I woke up this morning and could see the snow covering my neighbors’ roofs as I looked out the window. It’s beautiful, and, most pleasantly, it reminds me that Christmas is just a few days away.

As I reflect on 20 years of marriage, here are some lessons I have learned along the way. Everything we go through, our triumphs and shortcomings, can become mighty tools in the hand of God to help and bless others when shared in love and truth by the Holy Spirit.

All my children are in an orchestra, each playing a different instrument. I view marriage as I do my experience watching them start when they were younger and get better with each practice and concert. The first practice is like a torture chamber for the entire family, thanks to the scratches and off-key plucks. However, the last concert before the final bow in High school

Humans, we love formulas; we are always in the mood for mixing two sticks of butter into a pint of flour to get a result. However, our emotions are far too complex for that, and “The secret” is that there are no secrets to a successful marriage beyond what’s in the pages of the Bible, of which the greatest is “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” Matthew 22:37.

Although many marriage teachings hinge on compromise, I will take a different approach to it. I don’t necessarily believe in it beyond being a minor player in the overall picture. I am a lifelong student of the Bible, so even if every Christian I know adopts an idea, I still think it through and align it with what I understand from the pages of scripture.

It’ll be 20 years next month since we walked out of the Church, my husband holding my hand. Through all, it’s been a journey filled with God’s grace, love, growth, and determination to honor God. For the one person who needs encouragement and those looking for assurance that God’s intent for marriage works, I’ll spend the next four weeks sharing from the pages of our life together and opening a rare window into the…

There are some people I give the liberty to speak into my life and correct me if they see me sliding off the edge of a cliff, because I know they love me, and they walk in God’s truth. I also have a handful of people I can correct if I see them making decisions that could harm them and hinder their walk with God.

There is so much condemnation and negativity in our world today. Everyone always has a box of stones with them. We are ready to condemn before we listen, and judge before we correct.

The journey of a million miles is said to start with the first step, and I agree, but before that first step, something must move you within. It’s easier to train someone willing to try than to force someone reluctant to make a move. They might respond to the lesson grudgingly and take one or two things away from it, but because their heart is not in it, they’ll miss out on a lot more.…

Because someone uses God’s name in a lengthy charismatic speech does not guarantee Heaven’s stamp on it. We must live affirmed by God, not the other way round; just because it affirms God does not mean God affirms it.

When I think of the dynamics of the world, I see three players in the story: God, humanity, and the devil. God is always good; He loves humanity, and the devil is always on the opposite side, constantly trying to destroy humanity. Narrowing it down to these makes it easier to define things and assign them roles in everyday occurrences.

We live in a noisy world, and sometimes it feels like hopelessness outweighs hope, and evil prevails over good. However, regardless of the dictates of the times and season we live in, when Christ is amplified, something changes because a world that welcomes Jesus sees glory, healing, joy, and righteousness, despite the prevailing evil that permeates it.

To say that my heart hurts is putting it mildly. I am sad! It’s one of those unexpected moments you want the world to stop and rewind itself, skipping the pain you didn’t expect or plan for. The world seems more evil than you remembered it a day before, and you just want to SCREAM.

Saved! That is a word any captive would love to hear. A person held hostage by an enemy looks forward to the day of rescue. Every day in bondage seems longer because it is not home nor the place the prisoner wants to be. How you breathe, think, and move around in freedom is different from when you are in bondage.

With a history of fulfilling His promises to not just us but generations of believers before, taking God at His Word should be a no-brainer. However, we are guilty of allowing our humanity to cloud the definitiveness of God’s promises.

I always have extra filters ready before the red light on my water jugs or fridge turns on. Knowing that many things may be invisible to my eyes makes it difficult to imagine being caught off guard and drinking unfiltered water for a day. Have I ever drunk unfiltered water?

When you find Christ, you gain everything, with the access to the greatest treasures in life. Like your priceless possessions, keeping your treasure close is wise. You can’t walk away from Jesus and leave with joy. To know true joy, you must know Christ and be willing to follow where He leads.

I am not supposed to be here today, living this life I live, but for God’s grace. If you know where I’ve walked and the trenches I’ve crawled through, you’ll understand why I can’t but shout, HALLELUJAH!’ If you’ve seen my buckets of tears wiped off by Love-defined, then you’ll know where my gratitude stems from.

If I could offer a single piece of advice to all the Christians in my life, it would be “Mind your Kingdom business” and focus on your assigned role to maximize your God-given potential. The roads we tread might be dry and broken, but Christ’s affirmation in John 7:38 ignites the restorative power within us. It uproots our old nature and births us in our new life in God. With our redemption, there is now an unstoppable flow within us, and it gives life.

Having a daughter ready for college is exciting but mentally taxing. The thought of dropping her off or leaving her for weeks at a time is difficult for me. However, getting to that point requires navigating different layers of choices, one of which is choosing the college itself. Everything about the school must fit enough for her to want to commit.