They were there to gather donations to fill the shelves of a local food pantry. The boys, dressed in their troop uniforms, were greeting customers as they entered the grocery store. Each patron received a flyer detailing what items were needed and then were sent on their way with a smile.
Lyme Disease is no longer a Northeast problem. It’s a nationwide issue. While the CDC reports that nearly 300,000 new cases of Lyme Disease are reported each year, I estimate that the number is far greater. And while I do not advocate staying indoors and avoiding the great outdoors all together, I do recommend that you take a few common sense precautions before, during, and after you head out to enjoy the world around you:
Continue reading “Lyme Disease Prevention: 5 Tips to Be Tick Smart”
It was the Saturday before my first day of middle school. I was scheduled to babysit for a family from our church. When I arrived, the couple was finishing up a few last minute details. Their youngest son looked up at me and asked, “Do you want to see my dog?”
Without thinking twice, I said, “Sure. Let’s go.”
A few weeks ago my husband and I conducted a little experiment of sorts. We gathered our children around the computer to watch a video clip of a church service from a very, very popular pastor. This mega church leader and author is known for his uplifting, positive, and inspiring messages. Regardless of how his message begins, the ending is always the same: All will be well; the Lord will bless; you will be happy because that’s what God wants…your happiness. The prosperity gospel defined. This, my friends, is a dangerous, yet popular gospel and millions of people are drawn into the false hope that is preached.
As parents it is natural to contemplate what paths our children will take. We look at their strengths and weaknesses and speculate what the future will hold. We imagine how their lives will unfold. We hope for smooth sailing, straight roads, and few bumps along the way. We pray for health and success, safety and provision, triumphs and victories. Down deep, we hope for ease and often pray for it expecting God to work within our pre-approved framework. Continue reading “Are You Willing to Let the Lord Write Your Child’s Testimony?”
Yesterday I opened the refrigerator door and found this:
It happened every year. Two Christmases. Two days that were as stark a contrast as could be. Two Christmases – one meager, one abundant. One Christmas, simple, sacrificial, full of significance and hope. The other, extravagant, a balm to soothe the guilty soul, void of meaning.
As we gather together over the coming days our minds will naturally reflect upon all that we have to be thankful for. And while it is important for us to reflect and remember that we are truly blessed, while we need to remind ourselves that we indeed have much, will we remember the challenges of this life? Will we allow our thoughts to go back to the tough times? Will we give thanks for those valleys? For the struggles? For the life lessons learned through failures, tears, wrong turns, and mistakes? For us to truly say that we give thanks in all things, we must look at those times where the Lord was at work and call them good.
If the result of this week’s election has left you angry, scared, and concerned for the future of our country, I want you to know that I understand how you feel. I have experienced those same feelings. I know what it is to have a flood of anger rush over you. You scratch your head, “What were these people thinking?” I know what it is to feel a deep concern for the direction our nation is headed. I know how it feels to experience fear over what kind of nation our children will grow up in, what kind of nation they will raise their own family in, what kind of a nation you will grow gray-haired and old in. I know what it is to be gravely concerned about the security of this nation. I know what it is like to look at the television with tears in your eyes as the election results come in. I know what it is to grieve for a land that you love and call home.
Continue reading “If You Are Upset About the Election, I Understand”
It was roughly three years ago. I was in my kitchen preparing lunch. As I typically did, I turned on the radio to catch up on some news and the political talk of the day. I listened for no more than five minutes then promptly turned the radio off in frustration. I dried my hands and picked up the ringing phone. It was my husband. He usually called at lunch time to check in with the boys and me.
Continue reading “How Will My Life Change After the Election?”
Life in the Van 