Prayer

Sometimes, we can be unsure if the way we worship God is good enough or the right way. A visit to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, nestled in a corner of Jerusalem and accessed by the narrow streets of the Old City, gave me some insight. This large rambling church is built on a Read more…

I walked a pathway where Jesus is thought to have walked, and it made me thankful for the path to life he gives. The orange glow of street lights popped up across the Old City of Jerusalem in the failing evening light. In the stillness of the twilight, I walked down an ancient stone stairway. Read more…

Many things can make us feel defeated. Experiencing a loss, failure, losing a battle, or facing a crisis can make us feel like “this is over” whether it is our livelihood, a relationship, or even life itself. Jesus, however, shows us we need not feel defeated. Set on the side of the Mount of Olives Read more…

Jesus needed to pray, to spend time with his Father. Jesus modeled prayer for us. He gave us an example to follow. I went to Galilee, where Jesus prayed. Getting to the top of Mount Arbel took five minutes, a gentle climb along a stony pathway from the parking lot. It was enough to elevate Read more…

I needed some guidance this week and I decided to seek the godly guidance of a friend and colleague.  I apologized to her for offloading a lot of information. I was carrying a heavy burden. And after sharing the dilemma I faced, I asked “what would you do in the same situation?” It was probably Read more…

If you’re looking for God’s guidance but you feel inadequate, especially when you pray about it, then I want to encourage you that help is at hand. Here are three ways God helps you. God’s Spirit prays for YOU. Maybe you feel you can’t find the right words when you pray. Or you think you Read more…

So far, we’ve looked at two ways in which we can get guidance from God—Scripture and Sense. The third way God can guide us is through Signs.  I have to admit, I write this with some hesitation because we can believe anything random is a sign from God, and make our decision based on that.  Read more…

Last week, we looked at how we can get guidance on life from God’s words in the Bible—Scripture. This week, we are looking at the second “S” and the way we get help with our decision-making: Sense.  When we need guidance, we need to consider what makes sense. Sense, which we often refer to as Read more…

There are so many things we’d like guidance on. For instance, how to respond to someone who has upset us. Whether to take that job. The words we should say or advice we should give a friend. Who to marry… And so much more. And often we look to God for help and direction. In Read more…

I’m digging into the stories of many of the women of the Old Testament as I write my next book. One of the themes that keeps popping up is that of journeys.  For someone who likes to travel and who has moved countries, I love the fact that many of our biblical brothers and sisters Read more…

According to a study reported by the Express newspaper in the UK, women spend almost two hours a day worrying, which translates into one month a year. Men worry much less. Maybe you are shocked by those results. Perhaps two hours seems a lot. Maybe, you’re thinking “I worry way more than two hours each Read more…

We had a wild turkey in our yard one winter. I spotted it through the window from the kitchen. “How the heck did it get inside our fenced yard?” I asked myself. It strutted menacingly—head jerking back and forth—towards the chicken coop. “It’s after their food,” I thought, “and it’s going to peck our innocent Read more…

I’d call myself a pretty good skier, although one particular afternoon on the slopes I faced a challenge beyond my ability, or so I thought. Skiing with my family, we took a chairlift higher up the mountain where only single and double black diamond runs—for experts only—could be accessed. Usually, we skied an easy groomed Read more…

If it snows in London, it’s like a sprinkling of wet confectioner’s sugar. Although, frozen precipitation is inevitable during the winter season, Londoners always seem completely unprepared. Sidewalks become skating rinks as commuters walk to and from work in far from suitable shoes for slippery conditions. I was one of them. Then, after having lived Read more…

New Year’s Eve. The cusp of two years. One is about to be left behind. The other stretches out ahead. Our reaction, as we stand at this point, can be fear and apprehension. The days, weeks, months are blank pages, yet to be filled. Uncharted territory, holding the unknown. Some days are penciled in with Read more…

In the middle of the night, I couldn’t sleep. My mind kept me awake as I ran over one problem after another. Eventually, I decided to pray. If I turned my despair into prayer, sleep would be sure to come. However, an hour later I was still awake and still restless. Prayer should be the Read more…

