"But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart." Luke 2:19...marveling in wonder with the shepherds. 12 Years Later... "And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart." Luke 2:51 I handed my joy away yesterday. It was effectively stolen really. And it took a good night's sleep and fresh mercies of a new day from the LORD to reclaim it. Then today, I received a gift of JOY in a message from one of my very first friends. A year ago, I had given her a gift. So she told me that today ... Read the Post
New on the Blog

Kissing Guilt Goodbye: Open Submissions
This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!" (2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT). enLIVEn Devotional Ministry will be taking submissions (This time FOR WOMEN ONLY, since this devotional is specifically from and for women.) for our next devotional anthology, Kissing Guilt Goodbye. All proceeds of this book will go to world missions. If you are interested in submitting a devotional, please email us through our contact page. enLIVEn Devotionals are personal stories from our writers' lives, which God uses to enrich ... Read the Post

Running the Write Race
On a recent evening walk, I noticed a neighbor’s teenager gearing up for a run. He tied his shoelaces then placed a strange contraption over his mouth and nose that reminded me of the frightening mask Hannibal Lecter wore in Silence of the Lambs. When the teenager rose after stretching, I couldn’t contain my curiosity. “Why’re you wearing that on your face? Is it for warming up the air?” I live in Florida, and a recent cold front (don’t laugh, northerners) dropped temperatures to the low forties at night. For those who reside in the Sunshine State, this is cold. He pulled off the mask ... Read the Post

Finding More Margin in a Not-So-Perfect World
We watched as he carefully stacked the rocks inside the jar one-by-one until they brimmed the top. He scanned the crowd and politely asked if we thought the jar was full. In uncanny unison we all said yes. But we were wrong. Then he added pebbles, and after the pebbles, he added sand--until finally the jar was full. The pastor then went on to explain that when we take care of the big things in our lives first, the little things will fall into place, just like the rocks, the pebbles, and the sand. But my life didn’t seem to be working like that. I couldn’t help but wonder, “What if the ... Read the Post

Interacting in Truth
“I want you to wear a braid that goes across your forehead.” I was told these words few weeks after dating and completely falling for a man. Seemed like such a specific request within such a new relationship, and I was confused and hurt by it at first. I don’t wear braids and never have. Reacting to my confusion and obvious hurt, he simply said that he likes braids and wanted me to wear them, but I was free to do as I wish. It was such a small, minor request and it pleased him immensely, so I wore braids. We bend sometimes for those we love, and I enjoyed making him happy. However, a ... Read the Post
- 1
- 2
- 3
- …
- 81
- Next Page »