Why do our furniture purchases occur when we’re on vacation?
My husband had a valid point. It did seem we’d done our share of hauling tables in our SUV. Our current kitchen table had caught our eye while on our first Christmas vacation. We loaded it in the back of our car, drove for two days, and waited for my parents to bring the chairs a few months later.
Have you ever woken up during the stillness of the night for no reason?
Maybe God wants to have a late night worship session with you?
Have you ever felt deserted, betrayed, forgotten? Twice in this short book, Paul spoke of being abandoned. In 2 Timothy 1:15, he said, everyone deserted me. In 2 Timothy 4:16, he wrote, no one came to my support.
For the past two fall seasons, I’ve experienced severely dry eyes. Raw, irritated and red. Most of the time I just want to close them.
Red, round, juicy home-grown tomatoes are my obsession every summer! They are far superior to their tasteless counterparts that are picked green and ripened by gassing, occupying the shelves in most grocery stores.
However, death is not the end of Jesus’ story. If not for the resurrection of Jesus, our faith would be in vain. Paul stated this best, “…if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins” (1 Corinthians 15:17).
Through the centuries, many have rejected Jesus as King, but He is and always will be King.
The night of Jesus’ betrayal had arrived. The moments with His disciples before His crucifixion were limited. Therefore, Jesus was purposeful in His actions.
What was worship to one was waste to another. He, the disciples’ treasurer, was focused on money, not Jesus. Was Mary’s extravagant worship the final act that turned Judas from Jesus?
She listened to Jesus’ words, believed them, and embraced them. It was Mary who later acted in belief of Jesus’ words that He would be killed in Jerusalem and raised to life.
Gossip and slander are often associated with high school girls—jealousy, insecurity, boys. Girls who gossip are mean. However, as we grow into women, we refine our vernacular so that when we speak to friends, it’s tempting to justify our idle talk.
It’s the first morning in quite some time you’re not rushing out the door, finally getting to make your favorite smoothie with the fresh berries you bought at the grocery store the other day. Things have been so hectic lately— it was just the other day, right?
Has a single word ever convicted you? Maybe it was your “Word of the Year?” Predominantly, my annual words have been topics or scripture-based commands by which the Holy Spirit convicted me. Recently, I was humbled when the Lord convicted me of “wait” and “together” not just one, but two years in a row
Gazing through my stunted window, it registered that this is what trials of my life may look like from God’s perspective.
My mind holds vivid memories of being dragged to go shopping as a child, often and with various members of my family. Clothes and malls weren’t my thing back then, but I did enjoy plant nurseries—perusing through aisles of God’s creations, seeing the variety in shapes and colors, brushing my fingers along the—ouch! Cacti.
When I heard those words from a friend, I felt no compassion. I certainly did not encourage her. The only emotion I could muster was anger.
My challenge was getting up off the floor without so much struggle and weird noises. I wanted to do it with ease, without grabbing hold of everything in sight to hoist myself up.
“There’s McDonalds! I just LOVE McDonalds! I see Chick Fil A! I just LOVE Chick Fil A! Whataburger! I LOVE Whataburger!”
The crowds followed Jesus—some out of curiosity, others anticipating physical healing. Did their anticipation lead them to understand the spiritual benefits they would also receive?
Consider a string of yarn. It may be a pretty color and seem strong. Yet, one strand by itself does not serve much purpose.
