Faith

As we wrap up another election season, I encourage you to pray for the candidates running in local and national races, and for each registered voter to vote wisely and responsibly. This may be the most important election of our lives.  As we pray, I hope we’ll feel mounting tensions ease (see Philippians 4:6-7). Proverbs…

What is it like to walk in your pastors’ shoes? Does being your pastor bring them joy? Or does it make them groan? Hebrews 13:17 (ESV) says, “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not…

Are you experiencing a crisis? Do you feel as if your life will never be the same? If we haven’t personally lost a job or are financially underwater, we likely know someone who is. Others are affected by the fentanyl and oxycodone crisis, a healthcare emergency, the death of a loved one, a divorce or…

My husband, Bert, loves to greet people with a huge smile and a cheerful, “How you livin’?” His question (although perhaps a bit grammatically incorrect) is a great one for us to consider. How would you respond to Bert’s question? I’m not talking about which social class you enjoy. I’m asking you to consider what…

“This is PYNN, Protect Yourself News Network. Due to compromising conditions, we have issued a sin warning! Weaknesses have been sighted in your thoughts, which could lead to further lawlessness. Please abandon all temptation and seek immediate protection in God’s Word.” Although I’ve never heard an audible warning like this, I’ve often heard the Holy…

You thought gambling was fun until the day you couldn’t stop.  Or, you know it’s wrong to cheat on your schoolwork, but you tell yourself you don’t have a choice. Or every day, you beg God to give you the strength not to sleep with your boyfriend – again. Or, you struggle with your temper…

“Sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay and cost you more than you want to pay” (Author unknown). The gravity of our poor choices is huge. Romans 6:16 (ESV) helps us understand the seriousness of sin: “Do you not know that if you present…

I wish I could deal with wrong and sinful behavior as easily as I delete files from my computer. First, I’d click on “Select All.” Yikes! It’s a much bigger file than I thought. Then I’d hit “Delete.” Voila! All my bad and sinful habits are gone. Incredible! Alas, it doesn’t work this way. Therefore,…

It’s been another disappointing, unproductive day. Soon it will be bedtime, and you sorely wish you had done the day better.  Ignoring the grammatical incorrectness of that last sentence, isn’t this the way you feel, day after day when you’re stuck in a procrastination season? So discouraged that you’ve given up hope of redeeming the…

“I wish I was allowed to eat!” This was the constant thought that plagued me for years. It seemed so unfair that others were allowed to eat. But not me. Whose rules kept me so hungry? It definitely wasn’t God’s.  For years, I felt powerless to say no to the behavior associated with anorexia nervosa…