courage change
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If you live here in the South, I am sure you have heard the phrase “like a deer in headlights.” The phrase describes someone who freezes up, unable to move or think in unexpected situations. In my early twenties, one night after work, I was driving home when a deer suddenly crashed into my windshield.… Read more
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We adopted our youngest dog from a shelter, where she had come from an abusive background on the streets. Her distinctive long white hair and spotted face stood out to me. I asked her, “Do you want to come home with Nannie?” She placed both of her front paws on me and looked me square… Read more
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There is freedom in letting go of past mistakes and hurts. The Apostle Paul moved past the fact that he had been a torturer who tried to destroy the church by murdering and imprisoning Christians. After Paul’s conversion through his incredible encounter with Jesus, he later said, “But one thing I do: forgetting what lies… Read more
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Yes you! It doesn’t matter if your past is more sordid than the woman at the well who had five failed marriages and was living with a man who wasn’t her husband. Jesus knew all of this, and He still used her to make a difference. If you have been abused and used like David’s… Read more
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So often, we want OUT of a difficult situation. We’re not interested in what’s best in the long run; we want relief now. I remember when our daughters wore braces. Every month, the orthodontist would tighten the wires on their teeth so much that their teeth would ache for days. If you asked them during… Read more
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Often in life, we think our spouse’s faults are greater than ours. We dwell on what is wrong with everyone else, but not with ourselves. The truth is, love doesn’t constantly find fault. Love doesn’t get its pride hurt every time someone doesn’t make you feel like the most important person in the room. Love… Read more
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Even when we are doing what Jesus tells us to do, it is sometimes very difficult and hard work. There are times when I feel ‘agitated (troubled and filled with fear and dread)’ (v.50, AMP). Today, while reading Mark chapter 6, I noticed the disciples were ‘straining at the oars, because the wind was against… Read more
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Do you check your spirit? In Luke 18:9-14, the Pharisee prays self-righteously, boasting about his religious practices, including fasting twice a week and paying tithes. In contrast, the tax collector humbly prays for mercy, and Jesus highlights the tax collector’s humility. So many times, we worship and seek after the wrong things. I know this… Read more
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Late evening thoughts: Taking apart your parents home is extremely painful. You travel back through their lives and the life you lived with them. Your heart is cracked wide open exposing every emotional feeling you have ever felt towards your immediate family. So thankful the Word of God comforts us through this time. His love,… Read more
For Real, Elaine?! 