As I sat through the funeral service, I couldn’t concentrate on the words being spoken. I kept hearing a still, small voice in my head. “Extend forgiveness,” the voice urged. It was my first time back in this church building since my husband had resigned his position as pastor of the congregation nearly five months…
Divorce. The word alone strikes fear into the heart of people. Maybe you lived through your parents’ divorce. Maybe you watched friends’ marriages suffer the ultimate destruction. Maybe you’ve walked that dreaded path…or you fear your marriage is heading down that road now. I’m not sure there’s another pain in this life that compares to…
The more I talk with people who have walked the dark path of adultery, the more I realize not all affairs are the same. I have a dear friend who walked the dark, painful days of adultery with me. Her husband had been a pastor at a local church when he had an affair. Through…
To love is to receive a glimpse of heaven (Karen Sunde). I’ve spent a lot of time lately contemplating sexual purity. Before I was married, I held to very high standards of purity. I never allowed myself to be in a situation where I might be tempted to compromise my standards. I filled my mind with…
Pivot. It has become a common word in my vocabulary as of late. To pivot, by definition, means to turn on or as if on a central point, pin, or shaft. In other words, when we pivot, we swing to a different direction. Pivot has become a key term in the medical field over the…
Today is my baby girl’s first day of her senior year of school. Let me clarify. She is my only girl. She is also the baby of my three children. I’ve walked through senior year with my two boys (although my younger son’s senior year was cut short because of Covid). Today is my very…
Have you ever met a religious person? What was he like? Did you enjoy being around her? Did you go out of your way to spend time with him? Or did you go out of your way to avoid her? I, personally, have a real problem with religious people. They are really nauseating to me….
Sometimes I feel like a broken record. I recently read a Facebook post in a Christian group. The author was asking a question about how and when to explain to the kids the reasons behind the divorce, namely adultery. Most of the comments—whether right or wrong—were kind and gracious. Until that one person had to…
Have you heard the term “sanctity of marriage?” I typically hear this phrase thrown around to say that marriage should be protected at all costs, that divorce is never an option, that a Christian couple should never throw in the towel under any circumstances. I’m not sure, however, that is the proper use of the…
Several months ago, I wrote about the biblical story of Abigail and Nabal. You can read it here. This story has always been an intriguing one to me. I’m not sure why it has always captivated me. Maybe it is because Nabal was so cruel. Maybe it was because Abigail was such an amazing example….
I’m not sure there has ever been a moment as heart-breaking as that one. My good intention had totally devastated my child.
Sadly, we are no longer one nation under God. We are no longer Americans. We are Republicans or we are Democrats—and it appears we cannot peacefully coexist.