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Dear Lord, Thank You for the gift of friendship. Thank You for the people who are in my life and are willing to walk through life with me. I pray my friendships would continue to grow and that we would become even closer. Remind me to give them permission to speak into my life. Show me how to...

Dear Lord, Thank You for my husband. Thank You for my beautiful family. I pray my husband and I are able to spend quality time with each other this season. I pray we have the opportunity to evaluate this last year, celebrating victories and acknowledging areas we need to grow. I pray we have...

Dear Lord, Thank You for Your faithfulness. Thank You for the faith You have given me. I pray my faith in You continues to increase. I pray my husband’s faith continues to increase. May our faith draw us closer to You and closer to each other. I pray for other husbands and wives right now. May...

Called. Sometimes, I think we use that word as an excuse to not do scary things.You know when you think you’ve got it all figured out? Like I have this exact idea of how I should live and should treat people and what I should do with my life. And I feel very confident in it. Even though I know...

And then, there’s Jesse. Six-years-old and a bit small for his age with the most genuine gold-capped tooth smile. Editor's Note: This post is from 2013, and a lot has changed for Jordan since that time. However, this reveals her heart and her honesty along with a heavy dose of God's truth...

What I didn’t realize was that my wellness is not just about the food I put inside my body! My son was born a little over two years ago. His first year of life was the longest year of mine. Everything I ate upset his stomach and he was constantly in the doctor’s office for ear infections...

Jesus picked this beginning because he knew our idols would someday reek of perfectionism and opulence, of measuring up and looking the part, of vanity.You know what I don't remember about my childhood Christmases? I don’t remember anything being especially decorated. I don’t remember...

My response is to recognize God’s greatness and grace in using me as an instrument and with confidence move into this pure, unspotted new chapter. Ah, the new year. It is laid out before me — clean and inviting. How do I begin this new chapter with the intention of letting God write through...

I’m thankful for the way the Lord teaches me about his character through the pitter patter of those little feet. Every morning, I roll over to find a tiny body lying between my husband and me. Sometimes I remember how he got there. Sometimes it’s as if he magically appeared. Some nights I'm...

Jesus > You + X (all your dos) + Y (all your dont's)!Dear Church People, I used to be a math teacher. You might think, based on this whole writing gig, I would have been an English or Reading teacher... neh eh. I just cannot grade all those essays with all those words. Me? I really like a...

Jesus also taught: "Beware of these teachers of religious law! For they like to parade around in flowing robes and receive respectful greetings as they walk in the marketplaces. And how they love the seats of honor in the synagogues and the head table at banquets." —Mark 12:38-39 NLT Key...

[Jesus continued talking about hypocritical religious teachers:] "Yet they shamelessly cheat widows out of their property and then pretend to be pious by making long prayers in public. Because of this, they will be more severely punished." —Mark 12:40 NLT Key Thought In the previous verses...

Jesus sat down near the collection box in the Temple and watched as the crowds dropped in their money. Many rich people put in large amounts. Then a poor widow came and dropped in two small coins. Jesus called his disciples to him and said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has given more...

As Jesus was leaving the Temple that day, one of his disciples said, "Teacher, look at these magnificent buildings! Look at the impressive stones in the walls." Jesus replied, "Yes, look at these great buildings. But they will be completely demolished. Not one stone will be left on top of...

Jesus replied, "Yes, look at these great buildings. But they will be completely demolished. Not one stone will be left on top of another!" Later, Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives across the valley from the Temple. Peter, James, John, and Andrew came to him privately and asked him, "Tell us...

Jesus replied, "Don't let anyone mislead you, for many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Messiah.' They will deceive many." —Mark 13:5-6 NLT Key Thought False messiahs will be plentiful! That's Jesus' message. Even more frightening than counterfeit messiahs, many people will be...

Jesus replied, "Don't let anyone mislead you, for many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Messiah.' They will deceive many." —Mark 13:5-6 NLT Key Thought Jesus was concerned that his precious followers could be led astray. He still is today. As Jesus' followers, it is not enough for...

Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God. —2 Corinthians 9:11 (KJV) Thoughts on Today's Verse... Why does God bless us with riches? So we can share those riches generously with those in need and so we can bring thanksgiving to God. My...

But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. —Matthew 9:12 (KJV) Thoughts on Today's Verse... Why did Jesus associate with sinners? Because we need him to associate with us! What's the most crucial part of that truth: Jesus'...

But he said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they said, We have no more but five loaves and two fishes; except we should go and buy meat for all this people. —Luke 9:13 (KJV) Thoughts on Today's Verse... I love the way Jesus gets his disciples' attention. "You feed them, boys!" Of...