God provided an empty tomb for every empty space in our lives. Does it ever seem like you took a crash course on how to manage current life that you never signed up for? The sinking feeling of emptiness that seems to linger on and on. I experienced emptiness from an empty womb after I lost a baby to miscarriage, an emptiness from a broken heart when my father died, and plenty of other empty spaces throughout the years. Whether it was the loss we experienced during the pandemic, a Continue Reading
I Don’t Believe in Karma or the Man Upstairs {Recharge Wednesday LINKUP}
Is believing in karma or sending chain letters the way to unlock a secret code of blessings from the man upstairs? Much to my dismay, I've received chain letters by email or on social media and Messenger. Each written from a promise of believing. If I believe in karma, then something good will happen today to make me happy and angels also watch over me. Or, the man upstairs blesses me. But, to seal the deal, I must forward the message to a specified number of friends including the sender. Continue Reading
Your No Is As Important As Your Yes {Recharge Wednesday LINKUP}
“All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.” Matthew 5:37 Are you afraid of saying no? I am! What a gift that Scripture doesn’t condemn the word no. Rather, the Bible highlights the importance of keeping your word, whether it’s a yes or a no. Every no is a yes to something else, and vice versa. Imagine if Jesus was as uncomfortable with saying no as so many of us are. What if, instead of saying “get behind me, Satan!” to Peter, He said Continue Reading
What Will They Say When You Leave? {The Atlanta Journal-Constitution}
I spent my childhood summer vacations at my grandparents' farm, located in a small fishermen village in South Brazil. The farm is by a breathtaking saltwater lake, which is one of the most significant sources of shrimp in south Brazil. One of the most beautiful sceneries that I recall from those days was the sight of the lake at night. As you drove on the interstate beside it, the vision would fool any stranger to the area. One could swear that the lake was instead a village, filled with Continue Reading
4 Reasons to Keep Going No Matter What {Recharge Wednesday LINKUP}
No matter what. I admit the phrase bothered me in the past. And it stirred questions in my soul. Such as “No matter what” means what exactly? Maybe to never back down. Or, never give up or give in. Perhaps, to keep going in the face of opposition or dire circumstances. And I assumed the subject and context both played into the meaning. Still, if you are anything like me, the phrase conjures up a lot of unknowns. And even a few knowns we’d rather not deal with. So I put together a Continue Reading
Questions about Loving Well {Recharge Wednesday LINKUP}
Paul's greeting to the church at Philippi warmly displays his godly affection for the fellow believers he was so invested in. Each expression of love in the greeting teaches us something about what it means to build one another up in Christ. Let’s not gloss over this passage as a nicety. Will you take it as an opportunity to examine yourself and your affection for fellow believers with me? “Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, to all God’s holy people in Christ Jesus at Continue Reading
