Benevolence Bags How many times have you found yourself driving down the road and passing someone with a “PLEASE HELP” sign? It gets really uncomfortable when you end up stopped at a red light with someone standing right next to your vehicle, typically in grungy clothes with a sleeping bag close by, holding their cardboard sign. If you’re anything like me this is a very difficult situation for you because  [ Read More ]

The story of Joseph caught my heart from a young age.  It wasn’t until I was an adult that I more fully understood the themes and lessons involved.  Moses spends quite a lot of time (14 chapters of the 50 in Genesis) on Joseph.  I’m quite sure there is a reason God saw fit to inspire the author of the Pentateuch to spend so much time with this one person.  [ Read More ]

As I sat next to this precious, beautiful child of God I watched a single tear well up and roll down her cheek. “Maybe I can’t do it. I want to believe I can, but I don’t.” Her head went down as she said the words in despair. She had grown up in a home that loved and respected God. Faithful Christian parents had taken her to hundreds of Bible  [ Read More ]

The Parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:30-37 is a parable that is often taught to us as children. We use this parable to teach our children to be kind to those who have a need, that any one, no matter their social status, can help and about going the “second mile”. But as we get older The Good Samaritan has changed. It is now the name of a  [ Read More ]

Do you ever find yourself shaking your head over the confusion in our society about the roles of husbands, wives, and parents?  Many sitcoms portray husbands as clueless while the wives have to solve the problems their husbands created.  Unfortunately, this backward view of marriage has found its way into some of our homes.  Moms and dads have tried so hard to be their children’s friends that they’ve neglected to  [ Read More ]

  Hebrews Lesson 12: Hebrews 11  It’s tempting, when teaching this passage, to get off onto a review of these people’s lives and tell their stories all over again. That is not the point of the Hebrew writer’s inclusion of them, though. His point is to show what true faith looks like, to remind his readers what it means to press on even when things seem bleak. If we are  [ Read More ]

“I wish we didn’t have to do this. I wish that I could just eat whatever I want, never work out, and still be thin and in great shape.” This is the remark that someone made to me recently as we were waiting for our Pilates class to begin at the local YMCA. “Yes, that would be nice,” was my reply, but she and I both know it doesn’t work  [ Read More ]

I completely understand what Scripture teaches about envy and jealousy, but truth be told sometimes I really struggle with it. For example: when you walk into my mother’s sewing room you will immediately see colorful, beautiful bits of quits lying about ready to be turned into a gorgeous quilt. I, on the other hand, cannot even manage to sew my own curtains (although I have tried repeatedly!) My sister is  [ Read More ]

Come Fill Your Cup FALL Retreat 2014 Registration is now open! CLICK HERE TO REGISTER CLICK HERE for a printable flyer. Who: Ladies from across the country who love God and His word (ages 15+ please).  What: This is not just another ladies’ retreat! This is two days and two nights of serious study of God’s word! Chapter by chapter, section by section of Jonah & Nahum… really dive in to what God  [ Read More ]

Distractions are funny. They come in so many forms. I have two daughters—one is very logical, shy, and quiet while the other one is very talkative, outgoing, and busy. My outgoing daughter is known for beginning a conversation and then getting distracted by almost anything (I think she gets this from me)! Distractions like this are pretty innocent. Sometimes however distractions can be dangerous. Our family has a towing company.  [ Read More ]