“I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13 We’re all familiar with the term Fake News – but what about Fake Hope during this upcoming Christmas a season? Messaging from retailers competing for our attention and dollars drown out the real message of hope. We are bombarded by unrealistic expectations of a... Read more
“Casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7 (NASB) Where do you go when you find yourself frustrated, stressed, or overwhelmed? I don’t know about you, but there have been many times in my life I’ve felt overwhelmed, under pressure, and incapable of handling my circumstances. Through the years, I’ve learned, that the first and best place to turn is to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, on my knees in a position... Read more
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Does it seem like life’s disappointments all pile up this time of year? Aloneness, the grief of a lost loved one, financial hardship, sickness, or a broken relationship is accentuated during this season. At some point in our lives, we will all experience one or more of these challenges around the holidays. So, what do we do with our illuminated pile of disappointments? There are no easy solutions, but there are a few things I’ve found to be helpful. I... Read more
“A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.” Proverbs 17:22 (NASB) All we have to do is turn on the news and we are assaulted by negativity. Very seldom do we ever see or hear anything positive during a broadcast. Living in a fallen world, sin and sorrow abound and strive to bring us down. So, how can we stay positive? Joy is the answer that can transform our world — our hearts... Read more
“Truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.” John 12:24 A friend of mine and I were having lunch recently when she said she has let go of her dreams since cultivating a deeper relationship with God the past couple of years. She did so to align herself more closely with God’s will instead of pursuing her will and... Read more
“For God has not called us for the purpose of impurity, but in sanctification.” 1 Thessalonians 4:7 (NASB) From the moment we surrender our lives to Christ, God views us as clean and pure because He sees the righteousness of Jesus in us (Hebrews 10:10). From that day forward, we embark on a Spiritual Growth Journey, growing in our knowledge and understanding of God and His Word; a process that ultimately leads us to become more like Christ. As we... Read more
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]“I’ve never had a father. I barely had a mother.” After a pause, “Sometimes I was the mother. I’m lucky to be alive.” Jess’ childhood went off script right from the start. As a young girl drug from place to couch to another place while her addict mother went from one abuser to the next user to the next. The cycle repeated as Jess grew into the shaky shoes of her mother. From a young age, often beaten and sexually... Read more
It was the late 80’s and early 90’s when Madonna, Prince and Janet Jackson led the fashion trends. I was far from God at that time and living in the world of bawdy fashion — until God got a hold of me. Once I began faithfully following Him, my identity began to change and I began reflecting His character more and more. The closer I grew to God, the more my wardrobe changed. As women, we want to look our... Read more
All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize. 1 Corinthians 9:25 Are you a self-starter when it comes to going to the gym? Honestly, I’m not. I purposely need to make a workout date with a friend, to keep me from rescheduling or postponing the inevitable, productive pain that comes from a good workout at the gym. We’ve all heard the saying “no pain, no gain” and it’s true. If we want to strengthen our... Read more
Hope is the necessary ingredient for thriving. It’s the foundation we need to heal our relationships, undertake challenges, and pursue our God-given dreams. No matter where we live, what job we have, or what background we come from ––– there’s one thing we all have in common ––– we all want and need to wake up every morning with HOPE–– hope for the day,hope for the future, and hope that our ambitions and dreams will someday come true. The problem... Read more
Courage for Life
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