It’s often hard to pray when you’re consumed with hopelessness or even suicidal thoughts. In fact, while praying is the most important thing you can do, it’s often the very last thing you want to do. It will require self-discipline and self-control. It will require a strength that can only come from God. For this reason, it’s a good idea to plan ahead. Write a prayer when you’re able to express your pain and thought process, then you’ll have it ready to read the next time the hopeless thoughts come. Perhaps the following prayer can be of some help. Father God, the darkness has taken hold of me and I can’t find…

Nothing brings greater joy to a parent than to see their child walk with the Lord. On the flip side, nothing brings greater heartache to a parent than to see their child refuse to believe in Him.  This world we live in is full of distractions, temptations, and evil that draws our teens away from truth and towards self-gratification. There are countless reasons why teenagers turn from the godly foundation they were given as children and walk away from their faith. But we must not give up hope. As long as there is breath in their lungs we must continue to plead with our Lord and Savior to bring them…

We’re all familiar with Ephesians 6: 1-3, “Children obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother (this is the first commandment with a promise) that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” When we’re living under our parents’ roof it is right to obey them, but as an adult, out from under the direct authority of our parents, we can struggle to understand what it means to honor them. Honoring our parents can be challenging for many reasons. Perhaps you are a faithful follower of Christ, but your parents are not. Perhaps one or both…

Your kids are nearing that age where romance seems a little less yucky and somewhat intriguing. Don’t assume that just because they don’t talk to you about that they aren’t thinking about it! As parents, we need to be prepared to help guide our kids in their thinking about dating, courtship, and marriage. Remember, your kids are your disciples and it’s vital that you help them think Biblically about marriage and choosing a spouse. Unfortunately, the world lies to our kids about three basic aspects of marriage: marriage isn’t necessary, marriage isn’t forever, and marriage isn’t just between a man and a woman. Let’s dig a little deeper into what…

By this time next year my husband and I will be empty nesters. I’ve always heard that this season of life can leave a woman feeling purposeless and I’m beginning to understand why. With a year to go, I’ve already been asked the following questions: “What will you do with yourself?”, “What will you do with all your free time?”, “How does it feel not having all your children with you?”, “Isn’t it strange to not be needed anymore?” With questions like these, it’s no wonder moms are left feeling purposeless. I admit, there are days when I look forward to the empty nest season and there are days I…

As Christian parents, we want our children to know, love, and live for the Lord. But, let’s be honest, we also want earthly pleasures for our kids. For some, this list might include good grades, accomplishments in sports, college scholarships, financial success, etc. At the end of the day what it boils down to is that parents want their children to be their version of happy. In this day and age, in the sex-craved society we live in, I would challenge you to add sexual integrity to your list of wants for your children. This, whether your children know the Lord or not, is far more important than good grades…

After the mass killings in Gilroy, California, El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio, many people are left asking why? “Why, Lord, do you allow these things to happen?” It’s easy to feel helpless and frightened and ask, “How Lord do I let go of this fear and live my life? I feel paralized!” We don’t know how to help these families who have lost loved ones yet, as our hearts ache for them we ask, “Lord, what do I do?” In times like these the best thing we can do is go to the Lord in prayer. Pour out your heart to Him and be still, knowing He is God (Psalm…

You and your spouse are unique, as is your marriage. However, there is one thing you have in common with every other married couple – you and your spouse are sinners. Because of this truth, you are going to hurt your spouse and your spouse is going to hurt you. The questions we must be prepared to answer are: How will I respond? How will we reconcile? Can I forgive? Something we learn very early on in our marriages is that we have zero control over how our spouse speaks to us or act towards us. In other words, we can’t keep our spouse from hurting us. But, there’s something…

Being a mother is wonderful, but it isn’t always easy. It can be rewarding while also being a thankless job. Being a mother can be exhilarating but also exhausting. Women can surround themselves with other mothers yet still feel very lonely. Whether you’re a working mom, a stay-at-home mom, a foster mom or a mom of a child with special needs, there’s one thing all moms have in common…we all need Jesus! Below are the beginnings of prayers to help guide you in talking to God about your own “Mother Load.” If you read them all, you’ll notice that the prayers are very similar. Let that be a reminder that…