Christmas stress busters
Christmas is a great time for giving, getting together with old friends and new, and rediscovering the importance of family and of spirituality. But Christmas can also be... »
Activated Author
A new start
My husband and I recently found ourselves on our own again. After raising ten children over 40 years, I didn’t see this coming! We’ve always been a close-knit family, but... »
The character builder
The great American evangelist Dwight L. Moody had a pithy phrase to describe character: Character is what you are in the dark. As Christians, we all want to grow in spiri... »
Why is it important to spend time alone with God?
All relationships take time. A relationship with God, while unlike other relationships in many ways, still follows the rules of other relationships. The Bible is filled w... »
The path of most persistence
Endurance is not just the ability to bear a hard thing, but to turn it to glory.—William Barclay (1907–1978) We must persevere in prayer that He may not permit our hearts... »
Working well with others
Q: I was recently promoted to a managerial position that I’d had my sights on for a long time, but now I’m not sure I’m cut out for this job. It seems that everything I s... »
The roller coaster
I think I was about 14 when I had my first roller coaster experience. Why in the world am I doing this?! I remember thinking, as my wagon chugged up to that first drop-of... »
Bitter for sweet
The sound of Mother’s eggbeater drew me to the kitchen. There I found her at work, and began to watch. This was my chance to find out what she put into that chocolate cak... »
God’s love
The Lord your God is living among you. … He will take delight in you with gladness. … He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.—Zephaniah 3:17 NLT I am convinced that n... »
Personal growth
All of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into... »
How to grow spiritually in the new year
Q: Many of my friends are making resolutions for the new year, most of which involve some physical change such as losing weight or breaking a bad habit. While those are g... »
Opportunities for love
There’s an important and easily missed form of love that’s manifested in the small matters. For example, helping a person in need, preferring them over ourselves, showing... »
God is love
Going through a difficult week recently turned out to be an opportunity for me to reflect on God’s love for me and my love toward Him. While I know that God’s love for me... »