Giving as a percentage of household income averages between 1.7% and 2.2%, falling far shy of the 10% that God requires. With about 63% of the US population identifying as Christian, the national giving average should be skewed much higher. If cheerful giving has not been a hallmark of your spiritual disciplines, there is no time like the present to obey God’s command and bless the socks off a non-profit who needs you!

“What’s yours is mine, and what’s mine is mine.” My husband and I used to joke that this was the unspoken motto of our kids when they were little. Toddlers have no qualms about grabbing a toy, snack, or any random item of interest from other people or pets. It’s rare to see a child share her cherished possessions generously. 

Like a soon-to-be retiree checks the balance of their 401(k), the believer will one day see the fruits of their labor on earth.  And as it takes many years of regular small deposits to build the retirement nest egg, so also it takes a lifetime of small deposits into the spiritual portfolio to be told, “Well done, good and faithful servant” at the end of our race.  

We’ve all been to an “all you can eat” buffet in our lives, and for many of us, it’s our favorite type of restaurant. We pick a plate and inch down the line, weaving in between the tables laden with tasty dishes, indulging our preferences in whatever amount is enticing in the moment.

Throughout my career in financial services, in NYC, I heard every woman ask a simple question: “Crown or sword”?

When we give our utmost for His highest, our best for His Glory, He will order our steps and we will live out Psalm 1 - like a tree planted by the river of water that brings forth fruit in due season and whatever we do shall prosper.

Llamas are a thing lately. It’s hard to go anywhere without seeing a llama on a book, card, or wall art. And I’m good with that. This mama loves llamas! Llamas are like sunshine on a cloudy day.

According to Christianity Today, the top 3 objections to faith each have to do with pain… “Why is there evil?”, “Why is there suffering?”, and “Why does hell exist?” The heart of each of these questions is “Why would a loving, good God allow His children to suffer…either on earth or in eternity?”

For as long as I can remember, my name has caused a bit of trouble for me. You see, it is spelled T-a-r-a, which in itself isn’t an issue. It’s the way it’s pronounced that can raise attention. It’s “Tar-rah” not “Terrah” as most people with this name pronounce it…

In the spring of 2015, I had reached the end of what had become a pivotal freshman year of college. I felt isolated and confused over my own beliefs…

Your own breaking will come.  Oh, it will.  You will come to the end of yourself, and I promise you, hard as you look, there will not be a Plan B.  Nothing you do will work. But once you’ve surrendered to God, you won’t need Plan B.  God is plan A, and He is more than enough.

While Naomi lost her faith in God, her daughter in law Ruth, now a widow, was an inspiration of innocence, love, humility a child-like faith and a deep desire to go back to Bethlehem with Naomi. Her words were lyrics of song written in 1872 called the “Song of Ruth” and describe her heart.

On December 29, 2019, a gunman opened fire during a Sunday morning worship service at West Freeway Church of Christ in White Settlement, TX, killing two people. The horrific incident ended quickly after it started when a gun-carrying churchgoer shot and killed the attacker.

There is a feature on my cell phone that allows me to decline an incoming call. There are a thousand reasons why I might choose to hit the “decline” button when my phone rings. Sometimes I have a deadline to meet. Decline. Sometimes a call comes in when I’m mid-conversation, mid-meeting or connecting with family. Decline.

About 10 years ago when my husband was early in his diagnosis for a terminal disease, a group of people offered to come to our home to pray for him. I didn’t know the man well who organized the effort and didn’t know some of his companions at all. Their prayers intrigued me…

If I could only have one television channel to watch it would be the Biography channel. I love to hear true stories of people’s lives: finding out where they came from and how they grew up, who or what influenced their life’s decisions, and where they eventually ended up. 

Throughout my time in the corporate world, I’ve encountered a multitude of different leaders and leadership styles.  I’ve learned, from both favorable and unfavorable situations, how much my day to day is impacted simply by the character of those calling the shots.  

What is it, exactly, about sharing a meal with a friend, or someone new you want to get to know, that seems to foster a sense of closeness, and emotional intimacy?