This last week, I have been broken-hearted to see a number of videos of individuals who grew up in the church that are now turning away. They boldly proclaim why they have left the toxic church culture, explaining how they are now enlightened. The church is toxic. The church is abusive. The church keeps people…
If you keep quiet at a time like this, deliverance and relief for the Jews will arise from some other place, but you and your relatives will die. Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?” Esther 4:14 What do you know about the story of Esther? If…
This weekend, I was looking at what seems to be a never-ending to-do list. As we discussed how exhausted we were from a late night attending Cassie’s latest performance, I made the statement that I what I want to do seems to be different from what I need to do. And then I immediately stopped….
This week, I was listening to a sermon about belonging. Belonging to God. Belonging to a fellowship of believers. The pastor used the movie Toy Story to illustrate his point. Do you remember how Andy wrote his name on the bottom of Woody’s shows, marking him as belonging to Andy? No one could deny that Woody…
Have you ever been so exhausted you just didn’t think you could keep going? Back in my single mom days, I remember a time where I simply crashed. I had the kids full-time. I was working full-time. I was juggling so many balls at once. I walked in one day to find a house full…
Have you ever been baffled by something you read in scripture? It actually happens to me frequently, but I always find myself wondering why God chose to bring Jesus through the lineage of Judah. Jesus is known as the Lion of Judah. Why not the Lion of Joseph? After all, Israel (Jacob) had eleven other…
Over the weekend, Roy and I took a much needed break together to celebrate his birthday. We are in a season of unpredictable schedules, often working opposite hours so we don’t have much time together. We had seen the trailers for the movie A Man Called Otto with Tom Hanks, and it was on our list of…
I was confronted again this week: Why do you continue to write about divorce? Why do you allow your past divorce to color your world today? Why do you allow what your ex-husband did to you to continue to affect your relationships today? I’ve heard it many, many times. I need to leave the adultery,…
For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” Esther 4:14 Do you remember this verse? Esther had been…
Better late than never. Isn’t that what they say? A hope fulfilled is refreshing to the soul, even if it doesn’t happen when you expected it. Entering adulthood, I always imagined I would be the homeroom mom, at every school party, chaperoning every field trip. I thought I would cook nutritious homemade meals and have…
I find myself re-learning the same lessons over again. This week, I was praying as I went about my morning. I found myself begging God to hear my prayers, to see my heart, to answer my prayers. Until several scriptures began running through my mind. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all…
I was reading through the book of Acts this week and was struck by something I had never seen before: Moses was taught all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and he was powerful in both speech and action. Acts 7:12 Do you see what I see? Moses was powerful in speech and action. Wow. If I…