I’ll always remember a conversation held around our dining room table. A personal friend and leader in our church—a Bible college graduate, nonetheless—told us that he needed space from his wife of 28 years. “I’m going to move out,” he said. “I need to clear my head. I’m struggling with my faith right now. In… [ read more ]
Posts Tagged: 1 Kings
What Does Obedience Look Like?
Watching kids and parents interact provides a fascinating study in human nature. For instance, how many times must a mom or dad tell a child to do something—pick up their toys, get dressed, or sit at the table for dinner, for instance? In most cases, kids don’t obey the first command issued. They dawdle… [ read more ]
What Happens When We Stare Fear in the Face?
Have you ever sensed God asking you to do something that scared you witless? I have. Several times. When my husband and I moved to Nepal five months after we married. We were clueless about living in a different culture, speaking a different language, surviving with different foods and accompanying health risks, etc. We… [ read more ]
How Can We Deal With Discouragement?
What do you do when you feel discouraged? (a) Devour a bowlful (nay, a gallon) of your favorite ice cream (b) Take a long walk (c) Unload on a friend (d) Crank up your favorite praise and worship music (e) Take a nap (f) All of the above (g) None of the above We’re… [ read more ]
Does Prayer Make a Difference?
Here’s a biblical example of how God invites and waits for our participation through prayer.
What Not To Do When Feeling Discouraged
Why isolating ourselves when feeling discouraged is an unhealthy response.
A Prayer that Brings a Guaranteed “Yes”
I was in sixth grade when I developed a huge crush on a classmate named Grant. His presence made my heart flutter and my face flush. I longed for the feelings to be mutual, and so my daily prayer sounded something like this: “Dear God, please make Grant like me.” If we happened to be… [ read more ]
When Speaking the Truth Makes Us Unpopular
This weekend was a good one. I spent it in Guelph, Ontario, teaching at Write! Canada. I so enjoyed meeting others who share my desire to communicate life-changing words through writing and speaking. I trust that my classes and keynote presentation will equip and encourage them to pursue their dreams with passion and excellence. The… [ read more ]
Unwanted Advice
We all like to hear things that make us feel good, right? Few want news or advice that dampens our day even though it might be for our best. King Ahab of Israel was no different. Ahab had proposed partnership with King Jehoshaphat of Judah to do battle. Jehoshaphat agreed but added, “First let’s find… [ read more ]
Dealing with Discouragement
What do you do when you feel discouraged? (a) Devour a bowlful (nay, a gallon) of your favorite ice cream (b) Take a long walk (c) Unload on a friend (d) Crank up your favorite praise and worship music (e) Take a nap (f) All of the above (g) None of the above Our means… [ read more ]
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