Sweeter with God

Finishing. Sometimes we put it off. Sometimes it's the last thing we want to do. But finishing is what God calls us to. And He wants us to do it well.

Finishing What God Gives Us To Do

By on • ( 8 )

Yesterday I ran. I ran what used to be my daily 3.1-mile loop. I used to think that wasn’t a big deal. But yesterday was different. I hadn’t run that distance in several years. I didn’t grow up being physically active. I hated the heat. Hated sweat. Hated being outside. How in the world did I survive Texas summers? Truthfully, I stayed inside. After three kids, my body showed it. Until God worked a miracle in my heart. I went from sedentary to active over the course of a year, and began to love the things I once hated. Only God… Read More ›

Come in! Make yourself at home! This welcome is how God wants us to feel in His house. And more, He wants us to know the safety and security of home.

At Home in God’s House

By on • ( 8 )

How often do you welcome guests with the following words: Come in! Make yourself at home! When we say those words, what we mean is … My home is your home. I want you to feel as comfortable here as you do in your own home. Take off your shoes, if you want. Put your feet on my couch! Help yourself to my refrigerator and my pantry! How many of us, when we’ve heard those words, actually live in them? When my high school friend Dee came over, she opened our refrigerator and said, “What have you got to eat… Read More ›

Do you ever sin on purpose? I don't like admitting it, but I do. It breaks God's heart. Thankfully, when I turn to Him, He forgives and washes it all away.

When I Sin On Purpose

By on • ( 18 )

This summer God wooed me to a study of some of the most treasured promises found in Scripture. This one was especially meaningful for me. It came when I needed to know and understand God’s forgiveness. “Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.” (Isaiah 1:18) After mulling this over for a bit, I read the entire chapter to establish the context. Isaiah used vivid word pictures to describe Israel’s condition as a result of her… Read More ›

High school graduation. A time of celebration & reflection. I find myself tearing up a lot. But my friend reminded me, this is what we raise them for!

This Is What We Raise Them For

By on • ( 16 )

This week was filled with the last of the lasts for my twin high school seniors. They officially “checked out” of our school district. Soon, they will have their high school diplomas in hand. While I was waiting in the car for my son to finish his paperwork, a friend of mine walked over to see how I was doing. I told her I had been crying, and she said with great enthusiasm, “Don’t do that! It’s going to be ok!” I responded with it being the last of the lasts. And then she said, “This is what we raise them… Read More ›

One of the first words children learn is "mine." But is anything really "mine"? I am entrusted with much, but only one thing is truly--mine.

The Only Thing That Is Mine

By on • ( 14 )

One of the first words little children learn is the word mine. It’s not just the word either. They learn all the emotion that goes behind it. Mine! But as believers we are taught that we don’t own anything. The psalmist tells us  that God owns the cattle on a thousand hills, and every other animal, as well. God owns everything (Psalm 24:1; Psalm 50:10-12)! The things that we think belong to us, really don’t. They are on-loan. Everything in our “possession” is entrusted to us–including our children. We are stewards who want to be found faithful at the end of the… Read More ›

Do you know how much you are loved? I think we all need reminders from time to time about how much God Himself loves us. We are precious to Him!

Do You Know How Much You Are Loved?

By on • ( 4 )

Do you know how much you are loved? From time to time, all of us wonder if we are truly loved by anyone. Sometimes we need reminders how much God Himself loves us. If you’ve ever felt that way, if you feel that way now … I’m here to tell you that you are not alone. The strongest believers sometimes need encouragement that they are deeply loved by God. Even Daniel–who served before kings interpreting their dreams, who was tossed into the lion’s den and rescued by an angel–still needed reassurance of God’s love for him. Daniel served the kings of Babylon… Read More ›

When your prayer list is filled with the needs of others, do you take time to pray for yourself? Are there things you feel aren't worth bringing to God?

Did You Remember to Pray for Yourself?

By on • ( 18 )

Do you pray for yourself? I mean seriously–pray … for … yourself. Think about all the people you pray for and the intensity with which you pray for them. Do you pray for yourself in the same way? In my quiet time a couple of weeks ago, I read through Psalm 90 in the New Living Translation. It’s a familiar psalm, but when I got to the last verse, I stopped in my tracks. I grew up reading and studying the New American Standard Bible and the New International Version. I love both of them. But I’m growing to to… Read More ›