Yokemates

We plant seeds in the spring and bulbs in the fall. In the spring, we get a quick return on our labor. In only a few short weeks, and sometimes days, we see little green shoots of new growth peeking up out of the soil. In the fall, we have to have a bit more faith as we plant bulbs into the ground that will sleep all winter long. Then, when they burst through the soil the following year, we rejoice in the new life. New growth is always exciting and inspiring! Sometimes, the winter months in our lives are long. We plant seeds over and over again in the hearts and minds of those we teach in Bible School, Sunday School, Life Groups and Children’s Church. Week after week, we invest in the lives of those who attend our churches – and those we touch in our communities with the love of Christ. We try our best to uphold the hurting and share a listening ear with the lonely. We sacrifice time and money in so many different ways. The goal, to spread God’s love and the amazing story of salv...

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you….” Isaiah 41:10 The topic of fear has become a common thread in many Christian songs over the past year or so. Songs like ‘Fear is a Liar’ by Zach Williams, ‘Love Overcomes’ by Jesus Culture, ‘Mightier’ by Ben Cantelon and ‘The Breakup Song’ by Francesca Battistelli all express a new and growing emphasis on the reality of how often fear creeps into our lives threatening to cripple us. Thankfully, these songs don’t leave us hanging in despair, but point us to the source of our strength and hope. What are some of the fears that we commonly face? Childhood fears often start with the fear of strangers, the fear of the dark or possibly even the fear of clowns! As we grow up, we may discover that we suffer from arachnophobia - the fear of spiders or ophidiophobia - the fear of snakes. Some of these fears are understandable, but others are pretty much unfounded in re...

So, I’m not a big fan of Halloween, but I do love treats! I love to give treats to my dog. I love to treat my friends. My husband loves to treat me. It’s extra special when I can treat my girls or our grandkids. And, I’m thrilled when I can figure out how to best treat my son-in-laws! When I was a little girl, my dad loved to treat me and my sister with chocolate covered raisins. It maybe even counted - just a little bit - as a ‘healthy’ snack since there were raisins hidden inside! In reality, I didn’t really care what was inside of the creamy chocolate, because daddy treated us to the good chocolate from the mall candy store - like Fannie May or Marshall Fields.  Those little white snack bags with delicious chocolaty treasures inside were so special! After all, i t came with a lot of love. My dad was a diabetic who kept a strict rein on his diet. He never ate our candy, but he did enjoy indulging in a whiff of the deliciousness inside our bags! In those brief moments, I...

Actually, I do. And, I hope you do to. The phrase, “I have no regrets”  seems harmless, but it is often a symptom of a world that is humanistic and self-indulgent. Looming behind this proclamation for many is the conclusion that they have found all that they need through life’s experiences – good and bad. And, at the end of the day, they have risen to the occasion. They have survived! Perhaps with a few scars. But, those battles and failures were all necessary and important to get them to where they have arrived today. We can all embrace some of the ‘no regrets’ philosophy in that we should strive to make the most of our days. Yes, we – hopefully – can learn from our mistakes. Yes, we often do rise to the top and find a sense of accomplishment when we’ve struggled through tough times. But, where did we get the strength to overcome? Where do we find our source of hope? Resourcefulness Self-motivation Good luck Shrewdness Instinct Sheer determination or perhaps, Karma...

If you’ve been a Christian very long or in ministry for longer than a month or two, you have likely experienced the enemy’s attack. His attacks can sneak up on us in much the same way as a heart attack – silent and undetected or massive and painful. Either way, damage is done. The Bible equates the attacks of the evil one to flaming arrows. They can be sent head on and in clear view or they can strike without warning. The attacks may come from the least likely place - or person. At times the schemes of the enemy are easy to identify, yet others are hidden under the sweetest smile. These weapons of spiritual attack come in many shapes and sizes, but they all have one thing in common. They are birthed and purposed out of the schemes of the accuser. The most unwelcome and disturbing attacks in my life have come in times of peace. Life is going along just fine. And, out of nowhere, an utterly depraved thought comes whizzing through my mind! Then begins the struggle.  “Where did t...