Boy, I know what this one is about. I have fallen into this trap repeatedly. Maybe it's because I grew up in a pastor's family and constant unquestioned service - filling whatever roles weren't already filled - was a way of life. I still tend to see a ministry opportunity or need and ask myself, "Could I possibly do that?" rather than "Should ...

Today's devotion, "The Sin of Humility" (available by clicking here if you're just joining us) got me thinking - more than reflecting. Particularly because Heidi writes that she believes men may lean more toward the sin of pride and women more toward the sin of humility. So I'm busy here thinking backward and forward in my own life and my own experiences ...

The topic of today's devotional, intellectualism, has been hotly debated among Christians for centuries. The debate is not new to me. I was baptized Lutheran, went to Episcopalian churches as a child, a nondenominational church as a teen, a Reformed college for my freshman year, and an Assemblies of God school for missions. As a result, I've experienced a wide range ...

I'm just going to jump right in with and say this in response to today's reading, "The Heart of a Servant Leader": I'm a gung-ho, work-hard, give-it-all-I-got kind of leader. But if I look at the state of my heart - as Jaye suggests we do - I'm not such a hot servant leader. More of a struggling servant leader.

This is not to say I don't ...

Speaking of work and the workplace, we now have scientific proof that one bad apple can ruin the whole bunch. A recent episode of National Public Radio's "This American Life" featured researcher Will Felps, who identified three types of bad apples (below) when it comes to group dynamics. He hired an actor to play each of the parts below and surreptitiously ...

When I was the editor of Marriage Partnership magazine, I used to tease my husband: "You know I'll never leave you, Babe. It would kill my career!" While I wouldn't have left him anyway (love that guy!), I have to admit there was an ounce of truth to my joking. I mean, how much of an advocate for marriage could I have been if I were to have thrown in the ...

It's Day 4. Are you starting to notice any themes in these Bible studies? One message I've noticed cropping us it that we are to fix ourselves solely on the Lord and not his work. Being spiritual and holy is all about "to be" instead of "to do." Consider these excerpts:

Day 1: "Our sole focus should be on the compelling beauty of our Lord, ...

I'm acutely aware of my need for God's help in loving others. Some people seem specially gifted and naturally inclined to love others - even the unlovable. My husband, a counselor, is one of those people. Unfortunately, I'm not. Instead, I seem naturally inclined toward competition, self-protection, revenge, jealousy, and winning at all costs. I sometimes find ...

Did you feel like Sally had you in mind when she wrote today's devotion? I sure did. As soon as I read her introduction to today's devotion, I felt like this could be a prophetic nudge from the Lord about an all-too-familiar topic.

Because, you see, I've always been someone who wants to be not only good at things, but distinctively the best. I'm naturally ...