No Matter What - Hannah Hon

Having a thankful and grateful demeanor is not always an easy thing to maintain, especially in 2020 😊 . While we have many things to be thankful for, we are constantly reminded by the world of all we are “missing”. We begin to focus on the material and temporal, and our immediate needs come to live at the forefront of our minds and hearts. This begins to strip us of our grateful spirit and the peace that comes from giving thanks. But lets be honest, the circumstances we often face are not always easy for our human hearts to find the good in, are they? Finding the parts to complain about is much easier, and friends may even seem to listen more intently when we are going through tragedy. However, if we are not careful, we will find that going to that friend, or creating that social media post with all our woes and heartaches,(serious though they may be), becomes our first line of defense over stopping to take anything to our Savior.

Run YOUR Race - Tenille Hoffert

My husband ran a 50 mile race! Yes, you read that correctly. 50 mile trail race. Who in their right mind runs 50 miles? But that wasn’t enough for him. You see, there are these races that are 100 miles long. Seriously. Why? I’m really not sure, but he set his mind to it and signed up for one. Let’s be real… I was not (and am not) running 100 miles. That race was not for me! But do you know what was for me? Helping him. I could encourage him. I could support him. I could go on training runs with him, I could make sure he had all the tools he needed… Shoes, socks, clean running clothes, food, water, electrolytes, salt tablets… I could pray for him. And for months that is what I did. I was training for my races and he was training for his.

Christian Life, Christian Service, Encouragement, Faith, God's Will, marriageAmy SappNovember 9, 2020Run, Running, Race, Trials, Marriage

Surviving and Thriving - Heather Higgins

Do you ever feel like you are just merely “surviving”? Have you ever heard of the statement “survival of the fittest”? Although I am well aware of the statements origin, and I am in complete dis-agreement with the thought process behind its meaning, the statement has always intrigued me. Years ago I began taking the original meaning of the coined saying and have often used the expression but I added my own “twist” to it. I developed a spiritual application for myself.

Be a Good Steward - Maria Komisky

I've struggled with my weight my entire life! I can remember being overweight at the age of nine. I was teased at school for my weight and my lack of coordination. Throughout my teenage years and as an adult, I eased into a sedentary lifestyle. Combined with my love of food, my lack of physical activity caused my weight to balloon to just over 300 pounds at the age of thirty! My mother passed away at the age of 42 because of her lack of self care and not being a good steward of her temple. However, it still took me almost eleven years after her death to "see the light!"

Christian Life, Encouragement, Faith, Friendship, Life Changes, TrialsAmy SappSeptember 28, 2020Journey, Weight Loss, Steward, Thankful, Support, Encourgement

Word of Encouragement - Emily Queen

I think as women in general it is in our nature to give of ourselves in almost everything we do. We have a tendency to put everyone else’s needs before our own, especially in family life. If you are like me and chose a serving profession (nurse), then your job requires a lot of self-giving. So I give all day at work, then I get home and give the rest to my kids, and sometimes it is hard to have the motivation to fill myself back up again by spending time with the best Giver of all, my Heavenly Father.

Wanderer, Come... - Mistie Owens

Oh how I wish that was my life! I have wandered for much of it. Brokenly. Every repeat, reconciled moment with the Lord, I would rejoice in feeling close to Him, yet I would continue sojourning – spiritually never settling down, putting down roots with a home church, developing deep fellowships with other believers – and therefore never getting God's best for me. My growth was stunted, limited to solitary bible study and the occasional chat with a brother or sister in the faith, for much of my adult life. And I longed for the Lord, painfully so.

Your Pastor's Wife is Human! - Amy Sapp

Be faithful to all church services and soul-winning times, BE ON TIME, even be early, nothing shows love like being there! If you are a leader in your church, do better than average, there is a good chance that others will do a little less than what you do.

Hope - Heather Roloson

There’s an “expected end” to loneliness. I had a friend ask me a while ago if it bothered me that all my friends were dating and I was not. Being honest, sometimes there is that insecurity that says there won’t be an end to this season in my life. Then I remember I have a promise from God. Does that mean I will get married? Not necessarily. But the “thing that I long for”? The things that every human being longs for? Belonging and mattering? Oh yes, my friend, it’s coming. If not in my own family, then in the work that God is preparing me to do.

A Pattern of Good Works - Tracybeth Medford

The only good in us is because Jesus Christs righteousness and the Holy spirit that dwells in us. This past fall I went to a ladies craft day at a church camp with the ladies of our church. They go to this event every year, but this was my very first time attending. As I entered the room I saw four different craft stations set up, and at each station was an example of what we were about to create. Stacked neatly in piles on the tables were all the supplies needed to make that item. There were no written instructions on how to put it together but there was a leader stationed there if you needed any help. Guess who needed help?

Romeo & Juliet - Kelly Gray

Nature has a way of teaching us many lessons about life. One of my morning rituals is sitting on my back porch spending time with the Lord before my day gets started. This ritual always brings with it the combination of the beautiful East Texas morning, creation, and the love of God. Last week, I once again found myself on the back porch spending time with the Lord. However, this time two hummingbirds showed up to join me. I sat very still as I watched them hovering over the feeder.

