Life’s Drive-through Window Lacks Hope

The drive-through window of life remains understocked with real hope.

Less than a mile from my family’s neighborhood, the same fast-food restaurant provides drive-through service at two different locations in opposite directions.

At the end of our road, we must make a decision.

Do we turn right or left?

To the right stands a newer version of the business established in the 1940’s.

But the same problem exists with both.

My son arrived home to discover an incorrect order. He’d ordered lunch, paid and waited. Yet later found his bag filled with breakfast items. The scent of sausage instead of chicken frustrated him.

Since my husband and I have had similar experiences, I check everything before driving away. Opening each bag, wrapper, or container. It assures I’m leaving with what I expected…what I wanted.

And I never want to wait. I want service and I want it pronto (the culture in which we live). Impatience tempered with social manners. Please! I’m in a hurry!

Life’s Drive-through Window 

In the same way, life’s crossroads force me to park and stay a while. They keep me bewildered about whether to go right or left and wondering if I’ll leave the next place with what I expected, all the items I wanted. So, I grow weary in the waiting.

Here’s the problem with life’s drive-through window.

Read More…

Looking for Something? Hope? Peace? Or?

Looking for something?

Because we look for things everyday.

When our husband questions the whereabouts of black dress socks or a t-shirt (hopefully not to wear together).

Or our teen wonders where the car keys are.

We try to locate our cell phone.

Maybe it’s the pen we need to jot down an important note.

Perhaps our toddler misplaces her favorite toy (this makes for a traumatic day).

And the needed spice for dinner’s main dish is somewhere in this kitchen.

But not only are we in need of tangible stuff to function in our daily routine. Our souls look for the intangible items that make life full and meaningful.

Here’s 8 things we often look for and what God’s Word says about each.

Looking for Hope? 

“For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him.” Psalm 62:5

Read More…

7 Ways God’s the Most Faithful Father 

Always. Forever. Faithful. 

These words pop in my mind when I think of fathers.

And if you know anything about my story or have followed me for a while. Then you know my earthly father abandoned me for part of my childhood.

When he reappeared in my life, he was a self-proclaimed atheist. My dad held no belief in God, much less the idea of a heavenly Father who loves us and never leaves His children.

Yet, after sixteen years of me praying for him, my dad finally believed in God and accepted Christ as Savior.

He passed away in 2010. So, I’m always a little tear-filled, a tad heart-broken, and a bit soul-grieved this time of year. Because I miss so many things about him.

I miss my dad’s presence in my life. Never able to talk to him in person or on the phone. I miss making him a lemon pie every birthday, every Thanksgiving, and every Father’s Day.

Still, I celebrate three fathers every year. My biological dad in heaven, Gene. And my first stepdad, Wendell. They will both always have a special place in my heart.

Wait. Who’s the third father?

As we honor fathers this week, I decided to concentrate on my heavenly Father in my blog post. He’s the third mentioned, but first in my life.

A Faithful Father

7 ways God’s always and forever the most faithful Father. 

(1) He loves big.

Read More…

No Matter What: 5 Promises for Life in Christ

No matter what. 

I admit the phrase used to bother me. Because it stirred questions in my soul.

Such as, “no matter what” means what exactly? Maybe to never back down. Or, never give up or give in. Perhaps, to keep going in the face of opposition or dire circumstances.

And I assumed the subject and context both played into the meaning.

Still, if you are anything like me, the phrase conjures up a lot of unknowns. And even a few knowns we’d rather not deal with.

So I put together a list of God’s truths and promises in five areas.

I searched for the exact phrase in Scripture and found it in The Living Bible Translation. Some of my favorite Scriptures translated with such powerful words. Because…

 No Matter What 

(1.) No matter what today brings. Trust in God’s strength and love.

“Patience develops strength of character in us and helps us trust God more each time we use it until finally our hope and faith are strong and steady. Then, when that happens, we are able to hold our heads high no matter what happens and know that all is well, for we know how dearly God loves us, and we feel this warm love everywhere within us because God has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love” Romans 5:4-5.

Read More…

23 Wow or Fun Christian Quotes and Blog Award

Some quotes make us say wow or laugh out loud.

I love quotable lines from others bringing a smile to my face or causing a belly laugh. Or, words stirring a deep sense of awe.

Last week, I attended the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference in Black Mountain, NC. It was my fourth time to attend.

And it didn’t disappoint. The directors, Edie Melson and DiAnn Mills, put together an amazing agenda.

Five days viewing God’s beautiful landscape, networking with other writers, and worshiping Jesus together. Also, making new friends while seeing old friends (like Denise, a friend since childhood, pictured left).

I spent time discussing my current book project with my agent who also attended and met with other industry professionals.

Yet, one of the conference highlights always includes wonderful keynotes, workshops, and classes. A notebook filled with pages of content confirms the Lord used the time to speak to my heart. Still, not just messages about writing, but points applicable to other areas in life.

So, I wanted to share my favorite quotes with you. I organized them by faculty member/speaker. For their complete bios, I provide a link at the end of this post.

Quotes that make us smile, laugh, or say wow.

Wow or Fun Quotes from James Watkins 

(1) “There’s a lot of nuts in the Lord’s fruitcake.”

(2) “Sometimes a giant wins the battle but never the war.”

