“But He gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” James 4:6 (NIV, emphasis mine) I cannot believe this is a struggle, I thought as I quietly listened. I knew her story. I knew she had an immense Biblical background. She had many family…
Category: Forgiveness
Careful Correction
How does she do it? I was absolutely astonished. Our astute second-grader had once again completed her homeschool math assignment in record time. She must have Daddy’s math ability, I thought as I happily checked all those correct answers day in and day out. Then one day we began multiplying with double digits. She meandered…
Willful, Yet Loved
Our fur-baby Minna loves her people. All summer she enjoyed parks, kayaking, and picnicking excursions with the us. Then August hit. My husband and I were back at school preparing our classrooms. The younger daughters started back to school. The college student returned to college. Minna moped. After school I would find Minna with her…
Promised Acceptance
Sandra sank to the floor near her bed in exhausted desperation. The irony of the spot hit her full on. Years ago, as a child, she would kneel here before bed, conversing with God, just as Mama taught her. But Mama died. Sandra hadn’t spoken to God since. After years of silence, she cried out…
Coming Clean
“Cleanse me with hyssop and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.” Psalm 51:7 NIV “What does it mean to repent?” I asked the sweet ten-year-old girl before me. She glanced thoughtfully toward the ceiling, and after a moment’s consideration answered both thoroughly and succinctly, “Coming clean.” Wow. How…
Lost Love
Do you get nervous meeting new people? What will he think? What if I inadvertently offend her? First impressions matter, we’re told. Some claim employers have a good idea just 7 seconds into an interview if a candidate is a good fit. In our feeble attempt to get the job, keep the job, give a…
A Crack in Armor
The three-year-old giggled as she descended the stairs and twirled before her Daddy. From a young age, it was in her heart to find her own knight-in-shining-armor. David was such a man. He was chosen. He walked with the Lord. He waited on the Lord. He would be recorded as a man after God’s own…
CPR for the Soul
As she steered into the street, her thoughts got away from her. It was a mess. A royal mess. She never intended for the white lie to grow as it had. Now what? she asked herself as she drove to the next errand. She sighed. She knew the answer. But knowing didn’t make it any…
A Heart Hearing
Waking the next morning before dawn, Marcy silently slid out from the covers. Christmas day! The house was quiet and a cup of tea sounded inviting. Moving slowly and quietly through the kitchen, she prepared her cup and her heart a she reached for her Bible. Sitting down in the old rocking chair at the big…
Little Lies?
Cringing, she settled back into her chair. Replacing the receiver, she knew she had to take a break. Now. Walking out of the office down the corridor, she locked herself in the ladies’ room. How had this happened? Lord, forgive me. I just lied. The fact that many would consider it a white lie didn’t…