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In 1982, Amy Grant made the song “El Shaddai” famous. Though written by Michael Card and John Thompson for Card’s 1981 debut album, the God-honoring song is more closely associated with Grant. As she sang, “Age to age you’re still the same, by the...

I attend a megachurch. Lots of people. But that doesn’t mean everyone feels like they belong. Many times in the past, I wondered how to reach out to those who seem so friendless in our midst. Because I don’t want to presume people struggle with...

I have to admit something to my shame. I never read the book of Isaiah until 2017. Oh, I read and even memorized a few verses, but I was afraid to tackle the book, thinking it would be too difficult. I almost missed this treasure in God’s Word! It...

All marriages struggle in a fallen world. Few couples are realistic when they walk the aisle and repeat nuptial vows. Sooner or later—no matter how much we love our spouse—we’ll likely have the thought (or something similar), “My marriage is a...

Modern marriage is under assault in the culture and for good reason. The symbolism of marriage is often ignored or misunderstood in secular society, but it is foundational to understand how God purposed and designed this special relationship. ...

In-law “horror” stories abound. I’ll be honest; I used to laugh at in-law jokes. But not anymore. I believe God can use in-law relationships to bless and encourage us, and also to rub off rough edges in our personalities....

Regrets hurt, but we can learn from them. It’s not uncommon for adults to have regrets about their teen years. They might say, “I wish I knew then what I know now.” We might think of regrets as only negative, but our remorse is also good because...

There are many reasons we might want to simplify our lives. We might simplify for better health and less stress. Or simplify for freedom. Or for opportunities. One of my favorite reasons for simplifying my life is that I might live to the good...

Years ago, I watched the movie, The Money Pit. The main characters made a foolish purchase of a house that fell apart, piece-by-piece. Soon their relationship started crumbling too. I remember thinking, “I want to be wise with money—it can a...

The controversy about whether people should share “the unspoken” can get heated. Some think it’s totally unbiblical. They’re right in one sense; there are no biblical illustrations. But it’s not forbidden! Only God knows the heart and capabilities...

The first time I read through the book of Leviticus, my constant thought was, “Say, What?” I understand why some authors and actors mock this Old Testament book. It’s often labeled boring, harsh, and legalistic. It can seem so strange and out of...

A good question to ask is: Will this draw me closer to God in some way and bring Him glory?

Once again, I stumbled and fell. A few inches from the ground, I knew it was going to hurt. A fall is never fun, but I’m learning how to “catch” myself before much damage is done, or else recover after a painful fall. I recently wrote an article...

The first time I heard about becoming a Christian, I was at my grandmother’s side. “Just ask Jesus into your heart, sweetie,” she said, “and you won’t go to hell.” What girl in her right mind would reject that invitation? I said all the right...

Once we’ve been deeply touched by God’s mercy and felt that sense of relief, it should motivate us to proclaim the gospel of mercy and grace to everyone.

Downsizing is often described as moving out of a larger home and trading it for a smaller space. But for seniors, it’s so much more.Last year, my husband and I helped his elderly parents move to another location, and it was an eye-opener for me....

Frustration over not knowing God’s will causes many Christians to lose sleep! Certainly, some things are clear in the Bible. We know that it is God’s will for us to be conformed to the image of His Son. We know we are to put off the old self and...

During a quarantine, we have more time to focus on people we love, even if we can’t be with them. Mother’s Day is a wonderful opportunity to focus on Mom and to honor her. God told His people twice in the Old Testament and six times in the New...

According to a 2015 study by the National Alliance for Caregiving and the AARP Public Policy Institute, about 34.2 million Americans provided unpaid care to an adult age 50 or older in 2014. The estimated prevalence of caring for an adult is 16.6...

Graduations normally stir up lots of emotions for graduates and their families—pride for the graduate’s accomplishments, celebration and joy, sweet memories, and longings to recapture the past, hopes for the graduate’s future, and maybe even a few...