I’ve lost my love for the Cinderella story, and it’s Lisa Harper’s fault.  Lisa Harper is a Christian speaker, author, and teacher. I love her because she is soooo authentic. Our women’s group at church was studying her Bible study on the Gospel of Luke. In one video session, she spoke on Cinderella—and forever ruined…

So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him. 1 Samuel 17:50 NIV You don’t have to be a fiction writer to hear voices in your head. Friends, family, and the enemy all have an opinion on what…

If your only familiarity with Lent is Mardi Gras, you may have a few questions.  What is Lent?  How did it start?  And why practice it?  Lent commemorates Jesus’s 40-day period of fasting and temptation in the wilderness. Historians point to the practice after the Council of Nicea in 325 A.D, but church fathers like…

February brings a scent of romance to the air, and it doesn’t get better, biblically, than the account of Ruth and Boaz. Scripture tucks the Book of Ruth between Judges and 1 Samuel, two hefty historical books. In actuality, Ruth deserves the spotlight. Top billing. Because it shows us how to love well even when…

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21 NIV Have you considered taking on a partner?  Whether you work…

Divine intervention. I’ve seen it countless times.  A kid stops short, right before he face-plants into a saguaro cactus.  An interview, one the college senior hadn’t planned on keeping, led to her dream job.  Specific guidance was given for prayer regarding a son going through (and successfully completing) Navy SEAL training.  Three unexpected years of…

You thought I meant blessings, right?  No. Blessing. Singular. Only one.  November shifts our attention to gratitude. Thankfulness for all we have and for those closest to us. And that’s good.  But let’s not stop there. In fact, I want to back up to the One from Whom all blessings flow.  Jesus. And not just Jesus, but His…

Jesus is in the house. Your house. With his friends. At least twelve, but probably more.  Do you:  Martha, of the famous Mary-and-Martha sister duo in Scripture, committed to B. All the way. If you’re not familiar with Martha’s story, here’s the account from Luke 10:38-42: As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came…

Every afternoon, Blaze, my Belgian Malinois, appears with his toy. He dumps his ball into my lap and onto my current project. I set it on the floor. He picks it up. Lap. Floor. Lap. Floor. His brown eyes plead. Play with me. He just wants to be together. What an invitation.  No hidden agendas.  No expectations. …

This summer I’m on a special four-month program to deal with some health issues. When I started, I asked God to do for me spiritually what I was trying to accomplish physically.  Heal and detox.  Several weeks in, the spiritual detox began. Thoughts, expectations, and judgments bubbled up like the crude oil on the Beverly…