Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 Be thankful in all circumstances. Have you ever really thought about that command? Be thankful in all circumstances. Not some. Not most. But all circumstances. I know last week was Thanksgiving here in the United States, but if…
Change. Change is an essential part of the Christian life. 2 Corinthians 5:17 tells us that if we are in Christ, we are a new creation, the old has gone and the new has come. But, what does that change look like? Have you ever known someone who says the right things, maybe even does…
Oklahoma is known for tornadoes. But, did you know that Oklahoma now leads the nation in the number of earthquakes? Most of the earthquakes we have are small. I’ve missed most of them simply because they have been undetectable to the normal person. Several weeks ago, however, we had one that was impossible to miss!…
Years ago as a newlywed couple, we lived in a large apartment complex in San Antonio, Texas. One night, in the early morning hours, we were awakened by a loud banging on our door. The repeated thuds reverberated through our small apartment, jolting us awake. It sounded as if someone was trying to break the…
“We have heard that you had multiple affairs and destroyed multiple families,” the email from my employer read. Stunned. Shocked. Mortified. Hurt. Angry. The emotions rocked me to my very core. My hands shook as I attempted to respond. Where could such a venomous attack come from? Hadn’t I suffered enough already? Yes, in the…
Now the gates of Jericho were securely barred because of the Israelites. No one went out and no one came in. Then the Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men. March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this…
Joshua told the people, “Consecrate yourselves, because the Lord will do wonders among you tomorrow.” Joshua 3:5 At the beginning of 2014, I chose this verse as my verse for the year. Actually, I felt very strongly that God gave it to me. I believe that God has great things planned for this year, and…
What is Faith? Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see. Hebrews 11:1 As I look back over this journey, I am constantly amazed at how much my faith has grown through the trials and tribulations of this life. Recently, however, I…
A couple of weeks ago, I was cleaning out a closet when I found a large area of mold in my drywall. What’s a single mom to do? Of course, I called my daddy. Within 48 hours, we had a plumber at the house to take a look at what we assumed was a leak…
As we enter the new year, God has planted a great sense of anticipation in my heart. I have an overwhelming sense that God has great plans for me in 2014. I feel as if my years of wandering in the wilderness are coming to a close, and I am on the verge of entering…
We all know that God is holy, that He can’t look on sin, that sin separates us from God. But have you ever contemplated how sin can actually draw you closer to God? Yes. I believe with all my heart that we can sin, and it can be a springboard to a deeper relationship with…
A friend recently boasted to me that he had lost seven pounds. When I tried to button my jeans Monday morning, I decided that I knew exactly where those seven pounds had gone—and I was more than willing to return them! Seven pounds was a huge eye-opener to me. You see, five years ago when…