“We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” — 2 Corinthians 10:5 Recently, I was on a flight home and was sitting in a row all by myself. I thought to myself, “This will be a good time to pray and talk with the Holy Spirit.” I had my eyes closed, and as we were ascending into the air, I heard something hit the floor. When I opened my eyes, I noticed a silver-colored object lying near the window seat. I began trying to figure out what in the world it could

Sitting quietly on the deck of my friend's house early one morning, reading my Bible and drinking coffee, I was interrupted by a gentle rustling beside me. Something was stirring in the grass just off the deck. I turned to my left, and to my surprise found a female deer staring at me through the rails of the fence, only a couple of feet away. I stared back, and we held each other's gaze for a moment. I thought to myself, “Maybe if I stand quietly, she won't be startled, and I

The Call to Go The harvest is ripe, and time is fleeting. Put on your armor and head out the door! Do not get stuck in the valley of indecision. Choose wisely and walk the narrow path. To travel that path, we must lay down the heavy weights of secular society and learn to flow with the glory of our Heavenly Father. Our greatest desire should be to please God, not man. Do you hear the sound of the trumpet? Walking the Talk I recently spent a few weeks with a woman of God who t

Many people choose a word to guide their year; perhaps joy, patience, or kindness. This year, my focus became a simple phrase: lead with love. This phrase is a daily reminder of how I want to interact with others, whether I have known them for years or have just met them. I want people to know they are welcomed, seen, and valued. Sometimes that love is expressed through a warm smile, a kind word, or a thoughtful gesture. Other times it means being fully present, remaining pat

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning. Lamentations 3:22-23 When I was a child, I was playing in my parents' car, pretending to drive. I pulled the gear shifter without the keys in the ignition, and somehow, I actually broke the car. My parents had to call a mechanic to repair it before they could drive it again. Of course, they were disappointed. But they also showed me mercy. They forgave me because they lo

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