Faith

Congratulations. You made it through the first few months of the year. With all the negativity and heightened emotions, it’s nothing short of a miracle that we’re all still here in one piece. Take a deep breath. We’re going to make it. As a way of offering a breath of fresh air, I want to take the next few moments …

OK, who remembers that song from Sunday school … “I’ve got the joy down in my heart, where?” Some of those oldies were quite annoying, but the value found in them sticks with me even today. You feel me? In fact, I was thinking about that song the other day and the “WHERE?” really stood out to me. Where is …

Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak … –James 1:19 Have you ever tried to give a friend or relative some friendly advice or godly counsel, yet as you talk with him, his ears are closed and his motor-mouth is running? He may be struggling with a challenging problem or depressing situation, so he approaches you for your …

As believers in Jesus, we know jealousy is a sin. Yet I don’t hear many people talking about it. I have been on the receiving end of someone’s jealous plots many times. It has broken my heart, destroyed friendships and created a web of distraction that has delayed my work for the kingdom of God. In high school I was …

If someone asked you to describe yourself in one word, what would it be? Last month I wrote about the radical love Hosea had, first for God, and then for his adulterous wife. (You can read it here.) Today I want to address Hosea’s children. In Hosea 1:2 (TLB), God told him to take a prostitute to be his wife, …

While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off. The two of them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit, went down to …

Everywhere we look, there is some sort of catastrophe and chaos in the news. Some days, with certain news cycles, you may feel like you want to just grab the Maalox, run for cover and ask, Lord are you coming today? Because this world is going to the pits. You may be trying to unwind during your lunch break by …

Transition: The process or period of changing from one state to another. I don’t know how many times I’ve heard “You are in a transition.” Well, this “transition” is going on 14 years. To be honest, I’m ready to chuck it and arrive. My Transition Outline Transition #1: Becoming a believer in Jesus, leaving a successful career as a full-time actress …

Last summer, a dragonfly came to visit me in my back yard. It landed on one of my grapevines and clung tightly as the breeze blew around its celestial wings. It was one of those times where my spiritual antennae went up, saying: Pay attention; this is important. Dragonflies have always fascinated me, but I knew very little of their …

I want to have faith like Abraham. But when life is hard … kids are crying … bills are due … you haven’t showered in days …. faith is the last thing you are thinking about! Sometimes I mix up faith with other things. Belief for relief smells like faith. Hope for rest tomorrow looks like faith. Even though Abraham …