One approach to Bible study which can be especially helpful is found in asking questions of the passages to obtain greater insight. As part of a character study on Sarah, 1 Peter 3:5-6 (NKJV) was brought to my attention.   “For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters  [ Read More ]

This summer I was given the amazing opportunity to teach at the Future Teacher Training Camp in Owasso, OK.  As I was beginning my homiletics (lesson preparation and delivery) class I made the statement to the girls that it’s ok to be afraid when you get up to speak in front of people, or when you do anything new, for that matter. As the week progressed I learned that my  [ Read More ]

As a work-from-home mother and wife, my life has become a balancing act. The question “Is it enough?” is a constant in my mind. Do we have enough money to pay all the bills? Will there be enough milk for cereal and that casserole? Do I have enough time to finish that project before the baby wakes up? The list is endless. Unfortunately, this line of thinking has made its way into my spiritual walk as  [ Read More ]

In this age of technology, especially social media, I believe there is a lost art that could make a tremendous difference in the lives of those around us. Thankfully Jonathan and I have the tremendous blessing of serving with a congregation that still embraces the art of writing cards. Regardless of what discouragement, frustration, exhaustion, or doubt we may have been feeling, when we see a card from our brethren  [ Read More ]

Judges and Ruth Lesson 2: What They Left Behind (Judges 2&3)   As we study thorough this lesson, remember, while we are in Judges 2 this is still an overview of the time period. In Judges 3 we will switch to a more chronological section; however, it is not in complete time order. Some events take place simultaneously. The nations that are coming in and causing problems for Israel aren’t  [ Read More ]

Mary Rose and Me Mark 10:14 “Permit the children to come to Me; do not hinder them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. As she walked into the class room, I welcomed Mary Rose, (age 8) with a smiling face saying how happy I was to have her in Bible class. She smiled and surveyed the territory. Mary Rose saw several vivid pictures on the wall  [ Read More ]

Judges and Ruth Lesson 1: Seeking God’s Will (Judges 1) Today we begin our journey through the books of Judges and Ruth; I will start with a warning: this study isn’t for the faint of heart. While Ruth is a refreshingly beautiful love story, Judges stands in stark contrast as one of the most gruesome books in all of scripture. We must keep in mind though, the events described in  [ Read More ]

God is Love. Do I have Love? I mean deep down inside my heart. “If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have a gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge, and I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I  [ Read More ]

The world would like to convince us that we are too few in number to matter or make a difference, and that every belief system has a voice except Christianity.  With all of the faith-bashing going on, we can feel defeated before we even take a stand. Your inner voice may call you names like Failure, Loser, or Weakling.  Or perhaps there are individuals in your life who say things  [ Read More ]

Matthew 6 Lesson 5: Matthew 6:25-34        As we conclude the study through Matthew 6, let’s recap one last time on the material we have covered.  Remember that chapter 6 is part of a central theme that Jesus is addressing (cf. Matthew 5:20). In chapter 6 we have been specifically examining Jesus’ comparison of what a God-centered righteousness looks like compared to self-centered righteousness. We’ve seen that this  [ Read More ]