Do for one
Sometimes I feel paralyzed by all the suffering in the world. There’s simply no way I could make a dent in all the hunger, sickness, poverty, depression, oppression, lone... »
Marie Alvero
The joyful heart
As followers of Jesus, “grateful” should be our default setting when we consider that Jesus died to redeem us from an eternity of being separated from God. This should pu... »
The successful sales pitch
I went to the retail store, Costco, today to return a vacuum cleaner I had purchased that turned out to be defective. After making our return, we were in need of a new va... »
The mindset change
A recent study done by Charles Schwab showed that in the United States, $2.4 million is the number that makes a household feel wealthy, and just over $1 million is what i... »
Simple prayer
Several years ago, my life was very uncertain. And in the middle of that loss, crisis, and stress, I began to question everything, down to the very foundation of my faith... »
Growth is addictive
I’m sure parents the world over share my dread of wrestling with children’s homework and preparing for tests. Calming my teenagers’ anxiety before a test or trying to get... »
Loved and valued
When asked which was the greatest of God’s commandments, Jesus replied, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind [and] love your neig... »
Forgiveness as God sees it
Jesus told a story about forgiveness that pokes at my heart and conscience every time I hear it. [[See Matthew 18:21–35.]] It tells of a good king whose accountant brough... »
The gift of lack
Last year was a rough one. Not terrible, just trying. Our family faced lots of challenges regarding work, health, and finances, and I’ve been hoping that things will be e... »
Pursuit of passions
I love working out, and I also love food! Cooking a great meal makes me incredibly fulfilled and happy, and I’ve often read cookbooks like they were novels. So, knowing h... »
Choosing less
My husband and I spent a year in a small town in Tanzania. When I say a “small town,” I mean a town with two stoplights, no supermarket, no restaurants to speak of, only... »
Silent nights
Weary. That used to be my word for December. Yes, I know it doesn't convey the true wonder of the season. But the days are hard and long, and by this time of year, I have... »