Last weekend, I attended a celebration of life for a woman I knew through my Christian network. I didn’t know her well, but over the years she and I crossed paths at various fellowships and enjoyed conversing over our mutual passions for animals and healing (through Christ). She was around the age of my mentor, and it got me thinking about the value of being a good shepherd (1 Peter 5: 2-3). My Christian mentor was also a mentor and friend to the lady who passed away. She has been a spiritual mother to me for just about a decade. I credit her guidance with much of my spiritual development. She ..read more

Following Jesus makes you special, plain and simple. You have His favor, which brings courage, power, and authority. It’s no small thing. I don’t think all Christians realize how much power they carry through Christ. That being said, when the Lord leads us out of darkness (first through salvation, then by taking up our cross and pursuing a personal relationship with Him), everything we accomplish is through His power. Yes, we are given free will and are expected to use it, but it is Christ who is the source of our aptitude. He partners with us. When we fail to give the Lord credit where credit ..read more

Matthew 7:15-20 – Whoa. Now that’s a warning. My husband and I attended a megachurch out west last weekend during our visit with family. I enjoy checking out churches when we travel, curious to witness how others worship. I knew about this ministry but never followed it. I had seen it on television programs but was never drawn in. Truth be told, I wasn’t sure why I wanted to go, but I think we were prompted by the Holy Spirit. My husband and I are both discerners (through feelings/emotions). For more understanding of the gifts, I encourage you to review Corinthians and Romans. I understand tha ..read more

This weekend, I had the honor of witnessing several baptisms. They were held in the serene backyard (pool) of a couple who lives close to my mentor’s prophetic church. Water baptism usually comes after the formal baptism that someone receives when they accept Christ as their Lord and Savior (Matt 3:16-17). Baptism in salvation is their ticket to Heaven, but a water baptism represents more. It’s a washing away of old sins (past wrongs and baggage) and an emergence into the fullness of Christ (all that he died to give us). It’s a public declaration of our commitment to walk in Christ-like fashio ..read more

I enjoy following the teaching of Andrew Wommack (Bible teacher/ministry out of CO) who recently aired a series of programs on reasons why he believes that it’s actually better to have the presence of the Holy Spirit helping us day-to-day than having Jesus (physically) here on earth. One of the reasons was obvious—because Jesus’ death enabled the Holy Spirt to come live in all of us, equipping us with his supernatural gifts. One of those gifts is the power of healing in Luke 6:19–by faith, by His authority, by speaking the word, and laying on hands. Many people in the Bible received this heali ..read more

The reason I write about money is not so we can all amass it, but to encourage you to appreciate the value of blessing others with what the Lord has given you. An added benefit of this is usually more material blessings, but being consumed with them is not central to your with Jesus. I realize that “giving” means more than sharing our money. We can give of our time, services, things, encouragement, and so on. Those things count for a lot, too. I write about money because it’s a sensitive subject for most. It’s easy to give away an old piece of furniture you no longer use, but can you open your ..read more

How many times have you heard that still small voice whisper softly in your ear, then ignore it and regret it later? It happens to all of us. If you’re in relationship with Christ, most times this still small voice is the Holy Spirit trying to get your attention about something. The Holy Spirit speaks to us often if we tune in and pay attention. We can hear anything from warnings about which way to drive home from work, whether to attend that party or stay home, take the new job, or accept the marriage proposal. We can also hear sage advice, like when to keep our mouths shut (I get this one wi ..read more

We know that God created all animals. They are part of His creation, and they are good. In Genesis 1:26, He gives man dominion over animals. By dominion, God gives us the authority to use animals for our purposes. In Biblical times, those primary purposes were for work, security, and consumption. Nowadays, animals serve additional roles. They love us! As comfort companions, they bring so much joy and peace into our lives. During COVID, pet ownership skyrocketed. Cute kitties, puppies, and the like provided emotional support during a time of heightened stress and uncertainty. Animals also provi ..read more

The Lord keeps laying this on my heart, so I hope this post comes across informatively and without judgment. My goal is to encourage you to see your glass from a different (biblical) perspective. Some denominations prohibit drinking alcohol, but the Bible doesn’t forbid it per se. What the scriptures say, as in anything in else, is that we should use moderation. Drunkenness is sin. While I don’t think the Lord minds an occasional state of drunkenness (maybe too much egg nog at the holiday work party), losing our faculties on a regular basis isn’t a good thing. While I don’t agree with some den ..read more

Out of all two thousand and some times that the word “giving’ is mentioned in the Bible, THIS is my favorite passage. What a powerful statement–a call to action. The Lord is saying, “test me.” He’s telling us that if we tithe (give ten percent of our income back to Him….to the church, feed the poor, etc), we will be blessed. So much blessing that it will blow our minds. Want a wealth-building tip for 2022? It’s right here in the book of Malachi. There are storehouses of good fortune up in Heaven waiting to be opened and poured out when you give with these biblical requisites: *Good Cheer (Prov ..read more