A friend has hurt you and you’re struggling with bitterness. You’re finding it hard to forgive much less be nice to her. A relationship has ended and you’re finding it hard to move on. You gave so much of yourself and you feel betrayed and deeply wounded. A coworker is unbearable to work with. It’s like they go out of their way to criticize or undermine you at every turn. They spread lies about you, but always play the victim. A family member has proved difficult to be around

A Messy Christian is… Someone who holds steadfast to God’s word until the water gets too deep and she starts swimming to the shore. Drowning and desperate she behaves in ways that are not worthy of her God’s daughter status, so he rescues her yet again setting her calmly on the shore revealing how he was there the whole time if she had just trusted Him a little longer. She promises that next time she won’t forget and is thankful for her God’s faithfulness even when she isn’t.

Here’s to the girl who is loud for she will loudly proclaim the goodness of God. Here’s to the girl who is quiet for she will silently ponder His mysteries. Here’s to the girl who is silly for she will find joy in the little things. Here’s to the girl who is curious for she will uncover the secrecies of His world. Here’s to the girl who is brave for she will find her strength. Here’s to the girl who is cautious for she will grow in her confidence. Here’s to the girl who is pu

What does it really mean when someone says follow your heart? Does it mean follow your feelings? I think for many of us it does. But, I don’t believe following our feelings is central to making our best decisions. They simply should not dictate every decision we make. If they do, then you are probably pretty miserable right now. I know this because whenever we strictly follow our feelings we can get in a world of mess. Sometimes we feel fed up, so we want to quit. Sometimes w

‘Tis the season of hope. But when’s the last time you really hoped in the Lord? I’m sure we’ve all fretted in the Lord. Complained in the Lord. Worried in the Lord. But, as believers, we are to HOPE in the Lord. When we are having a hard time and we don’t think we can do hard things… When we are feeling overwhelmed and can’t figure out how we can possibly handle any more… When we are discouraged and nothing seems to be panning out the way we had planned… When the kids are run

A few months ago, I had a huge unglued moment. Our washer of twelve years needed replacing and so I went to Home Depot and picked out a new and improved one. It was a high efficiency, top loader with a see-through top. It was supposed to be one of the best and I wanted to buy one that would last as long as our old one did. I was told two things before I left the store. First, we would have to wait a week before it would be delivered. I was not happy about this because I do la

Harlot. Prostitute. Sex worker. This was the life of Rahab. A woman living in the city of Jericho. A city known for its idol worship. A city the Bible says was a wicked and corrupt society. We don’t really know the circumstances which led to Rahab becoming a prostitute. Perhaps she was born into it. Perhaps her only choices to make money were prostitute or beggar. Perhaps she had to do whatever she could to provide for her mother and father. We don’ know. But, we can imagine

So many times we are an IF people. I will love God, IF he does what I ask. I will follow God, IF it’s not too uncomfortable. I will trust God, IF he provides me with the blueprints. But God wants to make us into EVEN IF people. I will love God, EVEN IF I don’t get my way. I will follow God, EVEN IF it’s hard and humbling. I will trust God, EVEN IF the storm rages and I can’t see in front of me. This is the story of Esther. A woman who went from being an IF person to an EVEN I

“Mom, how did you learn to be a mommy?” “Gee, I don’t know. You just become one.” That’s about as wise of an answer I can give at seven in the morning. But I guess you start learning the moment you find out your expecting. Or does it begin way before that. When you’re a little girl and your own mom gives you little pieces of left over dough to make your own pies like hers. And you fill them with strawberry jam and she stuffs them in the oven right alongside hers. You learn ea