When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy. Psalm 94:19 Some days, the uncertainty of life is daunting. And sometimes, the certainty of life is just as bad – inevitable break-ups, illnesses, conflict and stress. We may see what’s coming and the anticipation is more than we can bear. Anxiety is a
He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. Psalm 91:4 Sometimes, all we can do is wear out the carpet with our knees. God used my son to teach me this valuable lesson during his first couple years of elementary
Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.1 Peter 3:3-4 What is your favorite physical attribute?
For we live by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7 In the dim light of early morning I reached into the cabinet for a coffee mug. My morning routine – coffee with Jesus. Only today I was out of coffee, so hot chocolate would have to do. The word Faith was written on the
Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.Psalm 27:14 What do you do when it seems like God is silent? Or maybe it feels like He’s not holding up His end of the bargain. Your heart believes this is His will, you’ve prayed about it, but the pieces just
When hard pressed, I cried to the Lord; he brought me into a spacious place. The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me? Psalm 118:5-6 “You can really hurt someone by the words you speak,” I told my son. Knowing he had felt the sting of
For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and His ears are attentive to their prayer. 1 Peter 3:12a As my kids have gotten older, I’ve let them venture out on their own while at a local playground. Although I no longer need to be right next to them, following their every move,
And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men. Colossians 3:23 Living a life of faith is difficult sometimes. I go through periods when I feel like I’m all alone, swimming against a current of resistance. I’m trying to follow God’s direction while most others around me are living
They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!” Mark 4:41 A few weeks ago, I had the privilege of being a guest blogger for the Godly Chic Diaries. The article, also featuring the story of Jesus and the disciples in the boat found in Mark
She gave this name to the LORD who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen the One who sees me.” Genesis 16:13 “I’m not sure I can do this anymore. No matter how hard I try, nothing changes. I just want to give up.” My
Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else.Galatians 6:4 My role as a mom and wife is dearly rewarding but often leaves me depleted with little time for myself. The coming new year marks time of reflection and one theme keep recurring
Today’s post is one I wrote as a guest blogger for Devotional Diva a couple years ago. I hope you enjoy and Merry Christmas! Ready or not, the holiday season is upon us once again. Costco is in full swing mode, every aisle filled with all you need for “the most wonderful time of the
Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 We’ve all been there – the dreaded middle airplane seat. Wedged between
Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. Colossians 3:2 I turned 40 last week. Many people have differing opinions about age, but for me, the days leading up to my birthday were hard. Physical ailments drew my attention toward my mortality. Stress levels waxed and waned with the behavior of my children.
“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one.” Luke 10:41-42 There are days when I feel overwhelmed my by to-do list. A lot needs to be done in a little amount of time and regardless of how much I accomplish, it never
His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life… 2 Peter 1:3a I used to think I was a pretty nice person. I didn’t cause a lot of trouble among friends, didn’t like conflict, and tried to be kind and thoughtful. I would have considered myself easy-going and laid back. Then
I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Psalm 91:2 Trusting God feels like an impossible feat sometimes. I believe God can do anything, but I get stuck at will He. The Bible is full of convincing evidence of God’s ability to perform miracles,
Have you ever considered the difference between waiting and anticipating Wait for a pot of water to boil… or anticipate the delicious pasta it will soon be cooking. Wait for a baby to be born… or anticipate her arrival. Waiting references a need for time to pass; it has little emotional association. Anticipation, on the
Have you ever seen children peacefully playing together, sharing, and taking turns? Perhaps for a short time, but more commonly, they snatch, bicker, and frequently yell, “mine!” Sharing may not be a child’s strong suit, but they seem to do pretty well with forgiveness. They could be fighting and biting one minute, then hugging and
Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. Mark 4:27 Do you ever wonder if the good you’re trying to do really makes a difference? Take parenting, for instance. There are times when it seems my children will never learn to treat each
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4a Elijah was one of the Lord’s passionate prophets of the Old Testament. While many Israelites during that time began serving Baal, an idol, Elijah remained firm
Submit to God and be at peace with him; in this way prosperity will come to you. Job 22:21 This past weekend my sons competed in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ), a martial art focused on ground hand-to-hand combat. Points can be earned by executing specific techniques of take-down and control, but the ultimate goal is
Say to those with fearful hearts, “Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you.” Isaiah 35:4 “What is the world coming to?” I overheard a conversation between two ladies as they watched the news playing on a tv perched above
My favorite thing about Chick-fil-A, besides their delicious, mouth-watering chicken sandwiches, is the friendly service I receive there. No matter which location I go to, it will be the same – in response to a “thank you”, I hear, “my pleasure”. That phrase invokes warmth within me. It somehow means more than “you’re welcome” or
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Philippians 4:8 My mind raced as aggravation consumed me. In less than one minute I had tallied all the things I was doing and how
“My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” Exodus 33:14 (NIV) Do you ever have trouble sleeping? This is unusual for me as I am chronically fatigued from the mental and physical demand of raising three young, energetic boys. Our days are filled with curiosity, conflict, and craziness. Needless to say,
Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. Psalm 34:5 The first hour of the morning is often the worst part of the day in my house. The hustle and bustle of getting three boys dressed, fed, and lunches packed while they are constantly distracted to do anything but leaves
If I had to describe my recent trip to Israel in one word, it would be overwhelming. While there, every part of my being was overcome with stimuli – physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. From the time we arrived until we departed I struggled to get my bearings on what I was experiencing. Previous journeys
Do not fret when people succeed in their ways,when they carry out their wicked schemes. Psalm 37:7 The bad guy has a special way of making it all about him, doesn’t he? While at the movies with my kids recently, we watched the new spider man movie. The villain, Kingpin, is seeking revenge against Spiderman after
In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. John 16:33 Is it really possible to prevent our hearts from hurting? Being rejected is a difficult pill to swallow. In most cases, it leaves that weird sensation of having something stuck in our throat. Each time we swallow, it’s there, reminding
The Lord has done what He planned; He has fulfilled his word, which He decreed long ago.Lamentations 2:17 What is so captivating about home renovation reality tv shows? If you’ve seen one, perhaps you are just as amazed as I am at the remarkable transformation taking place in a short period of time. As viewers,
Happy New Year!After a few months of inconsistent posting, I’m ready to get back on track! I’d like to start with this poem I found by Patricia Guinn. It describes a common longing for a life of happiness and where to find it. Hope you enjoy!~Emily The Path to Happiness by Patricia Guinn Where lies
In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.1 John 5:3-4 Loving difficult people is grueling sometimes. Constructive conversations dissolve into arguments as their strong will pursues