'Tis the season for writing out wishlists, filling the calendar, and stuffing our stomachs! Our to-do lists our longer than usual. At this time of year, we tend to spend more time thinking about we need, want, or plan on than usual. Sometimes it's refreshing and helpful to remember what we already have. What We Have as God’s Children The Spirit “For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.” –Romans 8:6 God’s Own Word “All Continue Reading
Growing Grateful Hearts {Recharge Wednesday LINKUP}
It’s that time of year. We know how the season is supposed to go down. Besides pumpkin pie and turkey, we are encouraged to cultivate attitudes of gratitude. Something accomplished by growing grateful hearts. Such as these attitudes: Count our blessings. Be thankful. Express our gratefulness. Show our generosity. And when we look at this list, do we think of our lives, our family, and more importantly, our God? So how do we cultivate attitudes of gratitude in all the Continue Reading
Which Is Better, Being Responsible or Being Faithful? {Recharge Wednesday}
God blessed me with a godly and kind mother-in-law. When her independence began to wane, Larry and I invited her to live with us. Having lived thousands of miles apart, we sincerely welcomed the opportunity to have her in our home. However, she wouldn’t consider leaving Arizona. Larry sent monthly checks to help her fill the gap in her living expenses, but we didn’t know what we’d do when she required full-time care. Our income wouldn’t stretch to cover that expense. Larry and I felt a Continue Reading
Cling to Christ {Recharge Wednesday LINKUP}
Stepping into the airplane, I noticed a sign that made me laugh. The content wasn’t humorous. It wasn’t the design that cracked me up. There wasn’t really anything funny about the sign itself… But it was stuck with packaging tape…on to the side of a jet plane. Jet planes travel around 600-900 miles per hour. They tend to reach a 35,000 foot altitude. That thin sheet of paper and its plain old packaging tape were in for a ride. When we hit turbulence, my amusement at the simple Continue Reading
Where Hope Lives {Recharge Wednesday LINKUP}
Have you ever looked for real hope? What if we knew where true hope lives? Pointing out the window to a community in the country, I exclaimed: “Teresa, my friend from high school lives there.” Another friend and I were traveling during the early morning hours to attend a conference near the town where I grew up. It’s interesting to know where friends or people we meet live and work and worship. But what if we knew hope's address? Because life’s hurts, heartaches and Continue Reading
Prejudice has No Place at Church {Recharge Wednesday}
On Sept. 6, 2005, our family drove to the local immigration office for my citizenship ceremony. After almost six years of extensive paperwork and considerable costs, I finally held the green certificate that attested that I was an American citizen. I remember the excitement of pledging allegiance to the American flag as a citizen for the first time. I would not need a “green card” or an “alien card” to be accepted for employment, to leave the country and — best of all, I would finally be able Continue Reading
