by Karen | May 17, 2017 | Staying the Course
Most professing Christians in the U. S. don’t attend church—the hub for the community of faith described in the Bible.[1] They find her irrelevant or without anything unique to offer.[2] Some people leave because of bad experiences. Reflecting on this, a friend noted...
by Karen | Mar 3, 2017 | Staying the Course
A couple of weeks ago, God put on my heart that I should pray for help to enjoy my husband more. That day, Paul was taking the afternoon off for us to attend our youngest son’s state swim meet together. In preparation for the ride, I gathered my laptop and paperwork...
by Karen | Feb 16, 2017 | Happiness
Happiness can be a hoax. We recognize this most acutely when our realized dreams disappoint us and when the pleasures we sought just don’t satisfy. But there’s good news! God wants us to be happy.[1] In fact, he commands it.[2] God’s commands are for our good.[3] He...
by Karen | Feb 1, 2017 | Hard Truths
How can we know that our salvation is sure? We need to be sure of our standing before God, because Jesus says that some who think they’re Christians will spend eternity in hell.[1] So what distinguishes people who are Christians from those who just think they are? For...
by Karen | Dec 21, 2016 | Staying the Course
I’ll never forget how God spoke to me though the prayers of another mom. Our fourth son couldn’t learn his alphabet in kindergarten. He remembered some letters one day but forgot them by the next. Late in my pregnancy, our doctor recommended an abortion because of an...