I remember hearing someone say, “No one ever set out with the goal to become a drug addict or an adulterer.” There is a lot of truth to that statement. No one grew up as a child and said, “When I get older I want to become a meth addict.” Nor did they say, “My goal when I am older is to cheat and to have an affair.” Sin subtly woos people into outcomes they never intended to have. Sin creeps, until one day, it attacks us and eats us alive, bringing a terrible and suddenly rock-bottom outcome. I’ve seen it happen with people. A little compromise leads to a…

Did you experience a pit in 2022? Last year, I didn’t accomplish as much as I wanted. Last year, I didn’t share on social media as much as I hoped. Last year, I didn’t make as many new friends as I should have. Last year, I didn’t believe in myself as much as God did. Last year, I’m not sure I trusted that God had good things for me. What pit did you find yourself in 2022? I don’t ask so we can have a joint pity-party from the depths of our dark pits. I ask because healing is available to us, right here and right now. The light of…

“I don’t like that cross very much, mom! I don’t really want it in my design,” declared my son. My son was intent on having the perfect design on the Christmas ornament he was decorating online. Considering his viewpoint, I, too, considered the cross on the screen. I could understand his viewpoint. On face value, there were gaps in each of the horizontal and vertical lines that made up Jesus’ cross. There were odd-shaped lines, protruding weirdly at the end of each bar. But, at the same time, I knew my son was not grasping the full picture being portrayed. While he saw gaps, I saw something else emerge to…

Last night, I shared with my daughter, “Sometimes, I speak and you do not answer me at all. Sometimes I share something important and you don’t even listen.” Frankly, these words I spoke to her were charged with pent-up frustration. You see, I have a short window to share wisdom with these children, and then they’re out in the big world, fending for themselves. I want them to hear what they need to know, before what they see is temptation, they don’t know what to do with. Is this issue rooted in fear versus faith? Likely. In any case, it’s been happening a lot in the car. I often get…

I was headed up, up, up. My car climbed the towering, sky-high road up the bridge. On the ascent, I could see it all, boats below, a beach lining the shore and cargo ships out the left side of my window . But, one thing I could not see? The other side of the bridge. From my vantage point, it looked like the road just — ended. It looked like I’d get to the top of the bridge and suddenly, fall over it, into deep waters. Ahhhh, I’m going to die!  That’s how it appeared as I drove…but at the same time, I knew that wouldn’t happen. Why? Because, even…

“You don’t understand.” We’ve probably all thought this thought one time or another. Someone gives us advice that does not resonate… Another thinks we’re doing something that we’re not even doing… People misinterpret our motives or our words… They don’t understand. We feel alone and by ourselves. It certainly has happened to me in marriage. At times, I have said one thing and my husband has heard a whole other thing. I am misunderstood. I am sure that I misunderstand him too, sometimes. In this case, when I feel all alone, it is easy for me to think, “Who is fighting for me? Who understands me?” It’s easy to sink…

Have you ever felt like a horrible person? A horrible mom? A horrible friend? Two days ago, I was a horrible mom for a second — or, truthfully, for about 2-hours. My son said to me, “I can’t tell you the things I tell daddy! I’m not telling you anything!!” My insides boiled at this comment; my son had hit a nerve. All I want is for my son to know he can share anything with me. I want to be close to him. I want him to know I am safe. But now he’s saying I am not good enough and that I am not safe. Ahh!!! I felt panic…

When I walk, I am not scared of bugs. I know I walk above them. When I walk though my front yard, I don’t consider what bugs may be underground; I just walk. I am not afraid, I go! I walk above problems. I walk over scary things. I move, anyway. To be above what lurks, is a big deal. It means you walk fearlessly. Do you realize that we sit above the mayhem of the world? “And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus…” (Eph. 2:6) “Even as [in His love] He chose us [actually picked us out for Himself…

What do we do when we can’t seem to trust? When worry hits us in the gut? I can’t say I have all the answers. There are some moments when the fear of what could be, or what isn’t, or what hasn’t — comes in like a flood. There are also moments where worst case scenarios have overtaken me. God knows, I am not perfect and life is hard. Situations get hard. People get hard. At the same time, these verses serve as an anchor on those hard sorts of days: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in…