Devotions
Valuing the Gift of Scripture
As I walked the halls of the local children’s home for at-risk children during a holiday open house, one of the young girls grabbed my arm in excitement to tour her room. She led me through a steel door into…
How my Walk of Shame Led me to Embrace Courage
Walking through the crowded, college cafeteria as students devoured their lunches after a long morning of classes, I sensed something was off. I was not a popular girl by any stretch of the imagination, and I was definitely garnering unprecedented…
Fear, Mob Mentality, and the Believer’s Response: A Lesson From Acts
After an insurrection was mounted on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, I woke up feeling heavy the following morning. I opened my Bible app first thing and began to prepare my mind for a new day. My yearly…
21 Spiritual Resolves for 2021
Many of us will make personal health goals for 2021. We will find a diet, choose a planner, make an exercise routine, and find a new hobby. But, we often neglect the greatest need as laid out in Ephesians 4:20-24:…
Unwrapping the Gifts of Peace and Joy
Sometimes joy and peace seem like unattainable, elusive qualities – abstract concepts that are hard to quantify in our daily lives. I don’t know a lot of people (although I have known a few) who are brimming with unshakable peace…
How a Close Encounter with Death Led me to a Deeper Encounter with God
Have you ever had a near death experience? In 1993, I did. It was the week before Christmas, and I was a senior at a small, Christian college living in the dorms. Everyone had left to head home for the…
Are we enough?
When my kids were little, one of their favorite books was titled, On My Own. It was about a little monkey who always tried to pull away from his mom and do things on his own. He didn’t think he…
3 Things My Youth Pastor did that Prepared me for Life.
Youth pastors often get a bad rap in our culture. Sometimes rightfully so. There has been a cultural trend to put greater emphasis on being relatable and fun than on being wise and knowledgeable counselors. Having fun is good and…
Being Trapped By Tradition
An imperceptible tension sets in on me as the holiday season draws closer by the day. There are moments of inner dread that sit heavy on what should be a joyous celebration of God’s goodness in my life. I stuff…
Before and After the Election: The Unchanging Promises of God
I am thankful for the freedom and hope that living in America brings. But far greater is the freedom and hope God provides through salvation. No matter what man accomplishes, God has a greater plan. He moves the heads of…