Excitedly and optimistically, my sister-in-law’s family agreed upon the perfect name for their new puppy: they would call her “Hope.” Imagine her surprise when she realized the frequency in which she needed to yell, “No Hope,” on any given day! We laughed at the irony. Yet I wonder if we utter those same words or perhaps believe that because of a certain situation, difficulty, or disappointment...
More Coming Soon! Updated: January's Topic: Pursue and Seek This printable provides one verse per day -- for the month of January -- for you (or you and your family) to read, contemplate, and pray. Before moving too far into the New Year, let’s take a quick trip back to the 1300’s. Here we find one of the earliest definitions of “resolution” – taken from a Latin word meaning “a process of...
Recently while on vacation, my family and I were given the following directions: “Just look for the lighthouse,” “It’s by the lighthouse,” and “When you see the lighthouse, you’ll know you’re close.” I was excited to not only reach our destination for the evening, but to be so near the lighthouse. Growing up in the midwest, the only lighthouses I had seen were the decorative figurines or those...
“And now, again, is the minister’s time; and now is the time for all of you who love souls. You may see men more alarmed than they are already; and if they should be, mind that you avail yourselves of the opportunity of doing them good. You have the Balm of Gilead; when their wounds smart, pour it in. You know of Him who died to save; tell them of Him. Lift high the cross before their eyes. Tell...
My parents received a phone call from their friends who had just returned from Greece: they had purchased a gift for me and were eager to bring it over. I was a toddler at the time and waited in anticipation for their arrival. As the story goes, I was so excited to receive their gift that when they gave me a t-shirt, I threw it down and ran off in utter disappointment! I’m sure we all have...
As I stood at the kitchen sink, complaining about having to cut each individual grape in half and removing each of its tiny seeds, I thought, “I wasn’t the one who accidentally bought grapes with seeds, so why do I have to be the one who’s so inconvenienced?!” As I grew more annoyed with the tedious task set before me, my thoughts turned towards the upcoming holiday: Thanksgiving. My attitude...
Have you heard people describe their “happy place?” Oftentimes it includes a picture of a beach, the sound of rolling waves, and the feeling of sand between their toes. We can practically sense the serenity! I’ve heard friends describe their “happy place” with great delight, whether it was on the top of a ski slope or on the deck of a cruise ship. However, I have never heard anyone describe...
It’s the first week of the New Year! This is the time we are told to get serious about our goals and resolutions! According to a recent study, about 60% of us make resolutions, but only 8% are successful in achieving them! The top three resolutions should be of no surprise: Diet or eat healthier Exercise more Lose weight As I get older, I appreciate the importance of healthy eating and exercise....
Hello, friend, and welcome! I am so glad you're here! One day after teaching a Women's Bible Study, a woman approached me and said, "This might sound weird, but can we be friends?" I actually didn't think it was weird at all; I had wanted to be her friend as well! Soon thereafter we met for coffee and shared our stories: our testimonies of coming to know the Lord, what He has done in our lives...
Listen Here To All Episodes (Apple, Spotify, and more): Find all episodes by clicking here or searching "Perspective Shifts: The One Thing Desired" on your favorite podcast platform (or listen on Apple or Spotify). Be sure to subscribe in order to receive notifications of future episodes! About: Replacing our thoughts with God's truth. As we meditate upon the Word of God, we experience a...