Reframing the Bad Give thanks in all circumstances. Thessalonians 5:18 ave you ever thanked God for the bad things that have happened to you? I can picture your face, because I’m probably making the same one. Bad things are bad! They cause hurt,...
Katie Thompson
With Hope
With Hope His Love has the first and last word in everything I do. 2 Corinthians 5:13 was stopping for coffee one morning and pulled into the drive through line. It was a busy morning and the cars waiting in line spilled out into a very busy road,...
Listen and Learn
Listen and Learn Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him and be strong in your faith. 1 Peter 5:8-9 ast week Sarah wrote about the...
Both-And
Both-And We don’t know what to do; but our eyes are on you. 2 Chronicles 20:12 ialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is a cognitive-behavioral treatment developed in the 1980’s to treat people who experience extremely intense, negative emotion....
What Remains True
What Remains True We don't know what to do, but our eyes are on You. 2 Chronicles 20:12 t's 8:54 am and here I sit in my pj's on a Thursday morning. Half of my house is still asleep. I have my date book in front of me with everything cancelled or...
When We’re Chained to Our Circumstances
When We're Chained to Our Circumstances Because of my imprisonment, most of the believers here have gained confidence and boldly speak God's message without fear. Philippians 1:14 aul wrote his letter to the Philippian church while imprisoned in...
Even in Betrayal
Even in Betrayal Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers. Luke 22:31-32 esus spoke the...
Coming Alongside
Coming Alongside There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. Proverbs 18:24b oday I volunteered at my daughter's high school cross country meet. My job was to stand at the finish line and after finishing the race, guide the runners to enter...
Trusting God’s Ultimate Plan
Trusting God's Ultimate Plan The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped. Psalms 28:7 n January 1st of this year I began reading through the Bible in a year in chronological order. It was smooth sailing at first...
Lovingkindness and Truth
Lovingkindness and Truth Your lovingkindness and Your truth will continually preserve me. Psalm 40:11 ecently I read through the book of Psalms and was struck by how many times the psalmist pairs the two words lovingkindness and truth. In addition...
In Its Own Time
In Its Own Time Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God's work from beginning to end. Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NLT) Everything seems to have bloomed early this...
Living at Peace
Living at PeaceIf it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Romans 12:18 (ESV)We coined a phrase in our home this holiday season. Anytime one of us was a bit snippy or a little too grumpy, we would say, "Peace on earth!" It became a...
Limitless
LimitlessJesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy times seven." Matthew 18:22 (NIV)How do you forgive someone who keeps doing the same thing, over and over again? This is essentially what Peter asked Jesus in the above verse. He was saying, "I guess I...
Following Your Heart
The Splinter of Sin
The Splinter of SinHe has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west. Psalm 103:12 (NLT)In college, I got a splinter in my palm. I removed it, covered the wound with a Band-Aid, and moved on with my busy life. No big deal. But a week later, my hand...
Planting Good Seeds
Planting Good SeedsPlant the good seeds of righteousness, and you will harvest a crop of love. Hosea 10:12 (NLT)My favorite seeds are beets. First of all, I love to eat beets, especially roasted with a little olive oil, kosher salt, and pepper. Beets have a long...
God Is Near
Astonished or Afraid?The disciples were filled with awe, and the people following behind were overwhelmed with fear. Mark 10:32b (NLT)M y Lent reading plan has me hanging out in the book of Mark in preparation for Easter. If the book of John is a love story, Mark is...
Remember
RememberRemember the things I have done in the past. For I alone am God! I am God, and there is none like me. Isaiah 46:9 (ESV)I don't usually make New Year's resolutions, because my philosophy is: If you want to change, then change. You don't need a special day to...
Peace on Earth
Peace on EarthAnd He shall be their peace. Micah 5:5a (ESV)T his week my advent reading led me to the book of Micah, prophet to the people of Israel and Judah. It's not exactly a feel-good book. Micah's job was to warn people that their sins were great and judgment...