Get the book! Thirty Days in Colossians 3 is now available as a paperback, PDF, or Kindle book. We’re ready to start focusing on Chapter 3! From now on, we will be reading the chapter almost every day, looking for different words and thoughts every time we read. Assignment: Read Colossians 3. Start by praying for the Holy Spirit’s guidance. Then, as you read the chapter, use a pen or colored pencil […]
Read More →Category: Encouragement
“Thirty Days of Bible Study for Busy, Busy Mamas”, Day 1: Getting Started
Get the book! Thirty Days in Colossians 3 is now available as a paperback, PDF, or Kindle book. Do you have trouble even getting a shower, let alone finding the time to read your Bible? This month-long series of posts is for you! For thirty days, we’re going to look at just one chapter of the Bible and study it, one little step at a time. If you’re willing to […]
Read More →God of the Storm
My daughters and I have been on an adventure. We’ve spent five days in New York City. We’ve worshipped on Sunday morning with new friends in Brooklyn and visited Timothy Keller’s church in the evening. We’ve learned lots at a Christian bloggers’ conference. We attended a friend’s wedding. Yesterday was the last day of our trip — worshipping with more brothers and sisters in Pennsylvania and sharing dinner […]
Read More →It Will Hurt, but It Will Heal
I’ve been being hammered by teaching on all sides on the topic of forgiveness and confession. I’m not sure I fully understand God’s forgiveness. It’s something God is still gently teaching me. How we see God’s forgiveness certainly will show in how we apologize to and forgive others. Most of us can see another’s glaring sin, but we seem to think if we simply plunge ahead and try really hard […]
Read More →Stop and pray.
God is the one who changes hearts. So why don’t we ask Him to do it more? Am I the only one who has talked and lectured and disciplined while totally forgetting to go before the throne of the One who can actually turn a disobedient, rebellious heart into a humble, submissive one? Maybe you’re smarter than I am. But if you’re not, try this today: When a child needs […]
Read More →I shall again praise Him.
Sunday morning. Singing from the photocopied order of worship. Singing with the saints. I have worshipped with some of these dear people for more than twenty years. We’ve welcomed babies, raised children, suffered disappointments, battled diseases, rejoiced at weddings, buried parents, and waged battle with sin through all those years. Our trust in our sovereign, loving Father runs deep. An old hymn today: “What a friend we have in Jesus, […]
Read More →Fuel for Obedience
“Being wanted is the fuel for obedience.” That sentence — in the sermon Bethany and I were listening to as we drove down the freeway – provided an answer to a question I have often puzzled over. What was it my parents did that made me want to obey them? I especially wanted to please my father. Disobeying him just didn’t seem like an option. I loved him too much […]
Read More →Running from God. It doesn’t work.
I love The Jesus Storybook Bible! I love how it helps us see Jesus and the hints of His coming that are in the Old Testament stories. I love how it continually speaks of God’s love and mercy and of His plan for saving sinful people. I love how it sneaks up on me and hits me right between the eyes while I’m innocently reading a story with one of […]
Read More →We Desperately Need Him
I recently listened to a sermon on pride, and he talked about how one of the ways to root out pride is to practice the spiritual disciplines, like prayer and Bible reading. Bible reading and prayer can be something we feel obligated to do, or feel pride in doing. Or, we can, in the name of “no legalism”, decide it’s not all that important after all, and let it slide. How […]
Read More →When We’re Feeling Ineffective
Many different factors can prevent us from effectively training our children. We simply may not know what to do when our children sin. First-generation Christians who have not grown up in a God-fearing home, may lack the experience, wisdom, or biblical knowledge that would help them instruct and discipline their children. Parents who have grown up in the Word may still not have the wisdom to apply that Word to […]
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