She was a desperate woman—a widow and a mother—hopelessly in debt. (Read her story in 2 Kings 4:1-7.) The Enemy had subtracted almost everything of value from her life. He had “minused” away her husband, her resources, and her ability to sustain herself until all that she, and her two sons,…
The Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia welcomed me to a ladies’ retreat where I had been the main speaker the year before. The pastor’s wife was a dear friend, and the ladies of her church were quite precious to me as well. Only this year, I was not their special…
“To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace” (Luke 1:79). We were laughing as we left church that Sunday afternoon—playing with our toddler cousin, vying for the attention of the small child, making lunch…
There is a point on the Seward (Alaska) Highway, at about Milepost 37, called “The Wye.” It’s the fork in the road where, when driving south from Anchorage, you decide whether you’re going to Seward (end of the road) or Sterling and points beyond. You cannot get to either of…
It was bound to happen. When the last baby turned five, she would start kindergarten, and I would need to decide to stay home or return to the workforce. It isn’t an easy decision. I haven’t worked since I was thirty-seven weeks pregnant with our twins, almost nine years ago.…
How can a loving God allow painful experiences in the lives of those who serve Him? Why do faithful servants in the Kingdom walk through dark times? Where is God’s mighty hand of deliverance when His children are faced with deep heartache and tragedy? While we may never fully understand…
As a single woman, I was in love with God. I desired to please God and do as much as I could in the church while being a light and a witness to others. I did every kind of ministry I could think of—Sunday school, cleaning, singing in the choir,…
There are no absolutes in today’s society. As far as what we believe, there is a smorgasbord as large as a restaurant menu. The notion of freedom has gone way beyond national security. Freedom has found its way into every part of our thought process, our moral compass, and our…
“And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.” (James 5:15, KJV) When I was sixteen, my mother passed away unexpectedly. As a teenager, I still needed my mother. I remember…