The people's voice of reason
The people's voice of reason
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Flowers, candy, pretty cards, gifts, love, and romance in the air…that’s what Valentine’s Day is all about…right? At least, that’s what the celebration has become in our modern-day society. What is the real story behind Valentine’s Day? Most sources believe that Saint Valentine’s Day began with a feast in honor of an early Christian martyr named Valentinus and is celebrated in mid-February to coincide with his burial. Some believe it may also be celebrated at this time in an effort to Chr...
Happy New Year! As we begin a new year, we share this hopeful greeting with friends and family. At times, however, we may need a little more…more from ourselves as well as the people around us. Perhaps what God told Joshua is just what we all need to hear and to believe. “Do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 As Joshua was about to lead God’s people into the promised land, he had reason to be afraid. He had an enormous task ahead of him, an...
For this year’s Christmas Card, my husband, Brian, and I chose a bible verse that is particularly meaningful to us…John 12:46, “I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the dark.” There was much division over who people thought Jesus was. Many saw the miracles, received a miracle, witnessed His grace, and believed Jesus was the son of God. Some saw the miracles, witnessed His compassion, and still did not believe. Still,...
“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” - 1 Thessalonians 5:18 I must be honest, sometimes it’s the “all” in that verse that gets me. Most of us can be thankful, for lots of things, at lots of times, but in “all” circumstances? That can be tough. What about when you find yourself suffering illness or defeat…or you’re walking through huge loss...what about when a loved one leaves this world too soon and you still can’t see past your tears...or whe...
Happy Fall Y’all! (as we say in the South) The leaves are beginning to turn, and there’s a crisp chill in the air. What is it about a simple change in weather that can bring out the best in people? It's almost like each new season is a new beginning of sorts. It's a very representation of newness that stirs up changes in our souls. Autumn visions of our favorite warm cozy sweater, rich hot cocoa, and steaming hot apple cider spring into action in our hearts. The Bible also references new changes...
If there’s one thing that fateful day twenty years ago has taught us, it’s that life is precious. Indeed, the 9/11 tragedy reminds us of what is truly important. Sad, but true…evil is out there. However, this tragedy that could have torn our country apart, instead has united us. It has given a message of hope…hope for the present and hope for the future. Yes! There is hope. There is hope for the present because the stage, I believe, has already been set for a new spirit in our nation. We despera...
Sometimes God’s Word can feel like an impossible order, don’t you think? Take for example: “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” Colossians 4:6 (NIV) Not partial grace. Not halfway grace. Full of grace. I don’t know if you’ve ever tried this, but it’s hard. It’s hard when one of the precious people living in your house gets on your last good nerve. It’s hard when a trusted friend deeply wounds you. And it’s incredibly h...
In what seems like another life to me now, I worked in my family’s firework business. During the more than 30 years of selling fireworks, I often wondered why people were so draw them. And one day while pondering this thought, I saw a banner hanging outside with the word “Joy” in the middle. Indeed, fireworks are designed for joy. They are constructed with specific elements that radiate certain colors and patterns...barium chloride for green, copper compounds for blue, lithium carbonate for r...
Do you have a favorite recipe? Perhaps it’s a family recipe and the ingredients are a well-kept secret. The first time you prepared the dish, you examined the recipe like a map to a hidden treasure, precisely measuring the amounts of each item. You knew the combination of the ingredients would result in something delicious. In some ways, our lives are like a recipe. The difference is that there are no secret ingredients. It begins with a faith in Jesus Christ. Peter, a follower of Jesus and o...
Living with purpose is the best way to plug into God's greatest plan for your life. And, once you know your purpose, there is so much more meaning to life. It may sound simplistic, but I believe it to be true. "For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Ephesians 2:10 Jesus helps us look beyond ourselves to find our purpose. You see, our purpose in life is a combination of 'out-of-this-world living' and 'living our lives...
The beautiful sights of Spring are beginning to show out. Buttercup, tulips, and many other flowering delights are starting to bloom. Such beauty! For those of us who enjoy gardening, sometimes life happens and maybe we are just not able to tend to our gardens for a while. Unfortunately, when this happens, weeds grow…and lots of them! If you think about it, the weeds, much like things in life, can sometimes be deceiving. They look pretty but they can easily overtake the real flowers. Some are e...
Hebrews 11:1 tells us, “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” Have you read the Hall of Faith in Hebrews 11? It honors a diverse list of ordinary people who pleased God. By what amazing feat did they please the Creator of heaven and earth? The answer is simple…by faith. While reading through this list, I was reminded His word is alive. Because somehow, if you’re drawn to it, God will speak truth in your soul. He knows better than we do, the reason...
