Sizzling North Carolina temperatures this July 4th proved too much for our air conditioner. Our dog Strider pawed his favorite air vent on the normally cool pine kitchen floor, trying to coax it to release cool air. Larry texted our A/C man. He was at the...
Has Your Salt Lost Its Flavor?
One year my husband and I decided to start the new year with a detox diet. I bought the cookbook, and together we shopped for the natural ingredients we’d be eating. The diet included a variety of good foods, so it didn’t look too difficult. But the detox banned one...
Warning: This Misunderstanding Can Ruin a Good Marriage
“Debbie, you really stirred things up last night,” our missionary host said. “When you speak to the pastors’ wives, please don’t mention anything that deals with marriage relationships.” My eyes widened. Our host had explained the machismo mindset among the men of El...
Why Hardship May Show God’s Love for You
Years ago, a book by a zookeeper told how mama giraffes knock the feet out from under their newborn babies when they are learning to stand. That sounds like a cruel “Welcome to the world.” However, the opposite is true. In the world of lions and tigers, a baby...
What Is Spiritual Light, and Why Do Some Hate It?
I took a moment to savor the soft morning light splashing rainbows off the chandelier’s crystal pendants and lighting the face of an orchid. My response intrigued me since the sliver of light peeking through my drapes the previous night had irritated me when I was...
How to Enrich Your Personal Bible Study
“There was not a dry eye when we discussed Bathsheba.” Hearing that one of my books helped an individual or a group deeply connect with a portion of Scripture warms my heart. The above comment came from a Bible study group that had just finished Little Women, Big...
Father of Lies Part 9: Experiencing Jesus as Our Shield
A man with a poisonous dart gun begins shooting the people around you. These darts cause blurred vision, distorted reasoning, and death. People wander around you in circles mumbling incoherently. He spots you and takes aim. A large shield lays ahead. If you can reach...
Beyond Slander: Finding God’s Truth in Father of Lies Part 8
My husband and I climbed aboard the Universal Studios tour tram. Pregnant with our first child, I squeezed my eyes shut when we entered a tunnel that created the optical illusion of us spinning upside down. Telling myself this was only an illusion didn’t settle my...
Father of Lies Part 7: Victory Over Temptation
What comes to mind when I say “Temptation”? When I asked a group this question, one woman squealed, “Fun!” The rest of us laughed as images of favorite treats danced through our minds. The devil works overtime to make us view temptation as nothing more than a harmless...
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