Last week as I read Psalm 23, I realized just how far from the “still waters” I had gotten. I had allowed myself to become very stressed and discouraged because of health issues my husband has been experiencing for several weeks. As a result, my endurance and peace were shrinking, and I understood it was necessary for me to make some changes in my heart. I allowed the phrase, “He  [ Read More ]

Colossians & Philemon Lesson 3: Colossians 1:1-1:14  This week we will begin our verse by verse study of the text of Colossians. While it is exciting to dig into the details, we must always remember this was written as a letter and was meant to be digested as such. I will begin each week by asking you to read the letter in one sitting; this shouldn’t be too difficult since  [ Read More ]

Proverbs 31:17-23 Being a woman is easy; it’s decided before you are even born, and you don’t have much say in it. Being a Christian woman is work, hard work. If there is one thing that I learned doing this study of Proverbs 31, it is that the Proverbs 31 Woman is a hard worker. She is focused, poised, and reliable. It is no surprise that God holds her up  [ Read More ]

“Can you believe she…”  “Why would anybody…”  “Bless her heart, what was she thinking…” We’ve all been on the receiving end of comments like these, and likely the giving end as well, if we are honest with ourselves. Statements like these, filled with criticism and contempt, are often the sparks that ignite an inferno of sinful gossip. Yet, when we are approached by a sister or friend whose tongue is  [ Read More ]

Colossians & Philemon Lesson 2: Introduction to Colossians   We spent the past week examining Paul’s early life. Now we find him in prison for preaching the gospel. Most likely Colossians and Philemon were written during Paul’s Roman imprisonment. Read Acts 28:16, 30, 31 and describe Paul’s imprisonment in Rome.  Because Paul was a Roman citizen, he was allowed certain freedoms. Even under “house arrest,” he continued to preach and  [ Read More ]

Imagine it’s your anniversary and your hubby plans an amazing evening for the two of you. He takes you out to a great restaurant, has a bouquet of flowers waiting at your table, and pulls out a jewelry box. As he cracks the lid you see the glistening sparkle of two gorgeous earrings. You’re speechless. Everything is perfect until he says, “Oh by the way, they’re cubic zirconia…” Well an  [ Read More ]

Dealing with the sickness and death of a loved one is a common part of life. Nearly everyone has to go through it at some point. And yet, it seems like somehow, people who have been through this should have a physical change in appearance-maybe green hair or purple eyes or a stamp on their foreheads or something. The simple notion “my mother died” does not even scratch the surface  [ Read More ]

Colossians & Philemon Lesson 1: A Portrait of Paul I am so thankful that you have chosen to embark on this study with me through the amazing books of Colossians and Philemon. Throughout this study we will bask in all of the riches and blessings that life in Christ has to offer as Paul teaches against the destructive heresies entering the Church at Colossi. We will also test the boundaries  [ Read More ]

My Mom gave me a beautiful stitched pillow with these words on it, “A Mother holds her child’s hand for a little while, their heart forever.” I never realized just how true this statement was until I held my first child! We only have a few short years to teach and train these precious souls before they grow to maturity, but our hearts are always with them. A godly woman  [ Read More ]

  The second stanza to L.O. Sanderson’s song, “Tis Set, the Feast Divine,” reads:   “May we the Lord discern, His death our holy concern; We feast in faith, His coming yearn In the supper of the Lord.” Our thoughts center on the cross while partaking of the Lord’s Supper each Sunday morning.  We can read the gospel accounts of Jesus’ crucifixion, or contemplate whether or not our lives are  [ Read More ]