Your Cart is Empty
Do you take your responsibilities seriously? Maybe so much so that you worry about how you’re going to manage all the responsibilities and relationships that are on your plate at home and fulfill everything you’ve committed yourself to outside the home? Here’s a thought. What if there are just a few things God is asking of […]
Read When You’re Stressed by Responsibilities on Elizabeth & Jim George.
We are not promised or guaranteed a life free of suffering, pain, or illness. Jesus wanted His followers—-including you and me—to know this hard truth: “In the world you will have tribulation” (John 16:33)—trouble, trials, suffering, and tears. When my husband pastored and taught a senior citizens’ Sunday school class some years ago, he heard many of […]
Read Looking Heavenward on Elizabeth & Jim George.
It’s impossible to read the book of Proverbs and not get the message that wisdom waits. As a general principle for practicing your faith, know that it is safer to wait and do nothing than to rush in and do the wrong thing. One of the many proverbs that expresses this biblical truth says, “He […]
From Elizabeth’s Heart— According to online sources, communication appears consistently on the top-ten lists of reasons couples divorce. I’m sure you have had issues with your husband’s choice of words or means of communication. And I’m just as sure there have been times when he has struggled with your methods of communication. The first way to […]
Read How to Communicate Better with Your Husband on Elizabeth & Jim George.
What does God’s grace do besides equip us to get through hard times? What does grace accomplish? God’s grace saves you. The Bible says we “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23), but praise God! By His grace He offers us salvation: “For by grace you have been saved […]
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9 God says, “Be strong.” What pops into your mind when you hear or read the word “strong”? Weightlifters, wrestlers, fighters, and soldiers? Rocks and […]
Read Be Strong on Elizabeth & Jim George.
Discouragement is a fact of life. You might even have a case of it today! Here are a few ways you can deal with discouragement: Recognize the source of discouragement—The devil. The enemy of your soul would like nothing better than to take you out of the game and see you benched. Resist the temptation—When […]
When you focus your heart, soul, mind, and strength on God and His Word, you will experience God’s kind of success. Through His Word, God reveals His will to you and gives you the power you need to accomplish the jobs He has for you. How can you move forward in your desire to be […]
Read Unstoppable You on Elizabeth & Jim George.
Have you ever traveled down, down, down into any dark valleys? Can you remember a time of foreboding or panic? Of suffering and sorrow? Of terror as darkness seemed to overshadow you as you journeyed into the unknown? Thank God we can praise Him for what we learn about Him during such times. On the […]
Whenever tough times come our way, trusting God can be difficult. We can find ourselves falling into the trap of thinking that God made a mistake … that He wasn’t there when we needed Him. The Bible, however, describes a God who is perfect in His wisdom, His ways, and His timing. He is with […]
Read 3 Steps for Trusting God in Hard Times on Elizabeth & Jim George.
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11) Where does life find you today? What difficult times are you enduring? What situation seems to be unbearable? Encouragement is on the way … God’s […]
Read Staying Confident in God’s Plan on Elizabeth & Jim George.
One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple. (Psalm 27:4) David—the man who wrote these words—was a man of extreme […]
Read Teen Tuesday: 12 Encouraging Reasons To Go To Church on Elizabeth & Jim George.
In Ruth 3 we meet Ruth, a virtuous woman. But did you know the book of Ruth also details the qualities of a virtuous man? God’s list of virtues exhibited by Boaz’s sterling life includes: Diligent-Boaz is described as “a man of great wealth” (Ruth 2:1), and we see him carefully and thoughtfully overseeing his […]
Read The Qualities of a Godly Man on Elizabeth & Jim George.
Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. (Hebrews 13:15) Here’s a true confession. When life is good, praise and thanksgiving flow automatically from my heart and lips. But when life turns black, praise and thanksgiving don’t flow quite so easily! Instead, […]
Have you ever had a conversation with a woman who, by the way she is talking, you can’t tell whether she is married or single? Sure, she has a ring on her finger. But as she talks, everything she says is “my daughter,” “my house,” “my last vacation.” I always wonder, Hey, aren’t you part […]
Read Married Women … Speak In The Plural on Elizabeth & Jim George.
