The title “Prince of Peace” suggests a hope and expectation, reflecting the promise of a leader who would bring true and lasting peace. This peace is not just the absence of conflict, but a deep, spiritual wholeness and reconciliation between God and humanity. The Hebrews believed that the Messiah (the Prince of Peace) would come; that He would be able to ease their suffering and help them with a...  Read More

Isaiah says that God is the Everlasting Father (Isaiah 9:6). What does that really mean? According to the Oxford dictionary, “everlasting” means lasting forever or a very long time. Not to be confused with the Energizer Bunny that can go on and on and on. Eventually, the bunny’s power will be used up. Not so with God. In Revelation 1:8, God says, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, who is, who was and...  Read More

As we enter the season of Advent, our focus and attention centers in on the birth of Jesus Christ and the gift that God the Father has given to us through Him. I don’t know about any of you, but having children has completely changed the lens through which I view the birth of Christ. I gave birth to a baby girl in December and brought her home shortly before Christmas in 2019. I remember lovingly...  Read More

I don’t listen to classical music often, but during the holidays I always listen to Handel’s Messiah. I love how he uses text from the Old Testament to foretell the life of Jesus. There are certain Bible verses that trigger the music in my mind every time I read them. One of these is Isaiah 9:6: Note that the verse begins, “For unto US a child is born, unto US a son is given.” Jesus wasn’t just bo...  Read More

The name "Immanuel" is a powerful reminder that God is with us. Matthew 1:23 quotes Isaiah 7:14, a messianic prophecy from God to the wicked King Ahaz of Judah, assuring him that God was present, even in the face of overwhelming odds. Centuries later, that same promise was fulfilled in the birth of Jesus. God didn’t stay distant or removed. He entered our world as a baby, fully human, living among...  Read More

When most people think of grief and loss, the first thing that comes to mind is death—the passing of someone dear. Sometimes it’s the loss of a relationship when someone makes destructive choices and separates themselves from you. In most minds, grief is tied to people. But grief and loss take many forms. For example, today I had a full appointment booked—hair color, cut, style, the works. At the...  Read More

We have all experienced some type of grief in our lives. I know that I have lost a lot of people in my life. The year 2017 was the “beginning of the end” for me. I found myself very unexpectedly pregnant the day after my oldest daughter’s 18th birthday. It took weeks to wrap my head around the idea of having a baby. When I got to my first appointment, I just knew something was wrong. The ultrasoun...  Read More

Do you know what chronic illness is? I do, along with many other women in our church. It means waking up each morning never knowing what your body is going to feel like. It is medicine and doctor's appointments and pain and fatigue and so many other things. I have dealt with this for over 20 years. But the thing about chronic illness is, most of the time, you would never know just by looking at me...  Read More

Any loss that is not expected can elicit a grief response. This is my journey through loss, infidelity, and divorce. In the spring of 1978, my mother was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. The surgery to remove the tumor appeared to be successful, but the tumor returned, and she was given six months to live. The night we received the news, I remember spending it sitting on the floor of my family room ...  Read More

What is the important takeaway that Paul wants us to realize in this verse?This verse encourages believers to speak with kindness and wisdom, making our words effective and impactful. God wants us to carry on conversations that reflect His grace in our hearts. Our words are more powerful than we often realize. Contemplate your daily interactions with coworkers or friends. How do our humble and gra...  Read More

At some point in your life, you’ve probably heard Ephesians 4:29 quoted as “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths.” Unfortunately, this is only half the verse, and it’s typically used out of context in response to people who use “bad words.” The problem with this interpretation and use of this part of scripture is that it leaves out the second half (and arguably the more importan...  Read More

"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