The Truth About a Silent Night

Silent night, Holy night, All is calm,  All is bright As my daughter led the congregation in worship with these words, my heart was heavy and burdened. Yes, it’s that time where we celebrate the peace brought into the world by our Savior, God incarnate who came into the world as a precious baby wrapped […]

When Integrity Hurts

I’ve often heard it said that integrity is who you are when no one is watching. Sometimes, though, integrity is standing up for what you know is right even when everyone is against you. And that’s the uncomfortable situation in which I find myself today. Without giving excessive details, I am a leader in an […]

When Life Gives You Too Much

Have you ever felt completely overwhelmed with life? Felt like you were struggling just to keep your nose above water and keep breathing? Thought you simply couldn’t continue putting one foot ahead of the other? Maybe you were shattered by adultery. Perhaps the pain of infertility was ripping your heart into pieces. The death of […]

Five Reasons the Christian Life is Hard

Recently, I was reading an old blog post from when Roy and I were first married. In case you don’t know, our first couple of years were HARD…and that might be the understatement of the year! As if marriage isn’t hard enough, remarriages are even harder. When you take two people who have baggage from […]

Let’s Be Thankful!

Happy Thanksgiving! Have you contemplated those things for which you are thankful? I know I have many things. My health. My family. My job. Redemption. Purpose. Relationships. And, of course, my Savior whose love and forgiveness and faithfulness is the one constant in this life. Where would I be without Him? Today, though. Today, I […]

Life Update

Can you believe Thanksgiving is next week? I have no idea what has happened to this year. I have actually been taking a little break from my blogging as I try to take a deep breath and get my feet underneath me again. I am beyond exhausted. And dry. And burned out. I feel like […]

Four Ways Cultural Change Can Make Us Better Christians

This weekend, I took my daughter on her first true college tour. Can I start by saying I’m not sure how we reached this place in life? My baby is a high school senior! I know she will do well in college, and I know SHE is ready. I, however, am not. But, I digress. […]

One Size Does Not Fit All

One size does not fit all. I recently republished a post about purity. In it, I mentioned the book Every Young Man’s Battle. A reader asked me to do some research and look into the damage this book has done to marriages and families, and she put a link to a video by Sheila Wray […]

My Five Wishes for Christian Teachings on Sex and Marriage

Since I frequently write about adultery, divorce, and abuse, I also follow a number of Christian writers who focus on these topics. Most of the time, I find great compassion and a desire to help the church better understand the plight of those of us who have experienced this type of victimization. I have used […]

You Want Me to Forgive Her?

As I sat through the funeral service, I couldn’t concentrate on the words being spoken. I kept hearing a still, small voice in my head. “Extend forgiveness,” the voice urged. It was my first time back in this church building since my husband had resigned his position as pastor of the congregation nearly five months […]