In the heart of the first and second chapters of Titus, it’s clear that Paul pens his words with a keen awareness of pastors and elders. It’s striking, then, to realize that this message isn’t exclusive to them. It is meant for you, and yes, even for me. And why is that? Because we are all leaders in one way or another. Perhaps you guide women through Bible studies, or you share the word of God through a blog. Maybe you impart wisdom during Sunday School or offer life’s lessons to your children in the comfort of your home. In any of these roles, it’s likely that someone, somewhere, is…

Each time I gather the courage to step out in faith and pursue my calling, a little voice chimes in to tell me I can’t. “You can’t lead that Bible study, you’re not engaging enough.” “You can’t write that book, you’re not good enough.” “You can’t overcome your past; it will always define you.” “You can’t speak at that meeting, you’ll embarrass yourself.” If I listened to that voice, I would have quit writing a long time ago. I’d be sitting on the couch flipping channels instead of doing the work God has called me to. If I listened to that voice, I’d miss out on an opportunity to be…

My son, Brendan, is an avid runner. Rarely missing a day, he sometimes even goes for two runs. As the saying goes, the more you run, the more you enjoy running, and that certainly seems true for him. Training our body is much like training the soul. The more we walk in God’s will, the more we delight in His path. We all struggle with something; whether it’s holding back our temper, exercising patience, or overcoming a personal challenge, we desperately need God’s wisdom and strength. In Galatians Chapter 5, Paul explains that the flesh is at war with the Spirit, and the flesh desires what opposes the Spirit. But…

There’s a certain kind of magic that envelops our family when we gather around the table for game night. Trivial Pursuit is our game of choice, and it’s been that way since the children were little. We’ve always played in teams, ensuring that everyone has a fair chance to win. Amidst the clinking of plates and the laughter that leaves us breathless, we’ve unknowingly discovered a powerful lesson in love. You see, when we’re united as a team, patience and kindness flow naturally. There’s no room for jealousy or envy when a teammate scores a point, and we’re never angry when they miss one. Sure, we might tease our opponents…

I started reading the book of Jonah today, and right from the start, I saw myself in his story. I’ve never been called to go to Nineveh, but there have been days when I’m called to make amends with someone I’ve hurt, or to go downstairs and apologize to Michael after we’ve had an argument. Whether I’m right or I’m wrong, I know that the best thing to do is to follow the Spirit which tells us to do all that we can to live in peace with each other. The flesh is a difficult thing to combat some days as I wrestle with fear—the fear of being rejected, of…

The other day, my daughter Madison and I got to talking about just how busy little children can be. She mentioned the fact that she’s finding it harder to make connections now that she’s a mother with two busy kids under foot. I get it—I remember how busy it was back in the day, when my kids were young, and how much I craved the company of others in the same stage of life. Thankfully, the church offered a program for women like me, who needed a break, even if just for an hour. The friendships and encouragement I found at “Ladies Morning Out” was a lifeline during those early…

Have you ever considered the fact that maybe instead of changing the world around you, God wants to transform the heart within you? Maybe that one thing you fear is designed to keep you grounded and focused on Christ. Maybe it’s there to show you the life-changing power of faith, and to strengthen the spirit within you. As we go through the fire of testing and trials, we discover that although affliction is tough, it can also be freeing, as we are loosed from the things that once bound us. When we stand firm in faith we overcome the enemy, we rise above tribulation, and we conquer our fear. Are…

It’s coming… It’s coming… It’s coming… and you’re getting a sneak peek today! Our new Bible study, “Slaying Giants” has been uploaded to Amazon and should be ready today or tomorrow! Assuming that everything goes well on their end, I should have details about the upcoming study later this week. For those who are eager to get started, you might find it on Amazon later today. If you don’t see it there yet, be patient, because it will be there soon. The topic we’ll be studying (in January) is “Courage.” I’ve had this on my heart for about two years now, during which time we’ve been slaying one giant after…

In Luke Chapter 15, we find three parables: The Lost Sheep, The Lost Coin, and The Lost Son. They’re similar in that they each discuss something lost and then found, but there’s something else that ties them together, which is how they each focus on one person of the Godhead: The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit. Charles Spurgeon describes it by saying that the first parable [The Lost Sheep] illustrates the work of Christ through redemption, the second [The Lost Coin] is the work of the Holy Spirit through restoration of the soul, and finally, the last [The Lost Son] is the divine love of the Father receiving…

One of the most beautiful friendships recorded in history was that of David and Jonathan. 1 Samuel chapter 18 tells us that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. (v. 1) Jonathan had every reason to dislike David. He was heir to a throne that was given to David. He knew that David would be wearing a crown that could have been his. David was getting all of the attention he wasn’t. But rather than be jealous or fearful, demanding or proud, Jonathan stepped aside to serve David as his lord and his king. As a symbol of their covenant. Jonathan stripped himself…

My daughter was quite the couch-cuddler when she lived at home. I don’t think I could remember a day when she wasn’t snuggled up beside me or attached at the hip. We did everything together from watching TV to shopping for our favorite shoes. The day she moved out I was cut to the core. I had grown so used to having her close. So used to hearing her voice. So used to seeing her face. I can’t tell you how lonely I felt, but I do know that I did a lot of crying that winter. I had empty nest syndrome and I had it bad. In that season…

Opening my Bible to 2 Chronicles 32, I read, After all that Hezekiah had so faithfully done, Sennacherib king of Assyria came and invaded Judah. He laid siege to the fortified cities, thinking to conquer them for himself. When Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come and that he intended to wage war against Jerusalem, he consulted with his officials and military staff about blocking off the water from the springs outside the city, and they helped him. They gathered a large group of people who blocked all the springs and the stream that flowed through the land. “Why should the kings of Assyria come and find plenty of water?” they said. Then he worked hard…