Prayer. Just say the word and I begin to yearn and squirm at the same time! As a woman after God’s own heart, I yearn to pray. My soul longs for it. My spirit craves the communion with my heavenly Father that only the act of prayer provides. My heart emotes along with the words […]
Is your courage a little thin these days? Do you feel overwhelmed or like you’re bordering on being overwhelmed by tough issues and demanding responsibilities? Are your fears getting the best of you? Bolster your nerve and fight your fears by remembering these fundamentals: Prayer dispels fear and doubt. The Bible says you’re not to […]
Read Leave Fear Behind on Elizabeth & Jim George.
We never know what a day holds, do we? But an ordinary day can mark the beginning of an extraordinary journey! That’s what happened to Rebekah, one of God’s women in the Bible. How could she have known that on an ordinary day back in her hometown, an ordinary trip to the town well would […]
Read Tests of Faith on Elizabeth & Jim George.
Dear Mom and Dad, You know how important making right choices is for your life… but what about your children? What are you doing to train them in how to make right choices for themselves? Well, we’ve got three suggestions for showing your preteen boys and girls how to make really good choices. Try to […]
Read Help Your Tween Make Really Good Choices on Elizabeth & Jim George.
In addition to the teachings of James 1:2-4, there is another scripture I draw upon every time I’m faced with a trial. No matter what is happening to me, what I am up against, what is breaking my heart, or what I am suffering, I turn to the strength offered and assured in 2 Corinthians […]
Read Finding Strength in Weakness on Elizabeth & Jim George.
Where does life find you today? What season are you in? Spring—Are you in the early beginnings of life? Are you tasting the joy of fresh starts and taking your first steps as a Christian? Summer—Have you progressed along the way with the Lord to the place of wisdom, of a blossoming knowledge of the […]
Read Yea, Though I Walk Thru the Valley on Elizabeth & Jim George.
In all areas of our lives, including family life and friendships we should be ready to embrace an active faith. So, how can we put faithfulness in action? Let’s consider the actions of a faithful woman. She is a mom, wife, and friend, who walks faithfully with God and follows through on whatever she has […]
Read What Does Faithfulness Look Like? on Elizabeth & Jim George.
The union of two people in marriage is potentially fraught with challenges—an understatement in the case of Jacob and Rachel! Their joining together was thwarted by a lying, conniving father-in-law, two wives, two concubines, and 12 sons generally marked by jealousy and aggressive, warlike behavior. No soap opera could ever even come close to duplicating […]
Read Jacob and Rachel on Elizabeth & Jim George.
Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation. 1 Peter 2:11-12 Do you ever wonder, […]
Read Living Honorably on Elizabeth & Jim George.
Maybe you won’t have an inheritance from an earthly father—but take heart! Your heavenly Father has given you a heavenly inheritance that you can count on. As you walk through your life with a sense of security, think of your Father’s gift to you and what it means. Your life in Christ. When you […]
I don’t know what stage of daughter-raising you are in right now, but it’s never too early to take your daughter to church. Mary took Jesus to “church” when He was only eight days old. We see Him in the temple again at age 12 (see Luke 2:21, 41-46). And it’s never too late to take […]
Read Church Is a Great Mother-Daughter Time on Elizabeth & Jim George.
The Old Testament book of Nehemiah recounts, in thrilling detail, a monumental time in Israel’s history led by an unlikely exile. I encourage you to read it for yourself to discern in full the qualities of a great leader — patience, confidence, and trust in God alone.
Why be ordinary when you can be different–a difference maker? Even though it’s a struggle to live in a world that hates Jesus and sees salvation through Christ as foolishness God gives us guidelines. (See John 7:7 and 1 Corinthians 1:21,27-28.) We’re to be salt (Matthew 5:13). We are to have a positive influence on […]
The Lord has heard your affliction. Genesis 16:11 Hagar, tired from running through the desert, rested beside a spring of water in the wilderness, her head filled with confused thoughts. The handmaiden was pregnant with Abraham’s child, which was set up by his wife, Sarah, who now mistreated her. When Hagar cried out to God, […]
Do you ever feel by the end of most days that everyone is looking for you? Maybe you even feel like this when your day is just beginning! Your husband, children, boss, parents, women’s committee, and prayer chain at church are all clamoring for a piece of you. Well, in a small way, you are […]
Read When Everyone Is Looking for You on Elizabeth & Jim George.
