Loving our neighbor requires taming our tongue. The art of maintaining strong relationships requires obedience to the teachings of Jesus about loving our neighbor. One way we sometimes fall short of this command is in the words we say to and about others. Words can be encouraging or destructive, and each day we must choose which type of words we will use. Lessons from James on Taming Our Tongue This summer, I have been doing a mini-study of the book... Read more
God loves diversity. He is the Creator of this diverse world. All around us are examples of His beautiful handiwork. We should honor and be grateful for all the plant, animals, and other beautiful humans God has placed in our lives. God Created Diversity among the Flowers Last week, my husband and I stood in our kitchen talking. “How many flower pots do you think we have on the deck?” he asked. “I don’t know. 30?” I replied. He laughed.... Read more
If you live on planet earth, it’s almost impossible to avoid people. But sometimes that’s okay, because God’s blessings are sometimes people He puts in our lives. Such was the case for me when I met Lonnie Hull DuPont, an editor with Revell at the time I first met her. Lonnie passed away on August first, leaving the Christian writing community, as well as her family and friends, feeling a big loss. And yet her passing meant the end of... Read more
I believe a legacy of forgiveness is what God wants us to leave for our family and friends. It can be a difficult legacy to achieve. I have my own family to attest to that fact. The End of a Generation June 11, 2016, was a beautiful sunny Saturday. Perfect for walking the three blocks to my local farmers’ market. There probably wouldn’t be any green beans yet, but I hoped to score some loganberries or boysenberries, and spicy fresh... Read more
One of my greatest weaknesses is my temper. I pray for inner peace; I have for years, decades even, asked God to help me be more patient and even tempered when provoked. A longing for inner peace and the ability to overcome my anger often find a place in my prayer life. With each new frustration and irritable outburst, it feels as if my prayer has gone unanswered. Anger Sparked by Vinaigrette Everywhere One evening this past spring, my husband... Read more
We live in a world filled with sorrow and strife, a world in need of hope. I find the hope I need in Jesus. He can be your hope, too. Finding a Favorite Bible Verse of Hope Many people, if asked their favorite Bible verse, will cite John 3:16, and it is a good one: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal... Read more
Forty-five years after I was first sexually assaulted, and forty-two years after the last of several attacks, you might think I’d be free from negative thoughts. I certainly thought I would be. But even now I must combat negative thoughts with the help of Jesus. Recent Negative Thought Patterns I have a row of ancient rose bushes that separate my yard from the street. The pink, yellow, white, and red blooms bless us all summer long. My job is to... Read more
Sometimes it can seem impossible to find God’s light in the darkness of depression and suffering. Keeping trauma experiences secret can make it feel like His light is totally nonexistent. Depression—at least trauma-induced depression—acts as a form of spiritual and mental self-cannibalism. In trying to eradicate negative memories of trauma, the mind destroys positive memories instead. Eventually, only the worst recollections persist as startling flashbacks. Throughout my twenties and into my early thirties, all I could remember of my high... Read more
As I think about the upcoming holiday of Juneteenth, I hear Solomon Burke singing in my head: “None of us are free, one of us are chained.” Juneteenth is a celebration of freedom and emancipation, but looking at our world today, the celebration seems premature. But God desires freedom for all and an end to all slavery and oppression. Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” So you are... Read more
When my oldest sister died of cancer in 2021, I found hope in knowing that Jesus holds my tears. I needed that hope because I cried. A lot. I hadn’t seen her since before the pandemic. It had been my plan to visit her nine days after the day she died. I didn’t get that chance. Jesus Holds Your Tears in a Bottle I have cried many tears in my life. If you have never cried, you can stop reading... Read more
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