A View From Above

October 20, 2015.Reading time 3 minutes.

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Jesus (Matt 7:1-2) One of the main reasons I write is to get things off my chest (insert snarky comment). I was […]

The key to calm in the storm

October 6, 2015.Reading time 3 minutes.

By Erika Rizkallah As I wrote this post, a storm raged outside. It’s name was Joaquin. Isn’t naming storms strange? I’m not sure why we do this. Why do we try to “humanize” a havoc wreaking force of nature? It’s not as if Joaquin is a friendly visitor popping in for coffee. No . . […]

God is the giver of all good things

September 15, 2015.Reading time 3 minutes.

When I wrote my last post in July (!) I never intended to take a two month blog break. But sometimes life gets away from us and at the beginning of summer I got an opportunity I couldn’t pass up. One of my lifelong dreams has been to have my own vintage and antique shop. […]

Quiet Time Musings: The Difficulty of the Christian Life

July 7, 2015.Reading time 3 minutes.

Last night a friend and I stayed up until the wee hours of the morning discussing the Christian life. We lamented the fact that being obedient to God’s calling and will for believers is challenging. Here are some of the questions we asked: Why is it so hard to be obedient? Why does God allow […]

Cry out to God & He’ll stand by you

July 2, 2015.Reading time 3 minutes.

Something amazing happened yesterday. Before I go into it, I have to backtrack a little. In my morning quiet time as I studied a section in the book of Acts, I stumbled upon this verse: The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, […]

6 Lessons to remember when your child is bullied

June 29, 2015.Reading time 4 minutes.

Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. Proverbs 4:23 (New Living Translation) In my last post I promised to write out the lessons we learned about bullying. There are two types: One from Kat’s perspective (teenager) and one from mine (parent). I’m breaking them out and giving our […]

Love and lies: Have you gotten sucked into a gossip triangle?

June 25, 2015.Reading time 3 minutes.

Three weeks ago, my 17-year old daughter was the object of a severe bullying attack by several of her best friends. She considers these kids her family and so do we. We love them like family, minister to them when the need arises and eat hundreds of pizzas. They are all Christians doing ministry together. […]

Struggling with prayer: 5 Tips to jumpstart your prayer life

June 15, 2015.Reading time 4 minutes.

Is regular prayer a struggle for you? If so, don’t worry. Like everything new and unfamiliar, becoming a prayer warrior takes time and practice. I’ll never forget the first time I went into Starbucks. For months I heard people talking about the delicious coffee drinks and I desperately wanted to experience what all the buzz […]

Putting on the new self: Are you dressed with new life?

June 1, 2015.Reading time 4 minutes.

This weekend I went on a women’s retreat in the gorgeous countryside of Middleburg, Virginia. Seventy women from the church I used to attend gathered together for a time of worship and discipleship under the guidance of a seasoned speaker. I went because I felt “called” to go. Although I had to give up a […]

5 Ways to be a great friend!

May 13, 2015.Reading time 5 minutes.

For women, friendships are the most important relationships we have. But too often I meet women who have very few (if any) strong female relationships. The reasons are many and varied. Have you heard any of these? “I don’t get along with most women.” “I’ve been stabbed in the back way too many times.” “I […]