The gospel arrived in Europe via a divergent and unlikely path. It was divergent because the Lord thwarted man’s plans and introduced a better one. It was unlikely because it was a Jewish woman—a prominent entrepreneur named Lydia—who became the continent’s first recorded disciple.
Scripture only mentions Lydia twice. But each mention demonstrates her full surrender and hospitality.
Meeting her and a group (more…)
Recently members of our church distributed school supplies at a back-to-school event in an underprivileged community. To our church’s credit, we had more volunteers than we needed to man the tables, so I decided to be on the lookout for families as they arrived or for people carrying empty backpacks. Then I would lead families to the tables where they would (more…)
A friend loves at all times.—Proverbs 17:17
It was Labor Day weekend 2006, a month and a half after the death of our 12-year-old Springer spaniel Duncan, as we traveled from a friend’s wedding in Jacksonville, Fla., to a Wendy’s parking lot in South Carolina to meet our rescue puppy.
Called Floyd at the time, he had been rescued the night before he (more…)
The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.—James 5:16
If you don’t like awkward encounters, maybe you shouldn’t hang out with me because I’m the queen of awkward. And I hope that’s a good thing.
I’m that person who will ask a stranger how I can pray for her, and then, with her permission, I pray for her on the spot. (more…)
Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! – 2 Corinthians 9:15
It had been a hard year, and I found myself sharing my heart with a trusted friend. “I don’t think we’re going to be able to do much for Christmas this year,” I said sadly.
“You mean Christmas presents or Christmas itself? Because Christmas isn’t about presents,” she replied. Her reply (more…)