“I’m skipping Valentine’s Day this year!” When February 14 comes near, I hear and see the sting of broken hearts disenchanted with the whole “Will you be my valentine?” charm or its absence. As a young and vulnerable heart, Valentine’s Day without a boyfriend seemed ghastly to me. The Valentine’s Day blues at its peak. A girl in love with love. Does Valentine’s Day Define Us? Why do we think being someone’s valentine defines us? At least thinking it’s the tell-tale sign of who we are in Continue Reading
Why I Know I’ll Be Happy in Heaven {Recharge Wednesday}
Much to my mother’s chagrin, I loved blue jeans and climbing trees when I was a girl. I’d shimmy up the trunk of a tall pine the neighborhood boy couldn’t reach without standing on his bicycle. My trees were forts, castles in the clouds, and hothouses for daydreaming. My arms and legs no longer scale trees or swing from branches. But I still feel the magic when I peek through leafy limbs. Our kitchen sits over our garage. Continue Reading
God’s Reliability: Updating to 5.0 {Recharge Wednesday}
We know all too well the adrenaline rush of a beloved phone fizzling out or breaking. Updates to social media page layouts and software give us pause. If our apps and icons re-arrange themselves to "improve" efficiency, we can't get anything done quickly for days! It's normal to get used to doing things a certain way and using particular tools. So, it's normal to feel vulnerable, tired, lost, and frustrated when the things we have come to rely on change. What a blessing the Lord we rely on Continue Reading
The Life and Power in Jesus’ Blood {Recharge Wednesday LINKUP}
Every year I endure the same trauma at my doctor’s office—the drawing of blood. Why, traumatic? The answer lies in the words of a lab tech during one visit. “Your veins are itty bitty, Mrs. Friday.” Gee…yay for me. And to add more apprehension, the veins on my arms refuse to come out of hiding. Like a game of hide-and-seek, lab techs armed with needles make several attempts to seek an appropriate candidate—but to no avail. Although I’m already bruised and lightheaded. Then, the lab Continue Reading
A New Year’s Resolution Worth Keeping {Recharge Wednesday}
But the righteous will live by his faith” (Habakkuk 2:4 NASB). Is anybody else feeling the need to tone up after the holidays? While tight pants scream the need for physical discipline, Paul reminds us, “Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come” (1 Tim. 4:8 NLT). Soft pillows and sweaters enhance our rest and keep us warm. But a flabby body and faith hinder us in everyday living. We know our bodies require Continue Reading
Just For You {Recharge Wednesday LINKUP}
A group of us gathered in someone's living room to work our way through the next session of a Bible study. We sat quietly as the video component ended, surprised by who spoke up in response first. “Sorry you all had to sit through that,” the quietest woman in the room grinned, “because that was just for me.” We all know what she meant. One of the amazing abilities of our Lord is reaching out to us individually while reaching out to us all. His sweet love and unique relationship with Continue Reading