As children, we all dream about happily ever after. We pine away waiting for the knight on the white horse or daydream about love that is never anything less than perfect. When you think of perfect love, who do you think of? While many of you probably said Cinderella and Prince Charming; when I think of perfect love, my thoughts turn to Adam and Eve. You might say that’s kind of a bad choice for “perfect love.” But if you think about it, Adam and Eve, while best known for the single worst mista...
Happy New Year! Whew! We made it! Thank you, Jesus!! What a wild ride 2020 was…from the COCID-19 Pandemic to civil unrest to the Presidential election. Recently, I was reminded of a beautiful song that is often sung around the holidays, you’ve heard it…”Let there be peace on Earth and let it begin with me.” Have you ever taken the time to figure out what that really means? Sounds like such a simple concept. I think it means finding peace and joy within ourselves and then sharing that peace and j...
Merry Christmas, Everyone! Remember the song “O Holy Night” – A thrill of hope; the weary world rejoices, for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn. Does Christmas thrill you? Children get excited at the coming of the season and often we might feel a bit of a charge through experiencing their amazement. However, planning the party, trimming the tree, maxing out the credit card, wrapping, shipping, traveling can often rob us from knowing the wonder for ourselves. And that's assuming we aren'...
“Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness, come before him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God, it is he who made us, and we are his, we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise, give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good; his love endures forever, his faithfulness continues through all generations.” Psalm 100:1-5 All across our nation, Thanksgiving is a day that we set asi...
Happy Fall Y’all! (as we say in the South) The leaves are beginning to turn, and there’s a crisp chill in the air. What is it about a simple change in weather that can bring out the best in people? It's almost like each new season is a new beginning of sorts. It's a very representation of newness that stirs up changes in our souls. Autumn visions of our favorite warm cozy sweater, rich hot cocoa, and steaming hot apple cider spring into action in our hearts. The Bible also references new changes...
When I was a young child, one of my favorite things was my parent’s old record player. I can remember looking through the dusty, old vinyl records. Then, playing and dancing to the “oldie but goodies” for hours. Occasionally, one of the vinyl records “got stuck.” You know….this is when the record player plays the same 6 notes over and over until the needle is adjusted. If you think about it, playing the same 6 notes over and over is not a problem that only happens with old records. I’ve been k...
Uncertainty. Just that word can make our stomachs churn, our hearts pound faster, and our minds race. Everyone is dealing with uncertainty right now due to the upheaval of the Coronavirus … your travel, work, schedule, group meetings, church, school, childcare, etc. It all boils down to our plan becoming uncertain. We are used to booking our schedules weeks or months in advance, always having what we need (or want) in the stores, and rarely inconvenienced in a way that technology or a little w...
The Gospel is about walking in freedom. That’s why, early in His ministry, Jesus quoted Isaiah’s Old Testament prophecy that He had been sent to “set free those who are oppressed” (Luke 4:18). Jesus made clear that this freedom begins with our relationship with Him. Many Believers (and non-Believers) quote Jesus as saying, “You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” But we can forget that there was a condition to this freedom. Jesus said this only is available to those who ...
Have you ever felt that nothing is going your way? It may be at work, or family, or everyday problems. What is your typical reaction? Do you move toward feelings of “why me?” or “grrrr…not again”? Or do you pause and think “what is my life trying to tell me right now?” Friends…let me tell you, that is the question. How you respond to the difficult things that happen to you can mean a difference in a life of anger or joy, a life of despair or hope. I once heard a wise person say “Life is an adven...
Hi friends! I pray you are doing well during these challenging times. Even in the midst of uncertainty, I personally have seen God working in awesome ways! “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28 Anything can be a blessing, an opportunity, if you choose to see it that way. When you see life through a lens of hope, everything can change. This can be a challenging concept to practice when you are...
Recently, I was doing the dishes. Well, to be honest, my hands were doing the dishes but my mind was elsewhere. I was thinking aboutsituations in life and how to proceed. It was in this moment a thought occurred to me … asupernatural thought or message, if you will. Just as clear as day, God said, “Live with Abandon.” I was reminded of Peter. When he was in the boat and looked out to see Jesus walking on water. Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you.” Jesus repli...
Have you ever won something? Maybe it was winning your favorite card game, being the first to cross the finish line in a marathon, or winning a door prize at an event. When you do well or win something, it is a really great feeling. "No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us." Roman 8:37 That feeling of victory is how we should be living our lives every day. God tells us that He made us more than victorious. Another translation says “we are more t...
Valentine’s Day! There’s truly not another day quite like it. Millions, perhaps billions, of dollars are spent each year to celebrate this day. Then, after the hundreds of pounds of chocolate have been gobbled up and the millions of cards have been exchanged, there comes the inevitable follow up….February 15. That’s the day when we go back to our daily grind and all that focus on love typically gets thrown out with the wrappers and cards. This probably happens because we put so much emphasi...