“I really need a friend.” Have you ever thought you could really use a friend? Maybe you prayed for the Lord to send you a friend in a new city, job, group or church. Since our family spent over thirty-five years in full-time church ministry and lived in different towns and states, friendship became somewhat of a lifeline. So I usually prayed for at least one friend at each new place. Have you ever prayed that the Lord would send you a friend? Early in our marriage, we Continue Reading
Faith: A New Year’s Goal Worth Pursuing
“But the righteous will live by his faith” (Habakkuk 2:4 NASB). Soft may be desirable in pillows and toilet paper, but not in body tone or faith. As I evaluated where I want to go in the new year, I realized my faith needs toning. Both my body and soul require good nutrition and exercise. My Bible feeds my faith, but I must read it and apply it to be strong. Knowing the perils of fragile faith and the benefits of firm faith motivates me to build my faith muscles. Let’s take Continue Reading
The Christmas Choir You Already Signed Up For
I truly hate goodbyes.It must have to do with the fact that my entire family lives overseas, and saying good bye when we visit means at least another year without seeing each other. But truth is, "For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven." Ecclesiastes 1:1.A couple of months ago, our dear Bethany McIlrath communicated that, due to some wonderful new opportunities that are coming her way, starting in January, she will not be able to continue contributing to Continue Reading
Mary’s Christmas Story {Recharge Wednesday LINKUP}
Do you love to hear a good story? I enjoy stories passed down through generations and in literature. And I’m especially fond of stories told as first-hand accounts of actual events. But what about the Christmas story? Have you read the Christmas story in the Bible? How have others told the story? I wonder how Mary, the earthly mother of Jesus, felt and experienced the birth of the Christ child. Or, what it was like to see Jesus grow into a man and fulfill His Continue Reading
The Best Christmas Gift You Can Give {Recharge Wednesday Linkup}
Decorating our home for Christmas on Thanksgiving weekend has become a mother-daughter tradition since our oldest was about 2. I remember the first time I gathered the Christmas ornaments and gave her the assignment of placing the smallest ones on the tree's lower branches. With Christmas carols playing on the surround sound system, she squealed with delight, mumbling the words of the songs while carefully placing about 20 ornaments on one single lower branch — a memory I captured Continue Reading
Let Joseph Inspire Your Faith this Christmas {Recharge Wednesday Linkup}
My romantic view of a stable vanished when I watched a camel project bodily filth in the direction of onlookers. My childhood notion that the first Christmas was all joy for the main characters evaporated too. Mary and Joseph experienced a bevy of challenges. Continue Reading
