And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. -- Colossians 3:15 (NKJV)Lately, I have been reflecting on my life, my faith journey, and the decisions that brought us to this small coastal town in North Carolina....
I am thankful to God for empowering followers of Jesus to stay the course. I’m so grateful for men and women, boys and girls who serve Christ, no matter the consequences. I also want to encou…
Gratitude is gladness springing from relational faith.
In looking back on the first year after my husband died, there’s a blur of experiences I don’t remember. I faintly recall cleaning out my husband’s closet with my son, packing some clothes, and taking them to Goodwill. However, there were clothes I kept and didn’t give away for whatever reason. As I
On my way to meet a friend for a walk, I drove by two storage unit facilities next to each other. I thought it was strange, but I soon discovered there are over 52,000 storage unit facilities in the U.S. Translated, we store a lot of stuff. It caused me to wonder, how does that relate to our grief
Eddie JonesLord Jesus, Thanks for the Healing I Receive from the Wounds You Suffered.
Since my husband died, I’ve connected with many new friends and some past friends. Debby and I met over 40 years ago while attending a small home fellowship group with our pastor. When she married her husband, I attended her wedding in 1986. Debby’s husband died in 2019. Later that year, we met up a
This is the third and final article in this short series titled “Growth in God.” In the first article, we explored what it means to come to the end of ourselves and how that fosters dependency on Christ. We said that following Christ’s command to deny ourselves means coming to the end of ourselves – putting our desires to rest and living a life of serving others and, ultimately, the kingdom of God. This process is painful and is referred to as sanctification. In the second article, we explored h
Since my husband died, I am more selective in choosing which movies to watch. In the past, I could easily watch a rom-com or a love story without a problem. However, that no longer works for me. I’m not a prude, but watching other people make out creates a discomfort I would like to avoid. What it t
Nancy C. Williams
“I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify Him with thanksgiving.” (Psalm 69:30) While getting dressed this morning, I paused in front of my sink. My toothpaste tub…
By Judy Hunsberger It was supposed to turn out differently. At 43, I joked about being the oldest first-time bride and, again, two years later, becoming the oldest first-time parents with our daughter. None of this was expected, but by the grace of God, it happened in 2004. By 2019, we w
On the side mirrors of my car, it says; “objects appear larger than they are.” It seems strange, but it’s true. My experience last week affirmed this statement to a T. As I walked into a morning Pilates class, I expected to focus, breathe, and feel better when I left. Before the class began, a woma
Anthony Taylor
This prayer focuses on expressing gratitude for God's blessing and seeking a heart filled with appreciation. It emphasizes the importance of recognizing daily blessing and allowing thankfulness to influence actions. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Sheryl H. Boldt
It is with heartfelt gratitude for your sacrifice and with deep respect for the pain you continue to endure that I commit each of you to our heavenly Father’s steadfast love and mercy – which He freely offers to you today, tomorrow and every day thereafter.
Last month, I renewed my driver’s license. I did the preliminary steps online, so all I had to do when I went to the DMV office was pay my fees and get a new photo. While waiting in line to take the photo, I observed a woman in front of me. The photographer asked her to remove her hat. As
Janet Perez-Eckles
Every Mom has the power to conquer, to overcome, and to win through Christ Jesus.
Kathy Collard MillerWhen I realized Ephesians 1:5 offers a deeper sense of security, I was extremely excited and grateful.
Eliezer Gonzalez
7 loaves and a few fish would only feed a handful of people, the striking thing is that he gives thanks before the food is there. Then Jesus Feeds The 4000!
In 2013, the television program that would fascinate all of us had its first episode. “Fixer Upper” would snowball into an empire as we watched a process of transformation each week. The “before” house and the “after” house would be remodeled, reconstructed, and restored into an entirely ne
Eliezer Gonzalez
From 5 small loaves of bread and 5 fish, after 000's of people had eaten, there were 12 full baskets of leftovers. And these weren’t small baskets either!