Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. --Hebrews 12:1-2 It is 3:30 a.m., and it seems that sleep … Continue reading Where’s Your Focus? →

My son, be attentive to my wisdom; incline your ear to my understanding... (Proverbs 5:1) My dear son/daughter, I hope at the writing of this letter that you are well. As you know, you are in my thoughts daily, and I want to continue to impart some pearls of wisdom so that you may live … Continue reading Legacy Letters #3 →

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all of your ways, acknowledge him, and he will direct your paths. (Proverbs 3:5-6). My dearest son/daughter, I will not always be around to listen and help you through life, but I do ask that you not forget what … Continue reading Legacy Letter #2 →

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction. (Proverbs 1:7) The world is a different place than what some of us remember. We lived in neighborhoods and not subdivisions. We had porches on the front of the house and not on the back. The purpose of the porch … Continue reading Legacy Letter #1 →

So God created human beings in his own image.    In the image of God he created them;    male and female he created them. Genesis 1:27. There has always been a discussion about how people have been created in God’s image and likeness. The terms image and likeness have been used interchangeably, leading some to believe that they are … Continue reading Are You a Reflection of the Image and Likeness of God? →

What does your space say about your soul, [insert your name]?--Crystal Evans Hurst Do you ever get so busy that simple routines in life go unchecked? Are you ever so tired that you let the basic household chores go undone? Has it gone on for so long that you don't recognize your house, or has … Continue reading How Does Your Environment Impact Your Soul? →

"I don't  want you to forget, dear brothers and sisters, about our ancestors in the wilderness long ago. All of them were guided by a cloud that moved ahead of them, and all of them walked through the sea on dry ground." 1 Corinthians 10:1 We live in a culture where what our ancestors sacrificed, … Continue reading Temptations of the Ancestors →

Photo by D. Rabb"if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister." Colossians 1:23 There are people that we encounter who possess beautiful souls. They a … Continue reading Beauty in a Place of Hardship →

“What does it profit, my brethren, if a man says he has faith but has not works? Can his faith save him? If a brother or sister is ill-clad and in lack of daily food, and one of you says to them, Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed … Continue reading Righteous Living →

"He said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place." Mark 6:31-32. In the grand scheme of all our busyness, we are rarely afforded the luxury of rest and recharging. Most of the time, we … Continue reading Come Go Away With Me →

Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity. 1 Timothy 4:12 As each day approaches, we think about what  needs to be accomplished and how we are going to … Continue reading As the Day Approaches… →

The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in … Continue reading Keeping the Pact →

“For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” Romans 15:4 In literature, students will always hear the teacher say, “ Dig deep!” “Look for the symbolism!” “Scratch past the surface level!” “Look for the meaning! “There is … Continue reading Seeing the Bigger Picture →

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.  Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. 1 Peter 5:8-9. This picture is rather creepy. Don't you think? This is not a … Continue reading Prowling Demons →

"The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.'" Matthew 25:40. The following story was sent by a friend. I don't know who the author is, but I do want to give him/her credit for making us think about … Continue reading Disregarding Me… →

Jesus is “‘the stone you builders rejected which has become the cornerstone.’" Acts 4:11 It’s 4:30 a.m. and the streets of downtown are dark and empty. Before I tell you this story, let me explain why I was downtown at this time of the morning. No, I don’t have a secret life. I was taking … Continue reading Turning Back on Rejection →

I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. Philippians 3:10-11. Knowing God. There are so many reactions to these two words. People will often say that they know God, and some may even say … Continue reading Knowing God or About God! ! →

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. Galatians 6:9-10. I was recently reminded by a friend of how life can … Continue reading I Want to Quit, But I Can’t! →

Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them. Deuteronomy 4:9 Oh, the treasures you find! While going through boxes during my annual … Continue reading The World Through My Mother’s Eyes →