Sometimes I have to remind my young adult children “don’t just text me when you’re having a problem. Get in touch when things are going well.” I am glad to help sort out the insurance claim when a driver failed to brake at a stop sign and crashed into the side of my daughter’s car. Read more…

A bag of leftover Halloween candy sat in our pantry tempting me to slip in my hand and take one piece as I passed the doorway. I knew the candy wasn’t good for me. I can fool myself, though. “One small piece does no harm at all,” I convinced myself. After all, they are only Read more…

I have been humbled by the thankfulness of my friends. I’ve shared in their Thanksgiving Day celebrations, sat as their tables and heard them express their appreciation. Even if someone has had a tough year, they have managed to find something to be thankful for. By listening to them and sharing one small thank you Read more…

Sometimes, I’d rather stay furious than take seriously the words in the Bible: don’t go to bed angry. I find some satisfaction in being annoyed. If I back down too easily, it’s like I’m letting the other person off who has wronged me. I can think of at least one occasion when this has happened. Read more…

Why is it God often seem distant in the middle of trouble? Often, when we’re struggling, he seems silent. I remember crying out to God when my six-week-old twins were diagnosed with meningitis, when I discovered a lump, when my son faced his second emergency surgery in two weeks, wondering if God was there with Read more…

We’re on our way to church. Three teenagers squashed together in the back of the car. My husband was driving and me applying last minute make-up in the passenger seat because, as usual, I’m running late. Our ten-minute journey should be uneventful. Yet, someone makes a comment, an argument breaks out and before we know Read more…

Living in New York City is a painful reminder of the complicated nature of homelessness and mental health issues and the inequalities and injustices in our world. Yet, at the same time, it is a continual nudge to do what we can as individuals to improve justice.

God is the ultimate blessing machine, says Nicky Gumbel, pioneer of the Alpha course. And as his children, we can imitate him in being a blessing to others.

Love is not only made of words and feelings, it is practical. The art of loving and being able to make an impact comes from understanding that love involves action, and it is inclusive. We see this with God’s love: “This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and Read more…

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Proverbs 4:23-24 Have you been on the receiving end of someone else’s road rage? I experienced something similar recently while riding a ski chairlift. As we pulled down the safety bar I heard a grunt from the snowboarder next to me. I turned to ask Read more…

Mother Theresa is quoted as saying, “I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the water to create many ripples.” Like Mother Theresa, we want to make a difference. We want to make positive changes in our lives, in the lives of others, and in the world. When I think Read more…

Previously, we have understood that God is unwavering in being there for us, even when we fail to be completely committed to him. We have remembered how he has held us up in the past so we have confidence in the present. Now, we can have confidence in our current needs that God will come Read more…

Whenever I read about the Israelites after God rescued them from slavery in Egypt, I am always shocked at how incapable they were at trusting God. Of course, it’s easy to point the finger at other people’s weaknesses than our own. Yet, one thing the Israelites were told over and over again was to remember. Read more…

There is no doubt that we can, and do, wobble in our faith. And it’s clear from many of the Bible stories that we are not alone in our wavering. Think of Moses who questioned God when he was asked to lead the Israelites and confront Pharaoh, even though God assured him through specific signs Read more…

We know what unfaithfulness looks like. People let us down all the time, and it hurts. We may have let people down too.  God, however, is completely faithful. Even though we might know this, it’s often hard to feel God’s faithfulness and trust in his unwavering support in our day-to-day living. Today, and throughout the Read more…

Talking to my young adult children on a regular basis can be a challenge. One of my sons lives 3,000 miles to the east. His twin brother lives 3,000 miles to the west. The son to the east is five hours ahead. The son to the west is three hours behind. As I get up Read more…

Last time, we discovered trusting in God’s mighty power to protect us helps us overcome our fears. If you missed it, you can read it here. Here, we’re discovering when we feel weak, drained, distressed and overwhelmed, God gives strength to those who trust in him. Weakness comes in many forms—from our circumstances that cause Read more…

