All the stories being shared about Dolly Parton made me ask myself a simple question: am I leading with love? Galatians 5 reminds me that love is the fruit of the Spirit.

The enemy loves to remind us of who we used to be, but the apostle Paul's story reminds me that our past is not the final word.

When life knocks the wind out of you, it’s natural to want answers right away. But Isaiah 41:10 reminds me that God starts with this promise: “I am with you.”

I read a prayer that challenged me: “God, if it’s not Your will, let it slip through my grasp, and give me the peace not to worry about it.” That’s a brave prayer, but maybe it’s exactly the kind of trust I need.

I started making a list of everything that needed fixing, and my anxiety kept growing. Then Psalm 46:10 reminded me: “Be still, and know that I am God.”

When my kids were away from home, I always loved hearing they represented our family well. It made me think about my own life as a child of God. While I’m away from my heavenly home, am I representing my Father by loving others well?

I can try to draw a straight line freehand, but it’s always a little off. Life is that way too. Proverbs 3 reminds me I need more than my own understanding... I need the Lord to make my path straight.

When my family moved after fourth grade, I thought I was only losing what I knew. Years later, I realized God used that move to lead me to the friend who would invite me to church. If you’re in a season you don’t understand, God may still be doing more than you can see.

Pictures of an eclipse are one thing, but experiencing it for yourself is completely different. I think the same is true with Jesus.

That old hand pump at my great-grandmother’s house taught me something about prayer... Just because the water didn’t come out right away didn’t mean the well was dry.