Over the last several weeks, I have been making my way through a book by Craig Groeschel titled Dangerous Prayers. As I have been pondering this idea, a few things have been on my mind. First, are we praying safe prayers or are we willing to pray the dangerous, life...

In Isaiah 11 verses 3 and 4 it says, “He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears; but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth.” Isaiah 11 is one of those...

Luke 10:2 says, "He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field." This thought has been on my mind over the last many weeks. We are working through a series in Acts,...

I found myself a bit numb during and following the events on this past Wednesday when a mob of angry Americans stormed their own Capitol building in a violent attempt to overturn results of the presidential election. They succeeded only in wreaking enough havoc to...

"See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland." Isaiah 43:19 (NIV) We are in a new year. 2020 is finally behind us. I don't know about you, but there were days that 2020 seemed...

“Jabez, cried out to the God of Israel, ‘Oh, that you would bless me indeed and enlarge my territory, that your hand would be with me, and that you would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!’ So God granted him what he requested.” 1 Chronicles 4:10 (NKJV) The...

Something that God has been speaking to me about lately is perseverance. James 1:2-3 tell us, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” It is easy for...

Confession time…I struggle with fear and anxiety.  Sometimes I can make sense of it because something stressful is going on in my life.  Other times, I can’t even figure out why.  I don’t like it because it makes me feel weak and the “battle” can be frustrating.  But,...

We had the privilege to attend the Wisconsin District Conventions and Assembly this past week. What an amazing time we had! Dr. Eugenio Duarte, one of the six General Superintendents of the Church of the Nazarene, was with us. He gave a message from John 21:1-12. This...

The world seems to be ever swirling around us these days. If we’re not careful, all the chaos can bring us down. But instead of being weighed down by the world. We can be tied to our God. Hebrews 6:18-20 says, “God did this [confirmed his promise with an oath] so...

Membership has its privileges. Just this past week Ellen and I went to the Green Bay Botanical Gardens. It cost us $10 each to get in. The sign said that members get in FREE! Of course, you must pay to become a member. A person can become a member at a golf course and...

As I was thinking about celebrating our national freedom this week, I was also reminded that we Jesus-followers also have a much greater freedom. Galatians 5:1 says, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be...

In 2 Peter chapter one we read, “make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual...

"The Church of the Nazarene, as a global family, affirms our citizenship in God’s kingdom and cannot support the separa-tion of children from their parents at the USA-Mexico bor-der." This was a statement that was posted on the Church of the Nazarene’s Facebook page...

The fashion business and the entertainment industry were rocked this week by the deaths of Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain. Making the news even more painful, if possible, is that both were confirmed suicides. Though I have never met either of these celebrities, I...

In the book, Invitation to a Journey, author Robert Mulholland writes, “Spiritual formation is a process of being formed in the image of Christ, a journey into becoming persons of compassion, persons who forgive, persons who care deeply for others and the world,...

As Summer finally approaches in Wisconsin, I've been thinking again about how seasons change. The last few weeks have been planting season for farmers. This is a good reminder to us that we also sow seed with the choices we make in our personal lives. Let me give you...

I love the story of Moses. In Exodus 16 we see the people of Israel complaining to Moses and Aaron. Verse 3 states, “If only we had died by the Lord’s hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this...

I was able to attend Celebrate Life at Olivet Nazarene University May 10 -12. Todd directed the Bible Quizzing and I officiated. I love watching teenagers display how much Scripture they have hidden in their hearts. But that wasn’t even close to all there was to see!...

Ephesians 4:2-6 says, “Be completely humble and gentle, be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were...

In Mark 4, Jesus tells the disciples several parables to show them what the Kingdom of God is like. Then verses 35 and 36 say, “That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, ‘Let us go over to the other side.’ Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along,...

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” – Genesis 1:1. God is known by different names, one of those is Elohim. Elohim is a name of strength and power. Elohim is the infinite, all-powerful God who shows by His works that He is the creator, sustainer,...

He is Risen Indeed! Did you know that you can celebrate Easter for more than one Sunday? In the liturgical (public worship) calendar, the 50 days between Easter and Pente-cost Sundays are called Eastertide. Easter Sunday (of course!) celebrates Jesus’ resurrection. It...

In the 11th chapter of John we read the story of Lazarus. Lazarus was a dear friend of Jesus. After Lazarus dies his sister, Martha, told Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” Martha knew and believed that Jesus had the power to save her...

Last weekend, I had the privilege, along with several other ladies from HCC to attend our Wisconsin District Ladies Retreat. It is a blessing to share a weekend with Godly Sisters. We laugh, we cry, we eat too much chocolate! But more importantly, we have worship and...

Obedience — Last week, we saw God move in a mighty way at Hope Community. We saw God show up and stir people’s hearts as we were challenged to say yes to God, even if we don’t know what we are saying yes to, or even if we do not know all the details. I have found in...

Service – The action of helping someone. What does this look like to Christians? 1 Corinthians 3:9, “For we are co-workers in God’s service.” 1 Corinthians 12:5 tells us, “There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord.” The Word tells us that we are...

Hope. This is a word that I have been thinking about quite a bit this week. It is in the name our church, Hope Community. It is a vital part of the life of a believer as we have faith that God is in control and hope for the things to come promised in Scripture. It is...

Why do we give up something for Lent? Some say that the answer lies in Luke 9:23 (Jesus talking) “Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” It’s about self-denial, carrying our cross...

I’ve been thinking a lot about prayer as we approach our Wisconsin District “Houses of Prayer” week February 12-16. I sincerely hope you will pray for revival beginning with yourself. Then allow God to broaden your horizons as you pray for your family, our church, our...

Jeremiah 29:11-13 tells us, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find...

Last week Pastor Doug shared from Joshua 24 and asked us, “Who are you going to choose to serve?” This reminded that in 2016 when I read the Bible through chronologically I realized how many of the kings of Israel did not lead them in true worship. Hezekiah was one of...

In Joshua chapter 24, we see the covenant renewed at Shechem. In Genesis 12 God made a covenant with Abraham and then told him to go “to the land I will show you.” Shechem is the place where the Lord appeared to Abraham and told him that to his offspring “I will give...

This has been a difficult week. We have two friends that were hospitalized, one with a brain tumor, the other with a brain aneurism. A high school friend may be losing her mother to cancer and a sepsis infection. Besides these personal difficulties, there is the...

Commitment. You will hear that word often every new year. You will be asked, “What do you want this new year?” “Where do you want to be?” People will ask you to make goals to achieve. Maybe a better question would be, “Where does God want you to be this year?” “Are...