Category - faith

faith, hope, Love & Health

What if…

What happens when…?

Will I be okay…?

I couldn’t ignore the fact that this particular family member was especially worried. I couldn’t blame them. I’ve certainly been there before…

Will it be okay?

Will I make it?

How is it all going to work out?

Friend, maybe you’re there today. Maybe there are things that look impossible, improbable, or intentionally set against you. We all have moments when it seems we’re bumping up against an immovable mountain. I get it. I understand the feelings. I know the quagmire. In many ways, I can relate to the fear.

At the same time, I know what God says: Do not fear.

Some may say this is a command of God, and while that is true, I also believe it reveals the heart of God—that we would trust Him. That we would believe His heart toward us is good and His intentions toward us are kind. Even more, that when it comes to His work in our lives, He is able.

It’s easy to say in theory, “Don’t worry. Trust God. Just do it.”

But what does that look like in actuality? In reality? When the rubber meets the road?

I asked God about this the other morning as I sat outside and stared into the wide-open sky. There, I thought about how if you look for an animal in the clouds, you’ll find one.

What you search for, you will find.

What you look for, you will see.

If I’m looking for an animal shape in the clouds, I’ll see one.

If I’m looking for things to worry about, I’ll find them.

If I’m looking for the worst-case scenario, I’ll see it.

“For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.” (Proverbs 23:7 NKJV)

What if, instead of looking for gloomy things, we looked for sunny things? Namely, the Son.

What is God doing?

What is God saying?

How is God moving?

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” (Philippians 4:8)

God is doing good things. There is a sun somewhere in that gloomy sky. Even if it’s hidden behind the clouds, it’s still there.

Find it.

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When You Brace for the Worst

2 weeks ago

Walking outside, my body settled into a rhythm and my mind trailed off into prayer that likely sounded like, “God help me today… God lead me in my ways…”

But then I heard something. Something coming at me. A dog, running at full speed. Behind me. It was coming, fast. Mentally, I braced myself for impact. I was about to go down.

My heart beat a million miles an hour, my head wanted to duck for cover, my face contorted and tightened for impact…and then, the dog came and stopped alongside me.

It looked at me, almost asking, “Will you pet me?”

I exhaled. I was okay.

The owner screamed out, “Sorry to scare you. I usually let my dog run home.”

“It’s fine.” I answered.

But, was I fine? Why did I brace for the worst? Why did I expect the impact?

When life has hit a million times, I guess you keep on expecting that it will. When the worst has come and hit, something in you says, this is going to happen all over again.

Ever been there? Where have you been repeatedly hit?

And, might you – like me – expect the worst? Be bracing for what is bad?

To brace is an expectation; it is to tighten, to cover, to hide, to agonize. To trust is also an expectation: it is to lean on God and trust His protecting.

How do I change my unconscious instinct?

Well, I certainly don’t tell myself not to do it. Did you know that people who have a “Don’t let your dog pee on my yard” sign actually have yards that are more peed all over? We resist hard instruction.

What I do, instead is — even in the heat of a high-fearing moment — pause.

I pause and say, “God, You will protect me; I trust You.”

Even if the worst still does happen, God can still work it all out for the best. I really can trust Him! The bark may be loud, but the bite (in retrospect of all that has ever happened to me) has never had real impact!

What about you?

Friends, God’s protection is real.

Prayer: Father, raw fear is scary. Having disaster loom over you is the worst. Help me, in moments where I feel out of control, to remember You, Father. I have a Father who loves me and protects me. I can trust You. May I really do that. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

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Need a Rescue?

2 months ago

Sitting in my driveway, I wondered, could I hide out in the car just a little longer…?

I didn’t really know… But what I did know was that the consistency of the raindrops was soothing. And the lines running down the window were — intriguing.

I just wanted sit there — and watch — raindrops. At least they couldn’t hurt me. At least they were predictable. At least the car was a haven of sorts from the torrents of life about to hit — the downpour.

I exhaled. Soon, and alone, I knew I would have to brave the cold, the wetness, the elements, the problems, the future, the unknown, the pressure…

And no sooner did I contend with all this, than a flash of blue caught my eye on my left side. What was that?

My car door opened. The rain started in. A blue umbrella moved overhead. My daughter stood there — a smile on her face — holding an umbrella for me as cover — to guide me inside.

And in this moment, my heart melted a little. Wow. I was not alone. I was not fending everything all by myself. I was not unseen or left out in the cold in my position.