It is easy to love people who love in return. But what about those who don’t? Jesus makes this astounding statement in Matthew 5:44–45: “I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you . . . that you may be sons of your Father in […]
Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good […]
Read Handling Riches on Elizabeth & Jim George.
Consider it all joy … when you encounter various trials. James 1:2 What trial is causing you the deepest sorrow today? God’s joy is a gift of grace to us as we encounter hardships, tribulation, and persecution in this world. This supernatural joy, given through God’s Spirit, transcends all trying conditions of life. Your joy […]
Read Overcoming Deep Sorrow in Trials on Elizabeth & Jim George.
As a growing young woman, you need your rest! But you also need to pray. Two simple acts will help you move forward in beating laziness …and creating time to pray. “Head for bed.” As soon as dinner is over start thinking about getting ready for bed. Finish your work—and homework. Wash your face and brush […]
Read Teen Tuesday—2 Ways to Create Time to Pray on Elizabeth & Jim George.
Hopefully you are already actively involved in your local church. And living out this scripture, “Let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near” Hebrews 10:25). Being a member of a church is important to God. You can demonstrate […]
Read Being a Member of the Family of God on Elizabeth & Jim George.
I love reading about the life of David in the Bible. I especially enjoy the part where he fought against Goliath, the giant. You see, David was just a shepherd boy. He spent his days out in the fields with sheep… but he also spent them with the Lord. He passed the lonely hours and […]
Read A Clear View on Elizabeth & Jim George.
Honor widows who are really widows. But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show piety at home and to repay their parents; for this is good and acceptable before God… If anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the […]
Read Caring for Widows on Elizabeth & Jim George.
The choices you make about dating will be some of the most important ones you make in your life. That’s why you should make plans now for when you may date in the future. Wait to date until you’re ready to look for a life partner. But until then, let’s do some homework. Make a […]
Read Teen Tuesday: Dating “A-List” on Elizabeth & Jim George.
Your Savior didn’t allow the dictates of His society to keep Him from projecting an image that He was approachable and available to others. Has your social circle or society dictated how you should treat others, especially those who could be characterized as outsiders? Oftentimes, during the holidays the unchurched or hurting are open to […]
Read Look Up, Not Down! on Elizabeth & Jim George.
Take a minute to read the account of Christ’s “Birth Announcement”: “Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And having come in, […]
It’s a fact that fear and worry immobilize us in our kingdom work. They distract us from our worship and love of God. They make us doubt the fact we can count on Him. And our service to God and His people is hampered and blocked when we worry about ourselves and fail to trust […]
Read You Can Count on God’s Provision on Elizabeth & Jim George.
Marriage is a team effort, but sometimes a team fails to function as a unit. You can’t make your other team member—your husband—do anything. So do what you can to help and honor him. Whether it’s his refusal to take his health seriously or a misuse of time or money, or a hundred other things, […]
When I need strength and courage, I remember the women at the cross and the tomb of Jesus. Whenever I read Mark, chapter 15 and 16, I’m always amazed that a small band of ladies stayed with our Lord to the very end, even when His closest disciples left! These women stood near the cross […]
Has anyone ever said you have a short fuse? God’s power and strength will help you hold back your anger and emotions. There are ways to develop your muscles of patience, to lengthen your fuse. Don’t give in to venting your anger. Instead pray on the spot and ask God to give you His patience. […]
Being friendly and approachable is a Jesus quality. You may think, Of course anyone could talk to me or ask something of me. But you may also be sending a message that says you already have enough friends, thank you very much, or you’re too busy to be bothered. Or maybe you’re sending the message that […]
Read Teen Tuesday—Being Friendly Like Jesus on Elizabeth & Jim George.
This time of the year we can’t help but marvel again at the story of Mary, the mother of Jesus. She was a very special young woman who, through her faith and humility, found favor with God. Faith and favor with God have nothing to do with externals. But they have everything to do with […]
Mary said: “My soul magnifies the Lord.” Luke 1:46 The surest test of a heart is the caliber of its speech—the quality of the words that issue forth. Through Mary’s words we see her pure heart. As she arrived at Elizabeth’s, this young woman opened her mouth and offered rich words of praise, a song […]