The Fruit of Love: The Royal Command
In March of this year a young woman walked in to a Tennessee church’s school and shot and killed three 9-year old children and three adults. She was described as “transgender” and…
Keep readingTilling Hatred from Our Hearts
I recently saw a video by Dennis Prager, a prominent Jewish conservative and president of PragerU. In it he spoke with confidence how anyone who says they “love the Nazis” doesn’t…
Keep readingA Gardener of Love
She turned to drugs and alcohol to dull her childhood pain. The pain inflicted by an abusive, angry father. Her body was being ravaged by anger, hatred and shame. The feelings of worthlessness. And…
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Fruit of the Spirit: Joy
The search for joy and happiness has been called one of the great universal mankind desires by pastor and theologian Jonathan Edwards. It’s this craving for joy that leads some to…
Keep readingJoy In Our Obedience
I told a friend recently that maybe I should apologize to the world for the COVID pandemic. You see I had for years been praying to God for patience and joy…
Keep readingJoy In The Small
The six of us sat around the table enjoying our meal of tacos as we somehow found ways to laugh and grab hold of normalcy. Then one of us heard her…
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Fruit of the Spirit: Peace
I sat scrolling through my Instagram feed and felt my very body react with each passing post. Doom! Gloom! Watch out! The World is falling apart! I had originally created an Instagram account years ago…
Keep readingThe State of Peacefulness
Throughout the last three years with my Bible study girls (BSGs) I noticed what we all struggle with the most — control. Or on the flipside, lack of trust. The results of…
Keep readingResting In Peace
I sat in the back of the car texting my husband about our travels that day. Suddenly, we experienced yet another brush with death. Our car came within inches of having the…
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Fruit of the Spirit: Patience
I knew I would be asked to take the position. I was naturally the next in line of succession. They knew I had the leadership skills and an investment in the organization. When…
Keep readingImpatiently Waiting
There must not be many other words in human language that can evoke as much negative response as the word “wait.” For what? How long? Why? No one likes to wait it seems. We…
Keep readingEndurance Brings Hope
Quite possibly the greatest lesson in the Bible about patience and endurance (both makrothymia) or lack thereof, is the one of Abraham and Sarah. The Lord comes to Abraham and promises…
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Fruit of the Spirit: Goodness & Kindness
When my eldest daughter was little, she loved and admired her grandfather greatly. She loved him to such an extent that if she were caught doing something she shouldn’t, he could…
Keep readingSelfishness vs Selflessness
I recently heard a riff off of Martin Luther’s theology of baptism: “I was drowned in the water of baptism but that sucker can float.” Picture your selfish flesh coming up…
Keep readingThe Result of Goodness
A few years ago, tragedy struck popular Christian singer Toby Mac’s life. When his 21 year old son died of a drug overdose he found himself in deep despair. And wouldn’t we…
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Fruit of the Spirit: Faithfulness
A few years ago, one of my daughters was going through some really tough stuff. If you are a mother, you know how much it hurts to watch your child go…
Keep readingOur Faithfulness to the Father
I met Jill* when I volunteered to be part of a new discipleship program at my church. I was to guide her through a program which helps newer or younger believers…
Keep readingFaithfulness in Action
When you look up the top qualities essential in any lasting relationship, you’ll find the essence of pistis. That’s the Greek word found in the list of the fruit of the…
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Fruit of the Spirit: Gentleness
Charles Spurgeon once wrote that if God took full license of His greatness and majesty we would surely be trampled under His feet. Instead, God, Himself, displays the most magnificent teaching…
Keep readingGentleness Misunderstood
When I announced to my non-religious parents many years ago that I was going to start attending church, my mother asked why I needed religion and my father called it…
Keep readingGentleness & Zeal
I believe I’ve mentioned in studies past about an incident I once had that gave me a completely different view of the power of meekness. As a softball coach I sat in…
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Fruit of the Spirit: Self-Control
“As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting…
Keep readingThe Wobbly Rock
It always seems to start with just one bite, one taste, one look, one try. We soon find ourselves groaning in disbelief that we ate it all again. Did the one thing…
Keep readingTo Be The 3rd Man
During the last five years or so I started gaining the dreaded hormonal weight. As a woman over 50 I’ve watched a donut grow around my waist. Being tall, I can…
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