Last time, we learned that Jesus has God’s power and when we trust in Jesus, he changes lives. If you missed it, you can read it here. Here, we discover we have God’s power, given to us through the Holy Spirit, to do many different, good things. Empowerment is a popular concept in our society. Read more…

Last time, we discovered how trusting in God’s kindness shown to us enables us to be kind to others. If you missed it, you can read it here. Here, we discover Jesus has God’s full power to change our lives when we’re feeling drained, in distress, or overwhelmed. Jesus stated two things about himself. He Read more…

Last time we were reassured of God’s kindness, especially his mercy and forgiveness, even when we don’t deserve it. If you missed it, you can read it here. This week we discover how trusting in God’s kindness shown to us enables us to be kind to others.  Kindness is an attribute of God and should Read more…

Last time, we discovered 3 ways to stay strong and trust in God in the battle. If you missed it, you can read it here. Now, we are being reassured of God’s kindness, even when we don’t deserve it. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to be the recipient of endless kindness? People giving the right of Read more…

In When You Need Victory in Your Battles, we prayed to trust in God’s perfect and unlimited power to bring victory in our battles. If you missed it, you can find it here. Here we discover 3 ways to trust God and stay strong in the battle: 1. Ask King David regularly talked to God Read more…

Sadly, power in our world is often tainted with corruption and abuse. Often we see power used unfairly to win for personal gain or to control the freedom of others.   God’s power, however, is perfect and just says Job 37:23.  The Bible tells us, that God’s power and strength is unlimited. It cannot be defeated.  Read more…

Maybe you doubt whether your prayers can really be effective, especially when you’re asking for the impossible or what seems unlikely. In the back of your mind you’re thinking, “will my prayer really make a difference?” Or, as one of my readers asked, “Can I move God?”   I have found myself struggling with these Read more…

On a trip to the Mediterranean some years ago, I let my imagination run loose as I stepped into a real world of medieval fortresses and tales of knights in shining armor on the Greek island of Rhodes. The old town of Rhodes, with the Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights, looked in Read more…

The Bible is full of words of encouragement telling us that God provides shelter. His shelter is described as a sacred tent, his dwelling, a pavilion, and the perfect getaway.

God is generous with his gift-giving to us, too. The gifts we receive from God, though, are not like physical gifts from family members or friends. They are special in other ways.

Spilling out onto the streets—seeing the soul of a restaurant on the sidewalk—has made NYC a brighter place. And it’s made me think about the new life we have received from God that we need to let spill out onto the streets of our lives.

Sometimes our circumstances are like a dirty, dark street, a loud din, or a large gaping hole. But seeing the beauty is possible if we will only look.  Use this prayer to help you see beauty whatever your circumstances.

Tied to the railings of an old stone church in our neighborhood is a big canvas sign. In large type with red and white colors, it says ENJOY YOUR FORGIVENESS. It’s a visible reminder to everyone who crosses the street at Park Ave and E 21st Street on their way to work, the coffee shop, Read more…

Quite often we are timid in our praying rather than being bold. We may feel we do not deserve to be in the presence of a holy God. But, understanding God’s mercy can help us. The other morning I pondered the words Lord, have mercy on me as I walked and talked with God. To me it is Read more…

We want God’s undivided attention. Selfish? Not at all. We need his attentiveness to our prayers because without him, we know life can become futile, and we lose purpose. There is one who has “the ear of God”—who is listened to. It is Jesus. No one has a closer relationship with God than Jesus Christ. Read more…

Waves lapped gently onto the rocky shoreline. The water shimmered and sparkled as the morning sun climbed higher in the sky. A gentle onshore breeze blew the hair away from my face and rustled the reeds behind me. I stood looking at the glistening water, pondering the historic moments of this place. This is where Read more…

Jesus says we are to have faith—great faith. But, even faith that is the size of mustard seed is rewarded.  Having faith, in Jesus, begins with the greatest reward of all—receiving forgiveness and being given a new heart and fresh start.  But, faith is more than an initial one-off step, it is an ongoing walk. Read more…