"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
Happy in Holiness
God wants me happy, right? I said to myself. Everyone at church is happy. They think I’m happy. So why don't I feel happy? As a new Believer in Jesus, I went from experience to experience seeking fulfillment. I went to Bible studies, women's conferences, and coffee houses. I even worked at a Christian radio station. My heart did not match the smile on my face. How could I stay happy when deep down I was crushed, miserable, and needed answers? After three years of pretending—I wore the happy mask well—I learned that I could not achieve continued happiness, even if those at ... Read the Post
Serving God’s Love
For years, I had been a housewife and a mom when I suddenly found myself in need of a job. I received employment as server for a popular restaurant chain, and this particular location had the highest turnover rate in the state. In the midst of the unfamiliar drama and unstable attitudes, I discovered that this experience was less about earning a living and more about truly learning about God’s awesome love. A few weeks after my acclimation as a server, I started seeing how our general manager’s anger would be the catalyst to cause me to lean into the Father and become a doer of Luke ... Read the Post