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Christian Life Freedom Humility Rest Restoration

Pride Is a Heavy Burden…Humility Lightens the Load

“It’s never enough!” I threw up my hands and sighed. My neck muscles tensed. I felt a heavy, invisible weight settle on my shoulders. I stared at the words of the text message. One of my fellow teachers had shared an idea she was implementing with her class. Should I be doing that, too? I wondered. […]

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Christian Life Hope Knowing God Praise

How to Replace Complaining with Praise

“Praise keeps the character of God before our minds. The practice of praise forces us to relate God’s character to the issues of life. The effect of praising God on our mental attitude is liberating, for praise focuses our attention on the person and work of God.” Myrna Alexander “Worthy are you, our Lord and […]

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Hope Restoration Suffering Trusting God

Advice for the Suffering: Cry, But Don’t Crumple

When I was going through a serious illness, my sister sent me a card that read, “When the going gets tough, the tough put on waterproof mascara.” She even included a tube of waterproof mascara.  That saying has become a motto for me when I’m going through a tough time.  Sometimes, despite our best efforts to […]

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Christian Life Faith Hope Patience Trusting God

When We Can’t See the Pattern

My life is but a weaving between my God and me. I do not choose the colors; He worketh steadily. Oftimes He weaveth sorrow, and I in foolish pride Forget He sees the upper, and I the underside. Not ’til the loom is silent and the shuttles cease to fly Will God unroll the canvas […]

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Discernment Fresh Start God's Spirit God's Word New Beginnings Service Wisdom

Biblical Advice to Help You Use Time Wisely

Time is running out. That thought smacked me in the head like a wet snowball. I’d barely finished singing the last chorus of Auld Lang Syne when I sat down to make my New Year’s Resolutions (the ones I’d surely break in a few days).  But, like glitter that remains ground in the carpet long […]

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Celebration Christian Life Faith Hope Hope of heaven Knowing God Peace

Valuing Our Greatest Christmas Gift

For to us a child is born,to us a son is given;and the government shall be upon his shoulder,and his name shall be calledWonderful Counselor, Mighty God,Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isa. 9:6 ESV) My worst Christmas was the year we almost had a white Christmas. Snow is a rare event in southern Louisiana. And snow on the ground for Christmas—well, that only […]

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Celebration Faith Family Relationships

Handing Down Your Faith

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the […]

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Christian Life Courage Hope Knowing God Victory

When You’re Fighting a Losing Battle, Trust the Victorious One

When You’re Fighting a Losing Battle…God is Victorious “The horse is made ready for the day of battle,    but the victory belongs to the Lord.”  (Proverbs 21:31 ESV) I just can’t win, I thought. I’m fighting a losing battle. In my wildest worries, I never expected to find myself struggling as a newly single mother of two college-age […]

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Christian Life Courage Faith Fear God's Word Trusting God Truth Wisdom

When You Feel Defenseless, Pull Out Your Sword

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (Heb. 4:12 ESV) I winced. Here comes the needle. I’d already been poked earlier that day, and the phlebotomist had had trouble finding a […]

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Change Christian Life God's Faithfulness Knowing God Peace Trusting God

Who Holds You Up When Your World Flies Apart?

When Your World Flies Apart, Jesus is the…  U – Upholder of All Things  “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him […]