God’s desire is for us to have faith well beyond a foxhole.

Our messes can become our messages.

The journey to our message, (also called our testimony), can be the pivotal moment in our lives where our faith becomes personal, where we meet Jesus, for real.

The responsibility to pray for the children of this world lies not only with parents of children, or grandparents of children. It lies also with all of us who believe that what Jesus found precious, like the children, so should we.

“Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.” Proverbs 31:30 (NIV)

Whether people are religious or not, most people believe they have some form of a spirit or soul, something that separates us from the animals, something that makes us human, and something that will live on long after we are gone.

There are two kinds of hope, earthly and biblical.

Biblical/spiritual hope is based not on what we have seen, but on who we know holds the future. This certainty gives us joy, peace, and patience in the waiting. No matter our earthly circumstances.

“We change our behavior when the pain of staying the same becomes greater than the pain of changing. Consequences give us the pain that motivates us to change.” Dr. Henry Cloud

People don’t crumble in a day. It’s generally compromise here, a compromise there. It’s a gradual and slow fade. Addiction, affairs, cheating, stealing, most sin patterns begin with little compromises here and there until we are numb to the sin itself.

We all love the idea of love. We all want to love and be loved, and we all know, it’s no secret, there are people in this world that are just plain hard to love!

At the end of the day, "We love because he first loved us." 1 John 4:19

“The world needs strong women. Women who will lift and build others, who will love and be loved. Women who live bravely, both tender and fierce. Women of indomitable will.” ~Amy Tenney

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30 NIV).

God’s timing is not our timing, but his timing is perfect. God is the creator of “thegoodstuff” in this life, but we don’t get to decide the timing of his answers. We just need to have open eyes and hands to receive it when it comes to us.

“Letting your child go doesn't have to be a sad event. It just shows you've raised a strong, independent person ready to take on the world.” (UA)

Nine suggestions to help foster relationships with your adult children.

Studies have shown that it takes five positive comments to overcome the power of one negative comment. In psychology, teaching, coaching, as well as many other areas of life, this is known as the five to one ratio.

(SERIES)

7 deadly sins & their counterparts (#7)

wrath/anger & patience

(SERIES)

7 deadly sins & their counterparts (#6)

gluttony & moderation

(SERIES)

7 deadly sins & their counterparts

sloth & zeal

(SERIES)

7 deadly sins & their counterparts

greed, envy, & lust

generosity, contentment, & self-control

(SERIES)

7 deadly sins & their counterparts

pride & humility

It seems as though the word freedom has morphed into something new called, “meedom.”

My freedoms. My rights.

A healthy society cannot sustain itself if everyone sees freedom as “meedom.”

…three areas of life, where I especially struggle, living in this juxtaposition of being in this world, but not OF this world…

1. Holiness vs self-righteousness.

2. Holiness over self?

3. Holiness over my heart?