“'I am the Lord’s servant,' Mary answered. 'May your word to me be fulfilled.' ... and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: '... Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!'” (Luke 1:38.41-44). I once heard a call…
Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. Hebrews 13:15, NIV Holidays insist upon celebrations, thankful hearts, and cheer. Yet this challenging year has stripped our world of the usual mood. More of us grieve and suffer in isolation than ever…
"For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing."2 Corinthians 2:15 I struggled to breathe in the soupy tropical atmosphere. Pollen and dust hung in the steamy air as a perpetual haze which obfuscated our view of the sky. I…
by Kristyn Schott How are you feeling about the season you’re currently in? Are you thriving or barely surviving? Are you constantly wishing for a different season, to get out of the one you find yourself in? You see, I think we often spend the season we’re in wishing to be…
We've experienced more grief as a nation this year than we ever imagined possible. Many have suffered heartbreaking personal losses which make the world's darkness unbearable. We long for comfort. A breath of air above the merciless waves of pain. No matter what condolences our neighbors offer in an attempt to…
Guest post by Dena Yohe Over ten years ago, my husband and I started a ministry to brokenhearted parents. A mom whose child almost died sent me an email one day: “As a parent, getting the news that your child is gravely (and perhaps mortally) injured is life altering. I had…
"Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty" (Psalm 91:1, NIV). Gales whirl in a violent uproar outside my office window. Hail batters the roof like a viral-shaped threat to any who would dare brave the outside world. The tears of…
by Ginny Dent Brant With the rise in skin cancers, protecting your skin and eyes from the sun has become more important than when I was a child. I’ve earned the right to develop melanoma from my overexposure days of lifeguarding and sunbathing. Who remember the days of using baby oil…
Sandcastles in the Desert Season of Life Deadly viruses and economic struggles have stranded us in a wasteland which seems endless. We hike up one dune of hope for a better tomorrow only to find another sea of bleak, dry circumstances stretching ahead. This season of unrest and suffering has…
“The root centered around unaddressed pain and resentment towards her father” My name Canaa Lee. I am a retired high school teacher, a Christian counselor, and a radio personality. Out of the Abundance of the Heart is my intimate account as a child who did not grow up in church nor a…