Happiness and the Higher Power Agent An aspect of agency that influences happiness is whether you believe in a force that acts in the world and causes events to happen — that is, God. When something positive happens to you, you attribute that to a higher power. When something negative happens to you, you interpret…
Remembering Billy Graham
Billy Graham 1918–2018 I am convinced the greatest act of love we can ever perform for people is to tell them about God’s love for them in Christ. ~ Billy Graham It was September 14, 2001 — three days after the September 11 attacks robbed nearly three thousand people of their lives. A service of…
Praying for Physical Health, Safety, and Security for Your Children
Praying for Physical Health, Safety, and Security for Your Children “Lord, Why Did This Happen?” I know I’m not the only mother who has ever questioned God’s tactics. Even my “spiritual giant” friend, Susan, found herself wondering what was up when her son Michael started suffering from violent stomach pains. Their pediatrician had dismissed…
The Grace of Your Story
I have been incredibly privileged. I grew up a pastor’s kid at a huge church in Houston, Texas. I was raised in a Christian home by two incredibly loving parents who worked very hard to provide everything we could possibly need. I have two beautiful sisters and a big brother whom I adore. We weren’t…
The Purpose of Prayer
The function of prayer is . . . to change the nature of the one who prays. — Søren Kierkegaard Scripture shows us many types of interactions with God. We see Jacob wrestling with God for hours, and Job overcome with doubt and bitterness in His presence. We see Moses’ fearful excuses and Jonah’s stubborn resistance. Then…
Black History Month: Rosa Parks’ Strength — Pray A Lot
I have problems just like everyone else. Whenever I do, I think about my grandmother and my mother. They were such strong women, who always taught me to place my faith in God and to read the Bible. I remember when I got married, I stopped reading the Bible. When my mother found out that…
Are You Painting Your Masterpiece with My Pain?
Honest Prayers for The Darkest Times Dear God, I was making a list of things I know for sure, but when I went to write “God loves me,” I couldn’t — it felt like a lie. I believe You love me, but I don’t know it. I think You do. Your book says You…
Yielding to God in Prayer
God invites us to pray in such a way that it scares what is scared within us. If you are not praying the type of prayers that scare you, they are certainly not frightening the enemy. — Lisa Bevere, author and teacher Are you praying big? Are you asking God for the impossible? Sometimes…
All Things New: The Hope of Renewal
Picture a treasure chest. Not a small box that might hold jewelry on a girl’s nightstand — a large treasure chest, larger than any suitcase you own, larger than any suitcase you’ve ever seen. Picture a massive oak treasure chest, like pirates might have used, with large iron hinges and a huge clasp. The size…
The Long Walk Between Offered and Answered Prayer
You are walking, not on the path between Georgia and Maine. No, you are walking on a road even steeper and longer — the path between offered prayer and answered prayer. Between supplication and celebration bent knees and lifted hands tears of fear and tears of joy “Help me, Lord” and “Thank You, Lord” Do…