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A Most Unusual Christmas Tradition
(This is a reprint from my blog from December, 2009).It wasn't intended to be a Christmas tradition and yet because it took place over several years when my brother, sister and I were young, it became a tradition.In our house in Norwalk, California, the kitchen was...
The TRPFAW of Holiness
Internet problems were eating up valuable time. Even after multiple contacts with support people, I still couldn't get the problem solved. I was so frustrated! Have I mentioned I was frustrated? But then I remembered what I'd committed to in my devotional time that...
How Many Gifts Did You Receive as a Child?
The first Christmas Larry and I were dating, I went over to his house and noticed he had one present under the three. "Oh, you get all your presents on Christmas morning?" I asked."What do you mean?" Larry replied in surprise. "I only get one gift for Christmas."Oh...
Maybe It Won’t Be So Bad Afterall
Although I can’t stake any claim to conquering worry completely, many years ago as a fairly new Christian, I heard a concept that began my mental and emotional transformation about worry. I attended a seminar where the speaker gave an antidote for worry: “Think of the...
Is He a Good Guy?
I've had twelve wonderful days with my grandson, Raffi, 4, (even though I've been sick for the last few days), and will be heading home tomorrow. Raffi is obsessed with who is the bad guy and who is the good guy. If we're watching a cartoon, he'll ask, "Is he a good...
A Lesson from the Muppet Movie
I took my four-year-old grandson, Raf, to see "The Muppet" movie which is very cute. At one point in the movie one of the characters blows up something. Raf tried to push me out of my seat and said, "Go tell them to do that again." I thought, "If only I had that...
Do You Love Jesus?
For some reason, this question "Do I love Jesus?" has really intimidated me at times. My perfectionism rises strongly within me in regard to that question. I review all the ways I don't obey or act as God would want, and it feels like my "love" level for Jesus dips to...
Beware! Time Pressures!
As Christmas approaches and stresses seem to increase, one of the tensions is having enough time to do what we need to do. So in keeping with the theme of our last several posts, let me give you a story of the third principle (from a previous post): An opportunity is...
Who’s In Charge of Your To-Do List?
Congratulations to Freda who won the copy of Faith Deployed...Again. Thanks to all those who contacted me. Guess what? I just crossed off the last item on my to-do-list. Well, I guess more accurately, when I finish this, I will! (If you haven't read my previous post...
Submerged Under Details
Help! My pile of details has fallen on me and I can't get up!After returning from our trip, I began making a to-do list. I think it must be related to rabbits because it began to multiply. And it's feeling really overwhelming. So I needed to start reviewing some...
Encouragement for Military Wives
We're home from our trip. Thank you for your prayers for our safe arrival. For today's blog, here's an interview with Jocelyn Green, the author of Faith Deployed . . . Again: More Daily Encouragement for Military Wives, a newly published book with Moody Publishers. My...
Good Bye to Greece
Our time in Greece is drawing to a close. On Thursday morning we’ll fly out for a two week vacation. We’re continuing to see the Lord work and it’s been both marvelous and humbling. To see how God uses you, especially as a broken vessel, brings great gratitude. I...
If the Door Doesn’t Open
About six weeks ago, as we were on the verge of leaving for Greece, I wrote on my blog that it felt strange that we didn’t know a lot about what we were going to be doing. We knew we were scheduled for a Marriage Seminar but that was it. It was also strange because...
Beware! Wild Beasts!
As I thought of my last post about unearthing the boulders, rocks and stones of sins in our lives, I was reminded of Deuteronomy 7:22, “The LORD your God will clear away these nations before you little by little; you will not be able to put an end to them quickly, for...
Picky, Picky, Picky
(Prayer Update for our Ministry here in Greece: Pray for continued ministry to those who came to the Marriage Seminar. Especially pray for one couple with whom we had the privilege of sharing the Gospel with them and we're praying they'll want to meet with us...
Why Do We Do What We Do?
Several posts ago, I wrote about my idol of being seen as magnanimous and compassionate. As April, our hostess here in Greece, and I were driving along downtown Zakynthos this morning (she was driving, I was in the passenger seat), the Holy Spirit suddenly gave me an...
Life in a Greek Village
We are ministering on an island called Zakynthos, a six hour drive from Athens (which includes an hour-and-a-half ferry ride.) The village of Lithakia is specifically where Taki and April live. It’s really been a fascinating experience to be among the people. We have...
Introducing Taki & April Korianitis
Let me tell you about the amazing couple we’re working alongside here in Greece. Five years ago, when Larry and I were invited to go to Poland to speak, we asked around for other opportunities to minister in Europe while we were there. Our pastor, Marvin O’Dell,...