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

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...

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...

I am currently writing scripts for videos that will accompany the chapters in my book, "Come to the Father: Drawing Near to God through...

Yesterday our women’s Bible study group met to kick-off our new semester of classes. It was our first gathering since before the...

A new year, new possibilities. There are people who choose a word to focus on for the year. I have occasionally done this for myself....