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Surviving the Holidays with Dysfunctional Family: Going Home with the Right Heart

Hopefully your visit with family brings new light to those who don’t yet know Jesus. I really sincerely pray your family is intrigued by what is “different” in you. This has always been my hope for my husband and me as well. I really feel if I hadn’t been a Christian, there would really be no in point visiting certain people. I know the Lord was encouraging us to press on and pray. He wanted us to trust He was with us. We never left families’ homes without something to pray for. There is a time to say enough is … Continue reading →

Surviving the Holidays with Dysfunctional Family: Tactless Comments and Rude Behavior

So you’ve prepared for the battle zone knowing you don’t go it alone, but with Christ in your heart. Fear and anxiety overcome you as your vehicle rolls up to your family’s home. You say a quick prayer, “Lord Jesus, go before me now; help me to speak only what You would have me speak. Help me to see these people through Your eyes.” You walk in the door and are greeted by smiles and a couple hugs. Seems everyone has made themselves at home chatting, eating their deviled eggs and veggie assortment; yes, everyone seems comfortable and content except … Continue reading →

Surviving the Holidays with Dysfunctional Family: Preparation

I’m creating a three part survival kit here. Perhaps you can relate to this family’s situation: The holiday time seemed to be more stress than enjoyment with one couple. Since decreasing contact with some of their extended family, and spending more time with the other, things have been a tad more peaceful. Prior to having children, a certain young couple was able to endure, hoping the current year would be better than the prior one. The wife watched her husband become moody every year around November due to the stress of the upcoming visits. After the gatherings (usually around Christmas … Continue reading →

Bless Those Who Persecute You

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Why on earth would we want to bless those who are wicked toward us? Romans 12:14, “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.” Romans 12:21, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Matthew 5:44, “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.” I believe the answer to this is simple: the ability to forgive and to stand out as a light to others is something that sets us a part … Continue reading →

Fresh Starts for 2007

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Now that the year 2007 is here, why not consider it to be modivation for a fresh new start in your life? Regardless of where you are in your Christian walk–even if you have never even taken that first step, a new year is here and it’s an opportunity for change and growth. The number seven throughout the Bible seems to represent completion. While researching Bible passages that contained “seven” in them, I found well over 500! Here are only some of many examples: The seventh day (the Sabbath) was blessed and sanctified by God. (Genesis 2:3) Seven of every … Continue reading →

Biblical Encouragement for Those in Waiting

The holiday times were by far the most difficult for me to bear while waiting for our boys. I know there are others that can relate to the longing feeling around this time as well. To be honest, I’m not sure how I would have sustained sanity without my faith in Christ and His ability during the dark period in my life of waiting to be a mother. Perhaps the most inspirational book of the Bible for me during this time was the Book of Psalms. David committed sins beyond what most of us have, was loved by God and … Continue reading →

Saying You’re Sorry

I think one of the most difficult things for any of us to do is to admit when we’re wrong. It might be that we believe we are right or it might be that our spirit becomes too prideful to humble ourselves to say those simple words, “I’m sorry.” It’s also difficult to say you’re sorry to someone who might not appreciate that you are. Sometimes the person we’ve offended is prideful themselves and we don’t want to say we’re sorry just to have it taken as a point of weakness. Regardless of the reasons for one’s resistance, we have … Continue reading →