And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? —Matthew 6:28-30 KJV (emphasis mine) The day started out as usual. My alarm rang at 5:30 am, and I tumbled out of bed and started my daily chores. Tea kettle set to boil for me, hot coffee for my husband. I ironed his clothing for the day, made his lunch, […] Read more »

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.” —Romans 8:14-17 NKJV I’ve had the great privilege of being adopted three times in my life. The first adoption came when I was almost two years old. I had just spent a month of foster care in the hospital, recovering from those two years […] Read more »

This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. —1 John 4:10-12 NIV A few days past my due date, the midwife recommended that we pick a day to induce labor. “There’s no better birthday than Valentine’s Day,” she suggested. We agreed. Then, shortly after Ryan’s birth, my husband Marty brought our three-year-old son, Sean, to meet his baby brother. As Sean sat on the bed, Marty placed Ryan in his arms. Sean’s toddler hands […] Read more »

Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. —Ephesians 4:29 NLT As we enter the month of February, a month when love and romance are emphasized, let’s talk about one of the impediments to harmony in a marriage. The Argument. It’s a rare relationship that sails smoothly for decades without the turmoil of disagreement and disappointment that often spark the dreaded argument. I confess that Ray and I are not that rare exception. We argue. In the early years of our marriage, we argued … a lot. Whenever a couple marries, adjustments have to be made. After all, each person is unique and has been raised […] Read more »