Trying To Love God With A Divided Heart
Growing up Baptist in the 1960’s and 70’s meant no movies, dancing, playing cards, smoking or drinking. Externally, I obeyed these rules, but internally, I chomped at the bit, certain I missed out on great times. On my own in…
Trusting Our Righteous Judge
Receiving a summons to appear in court, is a knee-quaking moment. The sheriff at my door seemed jaded and looked at me as if he believed me to be guilty of the crime represented in the envelope. I felt like…
At Odds With God
Being at loggerheads with God is a tough row to hoe. I hate being in that place and yet, recall times when my attitude and agenda positioned themselves perpendicular to God, instead of parallel. When we set our hearts towards…
God’s Reckless Mercy
Who needs your mercy and forgiveness instead of judgement? How quickly do faces come to mind? How often do their sins float through your thoughts? Your reasons for judgement may be well founded and maybe these people aren’t remotely sorry.…
Obadiah- Sowing and Reaping
As a minister of music, I hated being the deliverer of bad news to folks who ached to be on worship team but lacked the right skills. Kristy (not her real name) never made the cut for any vocal group…
Obadiah-A Feud on Steroids
Family feuds can create ripples of waves, which keep relationships turbulent for generations. The infamous Hatfield and McCoy feud began in Kentucky in 1865 when Asa Harmon McCoy, brother to Randolph McCoy died at the hands of the “Logan Wildcats,”…
Amos- A Warning for Callous Hearts
Self-absorption and a lack of self-awareness are officially at epidemic level in American culture, in my opinion. I remember a brief friendship during college, with a girl who leaped ahead of her time in this area. Originally, I found myself…
Amos- Another Overlooked Shepherd
The near misses of my life are broad and varied, open doors I almost ignored. One of my dearest friends nearly slipped past me in 9th grade because she was and is, a quiet person of depth. I initially said…
Joel- The Holy Spirit’s Dynamite and Democracy
Are the challenges of current circumstances leaving you weary, depressed and wishing you could quit and go inhabit someone else’s life? Ever felt that way? I did during a season of ministry when non-stop church conflict dogged my husband and…
Joel 3- Eternity’s Warning Bells
We can become so laser focused on that directly in front of us, our eternity-minded, peripheral vision grows weak. When my husband and I first entered full time ministry, our hearts and heads filled with tasks and needs of the…
