The friend request from some guy I did not know made it through my Facebook filter. He only requested a reciprocal ‘friending,’ so I thought . . . Okay. I’ll confirm this person’s request. Maybe he wants to know about my newest book. Click. Accept. Then came his first post. “You are so-o-o-o beautiful.” GAG! …
Where shall I go, God? Where do you want me to live? How can I serve you best? What is your perfect plan for me? These types of questions often plague us because we focus so strongly on what we should do—how productive we should be—rather than what God truly desires for us. During my …
The puzzle I finished reflected the colors and designs of the Southwest. Turquoise moccasins. Native American pottery. A sunset of desert textures. Yet beyond the stress-relieving act of fitting those puzzle pieces together, God taught me precious lessons of faith. Think About the Big Picture. Once I found the borders of the puzzle, several other …
When we observe Holy Week, we often focus on Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Resurrection Sunday. But a spiritually important topic emerges on what I call ‘Silent Saturday.’ Imagine those early Jesus followers in the first century. Their champion had been brutally murdered by the Roman empire at the instigation of the Jewish religious leaders. …
Many of us Jesus-followers no longer use the identifier of ‘Christian,’ because it has been so misused within the last several years. But if you are looking for those who follow the teachings of Jesus, how do you find them? You follow the path of nature. You look for the fruit. We identify fruit trees …
What is the difference between the pain of growing and the pain of suffering? Neither type of pain is comfortable and most of us try to avoid all pain. We want life to be struggle free, even if we have to ask the doctor for a prescription to ease our suffering. But is there a …
As a former athlete, I fully admit I still love watching sports. Of course, like most folks — I have my favorite teams. But I tend to cheer most during the college football and basketball seasons and for my team in the NFL. In fact, I am known as a ‘yeller.’ Not afraid to cheer …
Ten minutes into my home Bible study, Judith gasped. I stopped reading Romans 12 and asked, “Any questions or concerns?” To her credit, Judith decided not to confront me in front of the entire group. “No,” she said. “Nothing right now.” After we finished, Judith hung back as I said goodnight to the rest of …
Twenty plus years ago, I bought the sugar and creamer set at a thrift shop. Attractive because of its Southwest colors and design, the set also held a special purpose. It was our first Christmas after a family crisis, and I scrimped to buy my son some Christmas gifts. Yet I knew his tender heart …
A brand-new calendar forces reflection on the passing of time yet also moves me toward new opportunities. As a Type A goal-setter, I am ready to consider 2024 and all its possibilities. Image by GDJ / Pixabay During my “senior” season, I am finished setting resolutions. No more of the usual “less sugar, lose some …