relationships

Lead Us to the Cross

October 9, 2020 Joann Claypoole autumn glory, Blog, Christian Living, Culture, Devotions, Faith, Featured, Fire Starters, God's Glory, Greatfulness, Hope for tomorrow, Inspiration, inspire a fire, Joann Claypoole, Leadership, Prayer, Relationships, Relationships, Trust

2020: A historical year by epic proportions, or a calling to be led? All the world will remember—no matter how much we try to forget. Autumn is my favorite season of the year. I’m writing

Flawed but Functional

October 3, 2020 Martin Wiles Faith, Fire Starters, Leadership, Relationships

Sin had ensnared another victim. I listened as the newscaster gave a piecemeal report. The leaders of a noted mega church met behind closed doors. The pastor had planted the church sixteen years before on

Making Turtles

August 28, 2020 Diana Derringer Fire Starters, Grief, Relationships

“I think we need to make some turtles.” We hadn’t seen Anne for several years. She had completed her education, married, and moved to another town. She enjoyed a successful teaching career and was expecting

Friends

August 26, 2020 Debbie Hardy Fire Starters, Friends, Relationships, Relationships

Do you have many friends? Or are they merely acquaintances? An acquaintance is someone you laugh with; a friend is someone you’ve cried with. Another way to decide if someone is a true friend is

IF ONLY WE’D KNOWN….

August 19, 2020 Janet Morris Grimes Family, Featured, Fire Starters, Intimacy, Marriage, praise, Prayer, Relationships, Relationships

From this day forward. Wow! Thirty-six years of marriage. How is this possible? I think back to our vows taken on that day, heading down the aisle as the clueless kids we proved to be.

The Mystery of Fireflies and Faithful Friends

August 14, 2020 Joann Claypoole Blog, Culture, Devotions, Faith, Featured, Fire Starters, Friends, God's Glory, Hope for tomorrow, Inspiration, inspire a fire, Joann Claypoole, Love, praise, Prayer, Relationships, Spiritual Growth, Worship

Fireflies and faithful friends? Don’t you love them? We watch and wait for them every summer. For me, fireflies and friends go together like barbeques, campfires, and boat rides around winding lakes that never seem

BookEnds

August 13, 2020 Beth Fortune Faith, Fire Starters, Friends, Relationships

Life isn’t always easy and over the years I’ve realized that I sometimes need others to stand with me, be with me, work with me, cry with me, laugh with me, and just hang out on the shelf called life with me.

Honor God And Country

July 22, 2020 Debbie Hardy America, Family, Fire Starters, Relationships, Relationships, Waiting

How do we show honor?
Do we show honor?

Fearless and Free

July 18, 2020 Joann Claypoole America, Blog, Culture, Devotions, Faith, Family, Featured, Fire Starters, Freedom, Freedom in Christ, Hope for tomorrow, Inspiration, inspire a fire, Joann Claypoole, Prayer, Relationships

Afraid, or fearless and free? Unexpected circumstances, including the Coronavirus resurgence in our state, clouded my thoughts. Photos and social media stories of recent Fourth of July celebrations dared to disappear like the arrows my

the incredible power of one

July 8, 2020 Rhett Wilson discipleship, Relationships

Jesus Christ described the incredible power of one. Studying for a sermon series recently called The Power of One, the repetition in Jesus’ teachings of the word “one” amazed me. And if anyone gives even