-
Taming Your Thoughts with Truth
Our thoughts can hold us captive. Especially if we are among those who suffer with anxiety. Even if you don’t, Satan often attacks us by placing negative thoughts in our minds. Thoughts that are far from God’s truth. What are we to do about them? Paul gives us instructions in a couple places in Scripture…
-
Not By My Strength, But His
Ever heard of a life verse? It’s a verse from the Bible that speaks to you and usually defines the way in which you walk in your daily life with Christ. Do you have one? I do. One I even decided to tattoo on my arm as a reminder to live out its truth daily:…
-
Through You They May Know Him
I didn’t know if I could do it. Yet again. Have another conversation with another grieving relative. The fourth in less than two weeks. Countless in the last couple years. The number of people who had lost loved ones due to various reasons over this pandemic is astounding. The number of times I have processed…
-
Just Be Still, Already
We heard it as kids. We likely say it as adults now: “Be still. Sit down and just be still.” An instruction often given from parent to child. One that comes after too much moving and less just being. You know we are commanded by God to do the same: “Be still?” Yet, even for us,…
-
Let There Be Light: Faith in the Unknown
And Abram believed the Lord, and the Lord counted him as righteous because of his faith. Genesis 15:6 Abram. Deemed righteous by God because of his faith. What does that even mean? First, to answer that-we must know what we are referring to when we discuss faith. According to Hebrews 11:1 and 3, “faith shows…
-
Let There Be Light: Hope in the Darkness
Advent. I’ll be real with you. I didn’t grow up in church, attending services all through the Christmas season as a kid. So as an adult, when I began attending in my late 20’s, advent appeared ritualistic in nature to me. Hear me out…I understand the meaning of Christmas. But the lighting of all the…
-
You Never Know Who’s Talking to Jesus About You
It’s not a conversation I was expecting. After preaching my first “main worship” sermon in what turned out to be a rough couple of years, I should have expected most anything at this point. I had just spoken about the power of prayer. The call to pray for those who had hurt us. Even if…
-
Are you a “bumper sticker” Christian?
I had some extra time between counseling placements. Rare time. Shuffling between many different schools and offices means a ton of driving time, and less time to actually run the errands I need to get done to make these sessions (and home life) a success. Less than 1 mile to my intended destination. 1 mile.…
-
I Won’t Give Up
I went on a decluttering and cleaning spree the last couple weeks. All in an effort to get the Christmas decorations up. In my sorting I came across the vision board I put together at the beginning of the year. One I had put together with pictures and notes of things I had a desire…
-
It’s All About the Heart
“Yes, she is a pastor.” “Oh, really? I never would have guessed that.” This was the response received in the cabinet section at the local home improvement store. The comment made when my husband advised the sweet lady of my second “vocation.” It wasn’t the first time I had been told this. It was a…
Grace 'n Grounds
Encouragement Grounded in His Truth
Grace 'n Grounds 