“What if you woke up this morning and found the only things you had left were the things you thanked God for yesterday?” ~ Terry Shock

That startling quote is a good reminder to begin the month we celebrate Thanksgiving. I am afraid I would lose many of the treasures I enjoy. Did you thank God yesterday for your sight, hearing, ability to speak, sense of balance and touch? What about the ability to sleep, digest, and taste your food? Did you thank God for clean water, hot water, cool water, and indoor plumbing? (Read More)

How much worry is okay? Which of your concerns does God want to hear about? According to Philippians 4:6 “none” and “all” are the respective answers. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

After speaking on worry, I was approached by a young mother, “It is hard to see how worry is so bad. It is not like murder or adultery.”

I reminded her that small choices over time add up to big consequences and then explained. (Read More)

“If God has a plan for your life, and you have a plan for your life, whose plan do you think is better?” Christian psychologist, Henry Brandt’s question has an obvious answer, right? It turns out that only those with a renewed mind truly grasp that God’s plan really is more pleasing than the world’s.

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:1-2

I remember a young woman asking me at church to pray for her to know God’s will. (Read More)

I felt like I was part of a TV sitcom as I sat in a circle of women listening as one requested prayer, “My daughter’s getting married.” Smiles and “ahs” erupted from the group. “But,” she added, “her future in-laws have rented a cottage at the beach for their honeymoon—and they rented the adjoining cottage for themselves!”

These newlyweds were forced to face a biblical admonition early in their marriage. “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh” (Ephesians 5:31).

There is a relationship hierarchy presented in Scripture. Ephesians 5:15-6:9 says our connection to Christ through the Holy Spirit comes first, second the husband-wife relationship, then parent-child, and last work relationships. After we marry, our relationship with our spouse comes before our relationship with our parents and continues to be our most important bond even after children are added. (Read More)

The LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him” (Genesis 2:18).

The thought that God would call Eve Adam’s helper makes some bristle. Visions of poor Cinderella scrubbing floors with no life of her own pop into mind. If that is the biblical view of marriage, what woman would want that?

Some seem to believe that because Eve was deceived by the serpent that this is indeed woman’s predicament. She’ll want a man, but her man will callously dominate her. Sadly, in many parts of the world and in homes where sin reins, you find women mistreated that way. But that is not God’s will. (Read More)