The second my daughter extended that cover, I realized that God extends the same cover over me, too.

God is my cover from all rain. From every element of life. From being left out in the cold. From being unseen. From getting hurt.

God is my protective umbrella. God sees me and provides safe cover. He does that for you, too…

Psalm 91:4 – “He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.”

Psalm 121:7 – “The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.”

Friend, wherever you find yourself today… however you may feel left out in the cold, all alone… Whatever problems feel insurmountable… Or, whenever you can’t handle what is ahead…

My friend? Just like my daughter saw me out in the car, alone, God sees you, too. He sees you there — waiting on Him, hoping, maybe even crying out. He doesn’t leave you defenseless or unprotected; He comes to you. He protects you. He preserves you. He covers you. He takes you, as you follow Him.

My dear one? Let Him carry you out, as you surrender to Him and His safe cover. He will never lead you wrong.

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When Going Gets Tough…

March 4, 2026

attack, faith, grace

Pacing around my living room, it took everything in me to hold violent cries from sounding out. I was doing it! Yet, before long, I knew I couldn’t hold it in anymore; the excruciating stomach pains were unbearably strong. I had to tell my 12-year-old daughter that I was going to leave her at the house to head to urgent care. She would have to watch TV and check her email for any communication from me. My husband was abroad. She had the computer.

Once, at urgent care, I clutched my stomach and, not knowing where else to go, I screamed out to God, “Have mercy on me, Father! Help!!!” Bent over, I was not able to say much beyond that, as the pain was more powerful than any contraction I’d ever felt, and unrelenting. No food would stay down.

All I wanted was — to continue to live. I cried out to God to heal me, to help me and to console me.

Ten hours later, I made it to the emergency room then to the hospital. I came back home again, then went back to the emergency room, which led me to surgery.

God didn’t heal me in it, but He certainly carried me through it.

When I was crying out in the waiting room, there He was helping me to survive.
When I was told about surgery, there it came — perfect peace from Him, who is The Prince of Peace.
When I debated how I could actually live anymore — there He brought my husband back home as I went to surgery.
When I didn’t know what to do — He brought me a straight-shooter, authority speaking surgeon who spoke my language.

He was there with me!

I can never escape from your Spirit!
I can never get away from your presence!
8 If I go up to heaven, you are there;
if I go down to the grave,[a] you are there.
9 If I ride the wings of the morning,
if I dwell by the farthest oceans,
10 even there your hand will guide me,
and your strength will support me… (Ps. 139:7-10 NLT)

How is God with you, right in the struggle, in the pain, in the problem, in the issue that you are dealing with? Maybe He isn’t delivering you exactly how you expect, but I ask you: How is He right there with you? How is He helping you?

Give thanks! Give thanks with a grateful heart. His deliverance is His presence.

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
His love endures forever. (Ps. 136:1)

That’s what I see now. He didn’t remove the pain, but He carried me right on His back right through it and that is enough!

I live on. I give Him all the glory. His ways are the best ways. Let us never forget.

Staying With Jesus, Even When…

February 4, 2026

awe, faith, God, hope

My gums were swollen and I’d tried everything… I oil rinsed my mouth. No dice. I headed to a specialist’s office to get a re-treatment for an old root canal. It didn’t work. I got a crown. Still, my gums were swollen. Tender. Throbbing.

Trying to ignore this situation, I sat down with God. A time of inspired bible reading would bless me, I was sure of it, but even still, my mind trailed off…

I can’t fix this issue.
What do I do?
I have a problem that God doesn’t seem to be fixing.

Before long, my fingers dug out my phone from under my journals and my thumbs tapped away. I was frantically searching a variety of new and yet-to-be-found solutions…

Admittedly, in this moment, the gap of my great need was not filled with God, but with an aching pressure to figure things out. I could do it!

One can’t really rest, until “the issue” is put to rest, right? Or, that’s the lie we tell ourselves anyway.

We can’t spend time with God until after the kitchen is cleaned, or the work is done, or the kids act better, or we handle x, y, and z. We can’t really do ministry, until we get our act together. We can’t really love our husband until…

It’s funny though. In retrospect, I was believing a lie…

The lie was: I could manage my future.
The implication was: I lost time with God.
The truth is: there is only one true Manager of my life. Only He is named, Savior — Jesus.
The irony is, the molar recently got pulled, leaving me with a huge gap in my mouth.

