Baggage Check

After walking through a very difficult week, it was the final straw. “That’s it,” Roy began. “Take care of it now.” His tone took me by surprise. We’d had a really good day, and I was trying to take care of the issue he was confronting me with now. His words hit me hard as […]

A Legacy of Billy Graham

The last two weeks have been filled with the news of Billy Graham’s death…or more appropriately, his grand entrance into eternity with his Savior. When I first learned of his death, I was preparing to attend the funeral of a college friend of mine, a man who left this life way too soon but most […]

The School of Contentment

Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I […]

The Portrait of a Redeeming Love

Valentine’s Day is upon us once again. I know for many of you, it brings a depth of sadness, pain, loneliness. Your lives have been shattered, and you are simply trying to figure out where you go from here. The thought of being alone—again—on Valentine’s Day is more than you can handle. You are just […]

A Father’s Love

When you hear the word “father,” what do you think of? I think of a big burly teddy bear. Many of my friends—even my cousins—were afraid of my dad. But me? I remember him on the floor with us, down on all four as we piled on his back. I remember the fun times we […]

#balance

Have you ever noticed that balance is absolutely essential in life and yet so difficult to attain? The last two years have been indescribable. Wonderful. Hard. Emotional. Chaotic. And very, very busy. My life was going well. I was a very busy single mom, working full-time, building a ministry. Now take that incredibly busy life […]

The Battle is the Lord’s

The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.” Exodus 14:14 Last week, I told you about a few of the battles we have been fighting in our very short marriage. Every marriage requires a tremendous amount of work. Second marriages require even more work, more grace, more mercy. Blending two very different families […]

Happily Ever After

…and they lived happily ever after. I’m not sure who dreamed up this phrase, but they certainly aren’t familiar with real life. I’ve always been brutally honest with all of you. And here’s the brutal honest truth: Blending two families into one is not for the faint of heart. Don’t get me wrong. I love […]

Life as a Sheep

Acknowledge that the Lord is God! He made us, and we are his. We are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Psalm 100:3 Over the last few years, my younger son, Cole, has been heavily involved in the national FFA organization. The mission of the FFA organization is to make a positive difference in […]

A Prayer of Thanksgiving

Thank you. Lord, the words don’t even seem adequate to express the gratitude in my heart. You are more than I deserve, more than I could ask for. You are with me always, in all circumstances. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians […]