Trusting God With Our Nation

In God We Trust

By Melissa McLaughlin Autumn leaves twirl to the ground signaling the curtain call. In that final moment before taking a bow, the withering foliage announces the close of one season. By God’s wondrous design, the fall leaves also prepare for the next as they release nourishment into the earth for future growth. If you live … Read more

Holding On To Jesus in the Storm

Holding on to Jesus in the storm

By Melissa McLaughlin My gut wrenched. Tears spilled from my eyes. I was overcome as I scanned pictures of the recent hurricane damage in the southeast U.S. Piles of rubble and jagged tree roots now dotted the landscape where homes once stood. Roads had collapsed as the earth gave way underneath. The devastation looked surreal. … Read more

The Government Will Be Upon His Shoulder

The Government Will Be Upon His Shoulder

By Melissa McLaughlin “That’s not how we play the game! You broke the rules,” he chided. “Who made you boss?” she glared back. As an elementary teacher, I witnessed countless arguments on the playground. Many of these clashes resulted from one child striving to rule over another or someone breaking an agreed-upon boundary. All too … Read more

Pause and Take Time to Rejoice

Pause and Take Time to Rejoice

By Melissa McLaughlin Childlike Gratitude The notes jingled in the distance. My children’s faces perked up, their eyes brightened, and the pleading commenced. The anticipation was palpable when the ice cream truck stopped in our neighborhood. This was not quality ice cream, mind you. The ice creams cost $1. Our choices included sherbet popsicles shaped … Read more

How Can We Be In the World But Not of It?

How Can We Be In the World but Not of it?

By Melissa McLaughlin Our eyes sparkled as his voice carried us along. Dad and Mom read bedtime stories to us during our early childhood years. We soaked up these tales of chocolate factories, children slipping through a wardrobe, and small hobbits on grand adventures. Dad and Mom were excellent readers who drew us into the … Read more

Bearer of Christ’s Light

Bearer of Christ's Light

By Melissa McLaughlin Darkness looms. Heavy. Still. Shadowed. Whispered deceptions. Seething accusations. Cloaked lies swirling. “You are not loved. No one really cares. You are called by your failures, mistakes, sins.” Hope fading Despair eclipses. Encased now in shame’s blanket Darkness envelopes. A crack in the door of your heart. A golden shaft pierces through. … Read more

Lifelong Pursuit of Christ: Melinda V. Inman

Lifelong Pursuit of Christ Melinda V. Inman

A Lifelong Pursuit of Christ As followers of Christ, we discover a journey that takes us through nourishing, green pastures, still waters of refreshment and at times, deep, dark valleys. Our Good Shepherd saves us, leads us, cares for us and loves us all along the way. Therefore, our greatest desire is to live for … Read more

Standing on the Rock in the Storm

Standing on the Rock in the Storm

By Melissa McLaughlin The Rock There it stood. Rugged, wild and immovable. Our family excursion to Maine brought us to the picturesque Pemaquid Point. We climbed along the rocky outcropping that stood firm against the onslaught of ocean waves. Though the waves rolled in, crashing with rhythmic force, yet the rock stood firm. We stood … Read more

God’s Eternal Garden

God's Eternal Garden in Heaven

By Melissa McLaughlin One of the great pleasures of summertime is enjoying fruits and vegetables fresh from the garden. The deep red tomatoes, crunchy sweet cucumbers, lush green squash and overflowing beans. The list goes on and on and on. All year we wait for one bite of this sumptuous and long-awaited delicacy. As I … Read more

How Do We Enter God’s Rest?