Read More…

Am I Lovable? Storyline Video Reveals My Answer

Ever wondered if you are lovable? Or, maybe like me, you’ve questioned what it takes for others to consider you lovable.

Because we use the term love for everything from possessions and food to our favorite sports teams and celebrities.

We love ice-cream, brands, songs, books, and our favorite movies.

How to Define Love

Honestly, I use it to describe my affections for cinnamon rolls, pasta, Chai tea lattes, boots, the Hallmark Channel, and sunsets. And that’s only a few of my loves.

Still, we struggle to define love—a feeling, an emotion? In hard moments, we lose the loving feeling.

And abandonment extinguishes the emotion. Like when my dad vanished from my life for a few years.

Yet, culture woos us with a love that fades when hearts break. My heart broke after friendships dissolved and family members died including a baby in utero. I lost hope in love.

Shiny Things and People

So, for a portion of my life, I wondered, Am I lovable?

Read More…

The Basics of Christianity: 26 Truths A-Z

Sometimes we lose sight of the basics to our faith. Those elements of Christianity setting us apart from the world and other religions.

And the basics helping us live out our Christianity.

So, here’s the ABC’s of the Christian Life.

A-F Basics of Our Faith

Abide in Christ. “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing” John 15:5, ESV.

Believe God. What He says and who He is. When the journey turns bumpy, our Christian beliefs carry us over life’s potholes. “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness” Romans 4:3b, NIV.

Confess. Confession of sin and when we go in the wrong direction. Because sometimes we fall into sin or we fail to walk in the direction God instructed (Proverbs 28:13 and James 4:17).

Declare God’s ways. We declare it to others and ourselves. In other words, preach it. Then preach it to the choir. “Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples!” Psalm 96:3, ESV.

Encourage other believers. “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up” 1 Thessalonians 5:11, NIV.

Forget what’s behind. Looking back on our life helps us move forward. But Jesus never intends for the past to paralyze us (Philippians 3:13-14).

Read More…

Mother’s Day: The Mom of a Savior

The moment He took His first breath, I became His mother. And I celebrated my first mother’s day.

Overjoyed with my child. My baby boy.

A newborn placed in my arms. My life forever altered.

Swaddled by cloths, though adorned with royal titles.

Wonderful. Counselor. Prince of Peace. Holy King. Immanuel (God now with me). The Ancient of Days.

Barely minutes old and seemingly fragile. But this baby embodied the fullness of the Godhead.

Power demonstrated years later when He cast out evil spirits and raised the dead.

As I gazed intently at Him, the goodness and greatness of God spilled out.

Mother’s Day for a New Mom

I studied every feature.

His eyes. They gazed into the hearts of men. I watched His mouth as He yawned and cried. Life-giving words were later spoken by Him. Words commanding even the winds and waves to obey.

I laid my hand on His chest. The rise and fall of breaths ladened with grace. A strong heartbeat surfaced. But the day arrived when His heart—broken and betrayed—offered forgiveness.

Read More…

Believing in Karma or Jesus: A Man Upstairs or God

Is believing in karma and sending a letter to twelve people, the way to unlock a secret code of blessings from the man upstairs?

Much to my dismay, I receive chain letters by email or on social media and Messenger. Each written from a promise of believing. If I believe in karma, then something good will happen today to make me happy. Angels watch over me. Or, the man upstairs blesses me.

But, to seal the deal, I must forward the message to a specified number of friends including the sender. And posting as my status on social media? Even better.

Still further, for the declaration to really happen, I need to act fast, within minutes. And this, Thou shalt not break the chain.

I mean, who knows what “terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day” might take place if I break the chain. Y’all, call 911 because I break the chain!

Believing in Chain Letters or God’s Letter

Merriam-Webster explains karma, “The force created by a person’s actions that some people believe causes good or bad things to happen to that person.” Yet, I’m not some people or that person.

I enjoyed the Star Wars theme, “the force be with you.” Yet the force is fictional. Herein lies the deception of karma. It’s purely philosophical and not founded on fact.

I don’t believe in good and bad karma. But I do believe in a good and Holy God.

Read More…

The Shocking Amount of Blessings from a Good God

“Blessings!”

Lately, I’ve formed a word-habit in my online replies. I throw out the word over and over again.

Blessings! Thanks and blessings! I pray blessings over your ministry. Blessings to you and your family! Happy Birthday and blessings! 

See what I mean? I quite overuse the word.

But do I realize what’s behind the well wishes? And do I give thanksgiving for my blessings?

Count Your Blessings

We’ve heard it said to count our blessings. But if we look at the shocking amount of blessings God extends to us, they are hard to number.

Of course, we all count ourselves blessed with family and friends. Also, blessed in how God provides for our daily needs of food, shelter, the jobs we hold, etc.

As a pastor’s wife and believer, I’m blessed by the local church in how God uses both ministers and members to build us up in the faith. Perhaps we ought to name this our spiritual M&M’s.

And who’s not giving thanks these days for health? I pray to never take a healthy body for granted. Or, the physical well-being of my spouse, children, and grandson.

But there are times we forget, even as Christ-followers, and we need reminding of the vast blessings from a gracious God. Too numerous to even count. How do I know?

Blessings from a Generous God

Read More…