When we were teenagers, my friend and I used to save the “Love Is” comic from the newspaper each week. They were sweet little cartoons about everyday secular loving and living 🥰. But in 1 Corinthians 13, the Bible tells us what real, holy, unconditional love is. ✝️ Today, I'm focusing on a small portion of one verse, so we can make a simple but not so easy change in our lives. . . . [Love] keeps no record of wrongs. 1 Corinthians 13:5d NIV This verse is about God's forgiveness . . . an...
15 days ago • 2 min read
As I mentioned in last week's email, I'm reading a chapter a day in the Book of Luke as is my tradition each December. Any time I read the Bible, I learn something new or recall something that I've heard but have forgotten. This week was no different. In Luke chapter 2, Jesus is presented at the temple. Babies were not baptized, but they were brought to the temple to be dedicated to the Lord (Luke 2:22-23). The prophet Simeon "took him [Jesus] up in his arms and blessed God . . ." (Luke 2:28)...
10 months ago • 3 min read
As we enter this season of giving, what do you give someone who has everything? We typically think about this question in the context of well-off parents or grandparents who don't need one more material thing. But I challenge you today to think about the question in the context of God. What do you give Someone who has everything? God literally owns everything. He gave us everything that we have—life, material items, talents, spiritual gifts, even people. When someone gives me a gift, I am...
10 months ago • 3 min read
Two weeks ago, I asked, Which Bible verse are you praying today? Many thanks to everyone in our Pray God's Way family who responded. I promised that I'd share the list of verses that our community is praying. I encourage you to meditate on each verse, ask the Holy Spirit to show you what God wants you to know about the verse and how to apply it to your life. You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.Isaiah 26:3 Keep yourselves in the love of God,...
about 1 year ago • 2 min read
This has been quite a week. It's heavy. I feel like there has been a tectonic cultural shift in our world, and I'm still trying to catch my breath. The world literally shook the day Charlie Kirk was assassinated. (There was an earthquake in Utah on Wednesday, September 10th a couple of hours after his death was confirmed.) If you're not familiar with Charlie Kirk, you can check out his videos via the Turning Point USA, Turning Point USA Faith, and Charlie Kirk Show websites. Please listen to...
about 1 year ago • 6 min read
Since the late 19th century, the first Monday in September has been set aside to honor the American worker via the observance of Labor Day. There are lots of verses in the Bible about labor. Some reference laboring over the earth for food. Some reference a mother's labor giving birth to her child. I recently read a paragraph from a Charles Spurgeon sermon that put the word labor into a new Biblical context for me. When God makes someone into a Christian, the three persons of the Trinity...
about 1 year ago • 4 min read
Last month, I received one of the most personal birthday gifts a daughter of the King could receive. You see, about 12 years ago, I met a sister in Christ, Elaine. She became a friend and a dear Christian mentor to me. Elaine is sweet and kind, full of grace and forgiveness. And she's one of the most faithful people I know. Through her example, Elaine taught me how to be a prayer partner and prayer warrior. I am so grateful for the time we've spent together over the years. (TBH, It's been too...
about 1 year ago • 3 min read
Lately, I've been prioritizing my health by consistently walking every day. I'm not up to 10,000 steps or anything ambitious like that, but I have been getting my feet moving. This new practice takes time away from my normal routine, so I had to find a way to combine my walking with other daily activities that are important to me. For years, I've heard that people walk and pray, and I've usually said, "That's not for me. I need to remove all distractions. I need to write out my prayers." Now,...
about 1 year ago • 3 min read
This week, the United States celebrated freedom on Independence Day, July 4th. We remember those who fought for independence from British rule and a wordly king. We thank God for our country's unique set of freedoms like freedom of speech, the freedom to bear arms, the freedom to practice our own religion, etc. Now that the wordly fireworks have ceased, let's take a few minutes to continue to pray God's way about the freedom Jesus Christ offers all of us, Jew and Gentile. Let's pray for the...
about 1 year ago • 3 min read