How Do We Enter God's Rest

By Melissa McLaughlin Home Sweet Home Surprisingly, one of the sweet joys of a summer get-away is coming home. After all the fun, the visits to see family, the sights and sounds of new places, there is something simple and beautiful about arriving back home. Seeing the familiar. Returning to your own comforts. Sleeping in … Read more

The Power of a Kind Word

The Power of a Kind Word

By Melissa McLaughlin The weight of sadness in this world with its division, hatred, animosity and harshness, at times feels like a heavy blanket of evil pressing against my soul. Every word spoken, seems to assume the worst and allows for no grace. Every news cast highlights the most destructive possible view of humanity. Every … Read more

Seeking Racial Justice and Healing in Christ

Seeking Racial Justice and Healing in Christ

By Melissa McLaughlin Another gruesome and wicked act of racial injustice carried out in our land. My heart dropped. My stomach sickened. My body heaved with grief. How did we get here, Lord? How can we bring justice, Lord? How can we bring healing, Lord? What is our response? Stealing, Killing, Destroying? Some have chosen … Read more

12 Christian Songs to Lift Your Spirit in Hard Times

12 Christian Songs to Lift Your Spirits When Times are Tough

By Melissa McLaughlin When times are hard, when we’re stressed out, worried or down, there is nothing like a song to reset our internal compass. Music can help lift our eyes, minds and hearts, especially when those songs point us to Christ. He is our hope in life and in death. Songs with Christian lyrics … Read more

When the Spring of My Heart is Overdue

God is faithful as the seasons

By Melissa McLaughlin Spring is my favorite season of the year. I love to witness new life bursting forth from what once appeared dead and gone. The vivid colors, the sweet fragrances, the lengthening daylight. It all speaks of hope. Hope from that which seemed hopeless. Life from that which seemed lifeless. Anticipation. Promise. Expectancy. … Read more

3 Prayers of Hope

3 Prayers of Hope

By Melissa McLaughlin Ever had one of those days? Whether you are taking your first few steps to follow Christ or you have traveled myriad miles in your walk with Him, there are days when it feels we simply cannot take one more step. Days when it seems impossible to put one foot in front … Read more

When Everything Falls Apart: 7 Strategies to Get You Through

when everything falls apart 7 strategies to get you through

By Melissa McLaughlin I still remember that day. Rain poured down in buckets, drenching our hopes of playing outside. Like all kids on a rainy day, we were feeling antsy. To release some pent-up energy, my older brother and I began tossing a Nerf ball back and forth in the kitchen. It was an innocent … Read more

Jesus is Victor! A Message of Hope from Corrie Ten Boom

Corrie Ten Boom a Message of Hope

By Melissa McLaughlin Sometimes, a message of God’s hope is the only gift you can offer another person. Sometimes, this is the only gift we really need. Corrie Ten Boom’s Family Life One woman who has inspired multitudes with her message of hope in Christ is Corrie Ten Boom. Corrie was born in the Netherlands … Read more

Amazing Guest Post – Featuring Lori Cunningham!

Lori Cunningham

Lori Cunningham – Guest Post This excerpt by author and speaker, Nan Jones, says it all: “I’ve only known Lori Cunningham a few short weeks through an online friendship, but I know there is something very special about her. I think of the beautiful, delicate rose whose petals have fallen to the ground only to … Read more

Waiting Well

Waiting well with God means we place ourselves close to Him

By Melissa McLaughlin As Children – We Can’t Wait I remember it like yesterday. With eager faces and fidgety bodies we sat through the Christmas Eve service at church. Angel costumes, eyes twinkling, voices resounding, Christmas carols ringing. We were there, but looking forward, looking ahead, looking onward. Following the church service, our parents bustled … Read more

The Joy of Brokenhearted Praise

the joy of brokenhearted praise the sacrifice of praise

By Melissa McLaughlin The End of Our Strength We’ve all been there. That moment when the relationship falls apart and the memories are strewn on the floor in millions of shattered glass shards. When the job opportunity disintegrates before our eyes sending dark billowing clouds across our horizon. When the doctor gives the diagnosis you … Read more

She Bows Her Head

Christian Poem She bows her head

By Melissa McLaughlin A seed is fallen, takes root, lifts her tiny arms A sunflower is born The sun warms her depths Up from the earth, the rain pulses through her Drawing strength from the Creator’s touch planted deep within Growing, reaching, stretching toward the golden Sunlight Strong now, steady, tall and mighty among all … Read more