This week I was reminded that apart from God everything is vanity. I can achieve intellectual pursuits, gain the world’s riches, and obtain fame and notoriety but in the end they all lead to emptiness and vanity. Solomon, the author of Ecclesiastes, knew this all too well and said the ultimate purpose in life is to fear God and obey his commandments. Paul challenged the…
Each year I hear people bemoaning Valentine’s Day (aka Single Awareness Day). Some feel jipped because they don’t have anyone special with whom to celebrate. Others are grieving the loss of their Valentine to either death or to break up. The sad truth is that for millions of people, Valentine’s Day is a day of great sadness and disappointment. My question is “Why?” How did…
Little did I know when I chose to pray Isaiah 26:3 for my family this year, the need we would have for the Lord’s peace. Just two weeks after I wrote that post, Jeff fell hiking the Appalachian Trail and injured his knee. I was over an hour away. My heart threatened to leap out of my throat as I fought back the tears and wrestled to…
I asked the Lord to show me a verse to pray over my family for 2017 and I want to share it with you. I believe He led me to Isaiah 26:3 which says, “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.” Father, I pray that you would help us to keep our minds set on…
One word. This was the challenge. This morning I asked my Facebook friends to describe 2016 in one word. Many were heartwarming and made me smile; others hurt my heart. How would I describe 2016 — complete. In 2016 I completed my dissertation; I completed the PhD program and graduated. I completed the national mental health counseling examination and achieved several longstanding goals. Jorjanne finished…
The holidays bring families together; this can be a joyous time of celebration OR it can be a time of intense conflict and stress. Over the years, I’ve experienced both the magic of Christmas through the eyes of a child, and the horror of unfiltered, angry words instigating heart-wrenching pain. If Christmas brings joy and peace in your home, give glory to God and thank…