I'm reading through a chronological study Bible. It's the second time in my life I've undertaken to read the whole Bible. I'm struck by different events and things that aren't talked about much, even sometimes having forgotten those things happened. One such event is in 1 Samuel 5: The Philistines and the Ark. Israel and the Philistines had a fight and the Philistines had … [Read more...]
Finding Assurance of Salvation
"How can I know for sure that I'm saved?" If you've ever asked this question, you're not alone. It's not uncommon for people who have, at one time, made a profession of faith in Christ to need assurance of their salvation at some later point in their lives. After all, we know how high the stakes are, don't we? And we also know there's no margin for error. Jesus … [Read more...]
Helping Kids Overcome Fear
"Mom, I'm scared." There are few moms and dads who haven't at least once been awakened in the middle of the night by a child's trembling plea for comfort. What's a Christ-following parent to do? How can we help our kids overcome fear? As with most aspects of raising children, there's no quick fix. But I've found these five steps to be helpful as I train my kids to … [Read more...]
The Second Coming
“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.” John14:1-4 I know … [Read more...]
Longing For Safe People
Unmet longings invade every aspect of our lives and span the length of time. They may or may not be fulfilled. They may or not even be recognized. During the Allume conference this past weekend, a key message by Sophie Hudson opened my eyes to a longing that I didn’t know that I had...a longing for safe people. This longing is not something unattainable. It can be totally … [Read more...]