Category: God And Christianity

A Child's Praise

6/6/2015

Trying to get eight preschoolers to calm down enough to sit for a snack was going to take some creativity. At that moment, I had a brilliant insight.

“Guys! If you want to eat snack, we have to pray first!”

(O blessed seven seconds of silence while we thank God for our food!)

They settled into their chairs noisily and one girl raised her hand.

“Yes? What is it?”

She looked at me innocently. “I wanna pray!”

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The God Who Reveals Himself Uniquely

5/30/2015

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I know this is a bit of break from my usual type of post, but I wanted to remark on something that I’ve been mulling over: God’s tendency to reveal Himself in a way that a particular person most understands.

God as a Father

Some years ago, my sister, mother, and I discussed the truth that God appeals to each of us in a different way. For my sister, she was drawn to God because of His fatherhood. She drew her greatest comfort from His protection and direction, His personal interest in her life, His delight in her as His precious daughter.

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Defining Beauty

5/23/2015

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“Hey,” my dad leaned through the doorway. “You’re a very pretty girl. Do you know that?”

I glanced up from my laptop, my concentration bursting like a bubble. Pretty? Unconsciously, my hand went to my hair, which was pulled back in a low-ponytail, and seemed to hang limply down my back. My oval face and—ahem—curvaceous figure never seemed pretty to me before. Reasonably good-looking, I suppose, but not pretty.

But unexpected compliments from someone you love really do influence how you see yourself, and how you perceive beauty. So it got me thinking.

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Today I Thank God

4/18/2015

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Today I thank God for my eyes,
Whose sight is at each dawn renewed,
Who lift their gaze toward the skies
To well with tears of gratitude.

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Stones of Remembrance: Recalling God's Goodness

2/13/2015

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My memory is very selective: It is short for blessings and long for frustrations. I remember the times when I have been uncomfortable, embarrassed, angry, or upset, yet I quickly forget the times that prayers were answered, catastrophes were averted, and tokens of God’s love were revealed.

A friend of mine reminded me of the importance of “remembering your stones.” This idea comes from Joshua 4:1-7.

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LIfe is All About Relationships

2/10/2015

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I have been learning recently that life is all about relationships. That’s the purpose of life, the task of life, and the point on which judgment will be based.

First, life is about my relationship with Christ.

When I say this, I don’t mean that I need to simply believe in Jesus Christ, though it is important. The Bible reports that the demons believe in Jesus Christ (James 2:19). Does that mean that they are saved? No.

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When God Rearranges the Pieces

1/23/2015

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My life has gone nothing like I expected. When I was little, I planned to marry by 21 (the latest!), have lots of kids, become a best-selling author, and possibly become a Christian singer as well.

As yet, none of that has happened, because, you see, what I didn’t plan was to be a clerk at an awesome educational toy store, an administrative assistant at a local office, a client advocate at a pregnancy center, and more. The pieces of my life, so far, have fit into an entirely different pattern than I anticipated.

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5 Ways to Minister to a Friend Who Is Depressed

1/16/2015

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Note: I intend this as a follow-up to "What Do I Do If I'm Depressed? A Christian Perspective."

If you have a friend who struggles with depression, either as a temporary phase or as a recurring problem, here are five ways to be a good friend.

Acknowledge her feelings.

Often, we want our friend to just be happy. When she can't be, it's natural to try to "fix" whatever is wrong with her. But, first, we have to realize we can't fix her. Only God can.

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Living In The Present

12/16/2014

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A story tells how an old woman gave a young man a ball of string. If he pulled the string, she told him, he could fast-forward his life.

At first, he pulled the string just a little, to skip chores he disliked and get to the "good parts" of his life. But as he grew older, he began to skip larger and larger portions of his life, seeking for the next exciting thing.

When he reached the end of his life, he was filled with regret for all the moments that he had skimmed over in his search for something better.

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Offering Imperfect Gifts

12/12/2014

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I am a perfectionist. And, as a perfectionist, I often fall into the trap of believing that what I do or what I give must be perfect--or very close to perfect--before it is of any value.

If I give of my time to someone, I want to be able to give a lot of it; what good is a half-hour?

If I write a book or a story or a blog post or a poem, I want every word to be in place before I share it; what can someone gain from an imperfect thought?

If I write a letter, it must be an "epic tome"; who would be encouraged by a short note?

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discovering joy

A Child's Praise

The God Who Reveals Himself Uniquely

God as a Father

Defining Beauty

Today I Thank God

Stones of Remembrance: Recalling God's Goodness

LIfe is All About Relationships

First, life is about my relationship with Christ.

When God Rearranges the Pieces

5 Ways to Minister to a Friend Who Is Depressed

Acknowledge her feelings.

Living In The Present

Offering Imperfect Gifts

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