I grew up watching The Andy Griffith Show, The Brady Bunch, and Little House on the Prairie. The dads were what I loved most about those shows. I longed to have the kind and loving fathers they portrayed. I knew they were just actors playing a role, but I often imagined myself as part of their TV families. Looking back, I realize that's where my testimony began, even though I didn't know it at the time. I’m blessed to have a friend who grew up in a loving home with very littl

God speaks to us in many ways: through His Word, nature, an audible voice, impressions, visions, dreams, music, other people, and even television. He can use any means to capture our attention, bringing encouragement, correction, or guidance. This is my story of how God used a car’s license plate and a recent earthquake to speak to me. Car License Plate While sitting at a red light on November 9, 2008, I noticed the license plate on the car in front of me. It read, KTG 574. I

This past weekend, while in Colorado, I had the privilege of attending a friend’s church. We worshipped with abandon. When I returned home and attended my weekly prayer meeting, Pastor John spoke these words: Send revival… boldness to step forward… our hearts to bring You glory… worship in abandonment. This stirred my own spirit. I long to worship alongside the youth. They seem free from the preconceptions and limitations that often hinder adults in praise and worship. I see

Scripture: "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 hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) Growing up, I did not have the encouragement I needed to pursue my dreams. I loved art. I loved writing. Deep inside, I believed there was something more I was supposed to do with those God-given gifts. Yet without support, affirmation, or someone telling me, "You can do this," it was easy to believe those

A ski injury, followed by laying my own flooring, aggravated my knee problem and left me with chronic swelling. Yet throughout the past year, the burden of prayer continued to stir my heart after God called me to step up in faith, in prayer, and in what He had asked me to do (see my blog post, Stepping Up to the Plate, August 17, 2025). During a recent prayer meeting, I felt I needed to try kneeling again. My knee still hurt, but I remained on my knees for a minute, believi

Please tell me I’m not the only one who puts myself in situations, only to be brought to my humbled knees. Let me tell you my recent story. But first, you must read my blog, Praise Journal, posted on March 15, 2026, because it’s connected to this story. Over a year ago, I needed my sewing machine repaired. All the well-known shops were backed up for months. I had entered an art contest and needed my machine fixed as soon as possible to meet the deadline. I found a local guy t

I went out to eat with a friend this week and paid my bill with cash. When I didn’t receive my two-dollar change, this story came to mind, and I shared it with our server: A little girl loved her well-worn stuffed puppy. One day, her father asked her to give it to him. Confused and upset, she resisted. Tears filled her eyes as she held on even tighter. Still, her father lovingly asked again. Finally, with great sadness, she placed the toy in his hands. Then he smiled at her a

We are currently witnessing something I could only hope for, as I have often wondered whether America has crossed a line from which there’s no return. Yet, we see in 2 Peter 3:9 (NIV), The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. He is a God of second chances. On Saturday night, I watched the opening prayer ceremony for America Reads the Bible , a

At last week’s prayer meeting, the word prodigals came to mind. I wrote it down in my journal, then looked up the scripture for the Parable of the Prodigal Son . As soon as I wrote Luke 15:11-31 , the pastor began the opening prayer and mentioned praying for prodigals. On Sunday, April 12, 2026, I woke up at 5:00 a.m.—not unusual for me—but instead of closing my eyes for another thirty minutes of sleep, I turned on the TV and started watching JOY with Danelle Crawford . She