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Anxiety Christian Life Fear Focus God's Word Hearing from God

How to Hear from God through the Scriptures

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” – Psalm 119:105 ESV I had good intentions. I woke up early, and in the quiet moments of a new day, I resolved to spend time with the Lord. Specifically, I needed God’s wisdom concerning a financial decision. In the stillness […]

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Anxiety Christian Life God's Spirit Joy Thanksgiving

Finding Joy in January: How to Renew a Spirit of Gladness

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your graciousness be known to everyone. The Lord is near.” Philippians 4:4-5 HCSB It’s hard to be joyful in January. In December, we may have been singing “Let It Snow.” But, when January arrives, we get tired of cold, dreary weather. The bills roll […]

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Advent Faith

Myth or Majesty: How to Tell the Difference

“For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.” 2 Peter 1:16 How do we distinguish between myths and events that are truly majestic and miraculous? As an eight-year-old child, I loved the idea […]

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Christian Life Purpose Trusting God

Finding Purpose When Life Is Puzzling

Do you ever feel like life is one giant puzzle, an assortment of random pieces without pattern or purpose? When my family got together for Thanksgiving, we did what many families do. We ate turkey and pie and played games. And, off and on, we worked on a jigsaw puzzle. I have a love-hate relationship […]

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Change Growth Hearing from God Nature Rest Trusting God Wonder

What’s So Nice About Pumpkin Spice? Why We Love Autumn

What’s the big deal about pumpkin spice? Why do we get so excited about falling leaves and the orange, red, and gold of autumn? At a recent women’s retreat in South Carolina, I was giddy with excitement over every tiny glimpse of color. I scoured the trees to discover a blush of crimson among the […]

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creation Faith Family Relationships God's Glory God's Word Hope Joy Knowing God Wonder

What’s Your Reason to Believe, to Hope, to Rejoice?

Can you pinpoint  moments on the timeline of your life when you saw evidence of God’s mighty works? Do you have memories of events that gave you reasons to believe, to hope, and to rejoice? I remember traveling with my family and in-laws to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. The Grand Canyon Lodge, […]

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Courage Faith Faithfulnes Family Relationships Joy Sacrifice Service Virtue

Shining the Spotlight on Virtue: Faithfulness to Family

“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” Philippians 4:8 NKJV Faithfulness is an example of virtue, or moral excellence. In my last post, I talked about faithfulness to God. Today I’m shining the spotlight on faithfulness […]

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Faith Focus

Shining the Spotlight on Virtue: Faithfulness to God

“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” Philippians 4:8 NKJV In his letter to the Philippians, Paul said we should meditate on examples of virtue. “Virtue” seems like such an out-of-date word. We don’t […]

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Christian Life Focus God's Word Hope

Have You Heard a Good Report?

“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” Philippians 4:8 NKJV Did you ever notice how one bit of bad news can overshadow all the good news we receive? I recall one year when my […]

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Anxiety Faith Fear Focus Hope Knowing God

Meditating on the Pure Things in Life

“But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.” James 3:17 ESV Where can we find wisdom that is pure, unadulterated by ulterior motives, uncontaminated by selfishness, and uncorrupted by evil? I opened my laptop, determined to begin my morning by reading an online devotional. […]