I’m not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends don’t get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back. Philippians 3:13-14 Staying stuck in the past is like walking backwards, blind-folded into the future. Don’t get me wrong, taking a glance back, focusing on what God has done in your life and to give Him the credit, praise, and glory ..read more

Then he said, “When I was with you before, I told you that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and in the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. And he said, “Yes, it was written long ago that the Messiah would suffer and die and rise from the dead on the third day. It was also written that this message would be proclaimed in the authority of his name to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem: ‘There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.’ You are witnesses of all these things. Luke 24 ..read more

But my people would not listen to me. They kept doing whatever they wanted, following the stubborn desires of their evil hearts. They went backward instead of forward. From the day your ancestors left Egypt until now, I have continued to send my servants, the prophets—day in and day out. Jeremiah 7:24-26 Have you ever had something important to say but no one seemed to be listening? Or, when speaking God’s truth, people talk over, dispute the meaning, or argue with you? Are there any teachers frustrated or discouraged by students disrupting the classroom? Parents, how do you feel about giving ..read more

The Face of Grace “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.” Mathew 9:14-15 When I think of God, I think of grace. Grace a gift given which is undeserved. How many times has God extended his merciful grace in our lives? Most likely, we can not even begin to write down the amount of times God’s grace flowed down into our circumstances and lifted us out of the pit! Yet, prior to the cross, Jesus spoke these verses in Mathew, after a request by the disciples “teach us to pray.” Je ..read more

God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. Then God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground.” Genesis 1:27-28 At the risk of sounding old-fashioned, for those of us married, God created us to be joined together male and female. Those are His Words, established at the beginning of time. Marriage is a covenant relationship between a man and woman. Joining together as one; affixed, attached ..read more

Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart, All you who hope in the Lord. Psalm 31:24 Oh February, the love month. The time for Cupid to shine a spotlight on matters of the romantic heart. A time of Rom-Com movies, bouquets of flowers, chocolates, and little red hearts. Many heads have been turned with sweet nothings whispered in an ear, sometimes confusing infatuation with love. Be sure to keep your head engaged! There is nothing wrong with sweetening up your sweetheart, but we will spend this time telling you how to keep your head, over your heart. Keep reading ..read more

When I discovered your words, I devoured them. They are my joy and my heart’s delight, For I bear your name, O Lord God of Heaven’s Armies. Jeremiah 15:16 Not sure of the exact date, but I can see myself as clearly as if it were only moments ago. Until that moment, the Bible was just a book stacked amongst a bunch of other books, none of which I wanted to read. Sounds ridiculous, right? That was thirty-four years ago, and a lot of life has been lived, and books read, since that moment. What a moment in time. Keep reading ..read more

Your words are a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path. Psalm 119:105 Blessings to each one of you as you align yourself more closely with God going into 2024. God is ready and waiting for you to strategically follow Him as He leads you on His road to righteousness. Are you ready to allow Him to examine your heart and test your anxious thoughts? Are you preparing for a testing of your faith? Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you and lead me along the path of everlasting life. Keep reading ..read more

Happy Healthy New Year Everyone! I appreciate each and everyone of You! Thank You for your dedication to shaping your bodies and hearts for God’s purposes along with your support of Shaped by Faith Ministry! I want to share with each of you some things that may be helpful and beneficial as we step forward into 2024. The book of Isaiah 43:18-19 says, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?” This is one of my favorite verses in the Old Testament! This verse should give all of us hope as we wait expectantly on w ..read more

“And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.” Luke 1:14 During a recent discussion with a friend several states away, our conversation settled on the reasons families setup Christmas trees in their homes. The conversation brought back beautiful memories of our family piling into the Oldsmobile to drive to the Christmas tree farm, ironically in the town where I now call home. Those memories are fresh, like a brisk mid-December breeze touching my face, while touring the farm with my father in search of the perfect evergreen. Patience always seemed to be such a waste ..read more