I’m a Christian, a pastor’s wife, a mother to four children (our nest is empty now!), a friend, a writer, an editor, and a speaker.

You’ll learn more about me as you check out my articles or my weekly blog. I have a quirky sense of humor, but I have a heart that loves the Lord and wants to help other women love Him, too.

In 2014 I experienced a major bout of depression and was hospitalized for a short time. Since then, I’ve been learning more and more about what I need to do to stay healthy emotionally. I’m working on a book that will explore that topic in greater detail. Write to me if you want to share your experience with depression or just need someone to pray for you.

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As I finish, I want to ask you an important question: If you were to die tonight, do you know where you would go? To heaven, you hope? Good! But, are you sure? What if God asked you, “Why should I let you into heaven?” Would you know what to say? Would you say, “Well, God, I’m a good person…I’ve tried to do good most of the time…I’ve gone to church since I was a kid…I haven’t ever really hurt anybody…” Can you picture God’s sad smile as he replies, “I’m sorry, but that’s not good enough – you can’t come in.”? I can imagine someone reading this and getting very angry with that thought. “God is supposed to love everyone! He can’t let me go to hell, can He?!” Yes, He can. God is perfectly loving, but He is also perfectly holy and just. There is only one way He can allow anyone to be saved and go to heaven.

First, admit that you are a sinner. We all are – and sin separates us from God. Romans 3:10 says, “There is no one righteous, not even one;” There is a big “gap” between God and man, and nothing we can do will bridge that gap. Romans 3:23: “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”. Good works, religion, morality…nothing can help us get to God – we fall short every time. Sounds pretty hopeless, doesn’t it? But there is hope! John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” God sent Jesus to die on the cross for each and every one of us, and if we believe that and accept Him into our hearts, we can be saved. John 1:12: “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” Confess this as you receive Jesus into your heart. Romans 10:9-10: “That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.”

Admit, Believe, Confess, Receive – it’s that easy! I’ve been procrastinating about putting this amazing process on the web site…afraid that I would offend someone or not say it as “perfectly” as I would like. There is so much hatred toward Christians in our society today – you can see it in subtle and blatant ways in the media and all around us. Christianity is a “crutch”, some say. I’d have to say that I agree somewhat with that idea, except I’d take it a step further and say that I could do nothing if I didn’t have faith in God. When I try to do things on my own, I fall flat on my face; but when I draw on God’s power and wisdom, the results are wonderful – and He gets all the glory! Maybe you don’t like the hypocrites you see who claim to be Christians. I don’t like to see that either! God wants us to be totally devoted to Him, and if someone says one thing and does another – they are clearly off track. That is between that person and God. Don’t let their hypocrisy stop you from having a relationship with God. I’ve been a Christian since I was a child…but over the years God has been teaching me what it really means to follow Him. I used to be very legalistic in my thinking and felt bad if I didn’t think I was measuring up to what God expected of me. I loved God with all of my heart, but I was wearing myself out trying to do everything I thought I had to be doing for God. Although I still go through seasons of struggle and growth at times, I also know that God wants us to enjoy life with Him completely. “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with Me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with Me and work with Me. Watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with Me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” Matthew 11:28-30, The Message Bible

I do not have a perfect life because I am a Christian. I still struggle with doubt at times, I make wrong choices and suffer the consequences for them, some days I feel lazy and don’t want to do anything productive. In spite of these difficulties (maybe even because of them?) I would not give up my relationship with God for anything. As I learn to trust and obey Him in every area of my life, He brings peace, hope, and joy into our family. That’s my life story so far, and I can’t wait to see where the rest of the journey takes me!