on March 13, 2020
Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.1 Thessalonians 5:11 Christian encouragement is a command. But like the command to evangelize, we often find it awkward to employ in everyday life. It doesn’t have to be awkward, though. Like any other skill, we get better at it with practice…. Read more
on February 10, 2020
(Originally posted on www.tmurphywrites.com) I’d already been reading Giants May Fall, by Dutch Sheets when I opened my son’s Christmas gift—Malcom Gladwell’s David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants. It didn’t take long to begin seeing connections between them. What Sheets explores from one angle, Gladwell considers from another. Both books… Read more
on January 14, 2020
A Story of Hope for the New Year My cell phone rang at four a.m. “Mom can’t breathe,” my sister cried. “An ambulance is taking her to the emergency room.” Clutching the phone, I sat up. “What?” “It’s bad. You need to come home— now.” During the seven-hour drive to the hospital, I prayed, please,… Read more
on December 9, 2019
FOR ME FOR YOU For those of us who live in North America the word conjures up visions of trees frosted with snow, ice skating, colored lights, chimneys and stockings, sweets and surprises. It’s a time of joy and generosity. But I believe the real purpose of Christmas is much deeper than most of us… Read more
on November 20, 2019
Memories and traditions handed down through generations seem to come to life at Thanksgiving. Whether it’s the fluttering of red, orange, and brown leaves; the chill in the air; Thanksgiving cooking shows; Grandma’s recipes; and pumpkin spice everything! In years past, we’d sit around the Thanksgiving table and share stories and experiences. Seems Thanksgiving has… Read more
on October 28, 2019
Confidence defined in the Merriam-Webster dictionary is a belief that one can rely on someone, something, or oneself. Minimal confidence can prevent people from taking risks. We can learn to improve our confidence throughout life by capturing negative thoughts and replacing them with positive ones. An overdose of confidence can come off as arrogant. Projecting… Read more
on September 19, 2019
“Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.” –John F. Kennedy Growth is a task God sets before us. Change is a fast-forward journey to the future. You might be going through a change right now. It could be a beginning… Read more
on August 13, 2019
It was a tough decision for my husband, Bill, and I to move from Alabama to Tennessee. We divided the funds from the sale of our house in Alabama. Bill invested in a winter home in Florida. I was overwhelmed by the move and decided to put my money in a short-term certificate of deposit…. Read more
on July 1, 2019
Hebrews 11:1 (NKJV) “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Vacations make some of the greatest memories. The anticipation of the trip could be one of the best parts. Before my husband and I left for Africa; I wrote a prayer in my travel journal and asked… Read more
on May 31, 2019
On our recent cruise, my husband and I heard a tragic announcement on the Viking Sun. Viking’s sister ship, the Viking Sky had tilted forty-five-degrees in choppy waters off Norway’s western coast that led to engine trouble. The rocky seas resulted in a mayday call and rescue helicopters removed passengers off the ship. As I… Read more