The Voice It’s the term we usually associate with things like eating. For instance, ever hear the voice in your head say something like… ‘Just one more cookie’ or’ Just a tiny piece of pie’ or ‘Just one piece of red velvet cake.’ When the voice starts down this road, there’s usually an internal argument…

I love quotes. They so succinctly capture what I can sometimes struggle to put into words. Like this one right here! Words kill, words give life; they’re either poison or fruit — you choose. Powerful, right?!!? The quote isn’t from some celebrity or person in history. It wasn’t written by some new author or any author in…

Turn out the lights, the party’s over The week between Christmas and the New Year ends up being a peculiar time for many. It’s a time when we look back throughout the past year at what we accomplished or didn’t accomplish, regrets, and successes. It’s also a time when all the anticipation of Christmas comes to…

Birth Celebrations If you’re a parent, there’s one thing that you cannot forget. The birth of your kids. Each of my girls was an incredible — unique, challenging, and filled with adventure! They were also filled with celebrations. They happened in the delivery room with hospital staff the first few moments after delivery. Nicky and I celebrated…

Let’s start with the food of Christmas Is it just me, or does food seem to taste better at Christmastime? The dinner rolls, stuffing, ham, potatoes, and gravy all just make my mouth water, and it’s not even 10 am yet! But the one group of foods that seems to stand out is sweets. You…

Christmastime It’s Christmastime, and nostalgia tends to take over for many of us. I think back to my own childhood. I recall the smells and tastes of Christmas, the memories created during family gatherings, kids’ Christmas programs, and Christmas parties in grade school. And if you’d asked me back then if I’d like Christmas all…

Contentment is found in prayer and thanksgiving Think back to the last good fog you drove through or were out in. I’m talking about the kind of fog you can’t see more than 10 feet in front of you. Dense fog makes it dangerous to maneuver a car, bike, or sometimes even walk! A few…

Contentment is found in gentleness It’s almost Thanksgiving which is fitting as we continue to discover the secret to contentment. Last week we set the foundation for Paul’s secret to contentment. Paul wrote contentment wasn’t found in whether he had plenty or was in need, but rather in Christ alone. Jesus was the wellspring, resource,…

Boxed In I don’t think I’m alone when I say that 2020 was a year that I felt boxed in. Plans were changed — better stated — plans were canceled. Life was interrupted. The normal flow of life was shaken up and turned upside down. Nothing felt super solid, and there was a lot of unknown. Situations have a…

Love, Talk, and Behavior Last week we looked at Paul’s words to Timothy. He encouraged Timothy to show himself an example by how he loved, spoke, and his behavior. We have the same encouragement when we respond to what happens to us in life. It’s in our reaction that tells what’s going on inside. And it’s…