-
·
Shoes ain’t Right, Hair ain’t Tight, Teeth ain’t White
My friend, Erica, has been spending a lot of time with a guy that, for anonymity’s sake, we’ll call Jason. They’ve been getting together casually after work, and if it were up to Jason, he’d spend every day with her. Erica, on the other hand, thinks he’s a very nice guy, but finds Jason almost…
-
·
Closed Mouths Don’t Get Fed-What about Closed Hearts?
On hot summer days in the south, there was no way that my grandmother would allow us grandkids to stay inside. With visiting cousins from up north, sometimes there would be seven or eight of us around, doing what children do—driving grown folks crazy. We were banished to the yard, and we had better not…
-
·
Thank You for Hearing Our Prayers
Dear Heavenly Father, This week, I noticed a change in one of my good friend’s mood. Usually, he’s in a good mood, joking and laughing with me, having good conversation. It was different this week, and I mentioned to him that I had noticed a change. I asked if I had inadvertently said or did…
-
·
Sweet Friendships Refresh the Soul
Proverbs 27:9-10(NLT)9 The heartfelt counsel of a friend is as sweet as perfume and incense. 10 Never abandon a friend—either yours or your father’s. When disaster strikes, you won’t have to ask your brother for assistance. It’s better to go to a neighbor than to a brother who lives far away. August is the month…
-
·
Thank You for Forgiving Us
Dear Heavenly Father, There is so much to learn about being a Christian. As I grew to understand more about what You require of us, I must admit that at first, I was very confused. I heard a lot about the forgiveness that You offer, and it seemed to be a perpetual theme. In 1John…
-
·
Building Love and Keeping It Strong
One of the most sound pieces of advice that I can give to single women is to be as discreet and private as possible when it comes to your personal life; especially at the very beginning of a new relationship. I’ve counseled many women in this area, many of them have lived to regret being…
-
·
Combating the Blahs
The body of Christ is so incredibly blessed to have men that are tremendously gifted and eager to serve God’s people in leadership roles. They nurture us in God’s Word and help us to grow in Christ, but sometimes women of God need to connect the dots spiritually AND emotionally. When there’s a disconnect, and…
-
·
You Have Shown Us the Right Path
Dear Heavenly Father, You gave us an astounding piece of instruction and wisdom in Proverbs 3:5(NLT). This verse tells us, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.” Many of us are familiar with this verse, yet we still depend on our own understanding. As soon as we hit…
-
·
Don’t Long for the Good Ol’ Days
“Those were the good ol’ days.” It’s a saying we’ve all heard at one time or another, and most of us agree that times of the past seemed to be a little sweeter—maybe a lot sweeter. We’re of the mindset that what we use to do and have is better than where we are today,…
-
·
Preparing to Surrender
Those of us who hunger and thirst for God want to experience more of Him through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We need to understand that Jesus is in charge of leading us into the closeness we desire with Heavenly Father. In John 14:6(NLT), he said, “I am the way, the truth, and the…
-
·
Red Flags and Flashing Lights
Sometimes, it isn’t enough to tell a person not to do something, but they have to know why they shouldn’t do it. The same premise applies to the do’s and don’ts of partnering. It isn’t enough to tell you NOT to do something that will adversely impact your quest to get married. In order to…
-
·
Living Life on God’s Terms
Ephesians 5:1-2(NLT), “Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. 2 Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.” There’s 24-hours in a day, seven days in a week, and 365…
-
·
Jesus Christ Has Given Me the Keys
Dear Heavenly Father, I was asked today if I was ready to get married. I found it to be an interesting question because I find myself thinking more about my future these days, particularly as I get closer to finishing Nursing School. Things like where I may want to apply for a job, the environment…
-
·
How to Overcome Being Stuck
There’s very little that is more debilitating than being stuck in a bad situation, and feeling as though you can’t do anything about it. My experience is that many people are feeling this way, but they’re hiding it. There was a time when I would be surprised by those who put on a public face…
-
·
Don’t Make a Temporary Situation a Permanent One
