Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! Matthew 7:9-11 Do you trust your judgment? Have negative experiences shaken your faith in humanity? For me, as an adult child of divorce, I have struggled to trust myself, others, and God. If my parents, whom I love dearly, can shatter my expectations of trusting others, how can I trust a Father…

Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:10 What do you crave? Managing my cravings is an everyday battle. Do I take a walk or watch Netflix? Do I eat the broccoli or go out for a Snickers Blizzard? It is the battle of the bulge. But my weight loss is not about my weight. It’s not even about my physical body or health. This battle is about God’s kingdom and my ability to do what He calls me to do. Every battle we fight with God as our ally strengthens us and makes us better. God will have it no other…

I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. 1 John 5:1 At the end of the Youth For Christ rally every Saturday, there would be an altar call. A time where the Pastor invited you to come to the front of the church and make a commitment to Jesus. During this special time, we would raise our voices in unison to the song, “Just As I Am”. As a confused teenager who questioned her worth in every way, before the end of the first verse I would make my way to the…

After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing. John 9:6-7 Recently I started providing food for my local feathered friends. As the word spread around the neighborhood, I began having visitors of many colors adorn my deck. As I sat with my morning coffee and savored the beauty of God’s creation in our colorful friends, I considered how wonderful a gift from God our sight is. In the story of Jesus healing a blind man, the man  illustrates…

In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16 Queen Vashti was a stubborn woman who created friction in her household. When the King had enough from Queen Vashti, he chose a new Queen, a young Jewish woman. Esther could not help but wonder what value she would bring to the position. Shortly after becoming queen, she confronts a plot that would destroy the Jewish people. Our new Queen Esther acted courageously and saved an entire nation. This glorified God because Queen Esther echoed His light. The new queen’s uncle encourages her with one of the most…

Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy. Proverbs 28:13 It was not a big deal. In fact, it had been this way for years. Every time I reached for a paper towel, I needed to secure the rod-side of the holder, because it was broken. Each time I replaced the roll, I mentally reminded myself, I should fix this or get a new paper towel holder. Yet, I did nothing. Perhaps you have some minor household annoyance you’ve been working around for too long. I eventually replaced the paper towel holder, and now I laugh at myself every time I…

Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones and say to them, ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’” Ezekiel 37:4-6 Am I spiritually dead? Have I fallen into the valley of dry bones? I am a Christian, and I would probably tell you that, although I am not perfect, I am a good…

I will listen to what God the LORD says; he promises peace to his people, his faithful servants–but let them not turn to folly. Psalm 85:8 Standing in the driveway, tasting dust mixed with tears of abandonment, I wondered if God even cared about me. Did I matter to Him at all? Did He notice me standing here alone and heartbroken? The departure of the person I trusted the most in life wrecked me.   It was not audible, but it was a distinct, clear voice. The message hit my heart like a dagger, and I was bleeding out as the realization of what I heard set in. I was…