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“If Only…”
In my teenage years I remember watching a bizarre movie by the name of Butterfly Effect. It was essentially about a young man who had a gift to travel back in time. His desire was to go in the past to change events with high hopes that it would improve the present. Unfortunately, every time…
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For the Dreamers…
Sitting at my desk looking at something I’ve managed to hold onto for 20 years… It’s a ceramic, somewhat basketball shaped, jewelry box. I made this keepsake when I was a freshman in high school and playing basketball for Zion Benton Township High school. #14 was the number I wore which was also the jersey…
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A Safe Place
Y’all know that mom who goes through old photos and falls into an emotional state of nostalgia… Yes, this is she and the one below, wrecked me . . . It was my first night home from the hospital and I was still sporting my wristband. This spot right here, on the warmer upper part…
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Hope Through the Unexpected & Unknown…
In and out of doctors offices, hospitals and urgent care facilities getting poked, pricked, squeezed and scanned has been part of my journey all year long. Each visit, of desperately searching for answers, unfortunately lead to four words I’ll never forget, “We found a mass.” After receiving upsetting news about others it’s natural for me…
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Greener Grass
My daughter’s love for sweets has finally won her the unwanted opportunity of getting a cavity filled. She had some concerns about the shot, the drill and what it might feel like. When she mentioned our local dentist, she asked why we visit this boring place and not the fancy kid-friendly establishment outside of our…
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Thank God for Grace!
Oh what a great God we serve because He knew that in this life we would need grace. There are moments when our lives get so hectic as we all work increasingly hard to pursue our dreams and purposes. We ultimately end up setting crazy expectations for ourselves and for people around us. But we…
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Flashback: A Brief Chapter of an Ongoing Journey
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” ~ Romans 8:28 Three years ago, our family abruptly moved from my home town of Zion, IL of 8 years, to start an outreach ministry in Maywood. During that…
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Do You Love Me?
“Do You Love Me?” That’s a question we’ve all probably asked before—whether it be directed toward a spouse, child, friend or even God. But sometimes I believe we tend to forget what love really is hence the reason we ask. • We have an idea of love but when we experience it or have the…
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Pastoring and Parenting…Lesson Learned….
Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it. ~ Proverbs 22:6 Last night, our kidz church consisted of just our four kids. It’s happened many times before for a number of reasons. This time, I considered letting them watch a movie or…
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Stay Planted
Just as a plant, it’s your environment and what’s inside of you that dictates your strength and growth. The deeper your roots the stronger you are. If you are in a place that’s not feeding what makes you strong, your spiritual growth and life is at stake. Don’t waver between good and evil, love and…