Fear is the root of many problems including gossip and favoritism which are forms of judging. Someone upset me, but I wasn’t clear what exactly the issue of conflict was. As I thought about it, James 2 came to mind. James 2 encourages us to not show favoritism and to always show mercy. Favoritism is…
It’s the beginning of another school year, and check lists are everywhere. We have them for school supplies, clothes, extra-curricular activities. Schools even share lists that we can add to our own. Magazine articles are encouraging us to start our school routines early for smooth transitions. I have those lists also, but my most important…
Life always changes, but this academic year is the beginning of a lot of ends for me. A son is in the process of buying a fixer upper house and moving out. Another son is starting his last year of college which means launching into his career at the end. One daughter is getting her…
Our lists of things to do can be overwhelming, leading to procrastination, avoidance, grumpiness, or despair. Ever been in that spot? After listening to a few objections about not having enough time to clean after a long day of work, I decided to share some tips that I have found helpful in managing household chores…
Have you seen the videos of people scaring their cats with cucumbers? It’s surprising how far up a cat can jump. The videos are funny. We even considered seeing if our cats were afraid of cucumbers until I read that scaring cats can have long term effects on their mental health, as reported on ABC…
The Holy Spirit has been on my mind a lot this year. The main question persists: what does it mean to be filled with the Holy Spirit? What led me on this quest? My church has been studying the book of Acts in great detail so the subject of the Holy Spirit comes up regularly.…
Have you ever made a promise and wondered if you were successful at keeping it? In Isaiah 6, Isaiah hears the Lord ask, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” Isaiah answers, “Here I am. Send me!” Last week, I talked about a similar promise I made. I’m often consumed about making…
When one of my children was a newborn, I was home listening to worship music while my family attended church services. In the living room, as I rocked the baby nestled in my arms, I remember volunteering for the Lord’s service after Mercy Me’s “Here Am I”. In Isaiah 6, Isaiah hears the Lord ask,…
Happy Independence Day! This week, we have celebrated our nation’s birth by watching parades, seeing fireworks, and visiting with friends and family at picnics. We can be patriotic by waving our flags, singing our national anthem, and supporting our Constitution. Sometimes the events that we see on the news or experience in our lives can…
Do you slow down to connect? How do you spend quality time? How do you have a meaningful relationship? To have a healthy, strong relationship requires time. Spending time together is important whether it is with your spouse, your children, your friends, or with the Lord. Have you ever felt disappointed when time you were…