There is nothing you can do - absolutely nothing - to make yourself cleaner, and holier, and more righteous before a holy God. Your good choices, though they make your life better, don’t make Him love you more. Your denial of self, though it builds strength of character, doesn’t invoke His approval. Your avoidance of… Continue reading As Loved as You Ever Will Be
Joy Comes in the Morning
Therefore the Lord longs to be gracious to you, And therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you. For the Lord is a God of justice; How blessed are all those who long for Him. How blessed indeed. Does your soul long for just Him this morning? What is that deep ache inside?… Continue reading Joy Comes in the Morning
Hiding place
The sweetest love there is... the love of Jesus... He is a soft place to land, a place of comfort, of peace... Just sitting quietly with him calms all fears, settles the heart, and makes me feel... safe. He lifts my head, wipes my tears, and says, I know. I'm so sorry. I am here… Continue reading Hiding place
When Hope Becomes Denial
I typed in my question, hesitated, and then pressed, "Send." Nobody likes to be a Debbie-downer, but honestly, I had had enough of all this "hope" business. I was tired. And weary. I could no longer handle hearing how God does wonderful things for others, while I remain stuck where I am, waiting for Him… Continue reading When Hope Becomes Denial
I Wasn’t Supposed to Have You
I stood staring at the two pink lines in stunned silence. Alone in the city, far from home, no husband. This wasn’t supposed to happen. I wasn’t supposed to have you. But there you were, a tiny heartbeat inside my body. I was thrilled…then terrified. I wasn’t married. My parents were going to be devastated.… Continue reading I Wasn’t Supposed to Have You
A Quiet Walk – When We Finally Stop Trying So Hard
What does it mean to search for God with all your heart? I have been told this means... I should rise early and give Him the first part of my day. I should lock myself in my closet and pray til an answer comes. I should pray with intensity so that He knows I… Continue reading A Quiet Walk – When We Finally Stop Trying So Hard
No Guilt in Love
Do all things in love. When it is love that compels us to do right, then we do right. When it is guilt that drives us, we push back. Nobody wants to be guilted into right living, right decisions, right choices. God does not lay guilt on us - instead, He took the guilt on… Continue reading No Guilt in Love
Don’t Follow Your Heart… Lead it.
In the image of God He made them, male and female. Genesis 1:27 I often have to help my children work through their emotions. When someone says something unkind, it is very natural to want to give an unkind response – because in that moment, your emotion is one of hurt, injustice, and the need… Continue reading Don’t Follow Your Heart… Lead it.
A Penny for Your Thoughts
I will not leave you comfortless; I will come to you. ~John 14:18 Tonight, my heart hurts. My soul is weary. The fight is real. I would wager that many of you are here tonight, too; Because how many of us fight a secret struggle, deep in the recesses of our hearts, That nobody knows… Continue reading A Penny for Your Thoughts
Not for the Faint of Heart
The blows, they just keep coming. Over and over, day after day. You wonder - will this ever end? Will things ever get better? Why am I being pummeled? Years ago, back when it wasn't over-grown, full of tall grass and weeds, my husband began a huge garden on his five-acre property. Day after day,… Continue reading Not for the Faint of Heart