First go and be reconciled with your brother; then come and offer your gift. — Matthew 5:24 At a church potluck awhile ago, older parishioners were asked to share childhood memories to help us younger parents strengthen our families. An elderly Greek lady, Helen, told us that every Saturday evening her family had prayed special…
The Fruit of the Spirit: Peace
Overcoming Anxiety and Conflict Moving from volcano and earthquake country to tornado country required my (Wayde) family to adjust our thinking. In Seattle we frequently heard predictions of what would happen if Mount Rainier erupted, and the frightening memory of the eruption of Mount Saint Helens is very much alive throughout the Pacific Northwest. We…
When Little Children Get in the Way
Say Hello to My Little Friend If anyone causes one of these little ones — those who believe in Me — to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. — Matthew 18:6 Every older generation thinks the younger ones have it easier.…
Your Words Matter
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. — Genesis 1:1-3 ESV If…
Doin’ the Stuff
When I first met John Wimber, I was nineteen. I had been a believer for about five years, but I had virtually no understanding of the concept that I could be actually be involved in Kingdom ministry. Ephesians 4:11-2 had somehow slipped right past me. My concept of Christian living was to be good person,…
How to Overcome Temptation
Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. — Matthew 4:1 After His baptism but before He began His public ministry, Jesus was led into the desert to undergo an attack by Satan. It was a profound testing of Christ’s human nature and a profound blasphemy against…
God Has a New Name for You in the New Year
I’ve been a Christian a long time. I remember praying the sinners prayer many times in hopes that God would extend ongoing grace and forgiveness to me and accept me as His daughter. After some time, I learned I didn’t have to pray this prayer over and over again, and I discovered that God adopted…
God Is Our Provider
Through wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches. — Proverbs 24:3-4 In the Scriptures, wisdom is portrayed as valuable as precious treasure and riches. We all know of foolish people who lost a great deal of wealth due to…
In God’s Image
God created human beings in His image. In the image of God He created them. He created them male and female. — Genesis 1:27 NCV Some of us spend an enormous amount of time and effort attempting to prove our self-worth. A constant need to be validated impacts our work, home life, finances, fitness, and every aspect of day-to-day living. When…
Middles and Endings
As a young girl, I was a Nancy Drew super-fan. I read and re-read all 56 volumes in the series, most of them in two days flat. Even today, I get a little excited when I see them on a bookshelf. This past summer, my family and I stayed at an old inn on…