SPIRITUAL SPARKLE
A Heart that is Fully Committed
My client walked into the fitness center, ready to begin her workout. I led her over to the treadmill to get her muscles warmed up. We stretched on a supersized mat and then headed toward the weight machines. Not long …
Spiritual Dangers of Reducing Stress through Eastern Methods
Have you ever been under a lot of pressure, experienced a major change in your life, were worried about something out of your control, or felt overwhelmed with responsibilities? If so, you know what it’s like to experience stress. For …
Boast in the Lord
I was sitting in on a personal trainers’ meeting, listening to a slick, fast-talking salesman tell us the best ways to increase sales for ourselves and for the gym where we worked. All I remember from that meeting was how …
Our Citizenship is in Heaven
It was a warm, sunny day with beautiful blue skies. I couldn’t think of a better place to be than outdoors in nature at our nearby Arboretum and Botanical Garden. A quick look around and it was easy to see …
Train for Godliness
She was there every morning sitting in her comfy living room chair with a cup of piping hot coffee and her well-worn Bible open in her lap. Oh, how my mother loved her quiet time with the Lord! I was …
The Rare Treasure of a True Friend
“Mom! You won’t believe what happened today!” I couldn’t wait to tell her all about it and would never dream of leaving out a single detail! One of the greatest treasures my mother ever gave to me was her friendship. …
The Connection of Contentment through Knowing God
I had just finished checking out at the grocery store when I noticed a young woman pushing her cart out the door just in front of me. She was wearing a long, pretty green dress with a floral print. Her …
Made to Be Dependent
A British diver was 330 feet underwater during oil-rig maintenance in the North Sea when something went terribly wrong. Chris Lemons was attached to a support ship by a cord used for oxygen and power for his headlamp when suddenly, …
The Push for Paganism
Have you ever been to a place in nature where the beauty is so breathtaking and picturesque it seems everything around you is giving glory to God? That’s how it felt for me while spending time in Asheville, North Carolina. …
The Fungus of Spiritual Compromise
Staying inside at home for the past three days due to several layers of ice on the roads has made me really appreciate movement! I have missed my daily walks around the neighborhood and am looking forward to getting back …
The Sufficiency of Scripture for Knowing God
Do you ever feel like there just aren’t enough hours in the day to do all the things you want to accomplish? As I have started leading a new Bible Study this year on the attributes of God, I am …
Protection By Design
As I was walking through my front door, I spotted something bright green out of the corner of my eye. I thought it was a leaf stuck to the outside brick and was about to flick it off when I …
The Perfect Covering for Our Shame
If I hadn’t been looking down, I would have missed him. Camouflaged in the fall leaves sat a sweet little box turtle. I leaned down to get a better view. As I got closer, he tucked his head into his …
The Fear of the Lord
A few years ago, I was introduced to an elderly woman with a beautiful smile. I’ll never forget the way her caretaker described her to me as a talented pianist, always joyful, and someone who has the fear of the …
God’s Presence Revealed
As we enter into this week of Thanksgiving, I am overwhelmed with a grateful heart for the many ways God reveals His presence and how very near He is to us. What an incredible gift to be able to know …