When the Fear of Being Misunderstood Upsets Our Peace

Brenda Bradford Ottinger | Proverbs 31 Ministries “And Mary said, ‘My soul magnifies the Lord …’”Luke 1:46 (ESV) Through a blur of tears, I studied the message, confused by the words it contained. I’d served in a lovely women’s group for years, and sadly, a newer member of the group had mistaken something I’d said …

We Always Have More To Learn

Nicki Koziarz | Proverbs 31 Ministries “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness …” 2 Timothy 3:16 (ESV) The past few months I’ve been trying to learn something new. My husband and I own a small farm just outside of Charlotte, North …

When You Just Aren’t Feeling That Holiday Cheer

Karen Ehman | Proverbs 31 Ministries “When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul.” Psalm 94:19 (ESV) When I was a child, I could always count on three things being consistent during the holiday season. The first was my mother’s delicious turkey roasted her signature way — in a brown …

Joyous Gratitude

Karen Wingate | Proverbs 31 Ministries “… give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NIV) I hovered over a neighbor’s flower — a Mexican bird of paradise — reveling in the brilliant orange, yellow and red blooms and the curvature of the petals that …

The Secret to Doing Great Things for God

Mark E. Moore | Proverbs 31 Ministries “And Mary said, ‘Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.’ And the angel departed from her.” Luke 1:38 (ESV) Even if I’ve never met you, I bet I know something about you: You want your life to matter …

A Legacy That Points to Christ

Laura Bailey | Proverbs 31 Ministries And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’” Romans 10:15 (NIV) Have you ever wondered how your friends and family would describe you? Perhaps they would say that you are kind and compassionate, …

Defeated by Distraction

Tracie Braylock | Proverbs 31 Ministries “I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways.” Psalm 119:15 (ESV) “Runners, to your mark.” “Get set.” “Go!” The starting pistol fired, yet I could not move. Not only did I feel like there was cement in my shoes, but my entire body seemed …

Never Too Messy

Heather MacFadyen | Proverbs 31 Ministries “I sought the LORD, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears. Look to him, and be radiant; so your faces shall never be ashamed.” Psalm 34:4-5 (NRSV) Sitting in my favorite leather chair, with three boys off to school and one still asleep, I enjoyed …

What We Need to Remember to Never Forget

Alicia Bruxvoort | Proverbs 31 Ministries “It was there at Gilgal that Joshua piled up the twelve stones taken from the Jordan River.” Joshua 4:20 (NLT) As a child, one of my favorite places to play was a bedraggled plot of weeds at the edge of my uncle’s farm. Dotted with rusty oil barrels and …

Messy Pages Make Beautiful Masterpieces

Sharon Jaynes | Proverbs 31 Ministries “Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, ‘He told me everything I ever did.’” John 4:39 (NIV) Everyone loves a good story. But not everyone likes their own story. I wouldn’t have written my childhood story the way it now appears …