Has someone ever said to you when you are going through hardship and suffering… "Just be thankful?" No empathy. No, I'm sorry you are going through this. Just the words, be thankful. I had this happen to me recently. I shared just a tidbit of the financial stress are business is under due to our changing world—and how we could lose everything, our home included. Her words felt cold and distant, and truthfully, it rankled. However, they were not wrong. Sometimes, in the frailty of humanity, we do not receive the compassionate response we need. Especially from someone sitting in their large home, who can easily pay every bill, go on trips, reti...

We are going to light candle number two this week and celebrate the glorious meaning of Christmas. This candle is called the "Bethlehem Candle," and it symbolizes faith. Seven hundred years before Christ was born the prophet Isaiah proclaimed these words. Isaiah 7:14 "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel." This time of year, I reflect upon what it must have felt like for the scared young woman—Mary to be pregnant out of wedlock, and for a man of integrity—Joseph (no more than a boy himself) who married her despite the unusual circumstances. All...

Faithful and True How many join the ranks of those who understand the pain caused by the opposite of faithful and true? A friend walks away Adult children won't talk to their parents A husband betrays A parent abuses a child A wife decides she does not love anymore Human beings are good at the opposite of "Faithful and True" but God is not. It is in His very character and being to remain faithful and true. Oh, how comforting these words are in a world that is often cruel and unkind. Revelation 19:11 encourages ... "Now I saw heaven opening, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He ...

 I was sitting across the table with a long-time friend this week and we began talking about prayer. As we shared, she said, "you need to write a blog about what you do. It's so unique and personal and I think it would help many." Since each Monday I share a new title of God for the purpose of enriching ones prayer life, it fits to write about the "how to." Why would anyone pray? -We pray because we believe that prayer changes things and because we have need. Heb. 4:16 says, "Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." -We pray for sickness of body...