Indeed, I lost God in that gap of time, just as much as there is now a huge gap in my mouth. It’s funny how things happen sometimes.

Yet, I will not miss this gap right now, my friends. For here lies a “gap of learning” I can embrace. A huge, blessed gap where wisdom surfaces and where life change happens. And I will embrace it, together with you, dear friend.

For, here, in this “gap of learning”, I remember, I am not the fixer, the controller, or the manager of my future. Better than being a manager, is pure surrender.

Surrender looks like staying with God, even when worry pulls left and right and stress tries to move me up, down, and all around. For trusting Him is more important than figuring everything out.

Wait patiently for the Lord.
Be brave and courageous.
Yes, wait patiently for the Lord. (Ps. 27:14 NLT)

Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight. (Prov. 3:5-6 NIV)

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A Miracle Happened

January 15, 2026

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This past Sunday was a normal trip home from a soccer event, but I never expected tragedy to hit. Pulling into our driveway, there is a little hill that leads down to our garage.

This day, we pulled into the driveway, joyous. Why? Because right before hitting our driveway, we were talking about God’s love. I shared how I recently heard data from a neurologist who said that spending 15 minutes a day thinking about God’s love for us, changes our brain. My whole family liked that idea. My son, since this conversation, has even put that into practice and noted how he felt God’s presence.

So, we pulled in the driveway on this particular day, all caught up with that idea… My husband put the car in park, and my daughter rapidly got out. Because we were on a hill, the car then rolled forward a tad. And, this is when it happened. A scream sounded out from my daughter!

“The car is on my foot, daddy! It is on my foot! Move it back! Move it back!”

Oh no! I thought. My daughter, my precious daughter, who has big dreams to play soccer. What is going to become of her foot?!

My mind started to get fuzzy.

“Which way?” my husband yelled out!

“I don’t know!!!” she screamed. I couldn’t think either.

My husband moved the car.

“That’s the wrong way! It’s going more on my foot, daddy! More on my foot… Move it!!!!!”

The tire of a car that weighs 5,000 pounds was driving over her foot. Oh. My. Goodness.

Finally, he moved the car in the right direction. And, then it happened — she walked away scot-free. No pain. At all. Perfectly fine. Protected. All clear.

Even though she had bare feet, God offered her complete protection. His love was live, active, and at work. God loves her and loved her. What a testimony.

He protects us too, even though many of us do not even know the miracle of His protection at work. The delay that protects us from the accident. The call that diverted the tragedy. The removal of someone who would have caused destruction.

God has probably fended off a million tragedies and performed a million miracles in each of our lives. He loves my daughter and He loves you… He deeply loves you… He continually protects and keeps you…

He is the Shepherd of your soul and the Keeper of your life, and He does it well!

After the moment of horror, I went inside and I iced her up anyway. My husband went out and got something out of the car. When we pulled up in the car, I did not have the audio playing the bible, but when my husband went back in the car it was playing Deut 4:34 where it talks about miraculous signs and wonders.

Has any other god dared to take a nation for himself out of another nation by means of trials, miraculous signs, wonders, war, a strong hand, a powerful arm, and terrifying acts? Yet that is what the Lord your God did for you in Egypt, right before your eyes. (Deut. 4:34 NLT)

We had seen a miraculous sign and wonder, for sure.

Let’s take a moment and thank God for His goodness, His love and His protection — the millions of miracles we have walked in, but maybe never seen.

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It Takes Courage to be How God Made You

November 7, 2025

faith, Freedom, God, grace

It takes courage to be you. It takes courage to be strong when God and HIs Word lead you…

When no one understands. When people misinterpret your actions. When God impresses something on your heart. When you let down your guard. It takes courage.

To be fully an extrovert. To be entirely an introvert. To take the time to indulge in a hobby. To speak up. To stay quiet.

It takes courage.

To see the things others cannot. To see what others can see. To encourage others even to the point of seeming like you care too much. To stand strong in God’s calling even if it seems like you care for others too little.

It takes courage.

To stand by the Word of God’s truth even when culture pulls a different way. To worship with all your heart, mind, soul and strength. To be passionate. To love so deeply that is risky. To not speak because you know God is not calling you to.

It takes courage.

To be who God created you to be, even when it feels odd, even when you stand out, even when you feel you should fit in, or be like the others, or look like the others… that takes courage.

To speak up. To stand up. To sit down. To go all out. To hold back. To give. To take. To learn.

