God interrupted their plans. Big time, yes? Joseph and Mary were ordinary people living a simple life doing normal things. They had normal plans. Get married. Start a family. Carve out the best possible existence with the resources they had. … Continue reading
Jesus, I need You. I need You with all I am. I need Your strength, because mine is all gone. I need Your wisdom to see through all the worldly crud. I need Your love to flow through me when … Continue reading
How much do you value other people? Enough to care about them past, “How are you?” Do you really want to hear something other than the usual “Fine?” If you do, you show your friend value. Let’s go deeper. How … Continue reading
We cannot rely on anyone but God alone. God alone is all we need. If you place your trust in humans, you will be disappointed. Bitterly. But God will never disappoint you. Yes, He won’t always do what you want. … Continue reading
God, I need You. I need Your strength. Mine is all gone. I need Your love for others. Mine is all used up. I need Your peace. Don’t have any on my own that lasts more than a second. I … Continue reading
Are you aware that others are watching you? Watching you react in this life? Watching you respond? Are you aware? As Christians, we are a witness for God. We are a witness either for God or against Him. When we, … Continue reading
How is God known? Through the things that don’t make sense in our lives. Through the trust we show when the next step we cannot see. Through His grace demonstrated in us each and every day. Through His love poured … Continue reading
“If God puts you there, He is amply sufficient.” Oswald Chambers Unpacking this, there is so much to see. If God places you anywhere (and He does, because He is sovereign over all), He is completely and totally enough to … Continue reading
Is God’s no His mercy towards you? Is His answer of no an extension of His grace? When we pray, we do not always get what we wish. Our heart’s desires are not always given. But isn’t that the mercy … Continue reading
When we obey God, His power rushes through us to others. Why? Because “behind the deed of obedience is the reality of Almighty God”. An incredible preacher, Oswald Chambers penned that phrase in the last century. The thought is so … Continue reading
Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, (vs 1) I am blessed by God when I choose to listen … Continue reading
As our Father, God longs to comfort us. Longs to comfort us, His children. Whenever I’m terribly upset, this is what I picture: God hears me. He wants to help as my tears break His heart, too. He reaches down … Continue reading
What is your focus? Yourself? Your needs, wants, and desires? I get it. It’s totally natural. When you focus on your own self, nothing else matters except for your happiness. Satisfying your needs. Children naturally look out for number one … Continue reading
There will always be more. More teacher books to read, lessons to try, activities to save. More recipes to try, nutrition to evaluate, exercise methods to investigate. More decorating shows to watch, websites to pursue, ideas to glean. More … Continue reading
As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.” John 15:9 Abide in God’s perfect love for you. Reside. Stay for a long, long time. Rest. When you are abiding in God and … Continue reading
Oh Jesus, I’m so sorry. But I’m super mad. Really mad. Is that alright to be mad at you? You are like my Father, and I’ve been known to get mad at him (sorry, dad!), so I suppose, yes, I … Continue reading
Wrote this post a few years back, but never posted it. As an exhausted teacher, beginning her summer break, it fits perfectly once again 🙂 Today I’m so tired I can hardly keep my eyes open. Nothing special, just lots … Continue reading
Oh, Jesus, I see you. I am near. A face in the crowd. I see your aching eyes. I see what’s left of your precious body clinging to that horrid cross. I’ve been a witness all day. Your death is … Continue reading
Be the Light. How? How are we to be the Light of the world? By reflecting Jesus. By reflecting His love, His goodness, His mercy, and grace. By telling people the good news. When we reflect Jesus, we become lights … Continue reading
Do you know your value? Do you know Whose you are? First of all, you were made in the image of God. The image of God. God’s image is stamped all over who you are. What you are minus sin. … Continue reading
How dare we believe the lies of who we are instead of the truth declared from God’s lips. How dare we. Yet we do. We listen to the lies in our head deeming us inferior, sub par, and unlovable. Rejected. … Continue reading
God notices you. He formed you in your mother’s womb. He watched you walk for the very first time. He smiled when you spit out those nasty baby food peas. He saw your tears when your first boyfriend broke your … Continue reading
We are asleep. Unaware. Or maybe our heads are in the sand by choice. We are consumed by things that simply do not matter. Things that do not matter from the balcony of heaven. Facebook. Email. Notifications. Photos. Image. Control. … Continue reading
So, what is the point of life? Why are we here? What is our purpose? I’m asking because I’d really like to know. Do you ever feel as if it just doesn’t matter one bit what we do? We can … Continue reading
For the love of God, stop. Stop acting like you can control life. Stop pretending you are actually in control. God is. He is the author of life. He numbers our days. Do you want your numbered days to be … Continue reading
My precious sweet grandmother. She’s going to meet Jesus soon. Face to face. Her body is ready. Her spirit and soul are ready. Ready to allow her entry into heaven. As I think about her, I instantly know what she … Continue reading
Jesus is the Rock upon which I stand. He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. He is evermore. Everlasting. Secure. Safe. He stands tall, unmovable, unshakable. Even on stormy days, He stands fixed. On my own, I waver with … Continue reading
In the morning when I rise, give me Jesus. We are nothing without Him. Mere shells devoid of purpose or real change. With Him, everything changes. When we are clothed with His mercy, we give others compassion. When we are … Continue reading
Every time a new experience confirms a truth you already know, a layer of trust is laid. Layer upon layer, trust is built over time and these layers cushion us from the blows of life. New relationships create layers of … Continue reading
Jesus says to love your enemy. Even people you don’t particularly like. Jesus says to pray for those who persecute you. People you don’t get along with very well. Or who do you harm. Oh, but I’m justified in my … Continue reading
I lifted my tear stained eyes and looked upon my sweet Lord’s face. Compassion dripped from His eyes as He scooped me into His arms. My child, I love you. I cover you this day with My peace. May you … Continue reading
Why do you doubt me? Why do you doubt my love? Why do you doubt my goodness? Why do you doubt my plan for you, my personal love story written just for you? Are you scared? Lonely? Trust me. Completely. … Continue reading
God is here. He is here in my room at this very moment. He knows my heart. He knows my deepest wishes. He sees every corner – the love for my husband and children…the fragile yet strong self-esteem…the hurt He … Continue reading
Jesus loves me this I know For the Bible tells me so Little ones to Him belong They are weak, but He is strong. Do you know Jesus loves you? Do you really know? He does. With everything He has, … Continue reading
Are you humbled that God whispers your name? That the Creator of ALL things even notices you? He does more than notice you. He crafted your very existence. He ordains your days. He allows you to experience life as He … Continue reading
My dear mother shared this verse with me today: “But none of these things move me….” Acts 20:24 Paul goes on to explain his pristine focus on the mission God had entrusted to him. Earthly things didn’t move him. Including … Continue reading
Our tongues produce life or death. Mere words are capable of bringing joy or sorrow, pain or comfort. Words are quick to come, hard to erase. They are spoken on a careless whim or calculated with extreme precision. They can … Continue reading
Let not your hearts be troubled…. John 14:1a I find this funny. Funny like haha, yea, right. Oh wait – is God serious? How can I possibly ignore life’s troubles? Well, God didn’t say ignore life’s troubles… Just don’t let … Continue reading
Why not? Have sprinkles on your ice cream? It’s way funner. Ok, more fun. Or how about using your grandmother’s dishes every day instead of only on special occasions? Life is meant to be lived. Not watched from the sidelines. … Continue reading
Pulled the chicken out of the oven and assembled the many dinner plates. Peas, macaroni & cheese, and chicken on my blue dishes looked appetizing. As I said out loud to thin air, “Good job, Amy”, I knew at that … Continue reading
