He has told you, O man, what is good;

and what does the LORD require of you

but to do justice, to love kindness,

and to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:8

We’ve all done our share of blaming someone or something else for our poor choices and crazy decisions. Somehow we find it easy to justify our actions if someone else can be implicated too. Blaming others for our poor choices seems to be an epidemic these days. Court rooms and jail cells are filled with people claiming to be innocent. Not me! I didn’t do it! It’s not my fault!

Some blame childhood issues for poor choices. They would do and be better if only they had grown up in a different home, with different parents, in a different city, or gone to a better school. If only this or that, and I would be a better me. If only…

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be fearful. John 14:27 NASB

As a little girl watching the Miss America pageant, I remember the contestants and how they spoke of their desire for world peace. A lofty goal I will admit, but a genuine hope for our world. Over time, the “world peace” answer was made fun of by unkind people, but my young heart loved the idea of someone who desired peace.

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” Matthew 5:9

As that same little girl I remember the volatility of my parent’s on again – off again marriage which finally ended when I was about 10 years old...

Dear friends,

I was asked to write a short devotion for a Women’s ministry devotional book that will be given to those in attendance at our annual retreat.

I thought it would be nice to share it with you also.

I hope you enjoy it and more importantly, that it brings you closer to our Lord and Savior.

Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me.

John 15:4 NASB

As a young Christian I thought time alone with the Lord was a requirement, something to check off of my Christian to-do list. Read a few lines in the Bible…check. Listen to worship music…check. Read a devotional…check. Pray…check. Go to Church…check.

The older I get, and the more meaningful my relationship with the Lord b...

Dearest Readers,

This week will be a bit different from others as I am traveling and have not had time to focus on a proper devotional for you.

I’ve heard from some that they have not been to my website and read any of the other pages. Soooo… This week’s post will be one of the pages called “Do you know Him”? When you go here, you will be taken directly to the page on the website.

I pray it blesses you and those the Lord may bring to your thoughts to share it with.

In His embrace,

Toni

Behold, how good and how pleasant it for brothers to

dwell together in unity!

Psalm 133:1

Normally when I sit down at my computer to write, I have thoughts in mind, or at the very least an idea or two. Today, however, I was a bit stumped until I went to the mail box and opened a letter from a dear friend.

This letter is one of reflection from a friend I had lost track of for a while. Marjorie wrote a poignant letter reflecting on the past year with all of its joys and sorrows. It’s one of those letters many write to friends and family in order to catch them up on their lives; a year in review, if you will.

Marjorie and I became fast friends about 5 years ago when I first moved to Indiana. We met during a Bible study I had been invited to attend...