Last summer, I found myself studying books and Bible passages that resonated around a certain theme. It seemed clear that the Holy Spirit wanted me learning and growing in one specific area, and so I spent time each day reading and praying about this. As the days went by and summer neared its end, I…
Category: Christian Living
How to Pre-Treat Your Life for Difficult Seasons
It’s winter in the midwest, and that means… Snow, ice and freezing temperatures. Bring it on! (This teacher loves the joy of snow days. 😀) This winter, when Kansas City had its first snowfall, there was a lot more havoc on the streets than anticipated. Part of this was because more snow fell than the…
A Surprising Lesson from a Shrewd Manager
The Bible is far from boring. Walls that fall down after people shout, fig trees that shrivel and die instantaneously, a floating zoo, a bush that’s on fire but doesn’t burn, a dead man who walks out of his grave in his grave clothes, and the list goes on. Not boring! If anybody tries to…
The Case for Single-Tasking in a Busy World
The world we live in is a fast-paced, busy place. You know this full well! There’s always something going on; in fact, there’s often lots of somethings going on. Have you ever returned a few texts while listening to a podcast as you wait for your name to be called at the dentist’s office? We…
The Powerful Connection Between Body and Spirit
If you’re a living, breathing human, then you have surely had a day (or season) when you’ve felt down in the dumps. Everything seems to be going wrong, and you feel sad and discouraged. Sometimes you might just need a quick reminder that God lifts you up. He lifts your mood, your spirit, your sense…
One Important Way to be Different From the World
Linger. How often do you linger somewhere? Linger means to move or act slowly. To tarry, stall, lollygag or dawdle. To take your time. To lounge around and maybe even become idle. Our world clips by at a pretty quick speed most days, so lingering may feel awkward or even foreign to you. Is there…
An Unexpected Time to be Strong and Courageous
Obey God’s Word. If you’re been a follower of Jesus for a few weeks or your entire life, you’ve probably heard these words in some way, shape or form. It’s just that simple, right? We’ve got to be obedient to what God commands us to do, and He will come alongside us and meet us…
How to be More Prepared for Jesus’ Return
I tidied up the piles of paper sitting on my desk, and I double checked my computer to make sure everything was ready. When my students arrived, I was a little more strict than usual in making sure their sweatshirts followed the school’s dress code to a tee. I did some extra hovering over a…
The Truth About Fake Discouraging Words
It is so important to have encouraging voices speaking into your life. …and it’s equally important to be an encouraging voice to the people around you. Listen to these very different reactions I got last spring when I told two different friends about my summer trip to Africa. Friend #1: When I told this sweet…
Taking Stock of the Voices in Your Life
You’ve probably heard a variation of this quote before: “Who you hang out with is who you become.” Or maybe something like this: “Show me your friends, and I will show you your future.” The people we choose to spend time with can influence us tremendously. And the other way around is true, as well! …