Has Your Praise Been Hijacked?
I learned something today that made me so mad that I had to fight back tears. I was mad because I thought the decision was a waste of money. I was mad because the decision was to the determent of someone I love. My righteous anger tirade had barely begun when God’s word flooded my mind. Continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of the lips that gives thanks to His name.Hmm…..a sacrifice? Sounds costly. Otherwise, by definition, it is not a sacrifice. And continual praise sounds even harder. Never ceasing. Always. Praise in good times. Praise in bad times. Praise when I feel like it. Praise when I don’

It’s a Global Party! Woo-Hoo!
You’re invited to a party! 8:00 P.M. Sevilla, Spain. Bring cous-cous or pita bread and hummus. Follow the sounds of music mingled with laughter to an apartment packed with college students. They will celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness. It didn’t take long for my sister-in-law, Martha, to figure out that college students around the world love parties. Martha speaks three languages and has lived all over the world working with college students. She hosts parties in order to connect with unchurched students from around the globe. Each party has a theme complete with decorations, food, games and music to

I Don’t Crave Kimchi!
Cravings. Ever craved something so badly that it consumed your day? The first three months of my pregnancy I craved Chick-fil-a. I did errands and grocery shopping around lunchtime. This made going through the drive thru very convenient! I planned my day around my cravings.When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart's delight, for I bear your name, O LORD God Almighty. God’s word comes into my life when I read, hear, or listen to it. It is designed specifically to bring joy, because when applied to my life it brings with it the character of God. As my life is transformed, my appetite for God’s word increas

TRASH Mountain
I HEART clear plastic bins. They are easy to store. You can easily identify what is inside each bin. I have a garage full of them packed with Christmas decorations, baby items, keepsakes, and out of season clothes. But mostly, I like them because I dislike mess and disorganization. My desire for a neat and clean home is a world away from Trash Mountain. Well, to be precise, I should say Trash MountainS. Plural. Meaning there is more than one trash mountain in the world. While traveling in South America, I personally witnessed poverty that was so astounding it was almost incomprehensible. Living, eating, and sleeping on the refuse of a mountain of trash susta

Fruit or Poison? It’s Your Choice!
Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me. Remember that childhood rhyme? News flash…it’s wrong. Words can hurt. And sometimes a wrong word spoken at the wrong time can break our spirit. Gentle words are a tree of life; a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit. Words carry weight. They can cause us to leap with joy or cry in sadness. Words can cause us to soar and reach for the impossible or they can dismantle a lifelong dream. I was a new bride and had the title “pastor’s wife” bestowed on me barely a month. My husband had just planted a church the year before and I was joining him in his ministry. At church