To move as Jesus moved, means man won’t always understand. To love as Jesus loved will seem lavish — and too much. To pray as Jesus prayed, may seem isolating and sequestering to some. To heal as Jesus healed may be judged by some as not real for today. To give your life, may be interpreted as stupid, wasteful, or a life gone to waste.

So what?

Who are you living for — man or God? And how will you live your life? As a person of courage or of fear?

“For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.” (2 Tim. 1:7 NIV)

“Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.” (Gal. 1:10 NIV)

“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” (Eph. 2:10 NLT)

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The Key to Breakthrough

October 21, 2025

awe, envy, faith, hope

The other day, I bent my key. It wouldn’t fit in my front door. The door would not open. I had to unbend the key to fit the lock and open the door. This got me thinking of the power of one simple key…

The right key opens the door.
The wrong key does not open the door.

Some of us may be using the wrong key on the right door. Others, may be using the right key on the wrong door. Either way, the door won’t open.

This is why prayer leads us to the right key to open all right doors.

Jesus tells us:

““Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.” (Mt. 7:7 NLT)

Keep asking.
Keep seeking.
Keep knocking.

In the asking, we will go about receiving. Sometimes we receive the understanding to shift two doors to the left or right.

In the seeking, we will go about finding. Often, seeking shows us what we first wanted, is not what we most needed at all.

In the knocking, our persistent hunger calls on His hand to feed us. He responds.

“Then call on me when you are in trouble, and I will rescue you, and you will give me glory.” (Ps. 50:15)

Calling, with God, is not a one-time event and we give up. It looks like persistence, being fervent and expectant.

“Persistence”
per·sis·tence
Merriam-Webster definition: “to go on resolutely or stubbornly in spite of opposition, importunity, or warning”

“Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.” – Luke 18:1

“Fervent”
fer·vent
Merriam-Webster definition: “exhibiting or marked by great intensity of feeling”

“The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” (James 5:16)

“Expect”
ex·pect
Merriam-Webster definition: “to consider probable or certain”

“Wait for and confidently expect the Lord; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for and confidently expect the Lord.” (Ps. 27:14)

We persist with great intensity and know the probability of our Faithful God showing up! This is a key that opens doors of faith. Without faith, it is impossible to please God.

Prayer: Father, I want to have steadfastness and diligence to keep seeking you. I want to seek you and find you. I want to pursue you with all my heart, all my soul and all my strength. Give me the ability not to give up. Make me strong of heart. Give me the gift of intercession that keeps on, keeping on. In Jesus’ Name.

Invitation for you: I am holding a a day retreat in Charlotte on December 13. If you would like more information reply to this email. I would love to create a space and place for you to meet with God and to find inner healing.

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Only Just Believe!

September 25, 2025

God has a plan for your life, but so does the enemy.

I stayed back in third grade, wrote my sentences backwards, had a boss who hated my writing — and yet, here I am a writer, an author of 4 books, a speaker on national television. Who would have dreamed? Certainly, not me.

Sitting here on the couch, about two minutes ago, I considered this, but on a grander scale… As much as God has a plan for our lives, so does the devil. I also thought about how the natural is often the opposite of the supernatural — if only we believe.

(Jesus said), “Do not fear, only believe.” (Mk. 5:36)

Now, I am a four-book author (clearly, not because of me, but because of Him). My point is? God can do anything — if only we will just believe. If we believe He can, He often will.

““What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.”” (Mk. 9:23)

Where have we decided God can’t or won’t for us? Where have we figured our situation is impossible? Where have we resigned?

That very place, God CAN work… God can!

Let that soak into you – God can. It is high-time to believe GOD CAN.

For me? Sometimes, I have been left out of things. Cast aside. Excluded. Removed.

So what? God can!

For me? Sometimes, I have felt defeated. So, what? God can.

God can defy anything and everything at any given moment. God can include me in something SO great, with great people, for a great cause. God can. Either the past will rule my mind, or faith will.

I believe there are better days ahead. The people are out there. Maybe, He’s getting them ready. Maybe, He is preparing something. Maybe, He is readying His bride. I only just believe.

What do you need to believe for?
God can.

Prayer: Father, thank You that You always have a better plan. Thank You that you are famous for turnarounds. Give me faith. I need Your faith, the very faith of God to hope again. I ask this from You, right now. Thank You, Father. I am so grateful. I am so thankful. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

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Gain Right Perspective

August 4, 2025

faith, grace, hope