Ephesians 1:4 NIV is one of my favorite verses, “For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.” Read it again. Before the creation of the world—you were chosen.  God wants us to get this one: 2 Thess. 2:13 “But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers…

We’re dog training—again. Our trainer has a saying, “If Valor can’t do it with distractions, he can’t do it.” Commands practiced by himself don’t count. It’s what he does in public when people and pets are around that shows his true level of self-control.  Lessons challenge him to rein it in and stay put when…

Sheep dog trials serve as my favorite event at the Fort Worth Stock Show. Sheep dog trials are a timed event during which the dog must maneuver three sheep around the pen and two different barrels, through a narrow shoot, and then into the pen while the shepherd gives commands. Shepherd and sheep dog teams…

Big. Intimidating. Protective. Delivery men step back when they come to my door. I bought Valor because I’m home alone. A lot. At 5’5”, I’m defenseless against the average male. Valor gives me leverage. Jerusalem experienced defenseless too. Babylon destroyed the city. Though many Jews returned to their homeland, Jerusalem’s walls lay in ruins, leaving the…

Febreze questions consumers, “Have you gone nose blind?” Oblivious to foul odors because you’ve simply gotten used to them? I believe Christians suffer from ear blindness. John 10:2-5 NIV says:  The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep . . .  the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own…

I read an interesting note regarding Cain and Abel: the likelihood that they were twins (only one conception recorded followed by two births). Hmmm. If true, Cain’s murder of his brother takes on even greater significance.  What went wrong? Simply, one man obeyed God. One didn’t. The broken relationship with God affected the relationship between…

A beast lives in your home. Wary eyes watch every move. Fangs drip. Claws grip the ground as the beast gathers himself for an ambush. And his prey? You. God minced no words as he spoke to Cain about sin, “If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do…

Sunglasses. Whistle. The scent of coconut sunscreen. Lifeguards brought the ultimate cool factor when summer rolled around. They reigned over the local pool with an easy authority. Even as we winced at their whistle, we longed to be like them.  As believers, we serve as spiritual lifeguards, offering a buoy for those struggling to navigate…

What’s on your spiritual plate for 2020? Have you asked God what He’s cooking up for you this year? If you’ve never tried it, ask Him for a word, a verse, or a picture for the new year. Last year I received a verse. This year, a word: Worship. For me, worship connotes the presence…

Recently, a friend invited me to her home to dedicate some space to her new faith—the Warrior Goddess movement. Though the invitation was thoughtful, it made me sad, because my friend is chasing a lesser god. I won’t spend time on the belief system of the Warrior Goddess movement, but when the focus turns toward…