"If you can’t say something nice, you shouldn’t say anything at all.”I bet you all grew up hearing that. The truth is, our words have power—they are tools. We use these tools daily to communicate and to relay thoughts. These tools can be kind, encouraging, and affirming. They can be words of hope that build others up. Those are the words all of us need. Conversely, words can also be harsh, negativ...  Read More

I really struggle with this sometimes. I try to listen attentively when someone is speaking to me, but I often find myself cutting people off mid-sentence because something pops into my head and I don't want to forget my thoughts. But then I remember that if I forget what I was going to say before someone finishes speaking, God must not have thought it was very important anyway, so I shouldn't wor...  Read More

This verse truly speaks to me, because I’ve lived it and seen the effects that the power of the tongue has on our emotions.I grew up around a lot of fighting and hurtful words. My parents fought all the time, and as a kid, I didn’t realize how much that would stay with me. But it did. When I got older and got married, I found myself doing the same thing. My husband and I fought a lot, and our kids...  Read More

“I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing the praises of your name, O Most High.” - Psalm 9:1-2 (NIV) Worship isn’t just what happens on a stage, in a sanctuary, or only on Sundays. It’s what happens when our hearts turn toward God in gratitude — when we remember who He is and all He’s done. Psalm 9...  Read More

The theme for this month’s blog posts is worship. My dictionary says worship is “the feeling or expression of reverence and adoration for a deity.” God shows His love for us every day and in countless ways. Worship is how we show our love for Him in return.  Romans 12:1 says ... In the Old Testament, sacrifices usually involved killing an animal and offering it up to God as atonement for sin, an e...  Read More

Praising God is easy when things are going well. It's easy to say "thank you, Jesus" when we aren't struggling to understand what's going on around us. However, God calls us to offer a continual sacrifice of praise. The ability to praise Him when you don't understand and it really hurts is a testament to faith. I know my God is faithful; He has proven Himself to me over and over again. He promises...  Read More

As women, and even just as people, life can be crazy between work, social events, family, church, and friends. But sometimes we can get so busy that we forget to take a moment and think about the magnitude of God. Even just thinking about it right now, God is so amazing, and he has been so personally wonderful to me, even though I am one of 9 billion people. Sometimes life gets busy. But we always...  Read More

“The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known.” - Psalms 19: 1-2 When I was a kid, I went to church with my grandparents almost every weekend. It was a tiny little Baptist church in the country. I'm pretty sure we were related to every member in some way or another. Even if we weren't, we wer...  Read More

"And Saul’s son Jonathan went to David at Horesh and helped him find strength in God. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “My father Saul will not lay a hand on you. You will be king over Israel, and I will be second to you. Even my father Saul knows this.” The two of them made a covenant before the Lord. Then Jonathan went home, but David remained at Horesh."- 1 Samuel 23: 16-18 “What happened?” David as...  Read More

In a short amount of time, I will be undergoing surgery for a hysterectomy. The doctor will cut into my stomach and remove a part of my anatomy that's not functioning properly. It's been a bittersweet emotional ride, but one I've had to endure with the support of many. So many wonderful women have shared their personal experiences and reassured me that things get better after surgery. People have ...  Read More

When I think about friendships, I consider having Christian friends who help me pursue Jesus to be one of the greatest blessings in my life. Having a close relationship with others who have eternal purpose in mind has had a huge influence on my growth in Christ. Whether these friends are for a season or for the long haul, the spiritual impact we have on one another is invaluable. From learning by ...  Read More

What I'd like to write about is holding each other Accountable. There are two verses I'll focus on, but there's much more in the Word that explores this topic. As I researched these two verses, the Word of God became a living seed in my heart. What I mean by that is that as you read the Word, it gets planted in your heart. However, without cultivation, it can't grow; it just sits. But with cultiv...  Read More