Respect. Aretha Franklin sang about it, Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke about it, teachers in primary and secondary schools preach it every day. And yet, here we are in a world where good examples of genuine, unconditional respect are hard to come by, especially in the news. I feel pretty… Read More »Why Everyone Deserves Unconditional Respect
On a beautiful autumn day in 2009, my husband and I pledged our commitment to each other in a small country church packed with people. I wore my grandmother’s 1940s wedding dress and walked down the aisle on my father’s arm to while friends performed original music composed by yours… Read More »The Lost Art of Commitment: Be Different, Follow Through!
Do you know how to be a good listener? No, seriously. Do you truly know how to listen so others will talk and share their deepest hurts? Their darkest fears? The opinions and beliefs they know you won’t agree with? Good, honest listening has become something of a lost art—and… Read More »Do You Know How to Listen So Others Will Talk?
Most of us tend to view the mind as a sanctuary—a place to hide our innermost workings from the rest of the world. But what if, at any given moment, there was the high possibility someone could hear what you were thinking as clearly as if you’d spoken it out… Read More »Warning: Control Your Thoughts Now, Before They Control You
Do you know how to love God? How many people never, ever ponder that question? Some assume believing in Jesus is enough. Combine that with a prayer of thanks every now and then, and you’re good to go, right? Bonus points for going to church on Christmas and Easter or… Read More »How to Love God: What is God’s Love Language?
Spend enough time at any Christian church, and you’ll hear one animal species mentioned so often you might find yourself glancing around to see if there are any standing in the aisles or chewing the altar flowers. Sheep. Only they’re not spoken of in the context of good farming practices… Read More »Why God Compares Us to Sheep: A Shepherd’s Perspective
It’s a powerful promise wrapped inside a vivid picture: “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” To “flee” something is not to back away cautiously or make a casual retreat. Fleeing implies an act of desperation—a high-tailed, heart-pounding race from danger. If you resist the devil, he will… Read More »Why Christian Teens Must Always, Always Be on Guard
Self-control: the ability to govern one’s emotions, actions, and desires, especially in difficult situations. Think for a moment about why that’s an important skill. Why not eat an entire triple-decker chocolate ganache cake all by yourself, or stay up all night watching Gilmore Girls reruns? Those who develop self-control recognize instant… Read More »How to Develop Self-Control as a Teen: Grow This Tree