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Asking Better Questions
Many of us have had the experience of asking our kids "How are you?" or "How was your day?" and gotten a simple "Fine" or "I don't know." It's a question that doesn't usually get much of a response, and if I am being honest, I don't really like it when others ask me that question either. This seemingly, innocuous question is a socially accepted way to greet people, but it can get tricky. Sometimes it’s hard to identify “the legitimately want to know,” “the sort of want to know,” “the want to know, but tell me later,” and the “I really don’t care to know.” Even when I can…
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Bible Verses on Assurance for Your Family
I’ve noticed many people struggle with having assurance of their salvation. This occurs for numerous reasons, but sometimes it’s a result of placing too much emphasis on our actions. Assurance of our salvation should not be based on our good or bad actions. Good works may show fruit of salvation, but they are never the basis of salvation. Ultimately, our salvation rests in our trust in Christ alone and is substantiated by the objective truth of Scripture. When doubting, turn to God’s Word for assurance. Below is a list of verses I’ve compiled on assurance (click here to see these verses in an infographic format). John 1:12 John 3:16 John…
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Book Review: Window on the World
The Revised edition of Window on the World came out the end of October and makes a great addition to your prayer library—particularly for families or young people who have a heart for missions. The book is part of a collection of Operation World Resources that focuses on praying for the nations. The most popular book in the collection, Operation World, has received the ECPA Gold Medallion Award for Excellence in Evangelical Christian Literature and is listed among Christianity Today's “The Top 50 Books That Have Shaped Evangelicals.” Window on the World mirrors its predecessor, but is a simplified version filled with colorful pictures and designs created to appeal to…
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Flowers for Jesus: Showering the Homeless with Jesus’ Love
I am often reminded of a simple truth: It’s in remembering the forgotten that we have the most opportunities to share the love of Christ! As we spend time celebrating Valentine’s Day with our families this week, how can we share the love of Christ with others? A couple of years ago, I interviewed my friend Dalla O’Day (original post here) about a homeless ministry she started called “Flowers for Jesus,” while she was a student at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago. I am so encouraged by her love for others that I thought I would share an excerpt from the interview below: As a college student, you started a…
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Why Introverts Make Great Parents
In my ninth-grade P.E. class, we wrote down positive attributes for each of our classmates. My teacher assigned two of us—me and one other student—to compile the responses. Combing through the answers, I was surprised to find some people described as “shy.” I chose to leave it off. I am an introvert, but I hate the word shy. Honestly, I am not even sure I like the way “quiet” is often used. Both tend to have pejorative meanings in American society. Our culture tends to worship the extroverted ideal, doesn’t it? In Susan Cain’s bestseller, Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking, she emphasizes how…
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Christmas: A Joyous Birth Story
What brings you joy at Christmas? Of course, there are the usual answers: presents, fun decorations, and yummy foods. But looking deeper, what brings long lasting joy? While reading through the Christmas story recently, I was struck by how often the word “joy” (and its synonyms) appears. The fingerprints of joy appear everywhere, permeating the whole story. Consider for example: Mary’s Visit to Elizabeth— John the Baptist leaps for joy in Elizabeth’s womb when Mary arrives, and Elizabeth calls Mary “Blessed Among Women” (Luke 1:39–45). Mary’s Magnificat— Mary sings a song of praise to the Lord, proclaiming “my spirit rejoices in God my Savior” (Luke 1:47). The Angelic Proclamation to…
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Two Halloween Opportunities
We may love or hate it, but we can’t avoid Halloween—it comes around every year. As you talk with your friends, neighbors, and co-workers about all the revelry, don’t miss these two divine opportunities. 1. Build Relationships. Halloween is one of the few times when the whole neighborhood comes knocking. It’s not always easy to build relationships, but this one’s a no-brainer. Sit on your porch and talk to everyone who comes to you. It’s a stepping stone to deepen relationships, which will show you care and, in turn, may provide opportunities to share your faith. 2. Exult in Christ’s victory over evil. People might look at you funny if…
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Becoming a Welcoming Church
As parents, we know all too well the pressures of simply getting out the door on Sunday mornings with kids in tow. Along with that comes the added pressure of checking our children into their classes, making sure teachers know about a child’s allergies, or calming a tearful toddler. When it comes down to it, welcoming new people isn’t always on our radar. And sometimes, the bigger problem is that we think our church is already so welcoming that it won’t make a difference if we fail to greet a guest. Thom S. Rainer (church consultant and author of Becoming a Welcoming Church) learned not to ask church members if…
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Back to School Prayer Acrostic
A couple weeks ago, my son bounded down the stairs before I left for work, proclaiming, “I am so excited!” “Why is that?” I asked. “I get to start Kindergarten,” he proudly proclaimed. Then he marched over to our fridge calendar and showed me how many days until the start of the school year. My older daughter, on the other hand, isn’t so sure she wants summer to be over. She’s nervous about a new class and fears it won’t be as fun as last year. Whatever your situation—starting school, packing a child’s lunch, or slowly sipping pumpkin lattes—chances are you’ve got a lot on your mind. Yet, no matter…
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A Bucket List of Questions on Spiritual Topics
Let’s talk for a moment about the proverbial summer bucket lists. Maybe yours include sidewalk chalk, sprinklers, and blueberry cobbler. Perhaps they include something bigger like a special family vacation to Yellowstone National Park or snorkeling in Maui. Either way, we all know time is finite. Consider this: You have only 13 summers left before your kindergartner goes off to college, Just 8 more summers with your 5th grader, and Only 4 more summers with your freshman. How will we make the most or our summers? What memories will we create? For my family, this often means pulling out our Cuisinart ice cream maker for numerous concoctions. I can tell…
