Our “what-ifs” don’t change the Lord’s love, steadfastness and truth. Fear is an interesting thing, isn’t it? Fear can be real or imaginary. While there are real fears, I’m certain that so much of what we fear is in our heads…anticipated. And those “what-ifs” can linger in our minds… What-if this issue isn’t resolved and I need to have a hard conversation? What-if my health concern is real? What-if the person I want to address a concern with doesn’t receive it well? There are just so many “what-ifs.” Yet I read somewhere that most of our perceived fears don’t come true and that so much ti ..read more

Take hold of God’s Word and be courageous. In his first inaugural speech in 1933, Franklin D. Roosevelt, the newly elected president of the United States, addressed a nation that was still reeling from the Great Depression. Hoping to ignite a more optimistic outlook regarding that economic crisis, he declared, "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself!" Note: The phrase “Fear not” or “Be not afraid” is found 365 times in the Bible, one for each day of the year. Fear often shows up in our lives when we are at risk of losing something. It reveals our natural desire to protect the things in ..read more

We serve a God who is bigger than our fears. In a world where fear seems to lurk around every corner, it's easy to feel overwhelmed and paralyzed by our worries. From the fear of failure to the fear of the unknown, these emotions can hold us back from living our lives to the fullest. Today’s society is filled with voices shouting for our attention, and the voice of fear often drowns out the whispers of encouragement and perseverance. But amidst the chaos, there's a beacon of hope shining brightly in Isaiah 41:13, reminding us that we don't have to face our fears alone. God's promise in Isai ..read more

Whatever grips your heart, give it to God! “For I hold you by your right hand – I, the Lord your God. And I say to you, ‘Don’t be afraid. I am here to help you.’” (Isaiah 41:13)   As we kick off our May promise, take a moment to reflect on the character and nature of God. He loves you and hears you and has promised to deliver you from your fears. Even though our fears may differ, feeling gripped by fear at times is something we all can relate to.   As you focus on this promise this month, here are several additional Scriptures related to overcoming fear for you ..read more

Beautiful fruit grows from seeds of prayer. I love gardening. There’s just something about digging in the dirt, sowing seeds, pruning and tending that brings me so much peace. We built a house a few years ago, and our yard was nothing but mud. We’ve been creating the yard of my dreams, one tree at a time ever since. It has been a long process and will continue to be a process that will likely never be done. But now I have flower beds, a small veggie garden and an even smaller herb garden. It is one of the simple joys in my life to wander my yard in the early mornings with my cup of coffee, w ..read more

Jesus sees our weariness and will give us rest.   There have been many things that have brought weariness into my life. The two most memorable times are when my mother passed away when I was 11 years old and when my youngest son, Dillon, was diagnosed with cancer at 20 months of age. Such heaviness for a young girl and then a young mom of three boys. There were times as a child when I felt that I was not going to make it in life without my mother. I had given my heart to Jesus as a child, but the lack of having a mother seemed too much to bear. I grew into an angry teen, and the burdens ..read more

God was there despite what felt like insurmountable obstacles. I’d like to introduce myself. I am a grateful believer in Christ who struggles with depression, anxiety and anger, and I have been redeemed from the strongholds of my alcohol addiction for almost 10 years. Sitting here reflecting on what my life looks like today… I have relationships with all of my children; my wife and I have an awesome marriage and will be married for 24 years on June 3; and (despite some hard-fought battles with depression, anxiety agoraphobia and severe panic attacks brought to the surface from some acute hea ..read more

Let’s be persistent in our prayers. Don’t give up! Have you ever shopped online? Who am I kidding, I’m sure you have. We live in the digital age where we can access almost anything with the click of a button. Once we find what we’re looking for, we're one click away from instantly receiving an email confirmation of our purchase – "your package is on its way!” We are filled with anticipation for its arrival and even happier when it’s a “two-day” delivery, right? I mean, we can even track each step of the package's location, and access details of its journey and arrival time! We live in an in ..read more

Jesus gave His life so we could live life to the fullest. Some of my fondest memories growing up involve time spent with my grandparents. Sunday dinners, playing at their house and sleepovers. My grandmother was just the sweetest woman, and my grandfather, a local barber, knew pretty much everyone in the small town where we lived. My grandfather, or “Pop” to my cousins and me, was kind and funny and always had little lectures about life for us kids – from how fast we ate (“slow down and chew your food 21 times”), to driving tips (“keep several car lengths between you and the car ahead of you ..read more

Jesus calls us to “Come” to Him. “Then Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.’” (Matthew 11:28-29)   Jesus says, “Come to me,” and He specifically speaks to those who are weary and carry heavy burdens. Is that you? Are you carrying a weight of your circumstances and sin? Jesus calls us to “Come” to Him. He came to provide the greatest relief from our circumstances, which is salvation and forgiveness of sin t ..read more