“You’re so brave!” she said. The thought had never occurred to me that what I was doing was brave. I was just taking the next step on my journey with God. He had opened a door that I knew was mine to walk through. Brave? Was it really?...
Read moreCharades Anyone?
I am not the kind of person who likes highly competitive games. I like games that use your brain, like Scrabble or Boggle. Or games that give you as long as you need to make a decision, like many card games. I don’t like time crunches or games that make you stand up and think on your feet, like Charades. So imagine me as a freshman drama major playing Charades with drama majors.
I wanted to be an actress and loved playing well-written characters with depth. Key words there: well-written. I liked scripts, not improvisation. Charades is a game of improvisation...
Read moreYour Name’s on the List!
How many 100th birthday parties have you had the opportunity to attend?My husband spent many years in a variety of media positions, both Christian and secular. As a result, we sometimes had the opportunity to attend events we never would have had access to otherwise. One of these was the 100th birthday of Ruth Peale, Mrs. Norman Vincent Peale.
We drove to New York City and entered the posh hotel where the gala was being held. We mingled with Our acquaintances amongst the large number of honored guests and family members. As we enjoyed the dinner and festivities honoring Mrs. Peale there was a sense of disbelief. How did we get here?
We didn’t earn a place at the table....
Read moreHopelessly Devoted
What do you and I need to do to walk in all that God has for us? In becoming who God wants me to be there is a lot that I dont have power to make happen. Ultimately, it is the Holy Spirit who empowers us to walk in the identity that God has for us. He has done the work and does the work. We dont make ourselves holy or righteous. But we do have to put ourselves in a position to receive. We have to put ourselves in a position that receives the work that God wants to do...
Unexpected Rescue
It was a Sunday morning. I was a pastor on staff at a church and headed to work. As January mornings often are it was somewhat grey and chilly. This morning seemed a bit misty, but there was no real precipitation. The wet road reflected the grey light. It was a normal commute. Until it wasn’t...
Read moreWhere Regrets Go To Rest
It still haunts me all these years later. My selfishness and insensitivity. I often yearn for an opportunity to speak to her and tell her how sorry I am, but it will most likely not happen this side of heaven.
My best friend and I were renting a townhouse apartment...
Read moreMade For Glory
Everyone struggles with purpose. Deep within the human heart is a desire to mean something. We want to know that our lives matter. Why? Because God created us with that longing. He put it there and He alone can answer that cry.
In the book of Ephesians, Paul declares that we should “live to the praise of His glory.” God created you and me to live a life filled with His glory, to reflect Him to those seen on the earth and those unseen in the heavenlies. You were made to live a glory-filled life. You were made for glory! How’s that for a purpose?
Read moreAre You Crossing the Rickety Bridge?
It was a terrifying moment. I remember exactly where I was. I can clearly see the room around me in my memory. I was about to do something that could potentially rock my world, but I knew that it had to be done. The consequences of not following through outweighed the risk of taking the plunge, so I did it. I prayed Psalm 139:23-24 and meant it! “Search me, God..."
Read moreAre You a Forgiven Forgiver?
There are those moments that become engraved in memory. Often, they are the most beautiful moments. The proposal. The graduation. The birth. But sometimes, they are the most painful moments: The breakup. The failure. The loss. This was one of those kinds of moments.
It isn’t necessary, or wise, for me to share the details with you. It was a moment of great loss, loss of position, loss of hope, loss of future...
Happily Ever After? Really?
I was 14. He was almost 18. It was my first "real" relationship. I remember the moment he said "I love you. And I've never said that to anyone before!" I believed him. He believed himself. We were happy. What else would we be?!
It lasted almost a year...
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