heritage be connected to one of them?" But as I kept reading, something else sto

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5 We all want what we want. Isn’t that a familiar refrain in today’s vernacular, “I want what I want”? I came head-to-head with this mindset when we put our house on the market in 2024. Once we decided to sell and the sign was in the yard, I wanted it sold! I wanted it sold quickly. I was ready to buy our next house; I wanted to move. Do you see all the “I’s”? My eyes were fixed on m