Sit Down, Take Your Shoes Off, Sit a Spell... - Penny Owens

Cut people a lot of slack. Why? Because they need it just like we do. God says in Psalms 86:15, But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth. People are our most important business because they are the most important thing to God’s heart. I have been humbled many times by the knowledge that the pain I feel because of other’s actions towards me is the same feeling of pain I give to God when I hurt or disappoint Him. When we genuinely love people, we will work hard to show the same compassion, grace, mercy, and longsuffering that Jesus showed toward us. Be kind Wow! Have you ever seen an age where people are so thoughtless, selfish, uncaring, rude, and down right mean to others? Sadly, we Christians have not exempted ourselves from these faults. We criticize, demean, post critical memes, and name call, all in the veneer of being “on the right side”

Coined as a Christian - Dianne McQueen

First the coin is minted. I think the day we are saved we are minted for Christ. By being minted the coin is stamped with an image, because it has a value. The penny has Lincoln, the nickel has Jefferson, dime has Roosevelt and so on. When we are saved we have Gods image stamped on our lives therefore we are of more value than any coin.

Thoughts in Helping Young People / Ladies Going Through College - Stephanie Flesher

Each of us is on a journey. Education is important in learning the skills, truths, and concepts of a given topic, but scholastic education is not needed to be successful in life. Learning how to LIVE successfully for Christ is the most important education to receive. Learn at your own pace, but be responsible; get back up when you make a mistake; learn, know, and experience the love of Christ; and know that you are valued and valuable. You are enough for God. ☺

My Strong Tower - Carrie Furman

So, as far back as about 4 yrs old, I remember my mom waking me up on Sunday mornings and putting me on a bus to go to church. She never went with me, but honestly the only adults that I ever saw were my teachers, so I never thought anything about it. But I remember, no matter what, every Sunday, without fail, I’d get up and go to Sunday school. I remember learning all the Old Testament stories. I remember learning about Jesus being God’s Son, and also being God.

Christian Life, Encouragement, Faith, God's Will, Trials, Trusting GodAmy SappJune 15, 2020tower, strong, testimony, cancer

In the Silence, My Mother Heard God - Jennifer Dignan Morales (with Mistie Owens)

May is a wonderful month because it is when Mother’s Day is celebrated. I have utmost respect for my mother any time of the year, and always strive to honor her. However, during this month of May, I want to reflect on how she taught me the virtues of being a godly woman and mother. As Proverbs 31:26 says, “She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness”. This verse evokes warm thoughts of her. Mom is wise, sweet, loving and it shows in how she interacts with others.

The Promise of His Presence - Susannah Faulk

Have you ever received a text, call or letter with the message, “Hey! I was just thinking about you!”? How wonderful to be the recipient of that sentiment, not only for the fact that someone was thinking of you, but that they took the time to let you know as well!

Christian Life, Encouragement, Faith, Love of GodAmy SappApril 13, 2020Promises, Presence, God, God's Promises, Messages

Hannah - Full of Grace - Laura Doss

Hannah is one of my favorite women in the Bible. We have something in common. Both Hannah and I begged the Lord for children. My husband and I went 21 years without children before we adopted our 3 little boys!! I understand Hannah’s heart…the countless tears that no one sees and the cries that no one hears.

Children, Christian Life, Encouragement, Faith, Trusting GodAmy SappMarch 30, 2020Children, Barren, Grace, Encouragement

Lemonade - Cindy Hall

We have all heard the saying, “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” About five years ago I started a health routine where I drink about 64 oz of lemon water every day. I don’t really care for the bitter, sour taste of lemons, but when you add a bit of sweetener, it’s pretty good!

Isn’t that the way life is? It’s full of disappointments that can cause bitterness, sourness; but if we can learn to add our sweetener, disappointments can become sweet blessings.

Christian Life, Encouragement, Friendship, Life Changes, Trials, Trusting GodAmy SappMarch 2, 2020Cancer, Lemonade, Sour, Humor, Promises

Friendship Makes Everything Better - Tina Dail

Our Savior, in His time on the earth, was our example in every way. He not only
taught us how to live, but He showed us how to live, how to behave, and how to treat
others. One of the things that stands out to me about the life of Christ is the relationships
he developed with the twelve men he hand-picked to be with Him. These men, who came
from a variety of backgrounds and occupations, were all uniquely loved and cherished by
Jesus. It is obvious that they meant more to Christ than merely the men who would carry
on His work after he went back to Heaven.

Children, Christian Life, Encouragement, FriendshipAmy SappFebruary 24, 2020Christ, Friendship, Joys, Parenting, Love, Children

Loving Like Jesus - Sarah Davis

An easy way to try this is to send flowers to someone’s home anonymously. You could leave a treat on someone’s car or desk. Mail a gift card to their home. Your heart will follow what your hands do and your lips pray. Remember Jesus example of love included a costly sacrifice, humbleness, and a tangible action--we have to be willing to spend our resources and make a sacrifice if we are to love like Him!

Christian Life, Encouragement, Friendship, Love of God, Trusting GodAmy SappFebruary 10, 2020Love, Jesus, Others, Enemies, Friends