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What is your name worth to you? The Bible says in Proverb 22:1, “A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favor rather than silver and gold.” We don’t transact in silver and gold as they did in Biblical times, but we do transact in money and in what money can buy. What do you enjoy that money buys you?
Read MoreLooking back over 2023, I am amazed at how quickly the year flew by. Each year, it seems to go faster and faster (I know, I know—I am getting older, and it works that way), but on the positive side, I am also becoming more reflective. Who did I influence this past year for the good? In what area did I make a difference? Will my investment matter or even last past the moment? I think each of us desires that our lives would count in eternity, but the question is: How will I make it count and last?
Read MoreWe often view smiling as an extra quality that some people are born with or are more apt to do, but for the Christian, smiling is our testimony, our light to this dark world.
Read MoreIn the Book of Numbers (chapter 12), we read a story about three siblings who hit a rough patch in their relationship. Moses, the leader of Israel, married a woman whom his brother, Aaron, and sister, Miriam, greatly disapproved of.
Read MoreIf I was a Canaanite around the year 1400 BC, I would have likely had one singular thought: “This does not look good. In fact, this really does not look good.”
Read More“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23).
Not long ago I read this verse and came to the realization that I had been looking at the idea of fruits of the Spirit all wrong. I used to see this verse and feel discouraged, knowing how imperfect I am and how impossible it seemed that I could ever muster up all of these fabulous character traits. It seemed to just be a list of things at which I frequently failed. But this time, I noticed the importance of the word "fruit." The healthy tree that has been well planted, pruned, and cared for will, in time, mature into a fruit-producing tree. The longer the tree's needs are met, the more fruit it will produce. If a tree is healthy, we don't question if it will produce fruit, we simply know that it will.
Read More“Would you like the world to be a better place for your having been here?” This is the question posed by Ken Blanchard in his forward to Bob Bickel’s book Finishing Well. The premise of the book and its entire focus is on individuals who had a plan that they followed in an effort to make their later life one of significance, not just one of success. Bickel speaks of “Life I” when we have to “prove ourselves” and “Life II” when we should “give back and make a difference.”
Read MoreMany start their day with a long list of things to accomplish. It’s not uncommon for people to have 10, 20, or even 30 tasks they want to complete by the end of a particular day. It can be overwhelming, and it provokes a question: where do you even start? Even if you’re able to check off several tasks from your to-do list, you may still feel defeated at the conclusion of the day because of all the things that you didn’t get done. This is a recipe for exhaustion.
Read MoreIf I were to ask you, “what is the world’s most valuable resource?” what would come to mind? We often think of things that are rare: gold, platinum, etc. These things are valuable because there is a limited supply relative to the demand. Limiting a necessity creates high value. Although we often think of physical things when we think of resources, the world’s most valuable resource is not physical.
Read MoreIn his book Willpower Doesn’t Work, Benjamin Hardy said, “Journaling is a powerful therapeutic and healing tool.” From my experience, that statement is a fact. Here are some ways consistently journaling has helped me, and if you choose to make it a part of your life, these are also ways it could be a help to you too.
Read More“Mooooom, I need you!” That can be a glorious call or words that make you want to hide. As a mom of seven, I have often heard those words. Being a mom isn’t an easy task, but it is a blessed one.
Read MoreRemember when you fell in love with your spouse? The warm fuzzy feelings, the late night dates, and long conversations. It’s a wonderful feeling to be in love. So you got married. And then life hit you hard!
Read MoreThe words that we use are powerful and they have an impact on those around us. A hammer can be used to tear things down or build things up and our words are no different.
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