Are You Doing Life God’s Way?
“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see”— Hebrews 11:1 (CEB). The lyrics to an old Frank Sinatra tune come back to haunt me sometimes. Part of the song goes, “I planned each charted course, each careful step along the byway and more, much more than this, I did it my way.” Why do these words resonate with me? Before Jesus got ahold of me, I tried to chart my own course. I tried to do things my way. Looking back, I can see my way wasn’t always the best. I …
Why Does God want us to Pray for Others?
“Pray much for others; plead for God’s mercy upon them; give thanks for all he is going to do for them”— 1 Timothy 2:1(TLB). I listened as a friend prayed with me over the phone about a family situation. Melita is a true prayer warrior, and I treasure our bond as sisters-in-Christ. I had called, leaving a voice message when she didn’t answer. I didn’t expect to hear back until the next day. It was late. However, my friend returned the call before she retired for the night. I was humbled by this beautiful friend’s willingness to return my call so …
The Power of Praying for Your Adult Children
“For this child I prayed; and the Lord has granted me the petition that I made to him”— 1 Samuel 1:27(NRSV). When a child is born, a mother anxiously checks for 10 fingers and 10 toes. She waits to hear the verdict from the medical staff that her child is healthy and whole. It’s a time of wonder when that tiny being is first placed in your arms and a time of uncertainty when you’re released to return home with the responsibilities of caring for a new life. As each year passes, we watch our children grow, revealing their distinct …
Can We Trust God During Tough Times?
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.”— Proverbs 3:5-6(NLT). Proverbs 3:5-6 is one of my favorite scriptures. I’ve posted it on my computer monitor. I have it memorized as a daily reminder. As I’ve grown spiritually, letting go of the need to be in control, I’ve learned to lean on God. In a recent “Bible Study Tools” article I read, the author gives readers seven daily steps to trusting God with all your heart. Following this …
Is Forgiveness Good for Your Health?
“Then Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.’ And they cast lots to divide his clothing”— Luke 23:34 (NRSV). Good Friday has passed, but Jesus’ prayer on that fateful day should be taken to heart. One take-away from the day Jesus was crucified was His willingness to forgive those who persecuted Him. Looking down from the cross on the Roman soldiers who were gambling for His clothing, Jesus said, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” But it wasn’t just the Roman soldiers He referred to during this …
Serving God More Than Leftovers
“And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work”— 2 Corinthians 9:8 (NRSV). Does your family moan when you serve leftovers or are they grateful for the meal placed before them? Maybe it depends on what you’re serving. In a recent “Upper Room” devotional, the author wrote, “I often serve my family leftovers to save myself a little time. The original meal is usually delicious. But when I serve the leftovers several days later, I sometimes feel that I haven’t given …
When Will You Be Good Enough for Love?
“But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners”— Romans 5:8 (NLT). Growing up, I never felt as if I were good enough. My mother expected perfection from her daughters. In retrospect, I’m sure she followed in the footsteps of her own mother. Both meant well. When you’re raised to seek perfection, you never feel worthy. A feeling of unworthiness leads to insecurity in all your relationships. Striving to earn the love of others leads to internal conflict. Being a people-pleaser creates a false identity. Until I came to …
Can You Find Your Identity in Four Words?
“But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God”—John 1:12(NLT). If someone asked you to identify yourself in four words, could you do it? Recently, on a social media site, participants answered that question. I did, too. My response was, “A child of God.” Before I turned to God during a life-changing event over 17 years ago, I couldn’t make that statement. Before I found my identity in Christ, I would have said I was a daughter, a wife, a mother, a high school teacher and a professional photographer. My identity …
Why Does God Allow Bad Things to Happen?
“Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory He will reveal to us later”— Romans 8:18 (NLT). When one of my readers posed this question via email, I turned to scripture. I wanted to give an honest answer as best as I could. I didn’t want to rely on my knowledge or give a flippant reply. We seek answers when a child is taken away from his parents too soon because of a rare disease or a freak accident. We seek answers when a college student perishes in a car crash on her way home or when …