Two women hear about an upscale store having a fantastic going-out-of-business sale for one day only. Both women, perfect strangers, get lost and end up at the same gas station. They strike up small-talk at the pump and voice their frustration at not being able to find the store, even with their devices. A disheveled…
-
·
Let’s Wait Until We Get Married
Dear Heavenly Father, This week I came across a video about two young married couples that abstained from sex until they were married. It immediately caught my attention because they were very young, in their early twenties. In our generation, it is very rare for a young couple to decide to wait until they get…
-
·
I Want to Have a Marriage – Not Just BE Married
Recently, a wonderful young woman stated to me very emphatically that she is tired of being single, but she followed this statement by also affirming her conviction to wait on the Lord. She said she doesn’t want to just be married for the sake of saying she’s married. She wants to have a real marriage.…
-
·
Soldiers Are Always Prepared for the Fight
You can be the sweetest Christian ever, you’re still going to have enemies. People will not like you just because, and that’s the truth of it. Sometimes they’re the people you’d least expect. I read a story the other day about a Christian couple who have recently gotten engaged. They are happily planning their wedding…
-
·
Better Acquainted with the Holy Spirit
The Apostle Paul said in Galatians 2:20(NLT), “My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Explaining the unparalleled beauty of this…
-
·
Dust It off and Keep It Moving
John 3:20-21(NLT) “All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.” I had a conversation with my nephew a couple of weeks…
-
·
Thank You for Spiritual Gifts
Dear Heavenly Father, This week I had the opportunity to speak Your Word to a friend of mine. Many Christians don’t do nearly enough to share the good news of Jesus Christ, but I’m so thankful that I had this chance. It’s always a great feeling to be able to pour into someone’s life. We…
-
·
New Opportunities and Connections, Don’t Let’tem Slip by
Something pretty wonderful is happening, and although many people are not talking about it yet, they will. A spiritual shift has occurred. In Acts 2:17(NLT), God told us through the Apostle Paul, “In the last days,’ God says, ‘I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young…
-
·
Freeze! You’ve Been Tagged!
When I was a little girl, we played this game called ‘freeze.’ The person who was “IT” had a big job, because there were lots of kids in my neighborhood, and we had a big yard; plenty of space to run, play, and hide. The designated “IT” would have to chase the other kids to…
-
·
Resist the Craving
Galatians 5:16(NLT) “So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.” A craving is defined as an intense desire for something. Some people have a strong craving for a particular food. With all the hormonal changes, this is especially true for pregnant women. The…
-
·
Thank You for the Holy Spirit
In John 16:13(NLT), Your Word tells us, “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future.” I know many Christians, Dear Father, that do not know the power and…
-
·
Leftovers from the Ex-husband
With God, problems, no matter how small or great, can morph into opportunities for growth and blessings. He tells us this in Romans 8:28(NLT), where He says “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” When…
-
·
List, Lust, and Lost Potential
This week, I met up with a fellow sister-in-Christ to talk about some ideas on coordinating a weekend getaway for singles. While having lunch, she mentioned she’d just recently met someone. She met him at a car dealership when she went for her routine maintenance. He’s a mechanic there, and they struck up a conversation while…
-
·
Centered on Christ
Relationships between men and women can feel conditional at times. You may feel that if you don’t do something to his or her liking, their level of love and affection for you might decrease. Most of us realize that relationships involve give and take. The optimum balance would be 100% from both partners, but if…
-
·
Empowered by God!
A young woman said to me that she’s very confused by all that is going on, particularly in this country. She believes that people have fallen away from God and His Word to such a degree, that the human race will not get any better. “How can we bounce back from this?” she asked. I’ve…
-
·
Married and Unfulfilled
Stephanie was nineteen years old when she married her husband. Surprisingly, she doesn’t have the most positive attitude about it. In fact, she often says that it wasn’t the wisest move to make. She said that if she had to do it all over again, she doesn’t think she would ever have gotten married. Preparing…