Speaking Truth in Love

A Devotional Blog of Encouragement, Faith & Truth

God is Our Strength

My flesh and my heart fail; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. - Psalm 73:26 Today would have been my mother’s 99th birthday. Wow!...I can't believe it’s been 16 years since she passed. Tears still well up thinking and even writing about her. Such is that delicate relationship between ... read more

Stay In the Moment

When I hear the phrase “stay in the moment”, it always sounds so idealistic and a tad bit cheesy. Sure we all wish we could stay in the moment when we’re doing and enjoying the things we like.   Let’s face it, that concept is not so easy to embrace when staying in the moment means you're staying with pain ... read more

YOUR MOST VALUABLE ASSET

What is the most valuable asset you own? Is it your home, a vintage car? Perhaps it’s your investment portfolio? According to Architectural Digest the most expensive property in the world is Buckingham Palace in London coming in at #1. Buckingham Palace is valued at $2 billion! We place a lot of value on the things ... read more

The Divided States of America

“What country am I living in?” This was the question my friend, who is a military wife, posed while we were texting back and forth about the events of the past few days. My immediate reply was we’re living in the “divided states of America”.   When I read the words to the Pledge of Allegiance, I’m dumbfounded ... read more

An Enemy of the State

If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it. The lie can be maintained only for such time as the State can shield the people from the political, economic and or military consequences of the lie. It thus becomes vitally important for the State to use all of its powers to ... read more

It’s Not About Conspiracy Theories

Since the days of Jesus, there were conspiracies. The Pharisees had many opinions and theories about who Jesus was, even to the point of blaspheming by referring to the Lord as doing the work of Satan! It’s not about conspiracy theories. To be quite honest, I’m very much over all the talk/controversy/conspiracy ... read more

Awesome is Who GOD is and What He Does

Let them praise Your great and awesome name— He is holy. - Psalm 99:3 Here’s a thought to ponder: When was the last time you used the word “AWESOME”?  We use the word so flippantly to describe anything that the magnitude of its meaning can get lost. The word awesome is used over 100 times in the Bible to describe the ... read more

God Qualifies the Called

Have you ever felt under qualified? It’s not a comfortable feeling. After graduating from college, an event planning firm that I interned with hired me as their Sponsorship Coordinator. My job was to raise money for their non-profit client events. Although, I didn’t feel “qualified”; the firm still hired me for the ... read more

The Richest Place on Earth

14For it is just like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted them with his possessions. 15To one he gave five talents, to another two talents, and to another one talent—each according to his own ability. And he went on his journey. - Matthew 25:14-15 TPT The richest place on the earth is by far ... read more

Awakening the Call of God on Your Life!

One of the biggest issues many Christian women have faced is not knowing their God given purpose.  Most don’t even know where to begin, and unfortunately the Church has been less than eager to help in this area as well. This is why I’m excited to be a guest on Girlfriend’s Talking with my friend Ramona Torres to ... read more

Let Your Misery Be Your Ministry

There’s a saying that misery loves company. That's one way of looking at it. Or you can let your misery can also be your ministry that God uses to help others. Don’t discount the trials you go through as just something you’re going through for you. It’s much bigger than that.   When we find ourselves in ... read more

YOU WANT TO MOVE? BE STILL

Kids are not the only ones who have a hard time keeping still. As adults, we too can be fidgety and unable to keep still. Especially when it comes to wanting God to move in an area of our life and it's seems a slow process. Cue the fidget spinner. However, sometimes when you want to move, you have to be still. I’ll be ... read more

Jesus is Attractive Religion Not So Much

Jesus was attractive, because He connected with people where they were. The Lord Jesus didn’t judge them. He knew their hearts already, but he listened to their needs. The Pharisees along with religious leaders displayed no interest in connecting with the people. And so you cancel the word of God in order to hand ... read more

Forgiveness is Never a Choice

Luke 17:1-10 TPT As I think about the George Floyd trial and the verdict this week, I’m reminded of the importance of forgiveness.  Forgiveness is never a choice we willingly make. You hear a lot about choosing to forgive, but for a Christ follower, it’s not a choice.  It’s a command. A few years ago ... read more

He Holds Everything Together

It’s so easy to feel like things are falling apart in our life when things don’t go as planned. The unexpected diagnosis, marital discord, sudden passing of a loved one,  I’m sure you can fill in your own blank. And the world around us doesn’t look any better.   But...Even when it looks like things are ... read more

What Can You Give Out Of Your Poverty?

Then a poor widow came and dropped in two small coins. Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has given more than all the others who are making contributions.  - Mark 12:42-43 NLT As I read the story in Mark 12 about the widow’s mite, I pondered about what it means ... read more

The Cross of Endurance

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. - Hebrews 12:2 Not only did Jesus despise the shame of the Cross, He endured the suffering and physical pain that went along with ... read more

Will You Be Ready?

“But while they were gone to buy oil, the bridegroom came. Then those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was locked. 11 Later, when the other five bridesmaids returned, they stood outside, calling, ‘Lord! Lord! Open the door for us!’ - Matthew 25:10-11 Our time in life is limited.  We’re ... read more

The One Who Enables

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. - Philippians 4:13 This is post is part the FMF Writing Prompt Link-up :: Enable The One who enables is the One who Saves! The One who enables is the God who enables us to do anything through HIM.  Apart from Him, believers or unbelievers can’t do ... read more

The Beauty of Distraction

One of my favorite spots to read and just soak in the Scriptures is sitting by my bay window. As I look out, I find myself caught up in the beauty of distraction from God's creation. I'm distracted by the Lord's beauty, watching the sparrows flit about from a nearby bush. Just looking at the blue sky on a clear day ... read more

A Disposable Society

Have we become a disposable society? Seems like it, since we dispose what we don't want even when it comes to our children. There can be no keener revelation of a society's soul than the way in which it treats its children. Nelson Mandela we have become more concerned with the preservation of our planet than with the ... read more

Born for This

Luke 2:34 - Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against  The holiday frenzy has quieted down as we look hopefully forward to 2021.  In thinking about this past Christmas, my attention focused ... read more

5 Minute Friday – BEYOND

Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us - Ephesians 3:30 NASB For this week's Five Minute Friday the prompt word is BEYOND. This brings to my mind that God has done exceeding abundantly above and beyond my imagination.  When ... read more

Is God a Busybody?

Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another, And the Lord listened and heard them; So a book of remembrance was written before Him For those who fear the Lord And who meditate on His name. - Malachi 3:16 Have you ever listened in on your kids’ conversations? Ok, I admit I have. But it wasn’t to be a busybody in ... read more

Join The 25 Days of Encouragement Challenge

Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. - Hebrews 10:24 This season, I want to challenge you  (and myself) to join the 25 Days of Encouragement!   Now that we’ve come off of the Thanksgiving holiday, we see the usual sales and deals for this and the other.  Which, got me ... read more

Standing Your Ground

Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. - Ephesians 6:13 NLT You may be familiar with the term “stand your ground” from the Trayvon Martin case. That was an awful situation with a young man dying ... read more

It is Finished!

Happy Friday! I’m posting this quickie, as a  part of the weekly Five Minute Friday link-up with today’s word being “CANCEL”. These words of Jesus should burn in our hearts as a reminder that: 1. He canceled our eternal sin debt by nailing it on that Cross. 2. That word cancel means it’s a fresh start for you ... read more

Timeout for Disneyland & Granola Christians

15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. Ephesians 5:15-17 I say this with genuine love for my fellow brothers and sisters in the Christian faith,... it's timeout for ... read more

Which Way Are You Headed?

There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death. - Proverbs 14:12, 16:25 You have your way. I have my way. As for the right way, the correct way, and the only way, it does not exist." ~ Friedrich Nietzsche Knowing which way you're headed is important. It’s true that as humans we do have our ... read more

We Are All Ministers and Servants

1 Corinthians 4:1 - Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. I became ordained two years ago as a minister at our church. Although unexpected, I was uncomfortable with it until I researched the definition of a minister. Once I saw that it meant “servant” I was ... read more

You Lose What You Keep

For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. - Luke 9:24 You lose what you keep, when you try to hold on to something or someone. I'm reminded of this since my daughter just turned 16 last Sunday. Moms especially, are painfully aware with each passing year their ... read more

Are We On A Collision Course?

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. - Romans 8:28 Are we on a collision course? If we go by this year, then the answer is YES! 2020 has shown itself to be a doozy of a year. Look at what we've seen just in six months: ... read more

A Remnant may not be a lot, but it’s Enough!

Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. - Romans 11:5 We recently had a new floor installed in our home and there was a remnant of flooring left over.  It wasn’t much but would come in handy if a floorboard needed to be replaced.  While in prayer the Lord brought to ... read more

The Favor of a Blessed City

19 For I have known him, in order that he may command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of the Lord, to do righteousness and justice... Genesis 18:19 We're living in a time and season where some of our cities feel more like the fire and brimstone hailed down on Sodom and ... read more

Grief Is A Sign of Hope

Lamentations 3:22-24 22 Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. 23 They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. 24 “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I hope in Him!” It’s hard to ... read more

7 Great Reasons to Yield to the Holy Spirit

I know when we hear the word "yield" we go on autopilot and think to submit. Yielding can be challenging. We are naturally prone to self-preservation. In essence, we gravitate to doing what we want, when and how we want. We don't want to do anything that will make us accountable to someone else. Yielding ... read more

How To Pray Precision Prayers

This is Part 4 of the Series on PRAYER: If You Don’t Pray, God Can’t Move Hebrews 4:12 - For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and ... read more

In our repentance, there is healing

15 Their minds are dull and slow to perceive,     their ears are plugged and are hard of hearing,     and they have deliberately shut their eyes to the truth.     Otherwise they would open their eyes to see,     and open their ears to ... read more

What Do You See?

2 Corinthians 4:17-18  17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not ... read more

Power Belongs To God

Scripture Reference: Psalm 62:11 God has spoken once, twice I have heard this: That power belongs to God. PART 2 OF "If you don't pray, God Can't Move I mentioned in my last post that PRAYER is our way of communicating with God like we would with anyone we're in a relationship with. It's so important that we ... read more

IF YOU DON’T PRAY, GOD CAN’T MOVE

Hebrews 11:6 (ESV) 6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. This is Part 1 of a 6-week series on PRAYER. Years ago, before I came to faith in Christ, I remember having conversations ... read more

Knowing God

Philippians 3:8 - Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For His sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ. I love the above quote from Christian author, speaker, and radio host, Joni Eareckson Tada. ... read more

A Fool’s Heart

The Bible speaks a lot about what makes a fool and foolish behavior. We are living in a time where expressing yourself and how you feel trumps (no pun intended) anything else. Today's Winsome Word of Wisdom Wednesday post is based on Proverbs 18:2. The definition of a fool according to Webster's Dictionary is a ... read more

What Can We Takeaway from the Movie Black Panther?

Besides the action, adventure, and obvious diversity of this dynamic and much-applauded film, the movie Black Panther offered some very good spiritual insights and comparisons to the Church that I think Christians can glean and learn from.  (WARNING: SPOILER ALERT) So disheartening to wake up hearing the news on the ... read more