Featured image courtesy of Adobe Creative. I love Jesus. Love. A small and seemingly simple word. But it holds more power than we realize. I’m not an expert on the subject of love. Instead, I held misconceptions about love as a child and young woman. And hang-ups about love formed from emotionally expensive experiences. You see, my father abandoned me for a time, and I never remember the phrase “I love you!” by either of my parents until later in life. I Continue Reading
Have You Ever Wondered Why Jesus Had to Die? {Recharge Wednesday LINKUP}
A photograph of our son covered in mud documents the special affinity my toddler had with puddles. The caked dirt didn’t change my love for Brant. But it did affect how I treated him. He wasn’t allowed to roam the house while muddy. I held him at arm’s length when I carried him to a tub of running water. After he was clean, we snuggled close, and he gained free access inside the house again. Who benefited from my child’s bath? Bathing him was work for me, but it was also joy. Removing his grime Continue Reading
Have You Experienced the Awesome Power of Grace? {Recharge Wednesday LINKUP}
What happens when you make a mistake or disappoint yourself or someone else? Do you assume God is put out with you? Sometimes we are our own worst enemies. That’s why the backstories of those God commended in Hebrews 11 captivate me. Their fumbles showcase God’s amazing grace. Continue Reading
If God Is for Us? {Recharge Wednesday LINKUP}
If God is for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:31-32 NIV When our son was very young, a painful rejection crushed him. And like most moms, when my child hurts, I hurt. I took the matter to God, and He brought these words to mind: I’m for Brant. God didn’t tell me why He allowed my son to suffer this blow. But He assured me He was for Brant. When my son asked why this had happened, I honestly told him I didn’t know. But I knew God was for him and had allowed this for his good. Every Continue Reading
Don’t Let Unrealistic Expectations Ruin Your Christmas {Recharge Wednesday LINKUP}
Daddy loved Christmas. He decorated our tree, played games, and bought nice gifts, especially for Mama. I entered marriage thinking all husbands gave their wives nice Christmas gifts. Being in ministry, I didn’t expect diamonds. But I thought I’d get something special. Our first Christmas together I asked for something pretty and practical—a leather day planner. I unwrapped my gift. It was a planner. A vinyl planner. Not even pleather that at least resembles leather! No chocolate, no Continue Reading
Don’t Miss the Benefits of Joy and Play {Recharge Wednesday LINKUP}
"We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.” ~ George Bernard Shaw Many of us have experienced great losses in the last two years. I lost two of my friends to cancer; several of my friends lost loved ones in unexpected tragedies; we’ve been isolated and experienced the worldwide chaos triggered by Covid. Under such circumstances to talk about fun may sound frivolous and out of touch. But I have good reason to believe joy is exactly what we need. Research Continue Reading
