Pew Research reports that one out of six minor children live in blended families. One-third of all weddings today form a blended or step-family. This means either one or both the bride and groom bring one or more children into the marriage. All newlyweds face adjustments and challenges, and these...
Do you like being described as gentle? Most people would likely prefer to have other adjectives attached to them. Gentleness is part of the fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). With a negative connotation in today’s often harsh world, it may be the least popular and most misunderstood in...
Since each of us may have different images or expectations around this question, we must first define the terms. According to dictionary.com, “good” means morally excellent, virtuous, righteous, pious; “Christian” is a person who believes in Jesus Christ with a life exemplified by His teachings....
Who is the grandparent with whom you are most familiar? Just look in the mirror and you will see him or her! When we think of being kind, it is seldom to that grandparent. It is so much easier to show kindness to others. We may even think that being kind to ourselves is selfish and unbiblical. ...
Most Christians who attend church with any regularity have heard the Great Commission passage in Matthew 28:18-20 (ESV), “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything I [Jesus] have commanded you…”...
No other month in the calendar is like December. There is a plethora of decorations, shopping, baking, songs, movies, parties, and gifts. It is easy to be distracted by the “to-do” lists and the hustle and bustle of the season. Keep an emphasis on the birth of our Savior. It is challenging in our...
This is the time of year when “harvest” is an important word, whether we live on a farm or in the city. Everyone enjoys the fresh fruits and vegetables that show up in farmer’s markets or in the produce aisle of the grocery store. Yum! But have you given thought to what stage the harvest of your...
One of the most sensitive topics is whether grandparents should discipline their grandchildren. Close behind is the question of how to handle the situation when our adult children have different discipline approaches or rules than we do. Disputes may arise over things such as food, bedtime,...
We are influenced by the world we live in. Every day we make decisions that are shaped by what we have learned from parents, extended families, school, workplaces, and our communities or affinity groups. Social media is also a very influential piece of life today. These cultural expectations may...
So you’re about to become a grandparent!? A lot of giggles, cooing, smiling, and talking are ahead…..and the babies will do some of that as well! As I prepare to become “Grandma Bev” to a 15th child in a couple months, it is good to review some basic guidelines on how to be the best grandparent...
One of my least favorite things to do is to wait. Waiting in lines to get gas, to pay for groceries, or to speak to a “real person” in a company’s phone queue can all elicit frustration. Other types of waiting are also difficult: for children/grandchildren to come to the Lord, for reconciliation...
Have you ever used cement glue to attach two items together and then, after it dried, attempted to separate them? Even with utmost care, they never look quite like they did originally. God declares in Genesis 2:24 that marriage is “becoming one flesh”, literally meaning stuck together like glue....
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