Fear. Anxiety. Sadness. Disappointment. Confusion. Anger. Shame. Disgust. Amusement. Empathy. Curiosity. Surprise. Acceptance. Adoration. Gratitude. Happiness. Joy. Peace. Calm. Enjoyment. Excitement. Awe. Love. As you read over those emotions, where do you find yourself? It’s OK. Wherever you are right now, it’s OK. We are all led to believe that going into the holiday season […]
Thanksgiving is the time where we focus on thankfulness and what we are grateful for. That comes easier for some than for others. Sometimes this festive season can be more difficult for some with hurt and past memories creeping up or the reminder of current circumstances which may include big losses and disappointments. This can […]
“I am giving you a new commandment, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all people will know that you are My disciples: if you have love for one another.” – John 13:34-35 Love. Jesus commands us to love. But what does this […]
Relationships can be complicated. Being a parent is complicated and oftentimes difficult. Being a child of a complicated and multidimensional parent can be complicated and painful. Being human can sometimes be very complicated, so it is no surprise that sometimes our relationships—even our most treasured ones—can be difficult and complicated. The longer a divide exists […]
Sitting in church on a Sunday morning our pastor* said, “Many of you will run out of time before you run out of money.” Let that sit for a minute. It hit hard with me. Even during times of financial struggle I’ve never missed a meal or not had a warm bed to sleep in. […]
I felt utter desperation. And even more confused. I was in-between assignments from God and had no idea what was next. Thinking I’d be at my last ministry position until Jesus came back, being in-between left me spinning. And at the same time fully understanding that sometimes God puts things in our hands and sometimes […]
It’s a common surprise: parents think that once their children get past the exhausting toddler years and become more independent, life will slow down and the couple will have more time to connect spiritually. For many, the opposite becomes reality. For whatever reason—busyness, tension in the relationship, stress, or another issue—couples can grow apart and […]
We’ve all heard this… “Church is full of hypocrites.” I’d have to agree with that statement because I know I’m a hypocrite and I’m in church each week. Definition of hypocrite: 1 : a person who puts on a false appearance of virtue or religion 2 : a person who acts in contradiction to his […]
There’s a show called “Kitchen Nightmares” with famous chef Gordon Ramsay. One of the episodes featured a husband-and-wife restaurant team where both owners were well over the age of retirement. Even though they had a huge staff, the husband insisted on planting himself in the kitchen in front of the stove. As Gordon Ramsay gave […]
Will you be making resolutions this year? Some of us do, and some of us say, Why bother? Which is totally understandable because sometimes, or oftentimes, what we start out doing at the beginning of the year falls off by the end of the year. Why is that? Maybe it’s because we set expectations of […]
