When we think of biblical literacy, many of us may picture ourselves tucked away in our home office or at our kitchen table with notebooks and commentaries encircling us like our own little army. Most likely it’s the early hours before the sun rises or the late hours...
When we consider the Reformers, we may picture strong men and women with booming voices that echoed around the gathered crowd. We picture them as fearless, rebuking whoever contradicted the true teachings of Scripture, calling out heresy for what it was. But this...
As Christian, we all know the mundane, daily plodding along of faithfulness. The early morning rising—perhaps before the sun kisses the horizon—to pray and read our Bibles. The ordinary work of discipling our children in God’s Word. The every day choice of obedience...
I am not a journal-keeper. I have a collection of partially-filled journals where I tried to force myself into the habit but gave up less than halfway through. Though my journaling doesn’t happen on paper, I could fill books with the thoughts and conversations I’ve...
Self-esteem became a buzz word a number of years ago. Most people have a low self-esteem, and it needs to be boosted. Even people who appear as boastful are actually hiding their low self-esteem. Sometimes depression is attributed to low self-esteem. From there, many...
Heartbreak. Betrayal. Back-stabbed. Slandered. Disowned. Ignored. Forgotten. Left behind. Cheated. Misused. We all know the unfaithfulness of people in some form. Maybe it was a friend who talked behind your back. Maybe it was a boyfriend or husband who kissed another...
You are sitting across from a good friend with a cup of coffee as you catch up on each other's lives. You have been friends for years and are sisters in Christ. You have shared much of your lives together. As you chat, your grip suddenly becomes tighter around your...
Isaiah 55:8-9, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9 God’s ways are far higher...
I laid in my bed, staring at the hair-line cracks in the ceiling, with these thoughts tumbling in my mind: am I really a Christian? Does God still love me? Am I a child of God or a false convert? Sleep was impossible, and the weight of fear and doubt laid heavy on my...
They appear to stand opposed, at opposite sides, bearing swords ready to fight: theology and good deeds. Some will argue theology only separates, so we only need to love others more. Some will argue theology is necessary and more important than good deeds. I’ve stood...
Correction is never enjoyable. At the moment, it often leaves us feeling hot with humiliation and bitterness. Being praised is enjoyable; it feels as if we were standing on a high podium. Correction, however, makes us feel like someone knocked us off the podium...
It’s a wonderful aspiration to desire to teach. God’s calls the older women to teach the younger women (Titus 2:3-5), and there is always someone younger than you to pass your wisdom along to. But it’s an aspiration that’s linked to responsibility. There is more to...
Have you ever read a Christian romance novel? The one with a misled girl who meets that perfect Christian guy who has it all figured out, and who from the day they met was her spiritual guide to encourage her in a closer relationship with God? They saved their first...
I have a system for putting my baby to sleep. First, I pace the house with him cuddled tightly in my arms. Once his eyes shut, I gently sit down and snuggle him on my chest. Once he stops sucking his soother (a great indicator that he’s finally given way to deep...
When Christ saved me from legalism and led me a saving knowledge of Him, tendrils of legalism remained wrapped on me. Every sin I caught myself in was further ammunition I used against any assurance of salvation I had. As I stood worshipping alongside my friends at my...