We have always taught our children that the choice of who they marry is probably THE most important decision they will ever make second to making Jesus the Lord of their life. The person you marry will have an impact on every area of your life - whether you realize it or not.

This week my family will embark on a new school year - my husband and myself as teachers and our youngest son as a Senior in High School. As schools start across the country they look extremely different than ever before. No one would have ever fathomed how quickly our world would change in a small amount of time. In fact, it almost feels like some kind of sci-fi movie that we are stuck in.

We all have in our possession two great gifts. The first gift you have been given is your talents, something which is unique to you. The second gift is time, which is something we all have an equal share of. I love watching people really excel in their natural talents. You may feel like there is nothing extraordinary about you - like God kind of passed you up on the talent side of things, but that is just not true.

The 4th of July is probably my favorite holiday. Maybe its because there is no stress attached to it. There is no expectation of how this holiday should look. I love the carefree feeling of summer, and I love to watch the beautiful fireworks. This year I appreciate that we can still celebrate together as "One Nation Under God."

Raise your hand if you have ever gotten to the end of your day and realized that you wore your shirt inside out all day. Unless it’s the style (as it was when I was young to wear sweatshirts inside out), It’s embarrassing to think how many people saw you that day and maybe noticed but didn’t say anything.

This month I have been addressing things we can do to give ourselves a personal “spring cleaning.” This week I want to discuss sleep since sleep is a significant influence on our health. Good sleep is obviously needed to help us lead productive lives - but why does it seem at times that the rest we so badly want and need stays just beyond our reach?

One of the most frequently asked question I get as a pastor is, “How do I hear from God?” or “How can I recognize when God is speaking to me?” So, I want to give you a little lesson on prayer and hearing from God. The following are habits that I have developed in my own life which I think will help you as well.

There is one verse that has really been ruminating in my mind and heart for the past week. That verse is 2 Timothy 1:7. It reads, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” Another version says ..”a sound mind.”

This verse hits home for what is currently going on in our world as well as for me personally. First, we need to remember that we shouldn’t be in fear. Fear does not come from God - it comes from the devil and he is doing a good job at getting people snared in his web of fear that he is spinning.

Last week, I wrote about the need for a mental and physical “spring-cleaning.” You can read that blog here if you missed it. The first part of spring cleaning that must take place is decluttering. You know, those items around your house that you are keeping for some reason that you probably forgot about. When a room is decluttered, you are able to see other items more clearly as well as use the space for its intended purpose.

Every year at this time I get excited for June. Maybe it’s because I am also a teacher and I get to have some time off after a hectic spring. I don’t get to take the whole month off since I am still a pastor and private music teacher too; but I try to relax a bit, maybe read a book just for fun, and get excited about planning my year ahead by setting new goals for myself.

Although this month is all about mothers, it is also mental health awareness month. A coincidence? Maybe… Why is it that so many people, moms in this case, struggle with mental health issues? Personally, I know I have felt inadequate, judged, and overwhelmed with trying to have it all together – whatever “it” is.

I am dedicating this month to moms - moms of every age and stage in their mothering journey. As I began to write this blog, I had not intended to talk about the heart-break of motherhood. However, I believe this conversation is an important one to have, especially as Mother’s Day approaches.

Ready for some good news? I’m talking about REAL good news. No, you’re not going to find it on TV or the radio. You’re not going to find it on any social media. If you are need of some legit good news, then turn off the TV, put your phone down (well, after you read this), and listen up!

“So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then. But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy” (1 Peter 1:13-16 NLT).

You may feel like you are powerless right now. You might feel like you don’t quite know where to put your focus or attention. Maybe you are bored out of your mind, or maybe you have your hands full with a house full of kiddos.

I don’t have to rehash the problems that our world is facing right now. We can all agree, THIS SUCKS! There are a lot of things we can’t control. There are many unknowns and frustrations. We have all had our lives as normal turned upside down and pulled out from under us.

Do you see that sign over my shoulder? It says, “Jesus is Lord.” Because of that truth, I’m not panicking or getting the least bit hyper about all that is going on with that “C” word.

It is March - the month all about basketball (at least in my household). We even have a traveling March Madness trophy amongst our family members. I have yet to win it… maybe this year is my year.

Okay, let’s be honest here. How many of us have made complaining a habit? It flows from our mouths without really giving it much thought. Complaining has become a default mode for some - seeing the negative and voicing our opinion about it. Find out 5 ways to stop the complaining habit and start showing more gratitude in today’s post.

I had planned to do a marriage or dating blog… you know, since Valentine’s Day is this week. However, this morning in church we were singing, “How He Loves Us,” by David Crowder and then 1 John 4:19 came to my heart which says, “We love because He first loved us.”