Forgive… and Remember
We’ve all heard the phrase “forgive and forget.” People say it like it’s as simple as deleting an email. But life doesn’t work that way. The heart doesn’t work that way. Some hurts leave bruises that can’t be hidden — and some leave scars that don’t erase. Forgetting? That’s humanly impossible. But here’s the best…
I’m Being Followed
“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.”— Psalm 23:6 That’s quite a promise, isn’t it? Some days it feels like anxiety and fear are tailgating us while goodness and mercy got stuck at the last stoplight. But life has taught me something — goodness and mercy don’t always walk…
Take a Deep Breath
Ever take your breath for granted? I do — until I’m lying awake at night and sleep doesn’t come. That’s when I remember to inhale deeply. Slow, full breaths really do help me drift off. And apparently, there’s science behind it. Deep breathing calms the nervous system, lowers stress hormones, delivers oxygen to our cells,…
May Jesus Be Seen in Me — In Spite of Me
A dear friend shared words with me that stopped me in my tracks: “May Jesus be seen in me, in spite of me.” Isn’t that the truth? Because let’s be honest, sometimes “me” gets in the way. My impatience can flare up quicker than my smile. My opinion can jump out of my mouth before…
Mercy: Our Best Move Today
Maybe I’m dating myself, but do you remember vinyl records? When scratched, they’d skip and replay the same lyric over and over. That’s me when it comes to mercy—I might sound like a broken record, but it’s a message worth repeating. Last Sunday at church, we sang the old hymn again:“Mercy there was great and…
Brand New Day — Brand New Month
Happy September to my dear friends and family!! Yesterday is gone, tomorrow may never come, but this day and this new month, we have the opportunity to practice recognizing God’s blessings in EVERYTHING! It’s a big deal to wake up to a new day, because yesterday was the very last day on this earth for…
His Mercies + My Mercies Makes for a Merciful Day
Wouldn’t it be something if we could say, “My mercies are new every morning”? I wish I could. But if I’m honest, some mornings I’m doing good to roll out of bed, wipe the sleepiness from my eyes and embark on a new day of simply taking in God’s tender mercies. BUT I sincerely want to…
Thanks to the Son AND the Sunflower
A year ago, this day, I held a beautiful bridal bouquet adorned with sunflowers, gifted by my soon-to-be husband. Sunflowers have since become my favorite flower, not just for their radiant beauty, but because they serve as a remarkable reminder of God’s incredible handiwork. These vibrant flowers are unique in their behavior: each morning, they…
Pastor Jonathan Spencer’s Wisdom
Last Sunday, Pastor Jonathan’s message set my feet to dancing and my heart to singing God’s praises. His sermon was on wisdom—a subject we all should embrace. The Apostle James speaks about true wisdom and fake wisdom, getting right to the heart of the matter in James 3:13: “Who is wise and understanding among you?…
To the Holy and Faithful Ones
Those words jumped out at me when I read Colossians 1:1-8, “To the holy ones and faithful brothers and sisters in Christ.” Holy and faithful! That sounds as if the Colossians were doing well. They were doing their best to live as disciples in a secular world. And, for the most part, they were succeeding.…