From Alpha to Omega, El Shaddai to Prince of Peace, the many names of God highlight His attributes, each lighting up a facet of who He is. As I have studied these names, I have been impressed with how many pairs of them stand in stark contrast to each other! God is the Lord and…
Palm Sunday: The Loving Act
As the time drew near for Him to ascend to Heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem… But the people of the village did not welcome Jesus because He was on His way to Jerusalem. — Luke 9:51, Luke 9:53 NLT Palm Sunday marks the first day of Holy Week, the day we celebrate Jesus’s…
In My Weakness
My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness. — 2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV The Scriptures don’t provide the specifics, but we know that the apostle Paul struggled with what he referred to as a “thorn in [his] flesh” (2 Corinthians 12:7). Whatever the problem was, it was so bothersome…
Be Enough
I sat across the table from my dear friend, tears streaming down my face. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me,” I said, trying to regain my composure. “The kids are healthy. I have an incredible husband. We have a beautiful home. Our business is thriving. I should be grateful, I should be joyful, but…
Sweet Friendship
When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene. — Mark 16:9 Strong, ongoing relationships positively influence our physical, mental, and emotional health. A 2009 New York Times article attested to the importance of friendship, citing a study done at the University of Virginia. Thirty-four students were…
The Fruit of Suffering and Grief
Peter: The Reluctant Sufferer I was talking to a group of about a hundred experienced pastors and church-growth leaders in a training seminar. The topic for the day was how to help people grow spiritually in ways that affect real life. I began by giving them a hypothetical problem to solve. “If you had to…
Dear Graduate
Editor’s Note: It’s almost graduation season 2020 and you’re going to need a gift for the graduates in your life! This year, in particular, we want to celebrate our graduates (ceremony or not) from all levels of schooling… junior high, high school, college, and graduate school. Three titles in eight beautiful covers will give you plenty…
The Rock, the Road, and the Rabbi: Beginning the Journey
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. — Lamentations 3:22-23 ESV Before I (Kathie Lee) began my new job as co-host of the fourth hour of The Today Show in 2008, I felt the Lord tugging at my spirit…
The Best Medicine
A happy heart is like good medicine. — Proverbs 17:22 ICB Whether you giggle, tee-hee, or guffaw, laughter is one language that everybody speaks. You don’t have to learn to laugh either. It’s a skill you’re born with. Babies start to laugh when they’re only about three months old — long before they learn to…
Intend to Honor God in Your Home
Lessons I learned at home have shaped my life. Many of those principles were not taught with words; they were lived out in the context of daily routines. Looking back, I was the beneficiary of choices my parents made for themselves. I suspect none of us understood the full implications of what was unfolding in…