Dear Barbara: How do I still respect my husband when I feel like his lack of faith negatively affected the plans God has for our family? Don’t get me wrong; my husband is a strong believer. And there’s not a big sin issue. I just feel like he isn’t believing and relying on God in several areas where …

Dear Barbara: How Can I Respond to a Husband Who Isn’t Trusting God as He Should? Read More »

Of our two sons, one was more athletic, while the other was more scholastically inclined. The younger son’s first word was, “ball.” The older one started reading before age five. They could not be more different. Instead of playing basketball for hours on the court Dennis built for the boys (because that’s what he did …

Parenting Children With Visible and Invisible Limitations Read More »

At the end of a very full day teaching a huge crowd of people by the Sea of Galilee, Jesus said to His disciples, “Let us go across to the other side” (Mark 4:35). It was evening … I can imagine the setting sun creating an ever-evolving landscape painting in the sky as wave lengths …

Disappointment Is Universal: Even the 12 Disciples Were Disappointed in Jesus Read More »

Six weeks before the big day, my daughter Laura began searching for the perfect invitations. After making her choice and addressing the envelopes, the invitations were on their way to friends and family, scheduled to arrive the requisite one month ahead. Then she began planning the details: searching for and finding the just-right plates and …

Disappointments Come In All Sizes Read More »

Only one week after my 13th birthday I experienced my first big disappointment with God. As the oldest child and only girl in our family of three kids, I was first shocked and then thrilled when my parents revealed my mother’s pregnancy. I had always wanted a sister and this was my chance, so I …

Do You Need Hope? Have You Been Disappointed With God? Read More »

Stop for a minute. Yes, Christmas Day is now over, but don’t hurry to box up the ornaments and purge the regalia from your home!  Recently on December 26 a national morning show featured an “expert” happily talking about packing away decorations and properly disposing of your Christmas tree. “It’s time to move on” was the …

Savor the Savior This Week Read More »

“In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.” John 1:1-2 When you speak, what happens to your words after they leave your lips? It’s easy to think they vanish as soon as they are spoken, right? Words can’t be …

Jesus Is the Word Read More »

And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him,  and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him;  and behold, a voice from heaven said,  “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:16-17 Joseph and …

Jesus Is the Son of God Read More »

“… the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, He is coming,” says the Lord of hosts. Malachi 3:1 Have you ever wished to walk along a beach and discover a message written long ago and placed in a bottle on the ocean? Or would you like to have been the boys throwing …

Jesus Is the Messenger Read More »

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the World.” John 8:12 Have you ever been afraid of the dark? I remember taking a tour of an underground cave. It was fascinating and beautiful with spaces two and three stories high. But when the tour guide shut off the light for about …

Jesus Is the Light of the World Read More »

In the beginning God created and He named. He named the darkness “night” and the light “day” (Genesis 1:1-5). He called the dry land “Earth,” the waters “Seas” and the sky above “Heaven” (Genesis 1:6-9). He created the sun, the moon, and the stars, giving each one its name. Children learn at a very young age …

Use the Names of Jesus to Worship Christ this Christmas Season Read More »

As we approach Christmas, I’m wondering today if you are feeling lonely or troubled or disappointed. The week after Halloween this year I was in a retail store which was playing a Christmas song … too soon already … about the holidays being the best time of the year. It wasn’t a familiar tune so …

Hope for All Who Are Unhappy This Christmas Read More »