I just came across my very first blog entry from Thursday, September 22, 2011. It was an introduction to my initial website— “Consider the Lilies.” This is the post that began my writing journey. Fifteen years ago, I never could have imagined that I’d write eight books and have two of them translated into Spanish! A heartfelt thanks to my readers, for allowing me to share my passion and inspirations. A grateful thanks to God, for giving me the skills, gifts, and desire to wri

How can one season bring such a palpable jumble of emotions? Happy and sad, joy and sorrow. Celebration and melancholy. Merry crowds and lonely souls. Family gatherings with missing members. There are hopeful plans and unmet expectations. Reality is not always a Norman Rockwell or Thomas Kincade painting, or a Hallmark movie (but even those have their ups and downs). And remember, events didn’t even go perfectly for Mary and Joseph on that first Christmas, but God had a bigge

God put it on my heart to share this devotion: You may currently be on the mountaintop or in the valley down below; wherever this day finds you, I pray this message meets you there. Tomorrow is Thanksgiving. The year is winding down; a new season is around the corner. Fall will change to Winter, and Spring will follow soon after. I sit on the couch reflecting on the past year and current situations. A bare Christmas tree, adorned with only lights for now, glimmers quietly in

This week our minds anticipate dinner preparations or long-distant travel plans; our stomachs hanker for plates full of turkey and pie; our hearts long for a return home, for time with family and friends, and tables surrounded with stories and laughter (even with parties of two or three). To pause, reflect, appreciate, give thanks. Thanksgiving is a day set aside for just such an occasion. The whirling and rushing that usually distract our attention and steal our notice of ev

Each new day we have is a gift from God, waiting to be opened and appreciated. It’s important to be intentional with how we use this gift. It is essential that we focus our attention on here and now , not worrying about tomorrow or fretting about the past (yes, I know it's not always easy). Worrying and fretting just steal our precious resource of time in the present. God wants to help us live each day without regret by trusting and resting in His care, and through appreciati

As we enter this holiday season our minds first turn to thoughts and celebrations of Thanksgiving. Truly, there is no need to wait for the arrival of the last Thursday in November to begin thanking the Lord for all that He has done and continues to do for us. Here is a week full of prompts to inspire your prayers this week. And to spark a heart of gratitude for the whole year going forward. Enjoy! 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 , " Rejoice always, 17  pray continually, 18  give than

I admit that I sometimes get caught up in scrolling through videos on social media—my favorites feature dogs, flowers, travel, and of course, faith-based inspiration. This morning as I took a little scroll, I came across a video of two elderly women singing praises to Jesus. Apparently, they are life-long friends, with one of them battling dementia at 98 years old. Still this beautiful woman, sitting in her wheelchair, enthusiastically kept the melody and recalled every word

I was a guest on a wonderful podcast this week! I first connected with Kathryn May on LinkedIn last Spring. We share a love for the Lord and a passion for helping others grow to their full potential as children of God. She shared her role as a Transformational Coach with me, and I shared my Bible studies and devotional books with her. Over the months we kept in contact online and finally put a date on the calendar for a face-to-face meeting over Zoom. She graciously invited

When we think of prayer things like worship, thanksgiving, and asking God to meet our daily needs are what most often come to mind....

Hi there! I hope you are having a wonderful day. I am enjoying the start to the Fall season! It’s a perfect time to pause and thank God...

I'm so excited to share that one of my devotions was recently featured in the Fall print issue of Just Between Us magazine. The magazine...

Welcome to another devotion based on "Come to the Father: Drawing Near to God Through Prayer and Scripture." In this devotion I’d like to...

Isaiah 43:10 , “ You are My witnesses,’ declares the Lord, ‘And My servant whom I have chosen, So that you may know and believe Me...

Welcome!  I wrote the following devotion based on my Bible study/ prayer journal book, “Come to the Father: Drawing Near to God Through...

This devotion is a page taken from my book "Worship and Wonder: Faith-Filled Devotions." Enjoy! Jesus tells us that the world will know...

What does a full life mean to you? Your answer may change depending on the moment, day, or according to your mood. Occasionally our idea...

Faith isn’t a little something we add to our life. Faith is life itself. Faith is the belief that God is holy. Faith is founded on the...

I have devoted the recent spring and summer months to studying the Book of Revelation. It is a lofty undertaking but one that comes with...

Far too often our thoughts lead us down rabbit trails where we get lost in dark and lonely places and find ourselves at dead ends. The...

The book of Revelation can seem scary and overwhelming, but as I am currently studying it, I am finding that it is truly a source of...