On coming to the house, they saw the Child with His mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. — Matthew 2:11 NIV I’ve spent this morning wrapping presents. The sofa was blanketed in items awaiting my attention, and…
Be Kind to Yourself
And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. – 1 John 4:16 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it…
Praying for Your Teen Rebel
“My wayward children,” says the Lord, “come back to me, and I will heal your wayward hearts.” — Jeremiah 3:22 NLT “Don’t talk to your kids about God as much as you talk to God about your kids.” I forget where I first heard that line, but it’s one of my favorite pieces of…
Letting Go: Love Has Teeth
If you live with a prodigal, you know what it means to love someone. Love is a means of survival. Love is what gets you up each morning and inspires you to serve someone who acts like they hate you. Loving this way means duty, sacrifice, responsibility, and resilience. Many years back, an R&B icon…
The Cure for Stuckititis: Model Forgiveness Like Jesus
Having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. – John 13:1 Chances are you know the claustrophobia that comes with commitment. Pets are only the beginning. Instead of being reminded, “She is your dog,” you’re eventually told, “He is your husband.” Or “She is your wife.” Or “He is your child, parent, employee, boss,…
Love Accepts All Things
Love . . . bears all things, believes all things. 1 Corinthians 13:4–7 (NKJV) Wouldn’t it be nice if love were like a cafeteria line? What if you could look at the person with whom you live and select what you want and pass on what you don’t? What if parents could do this with kids? “I’ll take…