Encouraging Women to Passionately Pursue God
“What do you want for Christmas?” my husband asked in preparation for his quick Christmas shopping trip. “Nothing you can buy,” I answered. He stopped at the door, his hand resting on the knob. He watched me as I tried to explain. It has been a long, hard year. Besides the emotional expenditure of situations…
“For where your treasure is, there will be your heart also.” Luke 12:34 How do you respond to surprises? Words gushing like a waterfall? Stunned silence? Emotions erupting like a volcano? Mary’s response in both Luke 2:19 and 2:51b was silence. And her silence spoke volumes. In Luke 2:19, Mary had just received shepherds who…
Ever feel like a fraud? A few years ago, I switched careers from nursing to teaching medicine to high school students. Before I accepted my teaching position, I had various volunteer teaching experiences. I had even homeschooled my own children. Yet, I didn’t see myself as a teacher. The first week of class proved more…
“What verse has resonated with you recently?” asked my daughter, returning home from college. “Luke 1:45 has been on my mind because it has always haunted me,” I shared. “Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!” Luke 1:45 (NIV) This verse in context is when Mary, pregnant…
Sighing, the prophet surveyed the site before him. Never had he imagined the City of David would look like this: Desolated. Devastated. Destroyed. What was even worse was the poverty afflicting the people: Physical poverty. Emotional poverty. Spiritual poverty, How could this happen? Nehemiah knew God. He also knew the city needed rebuilt. This was…
When faced with a new task what is your general approach? Do you take anything and everything offered, or do you rely on what you already know? David’s answer to that question might surprise you. While a young man, David, as instructed by his father, left his sheep and went to visit Saul’s army, checking…
With an agonizing cry, he stumbled into the room, sinking to the bed. No Lord, this can’t be. But after hours of tears streaming frustration and pain from deep inside him, he knew somehow, yes, yes it was. Sitting up in the now-darkened room, he resisted turning the dial of the nightstand lamp. The sun…
Here in the Midwest, winter seems to have lingered much longer than usual. In late April we still had a few snow days! As the days began to lengthen, our temperatures did not rise. Working in a public school, the students’ depression was palpable. Everyone needed to see spring. But now, after waiting months and…
Life doesn’t always make sense. We don’t always realize how everything works. We don’t always understand why people act and react as they do. We can’t always even comprehend ourselves. Our emotions often change like the wind. But there is one sure thing in this uncertain world: God’s great love for us. No matter what,…
A few years ago, I feel in love. Tragically, that love was not returned. Our puppy Tipper, might protect me, but she certainly did not obey me. She might stand between me and the lumbering trash truck in the street. She might plant herself between me and the large city worker in our yard. She…