As our world gets tougher, the hope I have through Jesus as my Savior is what sustains me. It’s the banner I raise over my life. But when I look at my life, I don’t feel like it overflows with faith-filled, courageous living. Sometimes it feels like the hope flag is flying over a giant mess. Even so, my anthem is hope. I take for granted the privilege I have of knowing how God saved the world. I know the miraculous story of Jesus. Hebrews 11 is full of faith stories of real-life people who ... VIEW POST
Hebrews 11:1- My Anthem of Hope
Mark 2:28: Lord of the Sabbath
I’ve always thought Sabbath was something I did for God. I’ve felt guilty about filling up my time with work and activities and not truly taking a “Sabbath rest.” When I read that the “Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath,” I was so confused! As I’ve sought the answer to what this verse means, I’ve also done some soul searching. My enneagram type is “The Achiever” with a side of “The Helper.” I’m wired to do, to perform and to take care of people. My to-do list is never empty ... VIEW POST
Luke 1:45: Mary’s Impossible Faith
If God had told me, when I was 16, everything I would endure, experience, and achieve over the next twenty years, I never would have believed Him. I’m often glad He didn’t tell me ahead of time because, frankly, I would have run in the other direction. But this is precisely what happens to Mary, the mother of Jesus, in Luke 1. An angel of the Lord appears to Mary and tells her the Holy Spirit will overshadow her and she will become pregnant with God’s only Son, the long-awaited ... VIEW POST
Isaiah 7:14: The Bearing Season
There are countless themes running throughout the Bible, weaving together a rich tapestry of colors and stories. As we enter Christmas week, there’s a particular thread that’s worth following. It’s the theme of “bearing” and if we look closely, we can see it running all throughout God’s plan for humanity. It is in the Garden, as He creates two beings who bear his image. It is in a covenant promise to an elderly couple who will bear a nation as numerous as the stars. It is in ... VIEW POST
Esther 4:14- For Such a Time as This
I’ve had days where I could see God at work in my life clearly. I wish I could say that was the norm, but there have been SO many more times when following God has been the simple consistency of seeking His Word, going to church, waiting for His direction and taking steps by faith. In the Bible, Esther is an exiled Jew living in Babylon who marries King Ahasuerus. She is given a unique opportunity to rescue her people from imminent death due to an edict from her husband and Haman, the king’s ... VIEW POST
Nahum 1:7 God is On My Side
When my husband and I get into a tiff, no matter how big or small, it’s easy to forget we are on the same team. Geoffrey told me during one of these moments that, “I’m on your side.” It was a great way to turn the burner down on a heated discussion. In marriage counseling, we learned to write our issue down on a piece of paper. Then, we place the issue on one side of the table, while we sit together on the opposite side. It’s a physical reminder that it’s the two of us against the issue, and not ... VIEW POST
