I've watched people in my life struggle. I've watched them deal with health issues. I've watched them leave jobs, not knowing what was next. I've had my own struggles. Life isn't always easy, and sometimes it's hard to understand why things are happening the way they are.God created the world good, but when the first [...]

Perfect timing!” I exclaim as my family walks in the door just as I finish baking cookies. Usually, “perfect timing” is what we say when things happen when we want them to, at our convenience, according to our planning and preferences. But what about when things don't work out according to our timing or terms? [...]

Do you have a constant contact list on your phone? Mine includes my family and some close friends. I'm constantly texting, calling, or emailing these people with my schedule updates, plans, and schoolwork questions. We are in touch all day with the minutiae of pick-up times, homework assignments, and random things like funny videos.My constant [...]

“I'm afraid my cousin is dying,” I confessed with a catch in my voice. I clutched my Bible as I sat in an upstairs room in our church building with a small group of young adults. The class leader had called for prayer requests before he led into that day's study. While holding back tears, [...]

Of all the interesting things Jesus did, one of the most intriguing was that He stayed on that cross. Growing up, I remember childhood adversaries who would taunt, “I bet you can't ” Of course, the first thing any of us want to do when challenged this way is to prove we can. It can [...]

"Gone. Passed away,” Distorted, disturbing words. Swallowing back painStinging eyes, blurred. I think of you. Gone! Stumbling away, Heart pounding. I can't talk Searching a quiet space, To silence my thoughts.I think of you.Gone. I didn't know you Your dreams, your hopes But your loss rips through Deep within my soul.I think of you.Gone. A [...]

My mom taught first grade at a local elementary school. One year, the group of students in her class included a girl named Rosa. But Rosa struggled to pronounce the letter R. When she introduced herself, the other kids thought she'd announced her name was “Wosa.” Throughout the early months of that school session, the [...]

Did you know that you are gifted? When you become a follower of Christ, He gives you at least one spiritual gift to edify the body of believers. In Romans 12, Paul wrote to the church in Rome and reminded them of God's love for them and of the different gifts they were given. These [...]

CRASH! You failed. Again. You are sad and mad at the same time, not to mention humiliated. We have all experienced failure: making a low grade on an assignment, forgetting to complete a promised task, giving in to temptation to sin, etc. Usually, we can handle the minor failures. Though embarrassed, we carry on. But [...]

King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon conquered Judah and relocated some of the Jewish people to Babylon. God gave special wisdom to three of these young men—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. They impressed the king, and he placed them in positions of authority. All was well until the king built a golden statue. Everyone was ordered to fall [...]