Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Matthew 5:4 ESV When was the last time you mourned over someone or something? There are days my heart is heavy over the things I see in this world–in politics, in the church, or in our country. I have mourned over the death of family members and pets, and the loss of relationships. Sometimes as I mourned, I felt Jesus mourning with me, and other times … Continue reading →
Growing up, I loved Easter Sunday. We dressed up in our new dresses, ate the candy from our Easter basket, went to church, and spent the day with family eating a lot of food. I grew up hearing the same story every year of Jesus’ crucifixion, death, and resurrection. I’m not sure how much it really meant to me until I was out of college. I remember hearing a song called Watch the Lamb by Ray Boltz in the late 1990s. It … Continue reading →
After four months of dating, my boyfriend got some of our friends together and planned a three-day cruise. There were eight of us total, four guys and four girls — two rooms (one for the guys and one for the girls). Then, off we went to the Bahamas. On the last night of our cruise, there was a formal dinner with great food, friends, and fun. At the end of the night, Mike took me to the top deck overlooking … Continue reading →
Fear is a stronghold. A stronghold is like an iceberg–the sea of our thoughts and emotions hide the majority of it. The ten percent we show to those around us is no indication of its depth and size. …
Continue reading →What sets us apart from every other created animal? God Himself breathed into us…
Continue reading →When God called me to write I felt obligated to explain to Him that I was NOT a writer. He seemed unconvinced…
Continue reading →Who doesn’t love Christmas and the memories it brings? As you think of your favorite Christmas, what makes it memorable for you? Was it where you spent it, who you spent it with, or the gift you received? Maybe it was unforgettable because of the gift you gave to someone special. My favorite Christmas was the time I put my name on every gift under the tree. I have a large family with five sisters plus my mom and dad. … Continue reading →
He was in a fight for his life. He knew who he was—he would be king. God chose him. But the reigning, evil ruler refused to give up his throne. He pursued the young ruddy shepherd to kill him. Saul wanted to show David who was stronger. David, however, was resilient and sharp. He knew where to hide and how to fight. After all, he had killed lions, bears, and even a giant. How could Saul overtake him? But even … Continue reading →
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. ~Hebrews 11:1 ESV At twenty-five years old, I had a stomach ulcer from the unbearable stress of my job. I had found a laboratory that would hire an inexperienced college graduate with a B.S. in biology. The VA hospital needed a histology technician, and they would train me to do the job. Histologists make slides from the tissue removed from the body during surgery which … Continue reading →
Do you know the meaning of your name? My name, Stephanie, comes from the Greek work stephanos which means “crowned.” In Revelation, John 19:12 speaks of Jesus, “His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems [stephanos], and he has a name written that no one knows but himself” (Revelation 19:12 ESV). I like that my name means “crowned,” and I don’t like to be called anything but Stephanie. When my name is shortened, it ends … Continue reading →
