I met Cindy when she was the producer’s assistant on one of my early records (yes, records… it was a while ago!). The minute I met her, I knew we’d be friends for life. She made me laugh like few others ever have. I loved her goofy sense of humor. As our friendship deepened over…
Life Is Short: Enjoy It!
How do we enjoy life? Each Day Totally We do not know how long we have to live, so we should live every day with gusto. Oh, how sweet the light of day, And how wonderful to live in the sunshine! Even if you live a long time, don’t take a single day for granted. Take delight…
God Is With Us in the Hard Times
We all go through times when life seems to overwhelm us. The Bible reassures us that God’s presence is with us to help us, even when we don’t realize it. The Book of Psalms is full of reminders that God is a shelter from life’s storms, a refuge and strength, an ever-present help in…
Who’s Sitting at Your Table This Christmas?
I’ve always loved the Advent season. There is something uniquely special about preparing my heart and mind to celebrate the joy of Jesus’ birth and all that His life represents. This season can be exciting. It can even be enchanting. But one thing I’ve found over the years is that for most, myself included,…
Between the Advents
Prepare for God’s arrival! Make the road straight and smooth, a highway fit for our God. Fill in the valleys, level off the hills, smooth out the ruts, clear out the rocks. Then God’s bright glory will shine and everyone will see it. Yes. Just as God has said. — Isaiah 40:3-5 MSG We often…
The Spirit Prays for Us
One lesson we learn from seasons of pain, darkness, and doubt is that when we’re hurting, a person’s presence with us is far more significant than any words he or she might say. Just having someone sit silently next to us when life is hard communicates genuine love and concern. Besides, when we’re hurting, we…
What Is Advent?
The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. — John 1:9 There are certain signals that reveal Christmas is on its way. Coffee shops add peppermint mochas to their seasonal menus. We start making lists of gifts to buy, and retailers set up elaborate displays to entice us to buy…
Finding Hope in the Valley of the Shadow of Death
A well-known writer once wrote, “The essential thing ‘in Heaven and in earth’ is… that there should be long obedience in the same direction; there thereby results, and has always resulted in the long run, something which has made life worth living.” Ask any marathon runner — it’s that seemingly endless run, that tiring stretch in the…
God’s Blessings Just For You: Praying Scripture
The Written Word of God God’s Word truly is life-giving, guiding us through the years on this earth and preparing us for eternity. Its divine message is timeless, relevant through the generations and across cultures. Its ancient wisdom speaks even to contemporary readers. The Bible fuels our growth as believers. Its four biographies of…
The Abundant Life Will Not Be Free of Trials
Life with Christ will not be pain-free. This is a prominent theme throughout Scripture. First, let’s just acknowledge how abnormal it is to embrace such a life. When traveling from point A to point B, we enter the destination into our navigation system, expecting it will provide us with the shortest route. The one with…