Marriage is hard. It takes work. It takes staying committed in a world that says, “If I’m not happy, I’m outta here.” Yet, none of us marries with the idea that it won’t last. We get married thinking our relationship will be different. We’re in love and plan to live happily ever after. That lasts about a week-and-a-half.
Instead, marriage is like God’s sandpaper. It exposes our basic selfishness and all our rough edges. But if we let God teach us where we need to grow and change … if we learn to forgive … if we learn what it means to give grace to one another … if we stay committed through the good times and the bad, marriage can be one of God’s greatest gifts.
I believe prayer changes things and I care about people. So, why do I sometimes forget to pray when I say I will? Maybe you have, too. Someone shares a need and you promise to pray. You really mean to, but...
Happy 4th of July Happy 4th of July. I hope you are all enjoying your summer. It’s been a busy summer for us so far. We have grandchildren in town for a month and lots of other things going on....
We’ve all heard it, read it, and probably been told it at some time or another: “Just forgive!” Or sometimes it is put in more secular terms: “Get over it!” Those of us who are walking with the Lord know we...
Things have been busy here on the blog and for me personally. I’m still working on the new theme: changing image sizes, deleting old posts, and learning how to use the new bells and whistles. I apologize to anyone who...
Throughout the centuries, some of the greatest men and women of God have kept journals. But journaling isn’t just for spiritual giants. It’s for you and me. If you find it hard to concentrate during your quiet time, a journal...
Last week I started talking about the value of questions. In that first post, “Questions & the Heart,” I suggested a few personal ones that can help us evaluate our walks with God. Today I want to pose some questions about...
Questions. They can be rhetorical or direct. They can be hard-hitting or frivolous. Jesus used questions to get to the heart with those He met. In counseling, we say, “Accusations harden the heart, but questions prick the conscience.” Questions can help...
We’ve all been there. We want something to change … or someone! We want something to happen. We want to feel better, get well, not be afraid or worried. We want to be happy, financially comfortable, married, have kids,...
A couple of weeks ago I wrote about prayer and Bible study and how they are “The 2 Essential Means of Christian Growth.” This week I want to talk more about how those two means work themselves out on a practical level....
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