Every trial we face in life is not only an opportunity to move forward; it’s also an opportunity to go backwards. We can either persevere and move forward toward maturity when we fall into trials, or we can move away from God, away from growth, and away from blessing, as we give in to despair or bitterness. Verse 12, with its promised crown of life for those who love God, […]
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Thirty Days in James 1, Day 10: Endurance
Trials test our faith. Our response to them shows whether we actually believe and trust God, or if we only say that we do. They help us see what we really believe. But God is not like one of those teachers who makes a test as difficult as possible to see how many people will fail it. He’s not giving us a test to see if we pass or fail. […]
Read More →Thirty Days in John 15, Day 4: You
We’ve made some initial observations about God the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. We’ll spend much more time with those markings and observations in future lessons. Today we’re going to continue marking, this time looking to see what Jesus says to His disciples and us, His present-day disciples. Assignment: Jesus tells us in verse 26 of our chapter, that the Holy Spirit teaches us about Him. If we fail to […]
Read More →Anticipating Good Friday
As we remember our Savior’s sufferings, death. and resurrection over the next few days, I would like to share again this collection of ideas for Good Friday, the day we remember Christ’s death on the cross. Here is another opportunity to remind your children of the gospel, and a chance to build anticipation as we approach Resurrection Day! Spend part of the day reading aloud the account of Jesus’s betrayal, […]
Read More →Thirty Days in Psalm 91 for Busy Mamas, Day 28: From the Trenches
I want to share someone else’s words with you today, because they so beautifully picture what Psalm 91 is all about. Amy, after waiting in suspense for over two months for a diagnosis, now knows that she has stage 2 Hodgkins Lymphoma. She went in for her first chemo treatment this past week. Amy and her husband have been a source of love and encouragement to me and my family […]
Read More →Thirty Days in Psalm 91 for Busy Mamas, Day 22: Really?
We’ve come to the hard parts of Psalm 91. What do we do with verses like this one? “A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.” And what about verse 10? “No evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent.” They are wonderful words, but how do we reconcile them with the reality […]
Read More →Thirty Days in Psalm 91 for Busy Mamas, Day 2: God
Today we’re going to start observing. We’ll notice all kinds of new things over the next few days as we slow down to take a closer look at what is actually in the text. What can we learn about God? To what is He compared? What does God say He will do? What are we told to do? What words and ideas are repeated? These are the kinds of questions we will […]
Read More →Time for a Change
I once heard a speaker liken her life as a grandmother to water skiing full speed, while she desperately tried to hang on to the rope. I didn’t understand at the time. What could possibly keep a grandmother that busy? Now I understand. This last year has been an especially strange season in my life. John and I live in a travel trailer and sleep in a bedroom in […]
Read More →More than One Day of Christmas
I love Christmas. My daughter-in-law says that, no matter what time of year it is when God finally takes me home to be with Him, the family ought to decorate for the funeral with Christmas decorations. That’s fine with me! When I was young (and even into my college days) I used to cry the night before we had to take down the Christmas tree. Christmas comes and goes so fast, […]
Read More →30 Days in 1 Samuel 25, Day 30: Reflect
We’ve reached the last day of our study! It’s time to review and reflect, but first we’ll take a quick look at the last few verses of the chapter. Assignment: Pray for the Holy Spirit to move in your heart, bringing about change in your thoughts, attitudes, and actions as a result of spending this past few weeks in 1 Samuel 25. Then read 1 Samuel 25:39-45. As you read, watch […]
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