The morning is still and tender.The earth glistens beneath your feet as dew clings to each blade of grass, catching the first light of dawn. The sky is waking—soft gold spilling into pale blue—and something in your chest feels awake too… expectant. You lace your shoes slowly, almost reverently. Today feels different. You step forward, [...]
When I taught middle school in Texas, Lori was one of my special education students. She had a contagious personality and a beautiful spirit—and when she was thrilled about something, her brown, curly hair shook, jived, and jiggled like something out of a 1970s disco. One afternoon Lori rushed toward me with her hair dancing [...]
I've got plans. Lots of ‘em. Truthfully, I’ve got so many that I often drive myself nuts trying to make all of them happen. Don't misunderstand me, there is nothing wrong with making plans. Having a clear God-given vision can increase focus and productivity. These are even principles that we teach through Blueprint for Life. [...]
My first kiss was a disaster. His name was Kurt and I asked Mom if he could come over to play. The big day arrived and my kindergarten beau and I were having a fantabulous time. I don’t remember where Mom was, but while we played in the backyard with my sister, someone got the [...]
A few months ago, I was running late one morning (not unusual) and needed to swap cars with Trish before I could head to my meeting. Trish called me and said, “Your car needed gas, so I am filling it up for you. Why don’t you meet me at Kroger and you can leave from [...]
God created marriage as the highest, most honored, and most intimate of all human relationships. When He said in Genesis 2:24, “They shall become one flesh,” He wasn’t just talking about the physical. In fact, in Matthew 19:4-6, Jesus affirmed marital oneness when he said, “. . . At the beginning the Creator made them [...]
There is something about visiting cemeteries that can make one acutely aware of the brevity of earthly life. One afternoon a few years ago, I drove to a cemetery near my home. I wanted the lives from the past to speak to me through the messages on their headstones. I parked my car in a [...]
Today we celebrate the birth of Christ. If you ask a number of people why Jesus came, you’ll receive a number of answers such as: “He came to bring world peace.” “He came to teach us the way.” “He came to set up a kingdom.” “He came to bring economic justice.” The list could go [...]
Nothing combats darkness like light. A single match, a flashlight, or a light bulb can overtake great darkness, and no amount of darkness can overtake even the smallest light. Matthew 5:14-16 says, “You are the light that gives light to the world. A city that is built on a hill cannot be hidden. And people [...]
At the conferences where I speak, many people tell me they want to be free from the fears that hold them back and the doubts that plague them so that they can fulfill God’s plans for their life. Good news! The Bible contains the perfect recipe for this very thing. John 8:32 says, “Then you [...]
