Welcome to My Blog
Book Give-Away: “Praying for the Prodigal”
Some time ago, Andrea Merrell, who edited my book Partly Cloudy with Scattered Worries, let me know that she was writing a book about coping with having a Prodigal titled Praying for the Prodigal. I wanted to read that book--because although our relationship with...
Do You Suffer From the Railroad Tracks Syndrome?
As each of us travel a new road of greater commitment to the Lord, we became aware of reactions in our lives that Larry and I began to call the “Railroad Tracks Syndrome.” This is when we say we believe one thing (usually the biblical, godly way) but our behavior...
God Knows I Had A Seizure
I'm surprised that with my current circumstances that the Holy Spirit keeps bringing to my mind Ephesians 3:20. After all, God knows I had a seizure, it's no secret to Him, yet He promises: "Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or...
Jesus Is Our Sympathizer
I was reminded of Hebrews 5:8-9 the other day when we studied it in church. It's a verse that can be confusing:Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered, and having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the...
Do We Love Or Do We Love Well?
Do we love others or do we love others well? All of us love imperfectly. But loving “well” means we love a person for their benefit rather than what it does for us or how it makes us look. We're not talking about perfection but we are talking about desiring another's...
When Are We Like the Rich Young Ruler?
Do you want to see Jesus’ compassion and patience in action? It’s in Jesus’ encounter with the rich young ruler.In one way or another, we’re all like the rich young ruler of Matthew 19:16-22. We just each have a different sinful strategy to cope with life. The young...
Jesus Said “No” to Heaven’s Delights
Because of the Lenten Season anticipating the Passion and then resurrection of Jesus, I was mediating on what Jesus said "no" to because of being here on earth. He said "no" to the delights of his home, heaven. Those thoughts seem very real to...
Protect My Image At All Costs
Here's one of my husband, Larry's, stories in our book:I, Larry, remember as a child in Sunday School protecting myself from the ridicule of others about my poor public reading skills. It would just kill me when the teacher would have the group read a passage of...
What Does “Godly Sorrow” Look Like?
Several years ago, a friend passed along confidential information about us and we were hurt. It initially felt “right” to wallow in our pain and we wanted to strike out in anger. But then we rehearsed how we could choose to have godly sorrow instead.When someone sins...
I Have Every Right to Be Angry at That Driver!
(Thanks to my husband, Larry, who shared this in our new book, Never Ever Be the Same: A New You Starts Today.)As Christians we have no rights and entitlements. We can only rightfully claim the promise of our inheritances in Christ and any other promises...
Should We Say “This Too Will Pass”?
Have you ever considered your trials and found comfort through thinking, “This too will pass”? That phrase sounds benign enough but I’m wondering if it leaves out God in some way. Because, at least for me, it supports in my heart an attitude of “I’ll just grin and...
How Do You View Spiritual Growth?
How do you envision spiritual growth? Most of us think of it visually like a linear time line. On the left side of the line we make a step of progress and the temptation seems to be behind us and we won’t address it again. We have moved along that line to the right...
What Does Holiness Feel Like?
Have you ever wondered what holiness feels like? Malachi 4:2 expresses what God might like us to experience when we see the fruits of holiness that he is producing in our lives: “But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its...
I Deserved the Traffic Ticket
I was driving down a California freeway on a superbly beautiful day of fluffy clouds on a background of clear blue sky and I just felt very happy. My happiness pressed my foot against the accelerator as the wind from the open window blew through my hair. I didn't see...
I Confess! I’m a People Pleaser!
I confess! I’m a People Pleaser! I’m motivated to please others for a variety of reasons and one main one is thinking I should never say “no.” Why?What will they think of me if I’m not the Super Woman who can say “yes” to everything?If I don’t say “yes,” then I’ll...
When Good Traits Aren’t So Good
It may seem strange but a good quality or behavior can actually become a means of leaving God out of our lives. We have recognized that in ourselves.I, Kathy, love being seen as dependable. Early in life, to try to protect me from some painful things, I decided, ...
What Is Your “Walker” of an Idol?
One Christmas when my ninety-year-old mother-in-law, Audrey, lived with us, our then-three-year-old grandson, Raf, was fascinated with Audrey's walker. As he walked (or ran!) away with it, Audrey became visibly anxious calling out to him, “Don't take away my walker. I...
Oh No! Nothing Bad Has Happened On Our Trip!
Oh no! Nothing bad has happened on our trip. Larry and I are sitting in the airport at Amsterdam waiting for our flight to Athens. Then the next day we'll head to Zakynthos (Greece) where we will spend four weeks ministering through seminars and connecting with...