Categories
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 […]

Categories
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 […]

Categories
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 […]

Categories
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 […]

Categories
Christian Life Faith Fear Trusting God

The Joy of the Lord

Seven years ago a health crisis sent me into a tailspin, and during that time I learned what it means to find strength in the joy of the Lord. Today good results from a routine check-up left me feeling grateful. I’m revisiting a blog post I wrote in 2016 for Restore Ministries. The Joy of […]

Categories
Christian Life Faith Prayer Trusting God

Quarreling with God

And he called the name of the place Massah and Meribah, because of the quarreling of the people of Israel, and because they tested the Lord by saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?” (Ex. 17:7 ESV) When things go wrong, do you find yourself quarreling with God? Have you tested the Lord’s patience by complaining? Let me sheepishly raise my hand and […]

Categories
Faith

Keeping Our Eyes on Jesus

And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.  We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. (Heb. 12: 1b-2 NLT) […]

Categories
Faith Prayer

Believing in Possibility

When I look at my students, I see endless possibility. On my classroom wall, I’ve posted a verse: “All things are possible for one who believes.” (Mark 9:23). My students memorize Luke 1:27: “For nothing is impossible with God.” But I wonder if I’ve stopped believing for myself. Do I no longer see any possibility […]