"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…
"A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, 'Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?'” (Mark 4:37-38). I begin each day with a…
Many faithful churchgoers encourage us to face hard times by saying, "Jesus has your back." We call on the Lord from those crisis moments, admitting we cannot cope alone. We recognize our need for divine intervention when things get tough. When our efforts to get through the struggle have fallen…
Have you checked your courage level lately? Anxiety-mongering news stories swirl like impending hurricanes on our horizons. Expectations for women thunder overhead. In these worrisome times, we gals often feel more inclined to cower under our quilts rather than stand on our purposes. For those low on morale, an invitation…
"Some . . . were merchants . . . They mounted up to the heavens and went down to the depths; in their peril their courage melted away. . . they were at their wits’ end. Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he brought them out of their…
"Wisdom and power are his. He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others" (Daniel 2:20-21). I offered my head to the young apprentice. She needed to practice, so I would become the lab rat of her experiment. Few had seen the procedure and my outcome was difficult…
"Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God" (Ephesians 6:17). I hit the snooze. Again. Before I know it, those red digits glare alarming numbers. I have fifteen minutes to get out of the house. After a quick prayer, I hack my…
"Therefore put on the full armor of God,so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. . . . Take the helmet of salvation" (Ephesians 6:13,17). I enjoy a solitary day at the mall, unless I'm searching for…
"In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one" (Ephesians 6:16). As we visited Busch Gardens' one day, I observed a toddler patting the glass of a wildlife enclosure. A lioness sprang toward him from the other side. Massive…
"Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace" (Ephesians 6:14-15). Ever find a pair of kicks you couldn't live without? If you love to indulge your…