Are you one who likes to have a “Word of the year?”  Sometimes I do, sometimes I don’t.  Mostly because several years ago I tried hard to pick one out and try to live with it, but there have been times when the Word shows itself to me instead, or the Lord, that is. This word started showing up back in the middle of this past summer and I jotted it down.  I hadn’t necessarily forgotten that word, but it faded after a month, but it’s shown itself several times again this past w

It’s the first day of Lent. Ash Wednesday. For Christians, Lent is the 40 days before Easter Sunday. It was originally designed to be an act of fasting, repentance, and spiritual discipline like Jesus did in the wilderness, while also reflecting on the suffering and sacrifice Jesus did on the cross for our salvation and the eternal joy of resurrection to new life. It’s a holy experience where we choose to deliberately reflect on all that Jesus did for you and for me. A way

Is there something in the future of your life you sometimes wonder?  And even worry a little bit – hey we’re human and I know Jesus tells us not to, but we just do sometimes. What is yours?  I admit I wonder when I get older if I’ll be diagnosed with dementia and have memory loss.  After college, I worked for several years in a retirement community in the health services where the residents who did have dementia lived. I loved spending time with them and keeping them active,

“Friends, when life gets really difficult, don’t jump to the conclusion that God isn’t on the job. Instead, be glad that you are in the very thick of what Christ experienced. This is a spiritual refining process, with glory just around the corner.” (1 Peter 4:12-13 MSG) I remember reading a book several years ago that opened my eyes to what Jesus FELT the last 12 hours of his life: his prayer in Gethsemane, as he carried his cross and then nailed to it, and finally until he t

My name is Virginia Elizabeth and most know me as Beth. We named our daughter Elizabeth and call her Libby. My grandmother’s name was Elizabeth but her friends called her Lib and her niece, Elizabeth, went by the name Libba. Elizabeth Ballinger was my grandmother’s great, great aunt back in 1842. Obviously, the name Elizabeth has been passed on in our family tree for many years. So, when I saw the name Elizabeth in the Bible, I instantly took a liking to her. Maybe we’re rela

“All the earth will shout your praise!  Our hearts cry out, these bones will sing, ‘Great are You, Lord!’” The morning after hosting IF:Alamance for the 2016 IF:Gathering, our large congregation poured out praise to God singing that song.  I felt the “weightiness and substance of God’s Spirit” in my bones as Jo Saxton had described glory earlier that weekend. It felt so real.  Flashbacks of the past couple of days from IF:Gathering 2016, and singing that same song Lauren Chan

I’m still trying to process the experience I had last week. I’m trying to think of the best words to put on this paper, the most amazing story that will capture your attention, because I want you to have experienced the same thing that over 550 women did as we gathered to worship God, study His Word, communed with other believers, and be equipped to spread the Gospel. I sit in this chair holding an empty bowl.  It’s empty for a purpose.  It has a crack right through the middl

We saw the city skyline in the distance along with some pretty dark clouds coming right over it too.  But we were in St. Louis, Missouri, somewhere my husband and kids had never been, and going to see the big ‘ole arch was on the list of things to do on our trip. After getting lunch right outside the city, we drove in and not knowing exactly where to park, we pulled in to one of the first lots we saw empty parking spots.  We got our rain gear out because looking on our phone

To be or not to be, that is the question. Quick: What’s the book and who’s the author? Hamlet by William Shakespeare. I remember reading Romeo and Juliet in high school but when I got to college, and I thought at the time I wanted to be a high school English teacher, I took a William Shakespeare course.  It was quite a challenge I must say: the meaning of passages and the fact it was a 2pm class. Shakespeare is some hard stuff to understand.  His words don’t flow naturally in

Talking politics with others is not my cup of tea.  I don’t watch CNN or read the daily paper.  But there’s some things going on out there that’s hard not to hear.  And hard to hear.  With hearing Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s call for help from our country who’s leaders are shunning, 21 martyred from ISIS, and the growing dangers of the world, to name a few, all are reasons to be on my knees more in prayer.  Prayer is needed here in Alamance county, too.  NC r

The past couple of years I’ve chosen a word and verse to focus on that year.  I remember this past December when I was fighting a yucky cold and feeling achy, I was on the sofa reading and these words caught my eye. “Do your best to present yourself to God as a women who is fully genuine, a worker unashamed of your mission, a guide capable of leading others along the correct path defined by the word of truth.” Define.  That’s it!  Define. This year maybe I can define more cle

Yesterday we read about a farmer and his visitor.  This visitor told this farmer to go and do mighty work for his people.  The Visitor also told the farmer He’d wait for him to go do that act of bravery he’s instructed to do.  He’ll wait until the farmer comes to the realization of how much the Visitor sees in him. While this farmer, Gideon, was talking with the Visitor, God, he asked, “Why haven’t you recently given our people miraculous things like you did to our forefather

I don’t usually post on Fridays but in light of yesterday being September 11th, I read this letter I received yesterday that I just had to share.  Jan Kempe is the leader of an amazing ministry call Faithful Hearts for women who “have a desire to learn more about their faith, find godly counsel and just a place to rest.”  Her words and reflections about 9/11 spoke loud to me and hopefully it will to you, too.  Thank you, Jan! As I pray for us today I’m remembering that it’s 9