When I was in the process of writing my first book, I signed up to attend a writer’s conference, where I would meet with publishers to present my book proposal. After presenting my book idea to the first two publishers, neither requested a copy of the proposal that I had worked so hard to put together. After those two first appointments, discouragement started to weigh me down. That’s when I decided to retreat to the conference’s prayer room. In the darkness and silence of that room, a Continue Reading
Avoiding Difficult Conversations Can Be Costly {Atlanta Journal Constitution Column}
"If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother.” These words, spoken by Jesus and recorded in the gospel of Matthew, were in the heart of my decision, as I recently chose to confront someone close to me. I had spent the weekend wallowing in sadness and confusion, trying to understand the rudeness and anger that had come out of the mouth of someone I love like family. As I prayed about it, I felt God pressing me to do the easiest, Continue Reading
Latest Presidential Poll: God’s Still In Control {Atlanta Journal Constitution}
As we approach the date for the Republican National Convention in July, and after what undoubtedly has been the most controversial and divisive primaries in Republican Party history, billionaire businessman Donald Trump is now the presumptive Republican presidential nominee. And with representatives in the House and Senate, including House Speaker Paul Ryan, still not “ready to support” the real estate mogul as of last week, the party remains strongly divided, and, from this outsider’s Continue Reading
Trusting God in Our Loneliness {Atlanta Journal Constitution}
It was Friday night. I absently stared at the television, feeling lonely. Looking through my phone book, I knew that the options were not good. The friends who would be available on a Friday night would quickly offer me a tour back into a life that didn’t appeal to me anymore. My new friends were all busy with their husbands, boyfriends or family. It was me, my TV and a bible that I knew very little about. I glanced down and picked it up. I was 25 years old and a new Christian. My weekends Continue Reading
God’s Boundaries for Our Trials {Atlanta Journal Constitution Column}
I aimed my phone camera at my feet, and snapped the picture at the moment the first wave touched my toes. I stood there for a moment, shivering as another wave brought the icy waters all the way to my heels. I moved the camera and took another picture, this time, showing the perfect border that the foam of a new wave created on the wet sand. The boundaries of the ocean. I closed my eyes, saying a prayer of thanksgiving, as I remembered a verse in the book of Proverbs that talks about the Continue Reading
Will Our Faith Liberties Be Preserved in America? {Atlanta Journal Constitution}
Earlier in March, when Gov. Nathan Deal was asked about Georgia’s Free Exercise Protection Act, vetoed by his office this past Monday, he commented that he would not approve any legislation which “allows discrimination in our state in order to protect people of faith.” Citing Jesus and the Gospels, the Baptist governor urged fellow Republicans to take a deep breath and “recognize that the world is changing around us.” The debate has earned national attention as multi-billion dollar companies Continue Reading
