- Generations, Knowing God's Will, Leadership Lessons, Lessons, Spiritual Growth, Struggle and Loss, Test, Trial
What If We Don’t Tell It?
Can you imagine what would have happened if generations ago no one had passed down the stories of creation, the flood, or the parting of the Red Sea? How would we know all that God has done? Today, we’re blessed to have the Bible—God’s written record of His power, love, justice, and grace. But what if we fail to pass that story on to those coming behind us? Sure, they can read these truths in Scripture, but what if they could also see them lived out in us? What if we regularly shared stories of God’s faithfulness from our own lives? A heartbreaking thing happened after Joshua’s generation died. These…
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When God Shows Off
How do you pray when life feels overwhelming? Do you ask God to remove the burden—or to give you strength to endure it? Right now, I’m watching a loved one carry an incredibly heavy load. Several major life events have collided, creating a season filled with uncertainty and pain. Many are praying for this person and the family, myself included. I long for them to be free from these struggles, for healing and peace to come. My prayers often sound like, “Lord, give them strength. Give them wisdom. Give them rest.” An Episcopalian preacher once said, Do not pray for easy lives! Pray to be stronger men. Do not pray…
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Staggering, Yet Compelling Statistics
Women have always been a vital part of the ministry of the church—serving, teaching, praying, and leading others toward Christ. Yet recent Barna Research reveals something deeply concerning: Gen Z women, ages 18–24, are leaving the church faster than men, with 38% identifying as agnostic, atheist, or having no faith at all. That statistic makes my heart ache. If you’re in my generation, you’ve likely witnessed the beautiful growth of women’s ministry in the church—from its humble grassroots beginnings to a nationwide movement that helped women grow deeper in their faith. Some of us remember the prayers, the labor, and the passion it took to build those ministries. But for…
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God’s Pruning: Painful but Purposeful
How much of your life do you really control? Maybe you take pride in your ability to plan, organize, and make things happen. I admit, I love it when my plans unfold perfectly. As someone wired administratively, I find great satisfaction in seeing the details come together. But God often reminds me that His plan is always better. Before retirement, I frequently coordinated multiple women’s training events at the same time. More than once, my “perfect” plans unraveled. Sound system fails. Trainers get sick on site and can’t teach. Flights get cancelled. During one West Coast event, an ice storm caused the coordinator to have an accident, and our shipment…
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It’s OK To Ask!
I learned another beach lesson today, a perfect follow-up to last week’s post. (If you missed it, check out Intentionally Seeking Intently.) Honestly, I felt a little silly—even guilty—about constantly asking God to send dolphins my way this year. I wanted to watch them swim and jump! As I wrote last week, He answered one request immediately, but most of the other times, the water seemed empty. Then I compared that small, trivial request to a much bigger one: asking God to help me dig deeper into His Word, intentionally and intently. Of course I’d ask for that. It’s a completely honorable prayer. It’s a prayer for truth, for wisdom,…
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Intentionally Seeking Intently
On a recent beach trip, dolphin sightings were rare. I only glimpsed a fin twice, and a third time I wasn’t even sure it was real. Normally, we see dolphin often. At one point, I heard a dad tell his son, “Look, there’s a fin.” I saw nothing—until I kept my eyes fixed on where he pointed. Then, at last, the fin appeared. Most times at the beach, I’m reading a book, doing a crossword, or working Sudoku. Rarely do I just sit and watch the waves without distraction. And that’s often how we approach Scripture. We may open God’s Word, but instead of focusing fully, our thoughts wander to…
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Just a Word
I want to share two scripture passages that have been especially meaningful to me lately. My prayer is that they encourage you as well. Paul spoke truth with both authority and love to the Corinthian church. We, too, are called to speak with love and the authority of Christ. Yet there are times when we don’t know what to do or say. Sometimes pain clouds our thoughts. As someone wisely observed… Allow the Lord to shape your thoughts as you trust Him to guide your responses. Submit every thought to Christ and obey Him. St. Francis de Sales once wrote: I close with this prayer from Psalm 139:23–24: Lord, You…
- Beach Lessons, Blessings, Knowing God's Will, Spiritual Growth, Struggle and Loss, Test, Trial, Waiting
God of the Small Things: A Beach Lesson
Do you often pray for big things in your life? Those long-term struggles or big changes you’ve been hoping for? I’ve seen some incredible answers to these prayers, often after years of waiting. I’m also still praying for things that haven’t changed yet, and while I keep trusting God, the waiting can be tough. But sometimes, a small, simple prayer is answered almost instantly. This happened on the fourth morning of our beach trip. as I was watching the Gulf waters. I hadn’t seen any dolphins and simply said, Lord, send the dolphins. It wasn’t a major request—just something I would enjoy. I was stunned when, within seconds, I saw…
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Some Things I’m Studying and Listening To
Some things I’m studying and listening to. These are from LifeWay Women Bible studies and MARKED podcasts: 1. Jennifer Rothschild on Heaven Podcast Jennifer’s study on Heaven is also amazing and I highly recommend it to those young in the faith as well as the mature. 2. Answer YOUR Questions About the Essentials of the Faith This podcast helps ground followers of Christ in foundational theological doctrines. 3. Added to that, I just finished Alive. Such a great reminder for any believer what it means to follow Christ as Savior. For those young in the faith, it’s a MUST! How I wish I’d known these things soon after I became…
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Beyond Better: A New Creation
We’re constantly bombarded with messages about self-improvement: better health, a better job, better relationships, a better home. But when is “better” ever enough? Perhaps we’re looking at it the wrong way. The Christian journey isn’t about becoming “better” versions of ourselves; it’s about becoming something entirely new. Romans 6:4 says, “We were buried with him through baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” This new life isn’t something we earn. Jesus doesn’t improve us—He makes us new. As author Chris Tiegreen put it: There’s nothing we can do to become…
