Do you realize that forgiving someone is actually a gift to yourself and holding onto unforgiveness actually leads to bitterness and pain that keep you stuck in a cycle of negative thoughts and emotions? Forgiving someone who has hurt us is not a feeling or an emotion, it’s a choice. First, we choose to forgive, and then our emotions begin to heal as God mends our heart. Forgiveness is not contingent on the other person’s attitude, response or even on... Read more
Disappointment and confusion in my husband eyes told me everything was not okay the moment our son Joseph was born. I couldn’t accept the way he looked at me nor his words that followed announcing our baby had a birth defect. Although we were aware of this birth defect called gastroschisis through an ultrasound, we believed God’s will was to heal our son before he was born. Our family, friends, and church joined us in earnest prayer for his healing.... Read more
Too often we skim over God’s Word rather than slowing down to see what it’s saying. Sometimes, we look at what Scripture says, yet we fail to ask — what does it mean? Other times, we consider what the Bible is saying and what it means, yet we still fail to ask the two most vital questions — What is God saying to me? and How does God want me to apply what I have read to my life? Life is... Read more
Have you ever felt defeated in life or in your circumstances? Have you ever felt your future is defeated as well? The definition of the word “defeat” is the act of being overcome, a setback, overthrown, brought to nothing; frustration, and the act or event of losing. The good news is, what you’re feeling is only a feeling, not the truth, not when you’re walking every day with Jesus. If we allow our feelings to take the front seat of... Read more
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 physical muscles, we need to put them to work, and sore muscles indicate progress. Similarly, when... Read more
In our “all about me” culture, it’s easy to get caught up in living for comfort, recognition, satisfaction, and success. After all, these experiences generally make us feel good and give us confidence in the here and now. No one sets out in life to be uncomfortable, ignored, dissatisfied, or hurt. But quite often, it’s during the painful experiences of life, we look toward the Lord and come face to face with the one person who puts our priorities into... Read more
When my sons were young, we watched Disney’s The Lion King together. Their tender hearts and mine were impacted by the death of Mufasa. The impact of the death of a parent on a child’s life was dramatically portrayed in the children’s movie. When I saw the movie for the first time, I shed a tear for the loss of Mufasa. But recently, I was in a Bible Study that showed a clip of the movie again – that directed our... Read more
One bright day, I was casually sitting in an outdoor dining area when I noticed a cloud, it was quickly moving across the sky and it drew everyone’s attention. This was no ordinary cloud. The cloud was clearly outlined- it was Jesus sitting on His throne. The cloud was mosaic in design and radiated brilliant colors of fire. I was astounded by the beauty of it. But as the cloud came closer, the wind picked up and suddenly I was... Read more
Are there people, places, or things in your life that keep you from embracing God’s best? Are you clinging to toxic relationships, holding onto a dead-end job, or afraid to let go of possessions that are no longer needed? Does your hesitation to get rid of old things keep you from accepting new opportunities God has for you? Let go There is a time to hold on and a time to let go. A time to realize when certain people, places,... Read more
For years I allowed hurt and fear to keep me from pursuing the life God was urging me to embrace. I let emotional baggage paralyze me and prevent me from going after healthy life choices and opportunities that were right within my reach. Emotional baggage can be paralyzing. It is often passed down from generation to generation, and if we allow it to, it can continue to infect our families and loved ones for generations to come. Is there something... Read more
Courage for Life
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In