We know God gives us a spirit of power, love and self-discipline, but why is the lion in us too often asleep when we want it to wake up? Many of us are afraid of stepping out in fear of rejection, so we miss opportunities to be a light in someone’s life. How can we find our confidence through our faith and our confidence in God? The answer is threefold: by understanding that the Holy Spirit is not timid, but bold; by accepting our own uniqueness created by God; and by acknowledging the idea that confidence is built in Christ…

We all want a lifetime of love, support, and faith but sometimes we need a little help. Many of us want to create strong, Godly relationships but this isn’t always easy. Relationships take a lot of work, a lot of communication and a lot of compromise. A healthy relationship requires some give and take, but is absolutely within your reach if you and your partner are willing to do the work. Communication is a key part of building strong relationships and can either make or break the success of your relationship, so having the right conversations are imperative to making…

Do you feel like you have hit a wall and there is no hope moving forward? You might be battling a difficult spell of depression, going through a rough divorce, or have just lost your job. When these things happen it can feel like your entire world is crumbling around you. When you’re hurting and crying out for help, God hears you. When you are struggling, God is walking next to you. When you feel the most alone, God is working to turn your life around. If you feel you have no hope in your life, turn to God. He…

Many of us are living in a world of fear without realizing it. This fear can control all aspects of your life. It can keep you from getting through essential projects at work, talking to your partner about an important issue in the relationship, or opening up to family about a disease you’re battling. If we don’t tackle fear, it can control our lives in ways we never imagined. Here are four ways fear holds us back and how to conquer it. It Causes Us to Settle One big sign you’re allowing fear to hold you back is when you…

Here are five ways to put the Bible to work every day of your life. Apply It You cannot apply the Word of God until you know the Word of God, so knowing what Jesus and the other authors in the Old and New Testament tell us about how we’re to interact with the world, lets us apply it those in the world. Jesus gives us a clue as to how to apply His teachings in our lives by saying, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matt 5:44). If you’re hated for your faith, love them…

Are you facing an enormous storm in your life, and you’re not sure what will get you through it? When riding through any storm, you must remember that God is bigger than your circumstances. The Bible tells us, “Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD, your God will be with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9). It’s important to have faith in God even when dealing with any storm in life, but this can be especially difficult when you’re anxious or fearful. This is easier said than done when you think of all the things around…

How can you tell if it’s worth staying in a relationship or if it’s necessary to put a stop to it and say ‘enough’? You may be thinking “Even in this relationship there’s a shred of hope of someday achieving happiness.” We as human beings tend to idealize things we want. Studies have shown that when you are “in love,” it can make your partner look more attractive, intelligent and desirable than what they really are. So when the relationship ends and you look back, you say: “What did I see in him?” When it comes to dysfunctional relationships, the…

What comes to our mind when we think about God, is the most important thing about us. Our perspective of God is foundationally what we believe about everything else. So, what are the lies that can plague our thinking and hinder our relationship with God?  It could very well be a lie that we have pondered on not even realizing it until now. As you read further, I want you to consider the following… It’s not enough to ask, “do I believe this lie?” It is vital to ask “do I live as though I believe this lie?” “God is…

Many people within our world lack in the understanding that they are truly and deeply loved. Reasons for this can be wide and varied. Perhaps a parent may have had an inability to adequately express love to their child(ren) in a way that met their heart needs. Or an individual may lack in their ability to build and maintain a healthy relationship. Typically, such an individual will be unable to express love to their significant other in a measure that meets their emotional needs. Missing words or actions that should come from the foundation of a healthy loving relationship can…

Now and then we face dilemmas that can bring about insecurities. Questions bombard us and catch us off guard. When is it my time? Is this the right person to marry? Could this be the perfect fit for a new job endeavor? When we allow doubt and fear to replace the truth of being called and appointed, we allow our crowns to become tarnished by the world’s standards. I know how daunting to try to meet the standards in life. So, how do you embrace living for God in a secular world? One of the spiritual ancestors comes to mind:…

Recently I told the Lord that I wanted to be married in a year. This is certainly not the first time I have shared that with God, I’m 37 years old and patiently waiting for God to graciously answer this prayer. As I was praying about this, the story of Esther came to mind. It dawned on me that Esther had an entire year of intentional preparation before she was in a position to be chosen by her King. No doubt, Esther’s upbringing had positively shaped her character and personality, but in order for her to be queen, there was…

If you are married, you have the honor to pray for your marriage. Don’t be discouraged by your current situation, remember that your prayers reach our loving Father and we have seen in scripture that the prayers of the righteous are powerful and effective. Just as God’s heart was moved with Abraham’s prayer in Genesis 18, God’s heart will be moved in regards to your marriage. Your situation could change in a matter of moments or months. Even if it takes years for you to see the fruit of your prayers, you know that all things work perfectly in God’s…

The one who wins without troubles gets VICTORY. But the one who wins with lots of troubles gets GLORY.

Assertive vs. Aggressive: Have you ever heard the phrase: “It’s not so much what you say, but how you say it”?

“As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord”. (Joshua 24:15) The other day, a friend of mine asked me if I agreed with parents forcing their children to go to church. It’s a very important question that I wanted to address with this post. First, let me just say… Growing up, going to church wasn’t a choice in my household. It was mandatory. My mom didn’t play when it came to church. But I later appreciated it. Would I had gone if it were a choice? Most likely not. It just wasn’t fun to me. It was…

God won’t send someone in your life who will pull you further away from Him. Here are 5 Telltale signs that God wants you to be with someone.

Where do I go from here? I’d grown accustomed to my afternoons at the shelter. This particular night, we had volunteers come host improv for our residents.  The game was called Dolphin Training. One person steps out of the room while everyone else collectively picks a specific space for them to stand or sit on. When the ‘dolphin’ comes back in for training they must find their spot. The farther they are from the right spot, the ‘dolphin trainers’ remain silent. The closer they get to the right spot, the ‘dolphin trainers’ give them a “ding”. I chose to sit this one…

Connecting with God isn’t easy for most of us.  Whether we have young children, thriving careers, or days filled by the needs of those within our spheres of influence, it’s not easy to find time to slip away from everyday demands and encounter the heart of our heavenly Father. Whether you have five kids under age six or find yourself restless and struggling to get alone with the Lord, despite the fact that your nest is empty, a few routines might help you connect with God on a regular basis: Simplify Your Morning Routine as Much as Possible We’re often…

No one really knows what’s next. But as people of Faith we must be encouraged and hopeful.

If you’re trying to move beyond the hurt of infidelity, just remember there’s no pain God can’t heal. Pray about it and watch God work.