Is Humility Your Trademark?
I am on a search for what it means to be truly humble. The definition of humility, according to Merriam-Webster dictionary, is freedom from pride or arrogance. Can anyone then say they are truly humble? I know I cannot. Pride creeps in when I have accomplished a task that was difficult. Arrogance partners with pride […]
Just Say No
Lately, I have been thinking about the difficulty in saying no. No to your kids No to your boss who is overworking you No to your friend who is overstepping boundaries No to wasting time on social media or Netflix or any other time-stealing thing You know what you need to say no to and […]
Living Water
Take a moment with me and close your eyes. Envision yourself floating down a river. I can visualize this easily as I am sitting beside a river as I write. Now think about floating down the river allowing the tide to pull you. I can envision that as well because I live on the coast […]
Yes You Can
I grew up in a can-do family. We all knew what was expected of us and we tried our best to do it. Perseverance was my Dad’s favorite word and he instilled this in each of his three daughters. As a Christian, I learned that this can-do quality can be great, but also could cause […]
Hidden for a Season
Last weekend, I was potting my flowers for spring, and I glanced up and saw bright red flowers poking up in the distance. I was in a country setting and thought it might be wildflowers coming up. When I went over, I recognized it as a flower that had been potted last spring that I […]
Waiting is Strengthening
One of my favorite scriptures is Isaiah 40:31. But it is also not one of my favorites. I like the part where my strength will be renewed. I like the part about running and not getting weary. I just don’t like the concept of waiting. I bet some of you reading this are thinking the […]
Pray Like You Mean It
As I was preparing for our lesson this week on the prayer of faith described in the 5th chapter of James, I found myself saying: “Joanne, pray like you mean it.” That seemed pretty strange, but as I read the scripture, it spoke to me of deeper prayer than simply asking God to heal someone […]
Laying Up Treasures
Jesus wrote the following: For where your treasure is there will your heart be also. (Matthew 6:21) The question we must all ask ourselves… What do we treasure most in our hearts? On the surface, as believers, it seems like a no-brainer. Of course, our hearts are with Jesus. But upon examining where we spend […]
Why Do We Quarrel?
Let’s face it. Part of the human condition is that we quarrel. We cannot get along with everyone and that is ok. What we can do is understand the root source of our quarrels and allow the Holy Spirit to work in us a new way to respond. This week’s lesson is based on James […]
Is Faith a Crutch?
Over the years, I have been told by unbelievers that faith is a crutch; something people need to get through a crisis. My answer has always been, “It depends on how you define faith.” Scripture defines faith as follows in Hebrews 11:1: Faith is the assurance of things hoped for and evidence/conviction of things unseen. Faith […]